Paperwork!!!

I just found out the girl's paperwork should be complete by October 10th. I don't have a date for the escort yet, but it will be sometime between the 10th and the 15th so Sasha should be home by her 2nd birthday!!!!!!!! She will turn 2 on the 16th. I am sure she will sleep through it if jet lag effects her like it did me, but she will be home and that is what is important. It is getting so close and i have sooo much left to do. I need to get going and finish up my projects!

Mini Update

It looks like my paperwork has started moving through the system. My coordinator says I might get an update on my timeline next week. I am still hoping for October 15 (or sooner), but I will hopefully get some idea next week.

Waiting-AGAIN

I am now in my very last phase of waiting. Each period of waiting has gotten harder than the last. This one will be extra hard because I am missing the girls so much, but it is also easier because I have met the girls and I know that everything is going to work out in the end. It seems like I have been waiting for one thing or the other in this process for years. It hasn't gotten any easier.
I am guessing the girls will come home around October 15, but that is just a guess. Sasha's 2nd birthday is October 16th so I am hoping that she will be home to celebrate her birthday this year. That would be a very nice present for both of us.

Day 17

Well, I was hoping for an official email from Kaz saying I was clear and there was no appeal during the 15 day appeal period. My coordinator told me that I won't get an all clear, but since I have not heard anything, then that means I am clear. So no news is good news! I waited a few extra days just to be sure, but I can now say that I am the official legal mom of Leeza and Sasha and hopefully they are busy on the paperwork to get the girls home!
I miss them terribly and wish they were home already. One month to go before they are home! I hope it goes fast.

Day 13

Only 2 more appeal days to go! Actually, Day 14 has already started in Kaz so I am almost there!! Since I had some requests for more photos of souvenirs including some yurts, here you go-
Stacking yurts -these nest together one inside the other.
This hanging is very beautiful in person. It is leather carved and dyed to represent a yurt and horse outside the yurt- 2 of the most typical Kaz traditional items(horses and yurts).
These are 2 wall hangings made of a wool/felt showing camels and yurts.
This yurts is about 10 " tall and shows a family having a meal inside.
This yurt show the couple in tradtional dress inside their yurt. Another yurt. This one is a material similar to a stiff felt.

This one is NOT a yurt! It is a box made from leather and carved decoration from a birch tree layered on top. I do have a few more items but since I got most of them as gifts for people I will not post them so they are still surprises when you get them.
Only 2 days to go!!!

Day 10(already Day 11 in Kaz)

2/3rds of the way through the appeals period!!! Really nothing new to report other than going back to work is no fun.

Day 8(starting Day 9 in Kaz)

I went back to work today. I'd rather still be visiting the girls, but they will be home soon. 7 days left in the appeal period!
Since I have nothing more interesting to post, here are some of the souvenirs I bought for myself and the girls.
This is one of my souvenirs. It is a felt version of a horse? It reminds me of a Kazakh Eeyore!

These are wooden miniature versions of the traditional Kazakh musical instruments the dombra and Qobyz.

These are 2 dolls for the girls in traditional dress for when they are a little older. They fit well in the Kazakh cradle.

Twin camels for the girls in the future. This is a wooden doll in the traditional Kazakh outfit.