Wrap It Up!

Year end wrap up...

• The Mitchells had another blessed year.  Our family grew by one beautiful little girl in June.  Avenn is such a blessing and sweet addition to our family. We were certainly meant to be a family of five.
• I found out my blog is reaching people, I began receiving emails stating a family had been formed due to a post on my blog.  My heart grew a little.
• We went through a remodel, a busted washer resulting in a small flood, and another remodel.
• Oklahoma experienced a blizzard in February creating a little cabin fever around here.
• We took vacations to Disney World, Colorado, Branson and San Francisco.
• My kid toting SUV was stolen right out of our driveway.  It was later found totaled.  The bad guys were never found but my car was replaced and we were back on the road.
• Our oldest son started kindergarten and he began riding lessons.
• Our three year old proclaimed he is a cowboy and he only wears boots. He has stuck by his proclamation.
• Brian and I celebrated twelve years of marriage.
• I continued to blog about all things adoption although my time for blogging has become very limited.  Perhaps less is more?
• Brian's firm celebrated two years of successful practice and he finalized several adoptions for local families.
• We added another dog to our family.  Sweet Maizey Lulu.

We still have our fingers crossed we will finalize Avenn's adoption by year end, although hope is fading.  2011 was  a great year.  Life is good for the Mitchells.

Merry Christmas!

The rest of this year will be spent enjoying my family instead of blogging.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pictures!

Holiday Gift Guide

Adoptive Families' 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Searching for perfect gifts this season? Get inspired here! 
Adoptive Families' annual gift-giving directory presents a selection of heritage and adoption products from our sponsors.

Go to AdoptiveFamilies.com/holidaygifts to see AF's picks for gifts that give back to organizations benefiting kids worldwide.

New Camera

My camera died.  Actually, it still works every now and again but it has been dying a slow death for a little while now.  We finally gave in and purchased a new one because I have three very good reasons to take a lot of photos.  I decided on a Canon T2i which has many more capabilities than I have abilities.

I have spent the last week taking pictures around the house learning how to use my new camera.  I hope to be somewhat capable by the time my husband and I sneak off for a few days to San Francisco.

Here are a few pictures of my ever so patient but starting to become annoyed by me family...

Where We're At...

We are still attempting to get Avenn's adoption finalized before the end of the year.  Oklahoma is not the most adoption friendly of states, at least that has been our experience here in Tulsa County.  Unfortunately, we are going to have to resubmit our background checks for the state of Oklahoma.  Our Oklahoma background checks expired in October.  The statute requires the background checks to be current at the time of placement.  Avenn was born in June so obviously ours were.  Despite meeting the requirements of the state statute the judge decided he did not want to finalize an adoption with expired background checks.  Today is the first day of December.  Oklahoma background checks can possibly be done within 2 weeks.  The judge has agreed to get us a court date by the end of the year if that is the case.  Here's hoping...

Key Fobs & Adoption

Erin from Dub Lane Designs is selling handmade key fobs.  The adorable fobs are inexpensive ($10) and so handy. When our hands are full doing other things we have a difficult time digging for our keys.  The key fob allows you to hang the keys from your wrist keeping your hands free.  The greatest part about the key fobs...Erin, her husband Bryce and their handsome young son Kyah are preparing to add to their family via adoption.  The money raised through Dub Lane Designs goes directly to their adoption fund.  I ordered key fobs for Brice's teachers and riding instructor. They make great stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts.  Check them out...click here!

I always love supporting adoption while Christmas shopping!

Happy Holidays!

Each year I attempt to get a photo of the kids for a Christmas card and ornament. One year I even managed to get a photo of all of us together.

It is the grandparents' Christmas wish each year to receive a photo of their grandchildren together.  Now that we are a family of five it is has become increasingly more difficult.  Getting three small children to participate in a Christmas photo session is a monumental task.  Today it went a little something like this...

I was able to get a few photos to actually use on a Christmas card and honestly I like photos like the above best.  I mean really who wants to see our kids posed perfectly with fake smiles on their faces in perfect little outfits.  Perfectly posed, neatly pressed, smiling innocently...that is not our kids.

The above is the real deal.

I cannot wait to send out our photo card this year.

Don't worry if you are not on our Christmas card exchange list I always post the picture on my blog too.  You will not miss out on seeing our little sweet innocent angels.

Oh, I love it.  This picture cracks me it.

Yep, those are our kids.

Just Pictures

Waiting During the Holidays

This is a post I did last year about this time and I felt it was worth reposting. Making patience your virtue during the holidays is easier said than done but is a goal worth setting.  Happy holidays, please enjoy the season.


Waiting to adopt during the holidays can be especially difficult.  It seems during this time of year everything centers around families and children. Everywhere you turn you are reminded, you are waiting to become a parent.

Here are a few tips:

1. Take a trip just the two of you.  If you cannot handle all the baby talk and questions during the holidays get away from it.  If you can afford it take a trip even if it is somewhere close to home.
2.  Take care of each other.  Often it is just as hard for your partner as it is for you during the holidays.  Instead of letting the stress get to you and possibly causing arguments open the lines of communication and talk about it.  You are going through this journey together learn to lean on each other.
3.  Remind others you are waiting to adopt on your holiday a greeting card.  It never hurts to gently remind people you are waiting and if they know of a birth parent looking to place their child they should contact you.
4.  If you get the dreaded, "so when are you going to start your family?" or "any news on the adoption" be kind and simply say, "we are always hopeful and cannot wait to share our news when the time comes". 
5.  Keep a journal.  Write down your feelings, your future child will appreciate reading about your anticipation and desire for their arrival someday.
6.  Scope out your family events before you attend.  If you are going to be surrounded by pregnancy and you do not think you will be able to handle it...skip out if you can.  Perhaps you can explain to those closest to you who will hopefully understand.
7.  Get support, join an adoption support group. 
8.  If you are going shopping over the holidays, avoid the baby section.

Listed below are the sources I used to develop this list and some are from my own experience.  Check out the sources listed below for additional ideas and support. 

http://library.adoption.com/articles/handling-the-holidays-.html
http://library.adoption.com/articles/the-waiting-game.html