Lazy Sunday..

We haven't done a whole lot today...watched football and unpacked a little. I've been fighting off a cold for the past two weeks. Right now it's winning..ugh! We love being in a house and the dogs are really enjoying the backyard! We had our first snow of the year on Thursday!! I love watching the big snow flakes fall. The dogs love playing in the snow and we have a hard time getting them back inside. MacInnis always comes in with his nose covered in snow. It's pretty cute. We are missing having Laura and Phillip here!!! It was so great to have them here and I really didn't want for them to leave!!

Now that we're getting settled in, we are gearing back up to finish the classes to do the foster to adopt. We have to get the paperwork in as well. Everytime I think I have it all together, I found out they need more stuff. Hopefully we'll get it sent off by the end of the week.

Work has been "normal" for once..YEAH! I'm gearing up for a trial in Dec. that will last a couple of weeks but other than that it has been pretty uneventful. Hopefully it stays that way for a while. Andy is done with training and extra work days for the year. YEAH! He is going to be working on some applications for police depts in TN and IL. We decided that Indiana would be the perfect place for us but the surrounding states are ok as well...as long as we are much closer to our families that's all that matters. The one thing that is different from a year ago, is that we want to move but we're not worrying about it as much. We both have great paying jobs and oeverall we are happy in Colorado. If it works out for us to move-great, if not-it wasn't meant for us to move right now. We'll just have to make a point to go back and visit more often!

National Adoption Awareness Month

I found this on another blog and thought I'd share it. Hopefully next year, we'll be matched and finalizing an adoption.

Presidential Proclamation for 2008 National Adoption Month

During National Adoption Month, we recognize the compassion of adoptive and foster families as we seek to raise awareness of the need for every child in America to have a safe, loving, and permanent home.Adopting a child is a great joy and also a great responsibility. Parents are a child’s first teachers, and adoptive families can help children learn character and values, the importance of giving back to their community and country, and the courage to realize their potential.

On November 15, caring parents across our Nation will celebrate National Adoption Day by finalizing their adoptions and bringing home children in need of a hopeful life.My Administration is committed to helping young people find the love, stability, and support that a family can provide. We have joined with community and faith-based organizations to raise public awareness of foster children awaiting adoption. With the help of the Congress, we are assisting families in overcoming the financial barriers to adopting children through programs such as the Adoption Incentives Program. In addition, the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids project, which can be found at adoptuskids.org, provides guidance and resources for parents exploring adoption.During National Adoption Month, we honor adoptive and foster parents who have shown America the depth and kindness of the human heart. Their love and dedication inspire the next generation of Americans to achieve their dreams and demonstrate the true spirit of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2008 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.GEORGE W. BUSH

Empty house!

Laura and Phillip left yesterday! =( I can't believe how fast the days went by! We really enjoyed having them here and had lots of fun while they were here. When I took Laura and Phillip to the airport, I tried to convince them that their flight had been canceled, that they weren't letting people named Laura and Phillip on airplanes..hey, it was worth a shot.

Quick synopsis our activities while they were here"

Friday night-their flight arrived around 10:30 pm, got to the house after 11, quick tour and we all crashed!

Saturday-SHOPPING!, dinner at the ESPN Zone, and Avalanche game. ESPN Zone has great food and lots of tv's with sports on them...the guys were in heaven!

Sunday-Garden of the Gods, Nike Outlet store #1, and game night.

Monday-Laura and Phillip went on a tour of the med school here, Nike Outlet #2, Coors Brewery, and game night #2. At Coors they have 3 free samples at the end, since I was the driver I gave my samples to Laura, Phillip, and Andy. When we left there, I had a giggly car load with me.

Tuesday-their flight left at 11 so I took them to the airport that morning. Andy had to get up at 4:30 a.m. as he had training all day.

I think Laura and I drove Andy and Phillip a little crazy with all of our stories, our silly sayings and ganging up on them. We even had to call Mom and Dad at one point to see who was right about something at one point...turned out neither of us were right. Dad actually was the one who was correct...AMAZING!

Andy and I hopefully will be making a trip back to Southern Indiana and Michigan sometime after the first of the year!

They're here!

Laura and Phillip are here and we are having a great time!!! Just wanted to do a quick update. We went to an Avalanche hockey game last night...they won, YEAH!!! Today we are going to the Garden of the Gods and having game night. The dogs are loving the fact they are getting even more attention than normal. Ok, time to start the day...I love having my seeester and Pheelup here!

Back from the mountains and now we're moving...

We had a great time in Keystone! The weather was amazing! It was in the high 50's and low 60's the 5 days we were up there. It was cold at night but the days were beautiful! I did kind of miss the snow but it was really nice not freezing going from the condo to the conference center. The only issue we had was some fraudulent charges on my credit card...lovely! It's now canceled and I already got the new one. A co-worker had the same issue as well. The workshops at the conference were great and I learned quite a bit that will help me be a better victim advocate.

Since we got back on Wednesday, we had to shift into moving mode. The movers come tomorrow and we are FINALLY moving out of the apartment and into a house again. YEAH! I really really really miss our house but know that we were very lucky to sell it when we did. I know that if we would have waited to list it, we would have regretted it. The house we are renting is very close to our old house and is really nice. We are renting from one of my co-workers. It works out perfectly...she got married and didn't want to list it now since she just bought it a year ago so us renting it works out for her as well as for us. YEAH!

I should be packing more right now but I just needed a small break. Andy is sleeping since he was up for about 30 hours. UGH! He had to work last night and as soon as he got home we moved some stuff to the house, packed another load and move it to the house. He really wanted to watch the Broncos game for a little while...I think he watched about 5 minutes of the game before he was snoring. I did learn something about Andy while he has been sleeping...he sleeps with his eyes partially open. It's very freaky! He's going to love that I shared that...hey, that's what blogs are for. =)

Exciting news at work this week, a co-worker who has been on the waiting list to adopt from Korea received a referral this week and they have been matched! YEAH!!! Their little boy is 5 months old and he should be here in their home in about 3-5 months. He is so cute! She has a picture of him on her office door. When I walked into the office on Thurs morning, she came and told me even before I made it to my office. We have been sharing our journeys with each other since we can understand the hopes/struggles that go along with the process. Hopefully after the first of the year, we'll be at the point that we are waiting for our placement.

One last thing to share...my sister, Laura, and her hubby, Phillip, will be here on FRIDAY!!! So in 5 days and 6 hours and 36 minutes their plane will be arriving in Denver!!!! Yes, I'm just a bit excited! It has been way too long since we had some good sister time! The last time that we saw Laura and Phillip was in July 2007. Phillip is applying to med schools...they are really hoping he gets into the one in St. Marten's. I hope that St. Marten's works out for them since that is their first choice as well as it's warm, it's the ocean and everything else that they love. I have to confess though.. the selfish part of me would love for Phillip to get into the one here. Just the thought of having them so close brings tears to my eyes...I miss going to the movies and shopping with Laura, I miss all the long late night talks we'd have(some when we were awake, some while we were sleeping) . I just miss being able to just be there...but...I just want them to be happy and if that means St. Marten's then that is where they should be. =)