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.

It's all about the animals

When we first heard that the Kratt Brothers were going to be at Sea World, we knew we had a date.  The dumplings love watching the Wild Kratts.  They learn so much about animals from this show.  It's so educational.  Gotta love that.  Lots of their playtime involves acting like the Kratt brothers, Chris and Martin, and the animals they feature on the show.

Thanks to my sister's gracious mother-in-law, we headed over to Sea World this past weekend to catch the Kratt Brothers.  We arrived early to see some of the park.  We first hit up the sharks.

Then it was time to enjoy the show.  They featured a miniature otter, an anteater and a monkey, all whose proper names have escaped me.  The kids enjoyed acting like animals during the show and hearing about Chris and Martin's silly adventures in South America.

Then it was time to see the dolphins.

{That's my twin sister I'm snapping in the background above.}

Some duck- duck- goose was in order.

Then we headed over to the sting rays for some petting and feeding. Caleb and Madeline LOVED it.

After getting washed up, we headed over to the Sea Lion and Otter Show.  What's a show without chips?

The kids headed over to kiddie land for a few rides and slides.

My dare devil naturally had to go head first.  She's fearless, I tell ya.

Josh was a pretty good sport while the bigger kids played.  We can't wait until his playmate Havi makes it home this summer.  He's just 4 months older than her.

Here's the obligatory hand-on-hip shot.

Then all the kiddos went for a ride on the carousel.

Then we grabbed a late lunch before heading out to Ikea for some much needed home purchases.

My sister Deb and BIL Andy were such good sports schlepping to Ikea with us.  My sister had just a few items to get.  We had just a few items we weren't getting.  On the list of items to purchase were some new desks for our office, storage bins for all my fabric (I will sew in the office), a new extra long extension kitchen table that will also serve for special dinners, and curtains for our bedroom.  Sounds like a lot, but it's really just the tip of the iceberg.  And now, to figure out exactly what we're going to do in Madeline's room for little Havi.  We have a toddler bed, but she's so young.  The cribs were so inexpensive at Ikea that we may leave that open as an option.

Anyway, we had such a fantastic day. The weather was gorgeous and the company tops.  The only thing better would be a sit and stand stroller with Madeline and Havi in it!