Vacation: Day 1

As you can see, I got some pretty~scary travel partners. We set forth on our trip at noon after the kids got out of summer school.

"Is it too much to ask Ash to drive with both hands?" Look ma, no hands! ;o)Pretty girl!Scary!Oh good, cute again!The drive ~ pig farms, cow farms, chicken farms, corn farms, soybean farms...

and Windmill Farms! All that silliness has a price to pay... it's called sleep.

Trust me, that was the Best part of the day. :)

Happy Anniversary Princess!

We have been beyond blessed, to have been hand chosen by GOD, to be the Proud Parents of our beautiful daughter: ~ Hannah MeiRu Jubilee.

Today is Our Forever Family Anniversary, One Year.

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SummerTime in Colorado

Just as we were getting into the van... I looked outside and yelled for the kids to hurry, come look!

Ashley then proceeded to yell at me to hurry, get the camera!!! :)

A closer look; you can tell they were checking us out too.

It's not surprising though,... as loud as Hannah was yelling "Balloon!"

The Golden Ticket

Originally Posted 5/28/09" We got it"!

or should I say, "had it"!

The last document we needed made all of it's rounds this month; It was officially Notarized, Certified, & Authenticated. Our I-797C is on it's way to our Adoption Agency as of today... and from there... to China baby, for LID! (= Log In Date: The official date that China recognizes a family, as a family wanting to adopt.) That would be little ol' us, again! :o)

Update: 6/26/09

We found out today, that our agency has mailed our Dossier To China. {DTC)

Happy Father's Day!

Here He is; The King Of The Castle...Daddy!Hannah bought Daddy this card.

...hmmm, & you guessed it~ all along, She wanted the crown!

Thought I would throw in a photo of our "New to Us"- Used Minivan.

Something about our family & the color "Sunrise Orange". I bet the Bronco Tailgaters' are going to be sooo Jealous come football season!

Please Pray For Our Family To Grow...

ZOO...2009

Ladybug Sighting

Ladybugs:Ladybugs are believed to be good luck in the adoption community. Several years ago, while numerous people waited for their referrals, there was a huge infiltration of ladybugs across the nation. Immediately following the ladybug sightings, a flood of referrals came in for many of the waiting parents. Many people now believe that when a ladybug is seen, a referral is not far behind.
~
When you're having a biological child, you KNOW you are expecting all along the way and you get to hear the baby's heartbeat and see him/her on the ultrasound monitor, you can count the weeks of pregnancy, you begin to feel the baby move and of course your body changes daily. With the adoption process, we wait and wait with no confirmation (except a pile of government forms & an email from our agency to download another newsletter), until we get a referral. And as our friends and loved ones already have shared with us; a referral is only the beginning on the Special Needs Journey. Then, it's faith and hope that get us through, along with lots of prayers, doctors and "thoughts for "WISDOM" to guide us" on the right path to our next child (children)... and a few days like today when it feels a little more "real"... maybe even a step closer. A cloud is lifted... and we suddenly spot a Lovely Ladybug. Update: Today as I signed the two kiddos up for Swimming Lessons III... I saw and held a live ladybug outside the local Park & Rec. Swimming Pool; I happily sung the little ladybug chant to her (?) LOL... and she flew away. :o)

Open Season ~ BackYard BBQ

Whelp, this is it;

Our pathetic attempt of recreating our great times with our FRIENDS...The Wiests and Thibadeaus for a "Holiday Day BBQ". In past year's we all ate at Bernie's house and had Matt's awesome "charcoal" grilled burgers, ate Kelly's beans, Ash's (non-homemade) carrot cake, Bernie's deviled eggs, Yum!... All 4 girls (including baby-cakes, aka: Zoe) ganged up on Jacob with the water guns and the water balloons from the kiddie pool that Bernie always filled and put out. Laughed with all four; Kelly & Rob, Bernie & Matt.(James says, we laughed at Matt... not with him) heehee :o) We told our "ghetto" work stories, (too funny) talked about how we named Hannah (Star Trek, Superhero). Had birthday parties together. Contemplated our diets and workouts & talked about Kempo training & the seminars coming up :o) (Las Vegas Baby!) :o)... At that time, we had no idea we would be in China. Smack~dab in the middle of Matt's "Black Belt" test.

Wow, what a difference time-travel makes.

Bernie and Matt threw the best dang Garage BBQ on the block... and now...

they have moved to far,... to even count how many states lie between us. :o(

Can you say: "Party of 4",... better than 3!

Miss you guys. Love, Jim, Ash, Jake and Hannah Banana's first "summer kick off" BBQ!

Hannah's Day

Here she is, the pretty girl!

Posing (as always) ;o) ...before we left for the Courthouse this morning.

We made it, we are here...She was a wee bit nervous, she had to take the Oath.The Judge was so sweet, and Hannah was listening and answering intently.Our Happy Baby.