Ethan and Bridger celebrate their 4th birthday together.....

Ethan and Bridger had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate their 4th birthday birthday together. We got together on 8/16/08. Bridger's birthday is 8/20 and Ethan's is 8/28. Matt, Ethan, and I drove down to Ft. Meyers for the day. We met the Rudd Family (Paul, Karrie, Chari, Aimee, and Bridger) at their house. Then we drove to Lakes Park. I had found on the internet a miniature train that the entire family can ride. I told Karrie about it. She said it was down the street from her and she'd taken Bridger there many times. This is what we decided to do for the Boy's Big Day. I made matching shirts that read, "I'm the Birthday Boy" on the front. On the back it had their name and a big #4.

Karrie supplied a beautiful and yummy cake! Each boy blew out a #4 candle. They exchanged gifts and had a blast opening them. Ethan loves the Matchbox cars and big wheel carrying case that Bridger gave him. He plays with it all the time and now he has something to carry his cars in..... other than a ziplock bag. Yeah Bridger! Thank you!

Then the boys went to play on the playground for a bit. Their dad's took them. They had a fun time. Ethan was sweaty in no time. He is such a sweaty boy. I often call him my "sweaty monkey man"... perhaps not the best nickname but it is said with lots of love.

Bridger, Ethan, Matt, Chari, Paul, and I rode the miniature train around the park. It was hot but it was definitely fun! We will definitely make the trip to Ft. Myers again to ride the train and spend time with the Rudd family. The train rides during the holidays are filled with miniature houses and lights. Karrie said it's really pretty. It will be on our list of things to do for the winter months.



We ended the day with lunch at Red Robin. Matt and I had never been and Matt really wanted to go. It was good to share another moment and a good meal with the Rudd family. After lunch we returned to Bridger's house and watched the video that Chari and Aimee had taken during our day together.

We had such an enjoyable day with the Rudd family. It was nice to make the opportunity to get together to celebrate their birthdays. Next year will be joyous for both of us as Karrie is adopting an adorable 3 year old little boy from China. His name is Gates. Gates' birthday is 7/14, Evan's is 8/10, Bridger's is 8/20 and Ethan's is 8/28. We will definitely have a huge joint birthday party next year!!! I can't wait!

(pictures taken 8/16/08)

Birthday wish for Karrie...

Happy Birthday Karrie! May you have the best birthday ever and let it be the happiest too! I know this will be your last birthday without your son, Gates, in China. He will be home to help Mommy blow out her candles and eat the cake next year! My birthday wish for you is quick paperwork so that Gates may come home very soon! You are truly one of my dearest friends! I love you! Happy Birthday!

Yeah! Good news arrives via mail.......

On Friday, 8-22, we received a post from the wonderful Homeland Security Office. They sent a form called, I-797C, saying they received our paperwork. (It's about time as I sent it in on 6-26). They said to expect another letter shortly scheduling our biometrics (fingerprints) to be taken at the local Tampa office. This is great news! I was so very much excited! What a great way to begin our little weekend get away. We were taking Ethan to SeaWorld for his birthday. We have annual passes and thought it'd be fun to get away Friday night, Saturday, and return Sunday. Well, Sunday night I opened the mail from Saturday and another post had arrived from the Department of Homeland Security. It was my fingerprint appointment scheduled for 9/4 at 12pm. Yippee! What a fantastic way to end our great time away! Then yesterday another post arrives with Matt's fingerprint appointment scheduled for 9/3 at 3pm! We are moving right along in this adoption to bring Evan home. Yeah! This is great news! After the fingerprints are done they go back to be matched up with our I800A application to be then reviewed by Homeland Security. The next step should be approval!
Please continue to pray for quick paperwork so that we may bring our son home before the end of 2008!

Evan's 2nd birthday...

These pictures are from Evan's birthday party. As you know Evan is still in the Philippines. He turned two years old on 8-10. We sent a gift box filled with presents for him in July so it would get to him in time for his birthday. His birthday we very difficult for me. It was difficult knowing he was so far away. I didn't know if being in such a large shelter that anyone would even recognize it was his birthday. I made him a cake and Ethan blew out his candles. The Sister Missionaries, from Matt's church, came over for dinner that night. They remembered that I said during a previous conversation that it was Evan's birthday on the 10th. They surprised me with a gift for him! It was incredibly sweet and kind for them to remember! Ethan opened the gift too. Ethan knew the cake was for Evan's birthday. He also knows the present is for Evan. I put it away for when Evan comes home. I take comfort in the knowledge that that was Evan's last birthday away from his family. (See previous post "Happy Birthday Evan")
(Side note: Sister Kosugi is serving her mission from Japan. She has only been in the states for 6 months. She loves spending time with us. She said that she didn't feel accepted in the U.S. because she is Asian. She didnt know we have an Asian child prior to coming to our house for dinner. She says she feels very loved and accepted at our home and loves to talk about the Asian cultures with us. We should be practicing her English but we always have her say the blessing in Japanese. It sounds beautiful!)






















Happy birthday, sweet baby!











Sister Kosugi

Sister Conover












Ethan opening Evan's gift.

Ethan's new stats...

I took Ethan to the pediatrician for his 4 year old check up before school began. His new stats are as follows. Weight: 40 lbs (in the 80% for his age). Weight: 42 1/4 inches (in the 90% for his age). His actual weight was fluctuating between 38, 39, and 40 lbs because he wouldn't hold still so the nurse wrote 40. I am now buying him 4T tops and bottoms. The 4T gives him some growing room but I found that many of his 3T shirts were showing his belly button. Ah, my little boy is growing up much too quickly.

Bounce U (the second time)....

I just came across these pictures from our second time to Bounce U. I thought I had deleted from my camera on accident but just found them in the wrong place in my picture directories. Yeah! I am happy I found these. The first time I went to Bounce U was just Ethan and I. The second time I went with Matt, Ethan, Rachel, and Riley. Matt was exhausted about half way throuh the night. Therefore most of the pictures are taken with his mouth open. He was quoted as saying, "this is too much exercise!" I do have to admit this is a great workout! We had a blast and have been back many times since these were taken. (Pictures taken 7/29/08) Taken with my lovely camera that sucks!

Rachel and Ethan


Riley

Matt and Rachel. Matt holding on for dear life.

Riley driving his car!

Matt half way up. He climbed to the top!

Ethan and Riley

Ethan playing tug of war with Riley.

Wild man Riley

Rachel and Riley on little slide.

Ethan, obstacle course

Matt helping Ethan over the obstacle wall. Riley doing it all by himself. Go Riley!

Matt, mouth open, obstacle course.

Beautiful Rachel!

Buddies...Ethan and Riley!

Mother In Law birthday gift...

My mother in law, Ellie, is the sweetest person I know. Her birthday is the day after Ethan's. I began thinking about what to make/give her for her birthday. I decided to take Ethan to a local pottery place and have him paint something for her. I knew it would take a week to fire the peice so I was actually planning ahead for once. I took Ethan on July 27th to paint a gift. Her birthday is 8/29. See, planning ahead.... and I even allowed for mailing time. Amazing!

So I take Ethan to paint which I haven't done in about a year. He had recently seen an episode of "Jon and Kate plus 8" (one of his favorite shows) where Kate takes just the girls to paint pottery. I asked Ethan if he'd like to go do that. He said yes. Thus the idea was born about Ellie's gift.
(**Ethan in his apron**)

I took him to the pottery place and selected a table. As we
began to look at the peices I decided to take out my camera.


(I keep a horrible camera in my purse at all times but it works when I need it. It doesn't take the best of pictures but it's all I have with me. You have to say "cheese" and hold very still to the count of 100 before the picture is taken. The "good" camera is at home. It's not very practical to keep in my purse.) During each step of this process I took Ethan's picture. He had a blast! He loved choosing the star to paint for grandma. He loved picking the colors. He loved painting it. I let him do everything. He choose the star himself. He picked each color. He painted all by himself. I wanted this to be his gift to grandma for her birthday. The only thing I did
(**Ethan by the paint wall**)
was write the message on the back of the star. Ethan was a tad impatient waiting for the back to dry, with the message, so he could turn it over to paint the front side. Meanwhile I kept snapping pictures. He did a great job! I was super proud of him. We washed our hands and got ready to leave. I told him we'd come back in a week to pick it up when it was done. He wanted to pick another peice to paint but I told him not today.


When I got home I downloaded all the pictures... perhaps 25 total. I thought they were cute. They were definitely sequential. That's when I got an idea to upload them to Kodak Gallery and make a little book to go along with her gift. I put together this little blue book of about 20 pictures. It turned out so cute! I couldn't wait to get it the final product in the mail.

(**I want this one.**)
A week later we picked up our finished project. Ethan is a Picaso! He did a great job! The star has a metal wire with beads on it so you can hang it on the wall.


The picture book arrived shortly after and it turned out better than online. I was so excited to give the gift to Ellie. I wanted to keep it for myself. I packaged the star and the picture book together then wrapped them in one box. It was great to see the chronical pictures to go along with his painted gift. I was super impressed with this gift. I seriously wanted to keep it for myself. I had shown it to a few of my friends that loved it and loved the idea of the picture book with it.
(**Ready?**)




These are a few of the pictures. As I said, the book had about 20 pictures in it. Ellie loved the gift! I sent it early and made her open the gift when it arrived. It was nice to hear the happiness in her voice when she opened the gift!




(**first stroke of paint**)




I didnt get a picture of his finished star nor his picture book. I wish I had. I guess these are things to remember for next time.


































(**sign for I Love You**)

(**waiting impatiently for the paint on the back to dry. Putting the paint brush in his mouth**)

(**All done**)

(pictures takes 7-27-08)

Ethan's jeep...

My brother, Todd, and his wife, Debbie gave Ethan this jeep. It belonged to their son, Tyler. Last summer when Tyler outgrew it they passed it along. We are very grateful. Ethan loves it. It took awhile for him to understand the concept of steering, gas, and brake. Matt was crashed into many, many times and had bruises to prove it. It's been a year and he is a much better driver now! Gee, only 13 years until he gets his drivers license.
(pictures taken 8-7-08)

My camera is slow. He didnt understand why he had to stop riding his jeep for mommy to take a picture.