This one's for the girls

It's September. Hopefully that means the Russian adoption powers that be are back at work and we will have a referral soon. No word yet.

A couple weeks ago was my 10th annual girls weekend. Every summer my high school friends head out for a weekend away, just the girls. This year we went to Piney Ridge on the Whitefish Chain. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like the smell of cat urine, lots of dead bugs, nests in your closets, and soupy pools. We made the best of it the first night but in the morning dampness we knew we would have to move on. Luckily we found a large enough, clean, available cabin at Beacon Shores Resort. I had a really fun weekend!! I've been friends with some of these girls since 3rd grade. Thanks Leigh for keeping us going!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Dog Days

I took an updated picture of Abby for our photo board at work and decided it was time for her very own post. We got Abby 3 years ago to keep me company during Brian's 22 month deployment to Iraq. I wanted someone to be excited to see me when I came home! I had no idea how much personality one little pup could have or how much she would become part of the family. Luckily she loves kids, mostly because they tend to drop food!!

I don't have any exciting adoption news to report except that there have been a few "keeping it real" posts on some of the blogs I follow. If you are someone who knows us well and will most likely be part of our child's life I encourage you to read this post about Owen. It shows some of the behavior a toddler coming from an orphanage setting may exhibit. If you had been following any of the Russian adoption blogs I had linked you can get to them all through http://journey-to-adopt.blogspot.com/

Quilting B

I have to admit the knowledge that there won't be referrals in our region this month has been kind of a nice break. Don't get me wrong, I'm WAY ready for THE call but it is nice to be happy when my husband calls just to see if I'm having a good day and not to be disappointed he is not calling with referral news. However August has never seemed like such a long month, especially for someone who loves summer. Anyway.....


My step sister Bianca is quite a crafty gal. I'm excited for her wedding in September because she is making so many things on her own that I think it will be really unique. In her "spare" time she spent roughly 300 hours on this quilt that she entered in the Dakota County Fair. She even won a ribbon! If little Vlad (nickname given by family) turns out to be artistic, he will be lucky to have Aunt B!


And it gave the fam a good excuse to eat food on a stick. MMMMMM pickle pups!!

The Suite Life

I love going to baseball games! Besides the game I like the atmosphere, the snacks, the crowds and that it reminds me of summer. Usually I enjoy these things from the comfort of general admission seating. However, almost every year Uncle Brian and family come up and treat us to a game in really good seats. Uncle Brian likes to generously share his hobby (sports) with others. We have had seats behind home plate and on the 3rd base line but this year was my favorite - he treated us to a Suite! It was great to get up and talk to others whenever I wanted and the food was just a few steps away with no lines. I felt very spoiled and had lots of fun!! Thanks Brian and Melody!!

Who do Brian and I bring with 1 extra ticket? Aaron of course!!

Summer in MN

It's summer vacation time!! Brian and I managed to get a whole week off and in true Minnesota fashion headed up north to the lake. We spent the week at White Eagle Resort on Lake Vermillion. It was a relaxing, much needed vacation since we have been working extra hard to save up time off for Russia. We did hear that the Russian database operator gets a whole month off in August so it looks like we won't be hearing anything for another month. Hopefully he or she will come back well rested and ready to find some kids a family!! In the mean time I get to practice my patience. I am convinced that adoption time is in slow motion!!

Here are a few more pics from our vacation. Hopefully next year we will be heading back with our little rooski!!

Aaron and Zach at Cutty Rock

Uncle Bri

Brian and Rachel