Camping

We went camping at Pacific City with some new friends. We had fun, but will have lots of stories to tell about our adventure. I was sick and Andy had to do all the work. Halli got her cough back and was awake a couple of nights. We had some "neighbors" that thought it was ok to let their two boys spend the day at our campsite and eat our marshmellows. And the list goes on, and on and on......

These are a couple of pictures with our new friends roasting marshmellows.

The kids could not wait to make 'smores.

Halli and Alyissa were so cute together. They both brought their stuffed kitties and they were the same one. :) I was so happy that Halli had someone to play with. Halli also liked playing with the older boys. They would go off to this one area and collect sticks. Halli usually stays pretty close to me and wants me to go everywhere with her. Imagine my surprise when she asked if she could go off with Caleb and collect sticks. Of course I said, "sure!"

The girls both had princess sweatshirts also. What cuties!!!

This is where Halli slept for two nights. The first night she slept 1/2 in the tent and the other 1/2 in her carseat. I had to drive around for an hour so she would stop coughing and go to sleep. Who knew our front seat isn't too uncomfortable to sleep in. I guess you will do whatever you need to do to get some sleep. :)

Thank you Waites for coming with us. Hopefully we can do it again. :)

Our Friends

Well, I know that I said this blog is to keep everyone updated about our little family. But, I have become a blogger junkie. Every morning when I get to work I go on-line and check my friends blogs. I have met so many new "friends" by others blogs. I have to admit that my sweet friend Jena has some really nice friends. I have enjoyed reading her blog about their adoption process and life in general. I also have enjoyed reading her friends blogs. It makes me want to go to NC for a visit. Everyday I learn something and am so touched by their desire about adoption.

I think they have (or will) all adopted from Africa. It is so wonderful to see and hear the passion they have for Africa and all the kiddos. Who knows, maybe we will be making a trip to Africa or another country someday. I know if $$ was not a problem we would have more kiddos in the Vance family. Halli keeps asking for a 4yr old sister. She tells us we can just adopt one. I think there are two reasons for her specific request. One, she doesn't really care for babies. She is a very jealous little girl. Two, she really wants a playmate. Oh, maybe a third, everyone else she knows has a sister or brother. So, we are continuing to pray about our adoption process. We don't know where God will lead us, but I'm secretly wanting to know right now and for it to be very clear!!!!!!

Back to the reason why I started this post. I just read this morning that our friends Keith and Jena will be in Africa in three weeks! They were supposed to be there the beginning of July, but that didn't happen. We all have been waiting. I can only imagine their wait. Yesterday Jena asked that we stop what we were doing and say a prayer right now for a court date. I did. Thank goodness the phone waited to ring till after I was done praying. God listened to our prayers. They have their court date for August 18th. Thank you God! We are so excited for them and their family. We can't wait to see pictures of their new kiddos. Hopefully someday we will get a visit.

Well, this post has ended up being longer than I planned. I guess I had a lot to say. Thank you God for my sweet friends and for the internet so we can stay connected so easy!

Kite Festival, Lincoln City

We decided to head to the beach when we found out it was going to be in the upper 90's and higher in Portland. It was the kite festival, so we thought that might be fun. We stayed Friday night and came home Saturday night. We stayed as late as we could. We would have liked to stayed another night. When we came home around 8:30, it was still over 80 degrees.

This was Friday night. Halli could not wait to get out on the beach.

She loves the sand and the ocean!

These were some of the kites we saw. We also saw a guy that flew 3 stunt kites at once. Don't know how he did it. We can barely fly one!Halli likes making sand angels.

I don't know how she can stand the cold water. I think she could stay in it all day. (she told me she could)

Of course after running in the water you have to roll around in the sand.

We made popcorn and fed the seagulls. If you ask Halli to do a seagull, she sounds just like one. After we fed the seagulls it was time for bed, so we thought. Someone in the hotel thought it would be good to set off fireworks in front of our winow. Halli got out of bed and we watched fireworks. We had a great time!

Happy Father's Day!

I know I'm late in posting about Father's Day. I had mentioned earlier that Halli had a plan. While we were out for dinner she asked me if she could talk to me in private. She didn't want Dad to hear. She asked me if we could make breakfast in bed for Dad. She wanted eggs, sausage and bacon. I was to make a smiley face breakfast. Of course I told her that we could do that. I don't know where she got this idea. I have never done it before.

So, on Father's Day she woke up and came and got me out of bed. She whispered to me that we needed to go downstairs and start cooking. We made the breakfast. (yes, Halli helped cooked) She made sure that it looked like a smiley face. We then took it upstairs and Halli came in saying, "Happy Father's Day, Dad!" It was very sweet that she wanted to do that for her Dad.

Even though Halli is a mommy's girl, she does love her daddy.

The Little Gym

Halli this Spring took a dance/gymnastics class. She joined towards the end, so she only got to go about four times. At the end they did a show. We now know that she does not like tap! She wouldn't participate at all. She does like gymnastics though.She did so good pulling her self up.

After some guidance, she liked the beam.

At the end they do a little ceremony. Halli is very proud of her medal.

Afterwards we went out for dinner. Halli got to build her own sundae. It doesn't look like she's smiling, but that's just a really, really, really, big smile. :)

Scooter Time

Halli has been saying for awhile that she wanted a scooter like the one they have at school. I hadn't seen the one at school, so I didn't know what she wanted. We were at Toys R' Us buying a birthday present for someone and Halli found the scooter. She rode it around the store and got very upset when I told her she had to leave it at the store.

After we got home mom and dad decided that if she wanted the scooter bad enough that she could do some chores to earn it. Halli was not excited about that at all. I then explained to her how you have to work for the things you want and not everything is just given to you. She then agreed.

She marked off the days on the calendar and was so excited when it was time to go to Toys R' Us. Lucky for me, that day it was on sale. We came straight home and had to go for a ride. She really likes it.

Welcome Bella Grace Katherine Hurley

Bella Grace Katherine Hurley

July 5, 2008

8lbs 1oz, 21"

9:09pm

Welcome to our crazy family. We already love you very much!

Proud parents!

Proud Grandparents!

My brother and my new niece. I love being an Aunt!!!!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!!!We went down to Albany for the 4th. My parents had one of the fireworks tent in Albany.

Halli loves to go there. She loves to welcome people to the tent.

My dad said she was so good he should hire her. Halli was very happy about that.

At the end of the day she got paid $5.00. She was very excited.

"Welcome to the fireworks tent"

We then went across the street to a park. We fed the ducks and geese and then went for a paddle boat ride. The ducks were a little too friendly!

Halli and cousin Jordan being goofy. They got to stay up past bedtime to watch the fireworks. We could stay at the tent and see the fireworks that Albany was doing.

It was a very late night, but lots of fun!

Bird Nest

For the last two years a bird thought our dryer vent would be a nice place to build a nest. Last year it was a big problem. This year we caught it sooner and got the nest out.

This is what Andy found when he pulled the nest out. One little egg. We think it is a robin's egg. Halli was quite interested in it. We waited a couple of days to see if the mom bird would come back. She didn't, so Halli then got to touch the egg. She really likes birds.

We are putting a bird guard over the dryer vent now.