Random Update

I wish I had more time to blog. But I don't. So moving on.

I figured today was a good day to jump on and show we are still alive. I love looking back at memories and pictures of our fun. I don't want to let a whole month pass without recording something. But pictures will have to happen later, 'cause I am short on time.

Story of my life. Now on with the update!

Over the past month soccer season has taken over. Between practices and games mixed with big family living, there is barely enough time for sleep. We are finding the groove. But it is wild and woolly around here. I am coaching Drew and a Ty on the same team. I also help a bit with Justin's practices. Amber gets the short end of the stick with the rolling-stop drop off and pick up. But I do find myself coaching her a bit here and there as well. I love this connection with my kiddos.

Justin surprised us with his decision to be baptized this month. We were all so proud of his determination and commitment. It was a great weekend with family coming to support Justin in his decision. He has been attending early-morning seminary regularly which surprised us too.  Justin is enjoying soccer again this season and has already managed to score his first goal of the year. We just enjoy the ride with this kid. He is a joy... when he's not making us crazy. Teenagers.

Caity seems to have settled into the background of the family happenings lately. I guess it is to be expected for her age. But I miss my adventurer. We tease her about her pale skin tone and lack of muscle a bit. But she is content to stay in and read a good book. Fortunately she is still the world's best big sister and help to mom. I enjoy her sense of humor the most. Poor kid is the closest thing I have to adult interaction most days.

Amber is rocking this school year and finally, FINALLY made it through the summer-to-school-year transition without trouble. I am hopeful 'we' have finally matured and wont need to repeat the last 3 years of school torture. Amber has also managed to mature on the soccer field as well. She has always been my aggressive girl on the field. But this year her determination is paying off in playing time and attempts on goal. It is only a matter of time before she blasts one into the net.

Ty is still Ty. Our Tasmanian Devil continues to spin. The boy is an offensive force to be reckoned with on the soccer field, when he is not accidentally injuring other players... And he is still the solid academic achiever. School and athletics are never the struggle for Ty. We are still working on social skills and boundaries. The boy has neither. But we love him anyway.

Drew just keeps inching closer to "bigger." It seems I can always see him growing up and changing, but staying small at the same time. Drew has real homework now. He is in school all day every day just like the big kids. He gets himself up and dressed and ready all by himself in the morning. He can suit up for soccer and holds his own with the boys on his soccer team even though they are all a full year older and twice his size. But he is still my little guy. The other parents LOVE to talk about how he plays soccer. He defies the laws of physics. It is so fun to watch the ball rolling towards him and see him blast it across the field. Or to watch him make a clean tackle on a boy a full 6 inches taller than him and win the ball. Or to watch him get his head up and pass to a team mate when many of the boys twice his size are watching butterflies. The sheer size of this paragraph makes it clear who pulls at my heartstrings these days. That tiny little package is my sweet spot. Love my pocket-man.

And then there is Jacob. Oh, my little charmer. Every Sunday School teacher, every school teacher, every substitute, every passer-by just falls head-over-heals for Jacob. He is, by far, the favorite among the siblings. It is no secret. Jacob is loved and has everyone around him wrapped around his little finger. He's getting a little bigger too. But he will always be 'the baby.'

We keep inching closer to our other two boys. Nathan and Aiden still do not know about us yet. We've been asked to hold off on a care package until our paperwork is received in China. It's interesting how every agency and every orphanage handles things differently. But we just keep putting one foot in front of the other anxiously awaiting the day we get to wrap our arms around two more sons.

Our home study is complete and should be in hand any day now. Next we prepare our 'dossier' which is just a fancy word for expensive paperwork we send to China. We will be waiting on our government to process and approve the first step of the immigration paperwork called an I800a before our dossier can be completed. This will take several weeks. So we wait. We furiously prepare documents then we wait. And repeat. Each step of the process is the same: hurry up and wait.

But we are getting closer...