Summer Fun While Waiting in July

There isn't much to report on the adoption. Things are progressing at a snail's pace. Honestly, I think snails move faster!!

Referrals arrived in the states on Friday, July 6th and covered all of 7-days. We are up to November 14, 2005. Folks seem to think that November is a particularly large month and once the CCAA completes referrals through this month, they will return to referring 2-week batches.

Keep in mind that when we began the adoption, the CCAA was referring batches of a month or more.

We're keeping busy and I may try to start updating this site bi-weekly as I'm not looking forward to the time it is going to take to upload all the photos I have for this month.

Going chronologically, we celebrated Gabrielle's 11th birthday. Her mom got her a really cool new outfit and we got her lots of presents.

This excitement was followed a few weeks later by the last day of school. As you can see, it was a really hard year for Gabrielle. Rest-up! Middle school starts in the fall!!!

By mid-June it warmed up to New England Standard weather, mid-70s to low 80s, and we are now spending weekend days at the beach. The kids really got the boogey-board down and are pretty darn good at catching some waves.

Xavier is on the left and Gabrielle is on the right.




After much trial and tribulation, Wim got the pool going on the 3rd! The kids are very happy to have it open. Wim still needs to clean some sand out from the bottom of the pool. The kids told them they would help if he let them get in the pool. As you can see, they were a big help with the sand clearing task. :-D

The 4th of July Clam Bake at Untle Martin and Aunt Ceil's house is always a good time. The men worked hard on the bon fire and getting the clam bake going. Wim is fron and center, looking HOT!!

:-D

Despite some unusually chilly weather the kids had a great time playing on a home-made slip-n-slide. The little tyke is our niece Abbey who graduated from nursery school this year and begins Kindergarten in the Fall.

Xavier did a good job of sliding steady on his butt, while Gabrielle amazed us all with her daredevil head-first sliding abilities. Then there is Abbey who we all thought would take-off in flight!

Finally, our biggest news for the month is that despite this crazy wait to adopt from China, we will be adding a new baby to our family in only two weeks. This is the kids holding two puppies (Xavier is holding the one we picked) and another of Wim with our new little addition (who won't be so little for very long). Something to keep up us all busy and help pass the time.


That's all for this month.