This is our very own reality show. We might not be as exciting as TV, but we have lots to share about our home, family, pets, and friends. This blog started with our journey to bring home our son from Ethiopia. We have now brought home another sweet boy from Ethiopia.
Monday, September 28, 2009
USCIS Appointment - Yeah!!
On Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 10am, Brad and I will be at the USCIS office in Milwaukee. This is for the I600A - Application for Advance Processing or Orphan Petition. YEAHHHHH! We need to have this completed and approved in order to travel to Ethiopia and bring home our little guy! I'm SO EXCITED!!!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
More Family Reunion Pics
Cassie & I on the boat trip
Queen Brad & I at the bowling alley
Laughing at the "dancers" on the boat trip:Me, Jordan, Cassie, Brad, Ally & Lauren
Kris & Mom on the boat
Erin, Cassie, Jordan & Noah taking a break from bowling!
Kris & Mom on the boat
Erin, Cassie, Jordan & Noah taking a break from bowling!Family Reunion Pictures (from August 2009)
Our bowling team!Cassie, Erin, me, Noah, Brad, Jordan, & Luke
Cody & Noah just being boys!
Noah, Brad & I 
Kris, Mom & I
Tired after bowling:Cassie, Kris, me, Noah & Brad
Frustration
So, I came home from work on Monday (09/21) and noticed that we received a letter from Wisconsin's Homeland Security office. They logged in our I600-A application, but they didn't have our birth or marriage certificates. UGH!!! I must have missed that part. Will send that out on Tuesday via priority mail.
Then, I check my home email and see an email from Jenn at Holt in Oregon. She received our dossier documents but Brad's employer letter was never NOTARIZED! UGH!!! I was SO frustrated, upset, and almost near tears. Why does everything always have to be so difficult. So, Brad asked human resources to do it again on Tuesday. The lady was TOO busy to get it done. So he asked again on Wednesday and she FINALLY pushed it underneath his door at work after 5pm. WHAT IS THAT?!?!? Does she not know that our little boy is WAITING for us?!?!?! Again, I'm almost to tears and really frustrated.
Brad sent the letter and copy of the letter out on Thursday morning. He sent it priority mail and overnighted it. Over $17.00 later, its' on the way to Oregon. I never heard from Holt on Friday, so I'm just hoping they received it and everything is in order.
I know I need to find my PATIENCE, but it's so hard knowing our little guy is there and we're missing so much with him. By the time Friday evening rolled around, I was just wiped out. TOO much stress thinking about everything. Everything happens for a reason, but I'm thinking somebody is having a good laugh on me!
Saturday was an awesome day! Noah won his football game. AGAIN! The team is 5-0 and we have one more regular season game to find out if they go to Playoffs. YEAH!
I took Cassie shopping and it was ALL ABOUT HER! She needed shoes to go with her homecoming dress and also earrings. Then she needed pajamas for pajama day this week at school. She also needed a pink shirt (I know she had one of these, but she totally disagreed) to play in the band during a volleyball game this week. Everytime I looked at something for me, I put it back. I know we're tight on money for the adoption, so I'm thinking all about the NEED list, rather than the WANT list.
Cassie and I also checked out clothes at Children's Place for our little guy. Just taking a stab at his height and weight now, I'm thinking he'll be in a 4T or so. That just seems SO TINY since Noah is already wearing size 10. I can't wait to get another update on his growth, so we can start thinking about clothes for him. Now that puts a big SMILE on my face!!
Jordan, Noah and I are working on another package to be sent to Muluken this afternoon. The two of them both made cards and I put some stickers in the envelope with another card. Jordan also found some coloring pictures on the internet, so we'll send one or two of those too! I would just love to see his face when he gets the envelope!
Then, I check my home email and see an email from Jenn at Holt in Oregon. She received our dossier documents but Brad's employer letter was never NOTARIZED! UGH!!! I was SO frustrated, upset, and almost near tears. Why does everything always have to be so difficult. So, Brad asked human resources to do it again on Tuesday. The lady was TOO busy to get it done. So he asked again on Wednesday and she FINALLY pushed it underneath his door at work after 5pm. WHAT IS THAT?!?!? Does she not know that our little boy is WAITING for us?!?!?! Again, I'm almost to tears and really frustrated.
Brad sent the letter and copy of the letter out on Thursday morning. He sent it priority mail and overnighted it. Over $17.00 later, its' on the way to Oregon. I never heard from Holt on Friday, so I'm just hoping they received it and everything is in order.
I know I need to find my PATIENCE, but it's so hard knowing our little guy is there and we're missing so much with him. By the time Friday evening rolled around, I was just wiped out. TOO much stress thinking about everything. Everything happens for a reason, but I'm thinking somebody is having a good laugh on me!
Saturday was an awesome day! Noah won his football game. AGAIN! The team is 5-0 and we have one more regular season game to find out if they go to Playoffs. YEAH!
I took Cassie shopping and it was ALL ABOUT HER! She needed shoes to go with her homecoming dress and also earrings. Then she needed pajamas for pajama day this week at school. She also needed a pink shirt (I know she had one of these, but she totally disagreed) to play in the band during a volleyball game this week. Everytime I looked at something for me, I put it back. I know we're tight on money for the adoption, so I'm thinking all about the NEED list, rather than the WANT list.
Cassie and I also checked out clothes at Children's Place for our little guy. Just taking a stab at his height and weight now, I'm thinking he'll be in a 4T or so. That just seems SO TINY since Noah is already wearing size 10. I can't wait to get another update on his growth, so we can start thinking about clothes for him. Now that puts a big SMILE on my face!!
Jordan, Noah and I are working on another package to be sent to Muluken this afternoon. The two of them both made cards and I put some stickers in the envelope with another card. Jordan also found some coloring pictures on the internet, so we'll send one or two of those too! I would just love to see his face when he gets the envelope!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Dossier is Sent!
Finally! We received our authentication forms from the State of Wisconsin in Thursday's mail. I made all the copies and sent out our dossier to Holt in Oregon on Friday. YEAH!! It seems like it has taken forever, but we finally did it. Now, we wait. We still have to go for fingerprinting in Milwaukee, once immigration gives us an appointment.
Well, we're done with 3 weeks of school now and we're starting to get into our routine again. Grandma Lenz picks up the kids at school every Monday and Thursday, brings them home, helps Jordan and Noah get into the football and cheerleading practice clothes, and takes them to Weyauwega for practice by 4:30pm. Tuesday is drama practice for Noah and I pick him up at 4:30pm. I've been trying to walk my 3 miles every day when I get home. My two sidekicks, Tia and Tiger LOVE going for these walks and look forward to them as much as I do.
Noah's football team is undefeated right now, 4-0. Brad is one of the head coaches, so I have to sit in the stands by myself and try to figure the game out. I'm getting pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. Cassie had to march in the Horse & Buggy Days parade yesterday, and I missed her by a few minutes because Noah's football game ran late. Bummer. She'll be marching in the homecoming parade but I'll miss that because it's during the day time when I'm at work. She also has to march for the Christmas parade in Appleton, but that makes a Tuesday evening REALLY late. We'll have to watch her on TV that night!
Cassie has a date for homecoming. She's excited but I'm not sure yet. I can't believe she's old enough for a DATE! We have the dress but still need to buy some shoes. That might be harder than it sounds because Cassie has a REALLY hard time walking in even a very little heel.
Today, it's a nice cool 73 degrees and kind of overcast. A perfect fall day to make homemade applesauce. I made this in my classroom this past week and want to try it for my family. I can't wait to smell the applesauce cooking! YUM!
Well, we're done with 3 weeks of school now and we're starting to get into our routine again. Grandma Lenz picks up the kids at school every Monday and Thursday, brings them home, helps Jordan and Noah get into the football and cheerleading practice clothes, and takes them to Weyauwega for practice by 4:30pm. Tuesday is drama practice for Noah and I pick him up at 4:30pm. I've been trying to walk my 3 miles every day when I get home. My two sidekicks, Tia and Tiger LOVE going for these walks and look forward to them as much as I do.
Noah's football team is undefeated right now, 4-0. Brad is one of the head coaches, so I have to sit in the stands by myself and try to figure the game out. I'm getting pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. Cassie had to march in the Horse & Buggy Days parade yesterday, and I missed her by a few minutes because Noah's football game ran late. Bummer. She'll be marching in the homecoming parade but I'll miss that because it's during the day time when I'm at work. She also has to march for the Christmas parade in Appleton, but that makes a Tuesday evening REALLY late. We'll have to watch her on TV that night!
Cassie has a date for homecoming. She's excited but I'm not sure yet. I can't believe she's old enough for a DATE! We have the dress but still need to buy some shoes. That might be harder than it sounds because Cassie has a REALLY hard time walking in even a very little heel.
Today, it's a nice cool 73 degrees and kind of overcast. A perfect fall day to make homemade applesauce. I made this in my classroom this past week and want to try it for my family. I can't wait to smell the applesauce cooking! YUM!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Getting there
The paperwork is almost complete. We finally received the approved and notarized home study report on Friday, September 11th. We went back to our neighbor, "the notary", today and got the last 4 things signed. We have to send out 4 envelopes out tomorrow in the mail~YEAH!! We'll wait to get one of them back from the State that authenticates our notaries' names, and then we send off all the dossier documents to Holt! That's so awesome! I was hoping to have this done sooner, but when you're at the mercy of everyone else, it's pretty hard.
The weather has been awesome around here lately. We've been in the low 80's every day for over a week and the nights get nice and cool to sleep. BUT, today I couldn't handle the heat, so I turned on the central air. I'm such a wimp. It seems so weird to have such nice, warm weather in September because we had such a cool summer.
School is going great for everyone~even me! It's nice to get back into the swing of things again. Now if I only would do my lesson plans for this week, I would be feeling much happier.
The one down side of this whole weekend~The hunting season has begun. Yesterday was the very first day of the bowhunting season on Wisconsin. Brad hasn't gone out by himself yet, but he has taken Cassie out this weekend. This looks to be a very LONG hunting season.
The weather has been awesome around here lately. We've been in the low 80's every day for over a week and the nights get nice and cool to sleep. BUT, today I couldn't handle the heat, so I turned on the central air. I'm such a wimp. It seems so weird to have such nice, warm weather in September because we had such a cool summer.
School is going great for everyone~even me! It's nice to get back into the swing of things again. Now if I only would do my lesson plans for this week, I would be feeling much happier.
The one down side of this whole weekend~The hunting season has begun. Yesterday was the very first day of the bowhunting season on Wisconsin. Brad hasn't gone out by himself yet, but he has taken Cassie out this weekend. This looks to be a very LONG hunting season.
Monday, September 7, 2009
10 Things I am Thankful For
1. Warm days and cool nights.
2. Watching Brad help the kids shoot their bows.
3. Listening to Cassie talk about her first days of high school.
4. Taking my 2 pups, Tia and Tiger, for long walks.
5. Sitting by the Lake at Grandma's home and relaxing, while the kids swim and fish.
6. Having a clean house with freshly shampooed carpets.
7. Watching the birds at the feeders outside my bedroom window.
8. Watching HGTV anytime of the day.
9. Getting ready for another week at work~a job I LOVE!
10. Listening to the crickets and frogs sing at night.
There are so many more things I'm thankful for, but this is what came to my mind tonight, sitting at the kitchen table while the kids are in bed and Brad is watching football on TV.
2. Watching Brad help the kids shoot their bows.
3. Listening to Cassie talk about her first days of high school.
4. Taking my 2 pups, Tia and Tiger, for long walks.
5. Sitting by the Lake at Grandma's home and relaxing, while the kids swim and fish.
6. Having a clean house with freshly shampooed carpets.
7. Watching the birds at the feeders outside my bedroom window.
8. Watching HGTV anytime of the day.
9. Getting ready for another week at work~a job I LOVE!
10. Listening to the crickets and frogs sing at night.
There are so many more things I'm thankful for, but this is what came to my mind tonight, sitting at the kitchen table while the kids are in bed and Brad is watching football on TV.
Ups and Downs
I have good days and some not-so good days. I think too much and I get down. I feel like time is moving SO SLOWWWWWW!
Yes, I'm talking about bringing our son home from Ethiopia. I never was a patient person, but just knowing that summer is now over and fall is on it's way, time is moving but we're still at a stand still on bringing him home due to paperwork. Maybe I would feel better knowing an estimate when we'll go to Africa, but all we have right now, is sometime in the future. We don't even know if it will be this year or next. I would love to pick him up in December before Christmas, but who knows.
I need to remember that God is with him and keeping him safe. I can pray for him and hope that he's healthy and happy, but it is so hard just sitting here thinking of him and not being able to see him, hold him, hug him, and tell him that we love him.
Luckily school is back in full swing again and the kids are in football, cheerleading, and band, so they're keeping us busy all the time too. I'm happy to be back to school and starting a new year too. It means that by next year at this time, we'll be starting back to school with our 4 children. Now that's exciting!
Yes, I'm talking about bringing our son home from Ethiopia. I never was a patient person, but just knowing that summer is now over and fall is on it's way, time is moving but we're still at a stand still on bringing him home due to paperwork. Maybe I would feel better knowing an estimate when we'll go to Africa, but all we have right now, is sometime in the future. We don't even know if it will be this year or next. I would love to pick him up in December before Christmas, but who knows.
I need to remember that God is with him and keeping him safe. I can pray for him and hope that he's healthy and happy, but it is so hard just sitting here thinking of him and not being able to see him, hold him, hug him, and tell him that we love him.
Luckily school is back in full swing again and the kids are in football, cheerleading, and band, so they're keeping us busy all the time too. I'm happy to be back to school and starting a new year too. It means that by next year at this time, we'll be starting back to school with our 4 children. Now that's exciting!
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