happy halloween!

Halloween 2012 was memorable. On the upside, we got to spend the day with our good friends. On the downside, it poured tonight. Buckets. By the time we got home, we were drenched. Their candy is now spread out on the kitchen counter to dry.

I think I earned some extra mommy points for taking them out in the rain. And they can pay me back in chocolate.

fall weekend

It was a -- pumpkin carving,

pumpkin sugar cookie,

roasted pumpkin seeds -- weekend.

 

welcome to the wait list!

We received an e-mail from our adoption case manager this morning and the subject line read, "Welcome to the wait list!". Our dossier has been approved, our program fees have been paid, and we are officially on the waiting list. Our number is a bit discouraging - 137 - but that's just the way it goes with Ethiopian adoptions right now. Their country went through a major crack-down back in 2011 and slowed down their process. A lot.

So we wait. All the while trusting that God is in control and has a perfect plan. Even during this wait. Praying that He would use this time to prepare us and prepare our new daughter for what lies ahead. When she becomes one of our own. Through the miracle of adoption. Thankfully, the Author of adoption knows exactly what we are going through. And He is faithful.

stoney ridge 2012

Today was our annual trip to the Stoney Ridge pumpkin patch. It's become one of our favorite family traditions!

 

 

 

 

big day!

The kids and I mailed off our dossier today!! (Yes, I really asked the UPS guy to take our picture. I'm that kind of dork.) This package contains four long months of paperwork that will be translated and sent off to Ethiopia. A very exciting day for all of us. And now we wait. But today - we're one step closer to our baby girl. And for that I will rejoice!

siblings weekend

My dear husband held down the home fort this weekend so I could spend time alone with my siblings. We gathered in Boise, Idaho. No spouses. No kids. Just the five of us. And I am reminded once again -- I am so thankful for each one of them.

our little activists

When the kids learned that yesterday was Columbus Day, they thought we should have taken the day off of school for such an important holiday. When I disagreed, they came downstairs and declared that they were on strike. Very funny!

"Why school on a holiday?"

"I'm sailing away from school." 

 



**Now get back to work!**

braces

We were told about a month ago that Liam needs some orthodontic work. Not in middle school or high school, like most kids, but right now. So tomorrow we begin his journey. Spacers. Brackets. Palate expander. Braces. It's a lot for a seven-year-old. But he's a tough kid. He'll be ok.

 

In preparation for all this work, the dental assistant did his panoramic x-ray. But she forgot to remove his glasses. Funny mistake. Makes for a cute picture. Liam as we've never seen him before!