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...