Tag You're It

This is for my sister in law Tiffany.

1. Wrapping paper of gift bag: wrapping paper for sure

2. Real or artificial tree: REAL absolutely, always has been, love the smell & the hunt for the perfect one

3. When did you put the tree up?: Thanksgiving weekend every year and down after the New Year (minus a few needles)

4. Do you like egg nog? The light stuff, the real stuff creeps me out a little (too thick)

5. What was your favorite gift as a child? 3rd grade Barbie Doll Dream House with a pool. Nintendo could be a close second (good call Tiff).

6. Hardest person to buy for? Either my dad or my in-laws. My dad is just tough & my in-laws have everything you can imagine but matching silverware.

7. Easiest person to buy for? My daughter and my mom...easy....love it!

8. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail Christmas cards....I love receiving them & so I feel in order to get them I must send them out. Tiff get with it!

9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Anything home made (from an aquaintance). You never know what their kitchen looks like. For all you know the cat could walk on their counter after it takes a pit stop in the litter box. And the next thing you know they are rolling out their sugar cookies (which are coming my way). YIKES!! You can never be to sure!

10. Favorite Christmas movie: The Christmas Story...love the Bumpus's dogs

11. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? You betch ya. Tis' the season of giving

12. Favorit thing to eat at Christmas? For sure sugar cookies. Tiff if your folks are coming on Christmas Eve....I got to have one of those. All those pictures of them on your blog, I feel as though I am missing out. I do love Linda's food!

13. Clear or colored lights: I have been a clear light gal for most of my adult decorating life. Decided to spice it up this year & went for big colored ball lights. Love them!

14. Favorite Christmas song: I have been exhausting 98.1 on my radio. I love them all. But my new favorite is by Colbie Calliet called Mistletoe. It's the best. Check it out.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home: Home w/ family, we are so lucky...love it!

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer: Yes, due to the fact I have been reading Ravenna "Twas the Night Before Christmas" every night before bed. I have it down!

17. Presents on Christmas eve or morning? Morning, it's the way it's always been for my family. Except for the ornament exchange at the in-laws. It's so fun.

18. Most annoying thing about this time of year: Can't think of any...love it.

19. Favorite ornament: Would have to be old ornaments made by my sister. I have about 4 of them & will cherish them forever. Also one I got in China in honor of my daughter's adoption.

20. Favorite Christmas dinner: I always love turkey, don't really care for ham. I pretty much stuff my self all day long....no complaints here.

21. What I want for Christmas: We are only buying for Ravenna & a small gift for my folks. We are trying to save $ for China to pick up our son Hudson. So that will be our gift. If we had a $ tree though, I would want a spa day (facial, steam, massage, mani & pedi) and a couple pair of great designer jeans to squeeze into. Tiff, I bet you are dying to get your hands on that cute purse.

22. Nativity scene: I am trying to think....I don't have one. My mom has a couple, but I don't. Terrible! I must hit the sales after Christmas......hmm.....I don't think I have anywhere to put it though. Our house is maxed out w/ decorations.

Santa pictures

We took pictures with Santa last Sunday. We decided to do a family picture first then the one with Santa. Ravenna wasn't a big fan of the guy in the red suit. Looking forward to Christmas & waiting to hear of more news about Hudson & our timeline. Still planning on traveling early February, hopefully before Chinese New Year celebrations over there.

Update on Hudson

We just received a new picture of Hudson as well as new height & weight. He is a good size boy! He weighs 33 lbs. & is 36.5" tall. His favorite toys are cars & he is currently sleeping in a crib next to his foster mother's bed. So thankful to have any amount of information we can get on him, and so looking forward to bringing him home.

I have also included a picture of Ravenaa on Halloween w/ some of her cousins. She is the bumble bee.

LID

We just received our Log In Date (LID) for our dossier. October 22, so the countdown begins for the letter of acceptance (LOA). Should be early next year sometime. YEAH!

Here is a picture of our current family. We adopted Ravenna Dec. 12, 2006, she was 10.5 months old. She keeps us entertained and has changed us for the better. We decided to start the adoption process again rather quickly due to the lengthening timeline with China. We also chose to adopt a special needs boy or girl, and began the paper chase for our dosssier again. We had been working on it for about 6 months and received a call from our adoption agency on Friday, September 14. They had 4 profiles for us to look at and they were all boys. That was the first time we laid eyes on pictures of Hudson (Wu Mo Wen). He was born on July 25, 2005 so he will be Ravenna's big brother by about 6 months. We then called them Monday to let them know he would be a perfect fit for our family of soon to be 4. We now begin the process of waiting to bring him home. In my opinion this is the hardest part of the adoption process.