Caught Katelyn "reading" to Ania.
They have become such sweet friends!

It's a Ninjago type of day!

Josh and Katelyn have named our friend Shannon "the best projector." She really comes up with some great activities and crafts - including today. The kids are really into Ninjago and are always ready for battle. Shannon had the kids made armor and swords last week. Today, throwing stars, dynamite, adventure maps and a fort were involved. The kids played for hours! 

Josh loves playing with his Ninjago Lego figures. It's been a lot of fun for everyone. Thanks to Granddad, Josh has an awesome set complete with the four main ninjas. 

Today we learned the lyrics to the theme song so we can sing along. :) 

"Jump up, kick back, whip around and spin

Then we jump back, do it again

Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go!

Come on, come on -- we're gonna do it again, we just

Jump up, kick back, whip around and spin

Then we jump back, do it again

Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go!

Come on, come on and do the weekend whip!"

Let's Go O's

Jed took Jeff, Josh and Katelyn to Orioles' FanFest Day.
They had a great time and are quite the fans!

December Photos

YiaYia gave Josh and Katelyn a daily advent calendar. Each day was a different activity to do to celebrate Christmas. It was really a great calendar. There were some complex activities and easy activities. We could choose which order to do them and coordinate it with some already planned activities. For example, there was a singing activity and we had that on the day of the kids' school music program. 

Ania, Katelyn and Josh show off their matching socks!

Josh at Salvation Army on Elf Night.

Katelyn making Mary for a clay nativity creation.

Josh and Katelyn enjoyed the neighborhood
bonfire with Santa!

Our family's adoption journey

We've been on a journey and we've been traveling along for over two years now. I kind of imagine us on a road for the past two years. We started out knowing only that we were headed towards adoption. There was a lot of looking at maps and asking for directions during this time until we came to our next road sign heading us towards Ethiopia. We've been walking on that road for the past 21 months not knowing exactly where that was leading us. We just knew that was the path God led us on. And like a marathon runner (which neither of us are, but we've seen a few...), we received encouragement and nourishment along the way from our family and friends to keep going and pushing forward in the wait. Then on December 21, 2012, we took our first "exit" when we received our referral phone call matching us with TWIN 8 MONTH OLD BABY GIRLS! We were surprised and excited and overjoyed - it was the most generous Christmas gift - to be entrusted with the lives of these two, sweet girls. Simply amazing! 

Our journey is not nearly over yet, but our family is on a more specific path now. We will make two trips to Ethiopia before we bring them home. 2-3 months from now, we'll travel to meet the girls and have our court appointment. Then 2-3 months after that, we'll make our Embassy appointment and bring the girls home. We're hopeful we'll be home by summer!
**We can't post photos of the girls until we bring them home, but here is a sneak peak!**