Trip to Oklahoma

A few weeks ago the kids and I took a road trip to visit Grandpa and Grandma in Oklahoma. We had a great time!!!!!! We went to a fancy arcade, mini-golfing and the zoo. Grandma also made me get pulled over by a mean ole cop (no worries - just a warning).
One evening we went to Bricktown to visit our good friends from Tulsa. Their youngest daughter lived with Heidi in Guatemala! We enjoy hanging out with them because they are as crazy as we are!!!!!!!!!! We went to a restaurant with 9 kids and 3 adults. I think the waitress was a little scared, but they did great.
Here are a few photos from our trip:

So Funny!

Riley is a very bright and busy little man for just 16 months old! However, a few months a go when he started pointing at the back of his diaper to go to the toilet and more recently saying "poop" - I was a bit surprised.
I guess he wants to be big really fast - but seriously he is too young to wipe by himself.
Here is a couple of photos of him in action. (FYI - he spilled a drink on the front of him). I also added a cute photo of him and one of him doing his stretches.

Pictures

I haven't added photos in some time. Here are some photos of Boy Scout camp and the kids in general.
Enjoy!

A New Look!

I was feeling like my blog was a little boring! So with a little help from a friend (Thanks Amy) - I gave my blog a facelift!
It was a lot of fun and challenging!!!!
Anyway, I hope to post some new photos soon.
Take care,
Debbie

Job Well Done

We are so proud of E. for receiving the Presidential Academic Award last night. Only 5% of his grade received this award!
He celebrated by going to Barnes and Noble and getting the new release book he has been waiting for.
Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Birthdays!

March is a busy month for us!
Here are a few photos of the birthday kids (sorry it's late)

Finally an update

It has been a while since the last post. We have been doing great, but have been very busy. Ethan turned 12 years old a few weeks ago, we had our 15th wedding anniversary, and I turned (well old enough)! Ethan saved his birthday money and purchased an I-Pod. I ate out alot!!!!!!!!!! I also got a cool flip video for my b-day.
We had parent-teacher conferences the other day for Heidi and Devin. They are both doing great. Riley is starting to take a few steps, and he and Isabelle have big birthdays next week.
I will post some photos and more video soon. Until then, here is a quick clip using my new present. Izzy singing the abc's. Enjoy!!!!

New addition and more

We are excited to announce our new arrival. His name is Leo and he was born November 18th!





He is an Australian Shepherd, and we are all enjoying him!

Also, I got a new gadget for my camera. Here are a few photos I took.

More photos!

Below are a few photos from Christmas. I guess better late than never!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

It has been a while since my last post! Unfortunately, most of the family had the flu over the Christmas holiday. Bummer!!
However, we did have a nice time visiting our family and friends.
It was exciting to have Riley home with us for Christmas. I think he enjoyed himself.
Also, over the holiday Heidi decided to get her hair cut and donate it! Here is a before and after shot. We think she looks very cute!!!!!




I will add some more photos in the next post!

A bunch of little performers!

We have had a busy few weeks!
Ethan had his Fall band concert. He plays the trumpet!
Heidi and Isabelle were in our Church Christmas program. Heidi had a speaking part -she did an amazing job.
We were very proud of them!
Here are a few photos. (Both of the girls are in the first photo, and we have a group photo at the bottom)

Getting back to normal

Things are going great! Riley is starting to sleep and that makes for a happier family. The other kids continue to have fun with him.
They are all wonderful helpers!!
He is very, very busy! He smiles all the time and loves to play with toys.
He was dedicated at our church last Sunday, and he also visited with Grandpa and Grandma M. who came to meet him.
Below are a few photos. I will try to post more often.
Until next time...

He's home...

and he is beautiful and perfect!
At 7 months he is crawling, pulling up to furniture and trying to stand by himself!
He is almost 19 pounds and loves to be held.
His foster parents took a picture of him each day and made us a beautiful scrapbook. They took amazing care of him, and we will be forever thankful.
I will post some more when I have some sleep. That is something he doesn't care much about right now.
We are so blessed!

Travel Call!

What a surprise!!!!
Here is the scoop. I called DC to verify that his visa was issued, and it was. So I decided to go vote, run to Walmart and get my free Chic-fil-A for voting.
I had just pulled out of the drive-thru and was sorting the food for Izzy and the little girl I babysit when the phone rang.
I saw that it was Holt, but I thought they were just verifying that we received the visa. The lady asked how I was doing, and I said fine and I asked her how she was doing. When she said "not as good as you are going to be doing - your son is coming home"! I was shocked, and just couldn't believe it. An even bigger shock is that he will be home on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so much to do, but I am so excited. I can't wait to tell the kids when they get home from school.
Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts for this adoption. They have meant a lot to us.
Until next time...

VISA!!!!!!!!

Riley is ready to come home!!!
Now we wait for Holt to call us and tell us when he is coming home. As long as Holt can find an escort - he should be home by Thanksgiving.
We will keep you updated.
Hurry home Lil' Dude.

Until next time...

Happy Halloween and more

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Halloween! We did, and the kids got a lot of candy.
Here is a photo of the day!



We also remembered the 2nd Gotcha Day of Isabelle. We love you baby girl, and are so glad that we are your family!!!!!



Finally, we found out today that Riley's visa interview is scheduled for tomorrow. That is the last step. We are now waiting for Holt to find him an escort home.

Until next time...

No News!

Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the P3 to be sent back to the Embassy. It is hard to say how long this will take. It usually takes about a week, but we have now waited two weeks!!! We are starting to get anxious, but we know Riley will be home soon.
Check back soon for our Halloween photos and Isabelle's 2nd Gotcha Day!
Until next time...

P3 sent

Yippee! One step down and one more to go. Once Holt Korea sends this package back to the Embassy in Korea they will schedule the visa interview. That is the last step until we receive the travel call!
We can't wait to meet our baby boy!

Also, Congratulations Jeff and Kim! We are so happy for you guys.

Until next time...

NVC out!!!!!!!

You might ask what is this...it means that the National Visa Center has forwarded our approval to the Korean Embassy. Korea will process this paperwork (P3) and apply for Riley's visa home!!!! We are so close. Once this is completed we are just waiting for the travel call.
We will keep you posted!

Catching up!

Where to start...
Heidi turned 6! We also celebrated the last 3 years she has blessed our family!!

The 3 older kids started soccer!

Isabelle decided to scare us and spent a couple of days in the hospital. She fell down about a month ago on the sidewalk. We thought it had healed fine, but she ended up getting a staph infection. She was in a lot of pain, but is feeling a lot better now.

Finally, we have received wonderful news about Riley! He has his Emmigration Permit for Korea and his Immigration approval from the U.S. Just a couple more steps, and he will be home. I am still hoping for an October arrival, but it will most likely be the first part of November.
Until next time...