I-600 A APPROVED!!!

Our Orphan Petition application was approved by the 

U.S. Government!  

Yes!!!

So, what now?

All we are waiting on now is...

ME.

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I have to finish the Dossier.

(This will take weeks minimum.) 

It's so huge & so overwhelming.  

After Thanksgiving, that will be my main focus.  A lot of our documents are time sensitive, so it's a major priority that I get this done. When it's finished, we'll include a copy of our I-600 A Approval Letter with our Dossier, & send it all to our adoption agency, Dillon/Buckner.  They'll approve (hopefully!) our Dossier & then send it to Honduras!

Then, Honduras will approve it (hopefully!) & then we'll get on the WAITING LIST.

So, yes, we are nearing the paperwork finishline!!!

Thank you, God.  Please pray that I can get through the Dossier easily, smoothly, and quickly.  That we would just have favor in that situation.

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I've been thinking about the babies SO much recently & my heart has really begun to ache more for them.  It's so fun to talk about, but it makes it harder too.  G has begun to ask more questions & is really comfortable with the idea.  She often refers to 'when we get our babies.'  She even drew a picture of 'them' in her 'What I'm Thankful For" book.  Totally her idea.  She drew 4 of them.  And they were all girls.  Haha!!

Thanks for your prayers & 

for sharing in our excitement!

~ 6 in Love ~ 

Shopped, Boxed, Wrapped & Delivered!

So recently I posted about the Samaritan's Purse "Operation Christmas Child."  This week was 'drop off week.'  The other day, I taught G & K about it (in 2 & 4 year old terms).  I showed them photos on the website & explained what we were going to do.  Then, I took them to the Dollar Store, where they each shopped for their child.  G did a 2-4 yr old Girl box; K did a 2-4 yr old Boy box.  They absolutely loved shopping for the children, seemed to understand, and really took it seriously.  

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/

Then, my friend Shannon had a fun idea.  *Her family does OCC each year too!*  We went over to her house & had a 'box packing' party with the kids.  We played, watched a great clip from a Veggie Tales video about OCC, packed & wrapped the boxes, & ate pizza.  Although packing & wrapping the boxes with  5, 4, 3, & 2 year olds takes LOTS of patience, we know it was worth it!  We all had a really great time.  More importantly, we hope that we're planting seeds of compassion & generosity into our children's lives.  The importance of giving & thinking about other people besides ourselves.  And more than just thinking of them- actually doing something about it.  Isn't that what we're called to do?

Packing the boxes: 

Wrapping the boxes: 

And what they were most eager about doing: dropping off the boxes! *Although, G& K really would've preferred to take the boxes to the children.  They kept asking if they could .  I had to reassure them several times that the children would, indeed, get their boxes.  :)

I love their sweet little hearts.

What do you think K is saying in this photo?  =)

We so enjoyed creating these boxes.  We're filled with joy knowing that they will bring great joy to others in such desperate need.  God, please touch these children, fill them with hope, provide for them, protect them, and show them Your great love.  

Have you participated in "Operation Christmas Child" before, did you do it this year,

or do you hope to do it in the future?  Just curious!

~ 6 in Love ~

Chocolate for Children - ONLINE Fundraiser in Time for Christmas!

My friend- and former roommate, Jessica, amazing mother of SIX little ones herself, has offered to donate ALL of her profits towards our Adoption!  As busy as she is with her own children, she also reaches out to help local pregnant women & young mothers who need assistance.  She and her husband have a heart for orphans as well, which is why she has created this Fundraising Event for us.  In addition to donating ALL of her profits (25% of sales), she is also doing ALL of the work, so that all I have to do is tell you about it.  I'm so overwhelmed with paperwork right now, that this is definitely a God-send! 

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Welcome to "Chocolate for Children"!!!

This is an ONLINE PARTY to raise funds for

 the adoption of the two little ones from 

Honduras!!

I, Jessica, have known this couple since college, She was my roomie, and I couldn't think of a better way to help, than by having this fundraiser and donate 100% of my profits towards bringing these two children to their new home... 

The holiday season is here, and everything we have to offer makes a perfect gift for someone; in addition our holiday bundles are $

10 off!! Our Martini and Mudslide Mixes are 2/ $30 and are our #1 sellers!! This is the perfect way to shop this season, and remember the more you order the more goes towards helping these orphans... We want them here to celebrate their holidays next year!!

Please pass this along to anyone else you know who loves chocolate.... Who can say "no" to the love of Dove??!! If you are local to this family and would like to look at the catalogue in person, they have one! Thank you for your support! Any questions please feel free to call me.

* ABOUT THE ONLINE FUNDRAISER:

Dove Chocolate Discoveries is the Dove chocolate that you know and love, but this is their exclusive, premium line of products. You will not find these products anywhere else..

* Here's how you can help:

1) Go to www.mydcdsite.com/mrsmcmullen and select your items.

2) At checkout, click on "find host" and type her full name (*My whole 'Facebook name'; if you don't know this, please comment below & I'll email you this info!) -- this is very important, as it is the only way your purchase can be credited to the fundraiser!!!

3) Choose "direct shipping" to you ensure you will get it sent to your home or to the special someone your are sending the gift to. 

4) Complete your order and enjoy your chocolate!

(First part of Fundraiser) Begins NOW 

and 

Ends November 30th!

Please "invite" your friends to this event fundraiser.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR this family!! 

For any questions regarding ordering, hosting a party or joining my team and becoming a Chocolatier please call me:

Jessica 321-277-5372

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Check these out:

So, forget the long shopping lines, traffic, & cold weather.

Do some of your Christmas shopping here!

(Don't forget teachers, coworkers, bosses, & neighbors!)

Shop & help bring the babies home: 

two birds with one stone, right?

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** Future post: Do you have your own business like this one (you sell make up, bags, candles, specialty items, etc.) and are interested in doing a "month fundraiser" for our adoption?  I'll talk more about that soon!  Thanks!
-----------------

Thank you, everyone, for your continued generosity.

We couldn't do this without you!

~ 6 in Love ~

Fall Family Fun

I'm in love.

With Fall.

So, October is ALWAYS my favorite month.

I mean, seriously, what's not to love about it?!

We packed approximately 380, 527 things into the month.

B/c, well, I had October planned since the summer.  Well, almost.  

Don't worry, I'm only including 56, 209 of the things we did.  Enjoy!

('cause I sure did!)

** And I should point out that the first week of October was spent in Florida with Cuban Daddy's family, due to the loss of his beloved father "Papi."  This was the 3 weeks following.

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The State Fair:

(Actually, I think the fair was in September, 

right before the FL trip.  Oh well.  K was big enough to ride for the first time, and he loved it!)

The first time riding, she didn't know how to pull the bar and go higher (lil dare devil)... 

...and the disappointment was too much to bare.  We tried again, and she did it!  Yay, G! 

Nemo 'Rollar Coaster'  ;) 

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Mommy's Wannabe Photo Shoot, er, uh, 

Nature Hike

(at a local park)

 

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Pumpkin Patch #1 

(With Noni, while Cuban Daddy was at work)

 

 

 

Thanks for joining us, Noni!  We loved having you there. 

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Pumpkin Patch #2

(2nd Annual Trip with great friends...and this year, 

we went on my (25 th?) Birthday! And after 

the 'festivities,' we ate at this incredible 

one-tiny-roomed house/BBQ restaurant...yum!)

 

 

 

Where's Baby E?

Our kids appear to be kind of fond of theirs.  Whatcha think? ;) 

"Don't pet her.  She's a baby, not a puppy."  ;) 

Newly engaged & so cute, right? 

College roomie, one of my best friends, and an awesome mom to her girls! 

J- Thanks for the cupcakes!!

"Hey, can you get your kids off of me, now?" 

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Apple Festival

(Okay, so I have a crazy love for this Apple Festival.  I don't know what it is exactly.  I've gone for several years now, sometimes w/ CD, sometimes he & the kids, sometimes w/ my girl friends, etc.  It's everything "apple," as well as an arts & crafts festival, lots of entertainment for the kids, & good 'Southern' food.  I've never seen such a huge variety of apples...all local.  And I cannot write this w/o letting you in on this amazing secret.  Mutsu Apples. They are by far the best type of apple I have ever tasted.  The perfect apple.  I was going on and on about them to one farmer last year, when he explained them to me.  He said they cross-bred (maybe?  do apples do this?) them: a mix between the sweetest apple- Golden Delicious- and the tartest apple- Granny Smith.  Thus, the perfect apple.  And they so are.

I love them so much, I haul a peck home every year.)

This is the family photo that a nice older lady took for us. 

And so I took one.  Bringing home the Mutsus! 

My babies have such a fun dad.  I walked w/ the stroller - and all the apples, while CD & 

the kids 'got their energy out' the whole way to the car.   

We've tried to stay spontaneous, even w/ kiddos.  So, when he and I saw a sign for, um... another Pumpkin Patch/farm place on the drive home, we had to stop! 

And they got to do their first corn maze!  They took turns being 'the leader' and took their job pretty serious.  The loved it. 

This picture cracks me up.  G just spotted corn & they got really excited. Ha! 

And there's always a store, right?

Cuban Daddy & I are pretty good at letting them pick one small pumpkin or gourd and splitting some popcorn.  $3 bucks & were' good to go.

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Pumpkin Patch #3

(We have gone to this place annually, just the 4 of us.  We've gone on the weekend in the past, when it was crowded & everything was open.  This year, we could only squeeze in a weekday evening, and although we had it practically to ourselves, the kids missed the hay maze and petting zoo.  Somehow, I think they'll be okay.)

It was nice being able to take a few pictures 

(ALWAYS first...before running around the patch.  

Learned that the hard way.  Ha.)

Believe it or not, she totally did this on her own.  She wasn't posing. 

Just bored we were taking K's pics I guess.  Haha. 

 

A relaxing, fun fall night out.  Heading to the car...

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Pumpkin Patch #4

(We go to this one each year too.  TONS upon tons of pumpkins.  All shapes, sizes, colors.  The kids love it.  This year, we went kind of late in the month, and there weren't quite as many pumpkins...or people-which was awesome.  The kids had a blast running through the pumpkins, dancing, skipping, singing.  We made quite a spectacle of ourselves, but I'm kind of past the point of caring anymore. Is that good or bad?)   

Notice how awesome the photos of the kids & me always are?  Awesome, right? Boo. 

 

  

Continuing in the spirit of spontaneity, Cuban Daddy surprised us with a stop in a 'downtown' that we had never been to before.  He's been several times as he's a Realtor, but the kids & I hadn't.  We used 'Yelp' and found a local Hotdog joint.  Not our typical food of choice, but it had such great ratings...and was cheap? ;)  

The kiddos were fans.  CD & I didn't think it lived up to the hype. 

But, he and I love trying new places, so it was good. 

As if hotdogs won't do a wonder on your stomach all on their own, CD had us walk through the cute little downtown to a Cupcake shop.  G & K were thrilled! 

They charmed the cupcake lady & she gave them...bubbles.  

It was freezing out, but seize the moment, right? 

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Costume Birthday Parties

(The weekend before Halloween, we were so excited to be invited to 3 birthday parties- my niece & the children of my 2 besties.  How fun!  We were fortunate that one was in the morning, one at lunchtime, and one in the afternoon, so we were able to attend all 3!  The last 2 were "Costume" parties, so I decided to have G & K wear something different than their 'Halloween costumes.'  I figured if they had to wear their M&M's every time, when the 'main event' rolled around, they'd be tired of them.  So, they choose to be "a biker" and "A Hawaiian girl."  Fortunately my little brother is both 'a biker' and (an incredibly talented) tattoo artist.  So, the morning before the parties, he was nice enough to wake up early.  He applied K's *custom-designed* tattoos he drew the day before.  Many of them were minitures of his own- ha!  I told him this would be the only time he'd be touching my son w/ 'ink.'

They've always been super fond of each other.  K was so proud to have Uncle Cam do this!  Oh, and UC let K borrow some of his own 'gear.'  (See below) 

Daddy brought G this outfit from Hawaii! 

He rocks it, right?

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Halloween Day

Halloween Night 

Meet "The M&M's"

(We had a busy, fun night.  After the babies' naps, we put on costumes.  My family came over so everyone could see the kids' dressed up (including my oldest brother's 3 little cuties) & we could hang out a bit.  I made a couple of Slow Cookers of chili, which were appropriate considering it was cold out!  I had been wanting to bake something with all the apples I got from the festival, so I made an apple cobbler-thingy.   Then, one of my best friends invited us to Trick or Treat w/ them in their 'hood.  Our kids are close- both in age & in friendship- so it was great fun for all! 

The thing in G's hair?  Yep, I was forced to eat the M&M's out so I could use the bag.  It's tough being a parent sometimes.  Especially when your child asks w/ big sad eyes, "You didn't save me any?"  

I love that my big brother and I have 'stair step' kids, so that the cousins can be close. 

Left to Right:  N (age 6), G (4), L (almost 4), K (2 1/2), T (almost 2).

And I have to brag on him- he's such a great dad!

I don't know what's happening here, but isn't G's laugh great?! 

And our cutie pie neighbor, P, in her custom made Wonder Woman costume! 

No one was home to pass out treats, so we left a basket on the porch as usual.  

I tried something different this year & left juice boxes & dum dums.

They were GONE. 

At my friend's house.  How amazing is the "Mater" costume her son is wearing?  Yeah, she made it!  And although N wasn't feeling it at the time, I was super impressed! 

Our M & M Family 

We may or may not have set them up. ;) 

The guys w/ the littlest guys 

Love Captain America's outfit & smiles!   

Our crew.  Shannon- I just realized we didn't get OUR pic together! :( 

K is losing steam... 

Not G! 

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Other October Festivities:

Decorating cupcakes (for MY bday!) with their Great Grandma & Great Auntie V!

Baking & decorating cookies w/ Mommy 

See ALL the Mutsus?! 

Carving our pumpkin.  The first one to do myself!  Yikes.   

They were freezing...haha.  Sorry, kids!

But, here they are with their pumpkin/jack o lantern that they both named (seriously they agreed perfectly) "Pumpkin Lee/Leigh" 

He says it's a boy; she's sure it's a girl.

Glad they chose a gender neutral name.

Cuban Daddy 'got rid' of Pumpkin Lee/Leigh recently.  So, instead of 'manning up' and telling them the truth, I've sorta kinda led them to believe I don't know what happened to it.  So, everytime we go outside...or inside for that matter...they talk about where Pumpkin Lee/Leigh has gone.  i.e. He can't walk; he doesn't have legs!  Maybe he rolled down the stairs?  I bet someone took him!  He's hiding.  Maybe she went to find her family...  I told them it's a mystery.  I'm not a bad mom, right?  Just a great teacher of creativity?  

I mean look at this.  I couldn't tell them!

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We did lots of other things in October:

We met friends.

We did errands.

The chiropractor, weekly.

...and the pediatrician. 

And the grocery store.  Normal, right? 

More shopping

Cashing in "Sippys 4 Siblings" change! 

We had everyday fun.

PJ Dance Parties

Stuck!  Haha! 

Painting.  They love it as much as I do.

Please note the difference in boys & girls here.  

To the park 

Storytime with Daddy 

Weekly gymnastics classes 

School Portraits Day

A Date Night with my girl! 

Entering contests & shows

We dog-sat a pug.

We laughed, we cried, & everything in between.

I told the kids to wait at the door while I got our stuff from the car.  

K was in trouble.  Look what I found. 

I mean, they ARE the sweetest.  They teach me compassion every day.

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So, yeah, that's October.

And I enjoyed every single 

insane second of it.

-----------------------

But, November is a different story.

I need to finish the Dossier (major!!), prep for the holidays, meet some deadlines, enter some art shows,  do some painting & photography projects, some charity projects/events, and some things around the house.

Not exactly 'pumpkin patchy,' but very necessary things.

Although I'm looking forward to most everything, I have the same struggle with time as usual.  

If you made it to the bottom of this post, bless you!!!  

I made myself tired.

Goodnight!

~ 6 in Love ~