The Journey of a Lifetime

Ryan and I have decided to pursue our forth adoption and add another beautiful baby to our family. We couldn't be happier and are thrilled! Join us in our journey in adopting baby Schlenner!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

We Did It!!!! Court Approval Finally!!!!!!

Huge relief in our family and reason for celebration, too! Yesterday we had our second court proceeding with Judge Leland Bush in attempts to finalize Magnus' adoption. With the help of a well educated, knowledgable and very professional attorney, Daniel Giles, we successfully completed the adoption and Judge Bush approved the adoption!!!!!! This photo stinks!! I didn't take it obviously!! But you get the idea!!
 Here's the kids posing for a celebratory photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Magnus' adoption finalization is done! We could not have done this without our attorney Dan Giles! For other families that are having difficulty finalizing their child's adoption due to the discrepancy with IR-3 visa vs. IH-3 visa in the Minnesota State Statue...I highly recommend getting an attorney to fight for you. It is well worth every penny!
Magnus' stripped down after court (at home) and just wanted to hug and hang out with his pandas that he calls his "babies!"
 Such a silly lil' boy!


Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!! We are heading to the lake for hopefully some sun and relaxation!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Happy Gotch'a Day Ahnya!!!

 Today is Ahnya's 3rd Gotch'a Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 years ago mommy traveled to Ethiopia to bring you home to our family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the best days of my life was when I found you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Ahnya was all smiles today!!!!!!!!!!!!! She still loves her blankie!
 For Gorch'a Day breakfast.....she had Chocolate Dough nuts!!!!!!!!!!!
 Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Momma's Lil Stinker!


Look at this lil stinker smerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I had to post a quick picture of Mr. Magnus since his talented sisters always get the spot light!!!

Magnus is turning into be momma's lil sweetheart!!! He now is a hugger, big time kisser and pats all the girls in the house on their buns. He melts my heart and everynight when I go to bed thinking what a day it was, and how Magnus broke this and broke that, and how crazy and nuts he is....I wake up the next morning and thank God that I have him and we start another day! He is my little prince and I love him to pieces!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Recitals & Performances GALORE!!!

 The BIG girls ended their third year in violin!! They had a great violin recital!! They are are very talented little girls and music is very much apart of their lives.

 Gabriella and Jocelyn both had a mini violin recital at Boulder Estates on Monday afternoon, too. Auntie Nic came and watched!!!!
 Grandma Ro is our biggest supporter in the family! She goes to everything and is apart of everything!!! Thanks for following the girls in all their activities!!!!
Here's Mrs. Wright, their string teacher. She has been very motivational and we are happy to be in violin with her!!!! 
 Ahnya, Ahnya, Ahnya...she was kicked out of her first day of ballet for not listening...and luckily was let into another SMALL ballet class!!! She is my TEST...daily test to be exact....but an amazing little girl!!!!!
 Ahnya LOVED her ballet teacher, Ms. Breanna. She was so kind, loving, fun, and very instructional with the kids. Ahnya wants to be Ms. Breanna when she grows up!!!!!!!!!!
 And, here Jocelyn and Ahnya are fooling around in ballet. This usually doesn't happen in class...but why not...it's fun!
 Jocelyn is a very serious and intense ballet and tap dancer. I love to watch her dance because you can almost see the wheels turning in her brain as she dances.
 Gabriella is another fabulous dancer. She dances with such ease and is finding the joy and rewards in activities.
 Gabriella has gain a tremendous amount of confidence this year. Ryan and I are amazed by her efforts she has undertaken with ease. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!
The girls are in ballet and tap and they love it with a passion!!!
 This is Gabriella's 6th year in dance, Jocelyn's 4th and Ahnya's 1st year in dance.
Here's a pic of their end of the year Spring Performance that took place last Sunday!!!

Jocelyn Graduates from Kindergarten!!!!

 Jocelyn had a fabulous kindergarten year!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better year!!! Her is Jocelyn with the teacher of the year, Miss D! Jocelyn absolutely LOVED Miss D. She would have liked to stay forever in kindergarten...IF she could!
 Here's Jocelyn with her best friend, Halle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Spring Concert at HRS!!!!!!!!!!!! All smiles....all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Miss D had all the children prepare for a theme unit on "God's Very Important Child!" Jocelyn loved working on this project and then she had to get up in front of the class and share why she was God's Special Child!! It was a beautiful presentation and I'm teary just thinking about it.

 Jocelyn graduated from Kindergarten last Thursday! She is done with school and officially on summer break!!!! This is her kindergarten grade of two classrooms!!! Jocelyn is standing next to teacher Miss D on the left side, third row!!!
 Happy Graduation Day Sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Jocelyn & BFF Halle
 Our family on the special day
 Nana and Grandma Peggy came to share the kindergarten graduation ceremony and reception with us!
 Grandma Ro and the girls!
I am a very, very proud momma! Proud, very thankful and forever humbled for all my blessings God has given me. Congratulations on a wonderful kindergarten year!!!!

Gabriella's End of the year accomplishments!!!

 Yeah Gabriella!!! She has 1 1/2 more days of school left and she had a wonderful year at Holy Redeemer School!!!!! We are very proud of our little girl!!!!
 She completed her very first year of piano this year and ended the year with a beautiful recital!!
 Gabriella's very best friend is Maya! They do everything together and are wonderful friends. We couldn't have picked a sweetier friend!! We love you Maya!!!!!
 Gabriella enjoyed having Mrs. Culhane as her 2nd grade teacher this year! It was a busy year!
Gabriella had a part in the Spring Concert at HRS. Here she is an elephant in the mini play!