Room Done!!

Finally! I finished the girls' room. Now it looks like a room fit for a princess, or two, or three, or four!! Finding the right bunkbeds has held up the progress on the room. We wanted something made of wood that is sturdy enough for the wear that our girls will put it through. At the same time, I wanted it to be more feminine looking. We have searched high and low looking for just the right bed. And that is just what we found, ONE bed. One bunkbed for four girls. Yes, this will not work! But until we find another bunkbed, this will have to do. So tonight we have two very excited kiddos who are sleeping in their bunkbed and two disappointed kiddos who are sleeping in their "OLD" beds. I have tried to explain that good things come to those who wait, but I think I have been wasting my time.

Here are some before and after photos!

Support a wonderful cause!!!

Our family supports "Love Without Boundaries" In fact, three of our girls' photos are in the "Love's Journey 2: The Red Thread" book. We are anxiously waiting for an announcement about the third such book. In the meantime, please check out the LWB blog here;
http://lwbchinablog.blogspot.com/ and enter their newest contest!!

First prize in this contest is an LWB prize pack, which includes:
A copy of our coffee table book, “Love’s Journey 2: The Red Thread”—a beautiful, hard cover book of over 250 pages with beautiful photos and stories about adoption.
PLUS a Red Thread Jewelry Set, valued at $125, which is SO BEAUTIFUL that you know you want it! Sterling silver, pearls, red silk cording…..did I mention BEAUTIFUL?!
PLUS one adult LWB t-shirt and one child’s LWB t-shirt.PLUS (drum roll please because this is a biggie these days!) you will also win a FIFTY DOLLAR gas card to 7-Eleven donated by a friend of LWB!!! WOOHOO!! Free gas!!! Gas card! Gas card! Gas card!!! Okay, we admit that doesn’t exactly go with an LWB prize pack, but hey….we told you we were shameless and we want you to enter!Total prize pack is worth over $250! Now that’s a fun contest, right?Second prize will receive a Love’s Journey book, and third prize gets their choice of an adult or child’s LWB logo t-shirt.
All you have to do to enter and receive one chance in the drawing is email info@lwbmail.com and say “I support helping rural children in need.” That will count as one entry!

Citizenship!!!

Today we traveled to Kansas City to pick up Jordis Li Meng's Certificate of Citizenship. The last trip to this office was to file the paperwork necessary to adopt her. This will be our final trip to the Office of Homeland Security as this is the last slip of paper we will need for her.

The process has changed over the years. We had to make an appointment on-line through Info Pass to pick up her C of C. Last time we picked up one of these, we waited in the office for a long time, then after someone reviewed paperwork with me, had me stand, hold up my right hand and "Swear that all the paperwork filed is true" they handed me the paper. This time we walked in, up to the window and in less than 10 minutes the man behind the window told Jordis "Congratulations!", handed her a American Flag and handed me her certificate!



We had hoped to go to the Zoo afterwards. However, since the temperature was 98 degrees today, the girls took their "critters" along and we stopped at Build a Bear to buy each one new clothes.

A new member of the family~~Oreo~~

I had a weak moment. Someone at work was looking for a home for her cat. This cat had showed up on her doorstep, pregnant with four babies. After she had her babies, the cat made a trip to the vet to prevent any further babies. Now she needed a new home.

The girls have been thrilled to have a new critter to love. Our longtime resident feline, Shadow, is not very kid friendly. Could be from one too many kids pulling his tail! Shadow also does not like new cats in the house. Uh oh!!

Well, this feline has called Shadow's bluff a time or two. In fact, she has been the aggressor a few times! We have had a few tiffs, some scratches and a couple of messes to clean up, but it looks like OREO will be staying. From the photo, it looks like she has already claimed her territory!!

~~Where we live~~

Summer

Summer is always a fun time. This summer we have had many "firsts". Not only do the girls enjoy these, we love seeing the expressions of wonder and joy on the girls' faces when these happen. Jordis has experienced many firsts this summer, swimming, running through the sprinkler, and fireworks just to name a few. RaeAnne and ZoraLin have each mastered riding their bikes without training wheels. All the girls have been enjoying our new neighborhood and the freedom to ride their bikes to and from their new friends' houses and just spending free time with their friends. In a way, it reminds me of my childhood. Summertime for me was going outside early in the morning and basically having my parents force me to come back in after dark so I could go to bed. Things are a little different at our house, usually our back door revolves as someone comes in for a drink, snack or to tattle on a sister. Occasionally all the girls plus our neighbor, Paige, come in and head to our basement to play. After an hour or so, they all head over to her house to play.

Jordis is more of a couch potato. She enjoys playing outside until the temperature climbs, then we will find her in front of the TV and/or the computer. No matter how they do it, summer is a fun time. It is hard to believe that school will start August 14th....

Friends.......

We have some wonderful new friends here. This past week was our chance to re-visit some of them and share in their joy as they received a referral from China this week! We also finally met another friend face-to-face and had the opportunity to meet her daughter whom she just returned from China with last week! We are looking forward to spending more time with each family!!



Here are the girls having fun.

Fireworks!!

We weren't completely sure which fireworks that we would see tonight. We opted to stay home and our neighbors did a Bang up job of entertaining us!! We have at least one neighbor who really likes July 4th! We showed our appreciation by clapping and cheering for the prettiest ones!

Happy Fourth of July!!

Independence Day! We have oodles of independent girls at our house! The big question of the day is "Do we get to watch the fireworks tonight?" That's the plan! Our other plan, meet their big brother, Nick's, new girlfriend and her family. As it worked out, Delaney spent the night at our house while Bubby spent the night with her parents! Today we delievered Delaney to her folks and spent the better part of the afternoon swimming at their hotel pool.


Bubby and Kendalan

Jordis needs TWO noodles!!


This was Jordis' first time swimming...at least that we know of. After a rough start, she was paddling around on her noodle with the rest of the girls. Jordis first jumped in without realizing she doesn't know how to swim! She was just following along with RaeAnne and ZoraLin who each have had and passed beginners swim lessons. Rae and Zora are each taller than Jordis too, so that did not help matters much! Here are some photos from the pool!

Hmmmmm....the girls have suggested this color!!!

Your Hair Should Be Pink

Hyper, insane, and a boatload of fun. You're a traveling party that everyone loves to follow.

What's" Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

It's Wednesday!!