This is the coach of the UGA Bulldogs. He does seem to be such a great guy, but I'll never bark for the DAWGS (you must understand ... my daddy was a professor at Ga Tech - I grew up Yellow Jacket gold and black!), even though Doug and I both got our master's degrees from UGA! Tissue alert!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Cutest Little Nemo
Ally was Nemo for Halloween. She got to wear her costume on Wednesday to preschool (with Linzi), Thursday to the band party, Friday for Trick or Treat, and finally on Saturday to Frannie's b'day/costume party! Let's just say that the $10 we spent last year at the Disney store was well spent! She had so much fun and wore the hat part of the costume each time. She wasn't that crazy about that part, but kept it on.
My friend Donna got her LOA today for baby Faith. Not only am I happy for her family, I am excited for ours! We are a couple of weeks behind them, so I'll start getting excited in a few weeks. There is a chance that, due to some circumstances, their LOA may have been expidited. So I called the USCIS today to check on our 800A. The lady that I spoke with said that she would review my file and to call her back on Tuesday. So, I suppose our application and home study is on the "hot seat" with the US immigration! I just hope there are no problems. Maybe the "squeaky wheel" theory will speed us up! So, for now, we are waiting for 2 things -- LOA from China AND 800A approval from USCIS... then once those arrive, we can do more paperwork and then we plan our trip! Some days, I can't believe that we are going back!!!!! YEAH!
My friend Donna got her LOA today for baby Faith. Not only am I happy for her family, I am excited for ours! We are a couple of weeks behind them, so I'll start getting excited in a few weeks. There is a chance that, due to some circumstances, their LOA may have been expidited. So I called the USCIS today to check on our 800A. The lady that I spoke with said that she would review my file and to call her back on Tuesday. So, I suppose our application and home study is on the "hot seat" with the US immigration! I just hope there are no problems. Maybe the "squeaky wheel" theory will speed us up! So, for now, we are waiting for 2 things -- LOA from China AND 800A approval from USCIS... then once those arrive, we can do more paperwork and then we plan our trip! Some days, I can't believe that we are going back!!!!! YEAH!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tagged
I was tagged to post 7 "odd" facts about me. I'll see where this leads...
1. I love sweets - ice cream, brownies, candy bars, cookies, cake, etc. Caramel and Chocolate and Cinnamon are my fav flavors.
2. I am somewhat obsessed with my weight. Not that it always shows in the selections of foods that I make, as evidenced in #1. Maybe (hopefully) in reality, the word "obsessed" is a little strong -- maybe "aware" or "slightly consumed" is more accurate. This does concern me slightly about the message I may be sending the girls. I really do try to keep my focus on being healthy.
3. I love to make lists - of most anything impractical (some I write down, some I don't). For instance I have a list of favorite words (just like how they sound) which includes, but isn't limited to, "breeze", "stream", "fragrance", "sparkle". I have a list of fav musicians and songs (Billy Joel, Loverboy, Chicago, Queen, Berlin, Styx, Maroon 5, Steven Curtis Chapman, Aerosmith, I could go on...), things (kalidescopes, fireworks); see #1 for my list of fav flavors! The lists of lists go on! Whenever we go on a vacation, making a list of our favorite things is a ritual part of our drive home.
4. I spend way too much time reading blogs of people I know and don't know!
5. I love hot sauce - hot wings, in cheese dip, on omlets, even on salad instead of dressing.
6. If you had told me 20 years ago that I'd have 4 daughters, I'd have laughed in your face and said adamantly, "NOT POSSIBLE".
7. I love Christmas - for many reasons! We had hoped to celebrate Jesus' B'day in China this year, but it isn't likely to happen. I love the smells (yes I have a list for fav smells too -- Coppertone is at the top of that list!), music, lights, family, food, and of course, the excitement of the kids! I think it's almost time to put up the tree and turn on the stereo really loud with Amy Grant and The Carpenters!
My list goes on, but the rules for this game limited me to 7 things!!!
If you are a blogger and you have not "played" yet, give it a go!
1. I love sweets - ice cream, brownies, candy bars, cookies, cake, etc. Caramel and Chocolate and Cinnamon are my fav flavors.
2. I am somewhat obsessed with my weight. Not that it always shows in the selections of foods that I make, as evidenced in #1. Maybe (hopefully) in reality, the word "obsessed" is a little strong -- maybe "aware" or "slightly consumed" is more accurate. This does concern me slightly about the message I may be sending the girls. I really do try to keep my focus on being healthy.
3. I love to make lists - of most anything impractical (some I write down, some I don't). For instance I have a list of favorite words (just like how they sound) which includes, but isn't limited to, "breeze", "stream", "fragrance", "sparkle". I have a list of fav musicians and songs (Billy Joel, Loverboy, Chicago, Queen, Berlin, Styx, Maroon 5, Steven Curtis Chapman, Aerosmith, I could go on...), things (kalidescopes, fireworks); see #1 for my list of fav flavors! The lists of lists go on! Whenever we go on a vacation, making a list of our favorite things is a ritual part of our drive home.
4. I spend way too much time reading blogs of people I know and don't know!
5. I love hot sauce - hot wings, in cheese dip, on omlets, even on salad instead of dressing.
6. If you had told me 20 years ago that I'd have 4 daughters, I'd have laughed in your face and said adamantly, "NOT POSSIBLE".
7. I love Christmas - for many reasons! We had hoped to celebrate Jesus' B'day in China this year, but it isn't likely to happen. I love the smells (yes I have a list for fav smells too -- Coppertone is at the top of that list!), music, lights, family, food, and of course, the excitement of the kids! I think it's almost time to put up the tree and turn on the stereo really loud with Amy Grant and The Carpenters!
My list goes on, but the rules for this game limited me to 7 things!!!
If you are a blogger and you have not "played" yet, give it a go!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Kunming
I ordered a DVD of Alaina's city so that we can learn about it before we go. It's not just a regular DVD, but it features the SWI (Social Welfare Insititute, aka orphanage) where she lived for part of her life. I will be eager to see when it was filmed and if there are any children in the DVD (they may not allow it). I will look for Alaina - hey, you never know, since she's almost 6, she has been there a long time! She is supposedly in FC now. I also ordered one from Ally's orphanage in XianYang. Should be interesting. I also requested a copy of the newspaper where Alaina's "finding ad" was placed. She was actually a few months old when she was "found", unlike Ally who was only 1 day old. It looks more and more like a Christmas celebration for our family will not happen in China. I'm bummed, but it doesn't change anything. The timing could be really challenging - at least the direction it's going.
Sometimes...
I look at Ally and think, "I can't believe she is really ours AND that we flew to China to get her AND we get to keep her"!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Catching Up...
A few bullets to sum up the last few weeks:
Ally enjoying the soccer game at half-time
Ally's daily manicure
Ally demonstrating "kicking back"
- Ally's rash has returned and we are "creaming" her twice daily; but it's still itchy
- Ally is talking SO much more
- Lauren is enjoying soccer
- Lauren made 1st chair trumpet in band (beating out all the boys).
- Sara went to a band competition in TN/NC this past weekend
- Sara babysat Ellie R. and really enjoyed it
I'm finding that having clothes for 4 (yes, I said 4) girls is a little daunting! I thought that I had not kept much of Lauren's clothes, even after we decided to adopt Ally. I was obviously fooling myself, because we keep finding clothes!!! I'm trying to get them together for the spring kids' sales, but it's a lot. We have really cut back on the buying, but we still have SO MUCH STUFF!!! It's hard to know what to keep/buy for Alaina.
Speaking of Alaina, I did get an email from our agency today saying that our dossier is in review. Doesn't really mean we are close to LOA, but it is (supposedly) translated. We are about 75 days into our expected 90 day wait for USCIS approval. It's possible that things will begin to happen soon.
I did something today that I have dreamed of for several years. I mailed 2 stories to a publisher. These are my David Thompson stories - based on my childhood as a tomboy. David was my best friend from toddlerhood thru 1st grade (when we moved from KY to GA) and we got into a little trouble from time to time. Anyway, the publisher I sent the stories to said not to expect any reply in less than 6 months... we'll see!
A few pics...
Ally enjoying the soccer game at half-time
Lauren the goalie
Ally's daily manicure
Ally demonstrating "kicking back"Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Blogging...
I saw this on LEA's blog - and it cracked me up, because it's so true!
On the topic of blogging,
"Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
Ok - even my "bloggy" friends know this is pretty funny.
On the topic of blogging,
"Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
Ok - even my "bloggy" friends know this is pretty funny.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Dee - Gah - Go
That is now Ally's favorite TV show. You may ask yourself, what is it? It's "Go, DIEGO, Go" she just calls it "Dee - Gah - Go". She loves it and will say, "I wanna watch 5 dee gah gos". 5 is her favorite number -- 5 for everything - sips, bites, poopies (yes, you heard me), books, etc...
She and Lauren have been playing Webkins online and Lauren let Ally pick her own password and login. All I know is that it involves "Elmo", "cupcake", and "chocolate milk". She does use Diego as a password too, but that is when she races to a doorway and blocks someone from going thru. We have to say "Diego" to get pass-thru permission.
She and Lauren have been playing Webkins online and Lauren let Ally pick her own password and login. All I know is that it involves "Elmo", "cupcake", and "chocolate milk". She does use Diego as a password too, but that is when she races to a doorway and blocks someone from going thru. We have to say "Diego" to get pass-thru permission.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Our TREE HOUSE!
If you want to take a look at our cabin in NE Ga, click HERE! We have been up a few times, but mostly to do some work. We are excited that we are getting some rental inquiries. It's just so beautiful up there - the view is amazing. It's such a little escape from the world. If you look at all of the pics, you might see a glimpse of Ally running through the family room!
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