Yes, that's right! We signed adoption papers on Monday, March 23rd. Whoopee! Now, we sit back, relax and wait for the judge to call us in to his chambers for the final event in this process. We have been told this has been amazingly fast and for that we are grateful! Protocol is that the kids have to be in our home 6 months before you can sign the adoption papers - but we got to sign exactly 1 month early! The court event should be in about 6 weeks!
The kids are happy!
Dad and Mom are happy!
We are one happy family!
BTW - Sweet comments followed . . .
Daily Justin tells us he is so happy that we found them and I tell him we feel so blessed to have been found! But Andrea is a little more reserved - so you can imagine how I felt when the evening of the adoption signing she said she wished her birth mom and dad could meet us so they would know what a great mom and dad she has. That comment brought tears to my eyes . . but as I relayed the comment to James a few minutes later Justin overheard and remarked, "I think she is getting the big picture!"
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
AT LAST!
This picture shows you where I would like to be - instead I am at my desk at the office during one of the biggest tax season's ever! It reminds me of a beautiful trip that James and I took to Ireland back in the summer of 2001. I can dream, can't I?
And now at last I can get some of you "off my back" (and you know who you are) . . . sorry for the huge delay in getting these pics up - but as you know it is TAX SEASON! We are amazingly busy! Can't complain I know! No time for chit chat - sorry!
Andrea in her cute dance outfit - she took a Ballet and Tap class which she loved!
Our last visit with Grandma David - just two days before she passed away. You can see how much the kids loved her!
Andrea's 8th birthday! She took goodies to school and that evening we went to Chili's for dinner and the unwrapping of too many gifts!
Of course brother thought it was quite funny - all of her girl gifts!Our 8 year old sweetie!
Our trip to the happiest place on earth - Disneyland!
Justin as Benjamin Franklin for his oral book report. He got totally into character!
He is quite a little actor!
Andrea took a cheerleading class which she learned to dislike quickly when she discovered that doing cartwheels was part of the deal! 
Justin has been taking Basketball since mid January. He loves it and makes a great guard! We love going to his games!
Andrea took a cheerleading class which she learned to dislike quickly when she discovered that doing cartwheels was part of the deal! 
Justin has been taking Basketball since mid January. He loves it and makes a great guard! We love going to his games!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Alright Already!
I know that I am way past due with my postings . . .however who knew mothering was going to be full time job! It is by far the most fun, fulfilling, exciting, wonderful, tiring, and overwhelming job I've ever had!!!
Since our last post about 3 weeks ago we have:
Celebrated Andrea's 8th birthday - Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
Had our first Valentine's together as a family . . .love . . .love
Made a quick trip to Santa Maria to see James' mom in the hospital and as it turns out said "good bye" to her. Grandma David left this world on Feb. 13th - just 2 days after we saw her. Justin says he can see her going up an invisible escalator to meet God - he gets it! Ruth David was an amazing lady. She was the most gracious person I have ever met and I am sure she never uttered an unkind word about anyone. We certainly miss her! The kids only got to meet her twice - but fortunately both times she was "on top of her game" as James would say. (a little tough to be when you are 96 years old) She was happy to meet the kids and responded so lovingly towards them.
The rest of the past 3 weeks have been basketball, dance, skating, homework, school projects, etc., etc. and for James a great big giant TAX SEASON!
I promise I will add pics next time!
Since our last post about 3 weeks ago we have:
Celebrated Andrea's 8th birthday - Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
Had our first Valentine's together as a family . . .love . . .love
Made a quick trip to Santa Maria to see James' mom in the hospital and as it turns out said "good bye" to her. Grandma David left this world on Feb. 13th - just 2 days after we saw her. Justin says he can see her going up an invisible escalator to meet God - he gets it! Ruth David was an amazing lady. She was the most gracious person I have ever met and I am sure she never uttered an unkind word about anyone. We certainly miss her! The kids only got to meet her twice - but fortunately both times she was "on top of her game" as James would say. (a little tough to be when you are 96 years old) She was happy to meet the kids and responded so lovingly towards them.
The rest of the past 3 weeks have been basketball, dance, skating, homework, school projects, etc., etc. and for James a great big giant TAX SEASON!
I promise I will add pics next time!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I'm Not Gonna Be One of Those Mamas...I'm NOT!
I guess that is what everyone says, huh? I used to watch as my students had all of these after school activities and thought - I would never allow my child to be in so many activities! That is ridiculous when children barely have time to do anything except all of these silly classes that these parents sign them up for . . . and on and on . . .
Guess what I am now one of "those mamas"!!!!!!
When we first got the kids Justin wanted to take golf lessons - so he signed up for a set of four one hour lessons on four consecutive Saturdays. That worked out well - gave me and Andrea time to get our nails done and have a little girl time, etc.
Then Andrea wanted to take dance lessons . . .so January 7th she started Ballet and Tap on Wednesday afternoons. ( $48 for ballet and tap shoes at Payless and $30 at Target for the dance outfit) Now Justin and I have a date at Starbucks for Carmel Apple Cider every Wednesday afternoon.
Then Justin and Andrea started roller skating every Saturday morning from 9:30-12 - no I do not get alone time . . .I am going around the rink holding "someone" upright for a couple of hours!! It is a blast to see how far they have come with the skating and I have had a chance to visit with good friends who got us started with this idea.
Today we begin Justin's basketball for the next eight weeks - practices on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and games on the weekends!(Shaq Basketball shoes $38)
Then just yesterday we signed Andrea up for Cheerleading - Tues. and Thurs. afternoons . . .(Cheerleading Shoes $25)-I didn't even know there were Cheerleading shoes . . .
As Popeye says "I can't stans no more!"
Pics to come!
Guess what I am now one of "those mamas"!!!!!!
When we first got the kids Justin wanted to take golf lessons - so he signed up for a set of four one hour lessons on four consecutive Saturdays. That worked out well - gave me and Andrea time to get our nails done and have a little girl time, etc.
Then Andrea wanted to take dance lessons . . .so January 7th she started Ballet and Tap on Wednesday afternoons. ( $48 for ballet and tap shoes at Payless and $30 at Target for the dance outfit) Now Justin and I have a date at Starbucks for Carmel Apple Cider every Wednesday afternoon.
Then Justin and Andrea started roller skating every Saturday morning from 9:30-12 - no I do not get alone time . . .I am going around the rink holding "someone" upright for a couple of hours!! It is a blast to see how far they have come with the skating and I have had a chance to visit with good friends who got us started with this idea.
Today we begin Justin's basketball for the next eight weeks - practices on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and games on the weekends!(Shaq Basketball shoes $38)
Then just yesterday we signed Andrea up for Cheerleading - Tues. and Thurs. afternoons . . .(Cheerleading Shoes $25)-I didn't even know there were Cheerleading shoes . . .
As Popeye says "I can't stans no more!"
Pics to come!
TAGGING??
Is tagging even legal???? Oh . . . not that kind I guess! My good friend, Nicole (the bow girl) tagged me ` so watch out you could be next!
The rules are:
1. Go to your fourth picture folder
2. Upload the fourth picture
3. Tell everyone about it
4. Tag four more friends!
Honestly, I think Nico tagged me just to see if I could accomplish this feat! Actually if it weren't for her I would still be trying to figure how to upload a picture on my blog - that is if I could even figure out how to create a blog in the first place. So here goes . . .
Now Nicole will never believe this . . . this a picture of Andrea singing in a church program a few weeks after we got her. I used this picture to show off the cute bow that Nicole made for her on another blog entry. (Honestly this is the fourth picture in my fourth picture folder, Nico) I loved how the bows all attach to the little stretchy headband and she is so pretty in pink and white! What is scary are the eyes on these poor kids - they look like they trying out for some horror flick instead of singing in a church program!!!! (That's what you get when a bad photographer enlarges the photos to the giant size uh hum Mom . . .Erin . . .Diana . . .)
So that is it!
You've been tagged . . .
Diana
Erin
Krysta
Linda
Have fun!
The rules are:
1. Go to your fourth picture folder
2. Upload the fourth picture
3. Tell everyone about it
4. Tag four more friends!
Honestly, I think Nico tagged me just to see if I could accomplish this feat! Actually if it weren't for her I would still be trying to figure how to upload a picture on my blog - that is if I could even figure out how to create a blog in the first place. So here goes . . .
Now Nicole will never believe this . . . this a picture of Andrea singing in a church program a few weeks after we got her. I used this picture to show off the cute bow that Nicole made for her on another blog entry. (Honestly this is the fourth picture in my fourth picture folder, Nico) I loved how the bows all attach to the little stretchy headband and she is so pretty in pink and white! What is scary are the eyes on these poor kids - they look like they trying out for some horror flick instead of singing in a church program!!!! (That's what you get when a bad photographer enlarges the photos to the giant size uh hum Mom . . .Erin . . .Diana . . .)
So that is it!
You've been tagged . . .
Diana
Erin
Krysta
Linda
Have fun!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Not Big Enough!
My dear mom who can hardly use a computer has a complaint! On her birthday last October my brother, Jon gave her a very nice laptop computer. He set up an email account for her and gave her a quick how-to lesson!
The reason she wanted it was to keep up with my cousin, Erin's blog and see Grant in all of his cuteness. Then we got the kids and she started reading my blog and looking at our posted pics. Well, after spending about an hour putting many of our holiday pictures on our blog, etc. her remark was why don't you choose bigger pic size like Erin and Brett do?? You can always see Grant's face so well . . . and when are you going to put videos on like Erin and Brett?????
You give Grandma a computer and now I have to compete with my 30 something cousin?????
Well, she says, the pics just aren't big enough!
The reason she wanted it was to keep up with my cousin, Erin's blog and see Grant in all of his cuteness. Then we got the kids and she started reading my blog and looking at our posted pics. Well, after spending about an hour putting many of our holiday pictures on our blog, etc. her remark was why don't you choose bigger pic size like Erin and Brett do?? You can always see Grant's face so well . . . and when are you going to put videos on like Erin and Brett?????
You give Grandma a computer and now I have to compete with my 30 something cousin?????
Well, she says, the pics just aren't big enough!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
CHRISTMAS PICS!
Our three Christmas trees!
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"The Glory of Christmas" at the
Crystal Cathedral with Grandma!
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Crystal Cathedral with Grandma!
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Making our Gingerbread house!
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Our school Christmas parties!
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Our visit with Santa!
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Our visit to "Candy Cane Lane" - the most beautifully decorated street around!
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CHRISTMAS MORNING!
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A Day in the Snow (we made a snowman, too!)
The crown made out of the big orange leaf was Andrea's idea , while Justin hunted for small stones for the eyes and buttons! It was a great day of fun, wet clothes and cold, ending with dinner and a visit with my long time friend, Harriet (No pic, sorry)
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NEW YEARS DAY 2009 AT KNOTT"S BERRY FARM!
29 rides later . . .the park closed and we went home!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
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