Thursday, August 30, 2012

Princess Conleigh

I wish I could bottle Conleigh's attitude and put it online.  The little girl whose update photos from the orphanage came with the memo "Princess Conleigh" is certainly full of it.  Spunk, sass, hutzpa, whatever you want to call it...  I'm not always sure how to deal with it because a lot of the time it's not meant as disrespect.  (Although there are definitely times where it is and we have to nip that in the bud.  I am certainly not one who thinks it is cute when kids are called princesses and really they are just bratty, rude, and contempteous.) 

Yesterday, she was relaying to me the plans she had made with her friend, Nick, regarding school lunch.  "Nick and I decided on Friday we were going to match.  I need to bring an apple, watermelon, a peanut butter sandwich and carrots."  "Hmmm...I don't think we have any carrots, " I replied.  "Well," she told me, "I just expect it!"  (Actually what she said was "I just respect it" but after doing a close mouthed chuckle, I asked if she meant expect which was what she did mean.)

She also had art class with her papa yesterday and was aghast to learn that the rules he sets forth for the entire class actually apply to her too.  After being told to draw 5 lines, she drew way too many.  D stopped by her workspace, asked her about the directions, and was quickly told, "But Papa!  You're my Papa!"

You will also all be pleased to know that she and Nick are still getting married but after a quick discussion on the playground after school on Tuesday, they will not be living in Africa or Florida.  Nick doesn't want to move; he wants to stay here.  And live on a farm.  So he can have a horse.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Zeke Update

Adoption Timeline for Zeke 
(Waiting child from an agency specific list)

Submit LOI (Letter of Intent) to China that identifies a child you'd like to adopt.  (Submitted LOI December 20)

Wait 1-4 weeks for Pre Approval/PA (Received January 3)

Complete homestudy and start assembling dossier (3-4 months)
*Complete homestudy (started mid December, homestudy completed by homestudy agency March 1)
*Send in I800a paperwork (can't apply for the I800a until you have your completed homestudy, application received by USCIS March 8)
*Be fingerprinted  (Received original fingerprint date of April 17, walked in to Omaha USCIS office to be fingerprinted April 5)
*Receive I800a approval  (Received verbal approval April 12, will hopefully have it in hand at the beginning of next week)
*Authenticate documents at the secretary of state's office  (All are done)
*Send documents to the US Department of State and then the Chinese Consulate  (Have to have the I800a approval authenticated by the secretary of state before we can send our documents)

Send dossier to China on May 11 (DTC)

Wait for LID (log in date) which is China acknowledging that your dossier has been received (LID of May 23)

Wait for LOA (Letter of Approval) which is China formally approving you as parents for your child-July 18

File I800, I864 (US immigration paperwork).  Wait for I800 approval (USCIS received our I800 7/23 and we received our approval letter back on 8/4)

Have I800 approval cabled to US Consulate in China (August 13)

Wait for Article 5 (August 28)

Wait for travel approval (TA), 2-4 weeks

So now we are just waiting for travel approval which is basically the Chinese government inviting us to visit China.  After that, we will be able to make our travel plans.  If we followed the short end of the TA wait, we would have our travel approval mid September.  Even with the travel approval, it is not like we will be taking off as soon as we have TA.  We have to schedule an appointment for adoption paperwork that has to be completed in China so that means submitting a handful of dates and waiting to hear what date you will have your appointment on.  You need to know that date before you start buying tickets and booking travel.  Also, China has a national holiday the first week of October.  Government offices are closed for that week so adoption paperwork cannot be processed.  I am hopeful we will be able to travel to China to sight see and pick up Zeke the first week of October with the second week of October being used to do adoption paperwork in the province that processes that.  But as of right now, I'm just hanging tight until we know a bit more.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Kenson is 6...plus a few of my favorite cake decorating recipes


We're a few days late but Kenson turned 6 on the 6th! A golden birthday and I didn't even realize it.  We had a small party with Grandma, Grandpa Dave and Grandma Joann, Grandma 2 and our family and then invited a small group of friends over for a playdate with a pinata.  His wishes included a Husker jersey cake (which actually started in Kenson's mind as a Husker stadium cake but I talked him out of that one), a toy ambulance, and a pinata. 

I used my all time favorite birthday cake recipe, Sour Cream Almond Wedding cake.  It starts with a boxed mix but tastes nothing like a boxed mix.  It's also a nice, dense cake which makes it great for carving.  And I've made it with oodles of variations by adding in extracts, fruit juice, and different frostings.  Definitely worth sharing.  I also did fondant again for the stripes and number.  I used a marshmallow fondant recipe I've used before and it always seems to turn out well.  (I did have red fingers for a day or two from kneading in the food coloring paste but I knew that was highly possible since I didn't use gloves.)  Last, I love the mini footballs my mom hand cut out of brownies.  So easy to add icing laces.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Kindergarten is Exhausting

It really is.

But we are loving it.  From computers to music to seeing Mama and Papa at school, it's been fun.  Conleigh might be in for a rude awakening this week though.  Last week, after many days of fun, "let's get back into the routine" type activities, she informed me that kindergarten was so much better than preschool because you don't have to do worksheets.  I'm pretty sure that will not be true once things get going.

Monday, August 13, 2012

More Exciting News...I800 Cabled



Adoption Timeline for Zeke 
(Waiting child from an agency specific list)

Submit LOI (Letter of Intent) to China that identifies a child you'd like to adopt.  (Submitted LOI December 20)

Wait 1-4 weeks for Pre Approval/PA (Received January 3)

Complete homestudy and start assembling dossier (3-4 months)
*Complete homestudy (started mid December, homestudy completed by homestudy agency March 1)
*Send in I800a paperwork (can't apply for the I800a until you have your completed homestudy, application received by USCIS March 8)
*Be fingerprinted  (Received original fingerprint date of April 17, walked in to Omaha USCIS office to be fingerprinted April 5)
*Receive I800a approval  (Received verbal approval April 12, will hopefully have it in hand at the beginning of next week)
*Authenticate documents at the secretary of state's office  (All are done)
*Send documents to the US Department of State and then the Chinese Consulate  (Have to have the I800a approval authenticated by the secretary of state before we can send our documents)

Send dossier to China on May 11 (DTC)

Wait for LID (log in date) which is China acknowledging that your dossier has been received (LID of May 23)

Wait for LOA (Letter of Approval) which is China formally approving you as parents for your child-July 18

File I800, I864 (US immigration paperwork).  Wait for I800 approval (USCIS received our I800 7/23 and we received our approval letter back on 8/4)

Have I800 approval cabled to US Consulate in China (August 13)

Wait for Article 5 (2-3 weeks)

Wait for travel approval (TA), 2-4 weeks

It's shaping up to be an October homecoming.  Late September is maybe even possible.  Guess we'll just wait and see.  (And yes, one of the dates is Zeke's in our process is Zeke's birthday which I love.  Kenson shares my birthday, Conleigh came home on her birthday, and Zeke's USCIS paperwork was received by USCIS on his birthday.)

First Day of Kindergarten

Off to kindergarten...  

We had a few tears on Sunday night but there was no looking back on Monday morning.  Guess it helps to know Dad's at school with you.  My biggest worries?  Hoping Conleigh remembered that the lunchroom was called the cafeteria and not the cemetery and hoping Conleigh did not drive her teacher crazy with her newest learned skill, whistling.

Conleigh's apple skirt is so cute!  The body is apple trees and the pockets are shaped like ric rac with apple words like "Granny Smith" and "Golden Delicious."  Thank you, Hancock Fabrics!

What We've Been Up To

Well, because I apparently cannot stand dull and boring...in the 7 days we have done on birthday, a big move, and the first day of school.  (And managed to survive no Internet for a week.)


My family members:  be sure to note the cardinal solar light, a gift from the grandma.  I know you'll appreciate it.   We actually received a box of goodies for every room in the house so apparently the solar light was the outside.  


Sunday, August 5, 2012

Not My Usual Post

A few weeks ago, it dawned on me that I was going to need to get a diaper bag.  One of those "we're going to have a 2 year old pretty soon" moments.  After looking at several options, I decided to order one from a small business on Etsy.  I just got it today and I am smitten.  It's made from oil cloth which is kind of like vinyl but better.  Beth at Beth's Market Bags has many different fabric choices and sizes.  You can mix and match fabrics, add pockets, add zippers, shorten straps, etc..  The bags would be great for so many things:  swimming, shopping, library totes...I think the list is endless.  Without further ado, here's the bag.


Saturday, August 4, 2012

I800 Approval (14 days)


Adoption Timeline for Zeke 
(Waiting child from an agency specific list)

Submit LOI (Letter of Intent) to China that identifies a child you'd like to adopt.  (Submitted LOI December 20)

Wait 1-4 weeks for Pre Approval/PA (Received January 3)

Complete homestudy and start assembling dossier (3-4 months)
*Complete homestudy (started mid December, homestudy completed by homestudy agency March 1)
*Send in I800a paperwork (can't apply for the I800a until you have your completed homestudy, application received by USCIS March 8)
*Be fingerprinted  (Received original fingerprint date of April 17, walked in to Omaha USCIS office to be fingerprinted April 5)
*Receive I800a approval  (Received verbal approval April 12, will hopefully have it in hand at the beginning of next week)
*Authenticate documents at the secretary of state's office  (All are done)
*Send documents to the US Department of State and then the Chinese Consulate  (Have to have the I800a approval authenticated by the secretary of state before we can send our documents)

Send dossier to China on May 11 (DTC)

Wait for LID (log in date) which is China acknowledging that your dossier has been received (LID of May 23)

Wait for LOA (Letter of Approval) which is China formally approving you as parents for your child-July 18

File I800, I864 (US immigration paperwork).  Wait for I800 approval (USCIS received our I800 7/23 and we received our approval letter back on 8/4)

Have I800 approval cabled to US Consulate in China (2 weeks)

Wait for Article 5 (2-3 weeks)

Wait for travel approval (TA), 2-4 weeks

It's shaping up to be an October homecoming.  Late September is maybe even possible.  Guess we'll just wait and see.  (And yes, one of the dates is Zeke's in our process is Zeke's birthday which I love.  Kenson shares my birthday, Conleigh came home on her birthday, and Zeke's USCIS paperwork was received by USCIS on his birthday.)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Guess who's taking swimming lessons?








And guess who is also the "girl of a thousand faces?"

Highlights so far...bobbing, front and back floating, going down the slides and for Conleigh, jumping off the diving board