And in Came the Mayflower............

Cade's school had their Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast yesterday and it was a hit. Crazy, but a hit! All the kids got to dress up as either an Indian or a Pilgrim. It was really cute.
Here is Midnight Mighty Calf (Cade's chosen Indian name). It was given to him because he was born shortly after midnight and Bobby and I can remember people saying, "Look how big his calves are!" We had the hallway lined with yellow paper and they used that as their table. It was a true feast with turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, greenbeans, rolls and pumpkin pie. Cade discovered yet another dessert that is his favorite.
I love being able to go to the school and help out with all of these things. It is really a lot of fun!

Educating myself a little......

about the country that our daughter will be born in. I'm in the process of learning Spanish in hopes that once we receive our referral (that refers to the child they pick out for us) I will be able to communicate with whomever is caring for her. I have been looking online for information about El Salvador and many of the pictures are soooo beautiful.........then some are just heartbreaking. It's hard to imagine poverty, true poverty, when we live in such a blessed area. I know you don't have to leave our country, or state for that matter, to see poverty but anytime it is placed before you it leaves a mark on your heart. At least it does for me. From the lable on this pic below, it is a pic of a lake called Coatepeque in San Salvador. That is the capital where we will fly into to pick up baby girl whose name I'm not sure if I'm releasing to the press as of yet. :)

We have heard no news of our dossier other than it is there and last word "was being translated". It should really be out of that stage but communication is so incredibly slow..........and our adoption coordinator has been in a conference and on vacation. I'll cut her some slack until the holiday is over...........well, make that Monday. I'll cut her slack until Monday. We all know I'm not that patient. Then she is getting another email!!!!!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Back to the drawing (or photo) board................

Getting a good Christmas card picture is virtually impossible in our household. I had to bribe the children with ice cream at 9:00 in the morning to get them to perform and I STILL didn't come back in with a card-worthy picture. I am constantly reminding Cade to just do a "normal child smile".........This one is borderline but is alot better than the one he usually does where his nostrils flare and one feels certain that the ligaments in his neck are going to burst from his skin. I'm not sure whom Grant is smiling at........but he's doing a good job of it. This is Rhett's normal camera face. He is screaming "CHEESE" at the top of his lungs. Yet again, not a good look for a card...............

The pose on the slide: also, not a winner. Rhett has lost interest and Cade? too much sunshine? playing peek-a-boo? not sure. Grant is pulling through one more time with a good face. I may have to superimpose his head into another shot. Well, I won't because I'm not that computer smart....but I have a friend who is! Moments later everyone collapses. Check out the static cling in Rhett's hair. I'm surprised Grant's isn't flying everywhere as well. It usually does. Cade could be in a speed boat heading straight for a tornado and his hair wouldn't budge.
This is the last photo. I think this will be the one for the card being that it appropriately depicts my life at home...............a bunch of boys in a pile doing who-knows-what.
I'll make one more attempt at a good shot. Hopefully the next photo session will meet with better luck!

Thank you time change.........

for this. I made the kids their lunch, left the kitchen for MAYBE 3 minutes and when I came back this is what I found. I was glad to have noted that, before Rhett succumbed to the inevitable sleep, that he was coherent enough to form himself a pillow out of a wad of playdoh. Now that's using your noodle!This is going to be me as soon as I get my non-sleeper (Grant) into his bed. Getting up before 6 each morning is getting to me, too!

Trick-or-Treat!!

This year was a very fun year for the boys. Our church usually has a fall festival, but this year decided to have block parties instead. They were very sad about not having the party at church but in the end it all worked out good. We went to Columbia to do Trunk-or-Treat at Gramma and Granpa's church and then headed back to the house. Cade was so concerned about how you "just trick-or-treat at your own house". We just walked house to house and he could NOT believe that people actually gave him candy. He came running back to me after the first house saying, "SHE DID!! SHE REALLY DID!! she gave me candy!!" What a new concept for him. What was even funnier was when I was putting him to bed I asked him what his favorite part was and he said," When we went to that lady's house and she gave me a hotdog and I ate it in her driveway. That was neat." ( He was referring to the lady that hosted our neighborhood block party.) I thought, "Wow. Who knew it took so little to impress him?" Cade really enjoyed being a pirate and he loved his speckled beard.
Grant was a fierce Army Man. I could not convince him that the weapon below would not be the weapon of choice for a REAL army man. I finally gave up the argument and he carried it the rest of the evening insisting that the army man LEADER carries a sword. Apparently he knows more than me on that subject.............I choose my battles wisely.

Rhett was a knight. He loved trick or treating this year because last year he was too little to understand. He racked up on some candy and ate more than I even care to know about. I'm sure that the few teeth he actually has have been scarred in some way by his intake.

This picture pretty much sums up his attitude the whole night. He was "HHEEEE YAAHHHH"ing everything and swinging that sword around like nobody's business. He was the meanest, most verbally berating knight I have ever seen (or heard for that matter).We had big fun this year. Now I'm off to secretly throw away some of the candy we have so I don't send my children spiraling into the abyss of childhood obesity.........................

Birthday Bash!

I cannot even believe that today we celebrated Rhett's second birthday!! Where has the time gone? He specifically requested a "Backyardigans" party and so that's what he got. For those of you with no kids or knowledge of the Backyardigans, meet Tyrone and Pablo. They are the two that made it on his cake. Great job by the cake lady. It was fantastic! Aunt Tracie had to miss the festivities this year due to a hippopotamus at her work that couldn't cover his shift today. Luckily for the doctor she works for, the Lion came through.............again.

Rhett had a big time playing with his friends. Luckily we had pretty good weather. The sun came out just about the time the party was starting and warmed up things just a bit. We had the Morgan jumphouse that rears it's head at every Morgan party of any kind and the kids, as usual, had a good time in that also. Time to blow out the candles and I am really "willing" Rhett to blow them out ( I look so concerned, so serious....). It was me, however, that in the end blew them out. He just didn't pack enough air to touch them.

He was totally in to eating his cake and ice cream. Long after everyone else had finished and was back to playing he was still sitting and eating. He won the clean plate award. Unfortunately it wasn't anything healthy. Maybe next time. Grant and Cade didn't miss out on the fun of cake and ice cream either. They both had their fair share. When it came to present opening time they COMPLETELY forgot whose birthday it was.....taking presents right out of Rhett's hand and screaming "YESSS!!! WOW!!!!" and what do you think is allowing me to post right in the middle of the afternoon? It's not naptime...........it's all the new things to play with! With exception of the occasional not-sharing fight I really like getting a few new toys myself. It opens up a new door of freedom for the mom..................if only it would last more than just today...................

Next Birthday: Bobby. I wonder if he'll get a bunch of new toys??

Just waiting patiently...............

On a little girl to fill this dress! While we were on vacation Bobby's sister talked his mom into taking her sewing machine to make a dress for Amelia. She was kind enough to make one for little girl Morgan as well. She would have had this puppy done in no time at all if it weren't for a snafoo with the ruffle at the bottom. After about 12 hours sitting at the sewing machine Bobby told her she should hang up her nursing license and work in a sweat shop! She ended up taking it home to get it completed and brought over the finished product tonight. I think it is so cute and I can't wait to see it on a little girl running around this house! Let's see...................only about 2 years left to wait :( . I'll make sure to hang it in the back of the closet so it doesn't haunt me every single day.

I did hear from our adoption facilitator and she talked with our attorney in ES who said that our dossier made it safely and is currently being translated. After that they will officially submit it. I think the time frame on the translation is about 2 weeks or so. Little tiny baby steps...........we'll get there one day!

Thanks, Elizabeth for the dress!