E goes swimming

Baby Goats

Our family had a blast at the end of roller derby DEA barbecue. 

We were lured there by Kamarie and speak of baby goats and chicks at the farm.

We  had to check out these goats and babies as soon as we arrived.

E. liked watering the crops.

 

We all got to eat fruit and veggies off the plants!

Miss Lori brought cake, gave piggy back rides and played on the tree swing. 

She is now E. and S.'s favorite person in the world. 

We even got to wear cool hats to protect our tender heads from the sun.

 

 And we played a fun game, no one really agreed on the name. 

The most family friendly name is ladder ball.

it's a zoo

We had several appointments at the children's hospital for our foster daughter, back to back and over an hour drive one way. So we made it a fun trip and rented a hotel room (actually two), went out to eat and swam in the pool. The next day we went to the zoo and wore everyone out!

Sunburn

J has been working a lot lately since starting a special work project and picking up extra overtime. Right now he is on a nine day stretch. It is difficult for me when he is at work, because I feel like it is such a chore to load kids up and go anywhere. But yesterday was Pioneer Days in our little nearby town, and when my friend Sarah asked if we wanted to hang out with them, I figured it was worth the effort. It took me an hour to pack up the kids' things, medical equipment and stuff, but we made it!

We had a big time too, walked to the parade and the kids filled up with candy galore. Then while we walked to the local grocery store to pick up lunch, someone told us about some free hotdogs, chips and pop. The kids grabbed lunch there, and ate while we walked. 12 kids and 2 ladies walking across town. They all did well, except S. who probably should have been in a stroller or on a leash. He is WILD.

We made it to the store and the kids all were paired up with a buddy. They were sent to pick out one snack to share that wasn't candy, and was under $5. It was interesting to see what they picked out. I got a yummy chicken caesar salad that I didn't share. We loaded back up to walk back to our friends' house, and stopped at the park along the river to let the kids cool off by the fountain. Then finally made it back, exhausted. We ate, swam, and played hard. The kids were so worn out when we got home. And I was sunburned. BAD. The kids were good about the sunscreen, but I forgot about mom. Ugh.

Look at the tractor!!!!

S. wanted everyone to look at the tractor when at the Rodeo Days Parade last weekend. J. took four kids over to the eastern side of the state to visit family. I was sad I wasn't able to go, our van is having too many problems and we couldn't all fit in the car. But it was a good thing I was home so we could take in a new foster child.

wish we were there...

No summer vaca for us...just hanging around the house. But we have been enjoying each other and making memories. A few weeks ago we went to a fun party to celebrate foster care families. The theme was Hawaiian Luau, and we all had a great time, even came home with some fun prizes.

Last week a little girl was placed with us in a crazy whirlwind foster care system sort of way. She is the sweetest little girl, but requires total care. We are uncertain how long she will be in our home.

Wedding pictures

Puppy bite me...

Sammy had to go to the ER on Thursday night during an out of town visit with family. A familiar dog unexpectedly bit him on his nose and lip while we were all standing around visiting. He had about 14 stitches by a specialist who happened to be on the same floor as us (other wise we would have had to wait around for hours for surgery). He is doing well now, but boy was it traumatic!

Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

All dogs can bite regardless of size or breed. The key to preventing dog bites starts with responsible ownership.

• The American Kennel Club offers advice about adding a dog to your household. Selecting the Right Purebred Dog offers suggestions to consider when picking a breed. The AKC's Breeder Referral Program can help you locate breeders in your area. Also consult with a responsible dog breeder or veterinarian for additional advice.
  
  
• Leash your dog. When you allow your dog to run in the yard, keep it safe in a fenced enclosure. While electronic fences may keep your dog in your yard, they do not keep people and animals from approaching it.
  
  
• Protect your dog against rabies by vaccinating as required by law. It is wise to keep a copy of your rabies certificate available at all times.

Give your dog a good foundation on which to build.

• Socialize your dog, beginning when you bring it home. Undersocialized dogs may feel uneasy when approached by strangers. These usually loving dogs may bite out of fear.
  
  
• Train your dog by teaching it at least the basic commands: "sit," "down," "stay," "heel," and "come." AKC's Canine Good Citizen® Program is a fun way to get started.
  
  
• Train your dog to drop its toys on command so that you do not have to reach into its mouth to retrieve the toy.

Do not set your dog up for failure.

• Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations. Be ready to respond to any signs that your dog is starting to feel uncomfortable and remove it from the situation.
  
  
• Do not put your dog in a situation where it could be threatened or teased. You may want to confine your dog in these potential situations.
  
  
• Play non-aggressive games such as fetch. Games such as tug-of-war could encourage inappropriate behavior.

Preventing dog bites is more than just the responsibility of the dog's owner. It is also your responsibility to practice safe behavior when around unfamiliar dogs.

• Small children should never be left unsupervised with a pet.
  
  
• Children should be taught to always ask the owner for permission before they pet a dog.
  
  
• Respect a dog's space. Keep your hands away from a dog's fence. A dog considers its yard personal property and may growl or bite to protect it.
  
  
• "Let sleeping dogs lie" is a good rule to follow. That goes for a dog that is eating or drinking as well.
  
  
• Be cautious around a mother dog with her puppies. She will be naturally protective.

A dog should be kept on a leash when it is out in a public place. However, you may see a dog wandering loose without an owner. If a loose dog approaches you:

• Do not run away from the dog and do not yell or make loud noises.
  
  
• Stand very still like a tree. Cross your arms over your chest, as if you are giving yourself a great, big hug. (This shape forms the trunk of your tree.) Look away from the dog. Dogs sometimes think direct eye contact is a challenge for power and control. You do not want to challenge the dog. You want the dog to go away.
  
  
• Toss an object away from you and away from the dog. This should attract its attention toward the object - and away from you. The dog should move toward the thrown object to sniff and investigate it. This will give you a chance to slowly turn and walk away.

Dogs cannot hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign around their neck every time they want to be left alone. Instead, they communicate through their body language. A dog's body language communicates how the dog feels and whether it is in a friendly mood or should be left alone.

• A relaxed dog usually holds its head up. Its tail may be down and may wag back and forth. Its ears are neither back nor forward. Its hair will lie smooth along its back. Its mouth and lips are relaxed, which can appear like the dog is "smiling." You may also be able to see its tongue.
  
  
• On the other hand, sometimes a dog is not feeling friendly or relaxed. Look for a certain type of body language to tell you to keep your distance. A threatening dog may have a wrinkled nose that draws back to reveal its teeth. The hair along the back of its neck may be raised, forming a long column along the spine. Its ears may lie back, and its body may appear tense and cocked. The dog may also growl or snarl. Always try to avoid any dog displaying any of these signs or acting in a threatening manner.

Vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies..

What could go together better?

To help with the travel costs for our trip to Africa and other expenses relating to M's medical care, we are making and selling ice cream sandwiches to our local NW friends.

Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two large homemade chocolate chip cookies. Individually wrapped. Suggested donation (please give as you are led!) of $12 a dozen. You may also order smaller or larger sized batches. They will be ready for pick up or delivery by August 14-15th. To place an order, leave me a comment, give me a call, or email me at adoptinghaiti@yahoo.com. Sorry, only Whatcom County residents please, unless you are willing to make the drive for some yummy goodness!

Photo credit to Kiss My Spatula

Summer is here

Finally we are enjoying some nice weather! We had a great time camping. We were close enough to home that we could home here for some laundry, lunch, nap time, etc. We camped from Tuesday night, until Sunday morning. We came home and slept in our beds one night, but other than that we made it!!! The kids loved being out there, since they had a few friends to play with and an amazing playground with room to run. They roasted marshmallows for Smores a few nights and went snipe hunting a few nights too! K. got to sleep in her friend's trailer a couple nights, which made more room in the tent for us! I was freezing the first few nights, so on one trip home we grabbed a heating pad, plugged it in and it really helped warm us up.

On the fourth, J. had to work. We had a bbq with friends, then came home early to rest up. I was not planning on going anywhere, I was TIRED! Then out of the blue, J. called to say he was going to get off work by 9pm. What a blessing. He drove home, took a few of the older kids with him to watch a fireworks display from the work rooftop while I vegged and the younger kids went to bed.

Now that camping is over, the sun came out. We are having a heat wave baby! It is nice but a little too warm for my liking, since we have no AC. But I don't think this hot weather will last much more than a few days.

Speaking of heat, please pray for my son L. He is leaving for Tecate on Sunday. They are expecting temps over 100 degrees. I am hoping and praying he takes good care of himself and that he will come back a changed and more spiritually mature young man. He will be there a week, helping with church projects and doing a VBS program with the youth there. Keep him and the team in your prayers please!

My little girls are spending four days with my parents and attending an art day camp. Check out the artist's blog. Look where they traveled last year! Too bad they didn't write too much about their visit to the country we will be visiting soon. I spoke to them briefly about it yesterday, but had to run since the little boys were waiting. They seem like a very nice couple. The girls are having a blast!

As for M: She got some blood work done but I have not had much help with finding someone with medical expertise to read the results. I have sent them off to several people, and hoping to hear something soon. It doesn't look too hopeful to get the travel date before courts close next week. Please pray that we can still get a date soon, I hear they open again mid August. I really don't want to wait too much longer than that!! I am almost tempted to just buy tickets to come over then anyway, but we can't be gone too long. Please pray for some clear answers and direction for little M. And for her health and development.

Well, off to tackle some laundry and pack for L. It's super quiet right now with nap time, girls gone and some kids with Dad!

news

I've been so busy I haven't had much opportunity to blog. Here are some short little updates about life right now:

• We had a great weekend seeing family and friends. On Sat. we went to reunion for COTP kids and volunteers. It was a great time and we are so glad we had the chance to go! On Sunday we went to church and then to a Father's Day brunch at my aunt and uncle's house. One of my dad's sisters is very sick and she was able to come over to visit. It was really nice to see my dad's side of the family. It seems there are years between get togethers even though most of live so close to each other.
• We had a good father's day. My kid's father (my love) did NOT have to work! We came home after the family brunch, made a special dinner and cake, and watched Alice In Wonderland together.
• L. had the opportunity to work at Grandma and Grandpa's house over the weekend (he missed the reunion but met us at the family event). His aunt and uncle graciously made a donation to him too, so he getting close to earning his fees for his mission trip to Mexico. He is leaving mid-July with a group from our church. I am a little worried. Grandma is a lot worried!
• The boys and J. had a great trip over the mountain to visit family and celebrate J's brother's college graduation. I really enjoyed the quiet time and fun activities with the girls.
• M. in Africa is really not doing well. Our attorney was out of town dealing with a death in the family. Courts are closing in July sometime. We are hoping we might be able to get a court date before courts close. Hoping for some end in sight to be able to bring her home. Many people have been helping us with suggestions and advice on what we can do to help M. She was going to head to the doctor and get some blood work done today to see if there is a problem with the medication she is on. Our congressman's office called today. She is trying to see if they can do anything to help speed things up, at least on the US side of things.
• If we travel soon, we are going to be paying big bucks for airline tickets.
• The weather here has been a little strange. Cold and rainy for five days, then one beautiful weather day. Then back to cold and rainy. Sometimes it's cold and rainy most of the day, then it clears up for a few hours.
• We are planning a camping trip at the end of the month. My hubby will be working. I am a bit nervous about how that will all work out, since we will be in a tent! We will have friends around so at least more eyes to watch kids.
• VBS is this week. E. is really liking it! He did great today, and I hope he will continue to enjoy the remainder.
• My friend is coming to visit tomorrow. She and her family moved and I miss them terribly. I have been trying to clean up the house and get ready for her to visit.

Little Tidbits

I don't have time to upload pics on my dial up internet right now. But I wanted to share with you some happenings in our house...

• We are still fighting for little girl M. We may be hearing of a possible court date in the next few weeks. Keep praying please!
• Since we will most likely be traveling in the summer months we need to come up with more money for our travel costs. The ticket prices are rising fast. We are working with Just Love Coffee. They are a great organization helping children in Africa and adoptive parents or non profits by selling fair trade, excellent tasting coffee. Consider buying a bag? $5 per bag goes to help M. We also still have t-shirts left to sell.
• E. had his first day of preschool today. He loved it and his teacher said he did really well. He was not upset about me leaving him there at all. For now he is going twice a week.
• S. gets to go to a fun playgroup locally called Sensational Toddlers. He has been on the waiting list for sometime, but got the call today saying he can come on Thursday! He will have a fun time playing and getting dirty with all the "sensory"activities. Best part about it: FREE! Thank you to our birth to three program.
• K. is having a great time with some special friends this week. I will share more about that later.
• L. is now homeschooled and he and K. are attending classes through a parent partnership program. Since we started this late in the year he and K. are only going to classes once a week. In the fall they will be attending more classes. I love it! They are having a great time.
• C. is thriving in school and we are leaving her there for fall. She seems to learn much better from someone other than me. She is making some friends and having a good time. Her ADD meds seem to be less effective lately, so I need to call the doc. to adjust her dose I think. She has been taking the same dose for some time and she has grown a lot this past year. She is becoming a young lady too, making for some moody days. Hope I have the strength for her teen years. She is 11 1/2 now.
• I am planning our garden. It's been plowed and is nearly ready for seeds.
• We would like to do some more camping this year. I think we need another tent to hold our family!!! Can anyone suggest some good places in WA, OR or ID?
• I am excited for summer. But I am also dreading the "bored kids syndrome". Hoping to find some free or inexpensive summer activities for them to keep busy. L. wants to find a summer job too. That would be excellent to keep him busy.
• L. is going to Mexico with our church in July. He is trying his best to earn money to pay for his trip. He has worked on a few projects with his youth group, but needs to come up with more soon. He will be going to help a church in Tecate. We are going to apply for his passport tomorrow!
• I have been busy with appointments, running around, and keeping up the house. I have a few goals I'd like to accomplish this summer. One of these days I will get around to writing them down!

Missing summer already

It's been raining off and on for almost a week. I am already missing the nice warm weather that summer brought us. AND I can't believe in 71 days it will be Christmas! Time goes by sooo quickly. The kids grow up so fast...don't blink!

road trips

brothers

C.

E. and Dom playing on the Oregon beach

Dancing to a polka band in Leavenworth

S. and Grandpa

Summer's gone

But you wouldn't know it here! The kids are outside, K. is dressed up in her bathing suit with a ice cold glass of water in hand laying on the front porch. The weather is certainly a lot cooler now, especially at night. The forecast is predicting NW yuckiness is on it's way soon. We are somewhat prepared with firewood stacked (although still a bit wet) and sweaters out of storage.

Today I took the kids to church by myself. It is the second week I have sat with E. and struggled with his desire to make noise, hit me, whine and walk off. Today he did pretty well for about 15 to 20 minutes. I had to leave with him and give him a time out when the screaming started. A little boy in the hall was clearly concerned and kept asking his mom what was wrong with "that boy?" I was wondering the same thing! I honestly don't really know what set him off. His class was dismissed for Children's Church not long after that, and he was happy again. Anyone with advise on how to keep him still and well behaved during the 25 minutes in church would be helpful! Today he colored on a paper for about 5 minutes before losing interest. Snacks are not really allowed in the sanctuary, so that's not an option. I need to remember to pack some quiet toys in my purse for next week. Would it be a better idea to set up a chair in the foyer instead, or is it important to hold firm and not give him the control to ruin worship?

Also, E. has been asking for water a lot. Is this a novelty or phase? Should I be concerned with this at all, health wise? To go with the water... the frequent trips to the bathroom. Also he had an accident? on the middle of the boys' bedroom floor yesterday. Not sure if it was purposeful or not, but E. happily helped clean it up and changed his clothes.

In a few weeks we are having the boys' dedication. There are some bible verses on the sidebar of the blog. Please take a minute to vote on your favorite for each kiddo. We can't decide which one to use! The inlaws are planning a trip over and we are having a brunch at our home after church with some friends and family. The house will be FULL, but it will be fun.

As far as our thoughts on moving, we haven't heard from our realtor friend. So either her client is not interested or they are not in a rush. It's all good. We are thinking it won't benefit us much to move, unless we can get a lot more than our home is worth. We do like living here, but someday hope to build our dream home on this property, God willing.

I have stepped up my workout routine and even signed the little guys up for unlimited childcare at the gym. I figured I am not paying for preschool, so this can be their little time away from me. The play center at the gym is new and nice and perfect for them!

Tomorrow we have a busy day of dentist appointments and the boys are getting their hearing evaluated. It should be fun! L. has another soccer game too. His team plays 3 days a week on most days. It's a lot for school soccer in my opinion. They have lost 2 out of 2 games so far and their spirits are dampened.

In closing, can I say how much I love fall? The little boys went to the apple farm with me and Sarah the other day. I bought a box of apples and we went on a fun golf cart ride between the groves of apple trees. Candy corn is a food staple for us now, and soon we'll enjoy pumpkin pie and egg nog! The leaves haven't really turned colors yet, but soon! I will be sure to post some pictures this year. Happy end of summer....shhh, don't tell K!

Burdens and Blessings

• School begins on Wednesday. Rejoicing and worrying all at the same time.
• E. has been mean lately, mainly to me.  Is he mad that I left him for four days?  Am I just too sensitive?
• AWANA starts up soon. I recently signed up to help.  I wanted to go to women's bible study during AWANA, but they also offer it on Wed. morning.  Which is the same time as the playgroup  I wanted to go to with E. and S.   Decisions, decisions.
• A two month old baby boy has been missing for two days mere blocks from our home.  He was taken right out of his home.  Police suspect family or friends since his mother was recently sentenced to prison.  Praying little baby is safe and well.  I am uneasy.  
• The youth at our church shared about their mission trip to Guatemala.  It was moving and I am amazed by the spiritual maturity of these kids.  Praying about going on a mission trip next year if offered to adults.  
• Triage? Is this something MAT must do to help the children who need surgery?  Should we limit God's capabilities?  I am struggling with this.
• Needing to unpack clothes, do laundry and figure out a menu for the coming week.  Ugh.
• Glad J. is still on vacation and we have some time to spend working around the homestead. His birthday is coming up!  My mom bought him and I tickets to a David Crowder Band concert in Oct. for his gift.  How fun!
• We have many appointments coming up...doctor, eye doctor, dentist, therapy...times 7.  It's a lot.  I am so grateful for good insurance and benefits.  
• My K. is 6.  She is struggling lately with some not too big issues, but could use your prayers.  

Reunited

We had a relaxing few days and had a great time experiencing life without kids again (it's been 12 years!). Now we are all together. It's amazing how quickly the stress from the fighting, whining, tantrums, constant needs, etc. can all come back. I love being a mom, but sometimes it is just a lot! We (moms) really need to take care of ourselves. The support from loved ones is so important too. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for providing the opportunity to let us get away!

E. did fine and seemed really excited to see us again. He also learned some new words in the last 3 days! S. didn't want to give me a hug at first, he was too excited to see Dadden (his word for Daddy). Soon he was excited to see both of us. The other 3 always do great and they had a fun time.

No kids

J. and I have been home alone.  No kids, quiet house, lots of time to ourselves.  We met Grandma and Grandpa about halfway between our homes (they live about 6 hours away) and left the kids with them.  ALL of them.  We had planned on going on an anniversary getaway this week, but thought it would be better financially to stay close to home.  So instead of my mother in law coming to stay at our home, which would have been ideal for the little boys, we sent them to their house.  I think things are going well, besides some minor sleep issues.   I am a bit worried about little things, but am sure they will be fine.  We've been having a great time together and it has been a lovely break!  We'll be together as a family again on Thursday.  We celebrate our 14 year wedding anniversary tomorrow.  Time has flown by.

Caps for Sale

One of my favorite children's book from my childhood was a book called Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. The peddler would walk up and down the streets selling caps that were balanced on top of his head.

While we didn't see the peddler on our trip, there was a hat shop in Oregon that sold all sorts of hats.  Our favorites were the funny/silly ones. What a fun, no expense way to create memories! Or maybe pick up a new parasite?

Pictures of our trip

S. and Papa

Handsome E.

Shipwreck

K. all cold and wet

Love Birds

Our camp

The carousel

Tilt-a-Whirl

Science on the beach

At the arcade

The ride home