Adoption Update

So we thought we would be traveling in August, but again Russia runs behind.  We had to redo a bunch of paperwork for no apparent reason.  We also will be repeating the kid's physicals and all our labwork and xrays this month.  The word we get is that our court date will be in September.  Please continue to pray for things to go smoothly and that maybe one of these grant people would feel sorry for us and give us some money :)  We are anxious to bring Alexis home.  We've been working on her room and when its done we will post pics.

Kiddo quotes

So we were explaining to Jackson and Jonah yesterday that they were starting swim lessons. Jonah makes a fist and pumps it straight in the air and says "SWEET!"  

The boys have been really into Toy Story and so we broke down and bought Toy Story 2.  There's a horse on there called Bullseye, but according to Jonah he's Pullseye.  Pullseye goes everywhere with us... no there's no toy just a horse in Jonah's imagination that goes in the car, in the pool and pretty much anywhere we go.

Jackson announced to me the other day that when Lexi got here he was going to teach her "how to do nice things and jump really high".

Jonah's tent

A few times this year when we've been bored, we make a tent out of Jonah's bed. Apparently during nap he decided to make his own tent and then fall asleep in it.  Notice that he's also at the foot of the bed.

Other KC pics

Worlds of Fun

The whole gang went to Worlds of Fun when we were in KC.  The boys loved everything.  They wanted to ride every ride again and again.  On every ride they were up high on, Jonah would say "look at me, I flyin' high like a black bird!"  no idea where that came from.  They rode the kiddie roller coaster, the Wacky Worm, 8 times total!  It was a great day, no lines, and us big kids got to ride all the big roller coasters while we were there too.

Prayer Request

Our application for an adoption grant is being reviewed this week and we will be notified by the end of the week if we get it, so please be praying that we qualify.   Thanks!

Jackson's milk

So the other day Clay had poured milk out of a new carton for the boys at breakfast.  Jackson tells me that the milk smells funny and we discover that its bad.  Anyway, we're discussing it and Jackson says, "Yeah, it tasted bad, kind of like grandma's soil milk"  Translation... soy milk.  You gotta laugh!

Fun with Aunt Heather

We went to a indoor playground called MonkeyBiz.  The boys jumped and jumped and jumped...

Jonah didn't let the "over 3" on the big slide stop him.  You had to crawl through a tunnel, up a wall, through another tunnel, then up a huge wall and down the slide.  I know this b/c I did it with Jonah the first time, but after that he was all on his own.

Great grandparents- GG and Poppy

There's this great park close to my grandparents that we always try to take the boys.  This year they discovered the tire swing.   Jonah was laughing hysterically.  It's a little hard to capture the moment :)

GG and Poppy and the boys.

Great Grandparents- GG and Gmac

Jonah plays golf with his bat.  I guess you can tell where we live :)

More rock climbing and throwing rocks in the creek.

Uncle Clay attempts to demonstrate how to throw paper airplane.

GG helps out too.

GG and Gmac with the boys.

KC Zoo

We went to the zoo while in KC visiting everyone.  All Jonah wanted to see was kangroos and he got his wish.  It's apparently fun to climb rocks no matter where you are.  

This is Emma, one of Jackson's friends from KC.  Her class was at the zoo on a field trip and we ran into them.

Jonah sings!

Jonah loves to sing these days.  Here he is singing his version of the ABC's. Notice the "T, V, U". You'll have to pause my music off to the right.

Russia pics

I know its a long time coming, but all the Russia pics were on Clay's computer which he proceeded to drop about 2 days after we got home and then it was in the shop for a week.  Anyway, they finally got transferred to my computer.  There are much more pics on Clay's blog, so I didn't see any reason to post a bunch, but these are some of my favorites.  

She loved being held, though they kept telling me to put her down and play with her.  Not sure why they cared.  She also loved for Clay to push her around in this little tricycle thing.   If he stopped, she would start rocking, trying to get it moving herself.  You can see the little scrapbook we left with her.  It had  family pics that they are supposed to show her on a regular basis.  

Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for the 2nd trip.  We have been in the midst of a ton of paperwork that has not been easy to complete.  When we get it turned in then they will set our court date.  All the medicals are only good for 3 months, so pray they don't set it too far off or we will have to repeat everything.  And, obviously, we're really ready to bring her home. I think Jonah asks every day when "little sister" is coming home. Thanks for all the support, we are so blessed to have friends and family!

Big Move!

We moved the boys into the same room last weekend!  They're doing great.  There was a lot of talking and giggling the first couple of nights, but they're pretty settled in now and are loving it.  Jonah still asks every night if he gets to sleep in his "brand new bed" and if "bro bro is sleeping in the bunk".  Like some day we're going to move him back.

From Russia

We've had some trouble with communications from Russia, but we finally have some internet access. Things are going really well though our bodies are completely confused as to what day and time it is.  Clay has posted an update on his blog... see link to the right.  So you can read more there and see some pictures.  Thanks for all your prayers.

New Referral!

So we didn't think we'd get any info on the new little girl, but the people in Russia have been working hard and so we got some pictures today.  She's actually 19 months old right now, so she's exactly a year younger than Jonah. Everything looks good, so just keep praying!

hotels

So while we're in Russia we will spend 2 nights in Krasnoyarsk at the Hotel Krasnoyarsk.  You can see it online at http://www.hotelkrs.ru/indexe.htm.  We will also spent 1 night in Moscow at the Grand Marriott.  There are actually 3 Marriotts in Moscow.  Who knew?  You can look at it online at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mowgr.  Thanks to some friends here who work for the Marriott, we got a great deal on the room.  I joked to Clay that we were staying at nicer hotels in Russia than we've ever stayed at here in the States.  We will have one free day in Moscow, so we hope to do a little sightseeing provided the weather cooperates.   

Rough Stuff

So our social worker called this morning with bad news.  I guess this never happens, but some judge in Russia made a decision that affected a bunch of kids in orphanages and the little girl referred to us was one of them.  Anyway, now we will not be getting that little girl.  It feels weird to grieve over someone I never really had, but you can get very attached to a picture.  Clay and I have spent the morning crying and trying to explain to Jackson what happened when we don't really even understand it ourselves.  They did say there's a possibility of another little girl that's about 15 months old.  We will know more on this in the next 24 hours.  As of right now, we are still heading to Russia next week and will meet this new little girl.  Please pray for us to make the right decisions for our family!  It's a big adjustment to our minds and spirits to switch from one girl and just move on to the next.  We need to grieve, but we also want to move on with new possibilities. I will post when we know more.

Adoption

I am going to try to post info on our process when I have time.  Yesterday, we started working on travel plans for which we have to have Visas, so we spent the afternoon running around.  We had pictures taken, filled out forms, and overnighted it all to the travel agency who will turn them in for us and then we should have them by the 18th!  Today our plane tickets were finalized.  We are gone 6 days, but somehow only need 3 nights in a hotel.  That tells you how much we're going to be on airplanes. :)

Our Little Girl!

We got the call from our social worker this week. We are leaving on April 22nd for our first trip to Russia which will be about 6 days.  Grandma is coming to stay with the boys!  When we get back and complete our paperwork then they will set our court date for 2-4 months out and that's when we'll take our 2nd trip to bring her home!  

Please pray for our Visas to get processed quickly, safe travels, and for my mom with the boys!  Thanks to everyone who has supported us through this process with prayers and financing!  We love you all and can't wait to introduce Lexi to you in person!