Craigy graduates from the D.A.R.E. Program

Tonight Craigy and his cousin Cody graduated from the 5th grade D.A.R.E. (Drug Aware Resistance Education) Program from Brimfield Elementary School. We are so very proud of them both. This is a huge honor and commitment that they and all the other 5th graders in the school commit to never do drugs, alcohol, etc. The police officers in our community visit the school every week to teach students the importance of being drug and alcohol free and at the end of the school if they do everything required they graduate.

Congratulations Craigy, Mom and Dad are extremely proud of your accomplishments and the fine young man that you have become. You are truly a blessing of every kind to your mom and dad and to everyone that is blessed to know you. You are a caring, loving, thoughtful, and always a tremendous and gratious help to all who know you.

We love you!!!

Love,
Mom & Dad

CCAA ANOUNCES 2ND TRAINING SESSION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

On March 20, 2008 the CCAA announced their 2nd training session for their handicapped and special needs orphans and our agency, Children's Hope International, for their help with the program.

POTTY TRAINING

We started trying to potty train Rylan late last summer when he first turned 2 and at first we thought he was interested and I went and bought him a potty chair. Well after only one day he decided he wasn't ready yet, so then approx. 3 weeks ago I thought I would try again since he kept pulling at his diaper when he was wet or go #2 and he would immediately come and tell me cause he wanted changed.

I started using pull ups and would use M & M's as an incentive everytime he went. I'm not excited at the thought of offering candy, but I came to the conclusion that this is something big for him and us and considering it's only 2 M&Ms at a time (probably 6 total in a day). Then my 11 year old, Craig, decided to pick out a drawer and make it a "potty drawer", well that was a BIG HIT. Everytime he would go potty and he would run to the "potty drawer" and pick out a hot wheel or puzzle and he was so excited and proud of himself. I love seeing the excitement in his eyes and how proud he is to be a BIG BOY.

Well yesterday I went to the store and finally found a pair of underwear that would fit. He was so proud to be wearing underwear, and of course it being Thomas the Engine and Spiderman helped out too!

So needless to say, I'm very proud of my little guys accomplishments and all of you that have been through potty training understand how difficult it can sometimes be. Luckily, he has so far done pretty good, we've only had 1 day of him regressing and it will probably take a while before he's totally potty trained, but we are all pretty darn proud of him.

One last thing, he started waking me up at night to tell me he has to go to the potty. Ok, I think you can see my grinning with pride for our little Rylan.

Adoption Length Article

Below is a link to an article about International Adoption, China specifically and the lengthing wait that us families are enduring.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISSY

Tonight me and my very best friend in the whole world, KRISSY, went to dinner for her birthday at WASABI Japenese Steakhouse for some hibachi cooking. Food was awesome as usual and so was the company. We both have a really great time. They always put on such a great show.

KRISSY, HAPPY 39TH....I MEAN 29TH BIRTHDAY, AGAIN

Boys Sitting In the Cobra

Here's a picture Craig took of the boys sitting in the Cobra for the first time. Ok, well, technically sitting inside the underneath of the Cobra. Just thought it was the cutest picture of Daddy's little boys.

CCAA Documents Processing --but no word on Review Room

"CCAA Document Processing
The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents
registered with our office before October 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose
adoption application documents were registered with our office before
January 09, 2006."

The CCAA updated their document processing "box" on Sunday evening
with the referral cut off date of 1/9/06.

I was really hoping to hear that November 2006 is out of review. Our agency still has not heard that anyone with our agency is out of review. I thought for sure we would of found out last month and then definitely without a doubt this month, but still no final update. I'm so ready for some good news of some sort.

Congratulations to all the new mommy's and daddy's out there that received their referrals this month.

Watson's Side of the Family

Yesterday Craig and I drove to Winchester, VA for his Aunt Dorothy's funeral. She was a lovely women who lived to be 86 years old. This would be Craig's Aunt (his mom's sister). Craig also lost his mom approx. 4 years ago and his Dad approx. 14 years ago, so Aunt Dorothy was one of Craig's last living relatives on his mom's side of the family. As I'm sure you figured out Craig was a late in life child, so that's why all his relatives are so much older. All his Aunts and Uncles are in the late 70's to 80's!!! Yesterday was bittersweet, it was sad she passed, but we know she's in a better place. It was really nice seeing all of Craig's relative's yesterday. After lunch, someone suggested a family photo, so I thought I would post this on the blog. We are making plans to hook up again with his mom's side of the family this summer. Everyone is kindof scattered across different states. We live in Ohio, they live in Floria, Virginia, etc, but we promised to get together this summer and we are looking forward it!!! Craig and I decided to have a pig roast the end of June. Our first pig roast as our first family gathering.

Easter Holiday at Our House

Easter went really well this year. Here's a picture of all our family and some friends.

This includes, siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles extended family...basically you name it. Still not sure how we manage to squeeze everyone in every year. This year we had 32 guests. Needless to say we had alot of food!

RYLAN DANCES TO BOB THE BUILDER

Every time Bob The Builder comes on Rylan immediately stops what he is doing and comes running into the room to dance to the intro of Bob The Builder. Alot of times he will dance in a circle so long that he gets dizzy and falls down.