Zoo, BBQ, Adventure to Peace & More Paperwork Updates

We went on a walk last night and Samuel just had to put on “his” hat because Joe had one on.  He wasn’t going to leave the house without it.  :-)  It was cute.

Today… Joe and Samuel went to the zoo.  Joe said it was the “best day ever” to go because the weather is kind of drizzly and yuck-o.  Sounds like they had a fabulous time hanging out!  He said all of the animals were inside and really close to the viewing areas.

Tomorrow…  Jamie Roupp (one of Samuel’s volunteer in Haiti) is coming over for a BBQ.  It will be great to see her and hang out as we have missed her the last couple of times she has been in Portland.

The 4th of July…  NO PLANS!  Can you believe that?  I think we decided we just needed some “down-time” with no plans.  We also need time to start packing for Kauai  (we leave on Thursday!)  

Kauai… We are looking forward to this trip so much, as Kauai is like a second home to us.  I love that feeling when we get off the plane, get in the rental car and head down the road, with Taj Mahal’s “Sacred Island” in the CD player:  warm, breezy, Kauai-smelling beauty.  

Ah…Complete Peace.  

I do have to say that we are pretty nervous about the 6-hour flight with a 2-year-old…  Going on 2-hour “jaunts” has been challenging enough, so I am not sure how this is all going to play out.  But I know once we get there, all will be forgotten, so it will be worth the stress of the moment. 

Paperwork…  This update just in today:  

Dear Branch Staff, USCIS has indicated that families whose children entered the US on humanitarian parole, and who had *completed Haitian adoptions* to not file additional paperwork with the USCIS, but to wait to be contacted by them.  Note this contradicts the information they originally sent out, and that is indicated in the paperwork that we sent families.  USCIS will be reviewing their cases, contacting them, and scheduling them for appointments at their nearest USCIS office.  If they do not hear from them by September 30, 2010, they need to email the USCIS.