More Vikram Happiness!

Many of you know, we have had some major headaches lately with finding out that we probably will not be able to get him until early spring of next year due to change in the process/India court systems. Anyways, what had me in tears many days lately was the fact that immigration had lost our paperwork and we had to "prove" that we had sent it all otherwise, well, not a happy ending. Today, a nice lady from immigration called me and said she got our paperwork completed and we will get our immigration forms soon!! Miracle!! It doesn't speed up our process at all, it's was just a huge mountain that suddenly came in our path and we had to drive over...but it looks as though we passed over this mountain at least! Thanks, everyone, for your prayers! I was so excited when I got off the phone, that Elli is running around the house saying "happy, happy!"

New Pics of Vikram!

Don't ya want to squeeze his cheeks?! He is even wearing blue! This wait to pick him up is crazy tough!! I just want to tickle those chubby rolls and hear him giggle.

One Year Ago...

Wow, she has grown so much! Her friend, Mia, gave her the same outfit she had last year, so had to get "yearly pics".

Elli and Jackie...in San Antonio

My close friend and Colorado room mate, Jackie visited us this weekend. Elli knew Jackie was special from the moment we picked her up from the airport. The whole way home Elli said, "hot dawg!". On Friday we went to the zoo for the first time and Elli's storybooks came alive. She loves making the sounds of animals and "talked" to all of the animals. I think we had just as much fun watching her. She loves butterflies and makes the sign for it and just loved to point at them (pictured). We also had a blast going to the Riverwalk with Jackie, having prayer times in the morning, S'mores by candlelight (it really works!) and we got to go to Ross Parsley's first church service in Austin---so cool! Needless to say it was a rockin' weekend and Elli misses her Godparent, Jackie.

Exploring Arizona with Brother/Uncle Eric

We have had some serious summer adventures and thought we would end it with a bang visiting Paul's bro, Eric, in Sierra Vista, Arizona (close to Tucsan). When we arrived, after traveling all day, Eric had set up a play room for Elli with her own chair and lots of toys. She danced because she was so excited. We visited Fort Huachuca (where he retired and now works as a civilian)...yes the Air Force vs. Army rivalry remains and hung out in a cute mountain town, Bisbee. Our favorite evening was eating at "My Big Fat Greek Restaurant" where Elli yelled "Umpa" quite a bit with her hands in the air! Hilarious!! The music reminded Paul of his Mom's record of Greek music from her Greek roommate. We also fun conversations with Eric on his new outdoor patio. Elli really attached to her uncle Eric and it's always sad to say good-bye.

My Aunties!

I had forgotten to put my wonderful aunties, mom and sis-in-law in my last post. We had a blast catching up at the Mustard Seed Cafe:)

Kansas Week!

Our latest adventure was to Kansas...and oh how the horrible flights were totally worth the trip! Elli LOVED seeing Grandpa, Grandma and her cousins. We got to celebrate Cam and Chris's 5th birthday and just enjoy a week of summer together. To top off the week, Julia was in town and we got to hang out! On Saturday we went to "Yoder Days", which is a small town festival amish style with a horse and tractor parade and buggy races. After the festivities, we went to the farm my dad grew up in and took pictures for Vikram's room. As I start to put his nursery together, it's coming together with farm animals/tractors, so what better place than "Grandpa's Farm" to take pics for the walls?! I can't wait to put it all together, but will pace myself as there are constant hiccups in this process! Anyways, it was a wonderful week! What is sad is that Elli constantly asks for "gaga, papa, abby and bethny". I show her pictures and we talk about living far away, but she still persists to see them. Also pictured is the family football practice...everyone was sore/tired later! I also have to put a note about a funny game Dad and I played with Abby and Bethany. The "rules" were that we could cheat, so though it was an obstacle course, we had to outwit the other. We laughed so hard at our cheating behavior..memories!