Dental Hygiene Kits

Here's a few pictures of the youth and our family putting together the dental hygiene kits for Ethiopia. We have 350 kits!!!! We are going to give them to the orphans and hopefully a school we found out about. We are leaving tomorrow and really, we can't wait to finally get our boys home and get on with our new life together.
Many thanks to all of our family and friends for all of their love, support and generosity in helping us prepare for our trip to Ethiopia! Stay tuned for pictures of our handsome boys and our trip of a lifetime!!!

Toothless Emma!!!

Emma lost her second tooth a few weeks ago! She was so brave when Dad pulled it out! We love that toothless smile!!!!

Tosha

Apparently, we are adopting animals now as well! We are happy to welcome Tosha to our family. She was a great kitty for Nana and Papa but due to Leah and Lundon's allergies she needed a new home. The kids are so thrilled! They have been missing Pickles for almost 3 years now. Hopefully it works out okay. So far, Gracie is showing a little too much love sometimes and Tosha will hopefully learn to run and hide. Tosha is a special kitty because she has no tail and is blind in one eye. Emma especially is taking very good care of her new cat. She even cleans out the litter box every day!

Gracie's B-day

Gracie and the birthday cake from Nana

Make a wish

Hooray!

Gracie's new sun hat and backpack from Nathan and Angela, she loves it!

Love the Elmo blowers!!!

Gracie loved her Elmo cake Aunt Mel made. She stared at it for about 5 minutes, she was mesmerized!

Nice wrapping Grammy and Grandpa!

So cute!

We had two family parties for Gracie. Although Gracie had two ear infections on her birthday she was a trooper and still enjoyed seeing all her cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. Thanks to everyone who made her 2nd birthday so special. We love Gracie so much! She definitely has been showing her spunk and personality the past few months and has really been testing our patience, but what a sweetheart!

11 DAYS!!!

Well, I've been really busy these past few weeks, I'm sure you have all been just dying for a post (NOT)!
We just got the new on April 8th that both of our adoptions were granted by the Ethiopian Embassy and we are thrilled! We had to purchase our plane tickets and make hotel reservations and it was quite stressful! Luckily Boyd did most of the work but it was harder than you might think! We had a few crazy days and I was feeling so overwhelmed but now I am getting super excited!
Two of my best friends, McKinsey and Nikki arranged a HUGE baby shower for me yesterday and I was feeling a little embarrassed. After all, these are my 4th and 5th children. But now that we have no money and are embarking on this unknown journey I am so grateful to have such wonderful family and friends to really help us through this life change. I have been completely overwhelmed with the outpouring of love, support and generosity. What a tremendous blessing. I truly feel the Lord is watching out for us and our family, we could not do this alone. I will be forever grateful!
I have lots and lots of pictures and more to say, but the little free time I do have I am trying to devote to my kids. I want to get as much quality time with them as possible with the huge transition ahead. So, you'll have to hold your breath for more posts and pictures from me. If you want to see some fabulous pictures from our quick trip to Oregon, you'll have to visit Char's blog, she's the good one!

11 Days until I go to Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm freaking my freak!!!