Flights booked

We booked our flights through the internet on Delta. We connect through NY on the way to Moscow, and then through Atlanta on the way home. I'm glad so many of you left advice, because I completely forgot about the adoption rate. We're going to call tomorrow to see if we can't have that applied. And for the next two trips we may use the travel agent.

The only paperwork I have left to complete is my police clearance and trying to get a notarized letter from our insurance company. We are still struggling with this... and I wonder, "Are we the only ones that have ever adopted internationally that are insured by this major insurance company?" They've never heard of such a request. I'm hoping that Kevin's employer may be able to help us. I'm still awaiting a pile of docs from our Home Study agency too, which should have arrived today but didn't.

The kids' birthday is Monday, and they have been politely reminding me not to forget. My son is so funny, this year he wants a pumpkin pie for his birthday instead of a cake. Sounds good to me too! We just came home from his Little League end-of-season party. The team mom drew C's name out of a hat and he got to take home the team banner. He's very excited, and I figured he could hang it on his bedroom wall for a while. And then I'm going to put it under the mattress of his top bunk so that you see it from the bottom bunk... it'll contain all the strings that are hanging down from the bunkbed board that tickle your nose in the middle of the night.

Also in the news, Thursday night when Kev got home from a business trip we accidentally locked a raccoon in the garage. Talk about a one-animal wrecking crew. He marched all over the cars, leaving scratches I hope will buff out. He knocked stuff down from high places. He turned on the radio. He turned on the lights. He went upstairs and messed around (I haven't been up there yet). And he chewed away at the seal lining the bottom of the garage door and left it in pieces on the floor. There was blood and other bodily fluids... poor thing was distraught! When I hit the clicker button from the house, I saw this guy shoot out of the garage and run straight down the driveway. Big excitement for the kids!

I managed to get to the mall for a couple hours Friday after I dropped my aunt off at the airport. Yes, my aunt had been visiting since Monday and I wasn't much of a host, as I was glued to the phone, my computer, and then shooting off for appointments all over the place. But she was understanding, and she played the piano for me as I printed out our new paperwork. I loved it. Now I understand why Kevin asks me to play for him, even when I play the same three songs over and over. Anyway, it is a news flash that I made it to the mall and purchased some decent clothing for the trip so that I don't have to arrive in Russia during the summer with my faded T-shirts and ratty shorts (no joke). I even bought myself a suit that I can wear for court (positive thinking).

Now for the fun shopping: a few baby sleepers for sizing, a blanket to leave at the orphanage, and some small toys. Dare I say that I am feeling fairly positive right now? I hope everything goes well, because to have a baby in the house again? What fun that will be! And to be blessed enough to share in some of those milestones, like walking, talking, maybe even crawling.

Wow!