Snowed In

No news on the adoption front right now. We're currently answering a bunch of questions about ourselves and filling out paperwork.

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We just finished the largest grading session of the semester: end of term portfolios. I'm so happy to be done with them. Imagine reading 2000 pages and having to comment on every single page... It's grueling. I have approximately 88 students, and each one turns in about 20-25 pages of writing at the end of the semester. But -- it's the only pitfall of the job. Otherwise, I love what I do. And now, it's break time!!!!

Unfortunately, we are snowed in! The sky finally stopped threatening and made good on its promises.



I really dislike snow most of the time. I don't like traveling in it, and I prefer to be warm. I hate bundling up every time I want to leave the house.

But -- when we don't have to go anywhere and work is done for the semester, it can snow all the time. It's quite relaxing and pretty to just stay inside and look out the window.

So, as long as I get one day to Christmas shop this week, I'm okay with the snow.

WooHoo

We mailed the applications out to the "agency" today.

We anticipate our actual wait will begin in just under a month or so... fingers crossed.

Holiday Wishlist: part 1

1. Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Radiohead



2. Rosie's Family: An Adoption Story

Lately...

*Real Estate Licensing Exam -- I spent the last couple days about 150 miles south of home, preparing for and taking the test. I don't get the results for a couple weeks, but my fingers are crossed that before Christmas, I will have a nice part-time real-estate gig.

*Thanksgiving -- We traveled to Nick's parent's house for Thanksgiving. We were there for about four days. How lovely it was to just relax and enjoy time with family. We ate so much great food... I miss it! And, we got to see my brother-in-law and his wife. She's due to have our nephew very soon! I can't wait to meet him. We also got to spend some lovely time with our other nieces and nephews, playing games and talking.

*Home Study Visit 1 -- Oh yes! They did start the process! :) We spent days cleaning and cleaning and cleaning our house. It wasn't all that dirty... but we still weren't fully unpacked from the move in June (oops!) and had to put a bunch of stuff away. They visited, and didn't really look around too closely. Then, we were interviewed and asked a bunch of questions about our home, family, marital relationship, etc. It wasn't bad at all, and my nerves weren't as bad as I thought they would be.

*Home Study Interview 2 -- And, it's moving along quickly. We had our second interview session (individual interviews) recently. We spent about an hour talking about ourselves. It was a bit intense and I babbled a bit. I am very uncomfortable talking about myself so much. But, it went okay.

*Black Friday Shopping -- I got a gift card for "Thanksgistmas" at the in-laws and so, on Black Friday, we went clothes shopping. I got a ton of new sweaters. (I love sweaters).

*First Snowfall -- Today, snow fell here for the first time. I am not a fan of snow, by any means. But, today, it's pretty. I don't have to be anywhere, and I get to relax a bit. My grading is done; my test is done; and I just get to sit for awhile.

It was unseasonably warm the last week or so, and our roses decided to bloom again. I was thrilled to see them in late November/early December. It felt like a very cool summer. And now, they're getting covered in snow. I snapped some pictures as proof.