Pinterest, my new addiction

I must be one of the last people to get on Pinterest. While in China, Katie and I LIVED on it. Most everything there was blocked, but not Pinterest!
It is very addicting, I cannot stress that enough.

I found a pin that had faux Roman shades. Brillant idea! 1 curtain panel from Lowes (matches my slider door curtains), 3 tension rods, and Liquid Stitch. In less than 45 minutes this bad boy was hanging above my sink.

1 month visit

We have completed our 1 month post placement visit. China recently changed their requirements; with Mia is was at 6 months and 1 year. Now with Mara it is 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years. Madness I tell you. I have alot of thoughts on this. One month since placement is crazy, I have only been back in the states for about 3 weeks. These last 3 weeks have been a little rocky. Not bad in anyway mind you, just settling back into a routine for all of us. Ah well, we will do them as required.

Progress

This ladies and gentleman is progress.

Home Sweet Home

We were never so glad to be in Detroit! Mara did great on the nearly 15 hour plane ride. Our saving grace was the tv screens in the seats in front of us. She watched the cartoons, ate snacks, and played. She only slept for about 45 minutes.

The boys have been great with her. They amaze me at how loving and accepting they are. She is their sister, case closed. Mia, well she is a little out of sorts. I know in time it will get better. It's tough being 3 and then all the sudden a sister the same size as you shows up AND you are expected to share.

Mara will see the doctor on March 23, a physical and to start the process of learning more about her hearing loss and the options that are available to her.

Headed HOME!

The consulate appointment was this morning for Mara. It went very smoothly, and we were back in time for breakfast at the hotel. Her visa will be ready tomorrow afternoon.

We start our long travel back to the US tomorrow. We leave via train around 5pm for Hong Kong. I am anxious about that part. We have to wrestle with the luggage and Mara. Then on Thursday morning we fly to Detroit! I will be so happy to land there. Wish us well on that long flight. I am ready to see my family.

Randoms

In Beijing we went to a restaurant and one of the servers looked like Robert Pattinson. I am not a Twilight person, but Katie pointed it out, so naturally I took a picture. What do you think?

Today we did some small shopping for souvenirs at Shamain Island. While there, Mara threw the BIGGEST fit I have witnessed in a while from a two year old. (We were done in a shop and she had to leave the store. She was playing with toys.) It felt like every eye on the island was watching what I would do. She did recover a few minutes later. (This picture is just a snippet of what was witnessed there.)

Shoes

Some of Mara's shoe creations.....