Oreos and cleaning

Being gone all last week for the mornings with VBS, I realized that is when most of my housework gets done.  That being said, last week the house got neglected!  The cooler temperatures yesterday lent for a perfect cleaning morning.  It was so nice to have all the doors open!

Lindsey really likes to vacuum and, as we learned yesterday, Carson really likes to ride on the vacuum.

He was so funny hanging onto the hose while she pulled it.  It was a great way to keep him occupied.  I was able to get the middle floor and upstairs pretty clean.  Keep in mind that I don't have high standards when it comes to house cleaning.  (I am much more of a straightener than a cleaner.)

And just when I am feeling accomplished in my morning work, I walked past the stairs and see this:

I read that cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating an Oreo.

I get it.

BRAND NEW!

I'd much rather "work" on fundraising store stuff so place an order today! :)

Our hope for Minus 1 Project

 After a weekend alone with the three youngest, I can conclude that I'm not as young as I used to be.

 After our busy week last week, I thought we would just lay low and have a relaxing, quiet weekend...they had other plans.  We biked to several playgrounds, swam at the pool, had snow cones and smores (in the same day!), chased down our neighbors dogs we are watching that got out, went to the library and post office, made pizza, caught lightening bugs, attending a church picnic...  And in between all of that Carson managed to roll in a big mud hole and slip down the stairs twice!  I think it will be a while again before I encourage my husband to have a "boys weekend".  :)

Thank you to all who shared our newest shirt design:

We sold a good number of shirts over the weekend so I am hoping we can place the order by the end of next week.  So if you shared and your name isn't Jessica C. (winner of the freebee), get yours ordered this week.  We appreciate the continued support as we work to keep things new and fresh at Minus 1 Project.  We want to keep it going and be able to change it up a bit to keep people coming back.  

We were recently asked how we are helping other families.  Good question.  At this point we are just donating profits through donation buttons on blogs, through Lifesong for matching grants or writing checks to families without those options.  Let's be honest, we aren't talking thousands here.  (Oh, I wish we were!)  But I know first hand how a donation of any amount can encourage a fundraising family.  I'm not sure where this will lead.  But we are sure that this is our hope and heart for the vision we had early on.  We wanted to share with the world :) our Minus 1 Project--all the "projects" we would under go and try, in order to raise the money we needed to bring our son home without crazy debt--in hopes of encouraging others to do the same.  Not easy, but doable and so worth it!

We feel like God lead us to a good thing with this "got love?".  People like it.  I don't know if tomorrow it will fizzle out and there won't be an interest in it anymore. But as long as there are families working their projects to raise the ransom for their child(ren), then we'll keep working our store to try to come along beside them because one orphan is too many.

  

The new girly "got love?" tee

$14.95 (youth XS-5XL)

(Unisex, standard cut style)

We are celebrating the first official weekend of summer with a super cute, girly design!

Taking orders now on www.gotloveadopt.com.

We would appreciate your help...will you share our new design on your blog, facebook page, or/and with friends?  The more you share, the more we will sell and the more families we can offer some support.

SHARE, SELL, SUPPORT, repeat!

Leave me a comment or message letting me know you helped us by sharing and we'll pick one name Monday morning to receive a super cute, girly "got love?' tee for free.

We will be placing the order in about 2 weeks.

VBS Wipeout!

On our second day of early mornings spent on safari and afternoons spent at the pool:

I'm was fixing up dinner when my husband came in the side door and told me to grab the camera.  (Just so you know, he did have an initial moment of panic when pulling in the driveway, but I assure you her vitals were taken before the pictures were! :)  I grabbed it and followed him around the side of the house to the front yard.  At first I see this:

Few steps closer:

A few more:

Look down:

My sweet, sleeping peanut:

Wiped out!

Mommy Brain

 While shopping the other week, I got into my coupon/sale zone and COMPLETELY forgot that we had walked, therefore we looked like this on our walk home:

Lindsey's face just cracks me up.  She had to stand and ride because the groceries kept slipping off the back of the stroller.  I'm sure my neighbors got a kick out of watching us walk by!

Our church's summer kids' club starts today.  If you need to find me this week, I'll be in "The Watering Hole" (Safari theme) with a Korean cutie strapped to my back serving up snacks.  Have a wonderful Monday!

So much better than a photo..

From the day we decided to start the process to adopt, my mind would dream of the day we would get to see the picture of our child.  I would see other referral photos and wonder if our child would be sitting up or laying down, smiling or frowning, hair or hairless, etc...  And as many of you have experienced, or will one day hopefully, once that picture arrives it is hard to let an hour go by without studying it.
I caught Lindsey staring at his picture more than once!

We received Carson's photo just before Thanksgiving, perfect timing for Christmas card pictures. :)

Thanksgiving Day, 2011

The girls even ate their Thanksgiving dessert with Carson. :)

We celebrated Carson's first birthday at a local frozen yogurt place.

We returned to celebrate his one month home.

There are so many milestones in the adoption process, but none as worthy of celebration, as being home.  So take heart, all you mommas out there still in the process.  Your day is coming and you will be the crazy one spotted all over town with a framed picture wearing a birthday hat. 

Don't lose heart in the long wait.  It is all worth it.  Your child(ren) are worth it.  Adopt on!

I'm famous...

kind of.  That is, I would be famous if my last name was Avispa.

My one moment in the spotlight and they get the name wrong, sigh....

Click HERE for details.

Almost 2 months home!

We've been home, as a family of 7, now for almost 2 months.  The time has gone by quickly.  We continue to be amazed at Carson and his adjustment.  He has settled right into our crazy family--and has brought us so many laughs.  There are those days that he passes by me and I realize, in a way, that he is here.  That he is home.  And that I cannot imagine our lives without him.

He has stolen the heart of his four siblings...

The look on his face when Tim arrives home, brings us all great joy.

And, then there is me, who most of the time is behind the camera.  I'm trying to catch all these moments--usually with tears in my eyes.  It can't ever be captured as pure and sweet as I feel it.  It is a privilege to watch your family accept and love it's newest member.  

He is here.  He is home.  

And I cannot image our lives without him.

Back in stock...

Shop www.gotloveadopt.com.

Helping our family and others raise the money needed to bring their child(ren) home.

Keeping it real

The financial cost of adoptions...outrageous!

Waiting to bring your child home...nerve-racking!

The long lists of unknown...a bit scary!

Hearing your daughter say she likes how her brother's eyes look like hers...PRICE.LESS!

Weekend SaLe!!

In CeLeBrAtIoN of our family's movement from (-1) to a (+1), all Minus 1 gear is on sale.

Here.

This weekend.

It might be because overall the Minus 1 stuff hasn't sold as well as the "got love?" and "Adopt on!" and we need to make room for the new Rockstar design but I prefer to call it a celebration. :)

You need to email me, takva73@gmail.com, to check for size availability.  There are only a few of each size left.

Payment done through paypal donation button or check.

(Not through the store site--no sale prices there, plus shipping.)

All prices here include shipping.

Worn-out, vintage baseball tee.  $18

We have 2 XL and 1 S

White (-1) unisex tee.  $8

We have adult S, M, L, XL and XXL

Colored (-1) unisex tee.  $10

Pink:  Sold out!

Grey or Gray?:  adult S, M, L, XL, XXL

Thanks for helping us clear out AND spread the adoption message.

Just be prepared to answer the question, "What does the minus 1 mean?"

That is why I really like these shirts...when asked, it opens the door or, in my case, the floodgates, to share about adoption!

Pick up some shirts.

Have a great weekend and Adopt on!