Christmas 2010 update

Currently we are waiting for the one piece of paper that everyone waits for during an adoption and that is travel approval. In case you missed one or two of our posts we are adopting again. Our seventh adoption, our seventh daughter and she is seventh in the birth order of our eleven. This means completion I am sure! We hope it will be here the first two weeks of January and then we can plan on leaving the 2nd Thursday of February. Nothing like having a plan! We have a small package heading to China now, it is being hand delivered to Tao Ming Z. Hopefully they will get to see her and show her photos and hopefully get some measurements...I always like to get their feet size so I can take new shoes....who doesn't like new shoes?

The girls and the boys here are all ready for Christmas. Their lists are made out and cannot be changed now...the elves are resting the final week of Christmas you know....here are a couple updated photos of all of us, enjoy and Merry Christmas to all. Claude, Ruthi and our family

October update 2010

Today our dossier goes to China for the adoption of our 7th daughter. We have been searching and searching English names. One name we have always liked is Wren. I have found one meaning of the name that sort of sealed us using it-it means part of a large family. TMZ is going to be that! So until we change our minds, or until I get to China to find out different we are calling TMZ Wren. She is our 7th adoption, our 7th daughter and is 7th in the birth order of our 11 children. 7 is completion in the bible and so after I get home from China i plan on going back to wearing a watch on my left wrist instead of a "waiting for my daughter" beaded bracelet.

I want to report that Gracie returned to school half days this week and will go full days starting next-the Dr. report was very good!

We are again in the process of moving around rooms, trying to settle everyone into rooms that maybe serve them better-Morgan is a sleeper and hates noise and would like her own room, Penny appreciates her own room too-so we are dividing with a partial wall a huge bedroom that we have and will put them each into those rooms. Vicky will get the same room she is in but will be with TMZ Wren, and the three little girls will return upstairs to the two rooms up there, Addie and Gracie sharing one and Kate having her own (she needs a lot of sleep).

Morgan is doing very well in school but complains of a C in Algebra. Personally I am thrilled that she even gets it! And she reads a library book at her reading level every night so she can take a AR test the next day! I love it! She has came so far!

Penny is doing grade level work, and has started the 13 year old "arguing" but I feel sure it will stop soon as she just gets another chore added...

Vicky is adjusting to Jr. High very well it seems, she has matured it seems most of the time to her age, but then there are moments that I think not. But hey, I am sure I am the same way.

Gracie is still smiling, and still learning, and loves the cats!

Addie is struggling in math, but has always, but third grade has all new expectations so has to really work harder. There is nothing better than Addie walking up and saying "I gotta give you something" and hugs me.

Kate lost her blankie for two days....I am sure I could close this note on that statement but I do want to report it was found and she did get a good nights sleep last night. Kate is in second grade but we all remind her she is not yet 14.

hugs to you part 2

I could not get Kate's photo to fit on the original post so here is part 2. Please see part one from earlier today-

Happy Birthday BaBa or hugs to you part 1

A couple of our girls won't hug...and all Claude asked for for his birthday today was a hug from everyone. I hope that my idea will satisfy his heart as a gift from the girls that won't hug, but to add to the actual gifts of hugs that the girls that will hug give him. So Claude (or BaBa to the girls) here are your hugs for your birthday!

Summer update in photos

It's summer time!!!

carnival fun, spreading straw on the lawn...oh my!

Family update

We posted several several months ago looking for a little girl, from the Zunyi City SWI as we wanted to follow her adoption and be sure our daughter Tao Ying (now Vicky) could stay in touch with her. Since then we have found her! She finally was put on the shared list at the CCAA and our family is adopting her. We received PA and gave in and told Vicky this news last Wed. Her response was over the top! We are all so glad this decision has been made and that we are moving forward with all of the paperwork! I have no idea when we will travel, we are not DTC yet.