Anders Trip to Ukraine

Hello, I am back blogging and hope you enjoy seeing some of the pictures from our trip. We are dealing with the delay and just very hopeful for August and we can't wait to bring our daughter home.

It was cold at night and I love this picture of the three of them cuddled up.
We celebrated Anya's birthday together.
Grey at the zoo! Can you say gerbil flu
Just look at these babies. They are the sweetest little kids from the orphanage. We made quite an entrance and they all followed us around.
Cotton Candy all the way in Ukraine.
Grey is so happy to have his very own.
More Kids from the orphanage. It is a huge weight on my heart that so many kids are out there.
Joey and Anya. She already had a huge wad of gum from one or her gifts. You can see from Joey's eyes that holding her was so long awaited.
Anya and one of her good friends
More kids!!
We sat in an English Class. It was fun to see them learning

This is how Grey traveled when his sister was in the stroller. He held on and thought is was so much fun.
Maddie was taking our pictures
Me and Anya
Grey is in love with Anya.
This is so funny. If you know Maddie you know her obsession with blood, guts and anything science. This was an exhibit right next to our apartment. She wanted to look at it everyday. Of course we got some unwanted anatomy questions :)
Daddy and Anya

All about Me

I got this fun questionnaire from a friends blog. It was fun to see how Maddie really thinks. It is a very interesting time where everything really does revolve around her. (or so she thinks :)
1. What is something Mommy always says to you? You love me.
2. What makes Mommy happy? When I tell jokes
3. What makes Mommy sad? When I get hurt
4. How does your Mommy make you laugh? Tickles me
5. What was your Mommy like as a child? I don't know
6. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do? Play with me
7. What does your Mommy do when you're not around? Look for me
8. What is your Mommy really good at? Playing games with me
9. What is your Mommy not very good at? Going when the light turns green.
10. What does your Mommy do for her job? Helps kids eat better.
11. What is your Mommy's favorite food? Vegetarian food.
12. What makes you proud of your Mommy? When I stay in my bed all night
13. If your Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be? That’s silly you can’t be a cartoon. You are my mom.
14. What do you and your Mommy do together? Play games. I like chutes and ladders and old maid
15. How are you and your Mommy the same? We both like to play “hi” (for everyone else that means pretend)
16. How are you and your Mommy different? Mom is old and our hair is different
17. How do you know your Mommy loves you? Cause you hug me.
18. Where is your Mommy's favorite place to go? The Orphanage where Anya lives.
19. What does Mommy like about Daddy? He is nice
20. Who is Mommy's best friend? Me, Daddy and Grey

Owens Farm

I was tired of cleaning and wanted to have a fun day with the kids so I packed a picnic and went to Owens farms. They loved it. They got to feed goats, watch the horses and even took a hayride. Can I say how much fun it is to watch my children experience adventures.

My sweet boy wasn't sure he wanted to let the goats nibble on his fingers.

We had just finished lunch and as you can see Maddie has pb&j on her face and she had eaten an apple. The horse smelled it and was all over her looking for a treat.

Grey finally got into the spirit. We had a great time!!!

She Sleeps

I have to share this funny story. My friend and I went to the movies and left Joey with our two kids and also my friends daughter who is Maddie's age. We got home from the movies and they both wanted to play longer. We were talking away and I noticed Maddie wasn't playing. I walked to the hallway and found her curled up sound asleep while her little friend played all around her. It was so funny to see someone actually out last Maddie.

Adoption Update

We got really bad news last week. We were expecting to get to travel in March to bring Anya home but it looks like unofficially she won't be able to be adopted till the end of summer. We are not sure why but something about the paper work in her government. She doesn't know yet but we know she will be very sad. I am going to try to make another trip over there. We really love her and both Joey and I feel she needs to know we are willing to wait as long as it takes.

Recipes

Maddie is obsessed with making recipes (as she calls them) in any given day I will find a bowl filled with food, lotion, spices, sugar, cereal, etc. She is asking me everyday to make something. Her Nana sent her a science kit and she thought it was the best thing ever. What is really funny about this is that I remember doing the same thing. On this day I gave her a bunch of things and sent her out side. She made an acorn pie. If you want the recipes I will give it to you :) 4 slices potato, marshmallows, banana, goldfish, salt and pepper and oatmeal. She is was very specific about the 4 slices of potato so I wouldn't alter that part.

Oh have a failed to mention that my daughter doesn't believe that clothes are necessary. If she could have her way she would never have them on.

Stuck in the dark

A few weeks ago we lost our power in a storm. We didn't have any flash lights and so we found all the candles we could. You can't tell from the pictures but it is really dark. We decided to make the best of it and we roasted marshmellows in the candles. It was so fun. I think Maddie will remember it forever. I am too quick to find the bad in each situation and I may have missed this. Note to self: Remember how lucky you are to have these children and take more time to just play.....

100 Year Celebration

Madeleine had a fun event at school. They were celebrating 100 at her school and everyone dressed up as a 100 year old. Maddie really got into it. It was fun to see her willing to wear a costume.

Way behind

I haven't posted in so long. Quick update we are submitted in Ukraine. We now have to wait about 14 more days or so for an invitation. Thank you to everyone for your continued support and prayers.

Adoption Update

We got really good news today. They will start taking our papers on Feb 2nd. This means that at that time we will be a max of 3 months away from bringing her home. We are hopeful it will be much sooner but we have learned not to count on things. We have learned that nothing is ever guaranteed and we just have to keep reminding ourselves that God has the timeline in place not Ukraine, America or the Anders family!! We are really missing her and want so badly to bring her home.

Fun At CiCi's

We had the best time last week on a field trip of our own. My friend arranged for the kids to get to go and make pizza at Cici's and they had so much fun.

Grey is taking this job very seriously

He tried to eat every other pepperoni

Maddie thought it was a lot of fun.

Maddie had a lot of fun with her friends. Thanks Tracy for the great idea.

The Aquarium

Maddie got to go to the Dallas Aquarium for a school field trip. We really love that place. This is Maddie's teacher. We are so lucky to have this teacher. She is a gift from God and has really helped Maddie mature and grow. It is amazing to watch her love the children each and every day!!

Maddie and Erin in the most common pose they do. We have them doing this as far back as when they were 1 year old.

Maddie and her partner. He is a character and she had a lot of fun.

Maddie's Class

Lenny the lion

Maddie was so happy to get to bring home the class pet Lenny. They get to bring him home for a long weekend and we take pictures and write about it in a note book!! She was so excited. Maddie and her best friend Erin. They don't get to see each other as much as they use to so they really cherish the time they get.

Maddie loves to go up in this tree.

It was too cold to go to the zoo so we talked Daddy into taking us to Planet Pizza. One of Maddie's favorite places.

Maddie, Kovu and Lenny. This is the best cat. He really loves Maddie and I think it was one of the best things we ever did. Maddie needed him and it really helped her with having to share us with her brother.

Christmas

Our camera was not working to download pictures so I am going to post some old ones anyway!!! We had a great Christmas. The kids had the best time opening all the presents. The only down side is that we weren't able to share this time with Ania, but we have next year!!
We try really hard to make sure that the kids understand that Christmas is a celebration the birth of Jesus. It is a day that we hope they will always remember!!!

Maddie got the much anticipated remote control dinosaur from her Aunt Megan.

Grey was so happy to get his musical snow man. His Grandma Barbara knew just want to wanted. I still hear that thing everyday.

We had a great Christmas Eve at Grandma and Papaw's house. The kids love to be around their cousins.