So close, yet so far.....A carepackage for Will

Right before we traveled for Sammy, we sent and album of our family so he could see our faces and hopefully the nanny's would spend time with him talking about the transition and who we are and that we should be there in the next 6 weeks or so...It makes it feel close..But I still feel like the next few weeks are going to creep by!!

I've always felt if you sent the family photos to soon, the signifgence for everyone just wouldn't be there, and certainly at their young age it wouldn't stick...he has a bed pillow with our photos i sent in the fall, so maybe he's been sleeping with it for a while??

We also sent a disposable camera, a letter and some candy. We want to be thinking good things when he's looking at our pics!! here's a copy of our letter!

Dear Zhang Liang

Your Mommy and Daddy are working hard to finish the process so we can come see you in China and bring you to the United States to live with us. We are very excited and can't wait to have you at home. You will have three sisters and Zhang Jun will be your brother. We have alot of fun, and there are alot of toys to play with. We are all very nice and we will take good care of you! We have sent some picture of us so you can get used to what we look like. We will see right after the Holidays.

We love you!!

Mommy, Daddy and family


and...we finally got our 800 approval after a long painful wait! Much longer than the average, don't know why we can never get out of that place quickly....i take that back, yes i do...it's our officer!

New Pictures....please can I just go get him already!!!

FINALLY!! new pictures! It feels like forever! It's been since June since we've seen any new pics of his sweet face! My hearts a flutter and the tears are flowing! He looks so sweet, and so great! He and Sam are just about exactly the same size! He's actually 2 inches shorter and 3 pounds heavier, shouldn't really notice it. God did it again...I have to say, I've been one grumpy bug about my 800 approval, it should come today or tomorrow, but of course it's on the long side of normal...no quick approval for us. But i guess we go when it's time, not when WE want...but prayers for quick process would still be appricated!!! Enjoy my sweet baby..it's all I can do it stare at him!!! don't forget, clicking on the pics makes them bigger and cuter<3

I hate those mom's that brag about their kids all the time ;)

WARNING: If you hate those blog entry's where the mom's brag about their kids constantly...STOP READING NOW, and go do something else...

Ok, you've been warned
I'll start with my oldest:

Jessa:

she got straight A's! and she won the MQ Halloween costume contest for her grade for the 3rd year in a row! and I'm so proud of the choices she's making starting out adolescents! she thinks she want to go to Lexington Catholic HS, and she's a bit to uptight about her placement exam coming up next weekend...but she's still going to try out for SCAPA (creative arts school) and she's even more uptight about THAT audition...she's quite talented on the stage, and a great writer! pray for a little peace for my little girl. I'm sooo proud of her, and I may be so unhumble, she becoming such a beautiful young lady!

Kenna:

she's having a FABULOUS school year! Mostly A's with a sprinkle of B's if I may brag! And what a little soccer player...who knew?? I had to BEG her to sign up and play..Brynn wanted to play, she had NO interest and she's the one who cried the night after her last game and is begging to play indoor winter soccer! and she can DANCE! sometimes I have to tell her..please don't move like that, it makes me nervous...and she's only 9! and she's got spunk and a will of her own...and we LOVE her for it!!

Brynn:

heaven's missing an angle when God sent this one to us. This is one sweet child. With a head full of ringlets, huge innoscent brown eyes, and a TREMENDOUS sense of humor it's hard not to fall for her. I missed all my kids when I sent them off to kindergarden...but I really mourned when she left. I laughed myself silly everyday. You never knew what was coming out of her mouth. I know my MIL felt the same and she raised 6 children. She also has something special with God. A natural draw to the faith. From the time she was a toddler she would go into my Inlaws grotto in their back yard and talk to Mother Mary and the saints, and when she would stay with them while I worked whe would tell Nanny she needed to "talk to the angles". When "Our Lady of Fatima" came to visit our church and when went to visit her, most were paying refuge in the pews, Brynn however drops on her knees directly in front of the statue and tells in an open voice just like conversation how she knows how special she is and how lucky we are to have her. Many in the front few isles were wiping tears and came up to me later to tell me how sweet that was to witness. She also has such a sensitive heart. No disciple needed here. If you look at here wrong she will burst into tears then you will be flooded with "I'm sorry" cards. this of course DOES NOT apply to arguring with her sister!!!

Sammy:

To come later...blog time over!