{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.

{New Years Eve}

We spent New Years in Eugene this year attending my cousin's wedding. Maisey was so excited when Ari and Shawn asked her to be one of the flower girls over a year and a half ago upon their engagement.

She loves the role! With that being said, there is talk she and the other flower girl, Peyton (my second cousins daughter) will have the chance to walk the aisle together again in another wedding. Can you say, "Flower girls for rent!" They are both experienced by now at the ages of 7 1/2 and 10.

The bride was stunning and I am just sorry my camera is SO crummy because it doesn't do anyone justice!
Ari and her mother Cindy (My great Aunt). Maisey and Peyton had so much fun together!
Thanks to Peyton's mom and dad, they got to shop for matching outfits at "Justice" (Maisey's favorite store, my least), and they swam till wee hours of the night at the Hilton during a sleepover. Maisey still has memories from over a year ago when they were in Eugene for a visit and I don't doubt these memories will go into the archive! They were VERY entertaining on the dance floor where they spent much of their time!Sweet little girls. The decorations were lovely for a Winter wedding celebration!Happy New Years from The Guenther's

{Christmas Part-2}

Santa brought Maisey a vanity and she couldn't have been more excited. She was also thrilled to have a "Science Christmas." Maisey has never enjoyed toys much (although she's had everything) she never likes to play alone. She has moved from cooking, to crafts, and now onto science! She loves experiments. Ry got a train table and we love it as much as he does because he does play alone!Another highlight were farm animals. Toddlers are so easy to please.

He couldn't get them out quickly enough!