GOOD NEWS and I've Decided..

...to try and become a better blogger. I've been doing some reflecting lately and took a look back at when I started this blog...1st post. I started blogging because I thought it was an easy way to track fun family events that we may want to look back at one day. I had no idea at that time that this would also be where I kept track of our adoption process. In looking at pictures in some of those older posts, I can remember exactly what treatment we were going through or where we were in the adoption process. But, I really didn't document much of that. For a very long time, I was pretty quiet about both of these processes. I guess because I was so afraid of the uncertainty that came with both. But, what I know now and am so certain of is we are one step closer to the next big step in the Adoption Process! Yippee!!!....a huge step closer to being able to go get Jackson.Today we found out we have been submitted for EP (emigration permission). This is what we have been waiting for for MONTHS. This is the document on the Korean side that had to be submitted for things to "start moving" again. We now wait for this permission to be approved. Once this is approved, we wait for our son's passport to be issued and his Visa Interview to be scheduled. It's so exciting to finally say that we can start counting down the wait in weeks rather than months. Our SW could not give us an exact timeframe (as with everything else in this process) but, her best guess for all of the next steps ... 6-8 weeks....early to mid May for Travel.. Yeah! I really hope things stay on track and everything goes smoothly.

Blizzard and the Gra*mys

This post is long overdue.... but, February was a fun month for our family and since I'm using this blog as a memory keeper (or at least trying to), I'm posting now.

The midwest was hit with a really awesome Blizzard. We are often given these warnings but, the big punches always seem to miss us. Not this time! We got two days off ofchool (and work for KJ) and had a great time. The official snow accumulation totals for the area ranged from 13-20 inches. I think we got right around 17 inches. This kind of snow can be really fun when you can take your time cleaning it up and you do not have to travel in it. Grace and I spent the first day at a Mommy/children playdate with some friends in our neighborhood. The grown ups enjoyed the chat time while the kids played both inside and out. KJ stayed home and worked during the day.

The second day we played outside together...

A couple weekends later KJ and I were lucky enough to attend the Gram*ys in LA. Wow, what a fantastic experience! KJ got the tickets through work and I'm still trying to understand how I got to go with him. Sill not really sure.. But, I did....and I LOVED it. We flew into LA on Saturday and enjoyed the afternoon walking around. That night we went out to eat at a trendy place in West Hollywood and actually saw a few reality stars and Stanley from the Office. My claim to fame. We had a great time with some of KJs co-workers that evening. Then Sunday was the big day. We slept in, got ready, and headed out for a few cocktails before the show. We were allowed to walk the red carpet but, walking the red carpet as a "civilian"...ha...is much different than as a musician. We were rushed through and shuttled in as quick as possible. But, it was still cool. We were seated in a skybox in the very center. We enjoyed the continuous concert of musicians I probably wouldn't necessarily go see. It was great and so very entertaining. We were sure to take in every moment and enjoy it to its fullest. I'm sure this is one thing we won't get the chance to do again :)

A little Adoption Shower... (very picture heavy)

Last Sunday my wonderful friend, Heather, threw my little family of three a shower to help us prep to become a family of four! She put together a beautiful event that meant so much to all of us. (thanks dear friend)

Heather and I have been friends since Elementary school and I am so very lucky to have her.

The day was filled with eating, celebrating, and lots of love and smiles. I can't begin to thank all of our friends and family enough for making the day so special!!!! Jackson is already loved so much. We are so so so looking forward to the day we can share him with everyone.

Now that we have all this fun stuff, we are working on putting his room together. We just recently decided we are going to put Jackson in Gracie's current room. We made this decision for a few reasons.... 1. Grace has decided she wants the room with the walk-in closet (such a girlie girl) 2. Her current room is closer to our room. We will be spending a lot of time with Jackson at night during the transition so, this seems to be better choice. 3. It's going to be fun for both kids to have fresh new rooms for this next chapter in our family life.

We hope to have both rooms ready and put together in the next few weeks.

Some shower pics from the fun day...
The reason for the day of celebrating......

The Flowers Grammy brought for centerpieces. She happened to walk into a flower shop owned by a Korean family. They helped put together the beautiful arrangements. Thanks Grammy!!


Eric C*rl* Quilt made by Grandma Carol for Jackson's Eric C*rle themed room.

Gracie and a special gift..




I had lots of little hands to help me out, so sweet

Many Korean themed books, story books and language books from my mom. I can't wait to read them with my kiddos

KJ is a huge Bears fan. We received lots of Bears wear to dress Jackson in. Too bad the Bears couldn't bring home a win that afternoon.

Me and my hostess...

Some friends and family.....

Bee B*m Bop

For fun on New Year's Day we made our first Korean dish at home. This was not our first taste of Korean food but, the first time we decided to give cooking it a shot. Every time we have gone out for Korean, I order Bee Bim B*p (hold the beef) and it is always really good. So, we figured this was a great choice for our first dish to try at home. Also, it is a pretty simple dish consisting of vegetables, rice and egg. We used the recipe in the back of this book we bought for Grace and Jackson. It was simple and we had a great time making it. I now have no excuses not to make it more often. :)

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New Year's Eve Baby

Jackson is an NYE baby....oh, how I love that. So, he is now a one year old! We had a small family celebration with a cake and candles. Gracie blew them out for him and we all closed our eyes and sent over birthday thoughts to him. We are sad we've missed a year of his life but, know things all happen for a reason and he is being well taken care of until the day he can come home.


It just so happened to work out that the last care package we sent over was delivered to ESWS last week (with another family that got to pick up their beautiful little girl). I am hoping it will get to Jackson's foster family when they go in for his 12month well baby check up.... a nice little bday surprise for him.

We obviously can't be sure how Jackson celebrated his day but, we do know he is with a very loving foster family and I'm sure they made it special.





Some Korean Bday Celebration customs....

Korean first birthdays celebrations are called a Tol. They are usually large celebrations. The traditional Tol has four major parts....



*Making and wearing the birthday clothes or tol-bok



*Prayers, blessing and giving thanks



* Toljabee--where the child predicts his future by choosing amongst various objects placed in front of him. Some of the common items include a needle and thread [symbolizes a long life], a book [symbolizes a scholar], some sort of currency [symbolizing prosperity], a rice cake [he will never go hungry]



*Sharing of food


We received some great books about Korean Culture and Travel for Christmas. We are both really enjoying reading them.... so much fun and so very interesting. Can't wait to see it all in person in 2011!
Happy New Year!

Our Princess is 6!

I feel like I was just posting this not that long ago. Wow, a year has flown by with so many wonderful things happening.

Grace had a very fun, "magical" birthday party with her friends and family to celebrate turning 6 years old......or, as her and Neena put it....joining the "great big 6 year old club". The party ended up being quite large but, I think we pulled it off well. We had a magician come to the house, played games, and enjoyed cake.

In these 6 years, my sweet Gracie has grown into an amazing little person. She is smart, very strong-willed :), inquisitive and sensitive. She has a wonderful, bubbly personality that radiates through her laugh and smile. She gets her quick wit and goofiness from her Daddy and I like to think her sensitivity and curiosity from me. ....5 and 6 year olds have MANY questions about everything. I think they are really started to understand how things and other people "work". I love talking to her, watching her, and still holding her (when she lets me). Some of our favorite times together are when we just chat in the car before or after school.

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Princess!!! We love you! XOXOXO

I-600 Approval

We received our I-600 (petition to classify orphan as an immediate relative) Approval in the mail today. Wahoo!
It took 14 weeks for approval.....seemed like a very long time. I think this was because we had heard that the process was so much faster than it used to be. I guess hearing that, we were expecting a quicker turn around time.
But, that's neither here nor there...........we have approval now :)

For those of you who are still unsure of the process.... no, that does not mean we can travel or bring Jackson home any sooner. But, it does mean that all the necessary approvals on this side of the ocean are complete. Yeah!