Trick or Treat!!!

Mulan and I went to pick up our friends Barbie and "Mike" from Monsters Inc. and we were off trick or treating. We found more friends (a scarecrow and his brother a train engineer) to come along. It was a very fun Halloween. Right now the candy is all spread out on the family room floor and Mulan is sorting it and counting every piece :)

Happy Halloween from Gracie (Mulan)!!!

It's pumpkin carving time here

11 months!

Well today our dossier has been in China 11 months. In many ways the last 11 months have gone quickly. I'm at a different phase with the wait now...kind of a "zen" phase. At least lately that's where I've been with it and I know that can certainly change day to day and week to week. A week ago Thursday Dan and I met with our social worker from our agency (I asked for a meeting) and we had a little talk. We talked about other options we had, as far as adopting from different countries and surprisingly we DO have other options...but we both have so much invested in China and really don't want to change and aren't. So we are in the big long line to China, or as I call it "the slow boat to China." I've said this many times and I'll say it again...I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my yahoo groups, RQ Nov. group, my fellow blogging buddies, Grace's travel group, close friends and our church to support us. We are all in this together and I thank you all so much for it. Everyday that passes, we get closer to our children in China. :)

Some Halloweens past

Wordless Wednesday

Just a little glimpse of everyone's future with their little girls. :) She was 2 here. We still have tea parties at 5.

Some more Fall fun

Yesterday we drove down to the Chicago area and spent the day with our dear friends. We first met as members of the same travel group to China in 2003. We all went to a nearby pumpkin farm/fall festival that was very popular because of the warm weather and the 3 girls loved it. They rode ponies (except for Grace), walked through a "scary barn", spent time at the play area climbing and sliding down the slides and "driving" an orange tractor. Probably the best time for the girls was eating some cotton candy...and all 3 ate every single bit of it! Hopefully we will get together again very soon. Adoption has been a blessing to us by becoming parents again, with the added bonus of these lifelong friends. :)

Favorite Photo Friday...The Other Man in my Life

Who's been in my life for over 22 years? (no...it's not Dan) He's one of the other joys of my life... Nick. I named him Nicholas and he went by that until about 6th grade when he told me he'd like to go by Nick. He and I have been through a lot together. I was divorced when Nick was just a little older than 1 year. Together we both came through some very hard times. But we survived it and have thrived. This photo was taken on the first day of Kindergarten. He was 5 years old and we lived in Cupertino, CA just south of the San Francisco area. Dan and I had been married almost exactly a year. Nick and I are pretty similar personality wise. I call him one of the "good guys." He is a gentle and kind young man and is sensitive, smart and has a very funny sense of humor. He is my rock...I can always count on him. Nick can tell if I'm upset about something by the look on my face or tone of voice. He's a wonderful big brother and I never dreamed that he and Grace would be as close as they are for being 17 years apart in age. Nick has made me a better person and mother. I love you Nick, I'm so very blessed and proud to have you as a son. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Fall in Wisconsin

Favorite Photo Friday--Ladybug Sighting

Our little ladybug Grace. This pic was taken Halloween 2003, her first one home. I can't say she really knew what was going on with Halloween at 14mos. of age...but she sure was a cutie patootie. :)

Girly girl

Today after I picked up Miss Grace from preschool she said to me, "Mommy can I have one of your credit cards?" I said, "Uhh...Grace what would you do with a credit card?" She replied, " I'd go to the bank and get some money...then go to the store and buy some new purses and maybe a new pair of shoes Mom." If Dan had heard this conversation he would have only one word to say, and that word would be "frightening." Anyway I gave her my plastic grocery store card ( it does look like a credit card) and she promptly put it in one of her little purses and pretended to go shopping. She's an "accessory girl" just like her momma. :) Never thought I'd get a girly girl... but I did.

It's official

CCAA just updated their website. They referred up to Nov. 30, 2005--only 5 days worth of dossiers. We were so hoping they'd get into December this time. We hope and pray they get through December soon, and start referring 2006. The next big milestone for us will be our dossier getting through the review room (where they pretty much look over our dossier with a fine tooth comb) and anticipate that happening in the next 2-3 months. Congrats to all the Mom's and Dad's on their referrals. :)

Favorite Photo Friday--Field Trip

This week Grace's preschool class went on a field trip to the Eplegaarden (that's apple orchard in Norwegian) here in the Madison area. I went along and helped her teacher "herd" 10 preschoolers. The kids learned about apples, picked apples and picked out a pumpkin for the classroom and one for themselves. It was a beautiful early Fall day and the kids had a blast. :)

I'm flattered

I was nominated by Terri for the "You Make Me Smile" award. Now I'd love to meet Terri in person someday, we are both waiting for our children from China. I'm flattered that she nominated me. I read many blogs and you all have been mentors to me in so many ways, so I'm nominating the ones that I read (in the left sidebar) for the same award. You make me think, laugh, smile and cry (yes, sometimes) and inspire me to be a better person and mom. We are all in this together on this wild and crazy ride called life. :)

Wordless Wednesday

What I just finished reading--China Ghosts

Well, I've read many books about the experience of adoption from China and this is the best one I've read! This is written from a Dad's perspective and he writes so genuinely from the heart. The author, Jeff Gammage has managed to put into words pretty much all of my thoughts and feelings since we adopted Grace 4 years ago. My new favorite book. :)

Thank you Courtney, Joe and Blaine!

Our November LID 06 yahoo group just had a cybershower and the theme was "bedtime." Thank you Barnett family for the adorable gifts you sent for Lily. The ladybug jammies are exactly something I would have picked out for her. Love the soft bedtime book and CD, Sandra Boynton bedtime board book and blankie and the Glowworm. You are so thoughtful to include Miss Grace with a gift too. This adoption sometimes feels like a surreal experience and the shower definitely helps me to feel like it WILL happen and Lily will a part of our family someday soon. Again thank you Barnett family...you are the best. :)