ON OUR WAY TO CHINA

We are not able to post on this website while in China so to follow our journey please visit our China Travel website for daily posts and pictures at:

www.journeytome.com
username: ying
password: ying

TRAVEL UPDATE

Jon and I will be leaving on May 14 (Mother's Day) and returning June 2. I will post all travel details on the new website. It has been over two years and does not seem real, at least not yet. We have been so busy trying to get everything in order we have not had much time to think about all of this. This week I am going to the day spa two days and what a nice way to relax. Jon was nice enough to buy me a spa certificate as he knew I would be stressed out. My parents will be arriving on Thursday, May 11.

I will be setting up a new website for anyone who would like to follow us along, as this blog will probably not work in China. I will post our China website as soon as I finish setting it up. We are so excited to finally meet Stefanie and we cannot wait for everyone to meet her.

CHARLIE SHOWING HIS FEMININE SIDE

Charlie decided he needed some one on one time with Mom today, so here is what we did.


Charlie thinks pink is just not his color and red is too flashy, he chose clear polish.


His nails really needed some extra work.


Almost done.


Oh no! Please don't tell anyone about this.


We were watching the Modern Girls Guide to Life.

CHINA TRAVEL GROUP DINNER

Pictured from left to right: Erin Henrie, Circe & Scott Dopp

Tonight Jon and I met with two other families who live in Utah and will be traveling with us to China. The Dopp & Henrie families. We had a great dinner at P.F. Changs. Unfortunately, we missed John Henrie who is a Doctor and was called to work.

DAD,THE ROCKER AND CHARLIE

"Jon, I think you should wait for me to help you".



"I think I can handle this on my own Charlie".



"I think your putting that on wrong".



"This is going to take a while so I'll be right here".



"This is nice, I think I'll just take a little nap".



"snorrrrrrrrrrrrr"



"Jon, your taking too long!"



"I'm sorry".



"How about I watch you from here?"



"This is taking longer than I expected".



"Say Cheese!"



"I am almost done".



I like my new rocking chair. Stefanie will love her new book and family photo album, gifts from Uncle Danny and cousins Logan & Morgan. Thank you for the great gifts.



"Jon took so long I think I should see what's on".



"This looks really good".



"My favorite show".



"Don't you even think about taking over the remote, its every man for himself!"



"Now you know whose King of the Remote".

From this day on Charlie lived happily ever after.

SHOPPING

This is not Stefanie's room, just her bedding.

Jon and I finally purchased crib bedding for Stefanie. I had a hard time as I could not make a decision on Stefanie's bedding. My parents will be painting Stefanie's bedroom while Jon and I are in China. My father really wanted to be able to paint Stefanie's bedroom. How wonderful for her to know Grandpa Carlos and Grandma Rosie painted her bedroom. By the way, Stefanie's bedroom will be painted for the third time. We could not decide on a color. I meant to say I could not decide on a color. Jon did not care what color I chose.

A NEW LOVE

Tigger meeting Charlie for the first time.




Charlie in the plants

We are deeply saddened Kimmy is no longer with us and we miss him very much. Tigger grew up with Kimmy by his side and did not know what to do without him. Jon and I decided it was best to try and adopt another brother for Tigger. We know there is no other kitty who could replace Kimmy, but Tigger needs another close brother/friend to share his life with. We are so happy to introduce you all to our newest love and family member Charlie! Charlie is also known as "Charlie Brown" and he is eight months old.

Charlie is loving, sweet and wants attention more than playing with all his new toys. Charlie was rescued and desperately needed a home. We are so happy to open our hearts and home to Charlie. He definitely surprises me on a daily basis, as I forgot what it was like to have a kitten in the home again. Tigger and Charlie are fast becoming close brothers and friends.

STEFANIE'S FINDING AD

Our little darling has quite a lot of hair at just seven days old.

When babies or children are abandoned in China it is required a local ad be placed showing the babies picture, with a description of who found the baby and where the children are found. These photos are the earliest photo we will ever have of Stefanie and this is why it is so important to us. It took approximately three weeks to receive Stefanie's ad.

Jon and I payed a company, Research China.Org to find Stefanie's ad. Bryan Stuy who has two adopted daughter's from China, started this company when he went looking for his daughter's finding ads. We are so greatful to him for obtaining this photo.

A BUSY WEEK

Travel Approval invites us to China to adopt Stefanie. For safety reasons I covered up most of the information on the document, although most of it is in Chinese. If you double click on any of the photos you can see them up close.

Jon and I returned home from our trip and found our Travel Approval waiting for us. The next morning we received our Chinese Visas and Passports back, Stefanie's Finding Ad (First photo we have of Stefanie at approximately 7 days old). We received some darling summer outfits from one of Jon's co-workers Heidi and her family. We recieved a darling tote bag for Stefanie from our new friends Karin, Maya and Bill Brown, who live in Virginia.

At last one of the days we have waited for we have our Travel Itinerary! We are almost on our way to China and have so much more to do. We cannot wait to finally hold Stefanie in our arms.

STEFANIE'S COOL RIDE

Jon and I made an unexpected trip to California to visit family, and purchase my new car from Jon's brother Jeff. Jon drove us to Las Vegas, and we spent three days having fun! Jon went to his annual convention, while I visited with one of my best friends Jennifer and her family. We had a great time catching up.

I finally did it and caved in when Jon insisted I needed to drive the minivan to tow all of Stefanie's stuff! She will have a lot of room with loads of storage for all her toys and new friends. We purchased a Chrysler Town and Country, Limited Edition Mini-Van. I have to admit I really like it!