End of Summer Fun

Okay I did this all backwards but I'm not saavy enough to try and figure it out. We had a fun weekend starting with a trip to the zoo on Thursday. On Friday evening Kevin's sister, Lori, and her family arrived. We had a fun filled weekend of non-stop walking and eating. We also played a lot of pingpong and pool. It all ended here at Beaches restaurant.

Boys on the land bridge.

Harrison behind bars

Logan at Fort Vancouver

Haylee basking in all the attention she received

On the cannons in front of the Factor's house

Lower Falls

Inside the tunnels at Two Forests

We also went through Ape Caves.

At the Zoo.

Harrison's Birthday

Harrison celebrated his birthday in the middle of our move. The poor boy has had a couple of busy birthdays in a row. Last year his birthday was the day after Haylee's surgery in the middle of a heat wave. This year it was in the middle of moving chaos. But as always he is a good sport about it and next year we'll have to make it up to him some how. He did get his favorite food when me and Kevin took him out to lunch for ribs - so according to him it wasn't a complete bust. He always looks on the bright side. I feel so lucky to be this boy's mom.

Some Pics

We are In!

We are in but not unpacked. Our garage is overwhelmingly full of boxes that I don't know how I can possibly ever empty them all, let a lone find a place for it. How did we accumulate so much stuff? We are beyond exhausted but grateful. My mom and Chuck came last week and helped us so much. I don't know how I can ever repay their generosity. And Tyson and his family came up for the weekend to help too. Not to mention our friends from the ward who helped us move on Saturday. We are sadly sans blinds (long angry fist-shaking story). They won't arrive until a week from Thursday. In the meantime I am noticing a million little things that need to be fixed and freaking out about scuff marks on the baseboards. All very silly stuff indeed - but did I mention I'm exhausted. It has been quite a year so far but we are in the home stretch! Soon we will be open for visitors! I'll post pictures soon.

Getting Close...

We sign on Friday and it will fund in a week. Hopefully we can start moving things over next Wednesday. I've started packing up and trying to figure out what will go where. We had a fun Saturday picking out a bunch of new furniture. The carpet went in today. The hardwood floors are done. They are landscaping and putting in the plumbing. We are getting so excited!!!

ROOOAAAAR!

Haylee

It is hard to believe that this little sweetie has been with our family now longer than she was in the orphanage. She is such a miracle! I can't imagine our life without her. She is definitely getting into those terrible twos but along with that is a very silly personality is developing. She is expressing herself in language and although she is hard to understand she keeps cracking me up. She is a clever girl! We've just changed speech therapy programs to get her 2x a week therapy to find out whether or not she will need another surgery to be able to make air pressure sounds. At times it is overwhelming but I do not doubt that she will "get it" eventually. She is so smart and funny and beautiful. She loves to dance and copy others and she is starting to sing. I feel blessed with all my children but there is just something extra poignant about adoption. Whenever I try to describe my emotions in this adventure I always come up short because there are no words to express my gratitude. God did not create the circumstances that led to Haylee being abandoned nor did he create the hole in my heart after Ava died. These things are just part of our mortal existence. Bad things happen to us all. But I do believe that He was responsible for mending both or our broken hearts. So as I contemplate Haylee joining our family the only word I can use is a deep, faith promoting Gratitude and even that seems inadequate.