5 days. . .

Getting closer :)

We got an email Wednesday telling us that Spencer was able to get his travel visa to enter China, (insert sigh of relief here.) It is was Fed Ex'd and we got it yesterday.

With less then a week to go we only have a few things left on our list of "things to do." The shopping for items is 99% done. For our gifts to bring country we got pistachios. We asked our coordinator for ideas and she said either pistachios or macadamia nuts. She said to plan on gifts for 8.

Last night Dave and I had our last date night for awhile. We went to the temple and then a nice dinner. It was great to relax and decompress after all the heightened activity at our home.

This morning we got our final travel itinerary. All the dates are the same as the one I posted last week. But it has more details with hotel names and phone numbers. It should be good. Still working on a few details, but we should be set to go in 5 days.

I downloaded a few books for my kindle. . . that gives me 3 to read (Funny in Farsi, The Maze Runner 1 & 2) and one audio book (Matched).

Well, off to a busy day of sewing and gardening!

Slight Panic Attack

This evening, at 6:20 PM to be exact, our adoption coordinator called us and told us China would not give Spencer a visa to enter the country unless we could prove he is our son.

So maddening!

They wanted proof that this Asian boy, with Caucasian parents, was really ours. They wanted a copy of his U.S. birth certificate and also a copy of the adoption decree. I am so glad that we readopted Spencer once we got home and we have all the US paper work to show for it. We plan to readopt Jacob too.

So after scanning the documents, with a short fuse on the deadline, we got everything they needed emailed ASAP. Hopefully it will all be taken over to the Chinese embassy first thing in the morning to be processed.

I needed this stress like a hole in the head.

9 days. . .

Two weeks from today Jacob joins our family in the flesh.

9 days from now we climb on a plane and head out. What an adventure!

We know three of our hotel in China so far. We will be getting a detailed itinerary in a few days. But here are the details so far. . .

Beijing: We will be staying at Hotel Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao. It is right in the city center, within walking distance of The forbidden city, Tienanmen Square and The National Museum of China. On Friday after we arrive we plan to scope out some places close to the hotel.




On Saturday we have a trip planned to visit The Great Wall.

The details of our Yinchuan stay are still fuzzy. We know we get Jacob on the 11th, and that one day we will have a city tour. Other then that. . . still waiting on the details.

In Guangzhou we will be staying at The White Swan. The White Swan is kind of famous among international adoptive parents. Many, many families stay at this hotel when completing the adoption process. This is the hotel our guide uses as a base for meetings, so that is where we will be.



We will be taking the train to Hong Kong after we pick up our visa for Jacob. In Hong Kong we will be staying at the Marriott Hotel by the airport. Our flight departs at 8:25 AM, so as much as I would love to explore Hong Kong with my boys. . . sleep and being well resting might just have to win out.

Birthday Photos

We had a great day celebrating Spencer's Birthday. It started with a morning showing of Cars 2. When we first saw the trailer for Cars 2 last fall, we promised Spencer we would see it for this birthday. It has been a staple in our family conversation for some time.

Spencer loved the movie. Although he did have lots of questions about guns and why they had them and what they do with them. . . and who should you shoot at. . . and why should you shoot someone. (We almost never let Spencer see any action/fighting cartoons. So this movie was pretty intense for him.) I would have rated this film PG, instead of G, because of the killing, action & violence. At any rate, we all liked the movie. It was not the Dirty Dozen, but be prepared for some intense sequences that you might see in a PG.

We had a fun BBQ. Tiffani brought the Buzz Lightyear cake. It was so cute. His face looked amazing! Just like the action figure. We had some hot dogs and burgers along with some great salad, fruit & fruit dip, chips & bean dip and of course cake & ice cream.

Spencer's favorite part was opening presents. Starting on Friday he asked to open presents. The little guy got some many toys, books, games and clothes. . .he is set. It was great because he got some good things to take with us to China. (Games for his Leapster, books, summer clothes and a cute Lightning McQueen carry on.)

It was a super day with lots of sugar, running around, fun movies and family to adore and love him. . . Happy 4th Birthday Spencer!

Cool cake!

An Aunt Tiff creation!

T-minus 12 days. . .

Yesterday we purchased our tickets. It feels so real. . . spending a few thousand dollars on airfare will do that :) Last night we made a paper chain to count down the days. Every morning we take one off, this morning Spencer couldn't wait.



We have an ideal flight plan. When we talked with our adoption agency's travel coordinator we asked for two things. . . #1 Least expensive. . . #2 No LAX. She found us a great deal. . . cheaper then what we could find ourselves on Orbits or Kayak. . . And we totally skip LAX. Our flight goes from Salt Lake City to Tokyo to Beijing. Our return flight is Hong Kong to Tokyo to Salt Lake City.

Still working on how to get from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. We are looking at the train or perhaps a bus/shuttle service. It was hundreds of dollars less to leave from Hong Kong, so we will find a way. Spencer is quite excited about taking a train.

We are still making lists and plans. It has been about 3 months since we got the referral and you think I would be more prepared, but I feel like I am in a daze. After 4 years of waiting it will really happen. I keep trying to catch my breath when think about it.

Well, tomorrow is a big day around here. We are celebrating Spencer's 4th birthday. It all starts with going to see Cars 2 in the morning then a family party/BBQ. My sister Tiffani is making a special Buzz Lightyear birthday cake. Last year she made a Mater Cake. Spencer is quite excited. We have all been looking forward to seeing the movie and celebrating. . . Spencer is especially excited about the presents :)

Consulate Appointment- Confirmed

Well, we got our consulate appointment confirmation this morning! We are set with a July 19 appointment.

Here is our itinerary that was put together by our agency. It looks good to me. We are still looking at flights, but my hope is that by the end of the day we will have our tickets!


7/6 (Wed.) Depart SLC
7/7 (Thurs) Arrive Beijing
7/8 (Friday) Tour Beijing
7/9 (Saturday) Tour Beijing
7/10 (Sunday)-- Depart Beijing - Arrive Yinchuan
7/11 (Monday)--Gotcha Day
7/12 (Tuesday)--Adoption Registration/apply for notary documents and passport
7/13 (Wednesday)--
7/14 (Thursday)--city tour (optional; cost extra)
7/15 (Friday)--pick up Chinese passport and fly to Guangzhou
7/16 (Saturday)--medical exam
7/17 (Sunday)
7/18 (Monday)--paperwork review for the consulate appointment
7/19 (Tuesday)--Consulate Appointment and swear-in ceremony
7/20 (Wednesday)--Pick up immigrant visa at 3 pm
7/21 (Thursday)--depart China. You can actually leave Guangzhou after 7 pm on 7/20.


A total of 16 days. . .

T.A.

We got this email just a few minutes ago. . .

Congratulations on receiving of your TA!!! Did you get your Chinese visa? If you have not, you can send your passports to me and I can help you getting the visa here in LA. All you have to do is to FedEx your passports and 1 2'X2" passport size, color with white back ground photo per each traveler to me . . .

I will request your consulate appointment for July 18. That means you will need to travel to China by July 10. If this is a good time, please let me know. Your tentative travel date will be July 10 to July 20.

Please confirm! THANK YOU!!!

Can I hear a Hallelujah?!

2-4 weeks

We hope to be in China in 2-4 weeks. If it was to be as short as two weeks we would need to get the TA today. . . possible, but not probable.

At any rate mid-July is still looking very good! I have started to write a little list and keep my eyes open for travel items. I just got a large "purse" to take on the plane as my "personal item." It has tons of space. We also got a Mater DVD for Spencer to watch and some powdered Pedialite to take with us.

I have been following a family that is there now. It looks like they spent about 2 days in Beijing, 5 days in Yinchuan and will be in Guangzhou about 5 days.

Here is their itinerary so far:

June 9: Depart
June 10: Arrive
June 11: Sightseeing in Beijing
June 12: AM Sightseeing in Beijing & PM flight to Yinchuan
June 13: Adoption Day*

*Go to the orphanage in the morning, meet with the Orphanage director & nannies. Meet their son. Leave the orphanage with their son and go to a variety of places to complete needed official paperwork

June 14: Some paperwork and free time
June 15: Some paperwork and free time
June 16: Some paperwork and free time
June 17: Flight from Yinchuan to Guangzhou
June 18: Visa photo & physical exam & free time
June 19: Sightseeing and free time

That is all they have posted so far, but I haunt their blog regularly : ) It is good to see what their experience is like so we can manage our expectations.

Some other friends of ours, who have a daughter in Yinchuan, just got a travel date! They will be in China June 29-July 13th.

We are getting closer. . .

P.S. I saw this China Adoption Bracelet and fell in love with it!

Wednesday

Just your regular Wednesday here. But with one notable exception. . . I saw of Video clip of Jacob this morning.

The family that is there right now shared a 1-minute video clip of from the orphanage saying goodbye, (you may recall the photo I posted on Monday of the group shot.) There was a nice sized group of kids and Jacob was there. He was on screen for about 10 seconds. He was waving his arms and being held by the nanny. He looked good, healthy and active. It was a great way to start my day. I was able to download the file and edit it so you can see the part with Jacob, 20 seconds of pure bliss~



Yesterday I mowed the lawn, I love living here. I love our yard and taking care of it. I have some fun plans and designs that I would like to implement, but this summer is basically shot. Our time and budget are already dedicated to something more important :)

My class is going along quite well, week 1 of 8 is done. I hope to be able to give it the focus it needs. It has been hard to stay focused.

This morning Spencer and I went to the park to play.

New Photos of Jacob!

Our friends in China were able to get two photos of Jacob.

He has gotten big! Wow!

3 to 5 weeks away

In 3 to 5 weeks we will be in China. I am so excited. I can't help but futurize about it. I almost have everything ready. I still need to make a crib bumper and sort through some clothes for Jacob. Spencer is excited too, this morning he was in Jacob's room rocking in the rocking chair. I asked him what we was doing, he said he was pretending to hold Jacob. He will be a wonderful brother.

We are hoping to get an update today. Some friends of ours are there right now, today they adopted their 3 year old son and said they would try to get photos and an update of Jacob. I have been sitting on my email all day just waiting for it. The good news is, that when they met their son. . .

"Oliver did receive the package we sent him and he was well versed on who was who in the pictures. The staff took pictures with the camera we sent and now I just have to get them developed."

So, I hope that Jacob also received our package and that they also took photos with the camera we sent. That is good news. I was worried that the nannies would not have time to sit down with Jacob and show him our photos, but it looks like they did with this little boy.

If we get some photos I will be sure to post them and share any updates that we might get.

One day closer. . . .

Here is a photo of the family I was telling you about. You can see the dad and the orphanage director and the nannies. The little guy on the far left, in the green shirt, is Jacob. The file size is small so it is hard to see him.

Fun with friends

Spencer had a great time tonight with friends!

4-6 weeks

We are one week closer to going to China to bring home Jacob. It is now 4-6 weeks away (my countdown timer to the "average" day is. . . 32 days. . . July 12th) So I hope in 32 days I will be blogging from China with photos and love!

Last night was preschool graduation. Spencer still has another year left with Miss Kim, but it was great to celebrate the end of a marvelous 1st year of school. I got some pictures with my new iPhone and I think I will be able to make the transition quite well! I love the new technology. I was on the fence about the new phone, but I already LOVE it! I am new to this whole "apps" thing, so let me know if you have one you can't live without.

The yard is shaping up. I replaced a couple of shrubs in the front that didn't make it and the new mower is working well. Ahhh I love summer. In a couple of weeks we will have a B-day party for Spencer and the house and yard should be in good shape!

Life is good around here.

Here is another photo from graduation:

Graduation!

Wedding Weekend

Allow me to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bauer.



Yesterday my sister Sandy and Chris were married in Las Vegas. It was a quasi-elopement. We had 6 days to get ready! Chris and Sandy have been engaged for about 8 months. They were planning on a big bash with all the trapping, but love won over glitz. They just decided to go to Vegas and make it official.




As you can see Sandy was a radiant bride! I got to do her hair for the wedding with a sweeping up-do.






Sandy and Chris chose a perfect venue. The wedding chapel was great, it even had a drive through! There were a few brides there, I guess Saturday is a busy day at the Chapel.



Here is a picture with the moms. Both moms were beaming and seem just as happy as the couple. This was the first time I had met Chris' family and they were warm and loving. They already felt like family to me.




(Just before walking down the aisle together.)



The Chapel was lovely. It had flowers and a fountain. The stained glass windows added the perfect touch of elegance and ambiance.

It was the perfect day! I promise a more detailed post on the wonderful food and accommodations, a missing marriage license. . . and how best to slice a wedding cake with a hunting knife :)

Feild Trip to the Fire Station

This week Spencer's preschool is wrapping. At the end of the year his teacher plans some fun field trips. Last year we went to the Aquarium and got see the penguins and pet the sting rays. This year Miss Kim's students got to visit the local fire station.




They got to see the station and go inside the fire engine. Everyone got a fire hat and a "Junior Fire Fighter" badge (sticker.) After the tour the kids got to play at a park right by the fire station. A good time was had by all!!!