The Pumpkin Patch

After several cancellations, Will's pre-K class finally made it to the pumpkin patch. It was cold. It was muddy. And we had so much fun! I seldom get to go on "dates" with my children individually, but when I do it is a joy. We rode the hay ride, went through the corn maze, played in the corn pit, played on the playground, and went through the haunted house. Twice. Will and his best bud.

PS - Does anyone know why my photos are fuzzy? They are not fuzzy when I view them on my computer. Only here on blogspot. What is up with that?

Blog Housekeeping

I have some sidebars on my blog that it is time to take down, but I have been putting it off because I didn't want to lose the information. This is the only place that I have our entire adoption timeline recorded in one place. So, I decided to do a blog post about it, so that I don't lose the stats, but I can take them off of the sidebar. Make sense? In other words, this post is purely for me and Kate NaNa and our family. We will return to our regularly scheduled posting whenever I can have a coherent thought.....

Adoption Stats

• June 17, 2005 - Sent in application to AHH
• January 2006 - Dossier to China (DTC)
• March 7, 2006 - Log In Date (LID)
• March 2008 - Began Special Needs paperwork
• July 11, 2008 - PAPL
• July 21, 2008 - Letter of Intent to adopt Su Xu Na (LOI)
• July 23, 2008 - Pre-Approval (PA)
• July 31, 2008 - Letter of Acceptance from China (LOA)
• August 21, 2008 - Travel Approval (TA)
• October 9, 2008 - Departure
• October 21, 2008 - Consulate Appointment (CA)
• October 23, 2008 - Return Home

Our Trip to China

• Thursday, 10/9/08 - Leave for China!!! 11:15am
• Friday, 10/10/08 - Arrive in Beijing @ 9:35pm, Trader's Hotel
• Saturday, 10/11/08 - Summer Palace & Great Wall of China
• Sunday, 10/12/08 - Tian An Men Square & Forbidden City
• Sunday, 10/12/08 - Depart Beijing @ 2:25pm, Arrive in Nanjing @ 4:20pm, Mandarin Garden Hotel
• Monday, 10/13/08 - Meet Kathryn Xuna!!!!!
• Tuesday, 10/14/08 - Adoption Day!!!
• Wednesday, 10/15/08 - Take a train to Suzhou in the am, Visit the SWI, the Humble Administrator's Garden, Jasmine Holiday Inn
• Thursday, 10/16/08 - Visit the Lingering Garden, Panmen Scenic Area, & a Silk Factory
• Friday, 10/17/08 - Visit Tongli Town, the water country. Return to Nanjing in the evening
• Saturday, 10/18/08 - Visit the Ming Dynasty Mausoleum & the Nanjing Museum
• Sunday, 10/19/08 - Visit Quinhai River & local park
• Monday, 10/20/08 - Depart Nanjing @ 7:50am, Arrive in Guangzhou @ 8:45am, White Swan Hotel
• Monday, 10/20/08 -Kate's Medical Exam and Visa Photo
• Tuesday, 10/21/08 - US Consulate Appointment
• Wednesday, 10/22/08 - Oath @ the US Consulate
• Thursday, 10/23/08 - Depart Guangzhou @ 8:20am, Arrive Home @ 4:25pm

Last Stop in China - Guangzhou

Last stops on our Remember When journey.... Guangzhou and Detroit! Woo hoo!
Day 10 - Guangzhou - October 20
Day 11 - Guangzhou - October 21
Day 12 - Guangzhou - October 22
Coming Home (aka the longest day of my life)

and of course, Tim's blog had video (yes, he's cooler than me:). Apparently he is more concise too.

24 Things About NaNa

A year ago, Tim wrote a post called 24 things I've learned about my daughter. It was all about all of the cute, quirky things we were discovering about NaNa. Recently, he wrote another post called More "24 things I've learned about my daughter". I'm here to tell you, we love her more every day!

More of Nanjing

After Suzhou, we spent two more days back in Nanjing (where we met Kate). This was were we got to see the location for Big Bird in China's famous camel scene (I know I am a dork for loving Big Bird).

Day 8 - Nanjing - October 18

Day 9 - Nanjing - October 19

and

Tim's What I Appreciate post.

More of Suzhou

Here are the last two days of our trip to Suzhou, where we got Chinese massages, visited the "Venice of Asia", celebrated Gucky's birthday, and Mommy got her first kiss from Kate. I loved Suzhou. I hope to take Kate back there in a few years to show her how beautiful China is.

Day 6 - Suzhou - October 16

Day 7 - Suzhou - October 17

Kate's Chinese Hometown

Day 5 - Suzhou This was an amazing day of bonding for Kate and me.
what you come here for (video from Tim's blog) Even then the boys couldn't stop hugging on her:)

These posts from Suzhou really make me want to go back. I loved China, but I think Suzhou was my favorite. Kate spent her first two years there, so I kind of have an emotional attachment, plus it is a beautiful city.