Bad Blogger (long and rambling)

SERIOUSLY... has it really been over a week since I posted? Didn't I promise (like a girl scout promise) to blog more frequently now that we're getting things figured out? Well, apparently, I'm not a good girl scout. Will these two random messy face pictures help you forgive me? (Spaghetti or a donut anyone??)



So much has been going on! I had the pleasure of meeting Karen and Kerry for dinner last Thursday night. They were headed to Atlanta to catch their flight back to Kemerovo City to go to court! Congratulations to them! Their 10 days were waived and I'm pretty sure they picked up their daughter today (haven't read blogs yet!). Andrew loved his new friends. At the end of the night, as we were saying our goodbyes, he insisted on a group hug.

He loves group hugs now. It started when Keith gave me a hug one morning and Andrew yelled out from his high chair "I WANT LOVE TOO!". We went over and said "Group hug!" and we all hugged. Well, now, anytime Keith or I hug anyone Andrew needs in on the action. It's too, too cute. Speaking of group hugs...

Last night (Tuesday) we met up with some very special friends! Dinia and Ron!! They were on their way from Alabama to North Georgia and they timed their trip perfectly for dinner with the family. Keith, Alex, Andrew, Mandy and I met them for dinner and hugged our hellos as Andrew insisted on multiple group hugs. He was a cutie pie at dinner, exclaiming "Look everyone!" as he showed us how the magnet stuck to the napkin holder. (It was magic.) It was so, so good to see Dinia and Ron - it was just as though we saw them yesterday in Moscow.

And, like the bad blogger I am, I have no pictures of those 2 meet-ups. Yes, I swear I really met these people in real life. I'm not quite at the point where I'm meeting pretend friends. Almost, but not quite.

Besides those two meet-ups, I spent last Saturday cooking all day with my sister and step-mom. We made meatballs, mini meatloaves, a few casseroles and lots of other things I can't remember. Now my freezer is full and ready to go! That is the first time my sister and I have cooked like that and boy does it whip your butt. You have no clue how much you use various muscles standing still or beating 20 pieces of chicken. Okay, so I'm out of shape... don't make fun. :-)

While I was cooking on Saturday, Keith took Andrew and Alex to see Alex's sister's lacrosse game. This is Kaylee's first year playing and she loves it. I honestly think she grows an inch a month. She has gotten so, so tall! Andrew came home talking about how "Kaylee catch ME!". Apparently (and according to the photo evidence) she chased Andrew around trying to catch him. Ya know, I never did find out if Kaylee's team won!

Sunday we went to get pumpkins at our local Methodist church. We really wanted to go to a pumpkin patch like so many others have, but the "good" ones were a bit of a drive and we just didn't have the time. Andrew tried to pick up many, many pumpkins and what do you think he wanted to do with them once he had them in his arms? Why throw them of course! He rolled one down the hill and got a lecture from an 8 year old boy about how it was going to explode and go everywhere. Did that stop Andrew? Why no! It made him want to do it even more!!

So what's next? Time to slow down and enjoy fall that is almost over? Ummm... NOPE! Tomorrow is the Halloween parade at Andrew's school and a little fall festival, so I'll be going to that. After that is over, we'll race home, clean out the car, finish packing and head to Myrtle Beach for Sira's wedding. At Sira's wedding, we'll get to see Rachel, Troy and Daniel and a few other adoptive families! We're so looking forward to it. Alex is bringing a friend with him and they are going to do "teenage things". Not sure what that means, but I'm guessing Playstation 3 is somewhere in there.

We'll be coming home on Sunday and head right into swim season at Alex's school. I'm going to find one of these weekends to declare a "home weekend". The rules for my home weekend are (and I'm making them up as I go along) no one goes any further then 15 miles from the house and that is only for necessary things (groceries, errands, etc...). No 40 minute drives to see the girlfriend (Alex's, of course), no trips to parks or bouncy places, no spending the night at friends. Nothing. FAMILY TIME. Wow. What is that?? I swear Keith and I are like two ships passing through the night lately.

So, when I get back this weekend I should have lots of pictures! It will probably take me a month to get them uploaded and edited, but hey - late is better then never, right?

I want to take a quick second and say congrats to everyone that has gotten referrals and court dates lately! There are so, so many people (and this makes me SO happy!). I'd list everyone out by name but I'd forget someone and feel really bad about that soooo... YIPPEEE!!! Congrats to everyone!

And now, my friends, it's bed time.

Night night!

Becky