With a BANG!

We are starting 2014 with a BANG!

 

My only personal resolution for 2014 is to slow down.

 

I live a very full and blessed life, but I have a hard time saying no. I volunteer for things that I enjoy and I accept all challenges to help out, even when I may not enjoy it. I plan to change that this year and only commit to the things that I truly love and enjoy doing. This will be a big change for me, but I am looking forward to it.

 

Johnathon and I are switching bans this year and as a couple we are putting forth more of an effort to save and spend a little more wisely. Have I mentioned that I have started couponing? Nothing too crazy, but I was able to save almost $10 the other day without even looking at the ads. I was so proud of myself and I hope that this is something that I can pick up quickly and see great results!

 

We also made a family resolution for 2014: to live life to the fullest.

 

As a result of spreading myself too thin, we haven't had the time to go out as a family and truly enjoy life. We are always rushed and even though we seem to fit in so many fun activities, we don't invest the time to truly be present at those times.

I have hardly taken any pictures since October and most of those are on the IPAD or my cell phone. I'm having a little mommy quilt about that.

Today we decided to take the kiddos to a beach near our home. It was so much fun and we plan to visit another beach this weekend.

My girls are growing and changing right before my eyes. It's a precious thing to witness, but it makes me emotional at times. I compare my feelings to those that I feel about foster care: You know certain things will happen and you can talk about it until you are blue in the face, but until you actually live it, you have no idea the amount of emotional toll it can have on you.

Baby D is still in our home. Not everyone was on the same page at our last court hearing so things were set to trial. Unfortunately, I don't think the extra month will have much of a difference with the outcome.

 

I know so many of you are itching to know what the end of this placement will look like and I just simply do not know.

 

It just doesn't work that way. We are actually very low on the totem pole and only time will tell what D's future will hold. Trust me, as soon I know something and am able to share it, I will. Until then, please continue to pray that we are able to accept and be encouraging to whatever heads our way.

I used to say that being a foster parent is like a crazy roller coaster ride, but I no longer feel that is a true statement. That would imply that there are ups and downs, followed by more ups and downs. That is false.

 

Being a foster parent is all about being able to enjoy the ups while being down. It's about not letting the downs destroy you while you have so much to be thankful for.

 

You see, it's never just an up. It's never just a down.

 

Those feelings go hand-in-hand.

Alyssa and Allison received an extra week off of school for Winter break. Next week we will be busy trying to relocate their school to another temporary location. Wish us luck!

I'm enjoying having the twins home from school. We all slept in until 9am this morning and it was amazing.

I just started (and finished) 'Orange is the New Black' on Netflix. It was hilarious and I can't wait for season 2!!

Wasn't it just gorgeous today?

It was D's first time at the beach and there are so many other photos that I wish I could share, but I can't. Those will have to be kept private among the family.

I've started D's 'life book'. I'm not sure what other foster parents do for theirs, but I found the perfect blue and tan chevron photo album that held around 800+ pictures. Every other page I have placed a fact card in place of a picture and filled it with random fun facts about D. What he likes, doesn't like, his favorite toy, etc. It's turning out really nice and I am so proud of it. No matter where his permanent placement may be, he will know about the first year of his life and have many pictures to show of it. It's the least I could do for him.

I met another young family at the beach today who has foster care in their hearts. It was so nice to chat about our agency and how amazing they are. I can't say it enough how much we love and appreciate everything that they do for us and help us along this journey.

I filled out Madelynn's application for kindergarten a few weeks ago. Luckily for us, she gets accepted pre-lottery since her big sisters are already enrolled. I am so thankful that I won't have to endure the lottery and have a back-up plan in case she doesn't get a spot. They attend such a great school and I would be heartbroken if I had to send her to our local public school.

The girls walked around and gathered shells today. We plan on cleaning them and painting a few tomorrow. See what I mean about living life to the fullest? We are doing it!

We already have the weekend planned out with fun family activities and a movie.

 

After the beach today we headed to a park near our home and let the girls play.

Johnathon has to work tomorrow and hopefully we can get around to cleaning out the garage.

 

Fun times! ;)

Peace! xoxo

Chaotic, but blessed.

I barely have time to sit down and write this and even as I do, I can think of a million other more productive things I should be doing.

 

Oh well!

 

I've been thinking about blogging for weeks now, but the time is just never right. If I do manage to have a gap in my day I have to go to back rehab. If bio parents fail to confirm their visits, that leaves me time to volunteer at the girls' school. If my two littles actually take a nap at the same time, I suddenly have time to log community service hours or put together a tryout packet for cheerleading. It's never ending and always changing.

 

It's been interesting to see my life change so drastically over this last year and it has changed so much, in fact, that I find myself reflecting on it a lot. Gone are the days of sleeping in and homeschooling my girls according to whatever schedule best suited our lifestyle. Hello are the days of 6:00AM wake-up calls, taking kids to school, heading straight to back rehab, home in just enough time for a surprise home visit with our CCM, a quick load of laundry before maintenance comes to fix our toilet, rushing off to a cheerleading planning meeting, having Johnathon pick up the two little ones from my meeting to run over and pick up the twins from school, relieved to remember that I planned a somewhat easy dinner, homework and bed!!

 

Are you exhausted just reading that? So am I.

 

Madelynn has mastered how to take her picture with the webcam.

 

*Please ignore my untidy house and the fact that I am using our high chair as a plant stand.*

 

Oh, yeah, Madelynn got bangs. I asked the lady for thick side swept bangs because of her many cowlicks. Instead we got thin blunt bangs. :(

 

I try to style them as I dry her hair and it seems to be working for now. She is still precious!!

 

Madelynn wants so badly to go to school, but she is enjoying her time home with baby D and myself. She is still head-over-heels in love with D and spoils him rotten on a daily basis. We've been practicing our letters and their sounds when we find time and she seems to be picking them up quickly. Honestly, she doesn't have a huge interest in it. That makes things a little difficult, but what's new? That's Madelynn for you!



Alyssa and Allison are thriving at their new school and I am thankful every day that we were able to find this school and become part of such a wonderful community. We have all made some amazing friendships and for the first time since I moved to California 7.5 years ago, I have a sense of belonging and 'family' around us. The girls are singing songs to us in Mandarin, building shoebox animal dioramas and asking to have sleepovers and playdates. I think they are pretty happy as well.

Baby D is still in our home. He will be 7 months old soon and hitting so many milestones. There isn't too much else that I can report other than we have a court date soon approaching and that should bring with it a few decisions in the case. We are aware of what the recommendations will be and at this point, we agree. The decisions that will be made on this day are genuinely what is in the best interest for D. From that point on, I'm not enthusiastic about where the case may go, but only time will tell. Johnathon and I appreciate your prayers as we continue on this journey as foster parents. 

Life is busy, but great.

Stressful, but rewarding.

Chaotic, but blessed.

 

xoxo

Just...

...an average

fun & chaotic

evening in the

Stone house.

I can never know what our day will be like from one moment to the next.

What I DO know is...

If you can't have fun and make a mess when your little,

then when can you?

xoxo

T'was the Night Before Christmas

I found this cute twist on T'was the Night Before Christmas and just had to share it. It made me laugh because I have felt this way too many times to count! :)

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."
The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,
Same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust," She'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, Watch One Life To Live."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!
"I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal. "
That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, "
Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours!