things i adore...

james spader
*all* my nieces and nephews... they really are gems
eggnog ice-cream from baskin robbins
long talks with the dude
singing at the top of my lungs
kids that learn new ways to express frustration
my rocking chair
the idea that one day i will take james spader with me wherever i go
crafting for a cause
wednesday date nights
believing i'm a superstar
the fact that my father-in-law has the same twinkle in his eyes that my dude does
making someone's dreams come true
skateboarding
did i mention james spader?

from one child to another...

our daughter is super sweet... as a gift for us this year, she wrote this:

we wait and wait and wait.
while we wait mommy starts to paint.
and daddy tapes.
and the kids play games.
but we still wait and wait and wait.
we wait to hear your laugh,
and we wait to see your smile,
we wait to hold you in our arms and make it all worthwhile.
we wait to see your tiny toes,
and wait to tag your little nose.
we wait to give you hugs that never end,
and to lay gentle kisses upon your head.
and of all the things we wait for,
you certainly are the best,
so for now, we wait and wait and wait.

isn't it funny how kids just get it sometimes...

5 months...

from our family to yours...

nursery update in progress...

i think i've mentioned i'm not a very patient person. my husband really wants to relax while i have this seemingly never ending list of things to fill my time with... top of the list for awhile has been a nursery update. don't get me wrong, i love the night pirates. if you haven't read this awesome book to your kids, you totally should. when we dreamed of a finn or a sawyer in our nursery, we saw night pirates... it was fun and sweet and cute. it's still fun and sweet and cute, but it no longer feels quite right for our future lovebug and so while we aren't finished yet, i'll give you a sneak peek...

the space is not huge by any stretch of the imagination, but it's cozy and close, while still giving us some privacy (privacy? yeah we still maintain a smidge of that) and we love it. this was cay's room for four years, and i'll admit that when he moved out to a "real bedroom", i totally missed him. i'm also that hippie tree hugger mom that co-slept with each child, uses only cloth diapers (fuzzi bunz for the win!) and makes my own baby food... live and let live i say (i often ponder how incredibly powerful those six little words are).

first the before photos:

due to the small space, we thought, hey man, let's brighten this up... and so i dreamed up this lovely little idea and convinced the dude to go to lowes with me for picking out colors. this dude who used to think he wasn't creative at all is actually a huge help in the color area. a lot of dollars in paint later, and we headed home to make my vision a reality. we aren't done yet. i mentioned that, right? ok, we aren't done yet, but we're getting there... and i am *loving* how it is turning out! here are some photos...

first we needed a blank slate to start over (never mind that crib we refused to take apart and move out):

 then we started with winter haven, which is the prettiest off white i've ever seen, with just a touch of purple in it, and japanese koi for the lower half (because it is oh so perfect to complete my master plan!):

i worked into the wee hours of the morning, and then was up again painting after coffee and a few wrestling rounds with cay (his new fave game... crazy cayden wrestles maniacal mommy and somehow he always wins). as you can see, i had no time for snazzing myself up, that's just how i roll:

next comes the field and awesome tree... and i added a few leaves at the base of the tree:

so me being me, i hated the leaves at the base of the tree... ditch those and add river and giraffe:

my favorite taper of all time... the one and only dude that will do anything for me:

that tape? that was nothing... wait till you see what i have in store next:

those eyes up there? they say i love you, even though what follows can surely be considered some form of torture:

the very beginning, and just think, you are here to witness it:

have i mentioned i love hexagons? no? well... yeah:

it is turning out just how i pictured it in my head:

oh, and here's our template... i made a perfect hexagon with a compass on the back of a cheerios box:

the process... it involves me cutting tape, the dude taping the wall, and then i go in and fill in any gaps or holes, smooth and push down all the tape again (because it's not as sticky as we think it should be):

then i paint:

then i pull off all the tape, knowing that i have to go fill in those little hexagon tops oh so perfectly, but that's fine... i have tons of time while i wait:

it's coming along... i'm going to add another tree on the other side of the river, add elephants and hippos, and touch up all my current missing spots:

oh, and here's my cliff with a lion:

 i still need to make my way around several other walls, but i'm getting closer. it feels bright and fresh and warm. it feels a bit like love...

4 months...

nada

i haven't posted much. there isn't much to post about adoption. we are in waiting mode. the wait is longer than anticipated. we were told 12-18 months from the time we submitted our application to the time we'd be bringing a child home. it isn't going to be anywhere near that time. our agency has completely given up on timelines at this point, and the information they have for us is minimal at best. adoption isn't supposed to be easy; i get that. we're in it for the long haul, and we've surrendered our hearts to the unknown, which is insanely difficult. adoption is born from loss; i get that too. we absolutely want to know without a doubt that any child we adopt is truly in need of a home and everything is ethical and legitimate. that doesn't mean it isn't hard. that doesn't mean the seemingly endless wait comes with a light at the end of the tunnel. it may not, after all. so that's why i haven't really posted much. it is however, no excuse for not posting about our fantastic october fun times. i'll get to that soon. the only excuse i can offer is a crazy busy work schedule and tons of busy kid stuff. one of these days i'll have a spare minute...

boo

3 months...

khalid's worst nightmare...

have i mentioned that i love this child's drawings?

 

the week that was...

my rocket lamp took me out of this world and back... just like i always dreamed it would.

cayden lost another tooth! this time in class... and he was so calm and so reserved when nonchalantly telling his teacher about it, but when i saw him he ran straight toward me with the biggest closed lip grin all day and i just knew there would be a hole in that smile once he flashed his teeth at me.

we spent time with alex this weekend and introduced her to erasure while we started a most amazing d20 purse... oh yeah oh yeah.

craigslist proved to be the best thing ever again with our super sweet ride score... fun for papa and cayden both! we were also able to score a free recliner for the aspie scc room at school so double bonus!

kiya got contacts and though the sunlight bothers her a bit, she is getting used to them and is over the moon with joy having them. i love having choices too, so i get how cool that is for her.

khalid fractured his finger in gym class, while he had a knee contusion. lovely... he's such a trooper though. made it to the doctor and back home, he did his homework and took a nap and then went to a magic pre-release party for 8 hours. oy. party for a friend, driving school and swimming practice followed the rest of the weekend. exhausted teenager tonight! huge thanks to papa for enduring that 11pm to 7am adventure... the love we have in this family is quite impressive.

the dude and i enjoyed some slightly blue skies and lower temps while taking walks this week. it was nice to hold hands and steal a few moments for ourselves here and there. there may have even been a few shenanigans with spicy, our beloved front yard plant... i can neither confirm nor deny this statement.

reflections from the week that was...

i wrote this for my daughter over a year ago... perhaps it was almost two years ago even. i can't quite recall, but i do know that while it may not be the best writing, it was an honest result from an assignment when we both wrote something for each other:

curly hair that bounces when she moves,

long, strong legs that don’t get stuck in grooves.

for she is too quiet and shy, too reserved to make a scene,

no rock band, no dancing, nothing where someone might be mean.

an incredibly bright mind that loves puzzles and books,

she used to be confident and not care about looks.

but now she is growing up, so fast and so tall,

and I’m not sure if she knows where she fits in at all.

she is so dang clever, and thinks quick on her feet,

her motives are not always good, and sometimes she cheats.

her stubborn streak runs deep; it is hard as a rock,

it makes it hard for her to give in, and hard for her to talk.

her potential is huge, with so much she can do,

no matter what’s happened, it’s not too late to start new.

she possesses the power to shape her own life,

making it honest and loving, void of anger and strife.

she has a heart full of love that is strong and sincere,

and a loyalty that could make even the toughest men fear.

i wish she could see the beauty in her eyes,

and know the heartache we feel when she cries.

her laughter is infectious and her hugs are so warm,

she is my daughter, through sunshine and storms.

i named my girl kiya, and dressed her in pink,

i will love her forever, even when she causes a stink.

sometimes my husband and i stay up late talking for hours. sometimes we find out new things about each other, sometimes we laugh or cry when thinking about life's ups and downs. recently we spent some time talking about our daughter and how far she's come, especially in the past year. sometimes our daughter has seemed a mystery, and try as we might, we don't always understand her motivations. we learned some new things about her, some things that she kept secret, and it was as if a broad light shone from up above and things were beginning to come into focus. we could make out shapes where once there were none, and rather abruptly everything was clear.

she's always been a talker, but lately she's been talking more about her feelings and thoughts and views of the world. she's always struggled with her add and anxiety, but lately she's asked for help in figuring out how to cope with the things that throw her for a loop, and she remembers our talks and tries out our suggestions; some of them even work! she used to be timid and avoid new things at all costs. now she's putting herself out there, even if it is a bit scary. she's finding her voice and building her confidence with all of the new things she is finally trying. she's been singing and dancing again, something we've missed. i think she's finally finding her place in the world and carving out room to grow.

part of it is time; time does heal wounds. part of it is persistence in our efforts to guide her and teach her, while accepting her and loving her no matter what life brings her way (and our way). part of it is hard work on her part... true effort to want to find her way through life. part of it is this mysterious and all encompassing bond that all mothers and daughters share... it perseveres even when we're exhausted and feel like we've tried everything and nothing is getting through (the big secret here is that it is getting through, we just don't see it yet). and part of it is this amazing man i married that loves our daughter to the moon and back.

i read a quote by sigmund freud that goes like this: "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." those words in particular speak to my heart because i never had that myself, and no one has provided a father's protection for my children until i met this amazing man. and so really, aren't we all the lucky ones in this life.

2 months...

the week that was...

our feet prepared to climb and adventure along the edge of the earth, our path mapped out by the grids in stone. as we set forth and made our way into isolation together, we frolicked with puff the magic dragon and marveled at the power of the ocean. we got to hold hands and laugh, and we watched our friend smile widely at the secrets we shared.

i danced with my dude on tall rocks, stood behind a waterfall and felt the cooling mist as the rushing sounds soothed and calmed my brain. the trees called out to us as we hiked nearly seven miles, enjoying the color and splendor of the mountain. somehow nature always seems intent on giving me what i need, even when i think i don't deserve it.

we embraced new friends and blogged for fovc, in honor of a special little boy that is coming home soon. we spread the word far and wide (as well as asking friends to forward on!), and donated once again to our favorite grassroots organization. sometimes it seems as though we have nothing more to give, yet it felt good to stretch and dig deep, sharing with others who are truly without. thank you to our friends who tweeted and facebooked the word with us! yes, i know i used that as a verb... meh.

we had some serious conversations. we had some tears and sorrow. we danced in the middle of the garage, ate dinner at midnight, and talked for hours. i look at my face in photos and through all the heartbreak we've been through, i do believe i'm still laughing more than i'm crying, and i have the telltale laugh lines to prove it. so there. i guess it's true, everything is gonna be alright.

READ, SHARE, LOVE... CALL TO ACTION!

Hi friends,

This is Shonda from Godwilladd. Nicole has kindly let me take over her blog to tell you about an awesome Baby Shower like none other.  A couple of my friends have teamed up and we're trying to raise funds for an organization called FOVC.  They help provide aid and hope to the immediate areas where our kiddos are from, an area that has been hit hard by this horrible famine.

Shameless plug:  Will you hop on over to my shower?  I promise I won't make you smell mystery diapers and  no I won't let you wrap toilet paper around my abdomen.

For $13 FOVC can feed one starving child for one month.  So far, this shower has raised $710.  If you're amazing at math like myself, you know that 54 kids who didn't have food today, will have food tomorrow and for the next month because of the generosity of a select few.  Wow!  Can we make it 100 kids?  Will you please help me spread the word? 

Why? 

Of all the great charities out there, why have I chose to rally behind FOVC?  A few simple reasons:

1) There are a lot of other great charities that are working to fight this famine, and I (despite my cynicism of big organizations) have supported them.  But FOVC is the only NGO working directly in the areas my boys are from, and where their first families still live.  Even if I liked nothing else about FOVC, this one simple fact would make me want to support them.  Thankfully, there are lots of other things I like about them:

2) They are a very small grassroots organization and very conservative with their money.  All their workers are volunteers, and they do all their traveling on their own dime, which means all the money we give goes directly to feeding the kids and helping their community fight poverty with long-term goals in mind.

3) I have a close friend who has done aid work with them in Ethiopia (and is on her way back in a few weeks), knows many personal details about how they operate and spend their money.  She's a Dave Ramsey fiscal conservative like myself, and she fully endorses them.  They have an independent bookkeeper who verifies that over 96% of the funds go directly to Ethiopia.

4) Directly from the president of FOVC:  "We have an amazing team of volunteers! Our board members and officers (if I do say so myself) are doing outstanding work! We spend a lot of time and effort educating ourselves on best practices of economic development (it's what my husband does!) and strive to implement every program using best practices. This means we empower, not enable. Every effort we undertake is aimed at offering long-term sustainability, success...and HOPE

Have I convinced you they're great?

Click here and support them:

And then (this part is optional), click here and tell MB how excited you are about his arrival into our family.


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the week that was...

i baked. and baked. and baked.

we celebrated the birth of miss kiya with friends and family who came to visit. there was laughter and fun in the sun, and splashing in the pool. there were movies and running and jumping and stealing shoes from brother. there was 1am popcorn and late night pie rushing. best of all, there was a proclamation of "i feel special" from the girl that sometimes thinks she's anything but special.

we celebrated the birth of one of my favorite nieces. we made our way to sauvie island and raced across hot sand that burned our feet. we made our way to the water and played water tag and swam the afternoon away. we jumped waves sent our way by huge barges, and enjoyed good food, more cupcakes and digging in the sand.

we enjoyed a visit from grandparents and a delicious meal out together as a family. we tried new foods and delighted in being served dinner while the kitchen at home stood in disarray. stunt gp battles were revisited and grandpa upped the ante by threatening to practice while cay went to daycare!

lazy susan turned orange amid the afternoon sunshine, and shelves of blue marched into the gray kitchen cabinets. we rejoiced as the oak vanished before our eyes, and silently wondered why we hadn't started this sooner. and then my back complained. and screamed. and i knew at once why we hadn't started this sooner. and i promised my back i'd take it slow and not rush the finish. and so needless to say, the kitchen still sits in a state of disarray while i listen to my aching back.

one month on the waiting list...

happy birthday, sweet girl...

the week that was...

 

we were tired of living in a house. so we packed our gear, and food for picky eaters, sumptuous treats for company, and we battled horrendous traffic to get out of town. we drove through the secret roads, our car tossing up dust to anyone that dare follow us down twisty paths, and made our way to the cabin on the lake.

we kicked off our shoes and walked down to the dock, rode in pirate ships, tamed sharks, and glided through the water like royalty in a throne of gold. we knit scarves for penguin, took midnight boat rides to gaze at stars, held magic gatherings and busted fresh with "the sprinkler". a holy cow led the d&d crew to honest abe, who wanted nothing more than love and cuddles, revealing that even the most wildest fantasies can reflect our very perfect realities.

we walked among our giant friends, listening to their secrets as we followed abe up and down steep slopes and marveled at the bright colors that popped out to greet us in the most unassuming of spaces. we danced and sang, and laughed and kissed, we swam and ate great food, explored and engaged in conversation with ease.

we watched our energetic young boy tumble into the lake, fully clothed and unprepared for the fright of his life. he was lifted right out, scooped up and held close, as the water and fear dripped away in the arms of safety and comfort. he was wrapped in warmth and love and dry clothes, held tight and reminded of rules.

we loved the cabin, until it was time to go. so we said our goodbyes, and gave great big hugs, we said thank you and we'll be back soon, piled into the car, and went home to live in a house. 

thank you to our dear friend chuck, for the weekend of relaxation and fun. getting to know you better was time well spent!

FOVC and "FEED HOPE"

normally i've been doing a "friday faves" list on fridays, but i'm changing it up today. as you read this, the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging somalia, and thousands of people have already died and are fleeing or have fled for refugee camps in kenya. experts are calling it the worst humanitarian crisis in years. so what can we do? we, as in you and me; the ones living with a roof over our heads, clean water, and food in our bellies. there are many relief organizations helping provide aide to the areas and people affected.

let me share with you about FOVC (parts of this borrowed from my amazing friend Tamara B!). FOVC is also another great organization that is getting relief to surrounding areas affected by the drought and lack of food. FOVC is doing a huge campaign to raise funds to feed those in and around shanto (southern ethiopia near durame and soddo) who will otherwise get no emergency help. their goal is big but doable. you can read more about that campaign on their site http://www.fovc.org/feed-hope-relief.html. FOVC is huge on not just giving hand outs. this relief project is due to the desperate emergency created by the drought/famine. this will be short term help (4 months) and then back to normal developmental stuff where they enable people to feed their families by learning valuable crop, textile and other skills.

there is often a call for help from many organizations all over the world. if you’re in a position to help, whether it is $5 or $500, whether you can physically help with your talent and skills, or simply raise awareness, for issues at home or abroad, taking the time to do so often has a greater impact than we can imagine. to give you some motivation, i'll share with you what we're doing. we recently got a bonus at work, and our intention was to put it in our adoption fund. our adoption fund can wait. people are dying today; they cannot wait. we just mailed off a check to FOVC today. any amount helps, and if you can help in any way, big or small, please do so either by visiting the FOVC website above, or you can contact me privately and i can give you an address to mail a check. if you can spread awareness to your friends and family, you have my complete gratitude!

don't look now...

but there goes "peace and justice man" to the rescue!

 

the week that was...

a starfish came to visit, and moved about the pool with grace... or something close to it.

the locs are in! twists for now, but working their way to genuine awesomeness. i've only had one problem thus far, and that is they make my son look two years older.

the girl played dress up and liked what she saw... conversation flowed easily between us as we passed the afternoon hours discussing teenage trials and tribulations. i certainly don't miss my own teenage years, though i have vowed to never forget them, lest i lose touch with teenage reality and watch my children close up and shy away from the openness we currently enjoy.

the oldest boy completed an online survey, earning himself $10 from the oregon department of transportation. he took this task very seriously. as i expected he would. and that's why i wasn't worried about his first driving lesson. one down, many to go.

delightful beverages were consumed, accompanied by witty conversation, card games with borrowed money, and support given and received between some of the best of friends.

we traveled to some of the tallest trees, and pranced across several bridges... some were strong and sturdy, wearing their finest colors with flair. others were fragile yet lovely, offering support in exchange for delicate footsteps and respect of natural beauty. we danced, and kissed, and vowed to focus on the present so as not to become consumed by the future and what could be one day. the sun came out and basked us in glory, a guitarist played a song to our dancing, and holding hands seemed the most intimate of details.

i've often thought i was born into the wrong period in history, imagining my life as simpler while hard working, and yet i can say with certainty that 1894 is not my time either.

molten chocolate lava cake spontaneously appeared, not once, but twice! this homemade treat is fast becoming my dude's signature dessert... i accept it with homemade whipped cream, with or without strawberries. that's just how kind i am.

friday faves

• the 7 year old that wakes up at "5 something" and decides to get dressed for the day, crawl back into bed and wait for his alarm to go off at 6am, all in a quest to "be the first one at daycare". in case you're wondering, we were there right at 6:30 when they opened, and now that he has accomplished this feat, i hope that the desire is now laid to rest.
• peanut butter kisses.
• enjoying breakfast out with husband and daughter.
• alex's birthday is today! the world is brighter, kinder and absolutely a better place with the presence of this wonderful soul.
• four hours of conversation and singing with my husband while we hit the road.
• baking cookies for lovely friends.
• heading to see a friend i don't see often enough... looking forward to witty conversation, dry humor, hugs and pondering of anything that pops into our heads.

the week that was...

the three cherry trees were named by the three kiddos, and i was introduced to each tree with proper manners and lots of smiles... edgar, boo boo and cherry are well loved and growing with each passing day.

spicy's aroma was sought out and enjoyed by a lovely boy who reminds me to look at each new day as an opportunity to enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells around us. 

two of my favorite guys jumped at the chance to bring out their power tools and fix the freshly painted door... so great to have my handy guys around.
 
we took a trip to the beach and basked in the glorious sunshine, jumped waves, and leaped over mountains of sand. buried limbs busted loose like a monster ready to prowl, and sand flew everywhere. a skim board easily glided through the shallow waters, carrying the teen as he proved to be a wise master of balance and skill. lunch and treats were devoured after hours of frolic and horseplay. wild beasts carried us around in delight before we headed home for the evening.

the teens took turns carting around the youngest, helping him feel loved and cherished. i watched and thought about how nice those reminders are indeed.

lego mania hit us again and a wild duck overturned my hijacked bus as i tried to escape the corrupt police chief after i revealed his dastardly deeds!

friday faves...

• freestyle four square, yo
• a fresh blue kitchen door
• "giddy-up dolphin"
• locs more than halfway done
• homemade pizza lovingly prepared by the dude
• lego play
• playing the afro drums (said cay):

the week that was...

the aliens came out to play, and butterflies danced as they crossed my street.

a new dirt baby made with care and lovingly named "dirt bike" joined our family and sits under our youngest cherry tree listening to the tall tales offered by the vibrant green leaves as they rustle in the wind.

the rains fed our plants and bees whispered sweet somethings to our onions, encouraging growth.

khalid competed at the special olympics state games and made us proud as he brought home the bronze medal in the pentathlon competition.

a little lady spoke to our eldest cherry tree and loneliness was relieved.

magic games produced laughter as well hatched plans came to fruition and opponents were crushed with mighty blows. 

friday faves 07.15.11

• co-workers that care
• cayden snuggles
• hugging my husband that turns into dancing
• working on kiya's birthday surprise
• listening to khalid have new fun with an old friend
• singing with my husband while we work
• jumping school

07.08.11

today my oldest kiddo turns 15... i'm so in love with this child. he's fresh and pure, like an october breath of air. he's adventurous and daring, he's brilliant and quiet, he's fun and loud, he's my heart and soul. happy birthday to my sunshine!

always a sweet boy, he had my heart from the moment i found out i was pregnant.

so close...

biometrics done today! so glad we got there early as we were the first 3:00 appointments called up and there were quite a few people waiting. some noteworthy items:

• the policewoman called danny "old macdonald"
• the woman in charge was easy to spot as she was ever so slightly adjusting the picture frames on the walls as effortlessly as someone walking through her own home would do out of habit
• danny's fingerprint taker was incredibly confused that he had no alien number
• for a government run facility, i was pleasantly surprised by the kind, courteous, professional, and helpful staff... maybe that says more about me than them; i'm undecided on that

and now we wait for that last piece of paper that will complete our dossier and allow us to mail it to holt and be put on the official waiting list for a referral. keeping our fingers crossed that the approval happens quickly and we get that paper soon!

busy busy busy...

there is never a dull moment in our house...

cayden finished his t-ball season! those 2-3 games per week were exhausting, but he had a blast and it was so fun to watch his skills and confidence grow with each game. way to go, little bug...

school is out and summer vacation begins! due to an unfortunate incident on the last day of school that resulted in cayden being left out of a special trip to get icees and pizza (grrrr i say to the daycare bus driver that promised she'd wait for him and then didn't) cayden has been wanting to get up at 6:04 and be at daycare when it opens at 6:30. the twinkle in his eyes as he starts the day excited to beat all his friends to daycare almost makes up for the lost 56 minutes of sleep... almost. the fact that he feels confident he won't miss anything again... well, that definitely makes up for the loss of sleep.

we've let the teens slack off for the first week out of school, but time for summer writing and projects! i know they secretly adore the writing assignments i give them, because they are both great writers... the chores on the other hand, i'm certain they feel they can do without.

we actually got some sunshine recently and while the teens kept cool inside doing puzzles (kiya) and magic games (khalid), cayden and his friend ian enjoyed some outside time with me!

 oh, and also the trampoline and sprinkler...

i think we're on the hook to set up the big trampoline and enclosure this weekend... 

happy birthday to my awesome husband today! i made him this gift...

there are probably 17 things i will do differently next time, but it was made with a lot of love for the best guy i know. i am really happy with the way the indigo stain turned out, and i definitely married the right guy because he knew all the references and genuinely loved it.

and finally, in adoption world, we're ever so close to completing our dossier... biometrics on june 21st, so not too much longer to wait. of course then the real waiting begins, but i will take real waiting over paper chasing any day! keep us in your thoughts that we will get through biometrics and have only a short time to wait for approval and our i-171h!

june is going to be my new favorite month...

...birthdays, camping, break from school, and my new personal favorite: june 21st biometrics appointment! 

i have a few hopes that we can actually get our dossier turned in sometime in july now. which would be lovely just to get it out of our hands and officially get on the waiting list for a child. fingers crossed for a summer release of paperwork and time to relax.

also, this *amazing* drawing was done by our awesome 14 year old. he started by coloring the entire sheet with charcoal and then erasing to create the image. oh how i love george and yes, this will be framed and displayed in our house in a most prominent location! *ignore the crummy cell phone pic where i cut off the top of the image*

i600a mailed

we had been waiting on our final approved homestudy for what seemed like forever... obviously it was more like nearly a month, but that can feel like forever. last night when we got home we were so excited to see that our homestudy was approved on may 10th, and we had 4 official copies in the mail! 

homestudy approval... done. 
i-600a application and fees... done.
waiting again... in process.

my clever girl...

k&k are making an abc book for their future sibling... kiya is writing the words and khalid is illustrating... kiya's got A through T done. i love it so far! (i'll have to scan the drawings later)