Big News

So, I know that this blog has been neglected for quite a while here.  It just seems that my time is very short these days.  Thank God for Facebook updates so many of you can still keep up.  But today is a day to broadcast.

On December 23rd our family will be in court to become a family officially.  That is right folks, the long strange trip called adoption will be final before the end of the year.  Merry Christmas to us!!  After years of struggle our girls will have their case closed.  What a relief!!  Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers the past two years.  

More info to come, but for now raise a glass and say a toast, because today is a day to celebrate!

October 31st

Yeah, Yeah...busy, busy, no other excuse for not posting. I have a few minutes while the girls are napping to give you a quick update and a homage to this day.

Jill has been gone all week in Seattle at a conference so thanks to some good friends, I survived. The girls are really excited to go trick-or-treating tonight. Our oldest has a great butterfly costume but she is rebelling and will most likely go as Tinkerbell. Our youngest was going to be a ladybug but now that her sister is going at Tink, she wants to be Cinderella. We got some pumpkins today and I tried my hand a carving a bat. I think it went pretty well (I used a pattern, I'm not that good). I will post pictures later (maybe). The girls pumpkins are like Mr. Potato Heads. Jill has some cool pieces that make a pirate pumpkin and a princess pumpkin, potato head style. We will do those once the girls wake up.

My time is running out and I still need to do some cleaning up before the girls wake up but I wanted to leave you with a few videos for the other holiday today. Enjoy...

Nail Polish

There are a few things that I do not do as a dad. #1 Playdough- I hate the stuff. It stinks, it gets all over the place, bits of dirt and sand get in it not to mention hair (gross). So the girls pretty much know not to ask me to do playdough. #2 Nail Polish- Some of you know I am very sensitive to smells and nothing sets me off more than nail polish and its evil cousin nail polish remover. That stuff is just vile. So, the girls paint their nails when I am not at home and that was the case a few weeks ago. This time was a bit different because the girls got their first crack at painting their nails by themselves. They loved it and when I got home I was greeted with the following from my oldest, "Dad, know what? Mommy let us paint our nails by ourselves and they are soooooo gorgeous." My youngest chimed in, "You wanna see mine? Mine are adorable!" They proceeded to show me their nails and now I must share with you. So please enjoy the magic that is my daughters self painted nails.  If you click on the pictures you will see a bigger and more glorious version.  

What a month...

I know it has been a while and it may take some of you a while before you find that there is a new post but I have a few minutes to let you know that I am not dead or anything. The past month has been quite full. I have been adjusting to life after seminary and that comes with more meetings and other commitments at church that keep me busy. My ordination is on Sunday and I have been busy getting things in order for that. My home computer was in the shop for a week getting a new hard drive so I was out of computer land for a while. It was weird, I actually read the physical newspaper and a few magazines in the evening. It was quite refreshing. Nothing new to report in regards to the adoption, still waiting.

I did take my oldest to an Angel game a few weeks back. She had a blast and I think she will be my baseball buddy. She loved everything about the game, the snacks, the fireworks, the rally monkey, and dressing in her red shirt. She talks a lot about going back. I can't wait to take her. I leave you with the first picture I have posted of one of my children. My friend Sara took it at the game and I just love it. Enjoy...

Highlights

Sorry for the delay in posting.  We have had various family in town in between trips for me and trying to get in to the office on a regular basis and low and behold, not much extra time for posting.  I guess this will be just be a highlight blog:

-The girls have finished up dance class, swim lessons and the last day of summer day camp is tomorrow so I hate to say that summer is wrapping up.

-The girls got new lunch boxes and they can't stop talking about them.  Our oldest got a Tinkerbell one and our youngest has Disney Princesses.

-Jill has officially gone part time at school so she should have more time to devote to the student success program.

-I am off to San Carlos Mexico for a week of SCUBA diving with some buddies of mine.  We are making the 16 hour drive and I am looking forward to getting away for a while.

- I know I have said this before, but we hope that adoption thing will be final by the end of October.  It has been a long road and knowing how things go I will not be surprised if things go until January.  Please keep praying!!

- We had a lot of family in town over the weekend.  My parents were here along with my aunt, my sister and her family and two brothers.  It was a blast being together again.  

I am sure I could come up with a few more but I have to go to the bank and then get a haircut.  I will be out of communication for about a week (and loving it) so I will post again late next week.  Until then...

VACATION!!

I am under the gun so I will make this quick. No free internet at the Welk Resort so the clock is ticking on my 30 min of internet use. We are all enjoying our vacation here in San Deigo. We went to Legoland yesterday. Very underwhelming. It was not bad, but not great. There were a few things that were run down, and some things that just did not work. It was evident that Disney was not in charge.

We did have an earthquake yesterday. We did not feel it but all the rides closed down for a while so they could do some safety checks. We touched base with our Long Beach friends and all was well with them and with our house as well.

We are taking a lazy day today, kicking back by the pool etc. and are on our way to Sea World in the morning. That is about all I have time for. I will post more later. Until then...

Standard Update

I am back from Alaska and have just about caught up on sleep.  This summer is turning out to be the babysitter shuffle with Jill and I passing at lunch.  Jill has been working mornings and I go in at lunch when Jill gets back.  This morning I took the girls to a movie.  The Regal Cinemas in California show free movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  There is always a G and a PG option.  We choose the G option today and saw The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything- A Veggie Tales Movie.  The girls liked it but I thought it was a snoozer.  In fact I think I did doze off a few times.  

Jill also had to take a continuing ed class for our foster care license so I was on my own for swimming lessons, dinner, bath, and a video.  As I type, the girls are watching Marry Poppins in the living room.  This weekend is our niece's birthday party.  She loves the color orange so she is having an orange party.  It should be fun.  We are also going on a short vacation down to San Diego.  We will see some friends, spend time in the pool and go to the San Diego Zoo and Sea World.  It should be fun.  I will let you know how it goes later.  Until then...