Fry Daddy Fever

Yes, one of my weird son's favorite presents was a fryer to cook all his fish in-lol. I was afraid he was going to burn the house down since he has been cooking all his "fresh catch" in the frying pan. The new cooker makes things much safer I hope!

Life on a Budget ;)

Christmas Morning 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No words really necessary :)

Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas Eve was spent with friends and family, and of course...lasagna :)   Wrapped the evening up with candlelight service at church with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Terry.

 

 

Kids put the cookies and milk out for the big guy in red, and sugarplums danced in their heads.

Two Hands

Thanks to some quick work by Dr. Colleen, Elise can now hold two, yes TWO pom poms! It's the little things that seem to be important to our girl right now :)

Maybe one day she will be ready for one of these ;)

Unto You A Child is Born

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

Round One

So blessed to get to share the holidays with many over the next few days. We had some fun at my sisters house today. Te kids were very excited to get to open a gift...finally! Christmas has come :)

Beginning To Look

A lot like Christmas!!

Timelines Post

Timeline for Shelby's Adoption


1/23/07 Application Mailed

1/25/07 Application Approved

2/10/07 Orientation

2/17/07 1st Home Study Meeting

2/21/07 2nd Home Study Meeting

2/24/07 3rd Home Study Meeting

4/4/07 Home Study Approved

4/9/07 I600-A Mailed

4/25/07 Fingerprinted

5/1/07 Found Shelby

5/2/07 Formally requested to adopt

5/8/07 Approved from Hope

5/11/07 Received 171-H

5/14/07 LOI sent to Hope

5/19/07 Homestudy Addendum

5/22/07 LOI in China

6/7/07 DTC

6/14/07 PA

6/13/07 LID

9/12/07 LOA

10/01/07 TA

11/5/07 GOTCHA!



Timeline for Faith's Adoption

7/14/08 Found Faith!

7/15/08 LOI (Letter of Intent)

7/15/08 Mailed I-800A App

7/17/08 DTC (Dossier to China)

7/23/08 LID (Officially Logged In)

8/07/08 PA (Pre-Approval from China)

9/09/08 Fingerprint Appointment

10/03/08 I-797 (USCIS Approval)

10/31/08 LOA (Letter of Approval from China)

10/31/08 Filed I-800

11/10/08 I-800 Approval

11/19/08 TA (Travel Approval to finally get my girl!)

12/08/08 GOTCHA!!!



Timeline for Elise's Adoption

09/27/10 Found Elise!!

09/30/10 LOI sent to BAAS

10/09/10 PA

10/13/10 Homestudy Approval

10/14/10 I-800A Application Mailed

11/05/10 Fingerprints for I-800A

11/26/10 I-800A Approval

11/26/10 I-797 Received

12/03/10 DTC-Dossier to China

12/14/10 LID- Logged In Date

01/18/11 LOA-China said YES

02/04/11 I-800 Approval

02/15/11 NVC Letter/Cable

03/03/11 Article 5

03/21/11 TA

03/24/11 Leave for China

03/27/11 Gotcha!    


Timeline to Ian

09/15/2011 Found Ian

09/22/2011 LOI (Letter of Intent)

09/27/2011 PA (Pre-Approval)

10/14/2011 Homestudy Complete

10/31/2011 DTC (Dossier To China)

11/05/2011 I-800A Supp 3 Filed

11/08/2011 LID (Logged In Date)

12/08/2011 New 797 Approval

02/06/2012 LOA on Day 90!

02/23/2012 I-800 approval

03/06/2012 NVC Letter

03/21/2012 Article 5 Pickup

04/09/2012 Travel Approval

05/06/2012 GOTCHA!

Baritone Big Boy

 

 

 

SO very proud of my biggest boy last night. He had his first 7th grade Symphonic Band Concert. And they were actually really good! He plays first chair baritone, as I know it is hard to tell what he is playing in the pics. Loved seeing him in his tux, so handsome, and yet kinda sad to
see him so grown up. He is such a blessing in my life. SO proud of you Caleb!!

Love my Littles

My Angel and Donkey

 

 

 

The littles had their Happy Birthday Jesus performance at school

yesterday. SO incredible to watch my little ones up on stage doing all
the fun things littles do during their first performances... the smiles,
the shy grin, the excessive waving at mommy-lol. I have to admit that my
heart swells watching these babies up there singing their little hearts out.

My mind always wonders back to China during these times, remembering "what
could have been". They could still be sitting in China without a mommy to watch them blossom and sing with pride. They could still be just a number, a mouth to feed in a room full of orphans, just another ORPHAN. But no, they are no longer an orphans, they are my precious daughters. Oh how thankful I am to get to be their mommy!