Can a Pile of Wood be Called Progress?

It can if you've been staring at a completely empty lot for what seems like forever! I guess when you're desperate enough, you'll call just about anything "progress".

Baseball is in Full Swing!

What a day! We are finally in complete baseball mode. The last couple of weeks our Saturday games have been rained out, so we have not been able to enjoy baseball in ALL its glory. Well, no worries, it couldn't rain forever. Today, each boy had a game. For Cade and Bryce, it was their first. They were very excited. Braden has been playing for a while, so we had to miss his game to make the others. That's just the way it goes sometimes. The pictures above are of Bryce and Cade. They both played very good. Cade wanted a big hit so badly. He hit pretty good, but didn't crush it like we know he can. Oh, well, I am sure he will next week. He is such a good 3rd baseman because he has the strongest arm on the team. He can throw it to 1st without any problems. Cade's team won 15-7. He was very excited. Bryce's game was a different story. They faced a very good pitcher. In fact, Bryce was the only one to get a hit off of him. We are so proud of him. When we were talking after the game, he said his knees were shaking when he was up there. That makes me even prouder, and boy is he proud of himself. He needed that boost. He also did well in the field. Braden's team played the best team in the league. They lost, but he played very well. He had a couple of good hits and made a few plays in the field. What I really should have taken a picture of is my sunburned back! I purposefully wore a shirt that I could get some sun. Boy did I! I don't know when I've been so burned. Oh, well, just part of it. Next week, I'll be smarter with the sunscreen.

Here are some more pictures of our ski trip. We had a lot of fun, but I was very happy to be in my flip flops today! Us southerners can't stand the cold for too long. I have been getting a kick out of the bloggers who are in China now. It is very hot and humid. You can tell that these folks aren't from Louisiana because they are so surprised at what the humidity does to their hair! If we travel when it's warm, we'll feel right at home! We have had a very productive few days. We actually received Richard's birth certificate in the mail Saturday!! That was a minor miracle. We also received my passport the same day!! I was VERY excited. That means that all I am waiting on is the I 171-H from USCIS. I call them and they said it would not take more than a month. I am hoping sooner than later, but at least I know they have everything they need, and I am getting close! We are also starting on our house this week! This is extremely good news considering we originally thought we would be moving in during the month of May. Do you think God is trying to teach me patience through all of this? I must be a really slow learner. I need to hurry up and work on that!

Our trip to Colorado

What a wonderful trip we had! It was so much fun, and God blessed us with wonderful weather the whole time. It snowed pretty much the whole trip, and for my guys, that's just what they wanted to see. We started in Denver and visited my brother and his family. Then we went to Breckenridge to ski for three days and went tubing on the fourth day. The boys and I took lessons the first day. We all did pretty good, but the boys are definitely ahead of me. They have no fear, and race down the mountain every time! I was just trying to get home without a trip to the emergency room! These are just a few pictures. If you put the mouse on the picture, you can see the captions. I am still trying to download, unload, wash and fold all those sticky clothes. I'll add some actual skiing pictures soon.

Quote of the Day

Last night the boys were stir crazy because they had been inside all day. They had been flying paper airplanes, shooting each other with nerf guns, and throwing balls all over the place. All while I was trying to pack. Cade started throwing the ball up and sliding on the couch to catch it. I was done. I told him he had to stop. His response was, "but it's our fashion". I asked him to repeat what he said, and he did. I said, "Do you mean passion?" He said "I don't know". I explained what the words "fashion" and "passion" meant and he said "OK, well it's our passion, then". (As he threw the ball again, of course.) Far be it for me to squash a child's "passion"!! Gotta love those boys.

Suitcases galore

Friday we leave for a week in Colorado! We are very excited. We will get to see my brother and his family in Denver, and then get to ski in Breckenridge. We are also going to catch a AAA baseball game in Colorado Springs. (Richard has a friend who plays on the team.) All of this is great, but the packing is about to kill me! At this point, I don't care if I ever see another suitcase again. We don't usually travel north, so packing the winter clothes and ski stuff is definitely a different game than the beach. It is about 80 degrees here - flip flops and shorts. I can't believe we're going to the snow! Anyway, the kids are so excited because they have never seen snow (unless you count the flurry a couple of years ago). It will be nice to be away from home with my family.

I have spent this week trying to tie some loose ends up with the adoption process. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am getting very anxious! While I am gone, my Doctor is re-doing my physical forms (Yes, we messed up the first ones). I also should receive my notarized copies of my home study! Let's pray that we also receive Richard's birth certificate! He had the mis-fortune of being born in Louisiana, and I have the mis-fortune of needing his birth certificate in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Oh well, I should get back to packing. I just had to come to the computer and check on all the blogs I am following of families in China getting their daughters. It's so exciting! Just think, only about 20 months to go!!! Lord, help us!!

I'll have plenty to post after our trip. Have a Happy Easter!!

Plan B

With three boys, you never know what will happen in a day, and you'd better always have a "Plan B". Yesterday was supposed to be Cade's first baseball game of the season. He has counted the days down all week, and wore his uniform all day. We were all so excited to see him play. The weather, however, had a different idea. As we pulled up to the baseball field, the sky opened up, and it started pouring. Cade was crying hysterically, but we had a plan B. A new movie called Meet the Robinsons opened this weekend. So we grabbed one of Cade's friends and went to the movie. I am saying all this to tell you what a wonderful movie it was. The beginning wasn't very impressive, but when the storyline started to come together is was the sweetest little story. It was about a little orphan boy who gets to travel through time, and how he gets a family. It was really great. When we stood up to leave, I told Richard that I wanted to leave for China today! We've still got quite a ways to go before we can do that, but plan B is to go see this movie again! If you get the chance, go see it!