Selflessness

So my hubby and I have decided on a fundraiser to help us with the cost of the adoption and travel to go pick up Mr. Hyeon-wu.  We are going to raffle off an iPad!  And some other smaller prizes.  Blake worked his magic on Craigslist and sold some things around the house (computer monitor, our Wii, and some computer speakers) and we were able to gather enough money to purchace an iPad.  We're excited about it but more about the raffle later.  Stay tuned.  Well, today Blake was driving through a city where an old buddy of ours from college is living and working.  Blake has lunch with him when he's down that way but really we don't see or talk to him and his wife very often, at all.  They were visiting today and Blake's buddy, Bruce, asked about the adoption.  Blake told him things were going good, got an important approval today, playing the waiting game, yadda yadda yadda.  Then Blake told him about the raffle and how we were hoping to raise a little money to help us bring home Griffin.  Bruce reaches into his wallet and hands Blake a $100 bill.  Ok, I'm tearing up again as I write this.  This is a guy who isn't wealthy and has struggled with his career.  His wife does well but $100 was VERY generous.

How do I wrap my brain around the generosity that this adoption is showing me?  From people I don't even know (sweet Peruvian lady at the fingerprinting place) to old friends like Bruce.  Blake and I have a hard time asking for help.  We have been through the ringer financially.  After our very expensive infertility treatments I was let go from my job in 2008 when I was 15 weeks pregnant.  Then in May of this year we had a failed IVF and you don't get your money back when those things don't work.  Not one penny.  Now we have this adoption (thank goodness for banks that will give loans in this economy) and after much prayer we're asking for help and it's really difficult for us.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to sob through this entire raffle...the entire month (or whatever) we're selling tickets. 

I don't know what I'm trying to say.  I guess I'm just so blessed to have old friends, new friends, family, and strangers like Bruce in my life.  I pray that he is blessed ten fold.

I600 Approval!!!

We got our I600 approval in the mail today!  That was super fast!  The quickest approval I had seen was about 4 weeks.  Ours was two weeks, one day.  AWESOME!!!  Such a blessing.  I actually called this morning because I was worried they were going to need some additional information for approval and I was so surprised when the nice lady on the phone said that we had been "recommended for approval" and we would probably be getting our approval letter soon.  As soon as I heard the mail woman I ran out (she probably thinks I'm crazy) and there it was.  Yay!!!

So what's next?  Well, I'm not sure how it all works but I know we need to be NVC in and out.  Then we need our EP (emmigration permit), VI (Griffin's visa interview), VP (can't remember what that is LOL), EA (drawing a blank), and then TC (travel call)!!!  Is there an adoptive mom that can help me remember what VP and EA is and what they consist of?  I know I've read about them but, honestly, I never felt I would ever get this far. 

Great day!  I pray things keep moving quickly.

Christmas!

Christmas was SO MUCH FUN this year!  Every year gets better and better as Kinley gets older and starts to 'get it.'  Next year will be even better with two kiddos in the house.  But, seriously, two kids...twice the toys.  I honestly can't imagine.  Kinley got an unbelievable amount of stuff this year and it's going to be even crazier next year!  Can't wait!

Here's the rundown.  Kinley woke up with a fever Thursday morning (the 23rd) and we were all packed up and ready to head to my parents so we could spend Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house with the fam.  We decided to give her some Motrin and see  how she did.  After a nap, some nuggets, and a reduction in her fever we decided to head out.  Kinley loves being at my parents' house and I knew she would be just as comfortable there than at our house.  We let Kinley watch movies all day and kept rotating Motrin and Tylenol.  She was pretty miserable.  The next day was Christmas Eve and we have always (except two times since I've been married) gathered at my grandlparents' house for a huge, delicious feast and gift opening.  I love this tradition and it means a lot to me.  I hate missing it which is the only reason I had my sick kid out and about.  Kinley got lots of goodies!  I mean LOTS!

Kinley loves Aunt Linda!

"Look what I got!"

She loves this inch worm riding toy.

Top 5 favorite toys of Christmas 2010 (and that's saying something)!

She can rock the guitar!

After the mess was cleaned up and we said our goodbyes, we started the 2hr and 15 minute drive back home so Kinley could be at her house when she woke up Christmas morning.  Kinley's fever went back up and she must have been aching all over because she squirmed in her car seat for two hours and fell asleep right before we got home.  At 11:00 PM!  Poor girl was so tired Christmas morning but she pressed on.

My little pony and stickers from her stocking.

Kinley loves Miss Spider which is pretty cool since it's about an adoptive family.

What is this?

Not a very good picture but this is usually how she plays her guitar cuz that's how she rolls.

So this is what it is!  I love it!

Christmas morning with just the three of us was wonderful but I was really excited to be hosting Christmas lunch.  My mom, dad, brother, and his girlfriend arrived at about 11:00 and we ate at about 12:15ish.  I made everything all by myself, which I'm pretty proud of.  The menu was ham, my famous (ha!) mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli and rice casserole, mandarin orange and almond salad, deviled eggs, and rolls.  Yum!  I thought everything was pretty good!  Then to the good stuff, gift unwrapping!

Princess house shoes.

She loves ALL her instruments!  Thanks grandma and grandpa!

My very handsome little brother and his gorgeous girlfriend.

Such a happy girl!

What mom?  I'm just feeding my baby.

Kinley and Grandma reading books before nap.  And yes, Kinley is still in her pajamas.

By the way, my mom purchased Kinley's hat and some bows from a fellow adoptive mom's Etsy store. We love everything we got and the prices are amazing! You can check it out here.

The day after Christmas we traveled to eastern Oklahoma to spend the day with Blake's parents and his brother's family.  Brooklyn (our niece), Boston (our nephew), and Kinley had lots of fun playing an elephant game.  I wish I had a picture of the game but I forgot my camera that day.  Anyway, it was nice to see everyone and Kinley got LOTS of wonderful gifts AGAIN!  The grandparents really overdid it this year.  It's what grandparents do.  I get it.  And we love them!

Christmas was almost perfect.  Even though it was pretty much impossible, we would have loved to have Griffin home for Christmas.  I hate that I missed his first Christmas but I know in my heart that he is right where he needs to be right now.  I have faith that he'll be home soon enough. 

Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.

I was really excited when my mom told me she bought The Elf on the Shelf for Kinley.  I had been debating whether or not she was old enough and if she would 'get it.'  I knew she would at least enjoy looking for the elf every day.  And boy, I was right!  She gets the biggest smile on her face when she spots him sitting in our Christmas tree or hanging from the top of our curtains.  Fun times!

Well, as all of you Elf on a Shelfers know, when you get your elf you name him.  The first day we got our elf Kinley was napping and Blake and I were discussing what our elf's name should be.  I knew Blake would come up with something good.  He's the goofy one. And he did not disappoint. 

Blake:  You know who he looks like?
Me:  Who?
Blake:  Napoleon Dynamite's creepy brother, Kip.
Laughter!  Tears!  Ridiculous quotes from the movie!  More laughter and tears!

So Kip it is.  I'm hoping one of these days I won't regret naming Santa's little spy Kip.  I don't want to tell Kinley her elf is named after a guy who famously said, "Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day."

It would be par for the course, though.  My dad made we watch Animal House a MILLION times!

Yup.  Kip.  Without the mustache and glasses.

Blessings

I received a very special package in the mail yesterday.  A new friend from the Holt adoption forum I'm apart of sent me a beautiful Christmas ornament that she made.  It's very special to me because it will always remind me of her and her sweet Aiden and the Christmas we were waiting for Griffin to come home.  I feel very blessed to have found the Holt Korea forum.  I have 'met' so many amazing women who are supportive, encouraging, sweet, and very knowledgeable about the adoption process.  I would be so lost without those women.  I'm not exaggerating.  If I have a question, they have an answer.  I really should be paying them for all the advice they've given me.

I love it!!!  Thank you so much Leah!

Merry Christmas to Me!

Ask and you shall receive.  We received Griffin's December well baby check today!  I was excited and really needed to hear some news about my son.  This wait is turning out to be much more difficult for me that I originally anticipated.  To be honest, I'm struggling to "bond" with this little person that I've never met and have very little information about.  I WANT to know him better and feel closer to him.  I knew getting new information would change that and it did.  I teared up as I read through his WBC.  Here's the low down.  He hasn't gained much wait, still in the >10% for height, weight, and head circumference.  But he's creeping (not yet crawling), saying single syllables, and he's repeating sounds.  He can say 'omma' which means momma!  How amazing is that?!  He's also doing all the gross and fine motor skills that he should be and is right on target developmentally.  Yay!  Good job buddy!

We also received our 'Notice of Action' for our I600 which is great.  Good to know they received it.  Now they just need to hurry up and process and approve it.  We sent our I600 to the USCIS last week with our legals. 

I600, Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative

Purpose of Form :  To classify an alien orphan who either is, or will be, adopted by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative of the U.S. citizen to allow the child to enter the United States. The petition is filed by the U.S. citizen who is adopting the child.

I really needed this news today.  But there was one thing in the WBC that was a little worrisome.  Griffin is apparently wheezing.  Alright, foster mother, time to keep that baby boy at home and let him get well.  And I'm going to pray because that's all I can do.  Get better sweet boy.



All I want for Christmas...

We sent the first and possibly only care package to Griffin today.  It was both fun and frustrating shopping for him.  First of all, the last well baby check we have is from October so we can only guess how big he is now.  Second, boys stuff is limited.  Not much selection.  Not like shopping for baby girls.  It was still fun though.  As I've said before, I'm not much of a girly girl so clothes shopping for Griffin was pretty fun for me.  It was so hard for me not to go overboard!  I probably bought too much stuff but it'll be months before we meet him and we won't get to be with him his first Christmas.  I think I did pretty good, all things considered.  But the LARGE flat rate USPS box was stuffed FULL!  Here's what was in it:  2 long sleeved onesies, fleece pants, 3 sleepers, 6 pair of socks, sock monster (see picture), rattle, bendy ball, little blankie, disposable camera, lotion, toy cell phone (with my voice recorded), photo album, teething rings, linking toys, and chocolates for the foster family.  Here's a pic.

And here is a pic of the sock monster.  This is probably my favorite thing because Kinley has a bigger version that she sleeps with.  I hope the sock monster comes home with him. 

Sorry the picture is wacky.  It wouldn't rotate for me.



Now we just need to get some updated pictures and well baby check.  That's all I'm asking for for Christmas.  Pretty please, Santa?!

HurryUpWait

Well, legals just arrived at my house and left my house in the last hour.  When it's time for me to do something concerning the adoption I GET IT DONE.  I want Griffin home as quickly as possible so I feel it's my job to complete and mail all paperwork as quickly as possible.  I focus and move as fast as possible while also making sure I have followed all the instructions to the letter.  And now my chest hurts and I can feel that my blood pressure is up.  I'm not joking.  Breath...

Ok!  My hubby and I have been brainstorming and working on a little project.  We're planning on doing a raffle to raise money to help us bring Little Man home.  We are REALLY wanting to raffle of an iPad so in the last three days Blake has sold our 20 inch computer monitor, our Wii, and our surround sound for our old computer.  All on Craigslist.  That dude is a selling machine!  Blake not Craig.  Seriously, I'm really proud of him.  Anyway, we're trying to come up with enough money to get the iPad to raffle off...but then I'm thinking...why don't we just put that money in our adoption fund.  I don't know.  I haven't worked that out in my head yet.  I'll just pray that we can sell MILLIONS (haha...evil Dr. Evil laugh) of raffle tickets!

Couple other side notes...I've been doing a little care package shopping for Griffin.  I won't be able to get a package to him before Christmas but that's ok.  It's been fun buying boy stuff.  I'll post a pic of everything before I send it off.  Also, I've been redecorating here on my blog.  It's not exactly what I wanted but I unfortunately don't have hours to waste finding the perfect background or banner.

OH, OH, OH!!!  Blake just called and because of some nifty driving he made it to the post office on time and our legals will be arriving at USCIS tomorrow before noon!  I can't tell you how happy that makes me!

Wordless Wednesday

Introducing...

Griffin Lee Hyeon-wu Chambers!  Wow.  That's a mouthful.

How cute is that little guy?!?!  Stinkin' cute!  Griffin was born May 9, 2010 so he's almost 7 months old (5 months in this picture).  He was born at 30 weeks but has done amazing since his relatively short hospital stay and as you can see, he likes to eat and is very healthy.  =)

We officially accepted the referral today and received the acceptance packet via email from Holt.  Whoa.  There is SO MUCH icky paperwork to do right now.  Filling out, signing, notarizing...not my favorite part of this process.  It's all worth it though.  Blake has promised me we will print and fill out everything tonight and get everything notarized and sent off tomorrow.  I pray it's that easy. 

So whatcha think?  Stinkin' cute, huh?! 

I Was On The Treadmill

That's where I was when we got THE CALL!  We got our referral today!!!  We are so excited and overwhelmed and shocked and thrilled!  We knew it would be soon but when it actually happened we just kind of looked at each other and said NOTHING.  So here's how it happened.

I decided to call USCIS to see if they had received our fingerprints and if they needed anything else from us.  A very nice lady told me that we had been approved yesterday (yay!) and our approval would be sent out tomorrow (double yay!).  I ran in the other room to tell Blake and then ran straight to the computer to email AW at Holt.  When I say ran I mean literally RAN.  She emailed me right back and basically said 'Great news.  Send me the approval ASAP.'  So, I'm pretty excited at this point and decide it's the perfect time to use my crazy energy to burn off some calories.  I'm five minutes into my run when Blake comes busting through the door motioning for me to turn of the treadmill and the blaring Oprah's Favorite Things episode.  It was Holt!  They had a little boy they 'wanted to talk to us about!'  As MC was telling us a little about our guy all Blake and I could say back to her was 'K.  K.  K.'  We were so blown away!

I'd like to save details about little man for another time.  We're going to have his medical records reviewed by a couple pediatricians, one that specializes in international adoption.  Once I get the OK I'll post his picture and tell you a little about him.

So, just to recap...here's how it went down.
1:57 - I get off the phone with USCIS with the news that our I-600A is approved.
2:05 - I email AW at Holt the news.
2:06 - She emails back asking for copy of approval ASAP.
2:21 - THE CALL from MC at Holt!

Crazy, crazy day.  I'm gonna go take two Tylenol PM.

God's Timing

Blake and I had the most incredible thing happen to us today.  Days like today make me wish I was a better story teller.  But I'm not, so I'm going to do my best.

So, our next step in the adoption process is for us to get our fingerprints done so we can get our I600A approved.  A couple weeks ago we got our appointment time and it was for this Friday, the 19th.  Well, lots of people go early because they will usually take walk ins if you have an appointment at a later date.  I had kind of decided that I wasn't going to go early because they had scheduled our appointment so quickly and I am just trying to relax a little bit when it comes to this crazy adoption process.  Well, my nerves got the best of me so Blake and I decided to load up and go last Thursday.  Um, last Thursday was Veterans Day.  The USCIS (where you get your fingerprints done) is a government office.  What the heck were we thinking?!  Anyway, we made a wasted trip that thankfully we were both able to laugh about and I finally decided just to chill out and wait until our scheduled time.  It's not in our hands anyway, right?

Over the weekend Holt contacted us and asked if we had received our I600A approval.  They said that in some cases families can't receive their referral until they have approval.  Okay, this freaked me out a little because to be honest, I really felt like this was THE week.  Referral week.  And I want my stinkin' referral.  So I made a desperate decision to try again and get our fingerprints done early.  We would go Monday! 

So here it is, Monday.  The three of us load up again and drive the 30 minutes to the south side of OKC.  We get there and the parking lot is really full and I start getting nervous.  What if they won't let us in?  What if they're too busy?  What if they make us wait 2 hours?  WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO DO WITH KINLEY FOR TWO HOURS?  Again, I have to calm myself and say it's not in my hands.  I go inside, talk to the enormous guard next to the scary metal detector, and wait for him to tell me "yes, they'll see you."  The three of us basically undress (ok, a little dramatic but seriously it's like at the airport when you have to take off everything even if it only looks like it's metal) and make it through the metal detector and back to the little room where we check in and wait.  In the waiting area with us are three Spanish speaking people, two men and a woman.  The woman (late 50s probably) I noticed was watching us and smiling that sweet grandma smile at Kinley.  I smile back.  We're all in this together, right?

I go back first and do the whole fingerprint thing and then it's Blake's turn.  I sit down next to Kinley who is so patiently sitting (okay, maybe she was enjoying playing on the Ipad but the point is she was being good) and look up to see the Spanish speaking woman looking at me again.  I smile and look back down at Kinley.  Then the three of them get up and start to walk out but as they do one of the men stops to say, "Good luck."  I thank them and return the luck (not quite understanding why they know to wish me luck) and start to look back down when I see the woman standing in front of me.  She says in broken English, "I know I don't know you or your name but your husband told me about you adopting and I just wanted to say good luck and I will be praying for you."  There are tears in her eyes as she goes on.  "It is wonderful that you are adopting and may I..." and she gestures like she wants to HUG ME.  I jump up and into this warm, beautiful woman's arms and we give each other one of those good LOVE hugs.  Not just a barely touching, pat on the back hug.  A real, warm, loving bear hug.  So at this point we both had tears in our eyes and I just couldn't believe what was happening.  This woman that doesn't know me and has no idea what my story is just wants to reach out and BE KIND.  It was actually way more than being kind.  I don't know how to describe it...I'm still blown away by it all.

She wishes me luck again and starts to walk away but before she does I ask her why she is here and she says citizenship.  I asked where they are from and she tells me Peru.  We both say God Bless, hug AGAIN, and she walks out the door.  A couple minutes later Blake comes around the corner and he has this look like, "What happened?!"  I immediately start asking him about his obvious conversation with this woman while I was getting fingerprinted.  He says a lot of the same stuff she said to me but when he asked why she was here she answered, "Citizenship.  I need to be in this country."  Bless her heart.

I just can't stop thinking about this woman.  And I'm so angry with myself for not asking her name.  I would love to be able to look back on this amazing moment in my life and call her by name.  And can you imagine living your whole life in your native country and then at 60ish (totally guessing) just up and moving to a new country?!  Bless her sweet heart.

God's timing is incredible.  What if last Thursday had been a regular Thursday and we would have gotten our fingerprints done then?  I would not have met that woman.  And what if I had listened to the relaxed voice in my head and just waited until the appointment date this Friday?  I would not have had that moment with the sweet Peruvian woman.  I am so thankful for my amazing God and the gifts He gives me every day. 

While We Wait

While we wait for our referral I've been doing lots of looking.  Lots and lots of internet searches for all things boys.  Crib bedding, clothes, shoes, all of it.  It's been a lot of fun!  For those of you that know me well, you know that I'm pretty much a tom-boy.  I do love to shop and dress nice (baby debt makes that tough) but when it comes to all the girly pink, uh, I can pass.  All the pink stuff was not my favorite part of having Kinley.  I'm SO glad I have a girl (Kinley and I painted our fingernails blue today!  Can't do that with a boy.), but I dress her in red, blue, green, purple, and every other color that isn't pink as often as possible.  I'm just not a girly girl.  Anyway, it's been really fun checking out all the boy stuff.  Here are some of my favorite things.

So, this is the bedding I love.  Seriously, I'm IN LOVE with it.  I've looked at every other bedding set out there.  I've looked at fabric to try to put together something similar.  Nope.  I'm in love.  What is the problem, you ask?  $360 for four pieces is the problem!!!  I just can't do it.  I mean I can, but it would make me sick to spend that much money on four pieces of bedding.  Whatever.  Maybe I'll win the lottery.  Moving on.

How cool is this surplus jacket?!  My guy is going to look cute in this!  

Eat your heart out!  Haha!  Love the tie!

Simple and cool.

One of my faves.

So soft and comfy.

All Star?  I think yes.



I just can't wait!

{Thanks G@p, Old N@vy, and Dw3ll $tudio}

Christmas Time Is Shutterfly Time

So a really cool blogger mom that I follow posted about this amazing promotion that Shutterfly is running for bloggers.  Basically I get to tell you about a website that I have used many times and really love, and I get 50 free Christmas cards.  How cool is that?!

In preparation to write this post I hopped on over to Shutterfly to check out their Christmas cards and WHOA!!!  They have SO MANY to choose from this year.  And they're all super cute.  Honestly, I'm not exaggerating because Shutterfly is watching (hi Shutterfly!), it is really going to be difficult to pick just one. 

Do I want to do something classic like this?

Or maybe something funky and retro?

I thought this one was super cute but would work best with multiple kids in the family.



There are really SO many wonderful cards!  Here are more of my faves.

It's going to be difficult to decide this year.  They really have so many great cards and so many themes to run with.  And what's even better is Shutterfly is offering 20% off all holiday cards.  Here's the link for that:  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

You could go with the traditional (or not so traditional) Christmas card:  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards

Or a religious card:  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/religious-christmas-cards

And if you're really on the ball they have Thanksgiving cards:  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thanksgiving-cards

Shutterfly has been my go-to card maker since Kinley was born.  Their selection is fabulous and the final product has NEVER disappointed.  You better get over to Shutterfly right now and start looking through all the designs.  Have fun!!!

Good Times

This last weekend was super fun and jam packed full of activities.  It started at Storybook Forest on Friday night.  We invited our friends and Kinley's BFF, Gavin, to join us and the kids had SO MUCH FUN!  This was our first trip to Storybook Forest, and we will definitely be going back next year.  It's basically a storybook trail through the forest near a local lake.  Each candy stop is a favorite fairytale.  Very cute and the kids figured out the whole candy thing pretty quick.  My battery died so I don't have many storybook pics.

We also took the very big step and purchased a 'big girl' bed for Kinley.  I felt like she was ready for that but also knew it could be a complete disaster.  As always, she has done amazing!  She loves her bed and thinks she's pretty big.  I cried when Blake started taking apart the crib.

AND we received a notice from the Department of Homeland Security with our fingerprint appointment date and time.  Everything seems to be moving quickly on the adoption home front.  I pray it continues that way.

National Adoption Month

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wordless Wednesday: This makes me happy

My Beauty

Stay-at-Home Saturday

My absolute favorite.   Especially in the fall.  When it's cloudy.  And cool.  And football is on ALL DAY LONG.

I love it.

We've had a super busy and sleep deprived week so a Saturday at home is just what this girl needed. 

I'm starting to get a little antsy about the wait.  I thought I would feel better after our home study was sent to Korea because I would have my part done.  Out of my hands.  I've done what I can.  Uh, no.  Now we have to worry about our I-600A and getting fingerprints.  We sent in the I-600A on Tuesday and now we're just waiting to hear that they've received it and to find out when our fingerprint appointment is.

I-600A:  Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

For adjudicating the qualifications of the applicant(s) as prospective adoptive parents. Filing this form will generally speed up the part of the processing relating to the qualifications of the prospective adoptive parent petitioner(s).

All of these paperwork steps to bring our child home have to be sent and received and processed and approved and sent again and received again.  So complicated.  And so stressful.  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna lose it before this is all over.

No bueno.

Empty Promises

I know that I promised I would eventually write about and have pictures of (pictures are what your here for, right?) Kinley's birthday.  Well, I've got bad news.  I'm having major camera problems.  Actually it's my CF card but the point is I don't have very many pictures.  Hopefully my family was able to get the moments I missed because of my faulty card.

Kinley had a birthday week.  Eight days to be exact.  The Friday before her birthday we celebrated with our playgroup friends.  That was a super fun party and we loved having everyone here to play and celebrate Kinley turning two!  Thursday (Oct. 7) was the  BIG DAY!!!  And when I mean big I mean jam packed with lot of Kinley's favs!  We started out by heading to the Disney Store.  Kinley had never been there so this was a great way to start our day.  I wish I had video of Kinley's reaction to all things Disney.  Kinley can get pretty excited.  Big smiles, giggles, a little dancing and arm flapping are all good indicators that Miss Thing is super excited.  That's why I was so shocked by her reaction.  All she could do was walk (VERY SLOWLY and with tiny little steps) and stare quietly at all the Disney characters lined along the top of the walls of the store.  I've never seen her so overwhelmed that she was absolutely silent.  She eventually came out of her little excitement induced walking coma and had some fun picking out a stuffed Mickey and Nemo.  We spent a lot of time in there and had a blast.  We'll be going back.

The rest of the day was full of more Kinley favorites.  Toys R Us where we Blake bought a Barbie 4-wheeler for the birthday girl.  Ted's Mexican food for dinner.  The park for some marathon swinging and sliding.  And finally her favorite movie, Madagascar, in bed with popcorn.  It was a perfect day.  We went all out this year for sure. 

Her big birthday party was Saturday (Oct. 9) and we had more friends and family over to help us celebrate.  Kinley received lots of nice gifts including a kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa and an easel from Granny and Papaw.  Both have been wonderful and are keeping her very busy. 

Ok, ok. Here ya go. Remember, this isn't everything. My memory card ate some of them.

 Helping daddy put together her new table and chairs.

 Such a big helper!

 Kinley rearranging her new chairs.

 Loving on Nemo.

 I forgot to mention that she's apparently scared of fire. 

This is right after we put her birthday cake in front of her

and right before she started crying.

 Bad quality picture but good quality movie!

 Marty is so funny!

 Blake's purchase.

 Her cake was AWESOME!!!

 Whoa!!!

 Kinley's BFF, Gavin.

 Miss Emily riding the 4-wheeler.

Snuggled up with Nemo after a long day.