Halloween Party - Kindergarten style

Perhaps the most interesting part of this entire adoption is how we now treasure each event - as in this will be the last Halloween before our kids arrive.  Next year will be so different sharing this special occasion with our kids for the first time.  The other part of this is that I realize that my little man will soon be smack dab in the middle.  He will no longer be my baby.

**As a side note it will be interesting if he becomes a true middle child or actually the oldest of our youngest.  He is not quite 5 years younger than princess and then we will have all three little within 21 months!**

Ok back to what I was saying.   I did NOT sign up as room mom this year, or even to volunteer in the classroom - I know horrors right!  Anyhow, I did sign up for the craft for the Halloween Fall Festival.  So a few days ago little man and I went off to Joann's to find a craft and possibly a special treat to make for his class.  We found great frames for the kiddos to color BUT we also found a SO EASY looking treat of mummy cake pops.

THAT was what I spent the night making last evening.  Those ladies who make these cake pops look awesome on their blogs are fabulous, magical, I have absolutely no idea how they make these freakin things LOL!  I finally after my third trip to the grocery store came up with these pops.

The kids LOVED them and my family are so thrilled with the mistakes!!

THe best part of the day - little man said BUT mom they look like mummies who woke up - don't you see the eyes!  Yep little man I see the eyes and the white frosting NOT but thanks for not making me feel like a total culinary failure!

His part was fun, he had a blast & I was so thrilled to meet so many nice kids in his class that were polite, well mannered and best of all - liked my baby - even in his store bought costume LOL!  (I mentioned earlier post that between adoption paperwork and continuously checking forums for information this was the first year I didn't make anyone's costume!)

Don't you jsut love his eyelashes!

Let the festivities begin!  I can't wait for next year!

Wordless Wednesday - bunnies

Princess's Pet Bunnies!

We haven't quite made it to 4H this year but we hope to show them once we get back from China.

sunday snapshot ~ siblings

I beyond LOVE this picture of my boys.  Our big boy was almost 9 years old when our little guy was born.  Those two have had the most special relationship and I pray it will continue as our family grows.

I so love these kids.  

They are each so amazing and I feel eternally blessed that I get to share my life with them

Take that!

I have received a bunch of emails and comments about my last post.  It saddens me that this is the norm.  It saddens me that the money part of the adoption will forever leave a bad taste in my mouth.  But you know what - our God is a gracious and loving God and He made sure that if we look we will find guidance along our way.

As I was reading through my blog roll today I noticed that they seemed to be out of order, that I had missed some - so I read further back and hidden among the blog posts

WAS THIS ONE!


Take that Satan you have tried but you will not defeat this adoption!

Our princess at 2 (she was a wild one too!)

Money vs Children

I wish I could say that I was better mood.  That I had a better perspective on the greediness of adoption.

I wish I could, BUT I am NOT.

First, let me say I am not a money person.  I am glad I am not, I couldn't imagine if this was something I had struggle with - as I sit here and blow my diet once again due to stress.

BUT this adoption is killing me.  I am so mad, and so upset more hidden fees, and today I found out a $10/day tip for the driver.  Grrr, it makes me so mad.  The I have been furious over the orphanage wiring fee - how can our agency say that they don't do any wiring when I know for a fact that most of the other agencies do.  It's art of our freaking contract we signed.  I know our daughters orphanage in fact accepts the fee wired.

Is it truly the money or something else?  Why am I fretting over this, why am I sitting her with steam coming out of my ears?  AND yes I sent a note inquiring to our agency.  I probably shouldn't have, but I am hoping that they have a great reason.

Until then though I really need to get over myself.  I have 3 fabulous kids at home who I shouldn't be short with because I am mad about this . . .

Did I mention the chocolate LOL!

So I thought about it, today.  WHY am I so mad.

We can afford it.
I am not traveling by myself with thousands of $'s in cash.
Our kids are worth way more (don't tell our agency I am sure they will find a way to get it!)

Then two things dawned on me -

I see so many people desperately fundraising to brig these kids home, and they sure as heck don't need the extra expense.

BUT

Deeper down it feels like betrayal.  Our agency is supposed to be like a friend and this ones hand is not looking out for my best interest.

I had another thought when I got home.  What does the Bible say about money vs children.

I went to biblegateway and found something VERY interesting.

There are 113 references to money in the Bible!

Wanna guess how many references to Child?

Guess -

594!!


Need I say more.  CHildren are so much more precious to Him!

Take of the shades momma all is good in His name!

Article 5 delay!

Ugh sometimes I jsut want to scream at this process.  Really once again I overnighted all our paperwork to our agency so it could be (at our expense of course) overnighted to China to sit for a freakin week!  The worst part is that we were charged for two overnight fees at $65 each (I believe) when we all know darn well that they were placed in the same envelope.

We received a form email written for a group that our Article 5 paperwork was dropped off at the consulate YESTERDAY NOT the 12th as we were led to believe.  This backs our Article 5 pickup to Nov 2nd not next week!

You know when I started this process I swore I wouldn't succumb to this BS.  We already have double the national average of kids, so I wasn't "desperate" right - WRONG!  I NEVER expected to become so attached to a couple of pictures of a child thousands of miles away.  So attached in fact that we aren't even  willing to make waves.

This is how I feel lately ~

But then I remember that eventually, all water eventually flows down hill to another treasure.

And they are worth every penny.

More paperwork today!

Have I mentioned how I am much more of a creative person than an organized one!  SO we are at the waiting for article 5 phase - almost done!!  I had been hearing about needing to apply for visa's but hadn't seen anything on this - well I opened up an alternate email today to see 7 emails from our travel advisor - UGH!

Sooo, I changed my cleaning plans to filling out 5 sets of Visa's and trying to determine if we should us our agency to process them or a courier.  For once they were cheaper - I know shocking right!!

I think I have everything filled out correctly and just need everyone to sign on the dotted line in the morning and hubby to get the passports out of the safe.

Just as a note ~ I thought traveling at the end of the year would be GREAT!  Isn't it amazing how we forget what a hectic time of year this can be!  Homecoming this week (our kids go to a K-12 school so everyone participates) then halloween, then big boys birthday and THanksgiving.

Oh yeah plus packing for 5 people - I mean 7 ~ . S . E . V . E . N . people will be coming home - holy cow I think we officially might have a big family!

Did I mention we are taking only carry on!  Yep this should be interesting!  Actually I found a great packing list on rumor queen (chinaadopttalk.com) for only carryon.

OK back to the hectic schedule.  I normally make my kids halloween costumes.  In fact after seeing the hideous street walker costumes available in my 9 year old daughters size I knew for sure I would be making hers.  Then our LOA came, our I-800 paperwork and then that was approved and our DS 230 paperwork.  Needless to say - no sewing this year but I was able to find a remotely appropriate costume at Home Goods that will work with biker shorts!

I know I am jsut rambling but adoption has already affected our family.  It takes a ton of time, and money.  Another $1000 goes out the door with our visa's.  I know t will be worth it in the end but . it . can. be . hard - everyone wants their cut, all I want is our sweet little ones.

On a happier note - we went to the homecoming carnival tonight.  Little man played a ton of games, met his friends and pretty much left momma behind.  I was able to get some fun pics on my phone of him eating gummy bears of a paper plate that were stuck in place with chocolate syrup.  Can you say college beer drinking games LOL!