The Gingerbread Birdhouse that wasn't....

We had the best of intentions....

It was on sale, half price.

It would give the kids and I something to do and we had quite a bit of frosting left over in the cupboards that we could use.

It would be fun right?


And after about 20 minutes this is what we ended up with. Not so fun. Goopy frosting everywhere and stale cookies, rock hard frosting and who knows how old the candies were.

Last years stuff perhaps??

At least Jake got a taste. Needless to say, I threw the rest away when the kids went to wash up.

Dresses....

Halter style dress. (fabric not available but style is) This is a backless tie top dress and wonderful for summer.

Fabric choices are as follows, Bigger print is the main fabric with coordinating print the smaller pattern of the two. The "Chinese kids" print is matched with a black Asian writing.

Someone asked if I was still making dresses. The answer is, YES!!!

They are still only $25.00 with free shipping.

We are still short the extras for travel and any dress I make and sell will go towards our adoption travel. We expect to recieve TA in about 6 weeks or so. (fingers crossed!!)

Here is a selection of new fabric samples. These are available in the pillowcase style or the halter style with ruffle.

New pictures and a travel site...

We received a couple pictures of Rachel this week from traveling families. She is growing like crazy. I can not wait to hold her in my arms.

On another note, we have set up the travel journal. The last two times we used China Stork but they are no longer in business, so I chose You Belong. I really like the other sites out there but I don't know anyone who has $150-$200 to set up a journal. (at least we don't) So, for a very inexpensive $19, we set up our site. I probably could have used our blog, but this is something Kerry really enjoys doing while in China and we can have a keepsake.

Visit here to check it our. We are in the "ready to go" section under Christopher.

~ Black and White Wednesday ~

~ Sick Kids ~

All the kids have been passing around a very nasty bug this week. The youngest three have been on antibiotics and breathing treatments. Thankfully we have met our deductible for the year and the meds were $0.00!! (thanks to Gracie's surgery on Jan 6)

I am praying I don't catch anything, at least until after Friday. I have a few tests I have to have done where they knock me out and obviously I can't miss them. Nothing to be worried about, just regular check up things. Prayers would be appreciated though :)

Almost there!!

Thanks to a very generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous we have met our agencies final fees. What we did not know is that our travel was not included in our statement. We have to raise an additional $1500 to cover flight and hotel while in China. We have a Kingdom Kids account and also have set up a Good Wishes account. We are continuing to cut back on expenses and saving every little bit we can. I am also still accepting orders for dresses and will finish my final three bunny orders before Easter.

We would like to thank everyone who has donated in the past, without your assistance our little girl would not be coming home.

Now What?

Some of you have asked, what's next? Well, we wait some more. Aah, the joys of adopting. We did send our I800 application to USCIS and really, now we wait some more. If all goes as planned and nothing happens to slow the process we will get our TA withing the next 6-8 weeks.

I have been busy this week with Sunny being here and just gathering all the paperwork needed. I am also trying to transfer all our airline miles to one account in hopes of getting at least one ticket paid for. If anyone has miles through Delta they would like to donate, we will gladly take them!!

And because a girl always needs chocolate we baked cookies!! This has got to be the best recipe hands down. I got it from the current Martha Stewart magazine but had to change it up to be gluten free. I then realized I didn't have any chocolate chips, so I added crushed Reese cups and vanilla chips. We also subbed regular flour for almond flour. YUM!!

No words needed for this...

No pictures but....

we have a very special guest coming to see us tomorrow. Actually, we will be picking her up at the airport at 9pm.

You all remember Sunny, right? She was our exchange student from China back in 2007. We have kept in touch and she is more like one of our kiddos. Anyway, after going back to China to finish high school she was accepted at a prestigious college here in the States.

Sunny is on Spring Break and we thought it would be nice foe her to see where we live now, so she is coming and spending most of the week with us. We are very excited and I promise pictures soon!!

Pictures and more Pictures...

Hello friends, it's been awhile. I have been very focused on our LOA, or rather lack of LOA. You see, it's been over 6 months of waiting and waiting and not hearing a single word. Well, that's not entirely true. We have heard many things, just not "THE" thing. As in it's here.

So, we decided to take all the kids and head out for some sunshine and fresh air. A way to forget about it for a day and relax and enjoy. Although, it's not far from our minds, Rachel is our daughter and she WILL be coming home. We look at it as God's way of allowing us to raise the extra money needed for fees and travel.

Do any of ya'll know how hard it is to get five kids to sit still for pictures?? (and smiling and not making silly faces, eyes open ect., ect.)

The kids thought this was a terrible sign and were whispering about it until I explained they meant the rocks that make up a dam, not the other.

This would have been a great picture spot if I knew how to use my SLR camera....one of these days I really need to take a class. They do have a studio in town but the cost is more than we can do right now and I know getting Rachel home is so much more important.

Hannah is such a great big sister.

Have you seen this???

I have, every day. This wait seems to get longer and longer with no end in site.



I know we have not been waiting nearly as long as those of you in the NSN line, but I saw our little girls face over 9 mths ago and I want her home now!! No, make that like yesterday.

I am really hoping we get good news on Monday. They keep telling me our acceptance is on it's way but I just don't know what to believe anymore. I tell you, my body can't take much more of this self indulging chocolate binges. (well, maybe it could)

Also for those of you interested I still have about five bunnies left. The first twelve have been packed and shipped to their new owners. Thank you!!

More Bunnies...

I have three bunnies ready, two blue and a pink. They will go to Marilyn (Carey's mom) unless she doesn't want them, then they will go to the next person.

The bunnies are about 14" high and super soft. (Made from chenille) The buttons are sewn on by hand and I make sure they are super tight to lesson the chance of choking for the younger kids.

I am charging $14 per bunny and $3.00 shipping.

I will try and make as many of these as I can. We are still trying to fund raise for the upcoming trip to China. I also have a new style dress coming soon.

I have put an order button on the sewing site. I will make these until my fabric runs out. An email will be sent to you with your order update. Please remember, I am making these custom and they will take about a week to finish. I will have them to you before Easter. Once my fabric runs out, I will stop taking orders.

Thank you!!