Passing the time

We have been so busy this last week that it is a nice way to pass the time as we wait for Annaka.
Scott's cousin, Wade came up with his wife, Paula and 3 children. This is a picture of the kids all together. Michael is the in the back and from left to right are Aly, Andrew, Nathan and Levi and of course Russell had to be in the picture. They live in Missouri. It was a nice visit. We hadn't seen each other in over 5 years. Time sure flies when you have children.
Ally went to her first Girl Scout camp this week. She stayed 2 nights. She had a great time. She says the best thing about camp was the dog "Bear". Imagine that of all the things to do at camp she likes the dog best... Her and her best friend, Gretchen went together.
The adoption stuff is about the same spot it was last time I wrote. China is still slow as ever with referrals. There are rumors that we will not get our referral until November and then would hopefully travel in January. I don't know what to think anymore. I returned an outfit I had purchased for Annaka when I thought we would be getting the referral in September. I am just tired of thinking maybe its only 2 months when it seems like it gets longer and longer. When I read the other blogs it seems like everyone is in the boat. We are all tired of waiting for our daughters to come home. I know when she is here and I will look back and say, why did I let it bother me, but until she is home it will.

The dreaded question

Today at work I was asked what day we will bring home Annaka. I get asked this a lot. I know people dont understand the process of adoption.
I tried to explain that China is continuing to be slow at referrals. Every month goes by I think maybe we are closer. But when the end of the month comes and the referrals come out we are not much closer to getting her picture than we were the month before. I know that time is going by and we are really getting closer. No matter how long we have to wait, we will wait. No matter what other changes China takes us through we will continue to talk about Annaka and think about the day she joins our family.
I think maybe by Christmas we will have her. I thought she would be home this summer. I thought she would be home by Halloween this year. No matter what we cant wait to get Annaka home.

Build a Bear Workshop

Now that I made a blog, I can show you the bear the kids made for Annaka this spring.
I took them to Build a Bear Workshop at the Mall of America and they picked her out. They got to stuff her, sew her up and give her a heart that says "I love you". When they were done they picked out the little outfit and shoes.
She is patiently waiting to be Annaka's playmate.

Our most recent family picture..

this was in taken last summer at Como park. Guess its time for antoher more recent family picture.

update on the CCAA website

this is the update we see in the CCAA website.
As we got through these next couple months I will explain more about this. Basically it takes a long time to get to the review room, but even longer it seems to get to the placement room. Since our log in date is Septmeber 9th of 2005 we are very close to getting matched but it all depends on how many other LID's there are before us.

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before October 31, 2005.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before July 13, 2005.

One of My Favorite Pictures.

I absouletly love this picture.
Alyssa when she was 3 years old.
Could she be any cuter?