I lit a candle for you today...

I lit a candle for you today
it was in memory of losing you
it makes me feel better when I am sad
to say a prayer for you
I hope that you hear the prayer that I have said

I miss you and love you

~Ryan

From my boy to those he misses and loves in Korea. I hope they hear his heart speaking right now.

~His Mommy

As the sickness goes around the house...

It was either Daddy or Bella who got sick first. Then Katie and then myself. Now Mommy is sick as well. It's a cold but it is wiping people out who get it (well at least Bella and Mommy and Daddy). Katie and I don't think that we're sick at all so we're running and jumping and did I mention running around??

Mommy and Daddy say that we should rest BUT that's no fun to do!!! How else are we supposed to play with our Christmas toys???

Can you say that we are going stir crazy in the house?? So much snow outside and we can't play in it due to it being too cold out and us having colds!!! Definitely not fair!!! However when we get over our colds in this home, we will head outside to play in the snow once again. We're sick of being sick here. We're sick of the runny and stuffy noses. We're sick of having to blow our noses.

~Ryan

Waiting for the Big Man in Red to Come

We are waiting for Santa to come to our home. We were reluctant to sleep (well at least two of us were and it wasn't me). We are hoping that Santa thinks that we are on his nice list since we haven't been so nice this month.

Well gotta go for now before Mommy and Daddy catch me on the computer!

~Ryan

It's Official...Bella is ours and we are hers

Mommy and Daddy woke us up at 7 am this morning to eat breakfast and get dressed to go to court. Mommy mentioned to us repeatedly that we would be seeing the judge dressed up in his robes and that we had to be extra good in court today.

Daddy had to wake up Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Doug, and Tommy since they stayed over from Katie's birthday party yesterday to go to court today. Mommy, Daddy, and us kids were the only ones to eat breakfast this morning. Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Doug and Tommy didn't have breakfast this morning until after court. Our appointment was at 8:45 at court...we arrived before that to meet with the lawyer.

When we arrived in court we walked through a gate that beeped that had a guard at it. Mommy, Daddy and everyone else carrying a bag, phone, or had keys needed to put them through a tunnel and then collect them when they came out. I put my toy camera up on it to send it through. The guard looked at our water cups that came through in our cooler bag as well.

We waited for a little while in the waiting area before our lawyer came in. He went upstairs to check on things then called us upstairs to wait up there. While we were up there waiting, Daddy and Mommy were talking to another adoptive parent who adopted through the same agency they used 20+ years ago and also adopted an 8 year old girl from the Phillipines about 15 years ago. Small world huh??

We were then directed down the hall and into the courtroom...it was the same judge who did my finalization and Katie's finalization and the same courtroom. We all walked in there and Katie and I could sit in the front. The judge shook Daddy and Mommy's hand and went to shake mine but I didn't want him to. The judge talked to Mommy and Daddy and so did our lawyer as well (just like Mommy said would happen). Mommy and Daddy had to sign their names to one piece of paper. After a little while, the judge shook their hands and said "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Cox".

After that we had pictures taken with the judge...lots and lots of pictures. Then it was over. We all left the courthouse building and came home for more pictures of us at home by Bella's homecoming flag. So Papa took some pictures at Mommy's request.

We went out to eat at a local restaurant. I ate all of my chicken fingers and my fries as well. Everyone commented on how good their food was. From there Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Doug and Tommy went home to Massachusetts. Uncle Kevin went home to Pennsylvania. And we went to our home as well.

If you're lucky, maybe Mommy will put up one or two.

Today we are officially a family...

~Ryan

Updated pictures are coming

Mommy needs to take pictures off of her camera from today. You'll get to see me and my sisters all dressed up in our Hanboks and other wonderful clothes. However right now Mommy is busy with various things, making us lunch, trying to make my birthday cake and pick up our home for my birthday party this weekend.

Tonight we're off to see Gina for dinner. She owns a local cafe and all the kids just love her. The food is so good so it's a favorite of mine (and Mommy and Daddy's) to grab a bite to eat.

Gotta go since Mommy is working on lunch and she's almost done and I gotta go back to entertain my sisters!!

Did you hear that I'm 4 years old yet???

Jen

Sick household...

We've all been sick here...Katie came down with a cold right before she was supposed to go spend the night at Nana and Papa's. Then Mommy came down with it. I ran around the house Monday and Tuesday much to Mommy's dismay and got sick as well. Daddy was home sick Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I think it was Thursday that Bella finally got sick.

Mommy is finally on the mend although tired out from remaking the beds, helping us to blow our noses, getting up in the middle of the night to take our temperatures, making Jello for us and more.

Daddy is heading back to work tomorrow morning. He's feeling better as well.

Bella has had a temperature both Friday and Saturday night but so far no temperature today. YIPEE!!!! She is still miserable at times but Mommy or Daddy don't constantly have to hold her. She still is coughing some and has a runny nose but is doing better.

Katie is slowly getting over this cold. She still has a cough and runny nose along with myself. I think we're beginning to understand why Mommy and Daddy told us to stop running around the house while we're sick and to nap.

We are just hoping that we're well enough to celebrate Seol-nal (Lunar New Year) with some friends of ours this weekend. Mommy needs to go grocery shopping and pick up some chicken for Chicken Bulgogi and mung bean sprouts as well.

Well I gotta go rest since I'm supposed to be sleeping

~Ryan

A Visit with Santa

Mommy and Daddy took all of us to see Santa the other night. We dressed up in our Christmas finest and went out to see him. Both Katie and I forgot to tell Santa what we wanted for Christmas so we told Mommy as a go-between us and Santa...she'll have to call the North Pole for a direct line to Santa. Both Katie and I were afraid of Santa and didn't want to sit on his lap and Mommy was holding Bella so Daddy got to hold both of us.

Mommy and Daddy haven't uploaded the picture yet but we'll post it here once they do so.

Gotta go since I told Mommy I was playing upstairs!!!

~Ryan

Happy Birthday Katie!!!!

Did you know that today is Katie's 2nd birthday???? We took pictures outside that Mommy will have to upload to the computer and post on here.

Katie and I dressed up in the Hanboks that our Foster Mommy gave to us. Mommy helped us get dressed. We wear them on special occasions like our birthdays and we don't play in them. Mommy cries a little when she sees us all dressed up in them and says how handsome I look and how beautiful Katie looks.

Well I gotta go to play with Katie,

~Ryan

Our Trip Today...

After Daddy's haircut this morning, we went to the Post Office. Well they haven't told too many people yet so I'll tell all of you: Mommy and Daddy need Passports to fly to Korea to pick up our sister. After that we had lunch at IHOP and we were playing with a few older kids there while waiting to be seated. We had to eat lunch before we went shopping at one of the Asian Food Market near us. Part of the time that we were shopping there Mommy and Daddy were the minority.

While we were there, the owner came up to Daddy, Katie and I and said "hello" in Korean. Katie and I played shy and stuck to Daddy. Mommy was shopping in another aisle otherwise I bet she would have said something. We went there to check it out and get some Korean goodies for us to eat. Some of which we will eat a Katie's 2nd birthday party on the 25th!! Oh we can't wait!!! Almost all of it is Korean food.

We need to pick up a few more things for the dinner party. We're having 8 other people over for dinner. Four other Korean adoptees are coming. Two are kids just about Katie's and mine age and the other two are adult adoptees.

Next weekend is Katie's party with our family. We are having a more American meal for that one but Mommy is making her famous Chicken Bulgogi as well as putting out Kimchi for all to try.

Well I need to get to bed since it's late and I don't want Mommy and Daddy catching me online!!

~Ryan

We're Adopting Our Sister-from Ryan

Our family has accepted the referral of a little baby girl who lives in Korea right now with her Foster Mommy. Mommy and Daddy received her information yesterday, got it reviewed by the doctor early this morning when the office first opened. Mommy talked it over with us this morning and with Daddy and we have accepted this little girl into our hearts and soon our home.

I told Mommy this morning that I would help out with bringing the diapers, toys, and blankie. Mommy also printed out pictures for me to hold just like I did before Katie came home. She is pretty.

I also told Mommy that I love Daddy, Mommy, Katie, Maggie, and our baby sister. I also mentioned that I love Trevor, Tristan, CJ, Emma and everybody. Mommy was happy to hear that.

Well Katie wants to post as well so bye for now and she'll be posting a picture!

~Ryan