Happy Halloween from the Land of Candy!

Our Lovely Brick

This is our brick at Disneyland.

We love Disneyland and already have a trip planned for the end of February with Ryleigh. We have to get that little Princess there as soon as we can.

A little history. Last year we had decided to get a brick in front of Disneyland and it was going to say: "Stacey, Mark & Austin Teague, Carmel, CA". When we were on our way down to Disneyland on December 8th, we made the decision that we were indeed going to start the adoption process for a baby girl from China. Nothing like 6 hours in a car to come to a life altering decision, huh? Anyways, when we got to our hotel, we called my mom and quickly had her order some information packets for three different agencies that I had already been looking into.

After our trip, which was amazing, I quickly called Disney and had them change the wording on the brick to The Teague Family. I can't wait to take our picture with it in the spring, all of us!

P/S A very nice Disney-aholic took a picture of our brick at Disneyland for us.

No Referral This Time!

This is what Austin looked like when we told him that he will not be seeing his sister, Ryleigh's little face next week.

The last few weeks our agency, who is usually very conservative, was telling us that we should be in this group of referrals that are due to arrive sometime next week.

This morning when I got onto the ol' email, I had an email from our agency sent to all people who's paperwork was logged in in April. The email basically stated that they don't think that ANY of April will be matched this time, and that they might not get any referrals this month at all. We are crushed and bummed. We also know that we will get Ryleigh's picture when it's the right time for everyone (especially the Chinese government that is working hard on doing the matches).

We love our agency, and can't wait until they can tell us good news!

Note: This is not what Austin did when we told him. We actually didn't tell him anything about not getting the picture because truthfully, he just wouldn't understand. This is actually a picture of what he looks like when he loses at his new game (courtesy the Emerson's in Virginia Beach) Cariboo.

The Chinese Backstreet Boys

The Chinese Backstreet Boys need no introduction.....just watch.

Thank you to Julie from the Wandering Child for the stolen link.....

Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin Witch

I love commercialism. We've had a big debate about it this week at pre-school. So many parents are against it, but come on, how can you be against something so darn CUTE!!!

How can you go wrong with little parts that you get to shove into a pumpkin to create such an adorable witch; earrings and all! The best part is that we didn't have to scoop any pumpkin guts out!!

Happy Halloween everyone from the Teague Family!

The Office

If you are NOT watching The Office on NBC you should be! The Office is hysterical, and I think the best show this season!!!

Now back to our discussion on Chinese Adoption and our hopefully soon referral of Ryleigh!

Big Sur is so RELAXING!

We had such a great time camping. We went to Big Sur and stayed at the State Park (they have the BEST quarter showers) down there. We went with two of my friends from work and their families. So much fun!!



We ate some good food and lots of S'mores or Shmores as the Wilsons call them!

Austin had so much fun with his friend, Chase....although they bickered like an old married couple.



We had such a relaxing time. Time flew by during the day (lazing around the campground, going to the river, riding bikes and scooters, playing lots of games (Texas Hold'em, Rummy and Uno). We are going to start planning next summers trip soon.

It's so great to have a nice vacation with wonderful people!

On the adoption front, supposedly our agency is telling people that the cutoff this month will be people who have a Log in Date of 4/22 or 4/23, in case everyone needs reminding we are Log in Date of 4/22....too close for comfort for me... I remain on an emotional rollercoaster, but also think that if we don't receive our referral until next time I will be ok with that as well. Either way, I will endure....what would my life be without this drama!!!!

Camping...

We're off to go camping tomorrow. Just thought I'd post an "adoption update".

We are LID 4/22, we should be next for referral, but it's all up in the air because while China (the CCAA) was almost up to processing full months of referrals at one time, they have now slipped backwards and this month the referrals only went up to March 17th. This means that we MIGHT be in this months batch and we MIGHT not.

This is a crazy emotional rollercoaster and I'm glad that I will be away from the computer for 6 days....I've had enough with rumors, predictions and wishes......

See you when I get back.

Blast from the Past!

Today my friend Kim sent me these pictures she scanned in from the past. They CRACK me up because I don't remember a lot of them. Kim says the one with me in the green vest is from a band trip to San Francisco. Yes, I was a band geek (flute, clarinet, then saxophone). I remember that band trip because I think I kissed a boy for the first time on that trip playing spin the bottle.

Here we are in 1973. Kim is in the upper right hand corner! I am top row second from the left, sporting my new short curly dew, and missing my front teeth. What did my mom tell me before I left for school that day in my new (handsewn) Holly Hobby dress? "Smile big for the camera, it's the only chance you get to show yourself without your big front teeth." Well, I didn't. I kept my mouth shut. I wish I hadn't. Oh, and to end that story. During recess right after the pictures were taken, I was playing dodge ball (Tomboy that I was) and someone threw the ball at my feet, tripped me, and I skinned all of the fabric off of my fabric covered, hand sewn buttons on my homemade Holly Hobby dress....Waaaaah (Oh, and Kim, I rememeber doing Holly Hobby Shrinky Dinks at your birthday party. I will never forget how cool that was!)



This picture says it all. Ahhhh, the Halloween Parade at school. This was back before they outlawed the word Halloween in public schools and you could actually celebrate the awesome holiday for what it was. Showing our wholesome upbringings, Kim is a dutch girl, and I am a sailor. Check out that hussy in the belly showing, pre-Britney Spears era bellydancing costume. I don't remember who that was, but I wonder if SHE is the reason that they don't celebrate Halloween in public schools anymore!



Here I am holding my little sister, Serra. She came along when I was in the 4th grade. We adopted her and my whole family loved her instantly, except, well, maybe me. It took a while, but I love her now. Check out her whispy hair!!



Here's the infamous San Francisco Band Trip picture. Boy don't I look hot in that boyish green down vest. I think it was a jacket until the sleeve got ripped at school. Thank God my mom could sew. Kim is sitting right behind me.



Here we are in 1976, look how cute we were! I'm on the top right, looking oh so chic in my silly green dress. Kim is in the bottom middle. Our teacher was Mr. McCormick and he was a great teacher. Just a side note: Mark started college the year I was in 4th grade, yikes!



Thanks Kim for the pictures, the memories, and being such a great friend, even though we are so lame that we never get together even though we live about 3 miles from eachother and share such a history!!

Mercedes of Carseats...and 4 year old photographer in the house!

Today the Mercedes of carseats arrived at our house via FedEx. Austin shows his disdain for being forced into it's flowery plushness by performing the international sign for "I'm about to puke".









Austin thinks he's a photographer. He's actually a really great one. I should put his montage of photo's entitled "Fishing with Dad" on here. He has some amazing shots. If we put them in a gallery, people would buy them in this artsy-fartsy town we live in. Anyways, here is a portrait of Dad. He asked him to say "blah" instead of "Cheese".






Not wanting to leave out Mom, here I am looking my best after being asked to say "Puke". Not only is his photography creatively A+, he has the right words to say to his subjects to get just that look he's trying to achieve. This boy of mine is headed for success!