Okay, I'm not going to wish you congrats with the bureaucracy, nor a happy birthday, because both of them are still to come! But I feel happy that you are going to get your marriage made official! :-)

I really liked how you wrote: "Despite life's circumstances we always try to keep the kids smiling and unaware of the lion's share of our struggles." Reminds me of what my parents told me, as an adult, about the time I was seven, and we were immigrating to Germany.

Oh, and props on Monkey-B's fashion choices. She's got a keen sense for style (including posing for pictures)! Seems like the equine-theme applies to both dresses.