the birthday boy

somehow I missed this sweet boy's birthday update this year. I know he forgives me and our lives have been so full of moving back and forth between a rental house and our house during renovations, and filling out adoption paperwork, that all free time has been fully accounted for. The adoption paperwork is done for now and our dossier is complete and heading to China, and the house will be done in the next 2 weeks, so we're heading back into a bit more peace and calm. I'm so thankful to have these things behind us in time for advent and I have loved taking time over the past week to settle into this season for myself and with the kids. We love advent and the quiet longing and expectation it creates in us to wait for the King to come.

back to Andrew. He is such a blessing to us and to many. He is so smart! And so playful. He'd play all day if we let him, but unfortunately we can't. He loves his sisters, loves his friends, loves his family, and loves his legos. He still says he wants to be a builder when he grows up and after watching Mr. Scott (our contractor) over the past few months, he is determined to grow up and work for him some day.  He loves to laugh, loves to read, loves to draw, and loves to run. He's so excited for basketball to start this week! He loves our school co-op and has made sweet friends there. He is looked up to by many and more than one younger boy claim him as their best friend. This makes me so happy because it reveals his heart and care for those younger than him. He can be so helpful now, and truly does an amazing job playing with and caring for his sisters. His questions are often deep and thought provoking and he  is beginning to grapple with God's presence in his life and the implication of that presence on his daily experience. We love this boy so much and are so proud of who he is and who he is becoming.

 Kaitlyn made Andrew this amazing "toothless" dragon for his birthday (the dragon from the movie How to train your Dragon). She did it all by herself and he loved it. It could even stand up on its own.

It took him 2 days to put this lego set together without any help...he will not let anyone help him. He loved every minute of it!