~~LOA~~

Our agency emailed us today that our LOA has arrived.   I spent several hours getting all the paperwork filled out.    One major step closer!!     Now we hurry up and wait some more.   The nicest thing to hear is that our agency expects us to travel by mid November!!   It will be ZoraLin and I traveling together again.

This is a very special day to hear more good news on.    Two years ago today a very small, scared little girl joined our family.   She wasn't the most excited to meet us.   She warmed up to her sisters fairly quickly.   She really didn't have anything to do with Mom until we arrived back in Kansas.   Then she decided that maybe Mom and Dad weren't so bad.  

She chose Coyote Canyon for her celebration meal.   Tessa (Lou) JiXing we love you so much!!   Can't wait to watch you grow and learn through the years!   XOXO!!!

First day of school.

Okay, I had to cheat a little to pull off this post.   I work Friday, August 24th, which is the girls first day of school.    I am leaving Dad in charge of taking a few photos that am, but I wanted to get some of them at each school.    Thankfully, the school was cooperative and let us in to take photos.   Okay...it wasn't quite like that.   We were actually invited to the schools today to visit with the teachers, take in supplies so our kids weren't loaded down under all the items that were on their lists and get their class schedules.

We traveled to Scranton first to see where Tessa and Jordis were going to be spending their school year.    Tessa has Mrs. Huizenga for 3rd grade and Jordis has Mrs. Colvin for 4th.

Then a quick trip back to Carbondale to meet with Mrs. Smith, ZoraLin's teacher and visit with her about her class rules.    We also were able to visit with Mr. Colvin about RaeAnne's having him for math...yeah!  

Then a quick trip to Overbrook to see Mrs. Hefner and get Kendalan settled into 2nd grade.  

I sure hope that the teachers can work with this group.   They needs LOTS of help!  :)

Keeping busy

Summer break is coming to an end soon.    The girls are really excited to start school so they can see their friends.   Mom and Dad are ready for school to start so we can get back into a more structured schedule...and a few hours of quiet during the day will be a BIG added bonus!!

The girls recently moved from a orange decided belt to yellow belts!   They amaze us with how fast they learn the moves.    Dad and I have noticed a new level of maturity throughout the house too!!  

Spur of the moment plans are fun and many times turn out to be a blast.   We had one of those days a while back.   We hopped over to KC to meet up with our friends.   In only a few hours we watched clowns, magic, juggling, had lunch, shopped and made crafts!   A great time!!

And we went bowling!   This was the first time for three of the girls.   You can't tell from the expression on their faces, but they really had a good time!

Stay tuned for our Fundraiser!!!

The last two weeks of September we will be doing a special fundraiser!    Mark your calendars for September 16th to the 30th.     We will raising funds to get our darling Linzi Rose MingShan home by
selling Scentsy and 31 Products!!    We can't WAIT!  Wonderful products for those of you who want
it and help for us to get our girl home!!    Both of these will be on-line so it doesn't matter where you live...you can buy with ease!!

I am also going to be selling some of the most B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. necklaces and bracelets on line.   This is jewelry that is handmade by women in Uganda from scraps of paper and magazines!!   It is
amazing and gorgeous all at the same time!   I can't wait to get our shipment of this.

Think Christmas in September!!   Think of getting your shopping started in September!!   Think of the
wonderful things you can buy in September!!   Think of the delightful smell of Scentsy Products in your
house this winter!

Think of fabulous 31 Products to carry your things in!!  Store you things in!!   Reorganize your home in!!

  And the FANtastic necklaces and bracelets that will be getting compliments EVERYWHERE you go!!
This is just a sneak peek of one of the necklaces...they come in all sizes, colors and earrings too!!

YES!!   These beautiful "beads" are made from scraps of paper, magazines and are hard glazed.   You will be A.M.A.Z.E.D. when you find out that a necklace is only $25 to $30 dollars!!

And the fiesta de la resistance...or what ever the fancy term is.   We are having Mr. Richard Petty driver of the #43 race car sign our 1/18th scale car...a replica of the real car that he used to race.   His autograph will be on the car!!    We hope to auction this on Ebay!!   What a great Christmas gift for a Richard Petty fan!!

As soon as the weather cools down we will having a large garage sale.    Too many items to list at this time, but kids clothes, furniture, something for everyone.    That will be at our house!!

Hang on Linzi Rose MingShan...your family is working hard to get you home where you belong!!!

Let me know if you would be interested in any of the fundraisers.   Just leave me a comment...it is easy and free!!   Plus it makes me H.A.P.P.Y.!!!

Just so stinking cute!

It is just so hard waiting!    We were DTC 6/22/12.   Our LID is 7/5/12.   Our adoption coordinator tells us that travel is usually 5 and 1/2 months after LID.    That means it could be December or January before we get to travel.    We have been looking at her cute face since February.  

It probably wouldn't be so hard if she wasn't so stinking CUTE!

100 Good Wishes Quilts

I find that I have been  sorely lacking a slacker.    As with Moms of many, as more kids come along the less things get done.    In this case I have been very bad at keeping up with having a 100 Good Wishes quilt done for each girl.    RaeAnne has one.

ZoraLin has one.

And Kendalan has one.

And that is where the cookie this Mom crumbled :(

So now I am begging asking all any of you to please help this Mom out.    I need quilt squares and wishes!!    I am willing to return the favor if any of you have slacked as I have need squares too.    If you click on the link on this post that is highlighted "Good Wishes" it will take you to the site of Pam.   Pam has made all three quilts for us.   I hope to work with her again to get the last three girls quilts made.    However, as I have said...I NEED SQUARES!!   No I am not YELLING I am just stating the fact.   

So please help us out.    We are collecting 9 inch squares of preferably 100% prewashed cotton.   Along with the square send a separate piece of the material along with a "wish" which can be a thought, poem, statement or favorite quotation.    The wish can be on a 3x5 card and include your name and address so when the wishes are put in a scrap book and kept along with the quilt then the girls can see where the wish and fabric came from.    This is really fun to sit on the quilt and compare the fabric to the quilt.....I mean that is for the three girls who have quilts.

Quilt squares can be sent to us at:        The VanCamp Family

                                                                         137 E. 123rd Street

                                                                        Carbondale, KS 66414

This slacker mom Mom (and her girls) thank you SO much for participating!!!

And PLU...LEASE leave me comments...I need C.O.M.M.E.N.T.S. here people!!   I feel like I am talking to myself here!!!    

What I get.....

for complaining about the weather....the weather could and will get worse!!

I sure could use some winter weather right now.....