Merry Christmas!

 Christmas Eve we always start the day with breakfast out with Mark's family. We were excited this year that his brother and family made it in from Texas! The kids always get one gift from us on Christmas Eve, new jammies! They were thrilled with footies this year! Ok, they were all thrilled besides ONE. :-) We then head to church for candlelight service. 

 We then head back to our house for family fun! It is always fun to be able to skype with my brother all the way in China! We miss him being with us so it is a great way to still include him in our parties. Not to mention it is his birthday on the 24th so everyone had a chance to sing Happy Birthday to him! 

Last Christmas as a  family of 7 and we can't wait to add MORE! We had our yearly live nativity, this year the older ones wrapped. Can't believe I don't have pictures of it !

It was a great week of celebrating the birth of Jesus, being with family and having fun. 

 But it is hard too. Celebrating while you are in the process of adoption is just tough. On us mama's anyways. The guilt you feel over your child sitting in an orphanage while you have fun, it is a hard balance. We did send the orphanage a Christmas party and were happy to see they at least had a bit of fun. Next year life will be so different and oh so good! 

LOA for Syler!

On 12/24 we officially had in our hand Syler's Letter of Approval (LOA) from China! We waited 62 days to finally hear China say YES he is a Laxton! I don't think we could have asked for a better day for it to come. 

There are many more steps to go, but we know we are heading in the right direction! Hopefully spring travel is still what wil happen. 

I have had so many thoughts lately of our sweet boy. We know that he knows and received our package. They said he is so happy & excited to be with our family and that he shared his candy with his friends. 

Every night I go to bed praying and wondering how he is. He is the last thought on my mind and the first when I wake up. I am constantly looking at the clock to figure out what time it is and what he might be doing. Everything we do I think about how it will be when he is home. 

I hate the waiting. I do not do well with the unknown. I don't like that he is there and I have no idea what is going on with him. If he is sick or scared or worried, what does he do? 

I remind myself often that 6 months ago I was with him and in less than that amount of time I will be with him again! If I can look back at how fast the last 6 months have flown by, it gives me a tiny bit of comfort. This time next year, our family will be complete. At the very most, in 6 months our family will be complete! 

December Fun

 December was busy as always but full of fun! We had our traditional Breakfast with Santa at Eckerts. The older kids have a love/hate relationship with this. They love to eat but think they are just "to cool" of course! But I am pretty sure the silly Elf made it all worth it. He was the best ever! 

 Lots of baking, baking and more baking! 

 And one of our favorites is our traditional family candlelight dinner. We can't wait to have this table even more full next year! At our Thanksgiving candle light dinner the kids draw a siblings name. We secretly shop picking out a gift. And then after dinner they exchange. They LOVE it and I hope someday they will look back on this with fond memories. (and not remember the crazed mama that happens most of the time!!)