Recent Pictures

Here's some random pictures we've taken recently.  Enjoy!

Somehow I got both of them looking at the camera at the same time!

Dawson had a fresh chocolate chip cookie the other day.

The longer he took to eat it, the messier he got!

This was taken by the daycare provider for a picture frame that Meighan made for Tony for Father's Day.  We wondered how she could get a really good picture and we couldn't.

No explanation needed!

Ready for football season!

Go Huskers!

Ever since we brought Meighan home, Sunshine hasn't wanted ANYTHING to do with her.  She runs at the first sight or sound of her and goes and hides.  Well, today I walked into our room and found Meighan playing with Sunshine!  Sunshine had no intention of moving for quite a while.  I suppose after 3 1/2 years and Meighan maturing some, Sunshine is finally starting to accept her!

Save The Adoption Tax Credit!

Starting in 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped families defray the costs of adoption.  As of 2003, special needs adoptions were eligible for the full credit no matter what their adoption expenses totalled.

We were able to claim the full amount of the credit with Meighan's adoption.  The first year it was just a credit and we used part of it.  The second year it became refundable and we were able to receive the remainder as a REFUND.  We used that to help pay for Dawson's adoption fees.

This year, if we finalize his adoption in 2012, the credit is back to being just a credit (not refundable).  We can divide it into 5 years (I think) like before but we would not SEE any refund of it.

However, the adoption tax credit is due to expire at the end of this year on December 31, 2012.  It will go down (from $12,650) to $6,000 in 2013.  It will also limit who is eligible to recieve the credit.  This will severely limit the number of families able to adopt as well as limit the number of orphans around the world who would otherwise be place in loving, forever families.

On April 17, 2012, legislation was introduced by Iowa Representative Bruce Braley (an adoptive parent himself) to protect the adoption tax credit.  It is called the Making Adoption Affordable Act (HR 4373).  Go to http://adoptiontaxcredit.org for information on the credit, the legislation and how to contact your representatives and senators about your support for the adoption tax credit.  There is currently no legislation in the Senate at this time but you can request your senator's support for a credit that is inclusive, refundable, flat for special needs adoptions and permanent.

Do this soon!  The fate of 1.4 million orphans depends on it!

MORE!

Tonight Dawson and I were playing with the Tupperware shape sorter ball and we got all the pieces put into the ball and then he actually did the sign for "more" that we've been trying to get him to do for the last four months! Yippee! He did it several times consistently! He must be doing it at daycare. He's starting to 'get' it! I'm so excited!

Father's Day and VBS Program

Well, we had a fairly low-key Father's Day yesterday.

We started out by going to church.  Last week was VBS and it was the first year Meighan was eligible to attend.  I decided since I had to take her anyway, I would volunteer.  I helped with snacks.  The logistics of the week were:  get up, take the kids to daycare, go to work, pick up the kids from daycare, go straight to church, eat the food I had brought along for supper, attend Bible School (Dawson in childcare), drive home, go to bed.  Do it all over the next day.  That was some week!  We were very tired and I was sure glad when Thursday evening came, which meant that the evening session of VBS was over.

Tony had his own adventures during the week, most of which involved trying to lure raccoons out of his parents' basement and crawl space!  (They got 'em all four, by the way!)

Meighan LOVED Bible School!  She wanted to wear her Bible School shirt ALL the time!  She loved learning the songs and the motions with them.  I think she can't wait till it's Bible School time again!

In church, the VBS kids were ALL on stage and they sang several songs they learned during the week.  The preschoolers sang the first 3 songs and then went to sit with their parents.  I got video of all 3 songs she was in.  You can see them on our YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/tjsmsmith.  They are "Fly", "He Arose", and "Our God".

After church we went to Valentino's and took advantage of the 1/2 price Father's Day special.  I was the only one that was "full-price".  Dawson was free and Meighan was priced according to her age.  We ate the wonderful buffet and finished it off with brownie sundaes and an ice cream cone.

Then we came home and slept!  It was Dawson's naptime anyway and Tony & I slept for 2+ hours and Meighan also slept some, even though she never wants to take a nap.  Tony went out and worked on his cars and even took some "alone time" and went for a drive in his Chevelle -- by himself.  That's what HE wanted to do.

Finally, in the evening, I was able to get a picture of Daddy and his TWO kids.

Holt Picnic

It ended up being not as hot for the picnic as I thought it would be (like last year).  Thank goodness there was a breeze (more like a wind, though).  The kids and I left at 10:30 and because this event is close to our home, we like to try to go and be there early.  Last year and this year there really wasn't that many people there like the first couple of years we went.  Tony came later after his sales meeting.  It was good to see other families we know who have adopted from China, Korea and even Ethiopia!  Meighan got her face painted for the first time.  She enjoyed running between the bounce house and the swings.  We hardly saw her!  It was kind of nice to be able to just let her run as she pleased.  She definitely needed (and took) a nap when we got home!  Dawson didn't even make it a mile and he was out LONG before we got home (and we don't live that far away!).

I had instructions from one of the families that was in our parenting class to take pictures and put them on the blog, so here are the best ones:

One guy said, "He's sitting like a king!" and I said, "In a princess chair!"

She wanted to be a TIGER!

TJ and Grant

Lexi, Mindy and Dean

Our cool dude in his Oakleys!

The Most Beautiful Flower Girl...Since My Niece

Whew!  We finally got through yesterday and last night!  Meighan was asked to be a flower girl in Tony's niece's wedding yesterday.  We went shopping for the dress back in April.  We talked about what she would do and how pretty she would be.  Last week we practiced walking -- slowly -- in our hallway.  Thursday evening we went to the spa and she got her nails painted.  Friday evening was rehearsal and she and the ring bearer walked so nice down the aisle.

Yesterday was the big day!  We got to the church at the appointed time and hung out for a bit before we got her dressed.  Wow!  What a beautiful flower girl she made!  They had gotten her a headband to wear, too, which just finished off the outfit perfectly!  We took some pictures and the photographer took some pictures.  Then it was time for the wedding (finally!).  I took my seat in the 2nd pew.  The ring bearer's mother took her seat in the other 2nd pew.  Tony stayed in the back to start them down the aisle.  The ushers brought the grandparents and parents down.  Then it was the wedding party's turn.  When it was the ring bearer and flower girl's turn, the most beautiful flower girl came down the aisle by herself.  The ring bearer just refused to go.  Tony brought him down to his parents.  I think he was just too tired by then 'cause he fell asleep during the ceremony.  Meighan also said she was very tired and kind of laid her head in my lap.  They are only 4, after all!

So the wedding was very beautiful and afterwards the photographer took a few more pictures, including one BIG family picture with both sides in the same picture.  We drove to the reception.  By the time I got to the reception, I had one very tuckered out flower girl!  I gathered things and got her out of her car seat.  She woke up but still wanted to be carried.  We had to go back out to get the gift.

The reception was fun and beautiful with excellent food!  All Dawson really wanted to eat was fruit (and M&Ms).  He also liked the cake.  Finally the dancing started and Meighan watched the first dance.  She even took some pictures (some pretty good pictures!).  Then, you know how no one dances at all even though there's music playing....  I asked her if she wanted to go dance on the dance floor.  She did, so we went.  Then other little girls came out and started dancing and Meighan made some new friends for the evening.  Eventually, Tony brought Dawson over and he was walking around on the dance floor with all the girls, just enjoying himself completely!  We decided to stay a little longer.  The other bigger girls were spinning Meighan and she had so much fun!  Dawson just kept walking, almost running.  He even walked around in a circle and clapped his hands.  He LOVES music.  People were enjoying watching him!  They could tell he was really into music.  (I hope that continues!)

Well, FINALLY, they decided to have the bouquet toss and garter removal/toss.  After that was the dollar dance and that's when we decided it was time to leave.  We thought FOR SURE they would both be out by the time we got home.  NOPE!  Meighan jabbered the ENTIRE ride home.  Tony said that Dawson cried/screamed almost the entire ride home.

It didn't take long for Dawson to fall asleep, though.  Meighan went right to bed and went to sleep fairly easily, too.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Getting her nails painted.

At rehearsal

With the bride and bridesmaids

The most beautiful flower girl!

Practicing before the wedding

Walking by herself down the aisle.

Congratulations!

Blowing bubbles after the ceremony

My tuckered out flower girl

Meighan took this picture as they were finishing their first dance.

Dancing with other little girls

Dawson and his harem

Dancing with Kayla