we have a court date!

For those of you who don't know, we have been struggling to get the boys re-adopted in the US for quite some time. It is not a requirement to re-adopt in this state, so it was kind of hard to find a lawyer who specialized in re-adoption cases. But, we found an great lawyer and then focused on choosing developmentally appropriate birthdays for the boys. We then had to get all of the documentation to the lawyer so that we can finally get birth certificates. Hurray!

Summer has been a busy time for us--I am so looking forward to the beginning of school! Josua and Samuel will be starting at a new school in the fall and they are both looking forward to it. They have been having play dates with their new classmates and I will be working in Samuel's class as a class mom, so the transition should be pretty easy. Plus, it's a very small school so I think they will have the chance to really get to know their new classmates and grow up with the same people.

Josua is starting 1st grade and is learning to read and spell. He has started reading simple books and starting to spell the words he uses with us which is hilarious! He very quickly learned, "p-l-e-a-s-e" which always makes us smile. He is responding so well to the family environment, and has turned out to be the family cuddle-bug (he would not call himself that though because he is my big man).

Samuel is starting kindergarten and his favorite thing to do is his "homework" where we color and read books and he gets to go through his book with his big-boy pencil and eraser. He is so clever and is so excited about big-boy school he can hardley stand it! He's sporting his new sunglasses here--he LOVES them!

Santi will be in pre-school in the same school as last year where he is really starting to flourish. He is starting to get a handle on colors and he loves people so much that we can hardly keep him away from school. He has started announcing to anyone is hearing distance that he is Santiago and he is three years old! He doesn't know the meaning of the word shy. This is his new face when he's trying to be funny and get his brothers to laugh.

The boys are doing well. As hard as it has been over the past 11 months, the boys are responding well and we are starting to really find our way togehter as a family.

We know that we have been inaccessible to a large degree, but our beautiful boys have required an intense amount of focus. We think it has paid off--and are so thankful for all of the support, prayer and kind thoughts/words we have been receiving. As we are slowly coming out into the world agian, we are so excited to be seeing all of you and that we have such a happy family ready for the adventures of a lifetime together!