We are so lucky in this country!

Yesterday, as I drove the girls home in the car, I told them that tomorrow night we are going to a dinner at the Christian high school.  Our oldest is a senior and his soccer team is having a dinner to honor the senior players. The girls were very excited, particularly since we don't go out for dinner very often.

Kali said, "We are so lucky in this country." I asked her why she thought so.  She said because we get to celebrate holidays and sometimes go out to dinner. So cute!  She has had a wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's day. This really warmed my heart. She is still in transition and frequently whines to me when she doesn't get her own way. I am trying to help all of the kids have grateful hearts and it is a blessing to hear Kali being thankful without prompting.

A really big family!

Many times people react with suprise when Brad or I say we have 7 children (soon to be eight).  In Silicon Valley families tend to be small, so we do stand out a bit.

But the Kayes family is a really big family - they have 19 children, 16 adopted internationally.  I was blessed and inspired by watching the video interview below with Joe and Nancy Kayes.  What an awesome couple - they are the kind of people I would like to be when I grow up:) I loved hearing about some of their fears as they adopted and how they learned to just take things one day at a time.  God has truly blessed them.
http://www.facinglife.tv/episode/season_3/episode_16/episode_316.html

Kali's birthday

Kali just turned 7 and had her first birthday party.  We invited all the little girls in the afternoon kindergarten.
Kali was so excited and had a great time!

All Kali's sisters (and one brother) had a great time too!

Russian and Ethiopian Christmas!

For the last 6 years we have celebrated Russian Orthodox Christmas on Jan 7.  Ethiopia also celebrates Christmas on Jan 7, so this year we had Russian and Ethiopian Christmas.  Our friends who also have a Russian son celebrate with us.  My mom and her husband and Brad's parents joined us. We had great food and a fun time!

Disneyland fun!

The week before Christmas we went to Disneyland for three days. It was K. first visit and she loved it.  She loved Thunder Mountain roller coaster and kept asking to go on rides that go fast. Here is a picture of the girls on Grizzly Falls.  K. loved it!

Meeting princesses was another highlight!

We all had fun but K. was not happy to stop (and waste time)  to take the picture below.

Our oldest tore the MCL in his knee and stayed at a friend's house to rest his knee for soccer.   All that walking at the Disneyland parks would not have helped his knee.  We stayed at a Marriott Residence Inn near the park.  Our room had two bedrooms - one with 2 queen size beds and one with bunk beds.  The living room had a sofa sleeper.  It is perfect for big families! 

Referral!

We have accepted the referral of an adorable boy!  He is between 2 and 3 years old. We can hardly wait to have him join our family. Our next step is to be assigned a court date.

We had a great Christmas.  K. has been here 9 months and this was her first Christmas here.  Her 8 year old sisters spent a lot of time telling her how we celebrate Christmas. So when Christmas arrived she already knew that we open our stockings and then Dad reads the Christmas story in the Bible.  Next we open our presents. She already knew thtat we usually get oranges, toothbrushes, toothpaste and some candy in our stockings. My older boys where surprised at how she knew but they missed the sessions where the other girls told her how we do things:) 

Next year K. can be part of the crew that tell their new sibling how things are done at our house.

Our dossier is heading to Ethiopia

Our dossier should be heading to Ethiopia today!  It has all the notarizations, seals and authentications. It is always a huge relief to have that done.  Now we are waiting for a referral - should be soon.
My 14 year old son is the most excited. He went with me to Ethiopia in March and is ready to bring home several more new siblings.  I think one will be great. I am glad he has a tender heart and loves little kids.

The Christmas excitement is building daily. This is K.'s first Christmas with us.  Everyday she asks me how many days until Christmas.  When I answer she asks, "Is that a long time?" I say it is to you, but not to me.