Instrument of Evil!!

I started going back to the gym about a month ago....My cords from last year didn't fit! They still don't fit! Anyway last year I was quite the gym rat. I loved going to classes and using the elliptical trainer. My dad was living with us so he was great about putting dinner in the oven etc. My Dad has since moved to the Philippines so I am back to being in charge of getting dinner on the table. Working out was great for my stress. My stress level was pretty high today with the "latest rumor" of referrals only going to September 7th! I headed to the gym with only 30 minutes to workout, I was told the stair stepper was a great workout in a short amount time. I was dripping in sweat in 10 minutes!! I didn't think I was going to make 30 minutes! I usually do the elliptical for 45-60 minutes 4 times a week.....I was dying on the freakin stair killer after 10 minutes. I am not kidding!! I was quite sweaty when I left the YMCA today,and a little less stressed about the wait....For the moment anyway.

TBG Movie Review

I took the kids to go see Happy Feet today. (For the record I can't remember the last "grown up" movie I saw at the movie theater) Super cute movie! I loved it and so did the kids....Even Ben the cool middle schooler liked it! The sound track is great! It is a good pick me up movie, which is good to know......just in case the next referral batch is not what we are all hoping for...c'mon all of September!

Go Ahead Try It!

Click Here to get this from pYzam.com!

A Nice Quite Weekend

I nice quite weekend in the TBG house….finally! I am thinking it is the calm before the storm!! I really can’t believe that Thanksgiving is this week!

I was looking through my Jcrew catalog and spotted this hat. I am going to try to make it and save myself twenty-eight bucks! I’ll post a picture of my hat and scarf when it’s finished.

Happy Anniversary to the Doyle's!

Happy Anniversary Jamie and Amy! Jamie we hope that you have planned a romantic get away for your lucky 13th anniversary...Or at the very least bought something very shiny and pretty for Amy :) We miss you guys and think we need to schedule another family trip together! Hey want to go to China with us????

Hannah's Saving Grace

This is a picture of Hannah and a new student in her class…..from CHINA!!! Hannah was sooo sad when I told her that Sophie was not on our agencies last WC list. She cried, it broke my heart. But not two days later this new student enrolled in her class. Hannah is having a blast being this little girl’s buddy. Hannah taught her class how to say hello in Mandarin and thank you. It is cool to see all the kids trying to communicate with this little girl, I am sure she will be speaking English before the end of the school year! I am so proud of Hannah. I know that even if we were not in the processing of adopting that she would be a quick friend and helper to someone new to school.

I Have No Words......

I saw this on Connie's blog and knew I needed to post it here. That is all I can say.

Happy Anniversary!

Wow some TIME does go by quickly. Chris and I have been married 13 years today! It seems like yesterday that he was flirting with me at work! LOL!!! We have done a lot together in this amazing 13 years! We have lived in Prague, Chris started his business, I finished college and of course our proudest moments have been with our two kids! In our lucky 13th anniversary year we plan on making many more great memories, one that surely will include all of us going to China to bring Sophie home. Happy anniversary Chris……I am so glad I married you!!!

I’m back. Last week was tough. I thought that my bunny slippers had lost their mojo. Last week was the most difficult week I have had so far. I was not alone. I have said that one of the good things ( I think the only good thing!) about this wait is the amazing, supportive and intelligent women I have met through my March yahoo board, people in our DTC group and on other blogs. Unless you are adopting or have adopted it is hard to understand how difficult this wait can be. So for all my blogger buddies and yahoo! Girls Thank You. Thank you for your kind words, for knowing exactly how I was feeling. You Rock!

Don't Forget To Vote!!!

Especially if you are a Democrat! Just kidding :) Be sure to find the time to vote Tuesday!!!

That's My Mom!

We really do love my Mom....my siblings and I decided to give her a gift certificate to jump out of a plane for her 60th birthday! ( she has been saying that this is how she wanted to celebrate turning 60) We can't believe you did it Mom! And without wetting your pants.... And you got a date with your instructor for Friday! LOL Glad you had fun and we can't wait to see the DVD :)

Congrats to the families who will see their childs face for the first time this week. With each new group of referrals we get a little closer I guess.....

Waiting For Referral Brownies

This is the first time in the 7 months that we have logged in that I am just sooo sad. It is likely to be another 7 months before we meet Sophie....if not longer. This process can be so defeating. Someone posted this on the March DTC board. I thought it might help. Maybe I'll make these with Hannah, it might help us both feel better.

Referral Wait Brownies

Bring to boil in saucepan:
2/3 c. shortening (what we wish the wait times were doing)
5 T cocoa (in honor of the coveted brown envelope)
1/2 c. evaporated (like our hopes of having our babies home before
Christmas) milk
2 c. sugar (how sweet it will be to finally see a picture of our
little ones!)

Mix in a bowl:

4 eggs, beaten (what the next person who asks how long till referral
will be :o) )
1 t. salt (in our wounds to hear that only 9 days of dossiers were
matched this month)
2 t. vanilla (or cherry juice-a touch of red for good luck)
1 c. flour (for our little cherry blossoms waiting for us in China)
1/2 t. baking powder (I know, we'd rather be working with baby
powder...)
1 c. nuts (because that's where we are all headed if we don't start
getting some good news!)

Add saucepan mixture to bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into ungreased
baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool, frost,
and topped with halved maraschino cherries (pretend they're ladybugs
and consider it your sighting for the day!)

Frosting: 3C powdered sugar, 1/3 c. butter, 1 t. cherry juice, 1-2
T. cocoa, 2 tsp. milk