I'll be home for Christmas!!

Okay finally Christmas at our house was also fun this year even though we were worn out from all the family things. Cole was so excited and when he saw his cat he said, "Look mom Santa brought him straight from the North Pole." Priceless!! Luke of coarse really didn't understand, but it was his first Christmas and he had fun playing with all the toys. The boys really enjoyed the day just playing with all their new toys. During this time of the year I can't help to think about all the boys and girls who are in need of a loving family. I pray that one day they get to experience the magic of Christmas just as we did this year.

P.S. = I even ordered a stocking for China doll from pottery barn. How could I help myself? They were on sale with free shipping.

Crazy Christmas at the Richards.

Christmas this year at moms was so funny. Mom got the kids a wheely racer. I am thinking the adults had more fun than the kids.

Christmas at Memaw's is always fun!

Christmas at memaws is fun, but there are way too many kids. Next year we may have to move it to a different location. There were 9 great grand children, 7 grand children plus their husbands or wives and 3 of her own children and their husbands or wives. So needless to say we had a lot of people there, but it is really fun to see all the kids playing. I hope we continue this tradition for many years to come. Carly is the only girl and it is so funny to watch her with all those boys. She is really in trouble when they all get older.

Christmas at the Whitledges!

The first place we went for our Christmas gatherings was the Whitledges. We always have a good time there and get plenty of gifts. Brad has two brothers and so there is always something going on over there. They are constantly teasing everyone and picking on their poor mom. Bless her heart for putting up with the boys for all those years. It is great to see the boys have such a good time. Cole did forget Memaw's gift and cried for at least 30 minutes when we got there. We had a great time and ate way too much. Slade is my nephew and is just a happy little boy. He is a spitting image of his dad and loves to act like him. Christmas memories at the Whitledges were made once again.

My home study is finished!!!

Yes, my final home study was today and I am really tired. I cleaned all day yesterday and worried all night. I couldn't get any sleep for thinking about what kind of questions she would ask or wondering if the house was just right. It went fine other than I have to send a picture of the crib that we might want for her. What?? A crib and for a girl? WOW!! Now that sounds fun! Cole had to also be interviewed and when he sit down she said, So Cole tell me what you like to do?" Cole replies, "My mom told me to say that I want a sister." What?? Where did he get that at? I told him that a lady was coming to talk with us about a getting a sister. Funny what kids say. I will post pictures of Christmas real soon, but just haven't had the time.

Cole can write his name and I'm one proud Momma.

Well I found out the other day that Cole can write his name. Well....I say write his name. I guess I should say he can write all the letters in his name. They are not in the correct order, but he should get credit. Right? Well anyway I am very proud of him. Both of the boys have pneumonia. Yuck. I hate when they don't feel good. It seems like I have been in the house for days and running on about 3 hours of sleep each night sure isn't easy. Clothes are piled all over the place, dishes in the sink a mile high and beds not made up is what you would see if you were here. I can't take it much longer. Look out Bleach and Lysol here I come. This has become a job now that only a woman can do!! This house must come clean today! My last home study visit is next Tuesday and we have a lot to do before then. I am so ready for that to be over although the lady we are working with is wonderful. It has been a pleasure to work with someone that is so kind and understanding. I must go wipe noses and give medicine now :)

We made it!!!

Well we made it through our first adoption interview for our homestudy. I had a really good time and it felt great to hear Brad take this serious for the first time. She told us a lot of things I already knew and some things I didn't. My yearly observation at school is tomorrow. I am hoping that it all goes well. I just hate to be observed, but know it has to be done. I took a few pictures from the weekend of Luke looking out our front windows. Oh how fast they grow. I figured I better capture this because soon he will be able to just stand on his own and look out.

Thankful for Thanksgiving Break!!!!

Well, on Tuesday when I got out of school I started my break with dinner and a movie with Brad. We went to see The Blind Side and it was great. It is so weird going out without the boys, but sure is nice!! Wednesday was a day of rest of us. That is always nice too!!! On Thursday we went to Brad's mom and dad's house. It was great seeing everyone again. I personally don't make it over there very much, but I do enjoy seeing everyone around the holidays. On Friday at 3:30 a.m. my cousin Kelly and I left for Black Friday. She is someone who I can shop with.....when we go into a store we mean business. No just looking around at things we don't want. We get in and out quick most of the time. We went to a few places including chick-fil-a twice. At times we were laughing so hard because we couldn't see out of the back of her SUV. We had a great time and got some really good deals. On Saturday we had my side of the families Thanksgiving. It was such a nice day that most of us ate outside. The kids played outside and we enjoyed watching them so much. Thanks Mona for hosting....It turned out great!! Christmas is going to be so much fun this year. Cole is already SO excited. This Thanksgiving was different than in past years for the simple fact of me thinking about a special little girl that will eventually join our family. I have thought about her and prayed for her in the last couple of days. I know that God will send her to me at the right time, until then she will be in my heart!!

Really Mad!!!!

This was a comment to someones post on facebook and I am furious about it!!

"Who cares if they are killing themselves in the middle east, b/c we are doing the same here and not giving a damn about it! This also includes all of you IDIOTS who adopt babies from other countries! We have babies HERE ON OUR SOIL that need help! How about you try feeding them and clothing them before you send money to Africa?! If you absolutely insist on having a foreign child, then LEAVE America and go find you a foreign baby!"

My post back to them was this.......I just couldn't help myself.

Justin- Sorry I don't know you, but as a mother of two boys and an "idiot" who is adopting a little girl from China I don't appreciate your comment at all. I really think you need to do a little research about adopting here in the United States. It is not as easy as it may sound. I have done plenty of research and find it very disturbing that you would call someone an idiot who is adopting any child that is in need of a home. I am a special education teacher and do my part to feed them, buy them clothes and help them with their daily struggles so I know all about that. Please don't make someone feel like they are in the wrong if they ever want to adopt a child that is need of a forever family.

I try really hard not to post negative stuff on my blog, but as I was reviewing my facebook comments I couldn't help but to post a comment back to this man. Just thought I would share the first time I really got angry during this process and I am just beginning. I pray this will be my last.

Craft show and Carly!!

Okay so yesterday I went to the craft show with my cousin and best friend for years and my very loved sister-in-law. My cousin has the only girl on my moms side of the family. There are 8 boys and 1 girl . Yes I typed that right 8 boys and 1 girl!! She was fussing at me because she hasn't made my blog. This little girl is special to us all and definitely worthy of my blog so I thought I needed to post her picture. I also got to meet Emma today. She is the little girl adopted from China. When I saw her tears came to my eyes. She is a precious little girl and so friendly. To be two years old she is very smart too!

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork......

Wow! I am just getting started on my paperwork for my Home Study and this is a lot of work. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but didn't realize I was going to have to even get the veterinarian to say that my dog is safe. That is the next thing on my list to do. I am a special education teacher so I do a ton of paperwork at school. I should be an expert. Right? NO. I get to meet a little girl here in Owensboro that was adopted from China this weekend. I am so excited. I have been meaning to meet her for almost a year now and finally it's going to happen. The boys are doing great, but we are ready for Thanksgiving break. They love staying home and just not having to get out the door by 7:00. Cole has almost learned all of his letters to my surprise. I sure didn't know he could do that until my mom put some on her fridge and asked him what the letters were.............I was shocked. Yea for daycare and starfall! Luke is walking around stuff now at a very fast pace and starting to eat regular food. This is great news for me! I don't want him to grow up fast, but was never a fan of washing all the parts to those Dr. Brown bottles. Well.......I must go to the post office to mail more documents for this long road to China.

Happy Halloween

Halloween in Stanley sure is fun and brings back good memories for me. Stanley is just a small spot in the road, but during Halloween I realize how fortunate I was to grow up in such a small place with my cousins and friends so near. Cole had way too much candy and Luke was such a good little "dragon" all night. We had a hayride, chili, taco soup, hot dogs, cupcakes and plenty to keep everyone entertained and belly's full. Watching all the cousins play together sure is fun!! I am so happy that we are all still in the same area. These kids sure are going to spend many more Halloween's together.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for my two little boys that I love and adore. It is a true blessing to watch them grow each day.

I am thankful that my husband shares my dreams of adopting a little girl from China one day.

I am thankful that my parents are in my life and able to help us when we need them. Not sure what we would do without them!!

Wordless Wednesday.....and did I mention FALL BREAK???

"Can we just stay home tomorrow mom?"

This was Cole's comment to me when I woke him up for daycare on Friday. So today he is going to get his wish. We are staying home!! I am going to get some much needed cleaning done and let the boys just play in their pajamas all day if they want. I mailed the application yesterday and we are excited about starting this whole process. First we will prepare our dossier. Then they will send it for review and we will hopefully have a log in date with China. Then we wait and wait for a match. We also checked some special needs that we might consider. In China special needs can include everything from needing glasses to ceberal palsy. Gosh, in China majority of us would be special needs!! No one is perfect...right?? The process is taking over three years now and is expected to grow longer. In all reality we won't be ready for another little one until then. I need to enjoy Luke while he is little because I know they grow up quickly. This will all work out!! I have faith that this little girl is going to come to us at the right time.

Application is almost ready to mail!!

Tonight Brad and I went to Walgreens to have our 2x2 photos made for our application to adopt. I had 1,095 pictures on my camera. WOW! That is a whole lot of pictures. I was unable to download the pictures of our house and family because there are so many pictures on my camera. I will have to go online and order them now. Shame on me for not doing this already!! I am planning on having this done and ready to mail on Monday. I still cannot believe that we are finally taking this step. This has been on my mind for a year, but I feel like our timing is right now. It is always interesting anytime we go somewhere with both boys!! Cole always talks to everyone and Luke continually spits up all over himself. What would life be like without a little bit of chatter and spit up?? Who knows, but sometimes you just have to laugh and go on!! I posted some of the pictures that we are going to send to the agency.

A Friday night full of shopping and catching up with Mom.

Tonight I went shopping for well who knows, but it was nice to get out. You know how us girls are.....shopping even if we don't get anything is therapy. I think it's just being able to get out, shop, eat and best of all talk. I did buy myself a shirt, Cole a game and a sippy cup for Luke. Wait did I say sippy cup? Yes, he is really getting that old. Boy does time fly!!! I still can't believe he'll be 7 months old in just a couple of days. He is crawling, sitting up and pulling up on everything. He and Cole are so cute together. They play a lot around the house. Luke has learned to be tough because Cole isn't about to cut him any breaks for just being a baby. Bless his heart! Life with two boys sure is going to be fun as we wait and wait for our little girl!!!!!!!

Playing in the rain.

Today is another rainy day, but around our house that doesn't mean we aren't having fun. Cole decided to go out and play in the rain. He got the scooter for his birthday as a gift from my sister. Watching him reminded me of all the times we played in the rain when I was younger. I still remember those days and they were some of the best times I can recall.