We love our nephews!!!

The last two weeks have gone by in a blur of energy and activity as we had my brother's two oldest come visit us. It has been great. We got invited by a good friend to a her beach house for three days, did two days in DC, had a day at a water-park, played hours of Wii, watched way too many movies, ate so much junk food I feel sick and also enjoyed the local tourist attractions. They are awesome kids and we hope to have a few like them someday. They are on their way back home today where I know the whole family misses them a lot and is ready to have them back. Our house will feel a bit lonely and quiet without them here. Here are some of the highlights of our time together.
Me, Niki, Cameron and our friend Kathryn in front of the beach house.

A healthy start to the day at Dunkin Donuts

Cool Men!!

The great waves.

Playing in a water fountain.

Ben and Niki at the White House.

Two pictures from the Korean War Memorial in DC.


We made Niki into a mermaid at our local beach when we went this week.

The teacher in me made me take the kids to a battleship for some education - then we went to a movie.

Yesterday we went out to Virginia Beach where they have these crazy no swearing signs.
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I just got back from the airport and found myself in tears at the thought of no more boys around here. Thanks Ian and Lori for lending me your boys and thanks boys for making it so much fun!!! We hope to see you all again soon.

Random Life Events

As many of you know I went to high school in Kenya. Over the years I didn't really stay in touch with friends but the internet is changing that. On our trip to Scotland I was able to hook up with Kiri and she had us all stay at her house. She came to RVA(my school) in 5th grade so we really did grow up together. It was so fun to see her.

Then last week I got a call from two more friends from RVA. They were driving through our area and stopped in to stay the night. Jeff started RVA in 5th grade too so again we had a ton of memories. His wife Laura also went to RVA but we only knew each other one year. I hadn't seen them in 18 years but it really didn't feel that long as we laughed and remembered our crazy high school years



My last picture is on a totally different nature but I had to include it. I started my first ever garden this year. I kept forgetting to pick this zucchini so now it is enormous. I am sure it probably affects the flavor to have it this big but I was just so stinking proud of growing something from seed that I took a self portrait.

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Adoption Update

I feel like it has been awhile since I posted on the whole infertility/adoption issue. I think Ben and I have gone through major changes in our attitudes and desires since we really started pursuing all this a 10 months ago. When we left for vacation we had all our paperwork done for domestic adoption and had two tests left to clear us for IVF in September. Well we got home and had a phone call from my dad talking to us about Ethiopian adoption. There are two little boys who need a home that he had heard about. This set us on a new path.

First, we had both separately had reservations about IVF. We started really talking about it and realized that we both had decided that it wasn't right for us. We aren't judging anyone who has or who wants to have it done, but we just think it isn't for us. That doesn't mean all the tests and the two surgeries were a waste of time. On the contrary they have made it much more likely that we will get pregnant on our own some time. In fact 88% of women who have my surgery do get pregnant with in a year. The surgery also made my life a lot easier. I hadn't realized how messed up my system was but to be running normal now makes me realize I had a lot of pain and bother that I didn't need to have.

Back to adoption.... well in our adoption classes they had been stressing the point that it is good to have more than one adopted child in your home. When we first looked at adoption we were annoyed and frustrated with the amount of time, work and money it took to finish this. While this can still be overwhelming we both came to the conclusion that we wanted to adopt and felt strongly that this is where God was leading us. Now that we have decided against IVF and that it is best for our children if we adopt at least two, it makes sense to get siblings. The best way to get siblings, out side the foster system, is overseas. This does require a whole new level of paperwork that I have started tackling.

A year ago I think we were 95% sure we wanted IVF and 5% sure we wanted to adopt. I would say that we now are 100% sure we want to adopt, 100% sure that we don't want IVF and 100% hoping that on top of that God blesses us naturally with at least one biological child. But I am not 100% things won't change again in upcoming months.:) All I know is that I am more than ready to start being a mom and that this waiting is getting quite old. Remember my fertile friends to really really really appreciate how easily your blessings came to you.

More of our Trip

My biggest realization with this trip is that I take too many pictures:). It has taken me hours to sort through them and pick out my favorite shots. I added a few more here for you all to enjoy. The more I look at these the more I realize that we lucked out on the weather. It was amazing.

I had to tell you our last adventure from our trip. We rented a lovely car called a Renault Scenic when we were there. It was great. At one point we walked to the top of a hill that had just been mowed. As it was a misty morning our shoes picked up tons of grass. This didn't seem like a big deal but came back to haunt us a bit. Ben, Becky and I all flew out Sunday morning. We drove the rental car to Gatwick Airport to turn it in. Ben had to run as his flight was first so he left us to sort it out. A young Polish girl checked the car and informed us that we would owe an extra 30 pounds because the car needed extra valet. We asked what this meant as she was pronouncing it with the "t", not the silent way we are used to. She showed us the word written down and said it at least four times. Finally I told her we knew what word she was saying but we didn't know what it meant as in America this meant to have someone park our car. I think she thought Becky and I were making fun of her accent. She just kept saying it louder but wouldn't explain what it was. She did mention the grass but we still didn't know what she meant. We finally got someone else to explain that this means it needs an extra cleaning. Why didn't they just say cleaning!! For grass!!!! They made it seem like we had abused the car. We had it almost two weeks and it really wasn't dirty except the grass. Well if you haven't been to England in awhile the dollar is so weak that it is now almost 2 dollars for every pound. That meant we were going to pay $60 to have someone vacuum out grass. We still had about 2 1/2 hours until I flew and 3 until Becky did so we took the car to the gas station down the road. We then borrowed brooms from the gas station and the MacDonald's and swept the grass out - well most of it. About half and hour later we returned the car. The head lady at the car rental place could hardly contain her laughter as she came to tell us we didn't have to pay the extra "Valet" cost. I don't think anyone had ever done anything like that before. I am sure most people just pay the extra charge. We learned two things, one clean out rental cars when you are over seas and valet has more then one meaning. I am glad Becky was there or I probably would have just paid the extra charge:). Wimpy me!!!

These pictures are in complete random order.

Balmoral - the Queen's Castle in Scotland - I am not spying on her through the trees but just wanted another artsy shot:).

The Roman Baths in Bath

The five of us at a bridge in Scotland.

Ben and I in front on Eilean Donan a famous Scottish Castle

The Seven Sisters along the southern shore of England

My artsy shot in Bath

Cool white castle in the middle of nowhere.

Canal bridge in Bath

Yes - another bridge

Cool sky shot from Dunrobin Castle

View of town of Kendal from Castle Ruins - this is town is pretty much where my Dad's side of the family is from in England.

Ruins of Elgin Cathedral in Scotland

Another shot of the Royal Crescent in Bath.

I think you can guess where this sign is from.

Kendal - a river runs through the town with neat bridges crossing them.

Our Bed and Breakfast for two nights in Kendal. Also the car on the left is our trusty vehicle from the trip

To Keep My Friends Happy:)

There are so many more pictures than this but they need sorting and I was having some computer issues. I will get a whole set of them up next week. This is just to keep you waiting for the next lot. It was a GREAT trip and I wish it wasn't a memory already.
Ben and I going native

Bath

I love the phone boxes so I made them all pose.

Hadrian's Wall - Ben and Becky's favorite part.

Dunrobin Castle Gardens - Northern Scotland.

Dunrobin Castle