3/4s of the way completed ~ What did you just say?

Well, after weeks of what seems like playing a one-side game of "phone-tag" Keith finally got in touch with our social worker (on the Thursday before we left for our beach trip reunion) with in regards to our home study for Benjamin James & Annabelle's 6 month post placement...and according to him, it is three-quarters of the way completed. NO! He didn't just say that - did he? Doesn't he know how important these two reports are to us? Doesn't he remember that he TOLD me that they would be completed within a few weeks after our first visit (back on May 11th). To ask if we are upset, you bet we are - but what else more can we do...we are at his mercy.

So to make it seem like we are moving along with our dossier, I am working on getting our 8 family photos together, our three couple photos together, and our extra passport photos as well. And after having our blood work repeated for a third time in the past four years the last time we were in PA, we also made an appointment with our physician for our dossier physical exam form on the 17th. We are trying ~ to move forward and not let this "bump" get us down....

AND

since I do have two very funny photos to share with you all...I am including them in on this post! You know how most kids get gum stuck in their hair - not our daughter - she got...

that's right - a battery operated car stuck in her hair and yes I did have to cut it out!

Since this coming weekend will actually be our first official weekend home with only the four of us around ~ I am once again taking a short break from bloggerland to sit back and ENJOY! I'll catch up with you all next week!

Here's to all of us having one beautiful weekend ahead!!!!

one amazing weekend!

After months of traveling for our daughters to China back in October 2008, 3 out of the 6 families reunited for one amazing weekend at Bethany Beach in Delaware! The house was beautiful, the beach was a ton of fun, the kiddos (between all of us there were 9 of them) were always laughing, the food was delicious, and the conversations were never-ending (along with a lot of laughing happening with the adults too) - we all truly had ONE AMAZING TIME!

"Thank You - Woody, Becky, J #1, J #2, CC, Little D, S Man, Tova, Al, Lori, and Hannah - for inviting our family along in sharing with you all one truly amazing weekend at the beach! We are already looking forward to meeting up again...and knowing from our very last conversation before we all headed out in our separate directions...that it will be happening very soon...Miss you all so very much."



J #1 and J #2 ~ I just love these two boys. They always had me in stitches! And next time, I will bet you both at some Checkers!


Lori, Hannah, and Al enjoying some ocean time!



Francesca & CC! I am not sure if you all remember but CC was one of the adopted children from our travel group. Francesca and she formed a bond in China that was never broken or forgotten....


Annabelle's first steps into the ocean - she just loved it!


Keith & me (OK so we needed some photos taken for Benjamin's dossier - no better time to take them than with other families who have already traveled down that road and know exactly what is needed...this was one of the couple's shot)


(and this was another - a family shot!)


Mama and her baby girl!


The boys playing in the sand....


Woody on "kiddo-watch" while us Mamas enjoyed some free time!


and again that's our Woody!


and this is our Hannah!


Our claim to the beach! (like how Annabelle is just passed out on the towel - that's my girl!)


Francesca being buried in the sand by CC and Hannah...

Francesca always loves a trip to the beach!

and our Annabelle - just plainly passed out!

Again, here you have CC - This beautiful young lady has truly changed me as a person, an adult, a friend, an on-looker, and as a mother. She is such a beautiful girl...inside and out! I would love to tell you more of her story, but her story is not mine to tell. All I can say is...she has changed me and touched me like no other person has ever had...

and last but not least....little Tova! She is such a cutie!

And well - there you have it! One amazing weekend - wrapped up in one heart-felt post!

(Keith snapped 99% of the photos this past weekend and I must say, he did a great job at it! After snapping over 300 of them, I think he is starting to actually like it!)

As for Jen/Brian Family, Karen Family and Lisa/Monty Family - we all miss you guys so very much! Hopefully we can all plan something half way in between all our homes for a reunion!

"Oh I want what you're having Daddy!"

Just a quick post here before we too head out for a last minute trip to the beach this coming weekend with some travel mates from our 2008 journey to China! But since it was Keith's birthday on Monday, we decided to celebrate his big day at Outback's! Seeing how Francesca so refuses to try anything new...we were totally surprise when she asked her Dad if she could try his steak! With one bit - she was hooked and said "so long" to her grilled cheese she ordered! She can't wait to go back again and order some steak! (that's my girl!)

Poor Annabelle just hasn't been herself lately. Not sure what is up, but she has been having some nose bleeds and not eating as well as she normally does. I will share more with you all when I can...

On the paper chase for Benjamin - we are STILL waiting on our home study! I should of had known better seeing how I was told it would be completed three weeks ago...but I have stepped back from handling this - and Keith has taken over! He is usually the mild one in our family, but I can see he is getting pretty upset as well (seeing how he has been trying to call our SW for over a week now & leaving messages with no return phone calls). Maybe today will be our lucky day....

and...

On the "bloggerland" home front - I am finally getting caught up with all my fellow blogger friends! I am so behind but since yesterday, I have been trying to regroup, catch up, and enjoy all the posts (along with posting some comments)! Looks like you all are having a wonderful summer...as we are too! Here's to a beautiful 4th of July weekend ahead! I'll be back sometime next week with some beach photos as well...

Washington DC Zoo!

I love this photo of Francesca and Papa walking while holding hands (while on our way back to our LR)! It was a super sweet ending to one amazing day!

PS - you may all be wondering where was Annabelle during our visit to the Zoo and while I must say, she hung in there as best she could - but within an hour of our tour around the zoo, she fell fast asleep in her stroller.

and on two final notes:

1st - we are still waiting on our home study from our social worker and best of all he was on vacation all last week. You can bet your final dollar that come Monday morning - he will be getting a phone call from me...(I'll keep you all posted)

2nd - and I want to wish the greatest husband and father anyone could ever dream of (at least in my opinion) a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow!!!! WE ALL LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH & have something extra special planned just for you!

getting settled...

OK..so we have been residents of the beautiful suburbs of Washington DC for three weeks now and I must admit ~ I AM LOVING!!!! Our house, the area, and best of all - our family finally united 7 days a week - I am praying that we never have to move back to northeastern PA...it is "almost" everything I ever dreamed of. We are finally getting settled. For me - the hardest part is keeping this house clean. With now living in double the square footage from our old house in PA, I can't seem to keep up. We talked about getting some help to come in (which I did have in PA) but I am wanting to see if I can do it on my own (which I am hoping that by next week, I'll have a "schedule" of what needs to be done when). I will be taking some photos of the inside once we return from a visit to Grandma's in PA this weekend. I did manage to get some outside shots of the house and our fabulous front porch. The girls are loving it here as well and the only thing that I am not liking about the area is how expensive "going-out-to-eat" is!!! (our bills has doubled since our move, but I guess that goes with the territory).

Now...onto the photos!

Don't you just love the Ancient Chinese Soldiers statues! I have been endlessly looking for some giant Foo Dogs to grace the entrance of our patio but I just couldn't find "exactly" what I wanted. Once I saw these, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted...and thanks to my husband...I got them!

I will have some photos of our trip to the zoo this past weekend while Papa and Grandma C. came up for a visit! With only living minutes away, it is the perfect way to spend an afternoon (and best of all - the pandas were very active that day!)

from one DC to the other DC...

Well, we finally are 100% moved and living in the Washington DC area! This past week has been nothing but unpacking, cleaning, and shopping (which was my favorite part). The girls are LOVING it here and we have already started looking into some amazing preschools for Francesca to start with in the fall. My mom is here this weekend and we are all having a blast! I am going to be taking off some time from our blog until we get totally settled (hoping that happens in the next week or so). So if you don't see me too often or too soon, you'll know why... I just checked my emails today and responded to all of you with our status, new address & and/or phone number. My Internet connection here has been giving me some issues...so I haven't been logging on like I used to. So if you need me...a phone call would work best! Love you all and miss you all so much but I'll be back soon...

As for our paper chasing for Benjamin James...our HS is almost complete. I have to call our SW on Monday and see whats up. Hoping - PRAYING - it will be completed soon....

S&*( H#$% I^&* T@#!

How does one small house accumulate so much sh!t is beyond me! I truly have been packing non-stop for the past two weeks! As of Monday, our phone, Internet, and satellite service will be disconnected...and we will be in our new home! Everyone is super excited including me, but I am also a little sad to be leaving behind my mom, my sister, my grandmother, and so many of our other family and friends behind...I keep telling myself, "It is only a 3.5 hour drive home. That's not so bad." And this is not the first time I moved away. Maybe it is because I am getting older...or maybe it is because I am a mom now...but I just am feeling so very sad! The only thing I do know is that as soon as I am on I81 South...that our life as a whole family will be just the beginning....

(plus my mom is coming down the weekend of the 13th...my dad & stepmom are coming the weekend of the 20th - along with my sister...and I will return home on the 25th for my sister's birthday...not too bad.)

OK..signing off from PA...next post will be from our new home in MARYLAND!