One Step Closer

FINALLY!! We are moving forward in the adoption process. On Thursday we sent our home study packets to out social worker in St. Paul. We got the homework in October and are finally done with it. It was a lot of work. We each had to answer all of the questions separately and the questions we quite thought provoking. Everything from what it was like for us growing up to our adolescence and adulthood, our marital relationships, our children, our parenting, our friends, our community and a ton of questions about cultural awareness. WHEW, done. It was very interesting to have to sit down and think about these things and even more interesting to read my husband's when he was finished. I learned some really good things about how he sees this next phase for us. I am hoping that within a couple of weeks we will get a call from our SW and head to St. Paul to meet with her. I understand this is much like a job interview. After that she will come to our house and complete the home study process. Of course along with all of this a large check (the biggest so far) needs to be written. I am so thankful that God has provided up the money to do this, It is amazing how he has blessed us. I also have to give Ty a lot of credit because he is so good with money and works so hard for us!

That is the BIG news in the Ellis household. Ty escaped the two coldest days of the year by going on a business trip to Florida the past couple of days. We are looking forward to him coming home tomorrow. I really enjoyed having Carter home from school for the two "cold" days they got off. Also Ty turned 36 last week and we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary! Big week!! In a couple of weeks is Carter's b-day, January is a busy month for us. We also booked our Spring trip to Myrtle Beach, I am very excited. It will be our last trip with just the 4 of us, I hope the next trip Ty and I take is to Korea to pick up our daughter!

Stay Warm!!

Welcome 2009!

What a whirlwind the past couple of weeks have been! Our Christmas was perfect, we did not have to travel so that makes things so much less stressful. My family came to our house for Christmas Eve. I have 5 siblings and several nieces and one nephew on my side. One of my brothers and one of my sisters and her 3 daughters were not able to come which was sad because it is so nice when we can all be together. But with such a large family, it was still a houseful. I would love to host all holidays at my house if I had the space. That will be one of my most important points when we start looking at new houses. So everybody was gone by 8:00, kiddos in bed by 8:30 and Santa was here by 10:00. These are the very best years, with the boys being 3 and 5 they really believe and get all of the Magic of Christmas! One of the photos I have attached is them staring out the window for the big S Clause! Ty and I really enjoyed sneaking around after they were sleeping. I was the only one in the house that had trouble sleeping that night, but that is not unusual around here. There is nothing like Christmas morning, the greatest time of the entire year! We spent the morning at home just the 4 of us relishing in all of the new stuff! Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas lunch! It is always fun over there on Christmas Day, it is nice because it is very low key, just our family and Ty's brother's family. Of course Grandma goes nuts at Christmas just like my mom used to do. I cannot imagine how out of control she would be with Grandchildren at Christmas. My mother-in-law is the best. Her mother passed away a year ago, this year for Christmas she gave me and my sister-in-law, Julie each a beautiful necklace that she had made from a set of her mother's diamond earings. It was such a wonderful gift, many tears were shed. The poor men!! For our family it was another year of wonderful moments and memories to cherish.

I have really enjoyed having Carter home from school over break. We were very busy with many activities and a couple of low key days at home. OK just one of those, that is one of my resolutions, to stay home a little more and take the day as it comes. So the new year is upon us and as with every year, I cannot believe how fast time goes! We are so hopeful for so many wonderful things in 2009 the biggest of which is a wonderful addition to the family!

We took Carter downhill skiing today and he did great. He really seemed to enjoy it. Ty and I really enjoy skiing so we would love it to be something the kids like so we can enjoy it together.

Happy 2009 to you all!!