Today was J's first soccer game, and we are so proud of our little player!
Pregame practice:
J's biggest fan:
Gametime!:
He did a great job and played most of the game. I think he was pretty exhausted by the end. I'm really pleased with the YMCA's soccer program so far. Lots of fun for the kids, not too much pressure on them, and good team spirit!
It was my plan to let both of the boys' hair grow out until summertime, but just like last year, it got to the point where it just got too bushy, and Mama got out her haircutting scissors and went to town! Here are my handsome boys with their shorter 'dos:
I do their haircuts in a high chair, so that most of the cut curls are collected on the tray, but there are always some runaway renegade curls that fall to the ground, and I get a little chuckle for the next 48 hours as I find more little black ringlets scattered about the kitchen floor.
While surfing through the adoption blogosphere earlier today, I found the below video which, is AWESOME! When my boys are older, I definitely want them to see this:
We became a family of four on August 30, 2010 when we adopted our two beautiful sons in Ethiopia. In March 2013, our Texas-born daughter made us a party of five!
January 2009 - We saw Slumdog Millionaire, and God really began to stir our hearts about international adoption.
February 2009 - We had serious conversations and prayer about adopting from Ethiopia.
March 2009 - We had our phone orientation with Gladney (our adoption agency), decided to adopt from Ethiopia, and sent away for our application.
April 2009 - We submitted our application to Gladney, and began the paper chase!
May 2009 - We had our doctor appointments, continued the paper chase, and had our homestudy visit.
June 2009 - We submitted our last item of required paperwork to accompany our application to Gladney. Our homestudy report was completed and submitted to Gladney. On June 30th, our second anniversary, we received word from Gladney that we were fully approved to be an adoptive family through the Gladney Center, and that they sent our homestudy to CIS.
July 2009 - We received our "invitation" from CIS to come for fingerprinting. We were fingerprinted on July 18, 2009.
September 2009 - Our CIS approval notice arrived in the mail. Dossier completed and sent off on September 8. Placed on Gladney's wait list on September 8.
May 2010 - We received our referral for two boys--brothers--on May 24. The older is 19 months old. The younger is 1 month old.
July 2010 - We passed phase one of the court process on July 19th.
August 2010 - We traveled to Addis Ababa to meet the boys, go to court, legally become their parents, sight see a bit, and return home for three weeks. We returned to Ethiopia on August 30th, when they were placed forever in our arms! We are a family of four!
October 2010 - We received the boys' Certificates of Citizenship in the Mail from CIS!
November 2010 - We completed the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree process here in Texas, and received the boys' original birth certificates issued by the state of Texas!
