We got our tickets

I purchased our airline tickets today. We went to a very wonderful travel agency here in Lynnwood, recommended by the agency. I think they recommendthem to everyone, we are just lucky they are in our backyard. Yen is very delightful to work with (and the agency is called Delightful Travel). She knew all the ins and outs of traveling to China. She made sure we had four seats together coming home (instead of two and two) because she said we are a new family and we should all sit together. She even told me how to pronounce Jia Lu's name (and we have been pronouncing it right).

Here We Come!

We got our final notice and travel approval today, just three weeks after our letter of confirmation, and 3 weeks earlier than expected! Yikes! We are on the way. We are probably going to leave November 8, spend a couple of days in Beijing acclimating (a little) and Kyle and Paul can see The Wall and a couple of other biggies. Then, we will get her on November 12, and be home November 21. We are just waiting a day or two to get a confirmation of our US consulate appointment, which will hopefully be November 19.

Thank you Gamma and Pappy

The room is complete. It was a family effort. Gamma made the shades and quilt for the bed and Pappy made a nice shelf to go on the dresser. Paul, Kyle and I hang out in there sometimes. I don't know if it isi because we are excited or because it is the cleanest room in the house (for now).

Happy Birthday

Happy 2nd birthday to Linnea Jia Lu! We are thinking about you.

Happy Birthday present to me from the CCAA in China! We got our Letter of Confirmation today. This means that we are really really official now. They have looked at all of our paperwork and they approve the adoption. Now we are waiting for our travel approval. This usually takes 3-5 weeks. But the first week of October is a holiday in China and everything is closed down, so we will lose a week maybe two because of that. We hoping now we will have her by Christmas.

By the way, tomorrow is the Moon Festival celebration in China. "The Chinese Moon Festival is coming soon! The Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most important holidays celebrated in China. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and this year falls on September 25. The festival is a time for families to get together for moon gazing parties. Traditionally, families stay up late and watch the moon rise, light lanterns, have a big family dinner, and eat moon cakes. " -quote from our weekly newsletter from WACAP. It sounds like fun!

Linnea's room 2

Kyle and I have been putting stuff in Linnea's room. Kyle is having a great time playing with his old toys. These are mostly toddler toys that we have saved and are putting in there. He keeps going in there and pulling stuff out and playing with them. He is going to have fun playing with these things with Linnea.

Linnea's room

We have finished the mural in Linnea's room. Paul drew it and Paul, Pam , Kyle and Jami helped paint it. Here are some pictures. Paul finished the floor last night so we are almost ready to start moving stuff in.