Happy New {Dossier} Year!

It is official we are adopting again!!!

We have just completed our 2nd Dossier for another Chinese adoption. We are awaiting a referral from our Agency for a son, a daughter or both!
What is this?

This is our Dossier (french word, pronounced Doss-ee-ay).
This is the beginning to adoption. It is affectionately called the "Paper Pregnancy" in the adoption community.
Dossier {definition}: When used in the context of adoption, this term refers to a set of appropriately translated legal documents, County notarized, State certified and Chinese Consulate authenticated that tells a story about your life...who, where, what and when you were and are today. These documents are used in international adoption cases to process the adoption of a child in his/her own country by the adoptive parents. This happens during the parents travel & stay in a foreign country. The minimum in~country stay to finalize an adoption in China is currently {approximately} two weeks. After that,...then the family may return with their adopted child to the United States, for Happily Ever After. :o)

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It was a year ago today that we completed Hannah's Dossier for her adoption... and wow, time sure flies... she has been home with us for six months. We have had a very Blessed 2008 as a family and we can only Pray our family will be so Blessed in 2009 and beyond.

Happy New Year's to everyone & best wishes for a bountiful of Blessings from our family to yours.

Happy Forever Family Anniversary!

We adopted Hannah only 6 short months ago, and it already feels like a life time. Jacob was recalling a past moment (two years ago) and referred to Hannah as "being there"... Wow! It seems like she was always here with us, even for her brother! I think that is wonderful and it certainly sums up "Forever Family"!Civil Affairs Office, Guangdong China 7/01/08

My New Sister...(summer 2008)

Fast~forward.......................................

Hannah and Jacob... Typical brother and sister! ;o)

Merry First Christmas!

It was a Great Christmas, full of laughter, joy and family.

Two happy kids that couldn't wait for Christmas morning...

Hannah almost jumped out of her dress when she saw all the Barbie dolls that Santa had brought...

... and Jacob was hamming it up like he always does. :o)

He had to show his excitement for everything he got.

Birthday Bowling

Happy Birthday Jacob!

The Christmas Box

A box was outside on the porch when James went out to get the newspaper this morning. So this afternoon, I told Hannah and Jacob let's open it and see what Grandma sent you all.(Of course I knew it was going to be wrapped, it is every year...so it would be safe to open in front of them.) So, I opened the Fed'Ex box... and the first present was wrapped & labeled To: Hannah!
I said "Oh Hannah, a Christmas present from G'ma & G'pa"...
she jumped for a little joy and had her every so happy smile, and...
I said "take this and go put it under the tree"...
she said "under tree???"
I said "yes!"...
and I turned back to the box at hand to get the next gift out of the box.
It said To: Jacob!...
he ran up quickly and proceeded to the tree with it. Then he shouted...
"MOM!!!!, Hannah is opening her present!!!"
Precious Hannah, was sitting "under" the tree opening her first gift!

First Christmas' are the best, even when they are 7 years old!

"Scrooge"

Hannah was in her first school play tonight. Her "English Learners" class, put on the play "Scrooge" at school. Very cute. all the kids, (approximately 20) from different nations speaking a different first language... came together, to do a play in English. Their ages are kindergarten thru 4th grade! Our very own Jacob video taped it!

We will have to video Blogger it soon.
But, here are some photos of Hannah's part to tide you over...

"Scrooge, Scrooge...What are you doing?
What are you doing? It is Christmas Eve let's go Celebrate."

"Mr. Scrooge, why are you so greedy? It is Christmas Eve... you are making us sad if we cannot celebrate."

Thank You Grandma & Grandpa!

(They sent her an FTD floral arrangement for her performance(s) **her dance recital is Sunday)**

I am a Princess & a Starlet.

All I want for Christmas...

Ti's the Season.

Jacob and Hannah both were happy to tell Santa they wanted a surprise, nothing specific... just a surprise.

Thanksgiving Day

This year will mark many "firsts" for Hannah.

One of the best is Thanksgiving.

With Food, Family (cousins) and Football what could be better!

Hannah is getting her first cooking lesson...

The secret banana pudding recipe... yummy.
She also was taught how to get the men in the family to help out, (brothers need a little monetary bribery $$ every now and again) ... and that is how we got Jacob to do the place settings for the traditional kids table.

It must be good, they are smiling!

Here is James handy work. He decorated the yard and the outside of the house. (The picture I took does not do the lights or the feeling justice, but I still wanted to share it with you.) It truly looks beautiful tonight. We lit the lights on the trees as it began to snow.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Happy Anniversary

Once upon a time 13 years ago...

in a glittery Castle, in the Kingdom that never sleeps;

a beautiful Princess and her handsome Prince

began their journey to family...

Happily Ever After.

Happy Halloween!

Unguard, hand over the Princess... Oh, Thank You my brave brother, the Knight.

Awwwh.. The Wench, Captain Kirk, The Knight and The Beautiful Princess.

(...really these are costumes.)

The cousins join the fun, to raid the neighborhood of treats. Yummy.
Introducing: Scary Sherry, The Beautiful Bride & Jango Fett.