Research

Any thoughts on strollers for your children?
What have you all BDDT/purchased/registered for/dreamed of?
Starting to research for Ellie's registry and/or Christmas gifts. =)
P.S. I think the "leaky faucet" has been permanently shut down. Where's all the fun these days?! No rumors so just send on the referrals already!

A SQUISH

aka a quilt square and wish! From my friend and colleague, Amanda!

Notice how she took note of the red thread and ladybug (good luck) notions which are so prevalent in the Chinese adoption community. Plus the talent of sewing. I'm in awe! =) Thank you, Amanda!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I was pretty successful in getting most of the 0ne Hundred G00d Wishes book done. I will have about 86 wishes once the last promised 10 come in! I kind of just sat at the coffee table watching episodes of my new favorite show The Vic@r of Di.bley and scrapbooked like mad. Usually I never stick anything to a page because I think it could be better, but this time I just forged on. Not bad for a non-creative type!












Mom was thinking snowball pattern for the quilt but is trying this out for now...can y'all guess what they are?










Dad bracketed the bookcases in the study. I have a ton of books home from school now that I'm headed to the Intermediate grades, plus all my special adoption and Chinese culture ones.









He also put up the new room darkening shade. I have the original one in the other room 'cause that was originally supposed to be Ellie's room. Time gives one so much to rethink and redo!










My niece, K. came over to see the shade and was instead uncharacteristically captivated by the new (huge) cradle. She wanted to put the babies to bed so she put the baby one in and was rocking it when I walked out of the room. K. then came running out of the room, carrying the little doll with the pink dress, yelling, "I found Ellie!" Who knew she'd been in her room all this time?!












Rooting for referrals THIS week and hitting February 06! Dream big!

OH

I got my I-171H back! And it was freeeeeeee! Now I have until 9/23/09 for fingerprints and 1/20/10 for the I600A to expire! Barring day referrals per month, I think I might make it! Happy Happy Joy Joy!
Plus, I found this cool website Shining Sun Garden Works. The lady with the blowtorch at the bottom of the page creates these cool metal words and decorations. Check out the video of her making a flower!

6/17/08 Received Appt. Letter
6/24/08 Fingerprint Appt.
7/24/08 Received I1717 (Favor@ble Determin@tion COncerning @pplication for Adv@nce Processing of 0rph@n Petition)

P.S. WHERE are the rumors???

Beijing, Got It?

Monday, Monday

Still no fingerprint/I171 response letter. This is taking longer than usual. Good thing I have the time to wait...unlike the first time when compiling my dossier. I just don't want them to discover I've become a hardened criminal over the past year. Or, more likely, that they don't want to give me the free extension for some obscure reason.

My mom believes *this* grandchild will like dolls so she found this cradle which needs to be refinished. It holds a real child it's so big! I'm thinking it will hold all her *current* dolls and stuffed animals! Gotta figure out how to spiff it up first.





The party is over. Summer work writing IEP's for children I don't know is going to be pointless and mundane. I only hope I can tease out the objectives they really need from these reports. Oh and even worse? Getting up at 6 a.m.! Vacation truly was lovely.




Check out this latest fortune cookie. I dreamt last night referrals went to the tenth. (Please don't start this as an official rumor!) I swear I felt my heart drop to the floor. Or maybe it was a remnant of riding the roller coaster on Saturday. I'd better get crackin'. Naps have been my specialties as of late.



P.S. Mom is planning out the OHGW quilt and I am putting together the wish book now. All of you coming late to the party (why are family members the worst at this?!) are reminded that I would love to have you contribute. The quilt is gonna be amazing and mean so much to Ellie! =)

Catching Up

My brother, SIL, Matt and I spent a miserably hot day at Bus.ch G@rdens this weekend. I know, going on a Saturday in July along with every other person in the state was not the best plan, but we did have fun and we had two objectives:
1. The roller coasters. Yay! I even rode Griff0n! It's boasted as being "the world's t@llest floorless dive co@ster." I rock! =)












2. My SIL's boyfriend was performing.
The funny thing is that Rick Spring.field and my brother have the same birthday (although different year of course!) My SIL and I went maybe 8 years ago to see him at Univers@l Amp in LA and his concert was great. He didn't seem to play as many hits and played to his female fans a bit too much this time, but he still looked pretty good! M. and her mom went a few years back and enjoyed the show.

This past week my nephew D. and I went back to the still trainless zoo. Also, as usual the rhino wasn't out. Good thing I got that rare picture last time! Instead we fed the goats and saw the piglets (sigh our zoo really is lacking).

He did come home with his hand intact.

The fountains are still the highlight and he is loving playing in them more and more!









I head to a summer school desk job tomorrow. Summer is over and I am so bummed. Only Four weeks til school starts. (Insert scream from the roller coaster here.) If the month is ending, bring on the rumors and referrals already!

Wedding in Manteo

Yum. This picture got your attention! Beautiful colors, too.

Katie & Mike
Attach the next picture to the left for the continuation of this view. So pretty.

Just the odd wedding guest photo. =)

"Twennynine" Months Down

since my dossier was logged in at the CC@@.




RQ's projections?






It will be really interesting to see if the Olym.pics have any influence on referrals being sent. Otherwise October or November seems to be a real possibility!

Katie and Mike's wedding and the weekend in M@nteo was lots of fun. I hope to borrow and post pictures up eventually. This is the only picture I seem to have...hmmm. Oh yeah, because I didn't bring my camera to the wedding. Anyway, their wedding took place outside looking out at this lighthouse at 6 p.m. Beautiful.










At home I've been trying to "do some major sorting and pitching" (favorite quote of my former principal) and was going full steam until this morning. Kitchen and office are now done though! My mom and I picked out a lamp/fan for Ellie's room, figured out a plan of attack for the closet and went through some of the drawers of goodies that have filled up over the past 29+ months from family, friends and of course, my February '06 not-secret-anymore-pal Cari. The dolls I have collected already...good grief! I know my mom is hoping that Ellie is a dolly girl as my niece K. is hooked on her cats/dogs/horses. Time will tell... We are planning on refinishing an old cradle and if anything it will look pretty loaded up with the doll babies!

My training for the half marathon at the beginning of September has been less than stellar over the past two weeks. Hoping to step it up. Then again, the motto "just finish" has served me well the past three years!

Also, can anyone tell me how to make bullet points or where I can go to learn how to design a new blog page? Many thanks!

Anniversary Wishes and Cleveland Does Rock

A belated Happy Anniversary to my parents who celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary on July 4th. I gave them the gift of peace and quiet as I jetted off to Cleveland and did not continually bug them with multiple phone calls about nothing in particular and/or drop by visits while walking the dogs. Such a thoughtful gift, right Mom & Dad? =)
So Matt and I just got back from Cleveland where we partied day and night (not exaggerating!) with his friends and family. Had a wonderful time meeting with everyone. Family time and playing cornhole (thought this game was just a Florida thing, Tracy!) were priorities but we did manage to skip over to the Rock 'n' Roll H@ll o' F@me.

Here's Matt taking our picture as proof.


Also went to Put-in-B@y at South B@ss Island. What a cool little place. We putted (literally) around the island in a golf cart, stuck our feet in L@ke Erie, avoided driving over a water snake, tried lake perch and walleye and viewed Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
And yes, so far we're still talking to each other after this trip and plan to go to the Outer Banks this weekend for his colleague's daughter's wedding. I'll be sure to keep you all updated after that trip. =)

Needless to say my summer vacation has me going non-stop. Luggage is holding up nicely, BTW.

Tomorrow's blog is Ellen's 6 word Memoir. Called Mom up to help me with this. (Not on her anniversary of course!)
Stay tuned.

Dad's Birthday and More

Happy Birthday to my Dad! He's the best dad a girl could wish for.



This picture is of the Cupcake Cake decorated by Michelle. I'll try and get a picture of her sushi cupcakes. Too cute!

This morning I was called to interview at an intermediate school and this afternoon I had the job. Wow. I was fretting over whether it was smart of me to leave the old school since I'll be traveling and getting used to Ellie but I think it's been decided. It will all work out. I'm excited right now. Hope that lasts! =)

I'm working on my life memoir in 6 words as I was tagged by Ellen. I'll post that tomorrow as I'm off to play (loose term) softball.

UPDATE: Looks like the July referrals are through 1/25/06.