Holidays

Today feels like the weekend because Jeremy has been home all day. I love it! It makes me so happy for all of us to be home at the same time with not a whole lot that has to be done. Finally, I feel better. Thank the Lord for the antibiotics. Why they made me wait two weeks before giving them to me I don't know, but hooray for feeling better! It was not fun not being myself. Now that I am feeling better things are getting done around here. My house got pretty messy and it was making me crazy so I have actually enjoyed cleaning up the last couple days in between visits from friends and family for Thanksgiving. My friend Alissa and her family are in town (I think I said that yesterday?) so we enjoyed spending time with them early this week and now Rob, Tiffany and little Allie are here. I am enjoying holding her and just getting her little face stuck in my brain. She's such a sweetie. It was fun for Jeremy to meet her today. He loves tiny babies so he was happy to hold her for awhile too. The kids are of course crazy about her and so happy to have two little cousins.

After dinner tonight I asked Jake if he wanted to go shopping with me. I needed some tights for the girls and I really only intended to buy that, but then when we got to Gymboree I realized it was that time of year...this happened last year too. They pull out all their boxes and mark everything down. Plus, the whole store was 25% off and I had a 20% off coupon. So, we were there awhile. He was a really good sport. He sat and watched the tv and then he went and looked at the boys clothes. He walked up to the register with a super cute scarf around his neck. He really liked it and since he never seems interested in what I buy him I thought we should definitely get it. He looks really cute in it. After that we ran through Tim Hortons and got Jake his favorite treat, Honey Dip Timbits. It was a fun time with my boy.

We are looking forward to tomorrow. Thanksgiving is such a special time. We are blessed and I am so amazed each year at all that has happened and how we have always been taken care of. I love my life (even on the crazy days) and really wouldn't want it any other way.

Friends are Fun

Last weekend we celebrated Jake's birthday with his friends from his class. All the little boys came and it was so much fun!! We went bowling and ate pizza and a delicious cake. It was so neat to watch the kids interact. He goes to a pretty small school and there are 10 boys in his class. Sometimes they remind me of siblings. They are sweet and loving and then they can bicker too, but I noticed that they seem to do well at resolving things. It was really a fun time and I know Jake felt very special.





Here's my little guy with his cute toothless grin! The other front tooth is about to fall out anyday.
After Jake's party his friend, Collin spent the night and stayed all day Sunday. They had a great time.

This week was a short school week. Today was Jake's Harvest party which was lots of fun. We are also enjoying some company. Our good friends, Grady and Alissa, and their kids are in town and we are having Landon and Reagan over all night for a sleep-over. Fun times!!

We also got a call that there are some babies in the hospital that are almost ready to be discharged. We hurried around and got the last couple documents into our social worker and are just waiting for a call to pick one up...I hope they only ask me to take one! The kids are excited and we are trying to stay caught up on stuff around here so if we only have a few hours notice it's not completely crazy.

We are finding more and more people who are fostering since we have started. It is so neat to see how God is using people to love these little ones. I love it!!

Blogging Funk

I have been in a blogging funk. Stuff is happening, but I just can't seem to get on here and write about it. You know Nov/Dec are just busy around here with birthday/holidays/crazy business season. I do love it though...my favorite time of the year!!

So, here's a quick list of things going on around here...

- Jeremy has been MIA this month. He gets in today and we are EXCITED to see him! Jake has actually been missing him more lately and he is especially excited to show him his missing front tooth. It just fell out and he spends a lot of time looking at himself. It's cute and fun. He was so excited to be the first in his class to lose a tooth in November. They get to write their name on a special tooth chart.

- Back in October, Jeremy and I both enjoyed being a part of Jake's pumpkin day at school. I got to go on the field trip and then Jeremy met up with me and we helped with "center time" in his class. We love to see him interact with his classmates and be a part of his little world. It is so strange for him to be gone so long everyday and it's great to be able to be involved. I am planning the Harvest Party with a few other moms and can't wait...should be fun! Maybe I like this so much because I miss the classroom a little?? I don't know, just love being with my little man.

- Cara is doing great with Pre-School. She has made some friends and her teacher says she does great when she is there. Our biggest issue now is agreeing on her clothing choices for school. Fun times!

- Abby is enjoying "Homeschool"... Not really, but this is what she tells everyone. She is so funny! She tells Jake and Cara stuff like, "I didn't cry at homeschool." "I was good at homeschool." Last night Cara told Jake that she got M&M's at school. He was disappointed that he doesn't get candy at school and Abby said, "I will get you some of my candy from my homeschool." Then, we got her pumpkin full of trick-or-treat candy down and she gave him some. It was so sweet!

- I have been sick for 3 stinkin' weeks! 3 weeks...it's crazy! I have a cough that will not go away. The only good thing about it is that I have finally gotten my rear into my pre-Abby jeans. Got to look at the bright side!

I hope your November is going well. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving. Jake brought a sweet letter home for me the other day telling me the things he was thankful for. Of course, I will be putting it in the "Keep Forever File".

Tomorrow, I will try to get some pictures up.

Our First Little One

This week we welcomed our first little foster baby into our home with lots of excitement! He is a precious little boy. He is easy going and happy and absolutely adorable. He is only here for a few days, but we have enjoyed him and loved on him and been blessed by his sweet personality and cute little chuckle.

It has been a bit crazy though. Jake and Cara have been awesome and embraced the little guy. Abby, not so much. She is definitely the baby of the family and not too happy about the little intruder. Actually, he's not little at all. He is quite big for his age which may be why she doesn't understand why he doesn't do what she says! Apparently our sweet little girl has some issues with sharing :). She's not into sharing her stuff, Jake's stuff, or anyone else's stuff. She stands guard of her toys and the kitchen cabinets. She's like the energizer bunny running around to make sure she keeps track of him every step he takes.

So, all in all, it has been a week. An interesting, crazy, busy week. I think we will all be a little sad to see the little guy go (well, maybe not Abby). He is a sweet, sweet boy and so lovable. He is so happy to see me when he wakes up and when I walk around to get him out of his car seat. What a privilege it has been to love on him, even just a little. I know we will always remember him since he was our first placement. I pray that things get better for his little life and that he is surrounded by people who love him.

Happy Birthday!!!

I didn't know that I could love someone so much until the day I found out about you! You are a joy, a delight, a blessing. You are loved more than you know and you are my favorite boy in the entire world! I thank God for your life every single day and pray that you will love Him with all your heart. You are a passionate, intense little guy. Daddy and I are excited as we watch you grow.

The other day when I went on your field trip and you held my hand I wondered how much longer you would do that?? You are growing up so fast!! When I say "I love you", you say "same to you!" and it makes me happy. So very glad you are part of our family.

Love you,
Mommy