{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!

{Teeny Bopper}

A more trendy cut for Maise!

{Christmas Part 1- Eugene}

A few days before Christmas we went to Eugene to visit my family. We celebrated the usual Clark tradition on Christmas Eve and then drove home and arrived about midnight- just in the "Nick" of time!

Ryley "I would like a garbage truck."
Maisey's decorated cookies at Great Grandma Clark's. Traditional Christmas decorations at my Grandma's.2/3 of her villages.To keep the kids entertained we made a trip to the arcade.

Maisey hitting the Jackpot at Chuck E Cheese's. My siblings Erin (17 1/2) and Chase (19 1/2).

We had a great, and relaxing time! We got VERY spoiled and I still feel guilty 3 days later!!!