Christmas 2008

We have so much to be thankful for this year...I love my kiddo's so much!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Myspace Graphics, Christmas Graphics at WishAFriend.com

I'm so excited and thankful that Danilo and Maysa are home forever and will be celebrating their first Christmas with Devin and I this year.
We will go to Grandma and Grandpa's tonight to celebrate Christmas with aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Then we will return home and wait for Santa...I can't wait to see Danilo's face on Christmas morning!
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!
My heart and thoughts go out to all of the adoptive parents who are waiting to bring home their precious gifts from Guatemala!

O' Christmas Tree....

Christmas is just around the corner and I have so much to get done, but just don't feel like doing it at all!
I use to have all my shopping done and wrapped by the first weekend in December, along with lots of baking and decorating the house...I didn't even put lights on the house this year!
Going from one to three kids in a year has been a big change in my life. I'm so thankful to have my children home but can admit I'm emotionally and physically exhausted!
Well... at least we have the tree up and it's beautiful!

Yeah......for re-adoption day!

Danilo and Maysa were re-adopted today under the Iowa adoption law. The hearing went great and now off to more paper work...I have to wonder if the paper work and fees will ever end...ugh.
Now I will be getting them each a US Birth Certificate with their legal name change along with their Social Security cards...gotta have that for taxes.
Maysa is already a US citizen, but I will have to submit for Danilo's certificate of citizenship.
It was a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Maysa with her spoon ready waiting for her Thanksgiving meal...this girl loves to eat!

Say, "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Maysa loved playing in this box with mommy's empty wine bottle

Devin and Danilo with their cousins after a game of football

Isn't she the cutest!

Danilo and his first turkey...he said, "It's just like us and has two legs"

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday!
I can remember sitting at the table last year looking at empty chairs wondering if they would ever be filled...It was pure joy this year seeing Maysa and Danilo around the Thanksgiving table...as if they had always been seated their.
We have so much to be Thankful for this year!

So Thankful....

Maysa is pretty reserved, but in the last few days she is really becoming much more independent and did I mention silly!
She is defiantly more silly with her brothers around and she loves to copy everything they do.

I also wanted to post how thankful I am that Maysa and Danilo are home forever!
I still continue to read blogs everyday and I'm so saddened that their are still so many family's waiting to bring their children home from Guatemala.
There is a little girl named Kinsey and a little boy named Max along with a few other blog's that I check almost daily to see if their is any progress in their case's.
I don't know how their parent's are getting through the waiting and uncertainity...and it angers me that these adoptions are being held up way to long when these children need to come home.
I know the frustrations and helplessness you feel...and sometimes I feel bad for posting how wonderful everything is for me, when I know the waiting and wanting is pulling at your hearts...I hope reading other family's blogs and updates of completed adoptions will give you hope that your children will be home soon as well. Keep the faith and keep fighting!

Two months Home

Maysa has been home exactly two months today.
I can't ever imagine not having her in our family...it feels as if she has always been here. Time goes by so quickly!

Happy Halloween & Happy Birthday Grandpa...

The kids had a blast last night trick-or-treating and it didn't take long for Danilo and Maysa to get the hang of it.
It was also grandpas birthday!
I love the picture of him with all of his grandkids.
Now, I'm on official candy patrol making sure no one eats to much candy and gets a tummy ache. They ended up with so much...and I have to make sure they don't over do it...or sneak it!

Activity wind down...

Danilo finished up his last Soccer game on Saturday. He loved going to soccer and playing with the kids....although he spent most of his time going the wrong direction, or falling on the ground..LOL!
In any case he had a great time and can't wait to begin a new sport.



Devin just finished up football season yesterday. His team the "Cowboys" were in the playoffs for first place, but were defeated by the Raiders and took second place in the league. Although, he is bummed out for the loss he can't wait to play again next season.




So what does this mean for me? That I will be driving less and I will actually be able to begin cooking for the boys instead of going through drive thru Windows. Devin will no longer have four days of practice a week and a Sunday game day. Danilo won't be having practice's and I can finally sleep in on Saturday mornings without getting up for 8am soccer games. Maysa will be spending less time in her car seat. Don't get me wrong I love watching my kids play sports, but it's nice when the sports begin to wind down a bit for all of us to have more time together as a family. They still have Hip-Hop, Break dancing, Gymnastics, Church and what ever else they will be signing up for next week. Whew!

Oh, and I had to sneak one in of Maysa...we are still enjoying Indian summer!

PUMPKIN PATCH...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Gotta' Love This Weather...

Here it is mid-October and our weather has been wonderful!
It's been between the 70's and 80's with a light breeze since summer ended.
Maysa has so many summer clothes and I'm so glad she is having the opportunity to still wear them. I was worried with her coming home in September we would go straight to the cold mid-west fall and winter.
Maysa is so wonderful and she loves to play outside, hopefully I can't get the boys to stand still long enough to get some photos of them over the weekend!

New Friends

Maysa has finally made friends with the dogs and cat!
Whew...it took a while, but looks like she's going to be an animal lover!

A New Journey Begins...

Wow...what a year!
Danilo joined our family March 27, 2008. He is such a wonderful little boy who has brought such joy and spirit to our family. He is very inquisitive, stubborn, head-strong, affectionate, loving and very silly! It's amazing how well he has adjusted and how quickly he catches on to everything, especially English. I was able to visit Danilo's foster family in September and see where Danilo lived for four years after being a child on the streets of Guatemala. The experience of seeing where he lived has helped me to better understand where he came from and how truly fortunate we are to have him in our lives and away from such an uncertain future. I know there will be many more challenges ahead for him to overcome over the years, but we are a family and we will work through our problems with love an understanding!

Maysa, who I refer to as my BABY GIRL, was welcomed home on September 5, 2008. She has just turned 17 months and is on the go! She is loving, sweet, and did I say beautiful! It's a good thing she has two older brothers looking out for her. In just a few short weeks we have seen her transform from a shy natured little girl into and active, stubborn, smart, and loving child. Maysa is full of life and loves to copy everything we do. She loves to play outside. take a bath, listen to music and dance. She is a great sport when going to her brothers many activity's and is always their to lend a scream or a clap. We are so excited to have her home!

My Devin...he's 11 going on 16. He is the best son that a mother could ask for. He is affectionate, caring and unselfish. He began this journey with me in July 2005 and has been anxiously awaiting for a new brother or sister for well over 2 years. Devin is thrilled to be a big bother and enjoys sharing his zest for life with his new brother and sister. Devin is so understanding about sharing his mom and has begun to be a great positive influence in Danilo and Maysa's life. Even though Devin is only 11 he has shown great maturity and strength through this uncertain adoption process.

I can never put into words how thankful I am for my family and my three kiddo's along with having the opportunity to adopt. I hope and pray everyday for the children in Guatemala that are still waiting for their forever family's.
I'm so lucky and fortunate to be able to share my life and heart with all three of my children!
Our adption journey is over...and a new journey of a family begins!

Stay tuned for "My Three Kiddo's Updates".....