I-800 Approved 9/24!

One step closer!!

We expect a November travel plan!!!!

September Letter to Shanna, delivered by another family recently adopting

2010年9月

September 2010

Dear Shanna ( 亲爱的祥娜  )  汕安爽,

你好吗？我们认为你的每一天。你的卧室都为你准备好。妹妹很高兴能够分享。你看大姐姐，与妹妹读书吗？

How are you? We think of you every day. Your bedroom is all ready for you. Younger sister is very excited to share. Do you see older sister, reading to younger sister?

这是在您的卧室墙上的画。我们有一个艺术家用油漆把妹妹，姐姐，哥哥你的图片。您是在左侧的蓝色衣服。

This is a picture on the wall of your bedroom. We had an artist paint you into the picture with younger sister, older sister, and older brother. You are on the left side in the blue dress.

下面是我们的暑假一些照片。

Here are some photos of our summer vacation.

好友 Friends

家庭（父亲的弟弟）
Family (father’s younger brother)

这是我的哥哥和姐姐。

This is my older brother and older sister.

我们喜欢看到你的图片打开你的礼物。.你看起来可爱戴着墨镜.

我很高兴的衣服是适合您的尺寸。你很美丽，尤其是当你微笑。

We loved seeing the pictures of you opening your gifts. You look cute wearing sunglasses.

I am glad the clothes are the right size for you. You are very beautiful, especially when you smile.

我们感谢善良的人们谁给你带来这些笔记。我们希望您了解我们的中国。

我们使用计算机翻译。我们不能等待，以满足你。

我们爱你，妈妈和爸爸。

We thank kind people who bring these notes to you. We hope you understand our Chinese.

We use computer to translate. We cannot wait to meet you.

We love you, Mom and Dad.

Catalano Picnic

The whole clan, blocking the amazing flowers that Bill and Janis grow all over their property, not to mention the incredible produce, of which we went home with 2 grocery bags, including zucchini, grapes, eggplant, pears, apples, gourds and  bouquets of Dinner Plate Dahlias!! Thank you!!

This was really cute, but of course once I noticed and brought out the camera, Megan got very shy and wouldn't look. She had so much fun pulling Shelly around and playing with her. Thanks Shelly for all your patient attention!

Finally, she did pose, with a beautiful and natural smile.

Matthew's photo. Loves to take pictures of flowers. Someday I will post a slide show of his work.

Full Swing

September is in full swing. Open houses, homework, new clothes needed at the last minute, car repairs, soccer games, minor medical/dental issues, Eric traveling for work. You name it- we're doing it. Yet, all is going well. Everyone is adjusting well to new schedules, earlier bedtimes, 6:00 wake up times (Megan is the only one who hops out of bed well before she needs to),  and generally remembering what is needed to get out the door in the morning. We are in a waiting pattern now with the adoption- nothing to do but wait for others to do their work.

Me with the Fed Ex man, posing with my LOA, just delivered.

The official LOA

Baskets created by Mary Alice and her friends

Matthew's math homework. Glad it's not me.

We Have Our LOA!

I woke up this morning to find a very exciting e-mail from our agency that says our official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is on its way from China and will arrive very soon. This is the final step that will allow us to accept the referral of Shanna and send it off to our government to process her immigration to the US paperwork. China will continue to process paperwork on their end and issue a Travel Approval in about 4-6 weeks. After that, we can make our arrangements to go to China. We are not sure when we can travel but at this point are anticipating around early December.

First Day of School