Sean and I had a GREAT Christmas, I guess we were both very nice this year because Santa was quite generous!
On the 26th we even managed to hit the slopes, something we had not done in quite some time... and both realised how much we missed! ** Sean was there, he just happened to be the photographer for both these pictures.

Merry Christmas to all !!

For all who actually read our blog and have been waiting for an update, I appologize! November flew by, and I can't believe that we are almost half way through December!!!
The update from China was once again quite depressing, but when you are not expecting much, it's not as bad.
They moved up to December 14th. Still more than 3 months of referrals to go, and at this rate (6 days/month : Dec. 8th > Dec. 14th) we should go to China in ... Oh, I'm too tired to even calculate.

On a happy note, our neice was born in November. The 13th to be exact.
Molly MacIsaac

I'll have to talk to them about composition and lighting, but what a cut little girl!!! I can't wait to see her!!

Halloween and more...

We had a great time this Hallowe'en. The weather was comfortable, although the wind was a little brisk. Our four-legged friends also gave us some entertainment!



Sean got his usual thrill by scaring all the little kiddies with his costume.


I just enjoyed watching all the cute little kids with their cute little costumes. It really was a nice night!


Then, there's the CHINA update... Not as pleasant!
They apparently only made it 8 days to December 8th 2005. Still 103 dates to go until they get to ours. Maybe Christams 2008???

Grab a kleenex...

As I was reading some of the BLOGs today of families who have received their angels, I came across a poem, and one of the lines read as follows:
Though I did not give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you.

October Update

Well, it's that time again. The Chinese have been off for the past week (some national celebration) so the official update was only received today. They have now finished November, the dreaded "MONSTER" month. December looks to be quite small, let's hope they get through it rather fast. We are still a long way from holding Emily in our arms, and some days it really seems like it will NEVER happen.

In the meantime, hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving, and that people are not too stuffed!! Sean made an awesome Rib Roast, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, homemade potatoe bread, potage de bonne femme... I am definitely stuffed!

keepin' busy...

And then there were 18... months that is, behind us on our wait! At least the weather is cooperating so we can actually have some fun while we wait!
The gang at Mountainview, pretending to be the flames of the fire we couldn't have because it rained over night and all the wood was wet! Ha Ha! Sean, it was flames, not jazz hands...

Having friends and family over for dinner works as well!!

Harry Potter

Yes, Sean and I are Harry Potter fans. I'm happy just seeing the movies while Sean has - obviously - read ALL the books; however, after seeing this last one (which if you haven't yet, try to catch it in 3D) I may actually want to read the story to get some of the details that may have been lost in the production of the movie. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I highly recommend it, although if you haven't seen the first 4, you will obviously need to begin there.

Long Week-end update...

The long week-end is almost over, but today is supposed to be the nicest day, so I am looking forward to it! Yesterday, Jackie and Patrick, and the kids, came over for some pool fun (the water was too cold) and a BBQ - Sean made his new favorite thing on the BBQ, smoked ribs).
Then I got up this morning to find an update from China. Although some early rumours had our hopes up that they would get into December, the official word today is that they are at November 25th 2005. 4 days this past month...what can I say?

17th anniversary...

Well, today marks the end of the 17th month of our wait. The day went by without too much emotion as I was busy at work and then attend a BBQ with friends and family. Now that I have a few minutes to reflect on it all, I can hardly believe that we have been waiting for that long! Another 10 to 12 months actually doesn't seem that long to go... as long as it is not longer than that! Now if some warm weather could return so I could use my pool a few more time, that might help my spirits!!

Emily's closet

Check out the link on the right for some recent additions to Emily's closet... So cute!!!

9 years later...

Can you believe that 9 years ago we were all sweating (at 42 degrees) - but having one heck of a great time!! And look at us 9 years later...
Not much has changed! Here's looking forward to many more...

Goodbye July...

Today we say goodbye to July, my favorite month of the whole year...
I spent this day visiting a friend I have not seen in 17 years (believe it or not)... I feel old! This also means we are expecting an update from China any day, although early rumors are talking about Nov. 21st, i.e., 7 days further ahead. I think everyone was hoping for more...
I only have 2 more days until I go back to work, but I think it has been a really good summer! It has had its ups and downs, but overall I can't complain!
Hopefully we will see an update tomorrow... keep your fingers crossed that they go beyond the 21st (that would be the cherry on top of my summer cake!!)

Happy Summer !?!?!

Well, we are 2 days away from the 16-months-wait mark, and not much closer to knowing when we will be traveling to China. We are still at least 2 weeks away from an update, rumors are very quiet right now, so basically... NOTHING!
The summer isn't helping so far either, although my garden is extremely happy! I have so many tomatoes growing I don't know what I'm going to do with them all.
Hope others who left Montreal on vacation are having some fun this summer! I think we might make a day trip to the USA for a little fun, have you seen where our dollar is at?!?!?!?!? Something like 96cents, that's crazy!!!!

Update time

So... it's official. November 14th 2005 is where they are at... 7 days closer to our date. Where does that leave us? Well, with this really crappy weather, it leaves us quite sad! I WANT TO GO SWIMMING!!!!!

Rumours are flying...

There is a good chance that an update is coming tomorrow or the day after that. For now, people are saying that China is up to November 14th (unofficially of course). So... another 7 days this month (Nov. 7th --> 14th). At this pace - 7 days / month - we are looking at 18 more months of wait (127 days left / 7 days per month = 18 months, approximately)!?!?! Again, I really believe it will be less than that. I have to believe!!!! Apparently they have to get through the month of November 2005 and then things should speed up at little... We'll see...

Emily's Quilt

Just throwing it out there for those who may have forgotten... I'm still collecting quilt pieces for Emily's quilt. I'm hoping to work on it this summer, but I still need a few more pieces. Anybody?

Update time is here again...

Although I have not seen it written officially, it would appear that they have made it from November 1st all the way to November 7th!!! Do I sound a little underexcited?
Early rumours were talking about mid-November, but unfortunately it doesn't look like they were able to get that far.
We still have to get through 4 1/2 months (134 days) of LIDs, but if they are referring only 6 days a month, 134 divided by 6 = 22 more months to go??? I don't think so, but you never know!!!!
Bring on the martinis!!!!

What's new?

...Well, not much.

I had not yet posted the April update, which was a REALLY exciting 5 days!!! So they have completed up to Oct. 31st 2005!! Yes, we are getting closer, but really this wait it almost becoming unreal. On an average day, I almost forget that we are even "waiting"!
The little lady bug at the top of the page reminds me that we are approaching the 14 months mark of our wait... But really it seems more like 9 years...
May update is rumored to come in around June 4th, and actually early rumors are talking about 15+ days (i.e., Nov 15th 2005+)... but I have learned not to get my hopes up.
Besides that, I'm counting down the days to my summer vacation, really only 6 weeks left, but 28 days due to holidays!!!!

Permits are starting to appear for our projects... But the first one (cuttong down the hedges) is still "pending"!!! Step 1, now please!!!!!

And... is anyone else wanting to contribute to Emily's quilt. I'd like to be able to finish it this summer (well...get started...I only have a few pieces so far!!!!)

You'll hear more when I do...bye for now... and keep smiling!

Feeling HOT HOT HOT??

We're not!!! Well... we won't this summer.
Sean and I just invested in an expensive large hole for our backyard.
It should be installed in time for the very hot weather!!

After talking about a semi in-ground pool for a long time, we actually decided on a full in-ground (pool salesmen are just like car salesmen!).

CANADA day!?!? Pool Party?!?! Maybe!!!!!

We had to do something to entertain ourselves during this LOOOONNNGGG wait!!!

Now for permits, a fence, sod, landscaping, ... Ok ... what did I just get myself into... SEAN - it's all your fault!!! :)

I CAN'T WAIT!!! (Shhh...don't tell him I said that!)

The CHRISTE ladies

2 are Elisabeth
2 are Annalies
but all are (or have been)
CHRISTE

I'm Back!!

I've actually been home for a week, but I think that I am still getting over jet-lag. I seem to wake up been 3 and 4 am everyday (9 and 10am in Switzerland) which is when I used to get up.
My vacation, of course, was amazing. Sunny blue skies for 2 weeks!! And it was great to see family again that I had not seen in some time. I'll try to post a few pictures when I get a chance.
But now it's back to reality... the depressing truth about our wait for Emily.
And the UPDATE is............for the whole month of March (2007) they worked through 2... yes I said 2 days of files, bringing us from Oct 24th 2005 to Oct 26th 2005. And from what I have been reading, the rest of October and November were VERY LARGE as far as applications... translation...you got it, more waiting...

On a lighter note, I am trying to grow a holunder bush that I brought from Switzerland. Never heard of this?? Exactly! Why can't we get that here?? I'm keeping my fingers crossed... this is my baby for now!!!!

Happy Anniversary - well Anniversary anyway... Happy???

Tomorrow is the BIG day, our 1st anniversary. You're thinking...WHAT? It will have been one year since our file was registered in China. Here's wishing we NEVER make it to a 2nd anniversary!!!

There's always something happening...

I've finally had some time to post the squares I have recevied, and a few of the cute things in Emily's closet. Check it out if you're interested... (see link on the right side of this page...
Countdown for my trip to Switzerland is beginning... but with some (major?) renovation plans, I have other things on my mind...
OK... so it was the only way to get the old sofa into the basement, but what a can of worms that opened up!!!

Updates are in...

But don't get excited. They have only moved from Oct 13th 2005 to Oct 24th 2005 in the last month. 11 more days down, 11 LIDs closer to ours... Still keeping our fingers crossed for 2007, but if things don't speed-up, we're starting to look at 2008 :(

All about Emily

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have added 2 new links on the right hand side, under the title "All about Emily." I have not yet posted anything there, but will soon. In the first one "Quilt of Wishes" I will post the quilt pieces I have received so far (if you don't know what I'm talking about, and are intersted in knowing, PLEASE ask me!) The second is entitled "Emily's closet." I have received - and bought - a number of really cute things for Emily. And while I can't yet have a fahion show with her actually trying all these cute things on, I will entertain myself by photographing them and posting them on that link.
So... Enjoy...

FINALLY... some good news!!!!

As most of you know, we heard this morning that we are OFFICIALLY out of review and on to the next step in the process. More waiting, but we are getting closer!!
YAY!!!

No news is good news... NOT (part2)

The little ticker at the top of the page just reminded me that tomorrow is our 10 months anniversary. Considering that we are probably about 1/2 way there, maybe we should celebrate?? or not...

No news is good news... says who???

No updates to report on... not even rumors. The review room seems to have almost come to a hault, as it has been almost 80 days since they have published updates. It still says that they have finished reviewing files up to January 31st 2006. I won't even begin to relax until I see that they have finished reviewing March... and then we still have to wait another ?? months until we see Emily.

On a lighter note, I just booked my flight to Switzerland. I'll be going with my parents for 2 weeks (they are staying a little longer.) We all leave on March 23rd, and I'm back on April 9th. It has been almost 8 years since I saw my family... I can't wait!

Finally, just thought I'd mention that Sean and I just came back from seeing "Blood Diamond." What an incredile movie... REALLY hard to take, but incredile. I'm not a big Leo fan, but he did a really good job in this one. We both highly recommended it... OH, and if you are planning on buying a diamond anytime soon, make SURE that it is NOT from Africa! Go see the movie, you'll understand!

THE POLAR BEAR DIP...
January 1st 2007, into the icy waters in Inverness, N.S.


Sean was tempted and said he might try it one year. I just stood there FREEZING with my hat/gloves/coat/scarf, laughing and taking pictures!

Family Reunion:

Up front is Pat (Sean's brother), and in the back (left to right) Susanna (Pat's wife) Angie (Sean's sister), Gerri a.k.a. MA! and of course SEAN! If you are wondering where I am at, someone had to take the picture!!!!

UPDATE...

Well, we're back! Our holiday was mostly relaxing and minorly eventful... Very little snow in Nova Scotia, and the temperatures were crazy warm, but the cold ocean wind made up for that. We went to see the Polar Bear dip on January 1st. We were amazed with the number of people willing to take the plung into the freezing water! I'll get some pictures on here soon...

China updates arrived this week... The CCAA has finished matching files received upto Sept. 27th, 2005. Basically, another 19 days were processed in December... 19 LIDs closer to ours...

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! Let's hope and pray that 2007 is the year the Emily comes home to her FOREVER family.