Seabolt, Party of Five!

We are sooo ready for Charlie to be here!  We have had a fifth chair at our table for weeks now. We got our visas in the mail yesterday.  We got our Immigration Approval on Monday.  We are still hoping and praying to travel in mid-June, but unfortunately won't know for sure until a week or two before travel.  We have divided Sam's closet and drawers for 2 boys instead of one.  We got Charlie some toys *of his own* and the kids keep asking to play with "Charlie's toys".

I am becoming more confident in my Chinese cooking, and even cooking a few things without a recipe!  We all really like Chinese food and we're eating it at least twice a week now.  My fried rice last night was no joke.  I realized that with sesame oil, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and garlic I can make almost anything taste Chinese.

Kate is so happy about all this Chinese food.  She looooves it.  She was 3 when we adopted her, and has learned over the years to like cheese burgers and ice cream, but she still has a Chinese palate. Every Friday night for movie night, Sam has pizza and Kate has Ramen noodles.  When I go to the International Farmers Market and get her things like what is pictured above, she is so excited and I think it makes her feel special.  The other day we had some Chinese friends over for a playdate and she said, "Guys, my mom got Chinese snacks for us!  You're gonna love them!"

It looks like Charlie also likes (at least the smell of) green mangoes.  In Costa Rica I learned to eat green mangoes with lime juice and salt-- so delicious, and one of my favorites!!!  I think we will have a lot of fun together at the International Farmers Market once he's home.  I LOVE that place!

We are waiting on his teacher's report and still trying to figure out what grade he'll be in next year.  I plan to keep him home with me for a while, but will probably send him to school after Labor Day. He sounds so adventurous and easy-going, so he may want to go to school sooner than that.  (Kate shocked us all when we brought her home!)  We will see.  The good news is, he will get to keep his leather jacket, and I'm sure will be rockin' that look at school.  Collar up and all.