Landscaping

We tried to brighten up the front of our home a little and improve the curb appeal by removing the large sprawling bushes that were half dead and spreading out mulch with a rock border in their place. Then we added fresh mulch to the other areas that needed it. There's not really anything we can do right now about the bald patches that need grass, but I think what we did was an improvement.

Weird Water

Katie wasn't sure what to think of the water fountains near the mall that shoot out of the grounds at random intervals and heights. It took her a long time to warm up to the idea of actually touching one. Daniel finally got her to try it out when they were spraying at a low level. She would grab at it, laugh and run back to Daddy for safety. Meanwhile, the other kids got a kick out of the fact that we let them get wet with their clothes on, since we didn't have bathing suits with us.

Unexpected Friends

While I was waiting for Shane to finish up with speech therapy the other day I started talking to a woman in the waiting area who had several kids. It turns out that we have a surprising amount in common. We were both born in Virginia but lived in Oklahoma most of our lives and moved to Colorado from Owasso, Oklahoma three years ago. She has 5 kids, some with speech delays, and homeschools her children. And her name, Amanda, is my sister's middle name. Small world, huh?

Our kids are close in age as well, so I got her phone number and we set up a play date at the library playground. The kids got along like gangbusters and had a great time playing in the water fountain and inventing games to play on the playground. They begged us as we were leaving to let them play together again soon. It's nice that we have overlapping appointment times at the Children's Hospital for speech therapy, because the other kids can play outside on the playground together. It's also nice to have another mom to talk to while we're there.

A Hunting We Will Go

We keep looking at potential homes to buy. It's mostly because I have a strong need to know where I'm going to live if we sell our house. I'm hoping to find the perfect house that's either a short sale or willing to take a contingency offer, which means they'd sell us their house just as soon as we sell ours. We've put in an offer on a few different houses now, but it never works out.

The longer we go without selling our house the more I start to worry that it will never sell. I think we have a nice home, but there are lots of things that a buyer could decide is simply a deal breaker, like the back yard that would require landscaping, and the fact that we don't have a dishwasher. I know things will work out in God's timing, but I can't even decide if we're really supposed to sell our house or not. I wish He would just put up a big billboard in front of our home with instructions for our future.

Pudding Princess

Katie is very much into the do it herself stage. She will not let anyone else feed her with a spoon, although she hasn't really mastered that skill yet. She's even trying to put her own pants on lately. She wants to brush her own hair and teeth, wash her own face and hands, and put her socks and shoes on by herself. I thought this stage wasn't supposed to come until she's at least two years old?

Foster Family Picnic

We attended our county's annual foster family picnic for the first time this summer. There were quite a few people there, but we only knew a few of them. The kids had a great time playing with other kids, and "Music Man" happened to be with us that week so he got to go, too. I think it helps to see that lots of kids are in foster care, and lets the kids know they are not abnormal.

Stylish Guy

When I was buzzing the boys' hair in June I let Shane have his dream hairstyle. He got a "faux hawk", which, as I've been informed, is different from a "mow hawk" because the sides of his head are not shaved. That seems like it would be a very high maintenance hair style.

He loves his faux hawk (pronounced "foe hawk") and would wear it all the time if I would let him. Unfortunately, the only stuff I've found that will keep it straight up in the air is a very expensive hair glue, so we only use it a couple of times a week. It's very hard to wash out, too. I told him he could keep it until his birthday, but now I think I'll let him keep it a bit longer since I still have some of the hair glue left. Shane loves all the attention he gets from his faux hawk.

Music Man Returns

Our former foster son, "Music Man", who was with us for a month from November up until the week of Christmas last year has been coming back for a few days to a week at a time all summer long. He didn't end up getting adopted, but instead transitioned home.

We got a call recently saying he may be coming back into foster care soon and has requested that he get placed with us again. I'm not sure what will happen, but we always enjoy having him here. He's a very high energy kid, full of silly jokes and entertaining song and dance routines.

One Loved Daddy

For Father's Day this year we got Daniel lots of practical gifts instead of video games or other things. He didn't seem to mind since he was needing new clothes. I also got him a new camera since I accidentally dropped and broke his old one. Unfortunately the new one is not as user friendly as the last one.

Daniel always gives his kids the best gift, the gift of himself. He gives them his time and attention. You won't find him running off to pursue personal hobbies alone or hanging out with "the guys". No matter what he's doing, he includes the kids. If he's working on a project at home he's teaching them how it works and why it's important. If he's playing a video game he's teaching them the controls and the tricks. If he's got free time he prefers to spend it with his family. I couldn't ask for a better husband or father for my children.

"Bad Baby"

I don't know who taught Katie to say it, but she keeps going around saying, "bad baby" in a stern tone of voice. Not to anyone in particular, just sort of chanting it. Brianna used to say it to her and we'd get onto her about it constantly, but I haven't noticed her doing that in some time.

Granted, Katie is rather destructive and randomly violent like most 1 year olds, but at least she's usually cute about it. At any given moment you can find her taking down one of her big brothers with a flying body tackle or giving a karate chop to her sisters. She likes watching "Xena: Warrior Princess" late at night with me and gets excited when Xena takes out the bad guys. If you say, "hi-YA" and make a chopping motion on her she'll pretend to flop over with her tongue out making a dying sound. Then she'll want you to do it, too.

Hail in June

Gotta love Colorado. Hail in the middle of June. Leaves plastered all over our car from the force of the wind. Hot and sunny an hour later.

Here and Gone

We briefly had a brother and sister ages 12 and 5 with us. It was only for two days but they instantly fit in and started bonding with our family. Danya and the boy tried to play checkers at the library with no idea of the actual rules, so after I taught them how to play I decided to call him "Checkers". The little girl I called "Rugrat". She had a rough couple of nights, but we spent lots of time snuggling and rocking until she was able to sleep.

When we were surprised by a call to have them packed and ready to go so soon after they arrived things got a bit crazy. Rugrat freaked out at the DCFS building when they separated her from her big brother to be sent to different family members' homes. The caseworker called me because they were afraid she would injure herself, so I yelled down the stairs to the kids that we had to go rescue "Rugrat" and we all rushed off to help her. She calmed down when she saw me and all the kids welcomed her into the van. She was exhausted but calm when we delivered her to her aunt's home. That was a first for us. We've never transported kids to a new home, only ever back to their parents as they transitioned home. It was interesting seeing them meet.

Blue Birthday

Danya decided to celebrate her 10th birthday with her favorite color, blue. The cake was blue, the food was blue, the guests were blue, even the games were blue.

They hunted for blue goodie bags in the dark using glow sticks and they had a race to pop blue balloons. They also played charades. I was so glad that Sarah was able to come over to help organize everything and play with Katie so the big girls could have some time with out little ones under foot. Most of the fun began after the boys went to bed for the night.

It's strange to realize I'm the biological mom of a preteen, double digits. She's becoming a beautiful, compassionate, super smart young woman with an ironic sense of humor. We're so proud of her and glad to see her growing in her love for the Lord.

Conversation Between Homeschoolers

Met a new homeschooling mom at a Mother/Daughter bible study Tuesday night. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Oh, I see you have three girls here. Are these all of your kids?
Her: No, I have seven actually, five girls and two boys.
Me: (Surprised) Wow! I only have six.
Her: (Laughing) Now I know you're a homeschooler. We're the ones who say "only" before saying we have six or more kids.

It's very true.