A few photos from Halloween

We had a great time! We went to a church trunk or treat and to a friend's house for some more fun. Also, notice the cute pj's from Grandma T. The kids loved them, and I thought they looked very cute!!!!

Long overdue update!

It has been crazy around here! We are all doing great.
The kids are enjoying school.
Ethan is preparing to take the ACT (Yes he is only 12), but his MAP test scores gave him this opportunity. He is pretty excited. He is also playing soccer and camping out a lot for Boy Scouts.
Devin is also doing well in school. He stays after a few days a week for Chess club. He is also playing soccer and has scored several goals. He is in Cub Scouts.
Heidi is working hard in school. She celebrated her 7th birthday and her 4th Gotcha Day. She is playing soccer and also singing in the kid's choir at our church.
Isabelle started preschool and loves it. She has had a Bear parade and Bike Day. She is also singing in the kid's choir. She is getting so big.
Riley is still a crazy man, but he is so loveable. Definitely a momma's boy! He talks a lot and still amazes me with some of the things he says.
Chris and I are keeping busy, too. Chris has been camping with Ethan and we have been rearraning the house. That is one big task. We are also preparing for Orphan Sunday (Nov. 8th) at our church. These pictures are from Labor Day. The big boys didn't want me to add their photos of them on the horse.

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...