Now that we are officially waiting for Travel Approval and we know the next step is travel I am getting in gear to go meet our daughter. She is officially packed and once we paint her room we will have it all ready too! I won't pack John and I for a while but I have started my school letters, calendar for grandparents and trying to get things in order for us to leave our kids for 2 weeks. I am so ready and want to go and get back before Christmas, so come on speedy TA!!!

Today I was reminiscing about our time in China with Lily and thought I'd post our 1 year video of our first year with Lily for those of you that weren't following us along then.

I didn't realize how much I would love being a band mom and watching Noah. Noah is a drummer and auditioned for the Drumline for his High School. He was the only freshman to make the drumline and plays the 3rd Base (nothing to do with baseball ;0) ). It has been a lot of hard work and a big commitment on our part but it has all been worth it. At first Noah wasn't so sure but after one competition and a great performance with crowning of Grand Champions he was hooked and has already started planning his marching band future. He wants to audition for Quads next year and professional drumline in the future. Can't wait to see where this takes us!

First we celebrated Noah turning 14. He always prefers low key Birthday celebrations which are appreciated by this momma! And to make it even easier on me he ordered his own gifts from the Internet. Certainly this momma couldn't buy the correct drum accessories for this boy. He doesn't even care for cake so he requested a sugar cookie cake with no icing instead. Yes I baked it in a gingerbread pan, no complaints from him thankfully. He's pretty easy to please.

Today our Article 5 was supposed to be dropped of in China. China is 12 hours ahead so it would already have been dropped off if it did indeed happen. Hopefully we will get a confirmation email from our agency today stating that it was dropped off. Our article 5 will be picked up on October 20th and then we officially begin the wait for TA (Travel Approval). The Article 5 is kind of like an American Travel Approval, it is the American Consulates way of saying everything is in order on the American side, ok, you can come get your child. As long as our TA does not have some hang up I am feeling confident that we will travel and return in 2011. I am smart enough to know anything can happen and we may not but I feel pretty good about it.

We are ready to go get this little treasure and bring her home

Can you believe Christmas is only 12 weeks away? When I got an email from a local store about their first 12 weeks of Christmas special I panicked. I have always been an early shopper starting usually in October. This year will be no exception especially if we are going to China in December! But with having just celebrated all my kids birthdays recently (except one) I don't even know what to get them. It's going to be a very small Christmas so I need the greatest bang for the buck! Suggestions??

Here are two things my kids got for birthdays that were a huge hit they are getting tons of use from them.


Leap's new product is a very kid friendly smart tablet. Sort of like a iPad. This was an instant hit with my 10 year old and 5 year old and every kid that has seen it wants one. My only complaint is that it sucks batteries dry fast. Apps are available online and it also uses the Leapster cartridges you already have!

The other day I noticed that our Log In Date is Ellery's birth date. On April 27, 2011 as our documents were being logged into China's adoption system our little one was turning 2. And exactly one month later we received her referral.

China is having itself a little holiday so everything right now is on hold. Hoping to be cabled this week and receive our Article 5 soon after. Don't know what that means? Don't worry it is just one more little step in the process. After seeing on some forums that average wait from LOA to TA is 74 days we could be on target for December. I've started getting a little more focused on packing and tweaking my lists. I have gotten some great ideas from blogs and China Adopt Talk. I feel like I will be well prepared but will obviously need to go in with the "go with the Flow" attitude. You just never know with toddler adoption what the experience will be like. A twelve hour flight home will probably be our biggest challenge. Have some great ideas for that though. If you have any please share!!


We just celebrated 4 of our kids birthdays in 6 weeks and I am worn out! I never got around to a special post about each birthday so I am working on a big birthday post about all of them. I barely recover from one birthday and another was right around the corner. To help with the situation I only allow the kids to have a party with friends every other year (or they can for go a party and have bigger present) so at least that helps. But somehow one little fellow talked his mom into a sleepover with 4 friends when it wasn't his year. An extra 4 boys in this house was very noticeable, all fun though. We also lowered the amount we spend on gifts. Our kids want for nothing and were very understanding. Right now they know Ellery's adoption trumps big birthday gifts! How in the world we will do Christmas and a trip to China at the same time I.do.not.know! Anyway, I am glad to say Ellery's birthday is in April. Whew!