Happy Halloween

My kiddos had so much fun this year. This is the first year they haven't weighed their candy in a while. How competitive were they before Mia entered our lives! This year they got the goods but also enjoyed walking Mia up to houses, helping her up and down the steps. They were so proud of her for not freaking out at the costumes or decorations. Don't think for a minute she is just a 22 month old toddler... In her mind - she's as big as they are. The men took off down the sidewalk and off she went in a dead sprint after them carrying her pumpkin bucket like she knew what was in store. A mental image I'll have forever.

The Costumes -

Mark was the first to pick out his costume. He decided on the Mad Hatter and had a fabulous costume. I thought a theme year was in order so Mia went as Alice in Wonderland. Matt rolled his eyes at my theme idea and found a funny mask and went as a bum.

Matt and Mark loved their costumes. Mia, on the other hand, did not enjoy getting into the Alice dress, but complied once we got it on her. We had a few dry runs of getting dressed because she really was not a fan of this dress. I think that's a sign of future struggles and that's fine. As long as I can wrestle her into a dress, I will. LOL

The Goods

I'm not sure how much she ate while in route but when she got back to the house, she was extremely wound up - I would say hyper - as I examined her candy, it appeared she licked every sucker and then stuck it in her pumpkin. Love it! Definitely a great night!

The Pics

Football Playoffs

Today Matt's 6th grade football team played a beautiful game. The game wasn't perfect, but from start to finish, every player gave 110%. Both teams left it all on the field. That is the definition of a beautiful game. It's football playoffs... so someone has to lose, but it was the kind of game where no team actually lost. One team's season ends and one team advances to the Semi-Finals of the Toy Bowl.

Well - We advanced!!!!

We were the underdogs by far - in Vegas, the other team would have been a sure bet if you asked anyone in the know. But did anyone ask the Knights? Because they had a plan of their own. I asked Matt what he thought. Plain and simple - he said, "We're gonna kick their butt!". He was convincing but I gave him my pep talk anyway regarding defense. You are fast, huge and strong and you better take down those little guys. Nobody gets passed you, nobody gets outside you, nobody jukes you...they have your ball... Get your ball back... Don't let them play with your ball... Sounds cruel I guess, but this is football not pre-school.

Matt getting his ball back!

FUMBLE!!! Recovered by Knights!

We took an early lead and had the momentum through most of the game - every tackle sounded painful - hey #11, meet our #12 - he's going to do it all. day. long. It was Hollywood-like. The other team came back and tied the game sending us into overtime. Each team gets 4 downs from the 10 yard line in OT.

They scored first in OT on a little Tim Tebow jump pass to a receiver who slipped by our safety. But they failed on the extra point attempt.

Our turn - we are 3rd and about 15 yards from the end zone. Mitch, the quarterback finds Matt in the end zone and...

TOUCHDOWN MATT BELL!!!!

Look how close #11 was to batting it down...

The crowd goes freaking wild. Mitch's Mom and I are hugging - and no, we've never hugged before. LOL Dad's are high-fiving. Everyone is yelling. Our extra point is almost always a sure thing. So imagine my confusion when the coach lines up to run it in vs. kick it. Holy Freaking Crap - what are we doing???? We pass it in and BOOM Connor dives and catches it. Extra point good - GAME OVER - we win 21-20. What a crazy game!

This, my friends, is the reason the boys practice in steamy hot weather, freezing cold weather, rain, mud, run "gassers", puke on the sidelines, listen to coaches yell at them 5 days a week. They have been doing it for 13 weeks - all so they have a chance to win the TOY BOWL (which equates to a city championship if you aren't from here). To have a game that ends like this. IT'S OVERTIME IN THE PLAYOFFS!!! It's crazy. It's football. We love it!

Finalized!!!

Today our adoption is finalized. Mia is officially ours forever.

You are stuck with us!

The hearing took about 5 minutes to finalize a process that has taken 32 months. The only fast step in adoption. With a chamber full of family and friends, the judge opened with, "Relax, I never say No." Good to hear because that thought had not crossed my mind.

Mia drummed her fingers on the table before remembering Mommy has gum in her purse and now is the perfect time to insist on a piece. Mommy will say "Yes!" to anything at this moment. She announced "Down" proceeded to sit on the floor and start into my purse. I snatched the gum, gave her the smallest piece I could break off and picked her back up bumping her head on the table. I think the bump went unnoticed... but I had to laugh on the inside. Thank goodness she is tough as nails because she didn't flinch - just chewed her gum.

With a little legal business to attend to - Our attorney recommended adoption and Mia's attorney, who we met with in the lobby for 5 minutes, agreed to the recommendation stating we agreed to the questions she asked us in the lobby and the judge thought it was all good too. I fed Mia a pretzel when the gum vanished to her stomach and voila the adoption was finalized.

The boys thought this was much less entertaining than Judge Judy - Thank Goodness!!!

We celebrated with a great lunch and plan to have a great Thai dinner too.

We've come a long way baby!

So how did we get here?

• Feb 10, 2008 Application
• June 6, 2008 Dossier
• June 22, 2009 Referral - She's beautiful!
• December 8-24, 2009 Travel to Thailand to bring Mia home
• Feb 2010 2 Month Update with SW
• April 2010 4 Month Update with SW
• June 2010 6 Month Update with SW
• October 21, 2010 - Final

Our crew of friends and family who came to celebrate!

Football With a Splash of Life

Some days - no - some weeks it seems like all we do is go to football games, practices, walk-thrus, parties. But this weekend we had a full serving of football with a splash of life which makes for good times and a messy house!

Mark played several positions this weekend which is cool that the coach switched it up. I have to give Mark credit - he is so fun to watch - he's 55 pounds with his equipment - that's very likely the smallest kid on the field every Saturday. Sometimes he plays tight end and blocks people twice his size. He squares up and hits hard every time and sometimes, ends up tossed to the ground like a rag doll but he gets up and does it again. He probably won't appreciate me saying that but what I mean is, he's tough! He's also a speed demon so all he needs is a growth spurt.

Matt, on the other hand, has grown. He's strong, lean, fast and has great hands. He had 2 touch downs Sunday. One was a short run in and the other was a long pass with a long run (45 yards total). The best part of his 2nd touchdown was watching him turn to his quarterback and give him props for the perfect pass. Matt might have gotten all the glory but he knows the quarterback deserves at least half the credit. I was thankful that his head still fit in my car after such a great game. I'm so proud of him - not because he scores touchdowns - but because he really is a good kid.

This weekend we also celebrated my nephew Ellis' First Birthday! He's such a cutie and he loved all his new stuff and thought the cake was good too. Mia checked out all of Ellis' loot and then went outside with Uncle Chip. I spied on them with my zoom lens.

I also went to my niece's engagement party where the aunt of the bride is realizing how old she is... TIffani was my flower girl 16 years ago. She was 5 years old and just the cutest, sweetest little girl. She'll be 22 when she gets married next spring and I wonder where all the years went. She showed me her wedding dress pictures, talked churches, reception halls, pictures, flowers, etc. Her finance' Nick is a great guy and they are so cute together. I'm so happy for them! I guess I was exhausted from my day because I didn't take my camera...so no pictures of Tiff and Nick this time...