Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Fun summer pictures that never got posted.....

Phew...I can't believe it is the end of summer. The girls go back to school next week and we have been busy gearing up for that. We are taking off for Spokane this weekend to visit Grandma, Grandpa and Gigi and then summer is officially over. Sad!

I have lots of fun projects planned for the fall and winter, so I do have something to look forward to since I am done with school. One of those is to finally finish Gracie's room and start working on her 100 good wishes quilt. I have had all the quilt squares for 2 years now and they are gathering dust. Hopefully those things will get me feeling like the adoption will really happen.

Have a great weekend!!!

BBQ with Adoption Friends....

Monday evening we had the pleasure of hosting a BBQ with Abigail's Family and with K1 to celebrate Abby's referral and upcoming trip to China. It was fun to hear all the details that go on once the referral actually happens. It is like wait, wait, wait.....then a mad dash to the finish. Hearing all the preperations has gotten me excited again about the adoption. I've had to put much of the adoption stuff on the back burner because it was getting too painful to be to involved. Having the chance to experience the process with new friends has been so wonderful and gives me hope.

We all had a great time and the night went by way too fast. Not to worry though, I get to attend the baby shower in couple weeks and then I will be at the airport when they arrive! Thanks Ruth, Brian, boys, and K1 for such a great evening....and for fitting it into your crazy schedule right now.

My girls and Abby's brothers got along great too....what a treat!:)

Now I am REALLY Done!!!!!!!

YIPPEE!!!

I know I posted my commencement photos from the graduation ceremonies in June (like the one above). I walked through the ceremony but I still need to take 3 classes during summer quarter to recieve my diploma.

Last night I turned in my last paper and did my last presentation! Today I am officially done!

It was tough this summer. I took a full load and the kids were home and the quarter is shortened but the workload stays the same. I feel exhausted and there is only a couple weeks before school starts and we need to do school shopping and all those back to fall activities. I need to catch up with all my friends that I have missed during my busy life. Hopefully, they will all forgive me for being MIA for most of these 3 years.

I was able to maintain my good grades but unfortunately the house is messy, laundry is piled up and there is no grocries in the house. I told my family that after 3 years they were going to get their "normal" mother and wife back. After a little rest of course.

Mike and the girls have been gone all week at youth group camps so I am headed out to meet up them...Mike is doing the cooking but everytime I talk to him he is either up a tree hiding or out playing games. I think Mike is reliving the youth group camps he experienced when he was younger. I am just glad they are all having fun....but I miss them so I am outa here!

I will checking in with all my blog buddies in between the laundry piles when I get back ;)

See Ya!

A New Look at our House

Yesterday Kyla got a new look......

Before

After

Now she really looks like a teenager!!! I think she looks pretty darn cute with braces:) Now we have about a month or so to have two children in braces. Hailey gets hers off very soon. At least we are used to the orthodontic payments.

Celebrating Today!!!

Xiu Hua Qiu

Just look at this face....it just melts my heart!!! Congratulations go out to the Webb family! We are so happy for you and can't wait to meet your precious daughter! I am going to love watching Abigail and Grace grow up together. I am already imaging playdates, sleepovers, birthday celebrations and all the childhood activities that we will share together with our daughters! I am so glad that we met over the internet and that we live so close so we can share in each others lives!

Your referral of Abigail gives me a glimpse of what is to come for us! I am so giddy today!

Tick, Tick, Tick.....

Today is a nail biter for my friend Ruth ( http://abigails-journey.blogspot.com/) and her family. Their referral should be here anytime as China sent a batch of referrals over the weekend to waiting families! I am praying for you Ruth!!! Can't wait to see your sweet little ladybug! And.....watching the Olympic opening ceremony was amazing....we have it watched 3 times! Having the Olympics in China right now is making me just ache to be there! Can't wait to see the beautiful sights, smells and people that make China the most awesome place!

And...wasn't this litte boy just the cutest!!! What an inspirational story and a courage little soul!

2 Whole Years.....

Today we celebrate (or cry) that we have now been waiting 2 years for our referral for our little Gracie. Some days it feels like time has just flown by and then other days not so much. We are resolved to wait as long as it takes because God placed this special plan on our hearts and we know it will all be perfectly worked out in the end. I have learned a lot about being patient and dissappointed but honestly I think that has been good for me, even if it is hard at times.


I am excited to have my first baby home with us today after a fun and exhausting week at cheer camp. They did so well with leadership awards, blue ribbons and the spirit stick awarded to them througout the week. Here is a picture the cheer coach sent us this morning with their spirit stick!
Also, has anyone heard about Blurb....I saw this on someone else's blog and am so excited to try out their blog to book software. I feel so guilty at times for rarely scrapbooking anymore but I have all the major events on my blog. Now....with this program I can actually have the blog tranfered to hard book form. It is very reasonably priced too! Sooo cool. Now I have more excuses to blog stuff.....sorry honey;)

Hope you all have a great weekend....last month of summer!!!