Trick or Treat

Miller- Snow White, Caroline- Kitty Cat

They LOVED their fancy costumes

"Did you say they're GIVING AWAY CANDY!? I'm outta here!"

Wilson- Max, King of the Wild Things, Miller- Snow White

Max, Snow, Kitty Cat 1, Kitty Cat 2 (Mabry), Luke Skywalker (John Clark)

Let the busyness begin!!



First Order of Clippies!

 

I'm so excited to say that the first batch of clippies has been received and are ready to be sent to their new owners. I had seen most of the designs already, but there were a few new ones in this order. They are super cute!! A few people have asked about ordering again. I'll try to do the next order in a couple of weeks. Let me know if you are interested and I'll get you down- the order for Christmas trees or Santa hats needs to be placed no later than November 10th to get them here by December 1st.

 

Here's a brief rundown of what's available. I'll try to get a brochure showing the designs available up soon.

 

• Disney- Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Tiana, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Alice in Wonderland, Ariele, Tinkerbell, Minnie
• Nick Jr- Dora, Ni Hao Kai Lan
• Books/Movies- Madeline, Fancy Nancy, Wicked Witch, Glinda the Good Witch
• Holidays/Seasonal- Christams Trees, Santa Hat, Shamrock, Hearts, Carrots, Fire Cracker, Flip Flops, Cupcakes
• Animals- Fish, Dragonflies

 

They are $5 each and the money will be going towards the care package we can send to our baby once we get our referral.  Items in the care package will stay in Korea.  So, this will first benefit our child, but will also touch the lives of future orphans that are cared for by our baby's foster family.  It's the gift that keeps on giving! :)

Adoption Update

Everyone has been asking for an update on the adoption, and the truth is there's just not much that's changed since my last "adoption post".  I've continued to update the timeline to the right as any baby milestones have been completed.  So here all that is in paragraph form!

We have completed our parent training which we were allowed to do online so we could finish it as quickly as possible.  We had our last visit with our social worker for our home study, which was the home visit.  It went really well and the highlight was probably Miller asking the social worker if she'd like to smell our dog's bed!  I have NO IDEA where that came from other than she and her brother must hold each other down and force the other one to smell it when I'm not looking.  Miller kept insisting and finally our social worker had say, "um, no thank you!"  That child!!  :)  The social worker said she would go ahead and write our home study and send it on to Holt for their review just minus the sentence that says we have a clear background from the FBI. 

We mailed in our I600a which is a document that begins the immigration paperwork process.  It lets Homeland Security know that the Ethridge's will be adopting and bringing a child into the country permanently.  We then received our I-797C Notice of Action, which is just a very fancy way of saying "this is a piece of paper to let you know that we got your piece of paper (the I600a) and we'll be sending you another piece of paper soon".  The next thing we'll receive from them will be the dates and times for our biometrics appointments downtown (basically another set of fingerprints to be taken for Homeland Security).

So right now, we are still waiting for our original set of prints to be run and a report of a clear background to be returned to us.  If we can get them back in the next few days, we'll still be in position to get a referral from the pool of healthy baby boys that need homes ASAP.  Without this all of the above doesn't really get us anywhere. It's all good that these things have been taken care of - a few less things to do once we do get the report back from the FBI.  But we really can't move forward with getting a referral until we have that.  If we don't get them back in the next few days, basically we're back where we thought we'd be before we got the call a few weeks ago asking if we'd be willing to consider a healthy boy.  Which isn't a bad place to be- we can still get a referral of a special needs child matching our profile at any time and we are still requesting records on babies as they get added to the waiting child list that we're interested in.  We will either have a baby early next year or late next year -  please, won't you join us on the hamster wheel of adoption?  :)

Happy Halloween, From the Animal Kingdom

If you're new to the blog, go back through the archives and you'll find that since we moved into this house nearly three years ago, there has been a steady stream of much too close for comfort contact with the wild. All times of day, all manner of animalia, really it could be a blog all by itself . . .

Anyway, I walk through the dining room earlier today and see the above in the window. You may have to look for a minute and you may need to click on the picture to make it a bit larger. Does anyone else see the ghost of a bird in flight!? You can see its wings stretched out, its chest, and head . . . right before it sailed into my window! Sadly there is a matching print on the next window section down. How dumb did this bird have to be? I hate to speak ill of the (assumingly) dead, but look at that wing span! This little fellow had no intention of stopping. Then, THEN, he backed up and tried again! The prints are quite impressive, you can see individual feathers, hollow spots where the eyes are, maybe a little beak. ACSI (Avian Crime Scene Investigators) may be knocking on my door any minute!

Wilson- Age Six

• Loves- Kindergarten, Legos, Wii, Batman, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, animals, riding his bike, playing with friends- especially having a little freedom to walk down or across the street to find a neighbor to hang out with, baseball, his little sister, telling others about our adoption, cooking, coloring, doing word/number puzzles, climbing up door frames and saying hello to whoever doesn't know he's up there
• Best Quote Lately- "Mom, since you know so much about olden times, did you live back then?  Was it colorful then?"
• Favorite food- Margarita pizza, "Man Sandwiches" ("Wilson, what's in a 'Man Sandwich'?" "Ummm, eggs, Tony's, cheese, mayo, and . . . a little mustard.")
• Favorite book- Willy Wonka and the Great Glass Elevator
• Favorite movie- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the old one)
• Favorite candy- Smarties
• What the most exciting thing that will happen while you're six- Adopt the baby! (BIG smile on his face)
• What's your favorite thing about kindergarten- My work, because my work is fun!

Wilson, you make your Dad and me so proud- we are so blessed to be your parents!  You are becoming such a big kid with such a sweet heart.  You're really owning your role as big brother lately.  You enjoy playing with Miller and helping her out (when she'll let you!).  It has been so fun to watch the two of you enjoying each other's company- thank you for loving your sister and helping her understand what being a part of a family is all about.  You're so excited about the next baby joining our family and I hear (from third parties) all the time about you telling them about the baby and what the latest is with the adoption.  More than once a "sponsor a child commercial" has come on TV and you've come running in to let me or dad know that you've found a baby for us to adopt!  Kindergarten has been a big hit (once you got out of the car on the first day!).  You've made lots of new friends and are learning so much.  We're so impressed with how much you're able to read already and the math that you can do in your head!  We are mostly thrilled that you are learning to view most of life's questions in the light of God's glory and how you can bring Him glory through your actions.  You're beginning to "get it" and it does our hearts good to see you follow as the Lord draws you to Himself. 

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" 3 John 4

We love you more than you'll ever know!  Happy 6th Birthday!

Too Stinkin' Cute

My cousin's twins- are they not the cutest little pumpkins you've ever seen?!

Happy 6th Birthday, Wilson!

Wilson turned 6 Wednesday!!  It was a great day.  We started celebrating the night before with Phil's parents, grandmother, and his sister's family.  We had yummy supper, super yummy cake, and some great birthday gifts.  The next morning he woke up and immediately began playing with what he'd gotten the night before.  He played for probably half an hour before he finally remembered IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY and wanted to come downstairs to open his presents from us.  They were in the playroom sitting on the rocking horse Big Daddy made for him for his 1st birthday.  He got the Missing Golden Ticket (the lost chapter from Willy Wonka), Cool Robots- a book of robots you can build with legos, Lego Batman pajamas, and Creationary- basically Pictionary but with legos (notice a theme?).

That night we had a Wild Things party in the park after dark.  All his buds came dressed in their costumes and ran all over the park!  We totally lucked up because right now they are re-mulching the play area.  So, there was a mountain of mulch right outside the fence that the boys spent just about every second climbing up, fighting with glow in the dark sticks on, and sliding down.  What more could a boy ask for!?  Wilson was dressed as Max from the book and Miller was a "cheer cheer".

Here's a summary of the party in video:

Fall Into Fun

This year was our first year to participate in our schools big fund raiser- Fall Into Fun.  And FUN it was.  Wilson and Miller both had a great time jumping in all the bouncy things, playing games, getting prizes, and seeing friends.  The weather was perfect for a carnival.  The main event is on a Thursday night and this year they added a 5k and fun run on Saturday (click for a video of highlights). 

I'm so proud of ALL the runners in my family.  Phil won overall in the 5k, Wilson got 3rd for 5 and under boys in the fun run, and Miller got 1st in 5 and under girls in the fun run!!! 

Small disclosure- Miller rode on a golf cart for most of the mile and was the only girl 5 and under that ran.  She's such a hoot.  She really does love to run and her personal best is about 1/2 a mile running 1/2 mile walking.  She decided the morning of the race that she wanted to participate, so I signed her up.  As we're lining up on the starting line she all of a sudden becomes completely preoccupied by her jacket & hood.  What are you, two!?  We're running a race here!!  She made it through the starting lane and then the lady that was driving the golf cart behind the race offered to let her ride- which she thought was awesome.  When they got back on campus, I asked if she'd like to get down and run, which she did.  She's the last child coming in and everyone started going nuts at the site of this tiny little person running her heart out- they had no idea she'd just been deposited a few feet back.  I tried to explain this at the finish line when they asked for her sticker for her time card, but they said it didn't matter- she finished!

If I'd have known those were the rules- I'd have run the 5K . . . and won!

Mamma's so proud, guys!!  Congrats!!

What would a post be without pictures!?  Wilson got his face painted like a tiger at Fall Into Fun and Miss Priss got a butterfly and a heart done at our church's Moses Basket ministry picnic.  Thanks to the McNeil's for hosting this fun time for adoptive families past, present, and future and our prayer warriors.

Granna's Spend the Night Party

For Granna's birthday this year we had a spend the night party!  Phil was out of town, so the kids and I and Jack packed up and headed to Jackson!  We had supper with the birthday girl at Kiefers and followed it with cupcakes from Gigis- yum, yum, yum!  Then we went back to my parents house for some wild fun- coloring with new crayons and listening to Harry Connick Jr.'s Songs I Heard (great collection of songs from Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Annie, Mary Poppins, and my kiddos fave- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).  With party hats and crowns for added festivity!  At some point in the night, Jack had had enough.  We're not sure how he did it, but he put himself to bed- in the baby bed!  That was a first!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANNA!!

Candy Castle

For the letter "Cc" the kindergartners were given the option of making a Candy Castle for homework. I think Wilson did a great job on his! Take note of the dragon in the moat- one of his favorite parts. (and no, they aren't just now on C and it's almost November- I'm just that behind on posting!)

Two Year Olds Need A Lot of Attention

I just gave Miller a half of a peanut butter sandwich and a banana for her snack (she has a snack for lunch and lunch for a snack- don't question the method or the madness, there's no answer).  Our social worker is allowing us to do our parent training online so that we can complete it ASAP instead of waiting on there to be enough families at the same point in the process as we are to have a live class.  We've complete a couple of the classes so I sat down at the computer to try and print our completion certificates for our file.  I realized after awhile that Miller has yet to reappear covered in peanut butter looking for something to do.  I assume this means she's roaming the house spreading her peanutty stickiness.  I lean slightly back and to the left in my chair to see if I can see her.

There she sat.  On the floor.  At the bottom of the stairs.  One complete piece of bread, unfolded, with less peanut butter than when we started several minutes ago.  Two little feet covered with MUCH more peanut butter than when started several minutes ago.  She had literally painted the bottoms of her feet with peanut butter.  I scoop her up and take her to the sink to wash her up.  Under my breath I say "what am I going to do with you?".  Casually, and under her breath, Miller replies, "spank me".

This reminded me of the time when Wilson was a baby and we left Tate the dog unattended in the house for a while.  We came home to find that he shredded a board book about dogs to pieces.  Well, almost.  There was one page left intact and face up on the rug.  The page read, "Dogs need a lot of attention."

Wow, wow, wow!

You've got to take the time to watch this (this is part one- look for the link for part two when this ends.)

Wilson teaching Miller Korean

"The weather is good isn't it?"

At least I think that's what they're saying.  My apologies to anyone reading this who might actually speak Korean if its something obscene.  Incidentally, she helped paint her shirt which says "big sister".

Bye Bye Rosie & Juno

Friday as we were leaving the parking lot of Wilson's school, Miller asked if we could go to the zoo. I said, sure- great idea- let's go to the zoo. We called our best buddies to see if they would like to join us on our last minute excursion to go to the zoo and to say goodbye to our elephants before they move to Nashville. Miller and Caroline had a great time getting to be queens of the zoo. Not only were there almost no other people there- there were no big brothers to dictate what did and saw. When we made it to the elephant exhibit, the zoo keeper, Percy, happened to be walking by. He yelled, "Hey Rosie, hey Juno, comer over here! These people have come to tell you goodbye- get over here!" With that one of them trumpeted, and they both turned and came right over to the fence for us. Percy then said to wait just a second while he got them a treat and he'd take our picture with them. He went and cut some bamboo and laid it across the fence (it's on the left side of the photo) and Rosie & Juno posed with us for a couple of shots! Then the elephants got their treats for indulging us. It was a great way to say goodbye- we're so sad that they have to leave. Best wishes for Nashville!

The Big, Fat, Huge, Amazing, Unbelievable, Never Saw This Coming Adoption Update!

I have a huge update for our friends praying for our adoption journey.

Wednesday ended with me a little stressed over a lot surrounding the adoption- a good bit of it frustration over things completely out of my control and contingent on possible scenarios that haven't even happened yet (I have quite an imagination when things are out of my control :) !  I finally decided I'd stewed enough and didn't want to loose sleep over it.  So, I pulled out a journal and wrote "Lord, these are yours" and listed several things I just couldn't worry about any more. I put the journal away and immediately went to sleep. 

Thursday I went about my regular day of taking kids to school and running errands.  Our friends Jason & Meg Edwards that live in Starkville were in town for the day so we met them for lunch to meet their little girl who has been home from Korea for about a year now.  Such a cutie and it was so reassuring to hear how well she has adjusted and grown.  Miller and I spent the rest of the afternoon playing at a toy store and book store and then we went to pick Wilson up from his friends house.

When I got in the car to head home with Wilson, I saw that I had missed a call on my cell.  There was a message from someone at Holt saying that she had just left a long message at home and to please call her as soon as I had a chance.  When I realized that I had missed calls on both numbers I of course assumed the worse- that Korea had suddenly closed or that Holt had looked over our application again and had decided we weren't eligible for some reason.  I got home and checked the machine.  The message said that . . . are you ready . . . Holt Korea is in IMMEDIATE need of families for the "regular" program (as opposed to special needs).  Apparently domestic adoption has not taken care of all of the healthy children in South Korea and they need families that have a home study or close and are open to boys and normal neonatal conditions (jaundice, low birth weight, etc.).    Never dreamed someone would be calling to say we could be getting a referral in the next month or so.  I'm still a little in shock and wish I still had the skills to do a back handspring!  

We serve an amazing God!  When I was "turning things over" on Wednesday night it, of course, never occurred to me to ask that we'd get a call saying we'd get a referral before the end of the year (this is a round about answer to a lot of the things I was stewing over).  "Wow" is all I can say!  If you would please say a prayer for our social worker.  The success of this new development is completely in her hands right now.  We need our home study ASAP and she is very overworked as she is the only social worker for international adoption in our area.  We want to get our study done quickly, but we want it to be done carefully and correctly.  We also don't want to be in the position of getting in the way of another family who's been waiting for a long time on their study to get delayed.  We rest in the knowledge that the Lord knows when each child He creates is to be joined with the family he has chosen for them!

One more little divine intervention/providence.  Several weeks ago we mailed our fingerprints to the FBI for our background check.  Currently the wait time for this is running almost 3 months.  If you have a deadline you can put that on the envelope, but other than that, there's really not a lot you can do to speed the process along.  At the time, we had no immediate need for the fingerprints.  I've been expecting that we'd get our referral sometime in the spring or summer- we had all the time in the world.  But "for some reason" before I sent the envelope I wrote Wilson's birthday (Oct. 20) on the the outside as a deadline- just to see what happened.  I admittedly felt a little guilty for being such a rule breaker.  But NOW I know I was NOT lying- thank you Lord for guiding my mischievous hand!!

What a great day!  Wilson was so pumped to hear that there is a good chance that our new baby will be a brother- his reaction was priceless.  Phil and I ended the day watching Bizarre Foods- South Korea.  As something crawled back OUT of Anthony's mouth we made a mental note to pack some peanut butter and crackers!

Worn Out

Just went in the playroom to check on Miller. She's watching her new favorite "Chocolate Milk" (aka- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- the old one). She is passed out- Mrs. Feather must have worked them overtime today!

First Days of School

Having lunch and swimming after the first day of school

Wilson with his teacher, Mrs. Maris, getting in the car after a hard day of kindergarten.

Wilson was a little apprehensive about starting school, so there was no way I was going to get a traditional "first day of school" picture- I had to improvise and sneak up on him in carpool line with the camera!  While he wasn't so sure about starting kindergarten, he's loving it now.  He looks so big in his uniform!  The kindergartners get tote bags to decorate instead of using backpacks.  We cut the letters of his name out of spiderman and batman fabrics, ironed them on, and painted around them.  It is a hit!  His first project of the year was to memorize his address and phone number and recite it to his teacher.  When everyone has said their's, they get a pizza party.  He was so proud when he was able to do it!!

Miller after her first day of Preschool.  She's telling me that they played in the gym and that there were basketballs stuck WAAAY up high, and she didn't have a ladder, and a man will have to get them, and . . . .

The basketballs and the gym were the highlight for the first few days of school- so funny what sticks out to a two year old!

She is loving school and has been so excited all summer about starting.  Whenever school would cross her mind she launch into a dissertation on preschool.  "I'm gonna go to school, and Caroline's gonna be there, and I'm gonna paint, and Caroline's gonna color, and I'm gonna sit right here (pointing to a picture of a seesaw in My Preschool by Anne Rockwell), and Caroline's gonna sit right there (pointing to the other end of the seesaw), and . . ."  She loves her teacher Mrs. "Feather" (Mrs. Heather).  It also helps that there is a life size picture of the preschool director dressed like Snow White (Miller's FAVORITE princess) right when you walk in the door.  She thinks Snow White is at her school!  She's going to start Jazz dance class this week- I can't wait to hear all about it!