What do you mean there's no buffet at this hotel???

Our first week back has been quite a rough one. We wake on SOFT beds and have to make our own breakfast! The beds in China ARE as hard as concrete but I swear I slept better for those two weeks than I ever have in my life! Every day this week I wake with about a dozen aches and pains and the distinct feeling that I didn't rest very well. In China I was up with Jaiden at 6 am ready to go! Now we are both exhausted and grumpy and can't seem to get into a very good sleeping pattern.

Monday my body decided to finally catch up to me and give me a Migraine too! YUCK! Nauseus pounding in the eyes, had to go lie down in a dark room and veg - not my cup of tea when there is a baby in the house that wants to play. I think my body finally was saying "It's ok to drink the water here now drink up!" I was a bit dehydrated - you have to make a concientious effort to hydrate in China and when you are on the go all the time lugging big bottles of water around is not always efficient.

It is now Friday and I can't believe we have been home for nearly a week already! We are getting settled in very well in spite of sleep deprivation. The boys adore their sis and love to hang out with her and play...and she equally adores them too!
Things are starting to settle into a routine - and it feels just right to have pink baby socks mixed in with boy socks :) Life is good!

Home at Last!!!

It is SO GOOD TO BE HOME!!! China was awesome but we missed the boys like crazy. Next time our China adventure will involve the whole family and yes we are looking forward to going back for a visit someday.

I will post a few photos on here but our daily photo journey can be found on the link above. Thank You for visiting our site and following our journey to bring Jaiden home!!! She is adjusting very well and the boys have bonded with her like you wouldn't believe. It's just amazing to watch her grow! We are truly blessed beyond measure!

*Blogger takes forever to upload photos and I took over 800 in China so if you'd like to see more just hit the link on the title of this post. I just love reading everyones comments - they really make my day! Thanks for visiting!

Jared's First Day of School

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing

4 Days till we travel!!!!

We have TA!!! We have a Consulate Appointment of 20 Sept!!! We are leaving on MONDAY!!! We found out just today that we leave for China in 4 days!!! Amazing!

We have an Itenerary:

Leave Frankfurt on Monday at 2:40 pm
Arrive in Shanghai Tuesday Morning at 7 am

Leave Shanghai on Saturday at 11:55 pm
Arrive in Frankfurt Sunday morn at 0500

We're on our way!!!

No Fireworks, No TAs

Extreme cuteness going on here! That is Jared on the pony ride in Sept 04'

This year we (ok I) didn't feel much like going to see fireworks at the annual Burhncastle wine festival. We've been every year that we've been here and I just knew we would be taking Jaiden on the pony ride this year...but we are still waiting.

So this weekend is just one extremely LONG and lazy weekend. We should be getting TA notification and then CA soon - when? No idea. We may be traveling next month since all the appts must have been taken by now. I am really crabby about that and ready to get all this waiting over with.

So what are we doing this weekend? Sat we bought a new digital camera! I left our old one in the car on one of those really hot days in July and it fried it. ooops!

played with my movie maker (love my new Sony VAIO laptop)I am making a video for Jaiden check it out and let me know what you think of my amateur video production abilities.

September

The first day of September was GORGEOUS!!! Clear blue, sunny skies and I started out wearing a sweater and had changed into a very thin t-shirt by noon. It was a semi lazy day, took care of some errands in the morning, visited with my friend Heather and then did some shopping (found some travel supplies and two cute shirts for Jaiden) plus mittens for Jaiden and Jared. Jared was convinced he needed a snowsuit right away but I managed to talk him out of the very thin one in the store. Came home and lounged in the ZUN room in the ZUN :) (like a lazy cat) then took some steaks over to our friends house and grilled/had dinner and a movie (The Terminal) GREAT movie! Tom Hanks rocks! Is there anything that man cannot do? (Going through the airport security belt x-ray thingie had me rolling)

Today is early yet but it seems to be a nice day. This weekend is our last Buhrncastle fireworks event so we will probably go there. It has been a yearly event we've attended the past 2 years we've been here and the fireworks are beyond spectacular! I can still almost taste the grit of the fireworks in the air - the air is completely filled with smoke after they are done (after about an hour of earth shaking explosions) I will make sure I pack the Visine this time!