But, it has a pool!

It's true we closed on a home in Genesee, WI. Did I say home, I meant work farm. Calling all handyman - Work/vacation trips to WI at any time of year can be fun - just keeping telling yourself that ( I do ).

Flooring is flying out, as well as vintage 60's restroom fixtures! If I found a 60's hippie I could get rich on this project. Had my first visitor - the 92 yr old previous Owner. He wanted to know just what in the heck I was doing with the dumpster. He stayed and visited, lectured me on various aspects of "his" home. Looks like along with a project house, I purchased a new best friend!

The house does have a nice inground pool to relax in, only after lots of remodel work is accomplished however. I did venture into the pool for cleaning and inspection purposes only - thats my story and I'm sticking to it!

Stand by for Before & After pictures!!! :-O

The countdown begins....

Our plane is booked, our appointments are set and now we wait some more :o) At least this wait has a definitive end - we leave September 5 to pick up Tian. That is only 9 days away!!!!!! We will actually meet her Sunday September 10. We will post when we get to China and of course include pictures of us on the Great Wall. It still seems very surreal though. The baby's bags are packed...We are so close. Tom closed on a house up in Wisconsin on Friday,so it looks like we will be leaving the land of corn and pork and head to the land of cheese. It will be an exciting couple of months, but after the year so far we wouldn't expect anything less.

One step closer

August 18 we unexpectedly received our "travel approval." (After China has received our letter saying we will accept our child, we await an" invitation" from them to bring her her home.) We were surprised to hear so soon, and now we await an appointment with the American Consulate in Guangzhou, China. We should hear anytime. At that point, we will have a definite travel date - right now we are planning to leave September 4, 5, or 6!!!

Also, a kind woman visited Tian's orphanage at the end of July and met a few of the children there. One just happened to be our soon to be daughter!!! We are VERY lucky as the other pictures were from April and most people do not receive any pictures other than the "old" ones sent from China. She looks healthy right down to the dimples on her hands :o)

No we can't quit talking about her :o)

Today our agency received updated information - our "little" girl had her first birthday today. Yes we had cake, but she is late for her own party!!! How we wish she had been here. There is good news though - she weighs in at a robust 25 lbs and is 30 inches tall and has 8 teeth. She is almost twice as big as others babies who were the same age ( they were weighing in at around 14 lbs). I think she may be knocking other kids and taking their bottles. I have been reading and rereading her report from the orphanage and it does say in addition to "obstinate", "active" and "naughty like a boy" - that she has a "ready smile" and has "everyone wrapped around her finger" - so I am sure that is helping her to thrive. Please keep praying we can pick her up early September - they have received our acceptance letters in Beijing so hopefully we will be invited to pick her up very soon.

Interesting information

Last night we received a little more information about our little girl ( I love typing that!) She is described as active and (we are sure she belongs to our family) she is naughty and plays like a boy!! We know she is meant to be with our family. With 3 big brothers she sounds like she'll hold her own. We can't wait!