Booked!!

At 12:40 am I woke up. I was anxiously awaiting for word from the US embassy that they were ready to schedule the biological family interview, the next step before we are cleared to get E home. So I checked my email - a letter that had arrived at 12:36 am stating that we had cleared--no mention at all of the bio family interview! (The courts had already done due diligence there but it is usually repeated by the US government.) I read it at least a dozen times to make sure I had it right. Indeed. They wanted three dates when we can return to get him! Within the hour we had a confirmed embassy date. By the end of the day we had purchased tickets--4 going and 5 coming home!

Concert

Kenzie had her first choir concert tonight. 

The sixth graders looked so little compared to the seventh and eighth graders. (She's in the back left.)

But Kenzie hardly looks little compared to her Grammy anymore. 

Shopping is therapy

There's little we can do except wait for the embassy to process the paperwork. Every time Cindy feels stress she buys him a new outfit. Sometimes Mason bonuses too! 

We are ready! Hoping for two weeks and we will be cleared to go get our new guy!

Tackle goal

Mason got moved to the front line. He scored this goal and they tied 1-1.



At the risk of being overly obnoxious, we have another angle of it too. :)

Volleyball vs Cross Country

Before middle school started, Kenzie talked about wanting to participate in two sports in middle school. They were volleyball and cross country. They both ended up being at the same time so she had to decide. As you can tell by the pictures, she picked volleyball. She is really enjoying it!

One more sport, yay!

Kindness

Kenzie comes running up the stairs, "Mommy, Mason is so thoughtful. He brought me a caterpillar all the way from the field." 

Pumpkins

Two things hit me as we did our annual pumpkin-hunting expedition/photo opp. First, this is the last year family event where we are just four. Soon we will be five and the zone defense officially begins. Second, at some point they will no longer allow us to pose them with pumpkins.

 

Bossy

Free kick goal

Adoption update

This last Wednesday the doctor finally submitted the report...and this means that next Wednesday we expect to be submitted to the US embassy for final processing! The current wait time is 3-6 weeks, so we're hopeful to return in mid-November. It's getting real, but still seems so far away. Maybe that's just because we are trying to keep ourselves busy because the waiting is hard.

Defender

Mason has been playing almost all defense now, something that he hasn't been happy about until recently. Now he takes it very seriously. He's one of the bigger kids on the field, with a strong boot, so he does well kicking it hard. Don't mind the bruises and dirt on the knees.

This is so common...#10...Mr. Rhino. 

School pictures...and a few years back

 

Alarm

Lauren is healing at her brothers house where they have "2-1/2 horses" (1 is a mini). Halia saddled up Grace here and took the kids for a ride. I think she is looking at us saying "what the h$)& is up with the little person on my back?"

I love car rides!!

My two brown-eyed girls!