the rules, the rules of the classroom

This girl was so excited to start school!  She couldn't wait to get back to work.  OK, probably not the work part, more like all the kids and TOY time.  Wahoo!  She picked out her outfit over a week beforehand.  I found it laid out in her room and asked about it.  She was sure her teachers would love the dog on her shirt.  ;)

She had a great first day and I found the quiet while she was away, a little freaky.  Didn't know what to do with myself. . . so much to do, so little time.  ;)

Miley reported that she didn't learn anything at school on her first day, but she did play doctor with her friend Kali, learned there were two kids named Boston in her class, a girl and boy, and was reminded by her teacher to close the door while in the bathroom.  Awesome start.

one year later

So it was a year ago that we officially signed the papers to start our international adoption process.  It doesn't seem like it's been that long.  I actually didin't realize it until I checked some paperwork to make sure all of our documents were still current and nothing had expired. . . . background checks, fingerprints, visas. . .etc. etc.  (we're good, in case you were worried about the same thing ;).

I get asked a lot if I'm frustrated with the wait, or if I'm disappointed because this was supposed to be a quicker adoption than domestic. . . If you know me, you know that I hate waiting, or more like hate wasting time.  Surprisingly I am not freaked out by how long this has taken.  I surprised myself with that little realization.

People sometimes see adoption as competitive in nature.  Like, I'll feel bad if someone else gets picked before me, or if I see others get a baby first.  I don't know why this thought thrives, because I don't feel that way at all and the more I think about it the less sense it makes to me.  I tear up every time I hear about someone getting a child.  It fills me with so much gratitude and happiness.  I think it just comes down to the fact that I KNOW we get the kids we are supposed to have.  It's not random, it's not a fight for first pick.  I feel blessed with my Miley and I know a sister, especially for her and for us is waiting. . . so I'll keep on waiting too.

As for updates, this is what I've got. . . The Ethiopian Prime Minister died this week.  The deputy prime minister will take over, but he wasn't as strong of a leader, or so the article said, as his predecessor.  Adoption-wise nothing is expected to change with this development.  Just news.

Ethiopia also revised their internet video chat laws.  No more jail time and fines. . . death sentences or what not.  Skype is back on track there and so we'll be able to use it.  I was ok with the ban initially, cause I hadn't thought about being able to Skype at all. . . but now I'm glad it's back on the table.  Well, for now, we'll see when our time comes around.

We got a new caseworker, ours moved out of state.  Bummer deal, we liked Angela, but Koni is doing great so far.

We are now number 13 make that 11 on the list.  I thought the number was smaller, but I was wrong.  Oh well, it is progress and we are moving up!

We're going in to get all sorts of nasty/mean/painful/helpful/life-saving vaccines next week.  Fun times. Miley is happy she won't be going to Africa with us, cause she wasn't such a huge fan of the four shots she just got at her last doctor appointment.

Our caseworker is optimistic about us getting to Ethiopia this fall.  We have paperwork that starts to expire come January and she feels we won't have to worry about renewing anything, so that's exciting.

Oh and the paperwork that expires are our birth certificates and marriage license (among other things, but those are the ones I wasn't expecting), can you believe that?  Like getting a newer copy will change anything on the stupid thing except for the date of issue.  I can't believe how incredibly lame government crap is!!  Talk about wasting my time and money, and then every one else I have to deal with to get another copy.  Insane but true.  I'm definitely crossing my fingers that I don't have to redo any paperwork.  I was good doing it once, twice might cause me to curse a little.

That information totally ruined my zen about this experience.  ;)  I'm going to believe Koni and not worry about ridiculous red tape anymore.

Ahhh, zen back again.  Have a great day!

crap on toast

Camping makes me sick, actually sick, yep it does.  I don't know which part of the camping experience, but sick happened and I left early.  You'd think I'd be happy about it since I think camping is evil, but I totally wasn't.  :(  I missed the end, and I'm a little worried that means I'll want to go back next year.  Can't think about that yet.

The highlights of girls camp before the puking were these. . .

Our sleeping quarters.  OK, highlight, not so much.  A little freaky actually.  Packing crates with bunks bolted to the wall.  Comfy.

These girls are awesome.  Love them.

Making fools of ourselves and our ward and cheetahs, rocks, trees, well anything else that can be embarrassed, our skit accomplished that kind of humiliation.  ;)  yeah baby.

I'm serious about my crafting during down time. . . or ready to pass out cause it was freaking hot!!  Do not go camping in August, even if it is an hour and half away from the desert and 9000 feet in the big blue sky.  Still hot.  Ugh.

Glad to report no bug bites, and no sunburn.  I forgot sunscreen, Dave was sure we wouldn't need it in the mountains.  He was so wrong, but our fearless camp director came through on that one for me.

I learned that I am NOT the most feared YW leader.  Seriously??!!  I try so hard too.  Fine, I guess I'm not as intimidating as I hoped, but I can do better now that I know that.  Oh and I say CRAP a lot.  It turned into a punishable offense.  Silly girls camp, like they could cure me of that.

I didn't bring my camera, so these are pics I had to swipe mostly.  I tried to make a different face in each photo, we'll see how successful that was, well except for the two on here where I smiled, doh lame.

Oh and we didn't have any type of signal so I was totally cut off from everything and my fingers actually ached to hold my phone again.  No Instagram, no texting my hubby or kid.  Sad times.

Coke = good and is the only way to survive teenagers and camping simultaneously.

I realized how much I dislike cliffs, the high ones, and driving on narrow little dirt roads around them.  Shudder.  I may have closed my eyes, and had the girls in my car give me directions, really detailed directions.  They may be traumatized for life.  ;)  I probably won't be asked to be chauffeur again either.  ha.

Now that Dave bought a tent, you may see me in these mountains all the time. . . yeah I can't even muster fake enthusiasm for that sentence.

*revision. . . (I found out what made me sick and it wasn't camping, it was a new allergy pill I started right before I left for camp.  Don't tell anyone else though, I'm going with camping made me ill and I can't do it anymore.)

The big FOUR

So, planning a party is a huge pain.  It was fun, until I had to worry that no one could make it, which turned out was worth worrying about cause no one could. . . . . so we ended up having two separate parties, and more helpers at the scheduled party then partygoers.  Oh well.  Kid was happy, so I was happy.

Impromptu party number one. . .

Photo above:  Love Miley's face, she was telling me to hurry up because the sun was in her eyes.

Party number one included playing the water, with bubbles, making mermaid crowns and eating goodies.

The party I planned happened the next morning.  This one I had time to decorate for as well, which looked a lot better than my one sad picture I took of it, oh wait, two.  Seaweed, balloon bubbles, and fishies, everywhere.

The events of this party included chalk paint on the patio. . . then on themselves, and then on my sis, Tiff.

Bubbles, of course.  I love this bubble machine too.

One big bubble bath. . .

We also did water balloons and water races, but of course my camera was sitting on a table far from these things.

We made mermaid princess crowns with shells.  The finished product picture being modeled was taken with my instax, so no digital evidence that they worked out.  I found the idea on pinterest using lace and stiffy.

Some food.  Miley doused the cupcakes with sprinkles herself.  We also had fruit and veggies, juice, and sand pudding. . . another pinterest find which was tasty.

 She had so much fun with her friends!  Thanks girlies for coming over and partying with us.

 As for the gifts, here are a few shots of present opening. . . as you can see from her wardrobe changes these happened over the span of the weekend.

My Grandma, the sweetest person I know, made these food items for Miley to use in her kitchen.  Thanks Grandma Great, she's putting them to use.

 I have a video of her opening others, so that may be posted another time.

Four, I still can't believe it. . .

the big finale

Miley's FOURTH birthday lasted all weekend, well all week felt like a party, but this was the official end to her actual birthday.  I don't work well chronologically, so here is the big finale!  Sparklers and glow sticks, up late in her jammies.  She loved it!

a kind of sister

 My Nilla is the best dog.  I knew she wouldn't be happy with the idea of a new addition to the family (pre baby). . . . she was skeptical of Mocha at first as well.  Miley took some getting used to, there was a definite cold shoulder being shown to the baby at first, but Nilla adapted and now she gets dressed up almost every day by our little girlie.

She's now the best friend and honorary sister of a little four year old. She actually likes it, I think. . . and she'll be happier still when Miley gets a little sister to dress up instead, though I doubt she'll ever be completely off the hook.

We sure love her!