Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

Our oldest son, Taylor, turned 11 today and has the pre-teen attitude to prove it! We celebrated with a family party and Taylor's traditional birthday pumpkin pie. It seems like only yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. They just grow up too fast!!!

Getting Spoiled by My Secret Pal...

My secret {to you not me ;o) } pal did it again this month! The theme for August was 'Something for Mom' and she went overboard! She sent a novel, grapefruit scented bath items, a 'zen garden' relaxation CD, chopsticks and a cute back scratcher/roller where the roller part is a chinese girl head! I had to get a picture of that so you could see how cute it is... She also sent some candy and chocolate that met its demise before this picture was snapped! I've been trying to get some projects done around the house and using each of the gifts as a reward to bribe myself to complete them. Slowly but surely, its working! Thanks again secret pal!!!

According to My Fortune Cookies...

Grandma, Josh, Xander and I went to Pei Wei for lunch today (love that honey-seared chicken!) I usually get stupid stuff in my fortune cookies but today was different. The first one said, "Be prepared to recieve something special" and the second (because you know I can't have just one!) said, "Next summer you will be dancing to a different tune." I certainly hope so! I'm still counting on a March 2007 referral and bringing Meili home in May...

Check out the pictures of Xander trying to use chopsticks... I tried my best to show him the ropes but he insisted upon using the "stab" method. Too cute!

First Day of School-2006

Audrey is starting 3rd grade this year but is tall enough to pass for a 5th grader. She is growing up too fast! She makes having a daughter so much fun that we have to go to China so we can do it again!!!

I couldn't quite figure out why Taylor was in such a bad mood this morning. Later in the day it hit me that he is starting junior high and if it hadn't happened yet already, today is the official day that anything that your mom wants you to do is no longer cool-especially posing for pictures at the bus stop! Here's my Tbone just before being fed to the junior high wolves!

For Noah's first day, I was able to attend Kindergarten orientation with him. He was a little nervous before we left the house but once he got to school and saw the other kids, the playground and all of the toys, he was good to go! Our school district started full day kindergarten this year with the exception of 2 schools including ours. Fine with me! I'm not ready to let this little guy go for a whole day yet!!!

Bouton Road Trip-2006

Yes, we are back and still alive. It has been forever since I've updated the blog but you all know how it is when you try to re-engage in reality after a long trip! We brought Taylor's friend, Josh back with us from Utah and picked Grandma Johnson up in Sun City on the way home so we've been busy with entertaining houseguests also. We had such a wonderful family vacation! I wish that Blogger would cooperate and let me post all the pictures that I wanted to...We packed up our tent-trailer and left Tucson on Saturday the 22nd and made our way to Jacob Lake, Arizona. We found a great little campsite about 40 miles north of the North Rim of the Grand Canyona and stayed there for the night.

On Sunday morning we woke up early and made our way to SLC. We just had to stop at Training Table and have some cheese fries-worth the drive just for those! That afternoon, we drove past our old house and neighborhood. It looked so different-just not our home anymore. We spent the evening with our cousins' Mark and Melanie. They have 4 children that line up in age perfectly with ours (we keep asking them when they are going to China!) It was heaven-the kids played and Melanie prepared a meal that inspired me to put a little more energy into preparing meals for my family! Ardean and Elna were there to top things off!

Matt, Mark and the older kids spent the night on the Days of '47 (Pioneer Day) parade route. Despite being rained on twice, they had a great time! The moms showed up the next morning, freshly showered with breakfast in tow! Melanie did it again! Did you know that you can make home made cinnamon rolls by making a simple sweet dough, rolling it out, brushing it with a bit of butter, and then coating the dough with RED HOTS before rolling it up and slicing into rolls? They were delicious!

After the parade, we made our way to Riverton and the home of the Tuttles who would be our travel-mates to Yellowstone. Diane made a wonderful chicken salad for us (Does it surprise anyone that food highlights are part of my travel-log?) After dinner, the moms did the pre-camp shopping. We watched fireworks (yes, pioneer day is big business in Utah!), had a delicious dessert and headed to bed.

We left for Yellowstone early Tuesday morning making our way to the Bouton-traditional Imax in the early afternoon. We were able to get camping sites right next to the Tuttles. We set up camp, then snuck off to get a peek at Old Faithful. We got rained on that night but were comfortable and dry in the tent trailer!

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a 1 hour horse-back ride through some of the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. Of course, there were no cameras allowed on the ride... I was amazed at how sore a person can get riding in a saddle. I was a bit disappointed that my ample natural padding didn't afford me a bit more comfort! Those of us who rode that day were doing the John Wayne swagger as we toured the rest of the North loop!

On Thursday, we did the South loop and took a swim break in Firehole Springs. Because of it's name, we thought that the water would be warm...we were wrong!

On Friday morning, we packed up camp and headed out for Ovid, Idaho for a visit and some horse-back riding with Uncle Zar at the family farm. He has just married a woman in Thailand. She is still there with her adorable 6 year-old daughter. We can't wait to meet them. Meili actually has quite a few Asian women in her extended family on my side of the family. This will be a first for Matt's!

We then headed over to Logan, Utah for a visit with Jenn's long-time friend, Heidi. We went to high-school together, although Heidi was a year older and much too cool to associate with me at that time. ;o) We became acquainted in beauty school in Glendora and both moved to Utah at the same time. It had been 5 years or more since we had seen each other-she looks just like she did in high school! Matt thinks that her husband, George looked like Captain America (that's a compliment from my comic-book obsessed husband!) Can't wait to see them again soon.
We made it back to SLC and Mark and Melanie's to enjoy a good chat and a hot shower before hitting the sack.

Saturday was a big day! We met Lisa from Tate-r-Bug at the park and had a nice chat. We went shopping for food and supplies to last us through our last leg of our trip then headed back to the park to meet more friends. The Parsons, Vidas, Buenos and Larsens showed up. It was so much fun to catch up with them! The kids had a blast seeing their old pals again.

After that, we headed for home after picking up Josh (Taylor's buddy since age 3) who will stay with us until the 12th. We made it back to Jacob Lake and got some much-needed sleep.

On Sunday morning, we got up early and drove to the North rim of the Grand Canyon-what a beautiful sight! We picked up Grandma and made it home at about 7 pm that night. I never thought I could be so happy to see my own toilet. I was soooo sick of public restrooms!!! We put a whopping 2900 miles on our car and Xander only cried to get out of his car seat for the last 20! The kids were amazing on this trip! There was a time not so long ago that I thought I might be nuts for signing up for a 5th child. On this trip, I couldn't help but think that we so have room for Meili!!! If our kids were anything but the wonderful kids that they are, things might be very different...

Enjoy the few pics that Blogger will allow me to post...

The Brood on Yellowstone Lake

Nope, this isn't Jenn after eating Matt's dutch oven cooking for a week...

This guy was so close to the car that I could feel his breath when I stuck my head out of the window to get this shot

Boutons and Tuttles:

Jenn, Matt, Noah Audrey, Taylor, Xander

Josh, Preston, Ryan, Diane, Blaine and Katelyn

Yep, I've still got it!!!

I went to the post office yesterday to send off home study documents to court and to clients. I had 5 kids plus Grandma with me so I decided to leave them in the car with the a/c running while I ran in. I went inside, used the automated machine to send the envelopes (very cool-now I can send packages 24/7!) and got back into the car. Upon returning, Grandma pointed out an elderly man who was getting into his car next to us. He must have been in his mid-eighties and looked a bit like Ed McMahon. Then she tells me that she saw him stop in his tracks, turn around and check me up and down a few times. Matt says that if I meet the weight goals that I have set for myself, I might work my way up the the baby-boomer generation!

Blog-Pals in the Park...

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of meeting up with Lisa from Tate-r-bug! We passed through Salt Lake on our way home from Yellowstone and made arrangements to meet. Lisa has such a fun personality and related so well to my kids that I can easily tell that she is going to be a great mom. Tate is going to be one lucky kiddo!

When it comes to adoption, there are so many people out there that just don't "get it." It is so nice to make new friends who do! Lisa is logged-in just before us so chances are that we can have another chat in China! Of course, with the wait expanding like it is, we just might make our way back to SLC again before that happens... Thanks again, Lisa. It was great to meet you!!!

Almost Outta Here!

We're almost all packed and ready to leave for Utah/Yellowstone on Saturday. Interspersed between the long car rides where I get to serve as stewardess to 4 children will be calm relaxing days of hiking, waterfalls, horse-back riding, dutch oven cooking! and catching up with old friends. We moved to Tucson from Salt Lake about 2 1/2 years ago. It will be nice to go back and see all the things that we miss! I'll be away from the computer for the entire trip which probably isn't a bad thing... I'm counting on Lisa to fill me in on the latest referral news when we meet for bagels on the 29th! Back on the 30th-better be some good news in the adoption world when I return!!!

Look What Came in the Mail!

I am loving this Secret Pal thing! July's theme was 'Something for the Nursery.' Check this out...so cute-and the picture really doesn't do it justice. The lavender silk pajamas are sooo soft and girly and the rabbit security blanket is just perfect! Audrey and I have been looking for something snuggly to send in a care package to China once we finally receive Meili's referral. We've only found blankets like these with blond-haired girl heads attached to them. Since we're fairly certain that Meili won't have blond hair, we knew that they just wouldn't do! ;o) Now a bunny...that's universal! Thanks secret pal! You've done it again!

Wanna Get Really Depressed???

According to www.chinaadoptionforcast.com ...

Our prediction for LID 2006-03-10
We can now extrapolate a few different possible dates when you might get your referral:
Worst case - if CCAA does future referrals at the SLOWEST velocity we've ever seen from them - your referral is very likely to come SOONER than this: 2010-05-24
Best case - if CCAA does future referrals at the FASTEST velocity we've ever seen from them - your referral is very likely to come LATER than this: 2007-02-15
Our best guess - a weighted average of recent CCAA velocities, guessing that CCAA will perform about as well in the future as they are performing now, but might return to previous trends: 2007-11-27
Since China generally sends out referrals in a batch about once per month, your referral date could easily vary +/- one month depending on whether you just get included or just get missed in a particular batch.

I think that the best case prediction is palatable. The others make me want to eat a king sized almond Snicker bar...whole! Only time will tell...

Calling All Quilt Squares!

If any of you out there in blogland care to swap fabric squares and wishes with me, please contact me asap at azboutons@comcast.net We are up to 64 squares and holding. I'm eager to get started on the quilt-going with the lantern pattern, I think. Meili's likely to find out one day that the quilt is supposed to have 100 squares. I certainly don't want her to think that the CCAA matched her with a bunch of losers for a family so please help if you can!!! I'm getting ready to send out my next batch...Rebecca, Julie, Lisa P., Victoria and SusanA.-your squares are coming soon!

What Next?

Our agency confirms that starting August 1st ( wow-a whole 2 weeks notice for families getting ready to travel there...how kind.) adoptions from the Guangdong province will now require a 16-17 night trip instead of the requisite 11-12. I'm all for exploring the country and learning about the culture, but to be stuck in one place (and a fairly westernized one at that) for an extended amount of time doesn't sound like fun to me. We have been debating about whether or not to take our oldest two with us to China. I don't think that our oldest could academically afford to miss 17+ days of school-and he's a straight A student! Not to mention, the additional travel expense would eat into their potential airline ticket fund. Also, bad enough to have to worry about who can help watch the kids while we are gone for two weeks. An extra 5 days might put someone over the edge and into a mental institution! So, bad news for prospective adoptive parents whose children are from that province and good news for the hotel industry in that area...Better start pinching pennies a little tighter just in case!

CCAA is on the move!!!

This is info that applies to the China Adoption community in general. I don't think that my agency would skewer and BBQ me for posting this...or would they?

From a reliable agency:

We have confirmation that the China Center for Adoption Affairs has begun their move to a new office in Beijing. This move has been well planned by the CCAA to ensure that their change in address does not impact the adoption process, i.e. registration, review, matching, etc. The CCAA will not be closing; they will simply be moving each department one by one. In the weeks ahead we will be in constant communication with the CCAA through our office in Beijing to continue to provide information regarding the registration and review of dossiers and, of course, the arrival of the Stork. We will keep you informed as we receive news from Beijing.

So, they won't be shutting down. Great news! I'm swearing myself off of the Rumor Queen site!

Meili's Blessing Dress

I ordered this for Meili the other day. It should arrive any time now. I guess that I had so much fun finding Audrey's baptism dress that with that event over with, I had to move on the the next event apparel. My parents and littlest brother (he's 13) returned from a trip to China about 6 months ago. They covered the major highlights in a good portion of the country. Per my request, my mom searched for a Meili sized, white Chinese silk dress wherever she went and didn't find one (probably because white is considered a color of mourning in China.) I've since learned that you can probably find one in Guangzhou where many of the shops cater to crazy Americans like myself who want a white dress for their daughters' religious ceremonies. When I saw this on the China Sprout website for $17.00 (on clearance, of course!), I couldn't pass it up. So not only am I off the hook for tracking one down in China, but I also get to buy something else while there to fill the space that this dress won't be taking up! Next shopping pursuit: We are going to Yellowstone via Utah (aka Land of the Big Bow) and plan to hit the craft shops and pick up as many headband bows in as many colors as a baby's head can handle...can't wait to see my husband roll his eyes!

My Seven Things...

Ok, I've been tagged by Erin! I am supposed to list seven things about myself under seven headings then tag seven people. I think that I am the last person to finally post mine so if you are reading this and haven't been tagged...well, now you are!

7 Things I Would Like to Do Before I Die:

-Turn 100!..better lay off of the potato chips, I guess
-Learn to play the piano well enough to play at church
-Serve an LDS mission to China with my husband
-See my kids grow up to be happy and successful
-Climb the Great Wall...working on that one!
-complete baby books and videos for all of my children
-Get a Master's degree. Not sure in what yet-Social Work, Education, or Communication/Broadcast Journalism...still have that unfulfilled desire to be a news chick...

7 Things I Cannot Do

-Tolerate stupidity
-Drink liquid until I am finished with a meal
-Post a picture of the inside of my fridge or pantry on my blog
-Relax without worrying about what I am not accomplishing while I am trying to relax
-Go to the grocery store without a list-I'm a list freak
-Let my kids wear clothing with iron-on cartoon characters on them-unless it's underwear
-Potty train Xander. Have I really done this 3 times before?

7 Things I Can Do

-Find a bargain on ANYTHING
-tell anybody their business
-Make balloon animals, a useless talent that comes in handy at my kids b-day parties
-can peaches-It's almost peach season, can't wait!
-regrout tile in a shower-surround while breastfeeding-We managed and maintained apartments when we were starving college students with our first child...awkward but it worked! I can also breastfeed a child in the car without removing them from their carseat. (If the women in the National Geographic magazines had cars, they could do it too...)
-Multitask. I believe that the ability to do so is the primary distinction between the genders
-Be a mom to five children

7 Things That Attracted Me To My Husband

-His intelligence
-His kindness and compassion for others
-His Opal Manta!
-Definitely NOT his crotch length OP cords-When I think back to seeing him in those back in 1987 (we were 12!) I can't believe that we have since mated... It was not a pretty picture.
-His muscular biceps-and he's still got 'em!
-His 6-pack. It's in there somewhere, I'm sure but I can't talk-I never had one to begin with!
-His self-motivated nature and ability to finish what he starts.

7 Things I Say Most Often:

-"Go somewhere!" when all 4 kids are hovering within a 5 foot radius for no particular reason
-"Are you dry?"...trying to potty train Xander
-"Get your chores done!"
-"I love being your mother."
-"You're my favorite (insert age of child) year-old."
-"LOAD UP!!!" when its time to get all of us out the door.
-"Let me eat in peace!!!" according to Taylor

7 Books I Love:

-The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
-The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
-To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
-The Professor's House by Willa Cather
-The Waiting Child by Cindy Champnella-If there's any question in your mind about whether you are ready to adopt a child from China, read this book. If you about have an aneurism trying not to bawl your eyes out while reading it, then you're ready. If you don't, then you need to check yourself for a pulse. ;o)
-The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series by Barbara Park-This is the original Super Nanny...Great for kids of all ages!
-The Book of Mormon (Hey, its my list!)

-7 Movies That I Love:

-The Wedding Singer (the greatest movie of all time if you are 'preoccupied with 1985' like I am!)
-The latest Pirates of the Caribbean
-Independence Day-have to watch it every July 4th
-China's Lost Girls-not really a movie, but so well-done
-50 First Dates-yep, love Adam Sandler
-Armageddon-Love anything with Steve Buscemi in it! He is my favorite actor, hands down...so weird-looking, you just have to watch.
-The Cheaper by the Dozen movies-not gonna win any Oscar's and not a big fan of Steve Martin but makes me feel oh so much better about the chaos in my own home!

Four Months Since LID!

Can you believe that??? If (the big if) current trends hold then we are 1/3 of the way there. I can't tell if I think that the time has dragged on or if I think that it has flown by. I guess it would depend on my emotional state on a given day. Some days I am content knowing that one day we will in fact have Meili home with us when the time is right...and others I am a basket case until I just resign myself to fact that there is nothing that I can do but wait. Yesterday, my neighbor mentioned that she doesn't know how we can stand to wait when she is getting anxious to get Meili home herself and it isn't even her baby! I think it's wonderful that Meili will have so many wonderful people in her life!

Waiting For Meili

Ok, lets see if You Tube will let me have the whole thing...

Thank You Karen of Gwen Blog!

I finally found some video/photo slideshow software (thanks to Karen) that I can manage. It's detailed enough to be able to add title pages at the beginning and throughout the video, add text/captions to photos as well as manipulate transitions and add music easily. All this can be accomplished with the little computer saavy that I posess! The great news is that I already had the software and didn't know it! It's Windows Movie Maker-already part of the Windows XP package installed on our computer. I put together a video of Audrey's 8th birthday and the related festivities as a starter video. Coming soon are baby videos for each of the children-I feel like it is only fair that I do these now before Meili's adoption video so my existing kiddos don't feel jipped! Ok, stay tuned while I try to figure out how to add the video to my blog with dropshots. Cross your fingers!

Our 5 Seconds of Fame-Update

Today the international adoption article that I was interviewed for was published in a local paper. You can take a peek at it online here. The hard copy of the article includes a picture of the whole brood around the dinner table(you can see the top of my head as I am hunched over scooting in Xander's booster seat-quite attractive...) with the caption, "It's a full table at the household of Matt and Jennifer Bouton, but the couple says there's room for one more. After all the paperwork, they are now waiting for a referral so they can adopt a Chinese baby."

I was under the impression that the experiences of several pre and post-adoptive families would be included in the article but there were only two, including us. I really enjoyed reading about the other family who has been blessed by adoption many times over, both internationally and domestically. I was particularly pleased to see that they offered a hefty dose of reality and acknowledged the potential bonding and attachment challenges that adoptive families often face.
I'm left feeling a little bit as though I had much more important/interesting things to say regarding our adoption experience thus far but it would have been inappropriate to offer a soliloquoy on the subject; I could only answer the questions that were asked. Overall, the reporter did a fairly good job, especially for someone with zero adoption knowledge before the article was researched and written.

The article mentions that I once taught 7th grade English and am now working in the adoption field as a home study case worker. I just love (not) that I am quoted as saying, "Coaching eager and receptive families beats convincing apathetic 12-year-olds of the importance of literature." I did say that, more or less, but the comment was preceded by, "Don't print this, but..." I guess she forgot that part. ;0) Oh well, it's true!