We are in China!

We are in China and have our sweet little girl. Tia is doing really well and we are enjoying our newest blessing.

If you would like to follow our journey we are posting to Tia's blog:

www.crossing-our-tees.blogspot.com

A new school year .

The kids started school at the end of January. It really is so strange that in Missouri and Wisconsin there are snowstorms and in Australia we are enjoying beautiful summer weather (ok, lots of rain, but beautiful anyway!)

All three kids like their teachers . . . Jonah is in Year 6, Isabella is in Year 4, and Elijah is in Pre-K. Aren't they getting big?

Everybody's goin' surfin' . . .

Check out my cute surfer kids!

What is more Australian than Surfing? The kids had the oppportunity to attend Surf School the last week of summer break and they had a blast! Four days of surfing at beautiful Palm Beach was a great way to spend those last days of summer (for Mom too!). They will definitely be surfing as often as they can now!

Half Witt Cafe'

Elijah's turn to be the waiter . . .

Matt worked late recently and Jonah and Isabella decided they wanted to play restaurant and actually cook dinner . . . what could they cook? I mentioned soup & crackers (since the microwave is the only appliance they are allowed to cook with) - they thought that sounded perfect! They made menus, set the table by the pool, waited on Elijah and I, cooked the dinner (aren't the aprons Grandma Cookie made cute?) and did an awesome job! Then they asked Elijah and I to wait on them and we gladly exchanged places (they dressed in mine and Matt's clothes while playing the diners). Afterwards it was time to clean up - they thought that should be my job since they said they were exhausted. Cooking is hard work!!

Hey! Hey! We have our LOA!!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm so excited to share the news that we have our LOA? This is our Letter of Acceptance saying that we have been approved to adopt Tia and if we are still interested (ya think?) we need to return the letter and they will give us travel approval! We only waited 76 or 77 days (US vs. Australia dates). The China program coordinator, Heidi said we should be able to travel right after Chinese New Year (sometime around February 15th!) That also means we may be able to travel with my best adoption buddy Rebel when she goes to get her little girl Lilli! I am so happy - YEAH!!!!!!! The official LOA will be delivered on Monday, when we will Fedex it right back to Washington! This is really happening . . . . Tia, we will be there in less than 2 months!!!

Around the house . . .

Thought you might enjoy some photos of Christmas around the Witt house.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Down Under! After enjoying a wonderful 9 day trip to Tasmania it was such fun to return home and have loads of Christmas cards from our friends and family - thanks to everyone! We gathered around the Christmas tree, turned some Christmas music on, made a pot of tea, set out a tray of Christmas cookies and enjoyed reading all the beautiful cards and looking at the photos of your families. It was really fun and I''m sure it will become a Christmas tradition. At this special time of the year being so far away from home could be sad but we feel close to you through your beautiful Christmas cards and photos.