National Ballet

Yesterday Claire and I headed into the city for a production of Sleeping Beauty at the National Ballet of Canada. She's been waiting (and so have I) since last year when we went to see a production of Nutcracker at the Ontario Ballet. This was by far more exciting. Bigger sets, more spectacular costumes, and of course, the best dancers in the country.
I was very clear about my expectations for behaviour (sitting quietly, no talking etc) and Claire did not disappoint. She did great for the 3 hour performance and it made me so proud that we were able to share this special experience together. I just love this little girl to bits!
Enjoy a couple pics from our day together....................

My little "beauty" all set to go

Mommy and daughter day!

Before the ballet! A great venue at the Center for Performing Arts

Ready for Sleeping Beauty to begin...........so much fun!

A Long Overdue Update

I began my blog as an opportunity to capture precious moments of day to day life with our 3 kids.

The other purpose of the blog was to document our adoption from China.......

What began as a 12-14 month wait (as indicated by our agency) has morphed into an almost-24-month wait (Our LID is Jan3). It now seems that there is no end in sight in regards to the slow-down. It makes me sick to have to actually type that we are looking at another 3-4 YEAR wait from now.

We have just renewed our paperwork (at an additional cost, of course) as our approval from the Ontario Ministry of Social Services requires that we update everything every 2 years. It was an expense we were not totally prepared to handle. But we managed......and in 24 more months I imagine we'll somehow manage to scrounge up another $1K to renew again..........and again...........and again if that's what it takes to fulfill this life dream of adoption.

We are not prepared to "give up".............the CCAA (China Centre for Adoption Affairs) can make it as miserable as they want to..............even if I'm a middle-aged old hag (almost there anyways) I'm going to continue to wait............and eventually.................I WILL BRING LAUREN HOME!

In the meantime we continue to focus on our three great kids, our crazy busy life of work and renovation projects. As a family, we don't talk about the adoption that much............I think we all feel pretty numb.........as if the joy and happiness of this adoption has to some extent been sucked from us. That does not mean though that we are not committed and totally "in-love" with the little girl that waits patiently 1/2 a world away.

In our thoughts................

Always................

Because.............

She is already our daughter in our hearts.......................