First Day of Kindergarten

Today MiaRose started kindergarten. Where has the time gone???

This shot is in front of the school.

This is at home, on our way out to walk to school.


Fortunately we live very close to the school and can walk there and back. MiaRose was not excited for school all summer. She kept telling me she didn't want to go, even after kindergarten orientation yesterday. However, about 6pm last night. She burst out with,





"I AM SOOO EXCITED TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN!"





Just in the knick of time sweet girl, just in the knick of time.





She loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back tomorrow.

TA, TA, TA!!!!!!!

We have travel approval!!!!!! Meilynn, we are coming! We are anticipating travel very soon and I am hoping to have dates in the next 2 days!

Article 5 and new pics!

We are so happy to have some new pictures of our daughter!

I can't wait to have her in my arms!!!!
We did have a naming party shortly after Christmas.
We will be naming her Meilynn, meaning beautiful jade.

I so badly need to catch up with blogging! I do have good news to share. We were notified yesterday that our Article 5 was dropped off at China* Center for Adoption* Affairs. Within a month our travel approval will be issued and we will be able to get a consulate appointment* and head to China* to pick up our girl! Please pray that this happens quickly and that she has received our carepackage. The first time the agency checked it had not yet been delivered. It is very important that she receive this as it has pictures of our family as well as a letter to help prepare her for the transition to our family.

I can't believe I'm typing this.........

We have LOA!!!!!!!!!

This is the letter of acceptance from China. This means that China has agreed that our paperwork is satisfactory and we can adopt Mei Mei. We are one more BIG step closer to bringing Mei Mei home!!!!!!!!!!! This piece of paperwork came about a month earlier than I expected it too, we are so surprised and thankful! We now have to complete the immigration paperwork and get travel approval. Hopefully we will travel in a few months!

And now we are allowed to send her a carepackage as well as share her picture, so without further ado........

Here she is....

And the party continues....

We had a small birthday dinner with family at our house for M. She was soo excited all day, she couldn't even fall asleep for nap.

M jumps back as baba lights her lotus candle.
What party is complete without a pinata filled with chocolate candy? This is our 1st store bought pinata,(thanks to Tar*get clearance, $4.98) and it had a few dozen ribbons hanging under it and you pull the ribbons one by one until one lets the candy loose. Well we went around the room and everyone pulled a ribbon and when it got back it M, she grabbed and pulled about 5-6 ribbons
at once, and wouldn't you know out came the candy.

I can't believe she's 5! Where did my baby go???
M loves these lotus candles. It spins as the flower opens and plays "Happy B*irthday".

This is her real cake, had to make the extra flat one for the candle.
Thanks to our friend, Miss Nancy for letting us borrow your cake pan! M wanted a princess doll cake with a purple dress. She must have been happy with it, because she said, "Mama you make the best cakes ever and you the best mama ever! You do a great job on that!"

She knows just how to melt this mama's heart.

Celebrating M's Birthday at the "Wah Wah Store"

When M was 3, she used to call The Amer*ican G*irl Store, the wah wah(doll in Chinese) store. It is her favorite place to go for her birthday. She chose going to eat there with Mama and Baba over having a party with friends. We had a great lunch and did some shopping too.

While waiting for our food we took advantage of the conversation starters on our table. One of the questions was "What is the most beautiful animal in the world?"

Can you guess M's answer????

"Muffin the Goat"

Yummy pasta!

M had been asking for a bed for Ivy, but while we were at the store the babies at home sent her a "text" on her cell phone saying they did not need a bed they could continue to share the crib. Not sure where she comes up with this stuff, but she never ceases to entertain us. Well, we skipped the bed and she picked out some other items instead.

It was a fun day.

M's only complaint was that she had to go to China school first.

She thought she should be able to play hookie on her birthday.

Um...yeah..I don't think so!

Another step closer!

We are officially DTC!!!!!!!!! (Dossier to China)

That means all of our paperwork was sent to China today.

Our dossier arrived at our agency on M's birthday from the Chinese Councilate in Chicago and our agency sent it on to China today. I can't wait to hold our new daughter! We tenatively still hope to travel in April. We will have a better idea when we receive our LOA (letter of acceptance) from China. For now we are just happy to have our paperwork in China, finally!!!!!