{Relaxing}

We didn't hold back on relaxing while we were away.

Believe it or not, I slept double what I normally sleep. AND, I feel like sleep is over rated because I was more sleepy when catching 8 hours than when I function on my 4 or so during the terms.

The boys managed to cat nap here and there.

Relaxation isn't something I often look for... But I found it, and now I know what I've been missing!

GNO Beach Style

Missing a few ladies, but relaxing and enjoyable nonetheless.

Moms need breaks too!

As you can see, teh Tsunami didn't get us.

{Legos}

This boy just fell in love with the Lego store! Whenever we go to Eugene, he likes to tinker with the old ones I played with as a child. But, we never knew he was this excited about them until entering the Lego store. He admired and played with tons of Legos in every color and even I was excited to see ones in Pink and Purple. Ryley must have asked for every set in the store and now we know what to get him for his 3rd birthday in April!It turned into a family event when the set that said 4+ contained over 310 pieces! I decided Ry gets the bigger Legos (not mega blocks but the toddler Legos) because it was as many little pieces as Polly Pockets!
Chad and I each took his order and began building. He was so excited. Then I tool the remaining 150 pieces or so, and put them in a Rubber Maid and hid it in the kitchen.

Happy as a clam! He even slept with them tonight!

{Saturday}

On Saturday we went to the NW Children's Festival. It was pretty, what's the word, um, ghetto. But, at least the kids had fun! It was something to do indoors in the Winter and well, we like to try new things.

Maisey had a wonderful time doing a whole lot of petting!And of course this girl loves anything being applied to her face. Paint or make-up, what's the difference anyway? Ryley did a LOT of watching because he is still timid when put on the spot (workers staring at him and talking to him, heaven forbid).My favorite thing to look at was this 6 yer old 96 lb turtle who is expected to grow 4x it's size now!

Maisey also rode a mechanical bull... She loved it and stayed on the entire time but said her hands hurt afterwards. I guess that's what the gloves were for... I think she just likes to look like a cowgirl but she's no prepared for the real dirt of it all.

Ryley found happiness in the bouncy houses.

There was almost something for everyone...

{1/3}

This is probably about 1/3 of Maisey's Cookie order (some were already sorted and back out to the car, or delivered). She sold 152 so far and booth sales start this next weekend. Although it's Sunday, we did a bit of delivering because many people were anxious to have them before Valentines Day. Now we have to deliver the rest, and collect money. But, I am hoping people will also remember so we can collect when we run into them. Cookies sales are very time consuming, but they mean SO much to Maisey.

I think she's taking after me in her goal setting! She was such a help and wanted to hand me all the cookies while taking inventory. She also put rubber bands around many. See this adorable smile? Well, do you think she put this shiner on while delivering? NO! Sure she's was excited to deliver, but she is selectively quite and I cannot figure it out. She has a mind of her own and she gets a lot of her attitude from me... Enough said.She wants to do modeling right now, along with a million other things of course. Luckily, her schedule is full so I don't have to negotiate with her. She also thinks she needs a horse.

Yes, a horse. In the last month she has even shed tears over the fact I won't let her wear scrunchis (sp? And yes, they still make them) and equestrian clothes like the girls in all the books she keeps getting at the library. Oh, and it is so hard to say NO to this pretty little girl! But not that hard!

Kids and dreams!

{Excitedl}

The biggest news in our lives right now is that I will be going back to work. I am excited about this position, beyond words.

A job opportunity was open at LDS Family Services and I couldn't keep myself from applying. I was just offered the job and I couldn't be happier! I will work part time as an adoption caseworker which will be perfect for my busy school schedule and the rest of life.

Now, about school...

I don't think I ever "announced" what it is I am doing. I get this feeling because people keep asking me, saying they read it on my blog that I am in school, but don't know why. So, forgive me friends if you've heard it a thousand times and forgive me if I've been vague. I am earning a Master's Degree in Counseling online with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. I hope to open my own practice after I am licensed.

School full-time, work part time, and EVERYTHING in between will keep all of us hopping.

I wouldn't have the opportunities I have without the strength and stamina my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. Also, I have to give credit to my dedicated husband. He tries his best to help me each and every day. Recently, (and by choice) he has started taking over some of my deep cleaning. We are both clean freaks, but I am more detailed so I usually do the deep cleaning. However, we continue to grow as a team and we are both sacrificing certain things as times change, like perfectionism. He even wants me to teach him how to cook! One step at a time.

Along with cleaning we are also working a little on grocery shopping.

This concludes the joy I wanted to share. I cannot wait to be back in the field working with families. These families will be a bit different than my DHS families and I already know I welcome the change!

{Round 2}

You may remember this room re-do from October. And, as much as I will miss that delicate little princess bed, a change was in order.

You see, Maisey got a roommate thus the need to reconfigure. If I had to "double up," at least I ended up with something I like after tons and tons of scouring every source for white bunk beds. I know I am picky but I cannot sacrifice what I think is style.
Maisey has decided her new favorite color is light blue. Yeah, and this is only 5 months after picking pink for her walls. What can I say, she is her mommas girl! I would still change my decor with the seasons if possible. Luckily, I outgrew that when we had kids.

This was the best I could do to work the colors in. Of course, the Shabby Chic will never cease.

Ryley even got to join the club with a light blue linen duvet cover. I also spent hours and hours searching for bedding for him and the prices were either unreasonable beyond compare, or the fabrics failed to fit the bill.

The room is still a work in progress. The wall on the side with the vanity looks a little bare.

I am also trying to find a Shabby bookcase. Wish me luck.

(Note: see the box fan? I have one too! What have I done to my kids? We need white noise to sleep, still! And, I only need it because they got me hooked! At least I can vacuum next to their heads when they sleep.)

So, you are wondering how the sleeping arrangement is going thus far, eh? Well, it's not really. Ryley has been staying up till the wee hours and when he does sleep, he wakes up repeatedly. I decided it is his thermostat. He likes a cold room like ours, not Maisey's. So, we shall test the waters tonight since I ended up getting him a lightweight down comforter. I hope it does the trick!

{Awkward}

My kids sleep in very awkward positions. Ry has started taking after Maise and so I decided to document his movement. They are both restless to say the least.

The kids in our bed when we got home from ward temple night.

{Safari Sams}

This weekend we took the kids to Safari Sams in Sherwood. The place overwhelms me (which, I thought was impossible because I like busy social environments), but it was just oo crazy for a Saturday and Ry is too young.
The black light miniature golf was pretty cool.
The kids LOVED Oregon's largest and very enormous play structure.
Ry loved the video games.

{Dress it up}

Santa brought Maisey a rather plain vanity for Christmas. I switched out the knobs and the fabric on the stool. The picture doesn't do the fabric much justice but I am making a doll blanket and pillow for Maisey's doll bed (which I am also going to paint since I never finished it).

Maisey decided her new favorite color is light blue so this was up her ally.

{Passing Time}

Time is passing away around here.
Maisey has a terrible cough right now and Codeine is the only reason she can sleep at night. She just got over a 4 day fever which went up to 104.5 (when measured), so we will take the cough.
If Maisey's not at tap, ballet, Girl Scouts, or a play date swap these days, you can usually catch her conducting science experiments. This one was worms.

Ryley is funny as ever. He has an active imagination and will take you for a ride in his garbage truck or ambulance any time (however, you must lay on a bed to do so).

He is going through a silly phase where he changes his clothes all day long, including his underwear! But, he sure looks cute in them so we don't mind. And best of all, he is fully potty trained. The entire process took about 6 weeks, but that was because was hesitant conquering the second step.

Chad is still pulling daddy duty and I am as busy as ever with school. I can't wake for next term because the counseling is finally beginning. I've been in survival mode, but we are all surviving. And the kids, they have no clue that anything has changed.

{Sweet Memories}

On January 15th we went down to Eugene to attend my Grandpa Bill's Memorial. He passed away of Alzheimer's on Dec. 10th, 5 days before his 79th birthday.
It is amazing how quickly this disease can take a life, because he went to live in a home one year ago when he was physically healthy.
(My grandparents with my mom on her 1st birthday)

The service and reception were held at two beautiful places. I showed my love to this pure Italian boy by baking 80 or so White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti's!

{These are a few of my favorite things}

For Christmas everybody spoiled me. I felt guilty because I was given so much. Come to think of it, I've always been spoiled, it's just I LOVED everything I was given! Here are a few of my favorite things... A "new" bathroom curtain to match the other accessories I've been piecing together. A perfect for our feminine shabby bedroom.What I couldn't believe, is how much kitchen serving ware I got, although not pictured. People definitely know I LOVE to entertain. Now I just need a HUGE kitchen to store all these tiered racks and stands in!
One thing at a time.

{Senior Nursery

Since bumping up to Senior Nursery with the New Year, Ryley is on a roll and has perfect attendance! After 1 year of refusing to go to nursery, our dreams (and prayers) have come true. It is so nice to be able to attend our classes together!

This picture was taken right when we got home from church on Day 1. He was SO excited and DID NOT want to leave!

{Potty Time}

For the past month Ryley has be using the toilet almost perfectly. He never pees on the new carpet! He is still having an "issue" with one thing (which, if you've potty trained it's usually the second step), but I will wait if I must.

At first he went through a phase where he wouldn't wear underwear, but now he will and everybody is thrilled. Now our guests won't be offended! He does hate to be asked to go so we keep the nagging to a minimum.

It is still a challenge to go places. One dreary rainy day we were passing by Burger King and Maisey convinced me (I still don't know how) to take them into get a drink. Let me add we had just come from Out of This World where Ryley held it for 3 hours!!! After paying I turn around to see a VERY busy lunch line (it's 12:30), and Ryley standing in a BIG puddle. It was one of those moments when (once the shock and embarrassment has worn off), you have to chuckle- a little.

Hopefully he will work out all the kink's soon!

{heroes}

Has anyone ever called you a "Hero?" Well, I will humbly say two very sweet women have called me a hero in my lifetime. The reason they called me their hero was because of my work with DHS Child Welfare, namely when I removed children with CPS.

On many, many, occasions I have had people say,"I don't know how you do it, it would be so hard." I usually try to withhold my internal joy because I do not want to come across as callous, when really I couldn't feel more pride for saving a vulnerable child.

But this post however is not about my love for Child Protective Services. I am writing this post to share my respect and love for a wonderful, loving, foster home I have had the privilege to get to know. I made many great friends when I began working for child welfare and a few of them happened to be foster families. These families are loving, accepting, and all together precious. These families collectively defined my view of a hero.

This afternoon this beautiful little 29 month old girl above will go to live with her mother who has been incarcerated for her daughters entire life, and then some, in a women's shelter. My heart aches because I can not imagine the strength and courage it would take to love and raise these little babies, while knowing they would most like leave some day. My dear friends who are 28 like me, have loved, and nurtured many little children (including three babies at once), only to have to deal with loss in the end.
On a good note, they have been enjoying all 6 of their foster children right now. And, they finally get to keep at least one of them (although they would take them all)! The process has been started and they are adopting the little boy in the middle (below). Flashback of the babies. Now they are 26, 27, and 29 months!

I am so thankful there are loving families out there who open there hearts and homes up to innocent children when they have no family to turn to. I will miss this little girl, her sweet little spirit, her high pitched voice, her hilarious and congenial personality, and all her sweet ways. I know she has had an amazing family and life till now, and I pray for her safety and happiness, as well as the family who has to let her go, for now anyway. The crew.

{New Years Eve Videos}

Here is a clip of Ry "Cutting a rug."

He totally reminds me of some future SNL actor. He is a tad bit spasy!!!

Here is a clip of a band who kicked off the reception.