a picture paints a thousand words...

but in case you need them, here's a few words to get you started...

A couple days ago, Will was mad because when he went to the potty, he got a little on his favorite Transformers t-shirt. So, he decided that instead of changing shirts, he would put on a few more over top of it. "How many?" you ask. Ten. Yep. He sneaked quietly upstairs and preceded to layer nine more shirts on top of the one with pee on it... all of them "super" shirts. (He calls them "super" because they either have superheros on them, look like shirts that his favorite superheros wear in the cartoons... or even that he somehow thinks what's on them vaguely reminds him of a superhero.) This is not the first time he's put on several layers of shirts. I think his logic is "the more super shirts you are wearing, the more super you are." So he comes down the steps with his ten shirts (shattering his previous record), barely able to move his arms, and shows off his "answer" to his pee/shirt problem.

Way to think outside the box, Will!

10 years

Yesterday--August 22nd--was mine and Amy's 10 year wedding anniversary!

On that day ten years ago, I made a series of promises--
"Tim, will you take Amy to be your wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love, honor and cherish 'til death do you part?" "I will."

"I, Tim, take you, Amy, to be my wife to live together according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony. I promise to love you as Christ loves the Church, knowing that Christ gave His life for the Church unconditionally. This is the love I share with you."

"Amy, this ring is a symbol of my love for you. With this ring I give you my faithfulness and devotion, and I will love you forever for my love is of Christ, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

8/22/98

8/22/08 Amy, over ten years, in whatever ways I have succeeded in these vows, may God help me be even better. And in the many ways I have failed to live up to these promises, please forgive me and may God give me the grace to change. You are an amazing wife, and every moment of these past ten years I have loved being your husband. I love you... forever. You're my favorite.

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Oh, and as an anniversary present, our adoption agency emailed us to tell us we received our TA ("Travel Approval"). We've now applied with the US Consulate to ask for an appointment with them on Sept. 22, 23, 24 or 25 (which would have us leaving on the 11th)... they have five business days to give us an answer. If we don't get one of these dates, we won't travel until the 18th.

Will and Preschool

Today Will went to his third day of preschool. He actually started a week ago, August 12th, (Tuesdays and Thursdays only). I guess with everything else going on around here, I'm just now getting around to posting about it.

It's time for Will to discover independence. On the exterior, he looks like quite a natural go-getter and extrovert. But that's not quite right. Truth is he has always had Mama or Brother or someone he was comfortable with all his life right there with him. He held Ben's hand during swim lessons or new classes at church. He clings to me whenever someone he doesn't recognize tries to talk to him. And don't get me started on his mother... His favorite phrases include "sweet Mama," "cuddle, Mommy," or sometimes "I want Mommy!" But I'm hoping some of this will change now that he's started preschool.

So far Will has taken very well to preschool. He talks like he doesn't want to go, but when it's time, he goes willingly. The first day of preschool--the same day as his birthday-- Daddy, Ben and Will loaded up in the car for school. I dropped off Ben at Kindergarten, and Will and Daddy went to McDonalds for our "first day of school celebration breakfast." After that we drove to the preschool where he quickly found a familiar face from church (I'm so thankful for Ethan!). He went right in and started playing. His teacher, Miss Ginger, said that he did very well and was the "social butterfly" after he warmed up to the group. I'm excited about what is in store for Will in this new chapter of his life.

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Here are a few pictures I wanted to share that Ben and Will took with the camera the other day... future professional photographers, I'd say :)

New Pictures of Kate!!

Enjoy!!