Yesterday

So yesterday we went to the Aquarium because we are using this curriculum this year and love it. We told the kids when we finished it we'd go to the aquarium. We had an amazing time. Everyone had their own favorites, it wasn't crowded, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much all the kids remembered from what we've learned. Joshua kept saying, "Hey mom, we've seen that in that science book!"

Some of my favorite pictures from the aquarium...

Around lunchtime I thought... well, I didn't hear from our agency I guess it didn't come today. Then when we got home guess what was in my inbox... to say that I was excited would be an understatement. I think I deafened a few of my kids. 

Our agency had already sent us everything we'd need to move to the next step so I just printed it out, finished up the paperwork and mailed it on to the next thing today!

The LOA is dated November 23rd so while I was pouting patiently waiting while another family got theirs for Thanksgiving God knew it was in the mail. I'm sure glad He is so patient with me!

We are so excited to be bringing little Micah home SOON!

And here are some more fun pictures of camping over the weekend. We will definitely be going back to Tallulah Gorge campground.

 We went to Goats on the Roof in Clayton, GA.

While we were camping Isaac wanted to sleep in his tent outside. Since he didn't have a willing parent to sleep with him. I did what any parent would do thinking about a 7 year old sleeping in a tent in 30 degree weather. I showed him pictures online of frost bite! Yes, I did. And it worked!!

But I also promised that he and Joshua could sleep in the tent in their room when we got home. 

 And of course the girls wanted to spend the night together....

3 Beautiful Letters

LOA!!!!

Oh Yeah!! Details tomorrow... need to get to bed... dreaming about China in February or March!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are enjoying a weekend away at Tallulah Gorge camping for Thanksgiving. We celebrated with both of our families last weekend so we took the time to get away.

My favorite part of camping is that I never know what time it is. These are my other favorite parts.

I just realized that 2 weeks from today Joshua will be just getting out of surgery to reconstruct his palate and have a nose revision in Boston. Wow... the time is upon us. Please pray for him and us as he has the surgery and then recovers.

Unfortunately no LOA yet... looks like it'll be spring in China for us. Praying for little Micah as he waits, for those caring for him, and for his protection. It breaks my heart that he is across the world with no one to fend for him. Praying for God's protection of his heart, mind, and body...

Pigs, pirates, and cool kids

As I was baking some things for the weekend I was listening to Grace and Faith play Christmas songs on their violin and guitar. I started thinking about the grafting of our family through adoption again. A week or so ago Faith and Joy were talking about how they were best friends... Joy then said with a giggle, "And we fight sometimes." They both laughed. It was so sweet and is so fun to see the grafting process. Okay... well it's not so fun to feel the growing pains but the end results are amazing. All that to say... I have some insanely, incredible kids. For which I am VERY grateful.

One recent birthday girl LOVES pigs. The last 3 birthdays have had pigs in the theme.

Then one baby of mine is now a pirate for 6 hours a day. Much to his mama and his disappointment his patch wearing was upped to 6 hours a day instead of 3. (Loud groan and whining inserted here) But I guess if it must be-you'd might as well color on the thing and walk around saying "Arg" with a dart gun in your hand.

While waiting...

This is what we did while waiting for the ghost LOA.... After Halloween I decided I needed a little pick me up to deal with Joshua's upcoming surgery and Micah's missing LOA. Since I'll be gone for 2 weeks in December for Joshua's surgery and the first week or so at home recovering will be a blur I thought it'd be fun to enjoy the Christmas decorations now.

I was right! Christmas decorations after Halloween might be a new tradition at our house. For those of you that think people just skip over Thanksgiving to get to Christmas by putting out decorations too early I'd have to say you are wrong. I'll just add to my "Thankful For" list that my tree is up and I'm enjoying every morning reading by it for a few weeks longer this year.

Does anyone know what this is by our Thanksgiving book? We read this book every year! A favorite for sure! 

This was used by "The Tithing Man" at church by the pilgrims. Each end of this utensil had a purpose in church. The knob would tap kids' heads for talking or giggling. The feather end would tickle if someone fell asleep during one of their VERY long church services. Isaac got this during a pilgrims class at co op this semester. They all think it's funny. I think I'm putting it in our church bag this week for our fidgety child :)

More birthday parties...

My parents took us out for pizza for Faith's birthday.

This was so funny! Joshua actually won the jackpot on some game in the arcade! 200 Tickets!! When I say he was so excited I mean he was unbelievably excited. He didn't trade in the tickets. He wanted to keep them. Fortunately the nice people at Stevie B's let him keep the tickets and get a prize!

Then, tonight Faith had no less than 10 girls over to spend the night. I should really get some Mom of the Year award. Really though they are being so good. The older girls made a "spa" for them to do. We had a bonfire and they played games outside. Now they are in the basement playing... I'm hoping they will start nodding off to sleep at some point around midnight.

Happy Birthday Faith! You are so loved!

Happy Birthday Sweet Faith!

Guess who went and turned 10 on us!