Home Sweet Home!!

We returned home from our anniversary trip last night. We had a great time but it is also good to be home. We came in, started the laundry, went through the mail, and went to bed. How exciting are we.

Today I did what everyone does the day after getting back from a mini-vacation. I shampooed the carpets!!

I wanted to share some last pictures of our trip:


I found this shirt when we went to one of the outlet malls in Branson. Those of you that know me, know this shirt is perfect for me!

It's official: I am out of control. This is the bounty that Avery received while we were there. Who knew that Branson was the mecca for outlet shopping? These were all great bargains and the things I just could not resist. Our little girl is definitely not going to be lacking in the wardrobe department.














Don't worry Rowdy was not left out of the shopping spree. He received new squeaky toys and has been going crazy with them every since we got home.



The fire hydrant we found at the Big Dog store (also where we found my fabulous shirt pictured above). The duck came from Bass Pro Shop. I had to veto the camoflauge onesie that Paul found there. :)

So now were back home, and back to the daily grind.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Thanks for checking in on us!!!

Still here.....

Well, here I am on my anniversary trip (today is the actual anniversary) and I am blogging. Oh well, just want to you know what we are up to....

It is currently 6pm and we have had a nonstop day. We started this morning with breakfast at the hotel and then we went on a "duck ride". Yes, one of those touristy vehicles that takes you for a tour over the city and then drives into the lake. It was the first time we had done this type of tour and it was really neat. We were on land for about 45 minutes and then we spent 20 cruising around Table Rock Lake.


Come on you know you have always wanted to Ride a Duck!


Paul, while we were cruising on Table Rock Lake.

After the duck tour we did a little shopping. We found a little out of the way quilt shop and went in just to look. Well, you know what happens when you go in "just to look". The prices were fabulous!!! Cheaper than anything we had ever seen and all the quilts looked hand-made. We wound up buying one for our bedroom. Now we have a new project: redoing our bedroom. Oh well, anything to pass the time.


Our new bedspread.

After our shopping expedition we had lunch and then went to a show. We saw the "Acrobats of China". Imagine that? All the shows you can choose from in Branson and we see a show related to China (wonder where our thoughts are?) The show was fabulous. Those performers could do amazing things. I would definitely reccommend this show.


Our afternoon excursion.


Some of the performers after the show.

We came back to the hotel for some down time and then we have another show to go to tonight. For our anniversary my parents bought us a set of tickets for the Shepherd of the Hills outdoor show. We will be seing that tonight. Thanks mom & dad!!!!

We will be heading home sometime tomorrow afternoon and then it is back to the real world.

On another note: there was an update today from the CCAA that referrals are coming for all those registered through June 28th. I am very excited about this news because that puts the wait at a year. Even though the wait has grown since we started the process with all the rumors out there I can deal with a 12 month wait WAY better than the 18-24 months some are suggesting. We have officially passed the 6 month mark (we were registered 12/20) so hopefully we are half way there!!!!

We're in Branson!!!

We left out as soon as we got home from work this morning for our 6 hour drive to Branson. We went to Springfield, MO before coming down to Branson so that Paul could visit the Bass Pro Shop. Even though we have a Bass Pro Shop 1 hour from our house this particular one is "the original". Paul was very excited to be there. It even has a wildlife museum that we toured. I think overall we probably spent 2 hours at this store. Paul was like a kid in a candy store the whole time!!

Here's Paul advertising our first destination. Notice the sign to welcome fisherman, hunters, and other liars. I love it!!


Paul and I in front of a waterfall in the museum.


Don't be scared, it's not real.


Still not real..


I told Paul he had to look scared and this is what I got :)

We then came on down to Branson and checked in our hotel and then took a drive to explore the city. We are going to a couple of shows tomorrow, but our main plan is to relax and enjoy each other.

Thanks for checking in....

The story of us......

The story of us began 17 years ago.

On a warm March night, a 15 year old girl went out with two of her girlfriends cruising Main Street in a small Texas town. The three girls happened to meet 3 boys from a neighboring town. The 6 teenagers talked and flirted for a while until the girls had curfew at 11pm. As they were saying good-bye one of the boys spoke up and said "Can we get one of your phone numbers?" Turns out he was the only one of the three boys that would not get in trouble for making a long distance call. One of the girls grabbed a piece of paper and wrote her number down. She was the only one of the three who (a) had a phone and (b) could recieve calls from boys. He called her the next afternoon and asked her for a date the following weekend. She accepted.

As you have probably figured out by now that girl was me and that boy was Paul. We dated for 2 1/2 years and the month after I graduated from high school (he had already graduated and was working and saving money for us) we were married in my hometown church in front of all our friends and family. Thursday we will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.

I truly can't imagine my life without him. We are complete opposites who compliment each other in every way. We were young, naive, sometimes stupid, but always in love. We had dreams, goals, and our future all mapped out. We have had some detours in the road, many hills and valleys, but we have remained a team.

This post is dedicated to my husband, my best friend, my love, my partner, and everything in between. I am truly blessed to have found my soulmate at such a young age and I can't wait to share many, many more anniversaries with you.

A look back through the years:



Paul and I the Christmas before we got married. I remember Paul's big gift from his parents was a 21" TV that was to go in our living room of our first apartment. Ironically, we had that TV in our bedroom until we sold it just a couple months ago. It was still working just fine.



Our Wedding Day. We look so young!!!




This picture was taken as we were saying our vows. Vows that we still uphold to this day.



For our 10th anniversary we went to Las Vegas and renewed our vows. I remember the preacher telling us "If you have already made it this long, you must be in it for the long haul."



This picture was taken on a carribean cruise we took several years ago. That is the only time either of us have ever been out of the US. We can't wait to go to China. Two country bumpkins in that country should be an experience.



I love this picture of the two of us. It was taken around the same time as the cruise.



This is us this past December. We made be older, and a little bigger but we still have those same smiles and the same love.

To celebrate our anniversary we are leaving Wednesday morning to go to Branson, Missouri for a couple of days. Our first thought was "That's where all the old people go." But guess what? We are getting to be the "old people" now.

I love you babe and can't wait to spend another 15 years with you.!!!!

Going's on in North Texas........

Another whirlwind week here. Yesterday Paul and I got our hair cut, ran errands, and then grilled steaks at my mom and dad's. I think we were both in bed by 9:30 last night (man, we are getting old).

Today we had a family reunion for my mom's side. It is always such fun to see people we unfortunately don't get to see very often. Of course, there were lots of questions about the impending adoption. One of my great-aunts even stated "I am tired of waiting!" Well, me too!!! Anyway, I think a good time was had by all. Is there any better than "reunion food"? I look forward to seeing the family but I also look forward to the food. All those home-made dishes and eating until you are miserable. We we got home Paul laid down for a nap (he has to work tonight)and I decided to join him :) A full belly always makes me tired.

Anyway, now I am refreshed, revived, and ready to tackle a project. I think I will begin tonight with a couple of big scrapbook projects I have been putting off. My goal is to get all of my pictures organized by the time Avery comes home so then I can just start from scratch. We'll see if I get that accomplished.

Just a couple of pics today:

Me, my Grandpa, and my mom. Can't wait until it is four generations together. Does everyone's Grandpa wear overalls and a long sleave shirt in the middle of June? Weddings and funerals are the only time you will see him wearing anything else!!



This is my laptop case I bought yesterday. We recently purchased a laptop and I wanted a cool bag to carry it in. I drug Paul all over town yesterday looking. So many of the bags we saw were basic black and boring. I found this one at Best Buy. It is a brown nylon with dark brown leather trim. Isn't it stylish? I can just picture myself going through all the different airports with my stylish bag...oh wait, I guess people won't be staring at my bag they will be staring at my beautiful daughter!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Don't forget Father's Day tomorrow!!!

The cutest shirt in the world......

To my "Mommies who Lunch" friends: Run, do not walk, to Old Navy and get one of these adorable shirts for your daughters. It is a little pricey at $12.50 but I just could not resist.

If we wind up going to China in the winter I think I will put a long sleeve white tee under it and have Miss Avery wear it when she becomes a US citizen. Of course that would mean having to change her clothes on the plane, just prior to landing. But with flying for over 12 hours with a little one I will probably have to change her clothes anyway.

Just had to show you my latest purchase. Not alot going on here. Errands, house cleaning, the usual Friday excitement.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.

A lazy Saturday.....

We came home from Paul's grandparents around midnight last night, so we slept in this morning. Yesterday afternoon we were able to finish Avery's "leftover" quilt. I think it turned out fabulous.


Sandra, Kay, me, and Grammy posing with the newest quilt. Let me give you some history about this quilt. When I was collecting quilt squares from friends and family one of my co-workers gave me the center block. Her great grand-mother had hand sewn several of these blocks while participating in a "quilting bee" after immigrating to the US from Germany. When Amy presented me with this block I was truly grateful, and awed to have this type of heirloom. When my mom and I picked a pattern for the 100 Good Wishes Quilt I just could not justify cutting this special block to fit into the quilt. Thus became the concept for the "left over" quilt. We used Amy's block for the centerpiece and then fabric we had left for the blocks around it. Grammy was so creative in fashioning a flower pot for our tulip centerpiece. Avery will be lucky enough to have the heirlooms and history from several generations as well as some wonderful quilts.

Today has been spent being lazy, lounging around the house doing the occasional chore. Hopefully tonight I will settle in and watch a movie and relax before going back to work tomorrow.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend.

The pictures I promised.....

Here it is: Avery's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. We wound up receiving 128 squares but with the size and pattern I picked out we needed 168 (leave it to me to be complicated). We took extra fabric we had left over and cut the other 40. I think it turned out great. Now the final step is the quilting process. Thank you so much Mom, Grammy, and Sandra for all your hard work!!!



From our "Mommies Who Lunch" on Thursday, here is Betsy with her referral pictures. We are so excited for her!!!



The infamous lunch crew:



Our little inspirations:



Mollianne strikes a pose with her new balloon shoes:

A special lunch and hanging with the family....

Where to begin......
The first part of this week was spent working of course, but then came time to play. Wednesday evening, I went to dinner with my parents and then my mom surprised me with the finished quilt top for Avery's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I can't believe she got it all sewn together so fast. We took it to Grammy's on Thursday so that she could begin the quilting process.

Thursday I had another lunch with my "Mommies who Lunch" group. I always have so much fun with this group of ladies. This lunch was bittersweet because we were also saying good-bye to Betsy. Betsy is leaving Saturday to move to the Seattle area. Betsy received her referral a couple of weeks ago. She brought all the paperwork she had recieved with her to lunch. It was so incredible to for me to see what the actual referral paperwork looks like.

Lunch was wonderful as usual. We went to Kelley's house where we dined on her world-famous chicken salad!!! Betsy, Kelley, Erin, Valerie, Jaimie, and I joked, laughed, talked, and everything in between. I feel very safe in saying a good time was had by all!!! Shelli was missing in action this time. She left earlier in the week for a trip with her husband. We missed you Shelli, hope you're having a great time!!

I made balloon flip-flops for all those attendance at lunch today. I think everyone really enjoyed their shoes.

After I got home from lunch, Paul and I left to go to Grammy and Daddy Sonny's for the night. Aunt Kay and Uncle Larry had come to visit so we went up to see them. Of course Larry and Kay had a new outfit for Avery. Thank ya'll so much!!!!

Thursday night we sat around catching up, admiring Avery's quilt, and watching the Mavericks playoff game. GO MAVS!!

Today when we got up we decided to make a quilt out of all the fabric we had left over from Avery's quilt. Grammy, Sandra, Kay, I all made a different square. We left this one with Grammy to quilt too.

Who know what the rest of the day holds. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!!
Sorry, no pictures today, when we go home I will add pictures of our weekend.

I WANT MY BABY AND I WANT HER NOW!!!!!!

Okay, now that I have that off my chest....for some reason this week the waiting has been exceptionally hard. I am not really sure why, nothing has happened in the world of Chinese adoption. Most weeks it doesn't bother me I have the optimistic outlook "it will happen, God is in control, yada, yada, yada". Not this week, I am tired of waiting , tired of everyone asking "Have you heard anything yet?", tired of seeing little Chinese faces everywhere I go, tired of dreaming of someday, I want her NOW!!!! I am in much better spirits today than I was earlier in the week so maybe my disposition is on the way up......

I can't think of a better way to spend a hot Saturday afternoon that floating around in the pool with the new People magazine, so that is what I am off to do. Just thought I would check in and give everyone a quick update of the goings-on in my world.

Yesterday, we went to Paul's moms and grandmothers (they live next door to each other) to cut out some trim pieces for Avery's quilt. The pattern I have chosen requires you to sew a small triangle on each corner of the quilt and then piece it together. My mom will be doing that portion and then Grammy will be quilting it. We plan to get started on the piecing very soon.


Here is Grammy (the instructor) teaching me (the student)how to cut these perfect little triangles. I am so glad she was able to help me, otherwise, it would have taken forever to get it all done.


WE HAVE CURTAINS:

My mom came over this morning to hang the curtains in Avery's room. I think they turned out great. I wanted to take a picture of my mom in front of the curtains and Rowdy just HAD to be included.


No particular reason for this picture other than it is one of my favorites. My two "guys" Paul and Rowdy.


Hope everyone had a great week, my positive comment for the day: We are one week closer to our daughter!!