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| Gage and Timmy were hammering on Lexy's "house" :) |
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Our silly family
We've been enjoying just being a family these past couple of weeks :) In all our silly-ness :)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Mommy's Birthday
I celebrated my 39th birthday by standing in line at the DMV with a two year old (what was I thinking??) to renew my licence, taking a three year old to the doctor and waiting FOREVER to be seen and buying myself a brand new battery for my didn't-want-to-start-sometimes (and that's not good when you have five kids!) van. But I also got lots of hugs, kisses and happy birthdays from the most wonderful husband and the five sweetest kids in the world!
I made spaghetti (look at those boys' faces!!!) for dinner and bought a pumpkin roll (YUM) and ice cream for dessert.
I made spaghetti (look at those boys' faces!!!) for dinner and bought a pumpkin roll (YUM) and ice cream for dessert.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Settling In
We have spent our first couple of weeks settling into our new normal and bonding as a family. Mike has taken a few weeks off of work so that the kids will bond with Mommy and Daddy equally. Our first week, except for walks and playing in the backyard we didn't take the kids out in public until Saturday, we were all getting a little cabin fever so we headed to the mall and dinner. Slowly we've been doing more as time progresses.
I think the bonding process is going very well. The boys know already that we are Mommy and Daddy and come to us willingly for play, loves, help and comfort. Of course the bonding process will go more quickly for them as they are dependent on us for pretty much their every need still. For "A" the process will be longer but we are seeing progress already. While she does talk about her birth parents/family and former foster parents a lot, she does call us Mommy and Daddy and calls our house home most of the time now. "A" loves to have lots of attention and will take/give hugs and compliments willingly.
This past Monday we signed our adoption placement agreement and will be finalizing the adoption in the next few months hopefully. Now we are working on getting schooling, therapies and services set up for the kids.
We did also hear on Monday that baby brothers case plan has been changed to adoption so we may be hearing something soon about if he'll be coming here and if so when.
Some pics from the past couple of weeks...
I think the bonding process is going very well. The boys know already that we are Mommy and Daddy and come to us willingly for play, loves, help and comfort. Of course the bonding process will go more quickly for them as they are dependent on us for pretty much their every need still. For "A" the process will be longer but we are seeing progress already. While she does talk about her birth parents/family and former foster parents a lot, she does call us Mommy and Daddy and calls our house home most of the time now. "A" loves to have lots of attention and will take/give hugs and compliments willingly.
This past Monday we signed our adoption placement agreement and will be finalizing the adoption in the next few months hopefully. Now we are working on getting schooling, therapies and services set up for the kids.
We did also hear on Monday that baby brothers case plan has been changed to adoption so we may be hearing something soon about if he'll be coming here and if so when.
Some pics from the past couple of weeks...
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Daddy's Birthday
Mike turned 49 yesterday! With all the expense of visiting and getting the kids home, daddy and I both will be foregoing birthday presents this month. But we at least had to have cupcakes and ice cream to celebrate!! I got lucky and even found wrestling cupcakes at Wal-mart!
The boys LOVED those chocolate cupcakes (and making a mess). And yes this is Brooke's "mom do not take my picture face :)
The boys LOVED those chocolate cupcakes (and making a mess). And yes this is Brooke's "mom do not take my picture face :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Introducing Our Kids...
I can't believe we have FIVE kids!
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| T - A - Brooke - Lexy - G |
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| Lexy - G - Brooke - T - A |
Bringing them HOME!
On Saturday morning Daddy, Mommy and Lexy (Brooke stayed home so she didn't have to miss school on Monday) headed out for our three hour drive to visit the kids again. Our visit was from 11am to 6pm so we decided to take all the kids to a kids museum nearby. After getting lost, eating lunch and then finding our way...the kids all had a great time! On Sunday the kids spent the morning helping the foster mom pack up their belongings and then we had a short visit from 12pm-4pm. We ate lunch (we even braved a sit down, wait for your food place instead of fast food!), played at a new park and then headed to Wal-Mart to pick up a few last minute things before taking the kids back for their last night at the foster home.
On Monday morning we headed over to the foster home to pack up the van with belongings and kids and we headed home! After about 3 and 1/2 hours we got to show the kids their FOREVER home for the first time!!!
On facebook I wrote...
Our family is all in one house tonight (all SEVEN of us), it just feels right!! It will take awhile for all of us to adjust to our new normal but we are happier than words can say :)
On Monday morning we headed over to the foster home to pack up the van with belongings and kids and we headed home! After about 3 and 1/2 hours we got to show the kids their FOREVER home for the first time!!!
On facebook I wrote...
Our family is all in one house tonight (all SEVEN of us), it just feels right!! It will take awhile for all of us to adjust to our new normal but we are happier than words can say :)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Family Visit
We headed back down for our first family visit on Saturday. Brooke and Lexy's first glimpse of their siblings was at the foster home. We all sat and watched the little ones play in a little pool for a bit and then headed in for lunch together. Brooke and Lexy didn't say too much at that point but they are both pretty quiet around new people and I think they were just taking everything in. :)
After lunch we took the kids with us for a couple of hours. There's not much to do in the small town we were in especially in the heat so after visiting a really bad park for about two minutes, we ended up at Wal-Mart where Brooke said we looked like a parade and swore that she wouldn't be going out in public with us much lol :) But it did give the girls time to push around each of the two carts and get a chance to talk and play with all the kids. We took the kids for dinner and then returned them to the foster home for the night.
On Sunday morning we picked up the kids at 10am for the day. G couldn't get out the door fast enough and into Daddy's arms this morning! It was extremely hot again but we braved a much better park until we were all sweaty. After lunch we headed to our hotel where we went swimming in the (cold) pool. After pool time we all layed down for naps. I was very happy when all three kids felt comfortable enough to fall asleep with us. Lexy and I went back to the pool during naptime while Daddy and Brooke stayed and napped :) We had to finally wake the boys up after over two hours so that we could head out for dinner. After this meal we resigned ourselves to the fact that eating out for our big family would always entail THREE tables and momma serving up the food buffet style but at least we knew we could do it!! :) We returned the kids to the foster home about 6:45pm. G cried as soon as we pulled into the driveway and we had to leave him crying with the foster parents :(
On Monday we picked the kids up again at 10am and headed to the same park as the day before...we love that park! After playing for a while we headed for lunch...Brooke said "here comes the circus" as we walked in. :) After lunch we returned the kids to the foster home, gave them each a stuffed animal that we had picked out for them and then headed for home. G cried again.
A took to Brooke right away. We knew she would because she is 5 going on 15 lol! but she did realize at the park that Lexy is more fun to play with! She's got beautiful long hair that she's already asked Brooke to fix like hers! She loves to be a helper but also needs to be reminded that she doesn't need to do the icky parenting stuff, she just gets to be a kid and have fun! A is also learning quickly that what mommy says, mommy means.
G is definately attached to Daddy but loves to have any of us play, tickle or just smile at him. He has the best smile and OH those dimples! He is the most delayed in speech but he did say "Mommy" while we ate lunch the last day just to see if I would look his way and gave me the biggest smile when I did! G doesn't like to have any other kids play in what he thinks of as his space and will throw a good fit if he's not ready to leave when we are.
T is the silly, cuddly, lovable one. He likes to give kisses and hugs and say "Hi" to EVERY person that he goes by...Lexy says he would be a good Wal-Mart greeter when he grows up lol!! He can also throw a good fit and is onery as all get out! His giggle is so contagious! The first night he learned a new word from me..."apple" and so we had apples with almost every meal and he would proudly hold up a piece and say "apple" to me and smile real big.
Brooke and Lexy have not stopped talking about the kids! Both of them have said that they can't wait for them to move into our house. I think we all feel the same way...they belong with us and we already love them so much!!
After lunch we took the kids with us for a couple of hours. There's not much to do in the small town we were in especially in the heat so after visiting a really bad park for about two minutes, we ended up at Wal-Mart where Brooke said we looked like a parade and swore that she wouldn't be going out in public with us much lol :) But it did give the girls time to push around each of the two carts and get a chance to talk and play with all the kids. We took the kids for dinner and then returned them to the foster home for the night.
On Sunday morning we picked up the kids at 10am for the day. G couldn't get out the door fast enough and into Daddy's arms this morning! It was extremely hot again but we braved a much better park until we were all sweaty. After lunch we headed to our hotel where we went swimming in the (cold) pool. After pool time we all layed down for naps. I was very happy when all three kids felt comfortable enough to fall asleep with us. Lexy and I went back to the pool during naptime while Daddy and Brooke stayed and napped :) We had to finally wake the boys up after over two hours so that we could head out for dinner. After this meal we resigned ourselves to the fact that eating out for our big family would always entail THREE tables and momma serving up the food buffet style but at least we knew we could do it!! :) We returned the kids to the foster home about 6:45pm. G cried as soon as we pulled into the driveway and we had to leave him crying with the foster parents :(
On Monday we picked the kids up again at 10am and headed to the same park as the day before...we love that park! After playing for a while we headed for lunch...Brooke said "here comes the circus" as we walked in. :) After lunch we returned the kids to the foster home, gave them each a stuffed animal that we had picked out for them and then headed for home. G cried again.
A took to Brooke right away. We knew she would because she is 5 going on 15 lol! but she did realize at the park that Lexy is more fun to play with! She's got beautiful long hair that she's already asked Brooke to fix like hers! She loves to be a helper but also needs to be reminded that she doesn't need to do the icky parenting stuff, she just gets to be a kid and have fun! A is also learning quickly that what mommy says, mommy means.
G is definately attached to Daddy but loves to have any of us play, tickle or just smile at him. He has the best smile and OH those dimples! He is the most delayed in speech but he did say "Mommy" while we ate lunch the last day just to see if I would look his way and gave me the biggest smile when I did! G doesn't like to have any other kids play in what he thinks of as his space and will throw a good fit if he's not ready to leave when we are.
T is the silly, cuddly, lovable one. He likes to give kisses and hugs and say "Hi" to EVERY person that he goes by...Lexy says he would be a good Wal-Mart greeter when he grows up lol!! He can also throw a good fit and is onery as all get out! His giggle is so contagious! The first night he learned a new word from me..."apple" and so we had apples with almost every meal and he would proudly hold up a piece and say "apple" to me and smile real big.
Brooke and Lexy have not stopped talking about the kids! Both of them have said that they can't wait for them to move into our house. I think we all feel the same way...they belong with us and we already love them so much!!
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