Zoo Party

On Saturday we went to the zoo for Charlie's 3rd birthday. Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, the Delgado family, Jerdie and Eden joined us. It was great fun, being surrounded by our friends and family! Here are some pictures from that day. At the bottom you can see that while we were waiting, Charlie decided to lay on the ground and took a nap.

Boys will be boys

On Friday my friend Tina, who is also an insurance agent, came over to help Doug and I finish our Life Insurance applications. Reviewing our information for the adoption, made us aware that we were underinsured.

While we completed the apps, the boys played. Even at this young of an age, boys will be boys, the first thing they did was to wrestle with each other.


Everyone - Doug, Charlie, Belle, Alex and Isaiah.


Isaiah and Charlie

Isaiah and Alex

Pimp My Ride

Charlie's third birthday was yesterday. So Wednesday afternoon, Doug went out to Toys R Us alone, to buy Charlie's birthday gift. What he came back with was a motorized Cadillac Escalade! My son now has a nicer and newer car than I have!! Charlie was very excited for his new toy and told everyone how it goes forward and backwards. I know he will have lots of fun with it this summer.

Since it was his birthday yesterday, Charlie got lots of calls from grandparents wishing him a happy birthday. But every time I handed him the phone he would shout "NO" into the phone. He did not want to talk to anyone.

For dinner we went to Red Robin and he really enjoyed the wait staff singing happy birthday to him. Afterwards, we went to the Rocky Mountain Airport and watched the planes. he had a very happy birthday.

Mr Clean

This week has been pretty quiet, I guess it is because it is Spring Break and a lot of people are on vacation. I am sure you will be hearing a lot more from me next week.

We are trying to find ways to fund our adoption. I am hoping to avoid getting out a tin cup and sitting on the sidewalk. So, that is why you see Ads on our blog now.

The weather has been beautiful, so I have been encouraging the kids to spend as much time as possible outside. Yesterday morning, Charlie refused to go out to play because he wanted to mop instead. I finally got him outside, once the other kids came out to play. But as soon as his daddy came home, he had to go back in to show him how to mop. Charlie isn't quite strong enough to squeeze the mop, so he needs someone to help.

Planning and Action

It is amazing how different cousins can be. Charlie likes to sit back and observe before trying something. He also thinks about what he is going to do, before going ahead. On the other hand, his cousin Braeden is full speed head, no time to count the costs, just go, go , go. Here they are at Easter, Charlie is playing on the see-saw (or teeter-totter depending on where you are from), Braeden comes tearing across the grass to get on with Charlie. No matter that Charlie is in the middle of rocking, Braeden is going to try to get on anyway!!!

Happy Easter!!!

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!

Here are some pictures of Charlie decorating Easter eggs. Doug tried to show Charlie how to color eggs. Showing him how to put the egg in the dye and rolling it around to color the whole egg. But Charlie declared he had an "easy way daddy!" Charlie put the egg in one color dye, than spooned another color over the egg. The result was a beautiful set of psychedelic looking eggs. Charlie always needs to move to the beat of his own drum, nothing like his mama :-)

Runs in the family

We have been working on finishing the basement. Here is Charlie, taking cues from Grandpa Paul and showing off his carpentry skills. Check out the tool belt, I kept waiting for his pants to slide down and his little bum to show!!!

Walking the Line

It seems that I need to walk a very thin line between relaxed ambivalence and dogged persistence. If I am too relaxed, I feel that nothing will get done. If I am too persistent, I run the risk of pissing people off and stressing myself out.

Here is what is going on in our adoption process currently.

I talked emailed our agency yesterday. I found out that there has been a larger than normal interest in the Thailand program. I am part of other Asian adoption groups, and I am hearing about increased wait times, due to increased popularity of programs all over Asia. A couple of the reasons are the new Chinese regulations and the status of the Vietnam MOU. I am beginning to learn that the world of international adoption is ever changing.

Here is the list of immigrant visas issued to orphans coming to the US. As you can see, Thailand is one of the countries with fewer visas. The number in front of the country is the number of visas for that year. 2006 is the last year available. This information is from http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/stats/stats_451.html

TOP COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

FY2006
1. (6,493) CHINA - Mainland
2. (4,135) GUATEMALA
3. (3,706) RUSSIA
4. (1,376) S. KOREA
5. (732) ETHIOPIA
6. (587) KAZAKHSTAN
7. (460) UKRAINE
8. (353) LIBERIA
9. (344) COLOMBIA
10. (320) INDIA
11. (309) HAITI
12. (245) PHILIPPINES
13. (187) CHINA - Taiwan Born
14. (163) VIETNAM
15. (70) MEXICO
16. (67) POLAND
17. (66) BRAZIL
18. (66) NEPAL
19. (62) NIGERIA
20. (56) THAILAND

We were encouraged to get our dossier in as soon as possible. However, in order to get our dossier in, we are at the mercy of several state and federal government agencies.
So we pray that we have favor with each of these agencies.
The first big hurdle is the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; they rejected our first set of fingerprint cards, so we are in the process of resubmitting new cards. Having CBI approval is necessary for our home study to be complete. CBI can take 2 to 5 months to process a background check. We pray that our file moves quickly through this system.
The next hurdle will be completing and submitting our I800a to the USCIS. This is a new form, so the potential for delays and confusion is great.

I also found out today that instead of being able to take the Economics of Management as my first class, I am required to take 5 pre-requisites. This changes my whole schedule, impacts us financially and causes the program to be a bit longer.

I also realized that the next installment of the bible study my mom and I are writing is due.

So to say the least, I am feeling a little crazed. Doug will be putting the floor in my craft room tonight, so hopefully I can work on some of these issues.

But, without fail, the boys make me laugh!!! (and Belle, the other girl in the house).

Here is a picture of Doug, Charlie & Alex goofing off!!!

A Brand New Baby Boy

My cousin Justin and his girlfriend Brandy became the proud parents of a new baby boy. He arrived Sunday March 15 at 12:31 p.m. at Martin Memorial North Hospital. He was 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 19 inches long at birth. Here are some pictures my Aunt Sheryl sent!!!
Welcome to the amazing adventure called Parenthood!!!

Radley and Justin.

Aunt Sheryl holding Radley.

Proud Papa

Uncle Tom and Radley

The Ecconomics of Management, the Goverment and the Tickle Monster

Friday was a busy and interesting day for us. It started with me meeting with my Regis University academic advisor. I am officially a Regis MBA student. My first class, the Economics of Management starts Monday, May 5th. Due to many of the classes having pre-reqs, this was really the only class available to me at this time. So I will have miss the next session of Belly Dancing. Which is a bummer, because I felt like I was actually making progress! It is exciting to find your body just doing snake arms, with out really thinking about it.

Doug then had his quarterly deep clean at the dentist. Yuck!!!

We played with the kids, see the pictures posted below.

We scheduled our first home study visit for Monday March 31st!!!

Then we hit another bump in the adoption road. We got an important email from Marissa at Holt. For all families adopting from Hague Convention countries, as of April 1, 2008 the USCIS will no longer accept the I600a, they now require the I800a. This is a new form that no one is really familiar with, but since out home study is not complete, we will need to fill out the form. Ironically, I had completed the old form, now it is no good. As I figure out what all of this means to us, I will keep everyone updated!!!!

Charlie, the Tickle Monster, tickling Alex.



Reflecting on the meaning of life.

A Night with NaNa

Here are some pictures of NaNa and Charlie playing. She came over to babysit while Doug and I went to the Av's game on Thursday!

Almost all good news!!!

I just got an email from Kate, our Case Manager, to schedule our home study visit. She is doing her best to at least get all of the visits done before I start my MBA in May. Yeah!!! We are trying to set them up for the first week in April.
Before I got the email, I had been working on putting stuff together for our dossier, so I feel like I am really making progress, then ....

BUMP - Kate informed me that CBI couldn't read our fingerprints, so we had to have them redone. Naturally, something would go wrong on the process that takes the longest.

Well, both of the kids are stirring, so I better get them. I will write more later. Doug and I are headed to the Avs game tonight while NaNa babysits, so I probably won't have time to update until Friday!

Mandrill

Today we went to the zoo with Tina and Isaiah. I know you are thinking "WOW they go to the zoo a lot". But with two 11-month olds and one almost 3-year old, the zoo is about the only place we can actually have an adult conversation. The boys are enamored with the animals. Today, we walked through the primate area and had a Mandrill sit right up against the window and stare at us. Charlie was mesmerised. I think Alex was napping. Mandrills are the baboons that I have pictures of to the left. They have bright red and blue noses and pink, blue and purple bums.
When they travel through the forests, the leader uses his bright neon bum to the lead the way.
When Doug got home from work he asked Charlie what he saw at the zoo. Charlie answered " Red-nose monkeys and stinky bathrooms".
Charlie had to play monkey tonight, he was a Charlie-monkey and Doug was a daddy-monkey. Here they are "monkeying around".
Doug often shows the blog to the people at work, but I am guessing he won't be showing these photos!



After dinner, while Doug tries to watch the Av's game, Charlie wants to play doctor and examine Doug. I love my hubby, he is such a good sport!

Pictures for the Poll

One of the items that is needed for our dossier to be submitted to the Thai Consulate, we need to include 6 to 8 pictures of our family and house. I have already selected 6 pictures, but for picture 7, I thought I would take a poll to see what picture you felt best represented Family Benisch. Please vote!!!

In San Diego

On the slide with Mommy

The Benisch Family at White Fence Farm

Hiking with Dad

Picking Pumpkins

Congratulations!!!

We found out on Saturday that my DMIL Vicky is getting married to Gary!! We are so excited for them and feel blessed to be part of this special day!
They are having a small church ceremony on April 13th, followed by a dinner at the clubhouse.

Sawadeeka (welcome)

I was thrilled, when I returned home to find an email with the title "Sawadeeka (welcome) to Holt's Thailand Program! " I have never been so excited. (I know, if this excites me, what am I going to be like when they call to tell us we have a referral!!) My jubilant spirit was crushed a little bit when I found out that due to so many applicants to the Thailand program, they had run out of guidebooks! Yikes, that means it could be a longer wait for our little girl. I have immediately started to gather the documents for our dossier. No time like the present.It is actually, perfect timing to get the information for the dossier. Dan is working second shift for the next couple of weeks, so I won't have Alex in the mornings. This will allow me to drop Charlie off at mom's and run around gathering information.

I also talked to Regis University today and scheduled my interview for admission. One more thing down in my quest for my master's degree.

Today, we were all hanging out in the living room, when Charlie started shaking one of the end tables. I asked him to please stop. he naturally responded with "Why?". So I told him that he was going to knock the plant off and make a big mess. His response "then vacuum". Sometimes it is so hard not to laugh at him.
Yesterday, me, Charlie and Alex headed over to my mom's house to play. Braeden was completely enthralled with his cousin Charlie. Braeden, crawled right over to Charlie and pulled himself up so they were face to face. As you can see, Charlie wasn't too sure about all the attention. I mean Charlie is a cool almost three year old and Braeden is his younger cousin :-)

Charlie & Braeden


Charlie Shoveling Snow - No, I am not hiring him out to the folks in Wisconsin!!!

A day in the life ...

After breakfast this morning, Charlie decided he wanted to belly dance. So I dragged out my belly dancing stuff and put on a DVD. Heck, I would like to loose 15 lbs, so the exercise would do me good. The whole group got involved, Charlie even put a hip scarf on Belle.

After I checked with Emily at Holt International and visited with my mom, Charlie and I went to get our hair done. Charlie went first so he could drag out all of the toys and play. I have been tired of my hairstyle, so on a whim I completely changed. I cut it all off and got bangs. Here is my self portrait.

We stopped on the way home and got Cheeseburgers and French Fries for lunch, then both the boys went down for a nap.

After nap time we played. Charlie wanted me to pretend I was a horse so he could shovel horse poop with his new shovel. Then he was a beaver baby and I was the beaver mommy and I rocked him singing - Rock-a-bye Beaver safe in you pond". When Charlie corrected me "beavers no live in ponds, ducks live in ponds." So asked "Where do beavers live?" He answered "In beaver lodges". I have so much to learn about nature :-)

After dinner we were chillin'out in the living room, when a commercial for Supernanny came on, she was visiting a family with 7 children. So I asked Charlie if mommy and daddy should get him 7 brothers and sisters. He turned to me, smiled and answered "From Thailand!"

Hope you had a great day, just like me. Now, I am going to spend some romantic time with my hubby!!