paperwork... and Christmas pictures..

Well the adoption paperwork nightmare is almost over!!! If you haven't heard, the Chicago Orphan Adoption Unit was stressing me out big time! They "lost" my Sworn Statement that I took in July this year so they wanted me to go again... and thank goodness I had copies of what I did at that time so I could overnight it to their office. But then they put me back at the bottom of the stack for my re-approval. Long story short.. if i didn't get re-approved by the time our travel dates came from China, then I couldn't go pick up Aleigha!!! The Chicago office was telling me it would be another 4-6 week wait after fed exing the docs they needed.... and my adoption agency and me were like "NOOOOOO!!!" So for a week, I have been contacting IL Senator's offices and it's like finding a needle in a haystack for someone to call back due to the holidays, etc. Finally, after Senator Durbin's office emailed the Chicago office this week, I was told that I was re-approved for the 3rd time on Dec 30th. Thank goodness. The approval letter will be mailed to me on Jan 5th. I can't wait to get that document in my hands.

Jeff and I have been working on the nursery this weekend. I forgot to take a before picture but it was a mess. The walls are still blue and yellow from the previous home owners but we've got all of the furniture put together and in the place where we want it. Now we have to clear out the room to paint this weekend!

Only a few more days before Grayson goes back to school.... I'm not looking forward to that day with homework every night again!

Here are some more pictures from Christmas this year.....

This is our Christmas tree:

Mom (Gma Q), Grayson and Johnny:

Grayson got tired of holding Johnny during all of the pictures!:

Santa hats: This is Johnny laughing at Grayson!