Got Passport!!

Guess who has a passport!! I just knew it wasn't going to take four weeks. I didn't expect five days, but I'm all for good surprises! Our agency said to still expect the baby to come mid to late Aug. I'm thinking mid! They think they have an escort for him. I was trying to get an idea of how much notice we would have for his arrival so I asked if we would have two weeks...and she said "Oh no, they might call you on a Monday and say he's coming on Wed.!!! You should expect only a few days notice." Not expecting that answer. I felt this overwhelming panic to get myself to Target! On Thursday we have a meeting over the phone with our agency to go over all of the things that we need to have ready/do when he comes...medical papers for our doctor, what do we do at the airport etc...I finally feel like this is really happening!

Questions on Making Comments:

I have had a few people ask how to make comments. It's super easy. I made the super pitiful one below the crowded swimming pool video to make sure that was actually true. At the end of the daily blog it says O Comments (how sad!) :

1. Click on the word "Comments"
2. A comment box will come up. Write your comments and sign your name or be anonymous (why would you do that?)
3. Below the box it gives you a few choices. I have a blogger account so I use the first choice, but that is not necessary. Simply click on "anonymous" (no need for passwords)
4. Click on "publish your comments"

That's it!! Now I can know what you are thinking. : )

Ryan loves soccer! He has had several great coaches since we started last year. His current coach is just great with the kids.

I'm so happy to have a picture of his new shirt. Once we got home from soccer I gave him a bowl of raspberries (which I specifically and clearly told him not to get all over his new shirt). Well...you know the rest of the story.

He's looking so grown up!

What a fun surprise at the pond! After soccer we walked over to the pond and found a mama and her little babies.

Ryan has learned to love going to get his haircut...

because they have lollipops!

After many, many months of showers, Ryan is back to baths. Of course I loved my fifteen minute break while Harv and Ryan showered, but truth be told: boys need to soak! I don't know how, don't want to, he gets dirt in so many crevices, but he does, so a bath is good.

Clean shaven, just like Mommy likes!

New Neighbors!

We have new neighbors. They moved in a few houses down several weeks ago. We have known the husband for many years from church. Tonight they knocked on our door with a plate of homemade cookies (three kinds!) for US! Okay, someone got the short end of the stick, and it's not us! I'm super happy to know that I have a new neighbor that bakes (lemon bars!!) but man does that put a dent in my merry homemaker image. Fortunately, I did take them some of our delicious plums after they moved in, but I haven't baked.

Watch out now that I have figured out how to put YouTube on my blog! My brother loves finding bizarre videos and showing me. I didn't come upon any bizarre ones today, but I found one that would be the end of me:



As a short and fairly claustrophobic person, I can't imagine how much I would hate being in this pool!

Ryan is still working on the idea of Jesus being in our hearts. While we were driving he asks, "Jesus is so big, how can he fit in my heart?" Hmmmmmmmm!

Get That Stuff Out of Here!

Now that the shed is done, and we have gone through the boxes in the garage...it's time to sell, sell, sell! I love garage sales. Harvey and I had a garage sale before we moved out of our first apartment. We did pretty well because Harvey had a few pieces of furniture that he had made and some sports equipment. We also had prime garage sale location. We lived on a highly traveled street, both cars and pedestrians. We got a little worried a few times with people stopping suddenly and pulling over without warning. As I look around my house there are several pieces of furniture I would love someone else to enjoy but it's not the time to be couchless...For the most part I can handle people offering a nickel for my $200 heirloom. I'm hoping they'll cough up the other nickel since the money isn't for me. If you are a local person and have anything you want to add to the cause, let me know. (only things that really have a shot at selling!). Harv is allowing me to fill the garage back up! (only until Aug. 8th though). All the money we make will go towards Operation Christmas Child, making boxes and paying for shipping. I have loved making these boxes for the last ten years and thought it would be fun to do a little more this year. If you are interested in helping with the boxes or donating items for boxes I can let you know more as we get closer to the fall. August is a great time to buy back to school stuff at their lowest prices!! If you don't know about the Christmas boxes you can go to Samaritan's Purse's website. Basically, you fill a shoebox (or even better, a plastic box they can reuse) with school supplies, soap, toothbrushes, toys, candy...Samaritan's Purse will also include Christian literature. The boxes go all around the world. Many of the children have never had a present before and it is their first introduction to Christ. Ryan has talked about it throughout the year. He'll probably be the best salesman (who could turn him down?) and I know he'll love helping again this year with the boxes.

Noodles and Popcorn!

Ryan was all about the noodle today. He spent about thirty minutes blowing the water through it.

Then he started jumping with it...in other words, a great time!


So I have been thinking of this night since the day we first looked at this house. I remember walking in the backyard and seeing this large white wall and thinking how fun it would be to watch movies out here. Tonight was our practice run. I need a bigger sheet and maybe something other than blue painter's tape to hold it up. Ryan loved watching Flipper outside with a huge bowl of popcorn. Even Harvey thought it was pretty great.

Too fun!

Bud and Porter Ricks...do you remember?

A pretty good looking bad guy!

Do you think my brother would notice if we kept this projector?! : )

Yoo Rok's Room and Some News!

I just got off the phone with our agency. Yoo Rok has made it through the government. He is now officially able to leave the country. The last step is to get him his visa and passport. She had told me to expect about four weeks to get through this process, so it was a great surprise to have him get through in two weeks. I then expected her to say he would be headed home in two to four weeks, but she said plan on the end of August. I'm hoping they'll be quicker and he'll be here in the beginning or middle of August, but as we know, it could take longer. We still don't know if he'll be escorted or if we'll travel. I'm a little nervous that I'll have to go by myself. We have finally gotten his room done! It still needs some pictures of our little guy, but those will have to wait. It could also use a few diapers...Anyways, here it is so far:

I am planning on spending a 'few' nights here so I thought some new sheets would be fun. The sheets I had for the bed were almost fifteen years old! It was time! I love me a garage sale...I got this cute chenille bedspread for $5!

Gramma got these cute tie backs for the room.

I found this cute picture at a little boutique that I love going to.

All we need is a baby boy!!

A Fun Day at the Park!

We had a fun day with some good friends at a children's park:

The kids walked down into the whale to see a little aquarium.

It's a little hard to tell, but this is a cute little ferris wheel.

Waiting!!!

Yippee!

Too Cute!

The Dragon

I Stand Corrected!

I got a call from my brother. It seems that I have been spelling my own child's name incorrectly. He feels that Yoo Rok (not Rock) is a more proper Korean spelling. Therefore, I will be using the more proper spelling from now on. It's nice to know my brother is reading my blog, I just need to remember that when I recall my past. I could get into trouble again.

Ryan inherited his cousin's wagon. He has been pulling it around the yard ever since. He has even given me a couple of rides.

Hanna and Baby Bear are so happy to get outside.

Every kid loves a wagon! Hoping the rails keep Yoo Rok on board!