N600 application

To get the ball rolling towards Henry's citizenship we have to fill out an application called N600. I've been very busy and hadn't really gotten around to downloading and filling out the paperwork. Well, my friend informed me that the application fee was going up significantly at the end of November. You can guess my reaction -- I dropped everything and got to work on the N600! The forms were a bit confusing, but thanks to good friends I figured them out, I got Henry's 2x2 pictures taken, made all kinds of copies of required documents and had everything in order to send off by Monday. I was a little nervous that with Thanksgiving this week the mail might not get the application there in time for the form to be processed before the deadline. My friend suggested that Brent drop the application off at the immigration office since he works so close to the office -- great idea! Brent takes the packet to the immigration office and the man behind the desk tells Brent that you must have an appointment to turn in an application. Brent told him that he was just dropping it off instead of mailing it and that he didn't need an appointment. Brent watched the man just drop our envelope on a desk and ignore it, so Brent got worried that the packet might not be passed to the correct person. I got all worked up and tried to call USCIS and of course all the numbers I tried were not working numbers. I was working myself into a tizzy and was ready to go in the next day and storm the office or at least make an appointment to make sure that our packet was not lost. I discovered on theUSCIS website that you really do need an appointment just to turn in an application in person (just like the man told Brent). Brent convinced me to give them a few days, and I nervously agreed. Well, surprise! The very next day we received and envelope from the USCIS immigration office with a receipt for our application. I was so relieved and surprised. That man at the office not only took our application packet when he shouldn't have, but he took care of it so quickly that the mailman delivered our receipt the very next day! I find that amazing, and it is something that I've added to my long list of things that I'm very thankful for this year. :)

Halloween 2010!

Bobbing for marshmallows

Trixie playing "pass the pumpkin" with her friend (with whom she has marriage plans, by the way!)

Henry couldn't wait to eat a treat!

Trick-or-treating

Ready to go!!

Trixie with her class in the Halloween parade

Storytime friends Lydia and Henry (can you believe their names are Lydia & Henry?!) with my Henry and Trixie

Playing the autoharp at the Halloween party in music class

So proud of his painted pumpkin!

Henry really enjoyed painting his pumpkin!

We've been having a ton of fall fun this year! We started out by picking out our pumpkins. Then Henry and Trixie decided to paint their pumpkins. The rest of us carved our pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. All that got us ready for the big Halloween Party we had at our house. Of course there were also school parties, music parties, and trick - or - treating, too. Lydia dressed up as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Trixie Lu was Jessie the cowgirl, and Henry was Mickey Mouse. Henry not only loved playing with the big kids at our Halloween party, but he had the best time trick-or-treating. He very quickly figured out how things worked and he would hop out of the wagon and run up to the door with his sisters. Then he would often try to go inside the house and when he was given a piece of candy Henry would try to give another piece back. It was adorable! Henry was also very fascinated with all the Halloween decorations and lights at the different houses. He's not going to know what to do with all the Christmas decorations. :) We had such a great Halloween this year!

Random videos

It's been a while since I've posted. Work, family sickness, and 2 big parties 2 weeks apart have just about gotten the best of me, but life is calmer now and I'm back! I'm putting on several different videos I've taken over the past couple months. They're fun little videos and I think our friends in Korea will especially enjoy getting to hear Henry's sweet little voice. :) Enjoy!

The adoption is finalized!!!!

Henry's adoption is final and he's officially Henry Joon Seong Kohlenberger!!!! He's not a US citizen yet, but he is irrevocably ours. :) We went to the courthouse in Nashville, IL where we, along with another family, went through court proceedings with our attorney and a judge. The whole thing was very quick and the judge was very kind. Henry was his adorable and friendly self throughout the whole proceeding. He had a tough time staying in one place and wanted to explore the whole courtroom. When Henry escaped from me and I went to go after him the judge said to let him go and that he was fine. Later, in the middle of the attorney's questioning, Henry got a huge grin on his face and started waving and shouting "Hi!" to the judge. The friendly judge just smiled and waved back at Henry. When both families had finished everything the judge came down from his bench and took pictures with us.

After we were finished at the courthouse we went outside and there was a local Farmers Market set up on the sidewalk. When one of the women at a cookie table saw the kids in their hanboks she sized up the situation and gave all 3 of the children a cookie pop as an adoption gift. The kids were thrilled and I was touched. Then we went across the street to a little pizzeria for a celebratory lunch and it was delicious. Nashville, IL may be a tiny town but it was perfect for our family's big event. It was a lovely time all the way around. :)

Henry's First Haircut

This is fun!

What's happening?

This isn't so bad!
Hey, what are you doing?

My handsome boy!

When we first brought Henry home he had very little hair. Now, seven months later it was finally time for Henry's first haircut. His hair was short in many spots, yet on the sides his hair was long and wispy. Even though I cut the girls' hair, I did not trust myself to cut my very busy and active boy's hair. So I made an appointment with my friend Jessica who owns a children's haircutting salon. The children get to sit in little kiddie cars while they watch a movie. I knew Henry would not be interested in the movie, but I had a feeling he would like sitting in the car and that Jessica, with all her experience, would do a great job on Henry's hair. I was right on both counts. Henry started out really happy to be sitting up in the car, then he was unsure of what was happening. He decided that it wasn't so bad getting his hair cut, but then Jessica brought out the razor. That was not his favorite, but by the time it was all said and done Henry was quite pleased with the whole experience. What a big boy!

Family Reunion

Uncle Bill & Henry

Aunt Toni & Henry

Henry finally got to meet my family. My aunt had a family reunion so that everyone could get to know Henry. Henry fit right in and, as usual, didn't know a stranger. He's very friendly to everyone. Henry loved meeting his young cousins and this time he was drawn to my Uncle Bill (who looks very much like Uncle Larry who looks very much like my dad). We had a lot of fun playing and some people had fun swimming. Since the water was freezing not everyone went in the pool, but all the kids did. It was a fun day and I liked seeing how well Henry fits into my family. :)

Apple Picking

Playing in the tractor = Big Fun!

The most important part of apple picking is eating the apples!

What's better than one apple? 2 apples!!

Mama & Henry riding the swings

We went to Eckert's for some fun and for some apples. Henry has been peach picking, but he had not been apple picking. I'd say that Henry was much more interested in the eating of apples rather than the picking of apples. He picked his first apple and was done because he had to get down to the business of eating it. A little while later Henry picked one more apple and put it up to his mouth to take a bite. He had both apples right by his mouth and was trying to take a bite of both of the apples at the same time. It was so funny!

Eckert's is a very fun farm that has lots of activities besides apple picking. Henry really enjoyed the sandbox, climbing on the tractor and riding a couple rides. Just walking around with all the people made Henry run and laugh in delight. It was a great night!