Fun At Zoo Class

Today we enjoyed zoo class.

We learned about the rain forest,
how important it is, the
animals that live there,
and what happens
each time a tree is cut down.
Today, my sweet Doodles was the
teacher's helper.

This was an EXTRA big deal, because

Doodles is usually

super shy.

Today, she bravely held a cockroach,

and carried it around.

Her job was to let each of the kids

take a turn petting it.

I was such a proud Mommy.

My baby is growing up way too fast!

A Date With The Youngest

Each week, I try to take just one kid with me

to go grocery shopping. I didn't think Baby D.

would want to go, but he did.

He doesn't like to be left out

of anything.

His two favorite words yesterday:

"NO!" and "Why?"

His favorite phrase:

"Just me Mommy. This fun Mommy."

So thankful that Jon watches the

rest of the kids, so that I can go out and

have fun with just one.

A Weekend Of Fun

Kids change EVERYTHING about

your life. They change the way

you look at life and the way you spend your time.

Gone are the days of sleeping in on

the weekends, going for a run together,

going out for breakfast, and then

doing anything we wanted for the rest of the time.

Instead, weekends become family time.

Time Daddy is home from work and we

get to do things as a family.

I miss the time before kids, when time was ours,

but I sure do love the time

we have with our kids.

On Saturday, we packed the whole group of kids up

and enjoyed some time at a local arts and

crafts kid expo.

There were all sorts of things

for the kids to see and do.

It was an activity that was

perfect for all of them.

The kids enjoyed having their

faces painted.

They spend a lot of their time during the days

thinking up various ways to

be a "gang".

Yesterday, they were "The Face

Paint Gang".

They also enjoyed making

pencil pompoms

and stringing bead

necklaces.

We spent our entire morning and part

of the afternoon at the arts

expo.

I think, if the activities had

gone on all day, the kids would

have staid forever.

We really did have a great time together.

Having kids is a TON of FUN!!

First Taste Of Summer

When the weather warms up,
the ice cream stands open up.

A good time,

was had

by all.

Roller Coaster Ride

For almost three years P. and Baby D. have

been in foster care.

Last month, a judge that had never met them, made

the decision to make their foster care stay four

years. He gave their mother another chance.

Jon and I love the boys' mother. We've prayed for

her, invited her to church, and tried to do all that we can

to welcome her into our family. We both believe that

when we help her, we are helping her boys.

Over the weekend, she messed up. She left

her supportive housing, started using drugs again,

and made the decision that she cannot raise her

boys. She wants them with us.

She feels they will have things with us that they will never have

with her. Older siblings, a father.

I can't imagine what her heart is going through. I know how

much she loves her boys. I know how much they

love her. Today, we went to court.

She was prepared to sign over her rights to them.

The judge asked her to wait until Monday. To make sure this

is what she wants. And so we wait with her.

We pray some more. We wonder about their future, our future, her

future. We pray for the Lord's will above all else.

We wait until Monday.

Just Another Morning

It started with this outfit. I laughed my

head off when I saw what she

slept in.

She kindly let me take her picture.

Baby D. forgot to wake up his listening ears,

so he spent some time naked in

the naughty corner.

He doesn't seem to realize he was being naughty,

notice his cheesy grin.

Meanwhile, they tried their best to take a test,

but really who could concentrate with

all of that noise?!

And sweet P., he decided to help me out

by making his brother's bed.
Notice what a great job he did.
No wonder the time goes so fast when
you have kids. There's just no time to sit down
and have a cup of coffee.
Hope you had a good morning.

Elmo and Easter

He's the only child in our family
that has been with us for EVERY birthday.

This year, he celebrated birthday number three!

Hard to believe that he's already a big boy.

We celebrated with Elmo and his Mom.

What fun we all had together.

How fun to see him

turn three!

It was our third birthday with him.

It was his Mom's first birthday with him.

How happy he was, and we were, to share

it with her.

After birthdays, it was Easter time.

We took a trip to my Dad's house.

It was my first time there since my Mom has died.

It was a hard trip, but as usual, the kids

made it a fun trip.
We enjoyed Chuck E. Cheese,

Easter egg dying,

and beautiful weather.

The kids loved being able to decorate our

eggs outside.

Easter morning, they couldn't wait to

see what the Easter bunny brought for them.

They waited so patiently to see their

baskets before church.

How cute they all looked in their

matching clothes.

The Easter bunny did not disappoint.

P. carefully looked at everything in his

basket.

The candy was everybody's favorite part of

the morning.

The Big K. even made a candy

creation with his chocolate bunny and

some Skittles.

After our Easter lunch, it was time to

hunt for Easter eggs.

P. was so excited to find so many

eggs with his name on them.

Easter was always my Mom's favorite holiday.

Last year, she was doing really well.

We thought for sure that she would be here this year

to celebrate with us. It was so different without her.

We all spent a lot of time remembering her. Missing her.

Loving her. Crying for her.

Easters will never be what they used to be when

my Mom was alive. How thankful I am to know that because

Jesus died on the cross, for me, for you, for her, I will

see her again in heaven. Her death was not good

bye. It was, "See you soon."

Thank you Jesus that I can say, "Mom,

I'll see you soon."

Happy Easter. From our family to yours.