Article 5!

News that came to our inbox!
The China Team has been notified that the Sauder's Article 5 was received by CCAA on June 25. We will notify you next when we receive a travel invitation for this family! They may go ahead and apply for their visas anytime now.
(Article 5 is the last of three last approvals we need. This one is from the international governing body overseeing International adoptions)
We have our travel meeting with our social worker next week.
Brad is excited now!
Our next step is travel approval and our dates for going to China should be coming out soon!!!

Summer day

Who would guess you could get such great photos on such a hot, summery day! Nice work, Jen! I love them!
Visit http://flyawayhomephotography.blogspot.com/

Birthday explosions

For Father's Day and Brad's birthday we did what Ben added to his wish list of things to do: visit a cave! We went to Indian Echo Caverns. I haven't been there since I was a kid, so it fun to see it again.
In honor of Brad's birthday a cupcake was exploded with family. (I can see were our family is heading by adding another boy - I put a pink box of tissues in my car. Need to stake out some space while I can!)

I opened a large suitcase and now am piling things into it. It feels good to be filling it up! last evening we did a test drive on the new, smaller stroller we picked up for the trip. Works great.

Good night, moon!

Ben is a good sleeper. I usually am, too. Except when I am stressed. I fall asleep just fine, but wake up around 3 or so. Things are getting more settled in my life and I actually slept a couple nights the whole way through this week! The pile of things to go to China grows next to the suitcases. The new editors at work are settling in just fine. (Karen, it took to two to replace you!) Projects are wrapping up nicely! The teen camp next week is coming together. Good night, moon!

Moving ahead!

Moving right along! Our packet was submitted to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou on June 14! Next is being granted international approval with Article 5. Then it's on to Travel approval.
This picture makes Ben look so grown up! It's one of the photos from the little album we are sending to Micah!

Summer fun

I really like this photo! We are all having fun. Brad is having fun skiing, Bennett is enjoying being on the boat (no tears or clinging from Ben like some other years) I wasn't driving the boat, so I could enjoy the ride! We look forward to seeing how Micah fits in the picture. Maybe he will try the kiddie skis before our cautious Ben. Ben told me I did a good job water skiing, too. Funny!

Nonsense, I say!

The other week when Ben had a cough, I mentioned we may not be able to do our playdate with Chloe and friends. Ben responded with, "Nonsense, I say!"
What a hoot! He figured out the word makes everyone laugh when he says it, so it is heard from time to time!
Today was my turn to say it! On his last class of the season at Little Gym, Ben decided to have a meltdown for 7/8 of the class time. He was such a good student for all 19 of the previous sessions! Nonsense, I say! We love you, Ben!

Mailbox jitters

I am starting to be a little nervious when I go to my mailbox. So, today I open it up and sure enough, some offical letters. My heart starts pounding. One letter stating there is no criminal recods for Brad - that's good. And another one stating our paperwork has gone to China! Yeah!

Sizes

Here is Bennett at 2 1/2. I think he looks a lot older than that because he didn't put on much baby fat. So, when I sort through clothing for Micah, it will be interesting to see how he fit into them. We are working on a list of questions to send to China. Hopefully we will get back new measurements that will help us pack the right clothing sizes.

Missing June

Ben's last Music together class was a fun time with our friends. We will miss Ms Cherie's 45 minute session of singing and creative movement for parents and preschoolers. Ben will be in school 4 days next fall. I may have Micah in a class but we need to come home and get settled first.
I feel like I am missing some of the things I usually love about June: first long evenings, dreaming of things we'll do in the summer ahead. With all the projects we have been able to do, it hasn't been many long walks in the evening. And not knowing when we will travel makes me feel like I need to cram things in quick!
My car heard about how things are getting reworked around our house and it decided it wanted to be part of it, too! The inspection bill was $1,300! We are thankful our tax refund landed in our account just the right month!

The pay off

Ben has turned a corner in communication. A new level of thinking is emerging. I guess all those questions he sprung into after our referral with Micah are beginning to pay off.
This morning a small plane flew overhead. Ben asked if it was going to China. I explained that is takes a big plane to get the whole way to China. Ben said, "Maybe when it grows bigger." :)