Whoop, whoop!

Just got an email from the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China. They stated that our Article 5 approval was issued and picked up by our agencies courier last week. It should be back at the Chinese Center of Adoptive Affairs by now. The next step is for the director of CCAA to sign the travel approval (rumor has it that he's on vacation until next week...gotta love internet adoption rumors!), and we are on our way! I'm guessing a few more weeks before we get the travel dates, but SO excited right now to be making progress:). Praise be to God!

Happy Birthday to our little peanut!

And now....

Then....

On April 29, 2006 we celebrate the 3rd birthday of our sweet little peanut. It's hard to believe that he has already been a part of our family for over half of his life. He is such an amazing little guy, and we are so blessed to be able to be his parents.

A field trip with Daddy.....

I love Sundays!!! Not only do we get the privilege of worship, but I also get to spend most of the day with my hubby. J', Sr. is an amazing husband and father. He works a lot, but always makes time for the family. I really look forward to having him around on Sunday!
Today, he decided to take all of the munchkins for a field trip around the valley. I was going to go with him, but it seemed like he was looking forward to having the kids to himself, and I was certainly happy to oblige. Here are a few pictures that they were able to take..... A cool barn by the dairy.
Some tulips just beginning to bloom.

A "man" picture! Who do you think took it?

J's corn planter.

Tulips

the "junky" tractor . . . J' and D' call it by that name:)

The kids posing for their daddy.

B-ball practice....

If you know the Vk family, you know that b-ball is a big part of their lives. They all seem to have a love for the game, and it has been fun to watch J', Miss M., and D. follow in the family footsteps. They love practicing their "skills" every night after dinner. Swoosh!
J' retrieving an air ball shot by D'

Miss M goofing around

I'm a proud auntie!

Ok....so I need to do a little braggin'. This article is about my niece:). The story is from their local newspaper (I changed some of the article for privacy reason's...mainly the name of the town, my niece's name, etc, but locals will know what college I'm talking about:).....

Here's a "key" before you begin: B', or W', or BW' is my niece

Coach M-coach of college team

B & D W'-my brother-in-law and sister (bw's parents)



W' scholarship for soccerPosted: Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 - 11:37:02 am CDT Staff Write

BFHS senior BW' has accepted a two-year soccer scholarship to play for SVC. The scholarship pays for all three quarters and includes $1,000, which according to Cardinals soccer coach M', which is about as much as a junior college can offer.The daughter of B' and D W', has been playing soccer since she was 4-years-old. BW' made the varsity soccer team as a freshman and played four years.
BW', who played left striker, was being recruited by NIC when she got a phone call from Coach M'. “My aunt used to work with Coach M' and she ran into him at a store in WA'. During their conversation my aunt told him about my soccer playing,” BW' said. According to BW', Coach M' researched her record and talked to some people in Idaho who knew about her talent. Impressed, he immediately sent her a letter of intent. BW' helped her team get to districts every year and this year, the lady B's made it to state. BW' scored 19 goals and four penalty kicks for the season.“I was invited to play in MV with the SVC team and I got the letter of intent before I played with the team,” BW' said.“I feel very excited for her to come here and she came highly recommended by her coach,” said Coach M'. “Her mother (my sister!) is from the area and was on the first girls’ soccer team at SHS. So you can say that B' is somewhat of a legacy.” Coach M' said he looks forward to working with her HS coach in the future. Coach M' is planning a trip in the fall to Idaho to scout a couple of senior girls.“I will be watching the girls’ team play and scouting out talent,” he said. BW' will take classes in pre-pharmacy and hopes to major in pharmacy at a four-year college.“I am stoked,” she said. “I never thought I would get a scholarship because I live in such a small town, and my parents are excited not to have to pay for college for two years.” BW' will move to MV after graduation

Pucker up, baby.....

D' is VERY fond of chocolate milk (aka. chacha milk)! Every morning and night he insists on having it. Tonight, I was feeling lazy (didn't want to get everything out...I'll admit it!) and decided to surprise him w/a little something different. I gave him a glass of orange juice instead and had my camera ready. Apparently, it wasn't what his palate was expecting! I wasn't able to catch the first sip, but to my delight he made the same face after ever single sip, so I happily sat in front of him snapping up pictures left and right (Is that bad?) He actually kept telling me it was "dewishwish," so I took that as a good sign.

Beautiful....

This afternoon the munchkins and I were outside enjoying a beautiful spring day, and Miss M. rushed over to tell me that I needed to look up in one of the trees right in front of our house. Much to our surprise, a young bald eagle was perched above.

Honestly, I can't imagine living anywhere more beautiful! I LOVE SPRING WEATHER!!!! (Obviously, not a bird picture, but I snapped it right before I took the others and thought it was pretty)
A beautiful bald eagle right above me:).

This bird was literally less than 100 ft. from us and didn't seem to mind our staring one bit. He/she sat atop the tree for at least an hour enjoying the view.

New day, new pictures....

A few weeks ago, we put together a package to send to China for Miss A'. I let the kids all pick out something to put in the box, which they were very excited about. We put a few other items in for the other children in China Concern's care, too. J' picked out some coloring books w/crayons, D' picked out candies and Scooby Do and Dora bandaids to share, and M' was in charge of picking out items for Miss A. We sent her a few books, a teddy bear, a blankey, and a little photo album w/pics of the whole family in it.

This morning, we received word from the mission group that they got the package-yay! It appears from the pictures below that Miss A' is already enjoying them.

I am thinking about putting together another small box (shoe box size that can fit into our suitcase easily and won't take up too much room) of items to take to China with us for the mission group. If you are interested in helping out, they are in need of the following items:

1. socks

2. anti-fungal diaper rash cream

3. baby hats and booties

4. toothbrushes

5. toothpaste

6. q-tips

7. bandaids

8. bottles

9. small toys that make noise (ie. rattles, texture type toys).

10. Children's music CD's or tapes

Miss A' snuggling w/her bear, blankey, and book from Miss M.
Miss A' checking out her photo album book. Look closely at the pictures:).
Miss A' opening her goodies.

The cable has been sent!

Just got off the phone with the National Visa Center and some paperwork has been forwarded to Guangzhou, China (not sure the technical terms at this point...I am so lost. I have no idea how someone could navigate thru our immigration system w/limited English speaking abilities. It makes me wonder if that is why so many don't bother and travel across our borders illegally!) It appears from my extensive research(harhar!) that it takes approx. 10-20 days for Guangzhou to issue the Article 5 approval, and then another few weeks to get travel dates. It finally feels like we are "rounding the bend and sprinting toward the home stretch." Praise be to God for continuing to bless our adoption plans so that we can bring A' home in His perfect timing!

Spring break.....

What a busy week we have had! The munchkins were on Spring break last week, and we had a jammed pack week of fun! We celebrated a few birthdays (Happy April Birthday to Uncle M', Uncle K', Auntie K', Carissa, and Auntie A' (who thinks she will always be 21:).

As an added bonus to the break, my folks, my sister and her family came over from Idaho to spend Easter w/us. B', my niece was also over to visit the college that she will attend next year. She will be playing for their soccer team, so she was pretty jacked to meet some of the players and spend time practicing with them. She is such a sweet girl, and we are so excited to have her so close next year.

Auntie D' and Uncle B' even surprised Miss M', Mr. J, and Darling D' with a new puppy. Her name is Bailey, and Miss M. is in LOVE!!! Thank you, Auntie D. and Uncle B.! They haven't stopped talking about her since you left:).

Miss M. and Mr. J. with Bailey Beagle

Papa and D' snuggling while eating breakfast and drinking "chacha" milk. D' LOVED getting hand fed breakfast from Papa:).
My niece B' and Darling D'
Auntie D'(my sister) being jumped on my D', Dunk, and their friend Skylar

Whoops! Put it on twice:)

My momma and Yvonne (our next door neighbor growing up and a great friend!)

My Dad and J' talking "shop" in the kitchen

My brother-in-law from Idaho

My niece and Bailey.

Easter egg hunt '09

Cousin C' in all of her pink glory:)

D' on a mission to find the eggs

Logie-Pie and Auntie Gooch

Owie assessing the situation

The Easter egg crew. From L to R...(front row) D' and Mr. J.

(middle row) Miss M., Logie-Pie, and Uncle T.

(back row) cousin C and Cousin Owie

This morning, we had a few cousins over to color Easter eggs and participate in our annual Easter egg hunt. Everyone had fun, even though some of the older kiddos think the Easter bunny needs to work on his "hiding skills." I will give him the message next year:).

Spring has sprung....

D' walking down a row
M' and Chloe posing for the camera

J' hiding behind the daffodils

Daffodils and Tulips.....what could signify Spring more?? Miss M' and Mr. J' are enjoying a few days off from school for break, and we have a jammed packed schedule! Yesterday, we had Auntie K' and Craig over for lunch and a little play time. Happy Birthday, Auntie K!! After nap time, the kids and I ventured out for a little jaunt down the driveway to take some pictures of a nearby daffodil field. The field was already quite sparse because it was used to supply "fresh cut" flowers, but it still made a nice backdrop for pictures:).

Yeehaw....

I just found out our I-800 was approved on Thursday, April 2. Now, it will make its way to Guangzhou, China where it will meet up with a bunch of other paperwork already sent by our agency. Then, the US Embassy "works their magic (heehee)" on the documents and alerts the Chinese govt. that all is well. I've been told this takes a few weeks time, so when we actually get what is known as Article 5 approval is still unknown (probably sometime in April). From there, China issues travel approval, and then we are off to get Miss A.

We also received an email this morning from one of the missionaries. She shared a funny little story about Miss A. that brought a smile to my face. Evidently, the girl has a blast entertaining herself and flashing her beautiful smile to anyone that walks by:).

Anyhoo, I am off to enjoy a very busy, fun-filled day basking in the almost 70 degree weather!