What's done is done

So we all had some shaggy hair. And between yesterday and today we've all been trimmed, some of us more than others. Caleb's bangs are a bit short, but his hair grows like the grass in my front yard, so in a few days it will be bordering too long again. At least this stylist listened when I said I liked his hair "textured" in the front and didn't give him a blunt trim.

This picture shows both our new stove (delivered last Wednesday ~ that's a good story!) and gives me photo evidence of who is responsible for taking the kitchen towel. For a long time I couldn't figure out how we went through four of them a day. He loves to carry a little towel around!

And then there's my sweet girl. I think the stylist who "trimmed" her hair had a different idea than I did about giving her a little style. I was thinking more of a bob, apparently she was thinking a pixie? And I got distracted when she first started cutting ~ that's the disadvantage when you try to save time by having both kids trimmed at once (at different ends of the salon of course...)
I mean, don't get me wrong, I think it is cute, I just keep being almost startled that it's my little girly girl with the pixie do! And if you're wondering, Ky LOVES it! She can't stop looking at herself in the mirror (or the window, or anything else remotely reflective...)

Can't decide between loose and free or the butterfly clip. Thoughts?
**I know Kylie likes the loose version better as she's been so tired of me chasing her with a clip saying that the hair in her eyes drives me crazy. It's just that she looks so much older than 3 to me in that picture...**
Oh, and Aunt CiCi, that's Darcy's blankie that she's modeling...

This one is for my cousin who wanted to see the back of Ky's hair. I'll try to get a better shot up tomorrow before we head out, but just in case... From the back it pretty much looks like it did, just about 1 1/2 inches shorter! Kylie kept smiling as the hair piled up around her on the floor and said, "That's my hair Mama, it's gonna be short!"

Never say never

Before I actually was a parent, I had all these grand ideas of how I had the parenting thing "all figured out." And then Kylie came along and I realized being a parent was a bit more challenging than babysitting. After a bit of tweaking, I was certain that I was going to be the one to make parenting toddler age "virtual twins" look effortless. And then Caleb arrived ~ and my grandiose visions were abandoned.

First of all, my kids would never misbehave in public. Roger that, (insert maniacal laughter at my stupidity) and that's why Ian and I have a code look on our faces to get the heck out of dodge before we have what we term an "Ungraceful exit."

Second, my kids would never be in public dressed "like that." Uuhh huh, we've worn winter tights under summer strappy dresses, pajamas out to dinner, colors and patterns that totally clash, and even our shorts backwards or our shoes on the wrong feet. (I do put my foot down and declare that I have the say so in what the kids wear to church...)

And lastly, and by far the most vehemently, I would NEVER, under any circumstances, make my one of my children wear a leash.

Then we planned a family vacation to go here...

(photo courtesy of National Parks Service)

...where you see lots of neat things like this...

(photo from Yellowstone National Park homepage)

...and the guidebook has warnings like this...

Where are your children?
Your hand and voice may be too far away if your child leaves your side. Keep your children next to you and make sure they understand the hazards of Yellowstone— especially hydrothermal areas, wildlife, and steep drop-offs.

...and we have a curious little guy who likes to explore by running ~ FAST!

All I have to say is never say never ~ safety comes first!
(And yes, we have tested to see just how strong Elmo is ~ Caleb can be lifted completely off the ground!)

Oh, and wouldn't you know that "monkey see, monkey do," so in order to stop WWIII from breaking out in our house, we had to go buy Ky one too!

(I tell myself that she asked for her pink doggy, so at least I didn't MAKE both my kids wear one...)

A glimpse of my future

The other night Shannon needed someone to watch Lottie while she and I went to Bible study. Ian volunteered to take on all three without hesitation ~ it is after all pretty much what our "new normal" is going to look like come this winter. All in all Ian said the evening went well though he did say that the kids were a "bit keyed up" all evening.

Maybe we shouldn't have left them with three mini-containers of cotton candy...

HUGE SHOUTOUT

Man I can't wait to be able to reveal our new adoption agency. I just can't say enough good things about them! I just got an email (yes, with the time stamp at 11:32 pm!) from our social worker there who is working late hours on a Friday night to try and get our home study review done as quickly as possible despite the "lack of a sense of urgency" from our home study agency. (She is going out of her way to navigate around the log jam that we're getting from our home study agency ~ one that won't be getting such high reviews from me when it is all said and done...) Is that dedication or what? Thank you K for loving your job as you do!

And in addition, after K's words of encouragement today, I finally allowed myself to make my first purchase for Darcy. Kylie and I have been searching for a soft blankie for her little sister for a while. Tonight we found ~ and bought as a bit of retail therapy ~ a patchwork of minky, minky dot, and chenille fabrics in white, mint green, and bubble gum pink that matches their room perfectly. If only I knew what size she's wearing...

**If you haven't yet, please do scroll down to read the previous post on the standstill we're sitting in. It will further help to understand why I'm so thankful for K right now!**

Another standstill

We're at another standstill in the "paperwork pregnancy" for Darcy and today I'm not in a very happy place. (Consider it a warning if you want to have fuzzy warm thoughts for the weekend ~ you're not going to find them here today...)

So last week I was pretty much on cloud nine because our sweet social worker stayed up late to complete our home study the night after our last interview. While it had taken slightly over two months from signing our agreement with the agency until we were finally allowed to start our visits, our super social worker crammed all our visits into a 10 day period and had the report completed the very next. And that day the long awaited background check for Ian came back and it felt like we were finally making up for lost time.

I was notified that our social worker with our home study agency passed our report on to our social worker with our adoption agency for review (apparently Hague guidelines have made this a much longer process). That was first thing last Thursday morning. And then today ~ a full week later, even taking into consideration the holiday last Friday ~ our agency social worker passed along the information that our home study agency has yet to send her the supporting documentation that she needs in order to review our report.

To say that I am disheartened is an understatement! I'm also frustrated at our home study agency's lack of a sense of urgency. Don't they understand that while Darcy is happy with her foster family that what is best for her in the long run is to become united with her forever family as soon as possible? Don't they realize that each day (and now full week) of delay in getting our home study reviewed costs us undetermined time in getting our application in to the USCIS? Don't they know how much I had hoped to have our USCIS application on it's way to the Chicago lock box BEFORE we depart for Yellowstone next week? Don't they realize that as each week passes that the likely hood of us getting to Darcy this calendar year becomes less and less a reality?

I've shed tears this afternoon over the delay. I just want to get her home so that she can start to know the love of a forever mommy, daddy, brother and sister. I want her to feel the all encompassing love of her Heavenly Father! I want her to be able to begin to get the medical treatment that will benefit her more the younger she can start it. And quite honestly, I just want to hold that sweet baby.

And yet I still have a peace. I have complete trust in God that there is a reason that my season as a mother of two precious ones is to last a bit longer. But I'm gonna be honest, it hurts a little...

I'm simply thankful beyond words that I can express that I have my two smile makers to bring me out of my funk!

Ten Word Wednesday

"Wanna Cheeto?"

AND

"Who needs chicken, I'll take the sauce!"

**Brought to you by our junk food binge that was the holiday weekend...**

Potato Chip Junkie

Sometimes nutrition takes a backseat on holiday weekends!

His expression captures his true devotion to fried potatoes. Can you just hear the thankful thoughts in his head?

**Cindy, this post was pretty much for your gloating pleasure...**

**One other thing, to my dear bloggy friends in PA, there is a Harrisburg in NC too! Don't worry, you'll know when we make it that far north. I'm totally coming to meet you!!!**

Images from the holiday weekend

Our weekend was filled with swimming, family and friends, good food, and celebrating the fact that we have freedom! This year I felt that same "make this mama want to cry" feelings about Caleb being here and being our little American citizen that I felt on the 4th in 2007 when Kylie celebrated her first Independence Day in the US.

Some images of our weekend ~ oh, and please overlook the fact that the kids and I are wearing the same clothing in the pictures. It was two nights in two different cities... (Wasn't going to spend lots of extra cash for multiple red, white and blue attire ~ we have things like airfare for four to China ~ and five back! ~ to spend our money on these days!)

Friday night

Our first ~ and only ~ 4th as a family of four!

Totally digging the symphony music!

Checking to be sure her treasured star necklace was still there!

Friends for life!

Playing football with Daddy. Could this be the same little guy who was terrified of Ian last October?

Kylie thinks Graham (one of Lottie's brothers) is the coolest!

Saturday

First float time in Grandma's pool.

Strong man! Would you believe that Daddy and kids wear the same SPF 50?

Hanging with Aunt CiCi!

Worn out from two days at the pool and one night of fireworks under his belt. He sacked out in the car, transferred to the stroller, and stayed asleep for the first 45 minutes we were listening to a LOUD live band in Harrisburg!

My little flag wavers (note Caleb's sleepy face!)

Me and the man who makes my life a happy one!
13 days short of 10 years...

Caleb and Uncle Adam dueling light saber style with their glow sticks.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy birthday America ~ and on a more personal note, Happy Birthday Grandpa!
Last night a local township celebrated the 4th early. And now that Ky is old enough, I did find myself explaining that fireworks were invented in her home country...
(see Fireworks and Fireflies? post ~ the beginning of the blog ~ to understand the full circle)