Freaky Friday, how about all week!

Disturbing things during the week.....

I meet a grandmother who is 4 months younger than me!

More undergarments being used as purses/wallets. Sorry, I don't know where you've been, knowing where your license has is bad enough!

Cockroaches are not pets, please do not carry them around in your purse, and no, I do not want to adopt part of your litter, do not leave them on our "doorstep."

Beetles and worms in baby formula, gross!

It is not ok to open someone else's window or door. It's closed for a reason.

Trash cans were invented for a reason, they have quite a large opening, it will hold that dirty diaper or snotty kleenex.

Can I handle it?

John and I were talking about my flying down for a weekend, then he asked me to fly down by myself for his graduation and drive back up with him. Oh, what a thought, not to drive down "by myself" with the kids! It's a long drive and I was not looking forward to it. I feel guilty, not taking the kids, and Day was looking forward to it, but his grades are up and down, depending on if he wants them up, so he really shouldn't be missing any school in the 1st place. I haven't been away from JJ except 1 night when i had a sleep study done, yes, 1 night, and yes, he will be 5 in 2 months. I so need some time to myself and some time with John, but I wonder, will I be able to enjoy it or will I feel guilty over not taking the kids? Will I worry about how they are doing the whole time? I'm not supposed to feel this way, I'm allowed some time to myself in life! Curse my upbringing haha.

Not military quality.....

John and I realized we wouldn't do well if he re-enlisted and was deployed. It's only been 15 days since we've seen each other, and only 17 til we get a long weekend together again, and it seems like forever.

Mad props going out to all the military families out there that do this all the time! My bro & his family and my niece with hers, kudos!

Happy birthday!

I stayed up way too late on the phone with John last night, the 1st to wish him a happy birthday, and I'm paying for it this morning with 2 kids who woke up way too early, but it was worth it! This is his 1st birthday in 11 years that I haven't been able to say it personally :(

Hope he has a great day!

Not always what you expect to get

A year and a day ago we were just a family of 3, waiting to have our first foster placement of a 4-8 year old child....

Fast forward (and it did go fast) and we have a soon to be 18 year old and a baby who next month will be 1.

We thought we knew what was best for our family, clearly God knew better, and thankfully Social Services doesn't follow what we say to a "T."

The adoption process has started for Day, earlier than we expected. Now just to wait for the same to be said for the baby (and to get over my guilt on wanting to adopt kids, wanting parents to not get them back.)

More than just 1....

When you're a foster parent you are not just taking 1 child into your family, but their family as well. Sometimes it is just the memories they bring with them, but if you're really lucky their family members are actual parts of your lives too.

Last night Day's older sister came over. She wanted to come over last Thursday night but the house was a mess and I was busy packing for our trip to meet John in NC. I felt bad, but there was no way I could deal with anything else.

Her boyfriend brought her over last night and took Day to the side, saying he was going to propose right after they left. I thought that was amazing, he wanted to let Day, basically the man of the family, know his intentions. How many other guys would do that in this era? He seems such a great guy, a gentle giant is an appropriate term, very polite and quiet.

Not 30 minutes later they come driving back because Day's sister is so excited and wants to show off her ring. It was such a blessing to be included in such a joyous occasion! I wish them the best and I'm thankful to be included in their happiness, hoping they continue to have so much more!

We got into this with the intention of adding happiness in lives that deserve it so much more than anyone else. You don't think of the little things that will add so much happiness to your own!

Caricutures....

Yeah, we had too much fun doing this ;)

Sequence

My mom played this card game at her sister's in Indiana while up for my cousin's wedding. Everyone had a blast and my Aunt sent her 1 for Christmas the following year. We in turn had so much fun playing it as a family with a young Brandon that we bought the dice version, which now in turn is a blast with an even younger JJ, perfect for his age! I can't help but smile when thinking of how it's another way to share my Mom with the boys!
http://www.amazon.com/Jax-8002-Sequence-Game/dp/B00000IVAK
I have to take some pics of our next family game!

Great weekend

We spent time with John and didn't want to come home, enough said ;)

Oh, and he gave me a new camera, so I was extra happy!

Hurricane/storms.....

People around here freak out with the mention of a storm, last winter it was the snow, now it's Hurricane Earl. Grocery stores are packed with people and empty with food. Gas stations have no parking spaces. We are only in a warning for 12 hours total people, we aren't even set to be in the flood areas! People are canceling appointments like crazy! Schools are already closing. What's going on here, what's with this panic mode we go into now? It wasn't like this when I was a kid and we really got hit by storms. We were all fine. Pantry didn't go bare, we didn't run out of milk or bread. In fact, I have rather fond memories of having to share my little twin bed in my yellow room with my 18 year old cousin during Hurricane Gloria ;)

I just wish I could tell people to calm down, this too shall pass, and rather quickly. Don't put all your eggs in 1 basket, be it in the grocery store, or canceling your life long before we even know what is going to happen!