"Smashing" Home-study, Check!

Sergei at Aunt Dana's with his melting face paint.

What was I thinking? I just took the first appointment we could, "Nov. 1st at 9am sounds great, see you soon!" I said it alright, but on October 31st I was kind of wishing I had scheduled our Home-study appointment for the 2nd.

Halloween on a Monday people...really...who does that?! Got Suzy off to school, check. Pearl refused to wear anything at all that day, let alone a costume. Finally convinced her clothes were not negotiable but still could not talk her into wearing the cutest Halloween shirt from her Aunt Lisa. Oh, well...she is wearing clothes, check. Saved stray puppy in road, check. Visit at Grandma Suzan’s and then off to pick up Suzy from school. My moms last words as I backed out of her driveway, “Don't hit my car!” Damn...too late. Smashed into my Moms car, check. SORRY MOM!!!

Trick or treating, check. Kids finally in bed, check. Whew! Oh wait I have a home-study in the morning and I have to fold 8 loads of laundry, clean my house, wash my kids Halloween makeup off in their sleep and look rested and fresh. Fast forward to the morning....House was clean, Laundry is folded (I thought she might check my van for car-seats so I decided I couldn't hide it there). Kids were perfect and left over Halloween make up is endearing, right?

The Home-study was great or I guess I should say, our caseworker was great. We were so excited to finally be getting to this point in the adoption I was giddy. After questions and interviews, I think we passed with flying colors, minus my shoplifting shenanigans at age 12 (Listen to your parents kids, they are always right!). I was finally able to hand her the packet we had been working weeks on to compile. It felt so great to know that we can't do anything else right now but to raise funds and wait for the next step. There is still a lot left, but such a relief to know we are this much closer to getting Sergei and Max home!