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.