Cute clothes alert!

This looks like another care package post, but it's not! I have a good friend, Nicole, who has been giving me sweet little girl clothes when her daughter grows out of them.
Nicole and I were both pregnant with baby #4 at the same time! We both had 3 boys (about the same ages) during our last pregnancies. Our babies were born a week apart. We were blessed with our little Jason, and Nicole had Chloe a week later! So our kids have played and grown up together, and I am very grateful for a kind friend!

These are just some of the clothes-- are they cute or what!?? And the shoes...I go nuts over little girl shoes!

Thank you, Nicole!

Care Package #4

We are sending some pictures of the boys (and other family pictures) to Sarah. Logan is holding a photo of Sarah that Grandma W. had enlarged.

I've got another package together and ready to send. This time we are sending Sarah two cute summer outfits (got them at the Osh Kosh outlet-- I love that place!!), and an adorable pink purse that sings and talks and comes with fun "girlie" accessories like lipstick and a mirror. We are sending the foster family jars of jam and dried berries that are grown in our home town, and a postcard of our town.

For the New Day kids, we are sending items that were on the preschool "wish list". I figured this was right up my alley! So I sent a book of vinyl clings (four seasons), and "weather bear", a bear the kids can dress up according to the weather.

Care Package from Grandma

My mom is sending another care package to Sarah. She recently went to Cheyenne and brought home some fun clothes and books for her. She likes going to the "big city" because she can shop at Target! Her home town is fairly remote and even Walmart is 40 minutes away. So shopping the big retail stores is a special occasion!

She is sending the foster family a Wyoming "buckin' bronco" wood carving and some lip balm. Lately we've been trying to send gifts that reflect our part of the United States.

Seven Quirky Things...

Well, I guess I am a true blogger now! I have been tagged by my friend Lisa! Here are 7 quirky things about me...

1. I'm not much of a movie person. As in, I don't really enjoy going to a movie theater. I like the popcorn and treats, but I guess I haven't seen a really good movie in a long time that keeps my interest for two hours. This could be because the majority of the movies I've seen lately are animated! Anyway, movies are also very LOUD in a theater, which bothers me. Maybe I have sensory overload issues...

2. When I am in a public place, I sometimes actually look for the exits in case of an emergency. I know this sounds really paranoid, but I do.

3. I am addicted to reality T.V. My favorite shows are Jon and Kate Plus 8, Little People, Big World, Top Chef, American Idol, and Project Runway. Not so much Survivor anymore.

4. I am an American history buff. I have this thing about JFK and the Kennedy family. Ever since I was young I was very interested in JFK, even though he died before I was born. And one of my favorite shows on TV is PBS's "American Experience". Yes, I'm a nerd, and through the years I've learned to embrace my nerdiness!

5. I love animals and enjoy going to the zoo as much (or more) than my kids. I like to visit neighbors when they have new puppies or kittens! I can't go to Petsmart on pet adoption day. I want to bring all the animals home with us! Last time, we almost brought home a beagle! We already have 2 basset hounds!

6. I love sauerkraut. My husband, who lived in Germany for two years, does not. He likes me to open the windows when I eat it.

7. I lived in Alaska when I was a teenager and for fun we used to hook up my neighbor's husky and drive the dog sled around the neighborhood.

Official Business

We got the infamous brown envelope in the mail this week. I wasn't sure at the time what it was, just that it was from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. So I quickly ripped it open and found that it gives instructions for the forms we will need to fill out for Sarah's visa.

Imagine that! More forms to fill out!

Back to the waiting...

Feathered friends

This is our backyard playset...

This is a robin's nest under the log cabin...

This is mama robin giving me the evil eye... (she's on the fence post). We've learned to keep our distance from this protective mama. Fortunately, as of last night, the babies have flown the coop, and we are now granted permission to play in the backyard again!

We are LID!!

More great news! Our DHL envelope with all of our documents arrived in Beijing on June 2 at 3:32 pm. I got a call from our agency this morning saying that we are LID!

LID means "logged in documents" and it sometimes takes two weeks (or more) to get LID. Our agency tells us we have set a new record for LID! So our LID date is June 3, and we hope to have more good news in 2-4 months!

Our prayers have been answered and we are so thankful for our many blessings! We were very discouraged when we had a paperwork delay, but now everything seems to be moving along again!

What's next? We are now waiting for LOA (letter of approval) which is the last big hurdle. LOA means that the Chinese government has officially approved us to be Sarah's family! Then we will get a TA (travel appointment) and go get Sarah! Come on, LOA!