Here we come Grace

OK, we have plane tickets, one night of hotel reservations, and our conscientious adoption agency working on the rest of the details.  We leave Spokane International Airport on Oct. 4th for a trip that will change the lives of so many.  Our's, Grace's, everyone we come in contact with and explain the amazing journey we have been on.  While I was waiting this past summer, I think I lost sight of the big picture and what our small part in it is.  I was consumed by each step of the process and lost sight of the final destination.  We are approaching the final destination, and I stand in awe of my God and His amazing plan.  We are going to get our daughter.  She has been growing in our hearts for so long now. We saw her March 26th and we have not been the same since.  We have seen how you can love someone so much, even when you have never met her.  We have cried over the fact that we have not received a single update during the process just so we could get a glimpse of the child that has stolen our hearts.  When I say we, I mean Mike, myself, Brandt, Holden, Wyatt, and Ainsley.  We are all so in love with our baby Grace.  Not saying there won't be challenges as we adjust to another little one running around.  Ainsley has the most to lose.  She is currently our princess, and only daughter.  She will be sharing a room, and the spotlight.  We have been showering her with affection, but we are also prepared for some challenging behavior.  The boys are all prepared to defend their sweet sister if people give her a hard time because of the cl/cp.  They will be her little protectors.  We are also praying every day that our baby girl will understand the love we are so excited to give her.  She has been institutionalized since she was born.  We want her to quickly learn what it means to have a mom and dad meeting all her needs and loving her all the time.  We want her to learn to love her siblings and understand what it is to be a Kelly.  We want her to fall in love with us, like we have fallen for her.  If you wouldn't mind praying that with us, we would really appreciate it.  So here are the details.  We leave Oct. 4th and fly to Hong Kong.  We will be there until the 7th, then we will go to Guangzhou, China.  We will receive our baby girl on Oct. 8th and she will be ours at that point.  We have to go through several paperwork steps to receive her passport and visa, and then we have an appointment with the US Consulate in China on Oct. 16th to finalize the visa process.  We fly out of Hong Kong on Oct. 18th and return to Spokane the 18th.  I plan to keep this blog updated with pictures and stories from China, so be checking while we are gone.
So, life of course continues here at home.  The boys are back in school and doing great.  They all love their teachers and have settled back into a routine.  I miss them.  Soccer is in full swing, cross country has started and Ainsley has started gymnastics.  Her ballet class starts next week.  MOPS drive thru registration was today.  We start meeting every other week next month.  So in the middle of all this, we will be plopping our new baby girl.  I am sure she will just fit right in.  She will understand the chaos that is our life :) .

The kids have started a new game after watching the Ellensburg Rodeo over Labor Day weekend.

We also took some time to go and visit Manito park and take pictures of the kids.  We don't order school pictures, we just take individual pictures on our own during the fall.  The kids did great and were, of course, the cutest kids ever.
We sold our Yukon XL on the internet last week.  It was the craziest thing.  We sold it to someone that didn't even come out and test drive it.  He had it shipped out of here and to his house in Kansas City.  And yes, we were very careful and overly cautious, but we were super relieved when the check cleared.  It was pretty cool to be able to sell it and get what we want for it.  Needless to say, we are now looking for a new car.  We need a vehicle that has two bench seats to fit car seats better than the two captains chairs we used to have in the Yukon.  We are pretty selective in what we want, but we are also being very patient.  We want to get exactly what we want.  It has been fun to look around for a bit.  Mike may have found our new car in Salt Lake.  He is going to be there tomorrow, so is going to look at it.  Other than that, life just keeps going.  Inside, I am all butterflies waiting for the day we will hold our new daughter in our arms.  We can't wait for everyone to meet her and love her.

Still waiting

Still waiting, but in the meantime, life continues.  We had huge milestones last week.  Brandt started 5th grade, Holden started 3rd grade and Wyatt started 1st grade.

Aren't they the cutest little boys ever.  Of course I forgot my good camera at home, so these pics are from my phone.  Sorry for the blur, and no your eyes are not going bad.

We just returned from a great time at the Ellensburg Fair and Rodeo.  We have such a great time every year.  Mike's extended family gathers for the weekend.  We spend lots of time swimming, visiting, watching the rodeo and visiting the fair.   This year, I had 3 of my siblings and various family members come for the weekend as well.  It was great to get to see everyone and it is a bit of a letdown when it ends, it signifies the end of summer.  We are now ready to head into fall.

Doesn't Brandt look cute in his cowboy hat?  I managed to get all four to sit together for this picture.  This is my gator (Wyatt's nickname) driving a gator :)

Brandt decided to build a large raft in the pool.  This picture is a bit deceiving.  The entire weekend, the pool was full of squirming little bodies.  If you just saw this picture you would think it was a lonely pool.  Really not the case.  

So, I will let you know that I expect to hear this week when we will be traveling to China.  If we don't hear, you may not want to call.  Mike is leaving tomorrow so I won't have him to vent on.  Just be cautious and forgiving when dealing with me this next week.  If we do get travel approval, we will be leaving within 2 weeks probably.  My life will go into overdrive trying to get all the details of our trip and the kids lives in order in that amount of time.  Mom, I love you and am so thankful you are willing to take on our crazy crew for us when we leave.  I will have everything in order, I think.  I will alert everyone when we hear, if you don't hear me screaming, it will probably be via text or phone.  We are so excited.  

TA wait

So we have done it.  We received LOA, I-800 provisional approval, NVC cable, Article 5 pick up, and now TA wait.  It feel like I am speaking a foreign language.  What that sentence means is, after a year of "paper chasing" we are down to the final and most exciting step.  We are waiting for China to say, "Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, please come and get your baby."  We expect to hear that in the next two weeks.  Then we will make our travel arrangements and leave as soon as possible to head over and bring baby Grace Evelyn Kelly home.  We are excited to see what she is like.  The only information we have from her is from December of last year.  We know she has changed so much.  We are excited to get to know her personality and find out who she is.  It will be a whirlwind trip, but we are also excited for a glimpse of China.  After focusing so much attention on the country for the last year, it will be interesting to finally see it.  

Life of the Kelly Crew has continued.  The big boys went to church camp last week and came home dirty and tired, but also more grown up.  During the week, I went in and had a varicose vein removed.  Awesome I know, but I won't share any pictures.  If you are interested, I will text you my cool looking picture of my bruised leg.  I was forced to take it easy.  I don't do easy very well.  Brandt had a soccer tournament, and I had to miss the first game to "take it easy", but went Saturday and Sunday.  They won all their bracket games, then went to the championship on Sunday.  They ended up losing in overtime, but took second place.  It was the first time the entire team played together.  It was fun and the boys played really hard.  The temp was near 100.  We had a tired boy Sunday evening.  I am so happy with the attitudes of his coach and teammates, as well as fellow parents.  

Brandt's second place soccer team

Brandt's second place soccer team acting crazy

Life with Wyatt is always entertaining.  He is hilarious and fun and busy.  I believe this picture may foreshadow a scene from our future.  He was super excited to send it to daddy and show him is super cool tattoos.

Holden started soccer this week.  He is doing the same program Brandt did last year.  It was great and we loved how much Brandt learned.  Holden really seems to enjoy it, too.  It will be fun to watch him play this year.  Wyatt will be starting soccer next week, and then Ainsley will be starting dance and gymnastics.  The three boys will be back in school next Wednesday.  All three of them gone all day.  Ainsley and I will be lonely.  Lazy, hazy summer days are just a memory.  We are gearing up for a typical Kelly schedule.  Can't wait to add our newest Kelly to the mix.  

Summer Blues

So is it really already August 14th?  I'm sorry, where did my summer go?  We go back to school on the 29th of August.  That date has snuck up on me and I am so disappointed our summer is going to end that soon.  I have loved having my sweet kiddos home.  They are really fun to hang out with, as long as I am not making them practice piano, then they are kind of sour.  But they are still going to practice, and I don't care how annoyed they are with me.  I have never met an adult that has said, "Man, I wish my parents hadn't made me learn to play the piano", but I have met a lot that wished their parents had encouraged them to continue.  The big boys are working on duets together right now. They struggle a bit working together, but I think it is encouraging them to work together as a team.
So, since I last posted, we have been busy.  Weird, huh?  I just returned from Dallas, where I was attending MOPS convention.  For those of you that don't know, MOPS is Mothers of Preschoolers.  I have been involved with the organization for about 7 years, and this year I am working with a really good friend to coordinate our group.  Convention was fantastic, and I learned a lot to bring back to our group.

This was the sunrise from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport when I was coming home Sunday morning.  It was beautiful.

Just a little advertising.  I was given a free box of these if I would post the picture on Facebook.  Well, I thought I would post it here.  So there you go.

We saw Matthew West in concert.  He was awesome.  I can hardly remember all the great speakers and musicians we heard this year. 

Mike took the kiddos to Grandpa Kelly's for the weekend.  They had a great time there.  They always love time at Grandpa's.  I got home at 12:30 Sunday, then Mike headed out for Boise at 6:00.  I think we will see each other tomorrow.  My good husband, who cares for my sweet kids and then works so hard providing for us.  I love him.  I have been joined with him for 16 years now.  The time has gone quickly, but I have enjoyed it so much.  He is my best friend, and I thank God he is my husband.  While I was in Dallas on our anniversary, he was in Ellensburg taking sentimental pictures around town and sending them to me.  It was very sweet.

We are getting down to the last few steps of the adoption process.  We are waiting for our Article 5 to be picked up in China, then we will be waiting for Travel approval.  Mike and I hope to be traveling mid September.  We are so excited to bring home our baby.  We are disappointed with the lack of information we have received about her, but we will forget all of that when we finally have her in our arms.  We just pray the process moves quickly from here on.  We pray we get an extremely quick travel approval and are able to travel right away.  Be ready Grandma, your time for caring for the kiddos here, is quickly approaching.

Today, Nicci and I ran up to Trader Joes for a quick shopping trip.  Ainsley was so sticking adorable, I had to snap a picture.  She claims that she is a mom because she has a purse and some sunglasses.  I think she is so cute, I can hardly stand it.  She isn't wearing her sunglasses, but they looked super cute too.  Just had to share.

Well, good night all.  I feel a spurt of organization coming on.  I may stay up awhile and finally get my desk organized.  I think I could be nesting.

Getting close

So I sit here looking at the adoption paperwork in my binder.  Ugh.  We are waiting for a letter for the National Visa Center to tell us that our I-800 has been cabled to China.  After that paperwork will be walked into some office in China, and we will wait 2 weeks for that to be picked up.  After that, we will be anxiously waiting for our travel approval.  That wait is again variable.  We are so close, I can almost taste it.  I have started gathering provisions for our trip.  I have a whole plastic container full of medical supplies to meet the possible needs of our daughter.  It includes syringes, and after wondering about them for awhile, I read that if you need medical care for your child in China, you may not be offered sterile syringes, so we will bring our own.  I also have a box of bottles to use to feed our baby specially made for a child with cleft lip and palate.  I have bibs thanks to my sweet sister, and random sized clothing, because we have not had an update on our child since last spring, and it was dated last December.  I guess we will be prepared for whatever we are given.  I know we will be staying in Guangzhou the entire trip since our daughter is in that province.  It eases some of my concerns, because now we won't have to travel around inside China.  I will be flying only on an airline I am very familiar with and staying in the same hotel the whole time.  It is supposed to be a very comfortable hotel.  Now my big unknown is how things will go with Grace.  Praying for a good bonding experience and that she will be healthy when we finally take her in our arms.
We have been crazy busy this August.  We started this weekend with a soccer tournament, a wedding and a trip to the big city (Coulee City) for a family reunion.  We completely exhausted our kids and are paying for it today.  This week, I head to Dallas for MOPS convention.  I am so excited.  It will be a fun time with moms from all over the world.  Sunday, I will be back and will watch the three boys race in a triathlon put on by the YMCA.  Go Kelly boys.  Next week, my two big boys head to church camp.  I will be so sad to see them go, but they will have a great time.  I am also so excited they will be there together.  Brothers are good to have.  Brandt comes back to another soccer tournament, then it is our last full week before the kids head to school.  Where did summer go?  I am not looking forward to letting my boys leave me all day every day.  Ainsley and I will be staying home and working on home school.  She is going to be my prize student :)  I am excited to get the one on one time with her.  I think she will enjoy school work. OK, no pictures this time.  Love you all.

A little of this and a little of that

Oh so much to comment on today.  We are having a quiet afternoon after getting the kids up at 4:30 to cheer me on at my triathlon.  They were all so sweet and I was thankful to see them on so many different parts of the course.  I also ran into a couple of great friends at the race and had so much fun.  I love the shorter distance triathlons, because at just about the time boredom starts to kick in, it is time for the next portion of the race.  I think I will sign up to do it again next year.  Thanks to my mom, sister and niece who also got up at zero dark thirty to come and cheer me on.  What a great support system I have.

The kids have been enjoying more time in the back yard.  Mike lowered the temp. on our hot tub, so the kids treat it like a swimming pool.

We spent a night in Leavenworth visiting with Mike's extended family.  It was a very nice gathering.  We have never stayed in a KOA, so we were pleasantly surprised with the cute little cabin we got and the fun swimming pool the kids played in.  We enjoyed seeing the family and spending time visiting.  We also got to visit the Soup Cellar in town and found our favorite ice cream place.  The kids checked out the Hat shop as well.

Soup  Cellar

Hat Shop

On the adoption front, we received our I-800 back from the Department of Homeland Security.  We are one step closer to going over and getting our baby girl.  We mailed our Visa application from the big city of Moses Lake on our way to Leavenworth.  It should arrive in San Fran on Monday, and we should be issued visas to travel to China.  We are waiting for a few more steps in China, then they will issue our Travel Approval and tell us to come and get our little girl.  The time seems to be moving right along now that we have more steps taking place.  We are hoping to travel in mid September.

The kids and I spent the week at VBS at our church.  It was exciting to help out and be apart of it.  I was in charge of a group of kids that did not include any of my own.  It was fun to watch my kids from a distance, but I was still a part of what they were doing.  Our church put on a wonderful VBS, and I had a great time.  The kids all enjoyed it, too.

I found the color I wanted to paint the girls' room.  It is a light lavender color.  We will be putting bunk beds in their room and a new dresser for the large amount of clothes two little girls can acquire.  Girl's clothes are so much fun.  It is a weakness for me.  Thankfully I now have someone to pass all Ainsley's cute things on to.

I have only painted 2 walls so far because the only chance I have to paint is after the kids are in bed.  The green is the color I am covering now.  

Brandt is off on an adventure with his best friend this week.  He is camping in Oregon until Thursday.  My week may drag by.  Thankfully, Mike invited us along on one of his work trips, so we will be hanging in the hotel and swimming while he is bringing home the bacon.  I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful husband, and for those of you that don't remember, we officially became husband and wife almost 16 years ago.  Our anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks.  I am so blessed and loved by my dear husband.  

My number one supporter

The Kelly Krew all decked out in matching t-shirts

An amazing sunset at our house

The kids cherry picking at Green bluff

And Wyatt looked goofy in all of them

Hat Shop

Hat Shop

Hat shop

Mike, Evie and Tim with Auntie Gaye

Summer

Another trip to the mailbox reveals we are still waiting for the US government to return the most recent of our paperwork.  We have been enjoying our summer, now that we are finally out of the cool June weather and the long wait for our LOA.  I am going to start redecorating the girls room to accommodate 2 instead of just one little girl.  Ainsley is excited and wants a purple bedroom.  I am going to see what I can do.  I will hopefully find the paint I want today, and at least get the project started.  My daughter has started doing the strangest thing.  She likes to empty her drawers onto her bedroom floor.  She is aware of the fact that its not OK, but she has done it twice.  Weird.  The first time, I put it away, and took the opportunity to sort through her clothes.  She hit another growth spurt, so I had some clothes to move.  The second time, I had her return her own clothes to their drawers.  Maybe she will think twice about it now.

Here is my princess girl in the cutest white dress, running the trike through a mud puddle.  So funny.

This picture just demonstrates how long her legs are getting.  She is getting so big.  She still enjoys a break at the coffee shop with daddy.

We have been enjoying time together this month.  Mike has been a bit slow as far as travel goes, so we have been having lots of opportunity to enjoy life.  The kids have been playing in the kiddy pool and kid car wash in the back yard (Dad made if for them last year out of PVC pipe.)  They have been riding their bikes a lot.  And their knees show it.  We are heading to Leavenworth this weekend, and planning a couple of weekends of soccer.  I am heading to MOPS convention, and then the kids head back to school.  This summer has been great, but I can't help but feel we are missing someone.  I can't wait until we have our family home and together.  We miss our daughter and sister.