Cooking School: Miss Riley- Roo

So today was Riley's cooking day....for the most part I let her pick whatever she wanted to cook for dinner and dessert, however I steered Riley to a website known for "easier" recipes that are not from scratch. That way she could really be involved as much as possible. Miss Roo picked out a salsa chicken breast with Mexican salsa salad. The salad was from a bag, something we rarely do, but that way Riley could do it all! The chicken was shake n bake :0) Other than me touching the raw chicken she was able to do everything as well. And finally the show stopper.....dessert! Chef Riley made a peanut butter stripe square. Very yummy and also easy to make:0)

Above is Riley with her masterpiece dinner :0)

Below Riley whisking away her dessert.

Phew it was alot of whisking:0)

I think Riley said her favourite part was getting the licking bowl all to herself, after we made the pudding filling!

I am starting to see a trend here.....everyone ate dinner without a complaint again!?! As I said in my previous post very rare in this house:0) Well I had fun cooking with my girl. We had an at home day, which is one of my favourite kinda days. Nate is still in his PJ's, Riley hair wasn't done all day, I didn't wear makeup and Josh well he is always up and ready for the day before everyone, but I think we all enjoyed not having to run around anywhere.

* 8 days until China* Getting very excited, but still feel very calm at this point, weird!

Cooking School: Nate

What have we been doing these last few days before China? Well I wanted to spend some quality time with each of the kids....and I love to cook! So I let each of the kids plan a menu and then I helped them cook it. Tonight was Nathan's night. It was so much fun! Nathan chose to make "westernize" Chinese food:0) His favourites are Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls and Fried Rice. So that's what we made.

Nathan measuring out rice.....yes we cheated, by using minute rice. However I was trying to make it as easy and successful as possible:0)

This is Nate, very proud of his finished product! It was delish, too! And miracle of all miracles all of my kids loved it!!!! That is something that rarely happens in this household:0) Oh, and yes Mom there were veggies:0) I made a tray of veggies and dip, just in case you were wondering:0)

Tomorrow night is Miss Riley's night, I will try and post her night as well as Joshy's. Nathan also chose a dessert, however we were so stuffed we couldn't even think about dessert:0)

Well 9 more days until China! We are now down to single digits!!! I am getting very excited! There is a family that blogs in Wuhan right now, so its really great to see there pictures and witness some of the things we may experience while in Addie's province. Tonight we were wondering out loud what Addison was having for breakfast! Wow! Soon we will be getting to know our sweet girl. I can hardly wait:0) Thanks to the BTDT Mom's with your advice.

You know when.....

You know when you are planning for a trip, and your really excited, and you feel like you have lots to do? Yet it's still a little too far away? Well I'm there! I have purchased everything I think we will need/want. I have done all our banking, packed Addison's suitcase ( which was over weight and need to be re-packed) Started packing the other 2 suitcases, however we still need to wear clothes for the next 13 days.....so I stopped. I have been cleaning, but with the kids out of school I will need to do another massive cleanup a couple days before we go:0) So now what? I am trying to enjoy these last few days with my 3 wonderful kids! Howard is gone.....AGAIN!!! He was suppose to be home tonight, however plans have changed and he will gone until Thursday, Ugh! I am so ready to go, however I have told myself from the beginning that I would enjoy each step of this journey, so I will enjoy these last few days before travel. I have a question for you BTDT adoptive Mom's what's one thing you wished you would have done/known about this whole process/travelling to China?

Shopping for our Girl

I started the post 2 days ago and saved it....well it posted underneath my last two post.....I didn't think it would do that!?! So if you are interested its further down the page:0) all I can say is.....


13 DAYS!!!!

Travel Approval Too!

Yup! We have everything we need to travel! Addison here we come! Only 14 days until we arrive in Beijing and 17 days until we hold Little Miss in our arms for the first time! I think I am in shock. It all seems to be happening so quickly now:0) Oh happy, happy day!

Oh Happy Day!

I just got a call from our MP's office. They have Addison's Citizenship Part 1 !!!! Oh I am giddy! So relieved! I think I will be grinning all day:0)

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
and your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should
declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.
~Psalms 40.5~

Shopping For Addie

So I have been doing some shopping.....just a bit:0) And have enjoyed every second of it! Here are a few of the things I picked up for Addie.





We debated (when I say we I really mean I!) over what baby carrier to buy and finally settled on the Scootababy, it holds up to 40lbs and is designed for hip carrying more than front so its supose to be more ergonomic. It also has a really wide shoulder strap, which is great so it won't cut into a persons neck/shoulder.

The next 3 items I ordered off of Etsy. The shop is called Pretty Me. I had really hard time not buying everything! She has alot of cute stuff. Here is her site if you are interested www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyMe

Yes I know my pictures suck!

I had to throw in a few ladybugs!

Oh, how I do love Matilda Jane Clothing!

I was also loving this Gymboree line. Yes I also know everything needs to be ironed....but I will be packing it in a suitcase, and it will just get wrinkled again!

I abesolutely love Kate Mack swimsuits for little girls, they are just so darn cute!

So that is a few of the things I have picked up for Addison....there is alot more I just don't really have time to take pictures of it:0) I am still looking for a carseat, I can't seem to decide, and Howard really could care less which one we pick:0)

Wednesday Splash Party!

Every year on the last Wednesday Kids Club night at our church, our most wonderful children's Pastor hosts a Splash Party. The kids always have a blast and can not wait until the following year when they get to slip and slide and have the biggest water gun fight ever:0)
Here is the picture of the slip and slide.....some of the little kids ended up flying down this thing!

This picture make me laugh! Forget about spraying other people....I'll just drink the water:0) This is one of our dear friends little girl, and she always has a way of making me smile!

Josh was in an 8 year old boy's heaven:0)

Riley started to get in on the fun at the end.

Josh's trip down the slide:0)

Riley.....well she didn't enjoy it so much!

Nathan was also there and had a riot....I always find it hard letting him go to these things, especially since we are travelling so soon. It would really suck for him to have a fracture before we go! I had to just give it to God and trust Nate to make safe decisions:) Sigh, the life of a Mom with a kid with brittle bones, somedays I wish we could put him in a bubble:0) Just Kidding of course!
We had such a fun night that I almost forgot about Addison's citizenship.....almost! Nope we have still heard nothing!

Fathers Day Weekend, 16 Days & Counting!

In 16 days little Miss Addie will meet myself and the most wonderful, handsome, loving, fun, encouraging Dada in the whole world:) I am so blessed to be married to Howard, as he is the most selfless parent I have ever met. He is constantly putting me and the kids before himself...so we spent this weekend loving on him and trying to put him first!


Sunday we spent having yummy brunch, coffee on the deck and fishing at the trout pond:0) I don't get it....its more work for Howard than fishing,with 3 lines in the water! Yet still he loves to take the kids fishing! Josh was the only one to catch a fish, and was quite proud of himself.

The weather around here has been nothing but fabulous and we spent as much time outdoors as possible. The boys had their fun day at the local park and outdoor swimming pool. You think I could get Riley to smile? Of course not:0)

Riley had her final day of preschool. we decided to take her on a picnic to the local water park to celebrate....she had a blast, once we talked her into it!

We also got to celebrate this Father's Day weekend with my Mom and Dad. We spent Saturday afternoon at the jet boat races on the river, and Howard and my Dad even got to go check out what was coming up for sale at the next equipment auction. Both my Mom and I were glad not to have to tag along:0) It has been so wonderful to have my parents around and we are enjoying each time they come to visit...I think I have mentioned before that we usually only see them twice a year, as they live quite a way from us. However my Dad has two contracts in our area for the next year, so we get to enjoy them!

As I said at the beginning of the post, only 16 more days until we fly out to Beijing. I have moments were it feels so surreal and others where I have a stomach full of butterflies! We are still trying to be patient as we wait for Addison's citizenship part 1....its really frustrating, as there is nothing we can physically do about it. Our MPs office said that Immigration Canada has guaranteed that we will have the approval before we travel. I thought that knowledge would ease my mind, yet it doesn't. I think I will be somewhat concerned about this little piece of paper until we have it in our possession. Our dear friends J&K also are having the same issue with this.....so at least we are not alone! And we are all praying this will be done before we travel! I was at the bank yesterday ordering our US$ and sending bank drafts to our adoption agency....does that mean its really happening? Sure feels like it! I have way over shopped for Addison, not that anyone who knows me would be surprised;) She's going to be sporting some pretty sweet outfits (if they fit) I am almost finished packing her suitcase! Yay! And will start on ours soon.

As the day creeps closer and closer, I have started to imagine what it will be like to meet our sweet little girl......its so scary to think in less than 3 weeks we will have another little person in our family! I am sure the day will be scary and wonderful, sad, joyful and overwhelming all at the same time! I have been watching some Forever Family or Gotcha Day videos on YouTube and have been blubbering like an idiot:0) I just pray that the Lord will give Howard and I the wisdom to meet Addison where she's at, and not overwhelm or scare her too much! We so want to do right by her! I love her already and have yet to meet her....how is that possible? I am curious to see if we will have a chance to meet her foster family. I have so many questions for them. My heart breaks thinking they will have to give up this little girl they have loved for 2 years. So we have been praying for them as well, and hope we will be able to give them words of comfort, if we have the chance to meet them. I hope they will get the chance to know that we will love and cherish this little girl.

I think I may post some pictures of some of the stuff we have bought and gotten as gifts for Addison in my next post. Also I think one of my favourite bloggy friends has some BIG news (hint, hint) I can't wait to hear:0) Only 3 days of school left! Yay!

Frustration!

O.k. I am getting a little frustrated.....this whole citizenship part 1 process is beginning to drive me nuts! I phoned CIC yesterday to check the status of our file, and was told that they have not received either of our MP's office faxes!?! So the gentleman I spoke to was going to fax an urgent tag to be added to our file. I emailed our MP's office thanking them for all their help and forwarding the info I had. Well they weren't very happy I was checking up on things on my own! In there words it would be pulling our file in 2 different directions, hence slowing down the process!?! And if we didn't want their help to please let them know! I have been patient with them and thankful.....and really really polite! I get that our file is probably 1 of many they are working on, however I don't feel they realize/care what the implications are if we do not get this part done, and I need to be proactive!

I KNOW that God sees all this and is way BIGGER than a tiny piece of paper:0) I trust His timing is perfect. However our family would be honoured if you would pray that Addison`s citizenship part 1 will be processed in time for us to travel with this July 8th group. I have been at peace with this until today....it was almost like switch was flipped:0) We just need this done! And please pray that our MP`s office would be truly advocating and working with us. I hope next week will be a big week. Hopefully we will see this paperwork done and receive Travel Approval:0)

Thanks for allowing me to have a moment:0) 3 weeks left! It will fly by I am sure. Hope you all have a wonderful Father`s Day Weekend!

Excited!?!

Sweet little Addie's pictures were way down on the page so I thought I needed to post with her picture in it :0) Even though they are old ones:0)

Am I getting excited? That's what people I run into downtown keep asking me.....Uh, Yeah! And also apprehensive! In three short weeks (God willing) we will meet this sweet little girl. All of our lives will be changed forever! I sort of thought that I would be a basket case at this point....however I find that the Lord has given me this unexplainable peace! I am sleeping well most nights and I'm not feeling frantic or any anxiety! I have been praying more than I ever have in my life! And trust God to guide us during this time. I still have moments I want to "own" the whole citizenship stuff, but God is WAY bigger than that! So I trust that He knows and will take care of things in His own perfect timing......don't get me wrong I would be hugely disappointed if we had to wait to travel, however I don't want to be rushing things either:0) Wow! Three weeks and we will be a family of 6!!!! God sure is amazing!

Last Week

I didn't think I would have time for this post.....yet low and behold here I am:0)
We had a busy little week last week. Howard was away again and the school year is winding up for everyone.I love this time of year, yet it sure is busy! The picture below is of Joshua reading to Riley!!!! He has been so very helpful with Howard away, he even read Miss Roo a Fancy Nancy book:0) I had to take the picture, when do you see an 8 yr old boy reading Fancy Nancy to his 5 yr old sister!?!

Our next picture from the last couple weeks is a Science project for Josh....It is suppose to keep an ice cream sandwich cold. However Josh needed to add his artistic flair to the project!lol! The Pickachu kept his ice cream sandwich cold for 1+ hours and he received 11/12 on his project:0)

Playing at the park.....enough said? What is it with kids and sand? My kids could play in the sand for hours!

Nathan was a little bored! Its getting more and more difficult to find things that interest all of the kids....and I am guessing it will become more of a challenge when Addie comes home:0) Oh well, I am up for the challenge!

Riley went on a preschool field trip today....To KINDERGARTEN! How did she get that old!?! I can't believe we will be sending her off to Kindergarten in September.

Josh has been busy with end of the year festivities....this week he is looking forward to the school play day at the park and outdoor pool. He has also been invited to a reading university while we are away in China. Our Josh needs some extra help with language arts so we are excited that he has been invited to the program! And thankful my Mom is okay with driving him there.

Nathan is really maturing....a couple days ago he emailed my sister a youtube video a friend made. That made me really realize he is a preteen!!!! I know... how did that happen? Right? I remember when he was our only child and only 5lbs, now he is making videos and wanting a facebook account! I'm hoping to hold off on the latter for a while:0)

My Mom was up for the weekend again. And we had a blast! She helped me plant my front flower bed, made the yummiest fish tacos and took the kids to see Marmaduke at the theatre. Our weekend is always fun when Grandma comes!

I just called Howard and ruined his surprise.... He's coming home tonight! 3 days early! For my birthday tomorrow:0) What a wonderful Man I married! He always goes above and beyond! I sure love him. I think even more now after 11 years.

Addison.....well our file was marked urgent at immigration Canada. Then they wanted 2 more pieces of my ID notarized!!! So I sent that out late last week and have heard NOTHING!!! I am a little frustrated. We have been back in touch with our MP's office and they were going to send another fax out today to see what the timeline will be for this part 1 one of Addison's citizenship. Travel Approval (I as told by our adoption agency) not to expect it until the 24th of June. They are not worried about TA but are a little concerned about Addie's citizenship. I am a little concerned, but know that what will be will be.

So that is the modge podge we call our life in the last few days:0) Hopefully I will have good news about Addison's citizenship and TA very soon:0)

Still Waiting:0)

Not much to post around here. We are still waiting to receive our Addison's citizenship paperwork and still waiting the arrival of our Travel Approval. I have been busy with the kids with Howard away. We have many end of the school year festivities!

Where in China is Addison?

Little Miss is now living in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei Province. Wuhan is the largest city in central China with a population of 9.1million people. It is also known as one of the three "furnaces" of China....so that means its going to be HOT!!! and HUMID!!!!

This is the Yellow Crane Tower located in Wuhan it is considered one of the great towers in China and a very popular tourist destination. The original tower was built in 220A.D it was destroyed many times and rebuilt.

This is East Lake, I love this picture....and really hope that we will have a chance to visit this park apparently the park has some wonderful walking paths and rare vegetation, as well as botanical gardens and museums.

Apparently the Yangtze River and the Han River intersect in Wuhan, there are many bridges and the city seems to be almost surrounded by water.

We are getting really excited to travel to Addison's birth country. I have been trying to do some research on her birth province and city she was born in. We hope to tour and take alot of pictures for Addison to see when she grows up and has questions. We will see how the touring goes....if she is up for it and the temperatures aren't too hot:0) Anyways I thought I would share with you all a little bit of what I have learnt thus far.

Citizenship Part 1

I got a call from our MP's office today, and immigration Canada has stamped our file as urgent! Yay! Hopefully we will have this done soon! Now we just wait for our Travel Approval. I see alot of people in the states got theirs today. I'll be so relieved once we have both in my hot little hands! Thanks for all your emails,comments and prayers!

HELP!!!

I need a little help....We need some good ideas for a gift for Addison's foster family! What do you get for a family who has loved and raised your daughter for the first 2 years of her life? Oh yeah and it needs to be made in Canada! And easy to pack in our suitcases! I want it to be really nice.....but what?

On another note, I am a little frustrated with the Part 1 of Addison's Citizenship. Our MP's office has said don't call us we'll call you. I don't agree and phoned again today it has been over a week and they have heard nothing from immigration. I was told by our adoption agency that if they don't contact the adoption desk nothing will get done...the assistant I talked to seemed skeptical of that info. I just want to know if they are following up or have only made contact with immigration once. I know they are busy, however this is a bit of a time sensitive issue here...it took 2 weeks for this paperwork to go by mail when we sent it out, so that means if they send the paperwork by snail mail we need this done at the latest next week! I'm praying my butt off and know I need to keep giving this little detail to God! I trust it will happen in time for travel most of the time;0)

On a final note 5 WEEKS UNTIL CHINA!!!!