Lets go fly a kite!

William received a kite for his birthday
But there just have not been very many windy days
So we didn't have a chance to use it until now

I think that based on how much fun he had flying it
It was well worth the wait

Before and After!

Monica over at Pixel Perfect has this awesome Thursday Before and After Blog hop. Here are my before and after shots for this week. Stop by her blog to see all of the other awesome fixes this week!

I shot this is RAW so it is pretty dark SOOC

Here it is after I played with it in Picasa for a bit

Oh and I took it with my Cannon Rebel T1i

That Call

Yesterday we got a call about a new placement
No matter how many times someone calls about placements
It is always so exciting even if ultimately you decide that its not the right fit

Yesterday our agency was looking for a home for a two (almost three) year old girl
I was beyond excited
Michael and I have spent a lot of time talking about
what the ideal fit for our family would be
And we came to the conclusion that a two or three year old girl would be perfect
We are definitely open to other placements
but this would be the best with our current family dynamics

When I got the call I didn't even think twice about saying yes
I usually call Michael at work and see his feelings about it
But this time I already knew how he felt

I think in foster care it helps so much to have an idea
Of what will work and what wont
as far as bringing new children into your home
Its exciting when you get that call
and sometimes its tempting to say yes to situations
that are just not in the best interest of your family

Knowing that there is a child out there needing love
And you have love to give
It seems like a no brainer that they should come and live with you
But then there are the other children in your home who were hurt too
And need you too and you need to be sure that saying yes to a placement
Does not jeopardize the children already in your home

I think that this is one of the toughest parts of fostering
Knowing when to say No

But back to yesterday
The case worker had very minimal information as usual
Just her name, age, a brief history of her mom, and that she was foster to adopt
She didn't know when they would be picking her up from the other foster home
But it would be sometime today and she would call me when she knew more

I started getting everything ready
Washing sheets, moving beds, making our spare room look pretty
Then she called back at 5 and said it looks like they wouldn't be moving her today
Maybe tomorrow or maybe not at all
We were a little disappointed but it still may happen
And now the case worker has us on her mind
and knows we are open to more placements

We will see what today brings!

Home Again Home Again

We are finally back from vacation
I still have a full suitcase waiting for me to unpack
And a pile of laundry higher then Mt. Everest
But none of that mattered as I drifted to sleep in my own bed last night

There is something about sleeping in your bed
after you've been away for awhile
It was so soft and I slept better then I have in a long time

The baby did too!
She didn't sleep much while we were away
I think it took a toll on her little body
Because she slept until 9 this morning
That was a first for her for sure

(I like how we are both making the same ridiculous face in this picture)

It was a wonderful trip filled with lots of family fun
And beach filled days
But there is nothing like home!

Wordless Wednesday

Teacher

I realized its been forever since I have posted here
So I sat down to update
Baby's sleeping
William is playing in his playroom
A moment to myself I thought

I start to think of all of the things that have happened
Since I last posted
Memories of hot summer fun flood my head

Then I hear this little voice calling me
"Mommy, Mommy can you come here and be my teacher?
Can you teach me new things? Could you do that for me today Mommy?"

Part of me wants to keep typing
But I feel the pull of a child who needs me
To show him the way
So I better go
Maybe I'll try again at bedtime
I have a lots to say just not much time to say it :)

So Fast!

When I was mom to just Will
I didn't understand what people were talking about
When they said kids grow up so fast

It really didn't seem very fast to me
There is not really a whole lot of difference between
A four year old and a five year old

But man, babies, that's a whole different story
I am in awe everyday of this child's new achievements
Its crazy how must she has changed in the last 2 month

When she came to us she couldn't
Roll over, or sit, or really do much of anything
Besides eat and sleep

But now its like everyday she is doing something new
And its blowing my mind

They other day I went in her room to get her in the morning
And she was sitting up in her crib
Something she was never able to do before on her own
Then a few hours later when I went to get her after her nap
She was standing in her crib!

 I am so excited that I have to opportunity to see this side of parenting
I missed all of this with William
His first tooth, his first steps...
But I feel like going through this with her
Gives me a little glimpse of what he was like when he was small
and I love that
It also brakes my heart because her mom is missing out on all of this
And I know now how great all of these little things are!