I've been working on a few...

odds and ends today. One was to organize, crop and order pictures for Laney's family photo book we'll be taking to China with us next week. She will be 18 months old next Tuesday and I decided it might be nice to take a photo album for her to look at while we're in China...getting to know the faces of her siblings, grandparents, etc. She may not get into it at all, but it may help her transition a bit when we come home. I sent a small album to China a couple of months ago in a care package, but I have no idea if it arrived or if she has seen it yet.

I'm also working on a count-down calendar for my kids. We have bought them several gifts to open -- spaced out while we're away. And I've created a foam-core board calendar with pockets and numbers...so they can count down until we come back. Inside each pocket, we (Troy & I) have tucked in notes, riddles, poems and jokes ~ as well as stickers, packets of gum, video rental cards, gift cards to Target, etc. I want them to have something fun each day while we're in China. 16 days is a long time to have Mommy & Daddy gone. Here is a quick picture of the calendar -- it's simple, but I think they'll love it! When they get to Pocket #1, Mommy, Daddy & Laney will be coming home!