Play Time

Now that we're all feeling better -- finally! -- we've been having lots of fun. The taste of warmer weather has been great. The boys are ready to shed their winter coats, get outside, and play. We enjoyed a family walk on Thursday, then the boys had guy time while I went to scrapbooking. From what Craig tells me, he referees WWF matches every Thursday!

Zach is holding Evan's Pooh hostage...

...and Evan has Zach's whistle

Yesterday, we got together with a group of friends who have Guatemalan kids. Our friendships started during our first adoptions and have continued ever since. Several of us have completed or are about to complete second adoptions. We'll have a lot to celebrate soon! Our group has been a great source of support and inspiration through all the craziness of the adoption process, and I'm so glad we've stayed in touch.

The kids enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt and we all enjoyed a yummy dinner. Thanks for having us, Kate! Your cleaning person (a.k.a. Jeff!) will have a tough job cleaning up after all of us. And thanks to everyone for the great dinner.

Izzy, Evan's future wife

Pretty in pink: Elianna, Ava, and Abby

Kate, Ivan, and Izzy. Ivan's practicing for the arrival of little sis Maria

Kate, whose family is Ukranian, made each of the kids beautiful Ukranian Easter eggs. They're made from uncooked eggs using a process that involves wax relief and multiple steps. I think she had almost 20 eggs to make for all of the kids in our group. Did I mention that Kate and Jeff are getting ready to bring Maria home any day now? How she found the time to make the eggs is amazing and so thoughtful! Thank you, Kate. We'll enjoy the eggs at Easter for years to come.

Paula, who will bring her second child Mateo home any time now, sent the kids home with cute Easter goodie bags full of sidewalk chalk, M&Ms (Zach's favorite!), Play-Doh, and bubbles -- thank you, Paula!

To top off a great day, we had a nice drive home. Evan, who was tuckered out from all the excitement, fell asleep minutes after we left. Zach was in a chatty mood, so we talked all the way home. I asked Zach where he was going with Daddy on Saturday morning, and he said "McDonald's!". Really, he's going to his swim lesson, but I imagine he'll talk Craig into McDonald's too.