iPhone photo dump and something that makes me smile

Phew, that was a long post title.  Well, let's get to the news so we can get to the photo dump.  The good news is that today,as Havi turns 17 months old, we received the PDF copy of our cable approval letter for her adoption.  I know that's not decipherable to most of you.  Basically it means that our I-800 approval has been forwarded to Guangzhou, where Havi's immigration visa interview will take place. Since the approval has been forwarded, our rep in Guangzhou can now drop off her visa application, the DS-230.  This is known in adoption circles as the Article 5.  This will likely take place this Thursday. Two weeks later, it will be picked up and forwarded to CCCW@ in Beijing.  That's when our official wait for Travel Approval (TA) will begin.  That would make a great birthday present for me.  Really.  

Anyway, I know I promised iPhone photos, like um, forever ago.  So here are some from the last month.  I really have taken a ton of photos with my phone these last few months..  I'm thankful for it, as I haven't picked up my big girl camera much at all these last few weeks.  I have been spending waaay more time sewing. Anyway, here are just some of the photos that tell what we've been up to.  

 playing bible trivia with a helmet I made him

 an afternoon of bowling

birthday flowers for Madeline 

 pretty sunset 

the day her passport arrived

Easter egg hunt

 go-cart park

 morning snuggles

 spinning in a new twirl skirt, wearing her old Halloween scrub top costume, and so is Caleb lol

 another little skirt

 vanilla cupcakes with chocolate swiss meringue buttercream (YUM)

 lots of baseball and peanuts to munch

 swimming...practically every day

 school (she did this on her own for fun)

watching the painters

a bright white great room 

a panorama shot of the new white walls

The bedrooms are in the back, to the left and right, and the kids playroom is to the right where that window is. 

And yes, as you can see, besides painting, we haven't done anything in this space but move stuff in. lol  We'll get there...someday.  Actually, I need to stop sewing clothes for the girls and get cracking on some home dec stuff, like new toss pillows for the living room and the girls' bedding.  And since we'll likely be in China in 2 months, I should really get on that.