Swim Season Is Here!!

Swim time is upon us and we are spending much time in the pool. The May weather here in Southern California is odd in that last week we had a few 60 degree days and this weekend it is in the 90's. We are ready for the heat so this weekend was really nice- hot but nice. We didn't do anything this Memorial Day weekend since Kevin had to go to work Sunday night but we did get to spend time together as a family riding at the motorcycle track and swimming together.

The clan preparing to swim

Sadie loves to swim and will swim across the pool many times.

Owen looking tan already-- so unfair!!

Kevin tossing Owen across the pool.

Kevin tossing the boys off the raft. They love the raft and when the other boys from the neighborhood are over, they play king of the hill on the raft constantly!!

And off they go

Mia swimming in the spa

She is so ready to start swimming on her own. That will be our goal of summer-- learning to swim.

We were lucky that our pal Jordan stopped by. If you remember from years ago, Jordan was our neighbor who lost his whole family (father, mother and brother) in a car accident over 3 years ago. He and his older sister were the only family members left. His aunt became his guardian and unfortunately they moved closer to LA so we have not got to see him for a long time. We were so excited to see what an amazing young man he has turned into. He is handsome and just as sweet as can be. I was thrilled to see him and he seems to be doing well. We hope he will come back many times this summer!!


So that was our weekend. We are hoping our home study will begin this next week as I have already started our dossier paperwork so I would love the home study to get moving. We are still thinking over the names but we are really still leaning towards Finley. We will see. I think I will take the kids to Disneyland tomorrow since they are off school and Kevin has to sleep (he is working graveyards). Anyway, I hope all of you are enjoying the long weekend as we remember those who have served to preserve our freedom!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

The Name Game

It is crazy how much the kids want to name our new little girl. The boys want us to pick a name and use it so we can call her by name as opposed to calling her "your new little sister." Mia doesn't care what her name is-- she just wants her sister home from China and asks literally 20 times a day when her sister will be home from China-- too cute!!! So, there is a name floating around that we all LOVE and are leaning towards but I think it is a little too soon to make a final decision so we are going to chew on this name for a while and I guess we will see. Sooooooooooo the suggested name we are leaning towards is.............................

Drum roll please...........

Finley (Chinese name) Bock

So, what do you think? I love it! It works well and fits with our last name. Also, my long time friend Jamie who just adopted her daughter domestically, named her Finley and when I heard that name I loved it immediately!!!!!

Input please!!!!!!

AMAZING NEWS!!! China Here We Come!!!!

Yes, the title of the post says everything. We are heading back to China to adopt another little girl!! We are thrilled at the prospect and cant wait to see which daughter God has chosen for our family.

The story is obviously from God as he has been working on all of our hearts for quite some time. Over the past 3 to 6 months I have been watching many friends return to China (or other countries) to adopt their second child. I have watched and wondered if that could ever happen for us but I remember clearly discussing with Kevin way back when that 3 kids is enough for us. Even so, I still thought about adopting again frequently and even signed up to see our agencies SN spotlight babies that come out in emails. Over the months my heart has softened to the idea but I have not been able to bring myself to discuss it with Kevin as I was worried he would flat out say NO and then the idea would be over. On Monday night I was getting ready to go to bed and Kevin called like he frequently does before I go to bed (Kev is working graveyards right now). We did our normal chit chat and then he said, "Hay, Ive been wanting to talk with you about something for a while. God keeps laying this on my heart and I have been praying about it for a while and I think God is telling us that we need to adopt again." I was shocked, amazed, elated and joyful in one swoop!! I could not believe how God had been working on our hearts separately and then, in His timing, chose to bring the idea up to discuss. Needless to say, I was thrilled and we both immediately decided on China Special Needs through our previous adoption agency Nightlight Christian Adoptions.

Anyway, we are moving along and just thrilled to be going back. The boys are beyond excited and they are already looking at names and Mia says she wants her little sister from China NOW!! She does not want to wait. Neither do we!! We are wanting our next daughter to be within about a year to year and a half of Mia's age so our referral will probably be about 2 to 2.5 at referral. We want the girls to grow up together and be good friends. We are open to most minor and correctable special needs but we are also very aware of what we can handle and must be cognoscente of our limitations and current family needs. We are hoping to have our dossier to China by August and hopefully have a referral by September. If we have a September referral, we should be in China around Spring 2011. Those are totally rough ideas of times but they should be relatively on target with the agencies approximations.


So, there you have it!! Another amazing journey to our waiting daughter! I just cant believe how God works and I am sooooooo looking forward to the journey we are starting. By the way, any name suggestions? If any of you are done having kids and you had a great name you never used-- throw it my way. I would love to hear all your suggestions??

Big Hugs!!!

Three years ago today- May 21, 2007

Three years ago today we were blessed to become the parents of the most amazing little girl!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

She was a quiet little peanut who stole our hearts the second we saw her. She continued through our time in China to develop into a chatty little doll that was inquisitive and fun. She is now a strong willed, stubborn, incredibly smart, beautiful, loving and sweet 3 and a half year old who continues to remind us what a magical process adoption is! She is amazing and we thank God for allowing us to be her parents!!!

Sorry but jewelry and clippies!!

I'm really sorry I have been missing in action. I have just been really busy-- like I'm not joking- really really really busy!!! Every job I have is going crazy right now. I don't know when it is going to slow down but hopefully soon.

I did want to let you guys know about a give away a blogger mom is having. I will post details about the give away very soon. Until then, you can check out her site to view the beautiful jewelry she makes. The giveaway is coming soon. Check out her site HERE!!

Another mom I know from Mia's day care started making clippies and now has an etsy site you must check out!! I am going crazy buying clips from Lauren. Her clips are absolutely adorable and also very well made. I just love these clips and you must check them out. They are also very reasonably priced-- so check out her site HERE!!

Happy Mothers Day To All!!!!

I saw this on another blog and actually cried. It is touching and sums up motherhood really well. Happy Mothers Day to all!! We are all wonderful moms- even if we don't quite believe it ourselves. We are all different and provide our kids with unique and different opportunities. We are not all the same and while the grass always seems greener and that other moms are better-- they are not-- they are just different. So, to all us insecure moms-- as well as to the secure moms-- Happy Mothers Day!!!!

Mommy and Me Disney

Mia and I decided to do a mommy and me day at Disneyland all by ourselves. It was fun just to hang with Mia alone- hard to do with 3 kids but we had a really nice time- a special time.

The typical entry to Disney photo

My pretty girl

On the carousel- Mia always loves this ride

Cutie

Seeing Mickey

Mia totally loves Mickey

In the Mickey house

WAY WAY TOO Busy!!!

Sorry to be so behind on posting but I have been far too busy. Ive had so much going on with regular work and then all my other "side" stuff seemed this week to rev into high gear which is great but I'm just crazy busy!! Anyway, got tons of cute pics to post but I need a few more days to get this done. Stay tuned-- they are coming- Thanks for your patience.

By the way, I saw that Kim over at 3 Peanuts had posted about making your marriage a priority and I have to say this has been on my heart over the last number of months. Kev and I have what I would consider a good marriage. We rarely fight- get along well - enjoy each others company- agree on most family decisions but we go through our "ships passing in the night" type times here and there. Kev started on graveyards a month or so again and it is sooooo hard staying connected when literally he goes to work when I get home and when he gets home I go to work and he is off to bed. It is crazy!! Then, because Kevin is away so much during the week, I feel guilty taking him away from the kids one night during the weekend to be alone. So, we are in a disconnect phase that I sooooooo badly want to get reconnected. I think with 3 kids, and way too many jobs that we can become complacent with the "ships passing" scenario, but I'm done with it. I need to reconnect with my hubby and very soon. I miss our snuggle times before we fall asleep. I miss sleeping next to him every night. I miss him making us those AWESOME dinners. But what I mostly miss is just hanging with my amazing husband. Soon-- I tell you-- SOON we will reconnect!! I will make it happen-- before everything else!!! Thanks Kim for making me think about this.