Another Check Mark!

Got an email from our social worker today that our homestudy was approved by our placing agency! 

Yay! 

This is very good news!

Now our homestudy has been mailed to the State of IL for approval.

Once it is approved (hopefully by the beginning of next week) we will be able to move on to the next step, which is submitting I800A application.

Basically it is us asking Immigration for permission to adopt a child from another country.

That wait right now is LOOOONG, but we are hoping for a speed-up!

The most common question I get asked is when will we travel?

Good question!

As of right now we are not matched with our child.

Our social worker thinks realistically we will travel any time between July-September,

depending on how long it takes to get a referral.

DIY Stocking Hanger

I am pretty cheap frugal.

I love crafts.

But I especially love when I can combine the two!

It's kind of a joke between the hubs and I...

We see something cute in the store and I say "I could make that, and it would be waayyy cheaper"

And then I take a pic on my phone and file it away in my

"To Make Someday" folder!

But this time......

Our new house has an awesome fireplace and I really wanted it to be beautiful for Christmas!

I don't like the stocking hangers you find in the store....

they either aren't heavy enough, they are too pricey, or they look like they should be the centerpiece at an ugly sweater party.

We found this at Gordman's.  I liked the idea of it, but not the color or design, and it only had 4 hooks...

And it was almost $60.  No thank you.

So I went to the lumber yard, and had the nice man (who still had all of his fingers) cut me some wood.  I bought deck wood because I wanted it to be heavy enough to hold the stockings when they are full.



Then I took my happy little self to the hardware store and bought some screws.  I had no idea what to buy, so I found a package that said "wood screws" and bought them!

I screwed the 4 pieces together to make a box.

I attached some hooks that I bought at Menards.  I put 6 hooks on, since next year we will be a family of 5 and 1 for our sweet puppy!

I painted the entire thing with Rustoleum Brown Satin spray paint.

When the paint was dry, I cut the words and holly on my Cricut and Mod Podged them on

Once it was all dry, we put it up on the mantle and draped some garland and ornaments on it.  Then we hung the stockings! 

 



I really love the way it all turned out!  And the best part....it only cost me about $11 to make! 



Where Are We?

It's been a while since my last post! 

We have been just a wee bit busy! 

We are almost completely moved into our new house~

(One downfall to not having your house sold before moving is you take your sweet time about it)

But we have been moving and painting and cleaning for weeks now! 

It's all starting to come together, and hopefully I can show pics soon!

We have been decorating for Christmas!

I love this time of year!  It is so much fun!

One of my favorite things is to discover all of the new decorations I bought the previous year on clearance!  It's like Christmas morning to me, just getting it all out!

This year we got the Elf on the Shelf!  I have been wanting to get one for a few years, and finally did this year!

The kids named him Filwood and we are having so much fun with him!

He has been found hanging upside down from the light fixture, riding a glass elephant in the curio cabinet, hanging on a wreath and he even decorated the tree with the kids' underwear! Can't wait to see what other shenanigans he causes before Christmas!

We celebrated Thanksgiving in our new house which was really nice!  It is so great to have enough space for everyone!

Oh, and one other thing.....our homestudy is finished!  YAY!!!  Got an email from our SW today that all of our Illinois clearances are back.  Now we are just waiting on one clearance from Iowa (Tyson lived there for 90 days while he was in Optometry school) and the FBI (which are running VERY slow right now :(      Then it's on to I800a.......

Progress

We had our second homestudy visit today and it went great!

She was here for about 6 hours! 

And we covered A LOT of ground!

But we are moving forward!!!!!

She will be back 2 days next week to finish up our 4 home visits

(one day for a home tour and one day for individual interviews with each of us and the kids)

and expects to have our homestudy finished by Thanksgiving! 

So our main objectives for the next few weeks are to complete a few "homework" assignments she gave us and wait for background clearances to come back.

The homework will be the easy part.

Waiting on clearances....not so much.



Cross Country 2011

My girl just finished her 3rd Cross Country season. 

This was a very challenging season for her.

She broke her foot 4 months ago, but as soon as the cast came off she was running again.

So she dealt with a little pain and swelling.

She also had several other physical ailments going on this year.

Throw that in with all the growing and changing a 12 year old female body does......

Means she ran almost every race in pain of one kind or another.

But she did great.  She ran in every single meet and made the Sectionals team.

Here are some of my fave shots from this year.

I know most of them look alike, but I love how her facial expressions and body language

show exactly what she is feeling.

*warning:  pic overload!*

 Getting ready to pass!

This was her best meet of the season.  She came in 28th out of 200+ girls!

 Coming in for the finish!

I love this shot because on the right is Rylee coming in for the last 250 meters

and on the left is her coach running to meet up with her to run her in cheering her on!

Running through severe lung pain (my poor baby)

I love this picture.  She didn't have a great race, and the look of disappointment combined with the sunlight hitting her hair just melts my heart. 



Love the determination on her face!

2011 Sectionals Team!

Way to go Rylee!  Sweetie, you faced a lot of physical challenges this year, but you persevered.

You ran in 103 degree heat, pouring rain, and 35 degree temps.  You ran through lots of pain.  You ran early in the morning and late in the afternoons.  You ran when you didn't feel well and you ran when you were having great days.  But the point is, through it all.....you RAN.  You have the spirit of a great runner and are learning to handle the mental aspect of this sport with grace.  We couldn't be more proud of you!  We love you! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Well, hello there! 

It's been a minute since I've done a WILW post!

Fall is here, and I am LOVIN' it!!

Here's what else I love:

I am SO addicted to this website!  I have to be very mindful of my time because I can spend hours browsing and lose my entire day! 

The leaves are so beautiful right now.  In about another week or so, they should be in full foliage.  We love to visit Grandview Drive in Peoria this time of year.  It is absolutely breathtaking!

Pumpkins!  I am obsessed with all things pumpkin!  As soon as the weather begins to cool off and the first hints of fall blow in, I begin to feel the stirrings of my need for pumpkin.  I have tried to fight it, but it's useless!  I love everything!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin dip, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin steamers, pumpkin french toast (thanks, Pinterest!), pumpkin roll or pumpkin marshmallow Scentsy.....pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin!  I love to decorate with them too!  They are just so darn festive!

Although this year, I have not decorated anything and it is KILLING me!  We close on our new house in 2 weeks, so it's pointless to decorate now.  I am thinking at the new house we won't decorate for Halloween this year, but I can still put up my fall loves!

Have a great week everyone!

Little House on the Prairie

Can't wait!!!