Tools

Today's the day we opened up the tools. The kids had a great time using their new screw drivers and tool belts. Thanks, Aunt Brenda!

Chinese Visas

Eight to ten years ago, I would have thought nothing of applying for two visas at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. Yesterday, I felt like a fish out of water with my two little guppies! Surrounded by busy businessmen and women on the streets and in an office full of foreign travelers, Rob and Charlie reminded me how far away from the business world I now am!
Considering that they had to sit still for 1.5 hours in the consulate, after a 3 hour car ride, they did fantastic. After the 27 people in line before us had been assisted, it was finally our turn. I walked up to the window to hand our applications to the lady. Charlie decided it would be fun to act like a jack-in-the-box, jumping up and down out of sight, cheerfully saying, "Hello!" After the lady had stapled, punched, scribbled, and filed our papers, she said, "Just so you know the return envelope you provided may not work because we will put it in the UPS express box and this is a UPS ground envelope." Then, she flashed the number for the next person in line. Since we were one of the last people to be assisted before their lunch break, I took the boys outside the building and called Mike to see what I should do. Too consumed with the idea of our passports and visas lost within the UPS system, I didn't think to stop Charlie as he performed his best karate moves on each and every person as they exited the revolving doors outside the consulate office. Replaying the experience in my mind made me chuckle and thank God that Mike gets to be the business person and me the circus mom!

We're getting Jack!

We've got travel plans! We leave February 24th and return March 12th. Not sure of the specifics, but am guessing we will meet Jack on February 27th or February 28th. I have no words, just feeling pure joy!

Waiting for Jack

Charlie's been napping (most days just quietly resting) in Jack's bed. A week ago, his plan was to use Jack's bed every day until Jack comes home. Yesterday, he said there were little monsters in Jack's room, so he might be rethinking his original plan.

Snow Day!

Hooray! Another snow day!

Jack, I am your !!!!!!

Although I don't plan to (nor do I think I'm capable of) teaching myself a lot of Chinese, I want to make sure Mike and I know the basics. All the books I have looked at, stress that Chinese is a tonal language. When we meet Jack, it would be nice to know how to introduce ourselves. Mike better watch his tone because he may introduce himself as something else!
Dad - bà bà
Poop - bă bă

Rob's Skeptical Faith in Santa

This Christmas, Santa opted not to leave a monkey or a b b gun. He brought the kids a wii. After opening the package, we learned that the elves must have played with it before sending it. The CD was damaged and the batteries no longer worked. Not thinking, I blurted out, "We'll just have to return it." Rob immediately said, "Return it where?! It came from the north pole!" After some quick thinking, I replied, "I think Target has a return policy with the north pole." Rob went with Mike to Target to make the return. Rob noted that Target put a sticker on the box and was going to sell the wii again. However, he's currently debating whether it is worth asking Santa for a b b gun next Christmas, so he must still believe. Based on UPS tracking, the replacement wii should hopefully arrive today. The boys have been more patient than their parents waiting for the package to arrive!