Fun Pictures

I've been posting like crazy lately. I hope you can keep up, otherwise just go to the archives to see what you missed! Anyway, I thought I would add some pictures for your enjoyment. Oh, and I have to say, Tyler and I got to go on a date tonight since his parents were here to watch the kids! It was wonderful to finally get out together. We did dinner and a movie (The Pursuit of Happiness--VERY good!). Well, I'll post some pictures now. Oh, sorry, one more thing. For those of you who may be confused by the adoption process (which is understandable) I have created a list of what happens in order and what all the terms mean. So if you would like to look over it or reference back to it from time to time it is at the bottom of the right-hand column. And finally, the pictures...

Evan loves his bath so much...sometimes TOO much!

This time he got a little ahead of me...

Helping Mommy with laundry

My little Sweetheart!

Tender kisses!

Moments that melt your heart!

Ellie burned herself today on a pan while helping me cook. She cried and I gave her kisses on her poor little finger. A few minutes later she said in a sad and serious voice, "I need another one, the kiss melted"

What to do if your sad...according to Ellie

Today Ellie was going through the house singing "If Your Happy and You Know It" but with a slight variation. As we began to listen we realized she was singing "If your sad and you know it kiss your husband"

CIS

Monday we went to Kansas City to talk to the CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) to apply for the 171 (see bottom of right-hand column for explanation).  We left home around 8:30am and didn't get home until around 1 in the morning. Things went really quickly at the CIS office but with all the driving and shopping we had to do it took all day. We figured we only spent about 6 hours out of the car. The kids did amazingly well! Anyway, within the next 90 days (I'm hoping for about 6 weeks) we should have our 171-H and be on the waiting list for a kid! At this point the soonest I think we could have a referral would be December.

Let it Snow...

Ellie, Evan, and Nathan (Ellie's Friend)

"the look"

Daddy's Boy

Last Saturday we had a beautiful snow. It was only our second real snow of the year I think. Anyway, we got about 6 inches. So Sunday afternoon we all got bundled up and went sledding with a family from our church. They have 7 kids so we had quite a crowd. They brought their four wheeler to take us up the hill which they said was about 1/2 a mile up. We had a great time. The weather was warm and there was no wind...beautiful day!

We're on to the next step!

Yea! The homestudy will be done on Friday! We have an appointment with the CIS (citizenship and immigration services) office on Monday at 1:45. While there we will be applying for the 171 which is approval to bring an orphan into the US. It will take about 6 weeks to get the 171 I think, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, after that we will be put on the waiting list for a referral (a name and a photo of our child). Well I guess we are headed back to Kansas City next week!

Kansas City

Yesterday we went to Kansas City so we could attend the CHI parent education meeting. Our adoption agency holds one every month and there is a training time, kids program, and a time when you break into groups by country so you can meet other famlies adopting from the same place. Being 3 1/2 hours from Kansas City makes it difficult to go because it becomes an all day event that gets us home at 1 in the morning. However, it always falls on Tyler's day off so we decided to go this time. I was so excited about meeting some other families and Ellie was thrilled with the prospect of playing with the other kids. Well we got to Kansas City, did some shopping and headed to the Church the meeting was to be at. When we arrived we realized there was almost nobody there. About that time we double checked the date and relized that I had been mistaken and the meeting had been last week. I began to cry because I was so disappointed and when Ellie realized what was happening she joined in. We ended up going to a nice mall where we found a play place and a little friend for Ellie. She had a lot of fun and it turned out to be an enjoyable day...just not what I had planned! I'm really hoping to go again in the future, this time on the right Monday!

As a side note, Ellie got her own chopsticks while in Kansas City. She ate her breakfast with them this morning. Wow, that little girl does really well for her second time! In a month she'll be a pro!

Chopsticks and Toothpicks!

"Yea! I have...toothpicks!"


Mmm...





"Hmm...How does this work?"


"Hey, I figured it out!"

Ever since getting sick in Taiwan I've had a hard time with oriental food. However, I've been studying the culture of Vietnam lately and got excited. So tonight I got motivated and made sesame beef stir-fry (without the sesame seeds). It wasn't a Vietnamese dish but it was oriental which is a big step for me. It turned out really well and the kids loved it. Tyler was very pleased too since he loves Chinese and I never make it and will rarely consent to go out for it.

We ate with chopsticks ("doi dua" in Vietnamese) and had a great time watching Ellie. She actually got a few bites with them! Evan wanted some too but we only had two sets (I gave mine to Ellie) so we gave him tooth picks! It was great to see him take a tooth pick in each hand and try to pick up his food. He then tried stabbing the meat which worked for a couple of bites before he finally reverted to fingers...while still holding his prize possession of "chopsticks".

By the way, sorry I haven't been posting pictures. All our pictures are on the other computer and Tyler's always over there. But I'll try to do better. :) Hope you enjoy these.

Moments of frustration and Moments of fun

I'm getting a little discouraged with the adoption process right now. I was hoping to be done with our homestudy by now and be receiving our 171 by the middle of the month. But things have taken longer then normal and the homestudy isn't done yet (she still has to get the papers I sent and write the homestudy) and we have to wait for that before we can get an appointment with the CIS to apply for the 171. We then have to wait 4-6 weeks before receiving the 171. I also got an email just a few minutes ago from the Vietnam coordinator and found out that the wait time has gone up yet again and it will probably be a good year and a half until we get this kid home! It seems like every time I turn around (or check my email) the time goes up, I’m almost in tears! I'm glad I can trust that God has it in His control. He knows how long it will take to get the little one he has pick out for us. I just wish the wait could be easier.

On a lighter note, we had a great time as a family tonight. Tyler and I were getting the kids ready for bed when we got a pillow fight started. Ellie loved it and really got into it. Evan thought it was great fun too but had a hard time managing the pillows and decided that throwing shoes and miscellaneous items was much more fun. By the time we were done Evan was so wound up that I couldn't even hold him. This is what makes all the difficulties as a mommy worth it!

The house is a mess, Evan has been screaming...and I'm wired on coffee!

We had a wonderful Christmas and really enjoyed seeing family. However, I haven't quite recovered yet. It's been half a week since we've had company but the house is a mess, and I don't feel like cleaning so it just builds up. On the other hand, I may not feel like cleaning and the kitchen may be covered in dishes, and the rest of the house is covered with who knows what, but I have felt like organizing and I've gone through all the clothes too small for both Evan and Ellie and packed them away. I also cleaned up and organized our entire back porch (which serves as a storage room and work shop since we don't have a garage). And then I took done Evan's crib and reorganized his room. I thought Evan would enjoy his mattress down on the floor but I'm afraid that after several nights of sitting up with a crying, insecure little boy, I've decided to put it back up. I'm not really sure what is wrong with Evan, he's been clingy and fussy for a week now. Well that is what I've been doing lately. Oh, and I finally sent off the last of the paperwork for the homestudy.

Well, I think I've typed enough for now. Besides, thanks to Evan, I'm running on about 5 cups of coffee and not really thinking straight...