4 Little Eggs becomes...? Little Eggs

We are re-entering the world of fostering. This is something we didn't expect to do. In fact I've once again been shown that if I say "I won't do that again", I will in fact do it again. But within the last couple of months (along the same timing as getting our house) Matt & I have both felt very strongly that we need to adopt again. We came to this realization separately but when we talked about it we felt we needed to move on it right away. I've been torn with sharing this information (as in the whole process) but decided I would so others can see what our "pregnancy" is like.

I called a foster agency "Angels" the Monday after we decided to adopt. We decided on Friday night on our date so you could say it was a little rushed. After talking to the social worker she sent out paperwork. She told us that normally if someone decided on Friday night that they wanted to adopt, then called on Monday morning, they had make them wait a while and learn more about the process. But she said since we've been through it before we understand that this isn't a fun thing and people don't just sign up for the heck of it. It's really hard work. So she let us move forward.

Here's a few things we have to do:

1. Complete and return signed application: This was about 8 pages long and had many detailed questions like how we were raised, style of parenting we're used to, how we would react in certain situations etc.
2. MMPI Testing: This is a psychology test. Pretty much to make sure we're not crazy. (lol) This one had me really nervous because when it came back she said we needed to talk about some things and scheduled us for a week later! I was stressing...which apparently was the problem. She said the test shows we're stressed. LOL. Well we talked about how we take on stuff and follow through, we basically live our lives keeping busy, that's just how we are. What I wanted to say was, "We're in the middle of buying a house, we have our own business & our receptionist just put in her notice, Matt just finished running Healthy Kids Day & Mormon Helping Hands Day, I'm Young Women's President and have Girls Camp & Trek coming up, I've just pulled my son out of his school and put him in a new one with only 2 months left in the year, we're in the middle of baseball and ballet season AND I CAN'T HAVE A GLASS OF WINE BEFORE TAKING YOUR STRESS TEST!!! However, I kept my cool and she allowed us to continue with the training. Whew!
3. CPR/First Aid, training (1 full day), physical with TB test, Live Scan, Criminal Record, Homework assignment of reading 3 articles on childhood behaviors and writing a report, and a home inspection where we have to lock up all chemicals, sharp knives or basically anything that says "Keep out of reach of children". Have you ever looked at what's in your house and what has that label on it? You should try it.

Well we're almost done with the process. Today we had out TB test done. While I was there the lady started asking me about kids, because everyone thinks it's odd to foster I guess. She asked if I have any kids of my own. This is something that really bugs me but I know that people don't mean it in a bad way. They just don't know how to be nosy in a polite way. hahaha So I told her yes, I have 2 kids. Because I do, and they are my own. Just because we adopted them doesn't make them not ours. It makes them as much ours as if I'd given birth.

When she asked me that I thought, here we go again. Here we go with all the comments from strangers who think it's their business to comment on my children. The "they don't look anything like you, they must look like their dad", or "they don't look anything alike" I suppose implying that I have 3 baby daddies or something.  I have many stories like these and I might humor you all one day and share them. I would like to write them down. However now I have my husband coming home any minute and hungry kids so I'd better get started on dinner. 

By Friday we should be able to turn in the last of our paperwork then we'll just wait to get into our new house before getting the certified.  
I will keep you posted on our progress.

Leave Me Alone!

So today I had 45... count them...For-ty Five... minutes to myself without the kids. I've had sick kids all week... but who's counting? I asked Matt to come home for lunch so I could have a much needed mental break. I went to JoAnn's since it's new in town and I've hadn't gone yet. I didn't have much time but had fun looking while I could. I was getting a few things for Aliyahs cowgirl outfit for the parade tomorrow.

As I was checking out I walked past all the candy bars. Not usually such a temptation but today I was by myself, and hungry with no lunch. I grabbed my favorite, the Dark Chocolate Milky Way. So I'm at the counter checking out and the girl says, "hard to pass by the candy isn't it?" I said something like yes I've got no kids and it sounds really good. Then she goes on..."I'm only 10 lbs overweight, as I sit in the corner eating a bag of candy" she says. "Then before you know it I need to lose 15 lbs and on and on. And I just want to keep eating more and more and then I'll die."

REALLY?! Can't I just eat a candy bar without the checkout girl (who's thin and young) judging me and telling me I'll eventually die from eating candy? Hahahaha this was so funny and yet so weird. Not exactly a saleswoman that's for sure, and she kinda ruined the candy bar for me...until I started eating it and stopped thinking about how it would kill me.

Aliyah's Tea Party with Jester

 This was so cute, I had to capture it. Aliyah kept running things outside so I went to see what was going on. Why, it's a tea party! With Jester! How cute is that?

She definitely knows how to make him happy. He's such a good sport with her, just eating a piece at a time from the spoon and leaving the "big" bowl alone. Sometimes when she feeds him, instead of dumping a scoop in his dish she throws him a piece at a time... and he just deals with it.

Fun with Grandpa Egbert/Mothers Day

My Mother's Day treat from Angie... they were so good!!

Looking for tadpoles/frogs

Look at the tadpoles/frogs Michael caught! We have a couple at home that are almost competely frogs.

 It was super windy on Mother's Day so we decided to take the kites out. Plus it gave Matt a  break from all day kitchen duty.(heehee)

Grandpa & Aliyah flying kites

Me

Grandpa "dive bombing" the kite

Aliyah & I

Michael, Matt layed on the ground for this shot

Someones tired from all the running around.

We'll See...

• We'll see who reads this blog. I'm not much of a blogger, just still getting started really. So I don't have many followers.

• We'll see how many people now know what we're doing...

• We'll see if we get the house we want. Well we're in escrow actually.  We'll see if it goes through.

• We'll see...how we like 2nd ward. Pretty nervous about that move. The kids have so many friends in our ward...well so do we. 

• We'll see who reads this blog, like I said. And who now knows we're moving out of the ward in June (if all goes well with the house). This is not Facebook worthy yet...just close friend worthy. So we'll see who you are!

What is Easter really about?

As I feel asleep last night I was wondering how I could portray the Easter meaning to my kids this year. I never want them to get caught up in the commercialism of the holidays but Santa and the Easter Bunny do come to our house. So I fell asleep with this on my mind.


This morning Michael came to me and said he has a great idea! He and Aliyah were making Easter eggs out of paper, cutting and coloring them. He wanted to put signs around the neighborhood saying we're having an Easter decoration sale and have them come buy the eggs. This is always a hard thing for me. Because while I would pay for one of their art creations, I'm pretty sure the neighbors wouldn't. So after some gentle discouraging, he had another idea.


He wanted to put signs up around the neighborhood telling people to come to our house so he could tell them what Easter is really all about. When I asked what it's really about he said, "It's not about the bunny and eggs, it's about Jesus and he died for us and was resurrected so we can live with Heavenly Father again". Oh, ok. I think he gets it.


Well how do I gently discourage this idea? I don't, and neither does Matt. We let him go for it. So he makes some signs.

Laern abot Ester. It is not abot eggs or the Ester bunny, at this green hous with a stop signe. Cost 1$.


How cute is that? So he put these signs up and put out a table with 1 chair. He said he would let the people sit down and he would stand. He was jumping up and down with excitement of all the possible people that would be stopping by and want to hear about Jesus. He said, "then a bunch of people will want to be baptized!" Well, after a while he got discouraged. People were driving by, slowing down and looking at him but couldn't quite figure out what he was doing. 

He had so much motivation! At one point he just layed down on the table, totally rejected. Then he had another idea!

 A Lemonade stand!

Well the idea was that he'd give them lemonade to lure them in so he could tell them about Jesus. And he did give away some lemonade. Then Aliyah got on board and wanted to sell it. So... we ended up with a lemonade stand and the kids yelling "lemonade! 25cents!" everytime someone drove by. The New Testament stayed on the table until it got lemonade on it and I took it away.


So while it didn't turn out as Michael expected, he had the best of intentions and ended up making some money in the end. He was happy, Aliyah was happy and I'm sure so were the passers-by that they got some delicious semi-warm but fresh homemade lemonade. And I am grateful my kids understand and want to share the true meaning of Easter.

Happy Easter!!

Letter To Mom

Look what my sweet boy wrote! I LOVE THIS KID!!

Michael's on the Twins this year. He's been doing very well, coach has had him playing pitcher and 2nd base which is very exciting. Last year he was digging holes with his cleats in left field so it's exciting to see him right in on the action. He thinks quick and makes the necessary moves. Yesterday he tagged a kid out at 2nd. Oh yeah! That's my boy!