Spoke to the bank manager yesterday regarding ordering new money.  The conversation was strange to say the least.  She of course had never heard of such a thing…just my luck.  I got to play twenty questions – twenty rapid fire questions that is.  And somewhere in the conversation she went from being the bank manager to an army drill sergeant Q: What country is it?  A:  Kazakhstan  Q:  But what country?  A:  The country is Kazakhstan – it use to be a part of the former Soviet Union.  Q: Where is it?  A:  Under Russia – to the left of China.  Q:  How is it spelled?  A:  Think: OMG….Say: K-A-Z-A-K-H-S-T-A-N. 

You would think I was asking her permission to adopt from Kazakhstan…I just want to order new money (a lot of new money) in 100 dollar bills, series 1999 money with absolutely no marks, creases, etc.  In unmarked bills – okay not the last part. 

Anyway, she was supposed to call me back yesterday and she didn’t.  I am not looking forward to having the same conversation with a second bank manager.  I really didn’t think this part would be so difficult.  I am also hoping that I don’t have to pay for the money until I go get it.  According to Christy another PAP (who seems to have had no problem ordering the money through her credit union) the next time the Federal Reserve takes orders for new money is November 5th-9th.  And they only do this a few times a year so I need to figure this part out fast.

Well, the other night I put up a few Halloween decorations.  I don’t know why I bother since I am lucky if I get five or six trick-or-treaters each year.  I don’t even go buy the fun size candies anymore because I know I will be left with the majority of the bag at the end of the night.  Just what I need, nearly a whole bag of “fun”. 

Now, I just get ten of the big size candy bars.  I figure those trick-or-treaters that come out should be rewarded. 

This holiday has changed so much since I was a child.  I remember Halloween when I was young was such an event.  I actually remember one year when I was about eight sitting in school at my desk and planning out on paper my intended trick-or-treating route to maximize my candy collecting while effectively utilizing the available daylight hours.  I had a map and timetable and everything.  It was MBA quality stuff.  Now I have to practically flag the trick-or-treaters down.  Oh well. 

However, it occurred to me as I was stringing up plastic ghosts with pipe cleaners that this would be the last year that I would be sitting by the door waiting for the cute munchkins to come a knocking. In the next 12 months there will be a lot of lasts and firsts.  Next year, I will be following around my own cute munchkin.  HHHmmmm.  I wonder if I should start working on a map for her?  No probably not.  That will be her domain.  Mine will be picking out an extremly comfortable pair of shoes so I can last as long as needed. 

I am finding myself thinking about all the different holidays as they go by and how much more fun they will be with a child here. 

The 4th of July parade that they have every year in my town – usually I will see the families lining up along the sidewalk well in advance staking out their spot - next year we will be out there sweating alongside everyone else, eating ice cream, and sitting on plastic chairs.

Thanksgiving – Turkey for two, watching the Macy’s Day Parade with someone who will appreciate it in all its glory, and snuggling together during the tryptophan induced post feasting nap. 

Christmas – Bringing down the thirty odd miniature houses and creating the village around the tree.  Buying and putting up the tree and the gazillion decorations.  Having Santa come visit my house again.  (Santa, what do you have against single people? – LOL) Making and decorating Christmas cookies.

Easter – I think this will be one of my favorites and will be the first holiday we spend together.  I can’t wait to make up the Easter basket for her – and hide the eggs.  And take her to our town’s huge Easter egg hunt. 

I worry that she will be too old to believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny.  Or if she is not too old then I worry about her asking me why they did not visit her until now.  I don’t really know what I will say.  I want her to get to experience the magic of the holidays that makes childhood so memorable and so much fun.  I want to give her/make her all these memories that for so many people are at the core of how they remember their childhood.  And for me…I want to get to experience the holidays not from the perspective of the friend that got invited over but instead from the epicenter of my own family. 

Check out Kim’s page to the right for promising news to come.

Hi everyone!  I wish that there was some news to tell but unfortunately there is not.  Kim is also waiting for news.  She is waiting to hear about her region and is getting a bit stir crazy.  Feel free to post encouraging comments for Kim here and I will email her to check them out. 

I have been keeping busy by doing a few things like finishing up the big girl registry at Toys R Us, working on her room, and clearing out the playroom.  I have primed all the pieces of furniture with white primer and will be painting them with white paint tomorrow night.  Then over the weekend I will go find some neat stencils of hearts and other girly stuff at Hobby Lobby.  I am going to use light pink paint and cranberry paint to fill in the stencils.  Those are the main colors for her bedroom – light pink, white and cranberry.  I also have to take down the old nasty fan (should have been changed out years ago) and put up a small light pink and white hanging chandelier shaped like flower petals.  All girls should have a chandelier in their bedroom – don’t you think?  I will try and take a few pictures of the room this weekend to show you my efforts but keep in mind that there is still a lot to do until I am finished.  I will have to take before and after shots of the playroom since I have not even begun any decorating in that room.  It will be lavender and white.  I found some great lavender ribbon that I am going to use for the curtains in the playroom – which has nine windows – so you know I am going to be sewing for days.

I have been trying to keep myself sane by checking out my fellow APs blogs.  Right now there are at least five families I know of in country.  Very exciting!  The best is being able to follow along in real time while families travel, read about their first day, and first visits with their new family member. 

Keep your fingers crossed Kim hears something soon about her region and LOI.  I doubt I will hear any news for a few weeks or so or even longer.  Till later.