Merry Christmas from the Ramsour Family

Adoption Update!

For anyone who's following along in our adoption journey, here's an update for you!

Our home study has been approved, and as of tomorrow, we'll be an "open home," meaning we can start accepting placement calls for kiddos beginning TOMORROW!!! We're crazy excited, and nervous, of course! Please continue to pray for us when you think of us!

June Avery Johnson

On Saturday morning, December 17th, at 4:45am, our beautiful niece, June Avery Johnson was welcomed in to this world! She weighed in at 8lbs. 3oz. (just one ounce shy of her big cousin, Isaac), and was 20 inches long. Jessica had the honor of being able to witness the whole miracle. Sarah (Jessica's sister) was AMAZING through the while birth and she and baby June are doing just great!!

Aunt Jessica and Baby June

Uncle Bill and Baby June

Isaac and Baby June (He's in love already and has repeatedly asked to hold her.)

We found Santa!

Who knew that Santa eats at Kunty Katfish in Conroe, Texas? We didn't, until Sunday! We were there picking up a to go order, and who should walk in, but Jolly 'Ol St. Nick himself! He was "off duty," but was nice enough to offer to let Isaac sit on his lap, since we've been unsuccessful in finding him so far this season. This year Isaac requested "two long neck dinosaurs." :)

As we were leaving, we were informed by Isaac that Santa didn't have his reindeer today because he was driving his car. LOL

Thanksgiving 2011

Part 1: Thanksgiving Day was spent in Dallas with Bill's family this year. We got to celebrate our first turkey day with our newest niece, Elliott, a.k.a. "Ellie," who is now 4 months old. The "older" kids had a blast playing together and wore each other out. The day was ended beautifully with a LONGHORN win in the last rivalry game between UT and A&M. Hook 'Em Horns! \m/

I didn't take any photos this year for some reason, but these are shots from Bill's sister.

Pops (Bill's dad) with all the "older" grandkids

Pops and Isaac

Bill and Ellie

Isaac chatting with Ellie

Ellie and Aunt Jess

Part 2: After Turkey Day, we headed to Conroe to spend the weekend with Jessica's siblings and their families. We had an awesome seafood feast, prepared by Jessica's brother. It was a great time...only wish there was more of it! Again, no photos were taken (besides our nephew Cason playing with Jessica's phone)...this is the only one we got!

Isaac and Cason played so great together!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot 2011

For the past 4 years, we have had our friend Daphne take our family photos for our Christmas cards, and they always turn out so great!! She's an amazing photographer, and is so sweet to do this for us.

This year Bill picked the location of the photo shoot...the 360 Bridge here in Austin. He picked it because it's a pretty cool photo op for scenic reasons, but it's also symbolic because it's right near his new job. We had a blast climbing a "cliff," as Isaac likes to say. Here are some of our favorite shots from the shoot...you will have to wait and see which ones made the Christmas card! :)

Kisses for Daddy

Cheese!

Mommy and her favorite little boy!

Funny Faces!

Looking out from the top of the "cliff"

Daddy and his little buddy!

Kisses for Isaac!

Isaac's First UT Football Game \m/

As the son of two UT alumni, it was inevitable that Isaac would be "brainwashed" into having the same love for burnt orange that his mommy and daddy do. Teachers were offered tickets at discounted prices to the UT vs. Kansas State game, so we jumped at the opportunity to introduce Isaac to his first in-person football game....and, of course, it was a UT game!! Unfortunately we didn't win in the end, but Isaac had a BLAST! I see more games in our future! Here are pictures from Saturday night.

The classic Tower shot with my Future Longhorn!

Bevo in hand and on head....Ready for the Game!!

Isaac and his friend Emma

Isaac and Mommy at the game

Isaac and Daddy at the game

Had his horns up until the end!

Isaac's Thanksgiving Feast

Last week, Isaac's class held a Thanksgiving Feast, and parents were invited to attend. Although it was a normal work day for me, I am fortunate enough to work for administrators who put a high priority on family. I was given someone to cover my class so I could sneak away to spend lunch time with my little man at his feast. It was only a small amount of time, but it was priceless to be able to participate in that event with him. Here are a couple photos that got snapped.

Isaac and Mommy at the Feast

Isaac's Thanksgiving Placemat

Patience in the waiting...

Those of you who know me know that I am not a patient person. I am aware of this and I know that God is working on this in me as well. I have a strong feeling that He will choose to use our adoption journey as a time of teaching me as well.

We completed our home study on Wednesday, and now we wait for them to finalize it and for it to be approved.

Then, we will sign our licensing paperwork and become licensed to foster and adopt.

Then, we will wait some more...for the phone call that says they have our little girl/children and they are ready for us.

I don\'t do well playing the "waiting game", so Lord please help her/them to come quickly...and let me have patience in the waiting.

Isaac's last soccer game

Today was Isaac's last soccer game. Although he wasn't quite as "into" it this season, I'm hoping next season will prove differently. I just have to remember that he may not get as competitive as me in sports, and that's ok. :) He had fun, made new friends, and learned a lot about soccer, and that's what matters. Here are some pics from his last game today.

Thanks Aunt Jamie for coming to watch me!!!

My shiny new metal!!

One last "Go Bulldogs!"

Adoption Update!

Just to update everyone, our Home Study has been scheduled for next week! I find myself filled with a myriad of emotions: scared, excited, anxious, overwhelmed, overjoyed...and many more. We can\'t wait to meet our little girl, or siblings!!

Career Day and Fall Festival with Daddy

Since Isaac is now at my school , he got to participate in the Career Day parade, where the students get to dress up as what they want to be when they grow up (instead of just wearing Halloween costumes). Isaac has an obsession with firemen, so that's what he chose to be. Not only was my little fireman in the parade, but he LEAD the whole thing, high fiving and waving the whole way through the school. Such a proud moment for Mommy and Daddy!

Isaac in the parade...

After school on Career Day, we headed to Bill's work (Multimedia Games) to check out the fall festival they put on for their employees and their families. We had a blast playing games and trick or treating through the office. Isaac even got to play one of the slot machines that Bill designed! Too bad it didn't spit out real winnings! ;)

Playing the slots...

Halloween Bash 2011

Once again, this year we co-hosted our annual Halloween Bash at our house with a bunch of our friends. It's so fun now that a lot of the kiddos are older, we can do more fun things with them. They all came in costumes (we had 3 come as Woody from Toy Story) and we decorated/painted pumpkins, ate pizza, and decorated cupcakes, and just had a massive play date! It was a blast and the kiddos were all pooped by the end! Here are some of our photos, mostly of our little man of course. He was a fireman, but took his jacket off a lot of the time for the decorating. :)

Painting his pumpkin...

Pumpkin painting...

Cupcake decorating...

All finished...

Matching icing faces...

And icing kisses, of course!

All of the kiddos (minus 2)
From L to R:
Logan (Captain America), Gracie (Cinderella), Madison (Pumpkin), Isaac (Fireman), Mia, Samantha (Annie from Toy Story), then Luke, Jackson, and Brian (all Woody from Toy Story)

Isaac's First Field Trip - Elgin Christmas Tree Farm (Pumpkin Patch)

Here are some photos from Isaac's class field trip to the pumpkin patch at Elgin Christmas Tree Farm.

Isaac's class in the pumpkin patch

Isaac in the pumpkins

Looking for the train

Another class photo...

Hook 'em on the hayride...

Mommy and Isaac on the hayride...

Playing in the park....

Daddy bringing lunch!

Learning about pumpkins

And we're done...