We are incredibly lucky that we have a family that lives like 10 minutes away that adopted their little boy from Taiwan.  But what is CRAZY is sweet Matthew actually had the same foster family/home as Hayden.  Just as Matthew left....Hayden moved in.  We have been trying to get together forever, and we finally got it done yesterday.  We had an awesome time chatting, and listening to our kiddos chat away as well, theirs was just at a different volume than ours.  We are going to try out the same gymnastics class with them when we get back from our trip!!  So EXCITED!!  Matthew has a very sweet and pretty sister that hails from China who also joined us for lunch.  We can't wait to spend more lovely days with this family!!

Hayden and I are off for our extended vacation.  We hope the Easter bunny finds us!!  We hope yours is filled with blessings and lot's of chocolate and egg salad!! 

I loje jou Sophie

Hayden is obsessed with her dogs, and here she is kissing Sophie and telling her that she "lojes jou"

The dogs are not quite as in love as Hayden is with them unless she has food in her hand:)

Sweet feet

Are these not the cutest sandels you have ever seen for a little girl?  Found them at Nordstroms, and Hayden and I are in love with them.  They are actually a little too big(around the ankles) so it is hard for her to keep them on properly.  But my girl does not care one bit, she wants to wear them ALL THE TIME!!

I must say that is the cutest foot ever....yes it is blurry because I took it with my phone. 

Catching up

Hayden with her sister Taylor before Taylor headed out to the airport.

Hayden is so lucky to have a brother and sister who simply ADORE her and play with her constantly when they are home.  Hayden LOVES them and can't get enough "tickle time" with them.

Trying to catch up from being gone and preparing to leave again in a few weeks.  Hayden and I have a very busy and important travel schedule that we keep up.  Our next trip is in a few weeks and we are headed out for 2 1/2 weeks to parts unknown:)  We simply can't wait for this trip and have been counting down to departure for months now. 

Hayden just turned 18 months old last week.  I simply can't believe she is already a year and half old and we will celebrate her being home a year next month.  The time has flown by.  We just went for her 18 month check and she is GROWING!!!!  That is BIG news around here.  She is up to 31 inches tall and 21.5 lbs!  so we are in the 43% for height(big improvment) and up to the 10% for weight.  So we all celebrated at the doctors office.  This was one of our few trips that we didn't have to have any shots, but Hayden was VERY leary of Miss Vanessa(the evil giver of shots) who had made the cutest flower clip for Hayden's hair.  But in the end Hayden had hugs for all and left the office without crying(that is a first) and rather happy with her stickers and token sucker.  Developmentally Hayden is doing great.  Our doctor had already filled in her whole autism check list and milestone list.  I asked how she had already scored her without having me finish the paperwork and she responded that Hayden was doing everything on the 18 month list back when she was 12 and 15 months old.  She also rated her language that of a 24-26 month baby.  I told her I firmly believed that one because Hayden bosses me around all day long:)  So we have that visit out of the way and we won't see them again until she is 2!!  Holy smokes 2, can you believe it??  I did get a pat on the back for having had no illness' and no visit to the doctor other than well checks.  She said we must be doing a good job of washing our hands.  I failed to mention that I have Hayden living in a bubble and I have made my child OCD about washing her hands(she thinks it is a game)  So for all of my girlfriends out there reading this and rolling their eyes....yes I know my turn will come and she is going to get sick.....however it will not be from Chuckee Cheese or the McDonalds germ factory play yard:) this is an inside joke

Okay kids not much else going on.  Spring is in the air finally.  Our pear trees are blooming, tulips are poking their heads out.  Bluebonnet pictures are scheduled.  Awesome vacation is around the corner, and I am OBSESSED with "words with friends"  and I am really excited about PF Changs new Gluten Free menu items.  28 items I think!!  Headed there this weekend to try it out.

Hope things are great on your end.

Weekend of fun and SUN!!

Hayden and Beasley(the most awesome bulldog ever)

Hayden and her BFF Miss Lynda playing in the rocks

Taylor and Connor(Hayden's brother and sister)

Hayden and Taylor while Taylor knits a scarf for Hayden

Her royal highness with her new scarf that she LOVES!!

Hayden, Beasley and Mr. Gregg(I love this picture)

Attempted a picture of Hayden and cactus...so this was the next best thing(sorta)

Hayden had a blast with Lynda and Gregg.  She totally took over their house and they obliged!

David never smiles in pictures, so I had to post this one even though I think it is not so great of me.

Before we got on the plane to go home.  Let's just say we didn't see this again for 9 hours!!!

We had a BLAST on our trip.  We felt the sun, we smelled the wonderful jasmine scent, and we ate and drank until we had no more room.  It was a wonderful time with Taylor and Connor.  Lynda and Gregg are the BEST hosts EVER!!!  Better than the best hotel you could ever stay.  We ate incredible food, and drank drinks that need to be outlawed!!  It was a wonderful getaway, and we were sad to leave our friends.  We forget how much we love spending time with them and how much fun we have together!!  Hayden did great...well except for the long journey home. 

Guess where we are going this weekend??

All I can say is "I AM DONE WITH WINTER!!!" We were suppose to be going skiing and after the foot of snow we received 10 days ago we agreed that a warmer climate was a much better idea since we had seen more snow in one winter than we do normally in 10 winters!!  So Scottsdale....even if you are not balmy right now I can't wait to see Camelback, I can't wait to smell the jasmine, and can't wait to hear the laughter of our great friends!!  Seriously I am leaving behind my jacket on principal regardless of what the weather channel says the forecast will be while we are in AZ.

Final Post Placement

Well after almost a 4 year journey with Stella(our social worker) we met for the last time last night for our final postplacement visit.  Hard to believe it has been 4 years since we met her at a Starbucks to discuss starting our adoption process.  We still need to complete Hayden's re-adoption but that will take no time at all, and then apply for her US passport and then we finished with "paperwork"

This was really not a big deal.  Stella knew that it was mostly just part of the process to have to come for one last visit, but it does feel good to have this part of it complete.  Hayden was a complete charmer and was such a good girl!! 

Thanks Stella for all that you have done for us!!