Ready, Set, Go!!!

What a way to cool off when it's hot outside! We had temps in the upper 80's on Saturday and again today.

Lauren loves water.... and sliding. Sliding into a pool of water is the ultimate!

Summer Is Here Once Again!

Summer is here once again and you have got to take advantage of it while it lasts!

Lauren doesn't spend ALL her time "patiently waiting" for Olivia.... she has things to do outside. Hopefully Olivia will be joining Lauren out there soon.

Patiently Waiting....

We are all just patiently waiting for Olivia to come home and officially join our family. Time seems to be going by very very slowly.

The plan is for Daddy to leave for Kazakhstan in 11 days and hopefully Olivia will be home with us forever exactly three weeks from today.

We just can't wait for that day to be here!

Checking The Bird Bath

Lauren loves all the birds that we have living in our yard. She checks the bird bath daily to make sure they have enough water.

Of course when she saw us approaching with the camera she had to act like a clown and strike a pose...

It Is All Official Now

The 15-Day waiting period following the court approval of Olivia's adoption has come and gone without incident. It is very very rare that anything goes wrong at this point, but one cannot help but worry. After all, we cannot imagine our lives without Olivia. That was just not an option for us....
We have tried not to worry during those 15 days but it is easier said than done.


These updated photos have been sent to us by our new friend Sarah from London. Sarah is in the process of adopting her son from the very same baby-room that we adopted Lauren from in late 2005. Sarah has been checking in on Olivia in our absence and words can not describe how much we appreciate her for that.

Now we can't wait to travel back to Ust-Kamenogorsk and bring Olivia home forever.

The finger-painting is Olivia's very own art-work. She is following in her sister's foot-steps. Lauren did her share of finger-painting while she was at the orphanage. One of her creations is framed and hanging in our foyer to this date. Hopefully the care-takers will save Olivia's art-work for us as well.

Play-Date

Lauren's friend, Raja, came over for a "Play-Date" on Sunday, June 15th. The two of them had a great time in the back yard running around in general, climbing the rock-climbing wall, sliding, swinging, and playing on the "teeter-totter". The "teeter-totter" was their absolute favorite.

A couple of hours go by rather quickly and before they knew it it was time for good-bye. The "Play-Date" ended with a nice "good-bye hug" on the deck.

Many more "Play-Dates" are planned for this summer.

Party On!

Olivia has been in an excellent mood. Because of the heat the care-takers have dressed her more lightly (most of them anyway... some still bundle her up regardless of 100+ degree temperatures...).

A couple of days ago mommy even took Olivia's socks off. Olivia loved wiggling her toes. She has "monkey toes" just like her sister and her daddy... they are just all over the place.

Still Hot...

I Always Wanted A Baby Stroller!!!!!!!

I can't believe Olivia got a baby stroller! I always wanted one and you would never ever let me have one. It is not fair!

That is Lauren's version now. The truth of the matter is that she has always refused the baby stroller. She never would agree to ride in one. Things are a little different now however....

The start of sibling rivalry???

Children's Day

June 1st is Children's Day in Kazakhstan. At the orphanage they were celebrating this holiday all last week. They decorated the play areas and even had the children put on a little performance. I took a picture of some of the children outside playing in their matching yellow and blue outfits.