Tuesday, June 23, 2015

1st Foster Placement.......

We have been licensed to take in foster kids since the beginning of the year. And we have been waiting and waiting. So we finally went to a training and asked the best way to get a placement. And they said to call on a Monday, the day before they go in to decide placements and just have a question to ask about some random thing. So I called up on Monday and asked our RFC something about licensing and the next day we got a call about a brother/sister placement. So I said yes we could take them. It was only a temporary placement though because they had grandparents that said they could take them. We had them for 10 days. It was an interesting 10 days that was for sure. You don't quiet know what to expect, how the kids will react to the foster kids, how the foster kids will adjust, your whole schedule is out of whack, it gets a little crazy.

Isis and Osirius were our first placements. Unusual names I know. We called the boy Si for short and the girl Izzy and just introduced her as that because of all the stuff going on in the world with the real ISIS. Anyway......these guys were about 10 months apart in age? and were basically like twins. They were both really happy, easy going kids and fit right in once they got into a routine after about 2 days. We went to visit the Christmas box in American Fork which is a place you can pick up free items that people have donated to help out foster kids. These guys came to us with basically nothing. So we picked up some blankets, diapers, formula, clothes, pj's, and socks. I didn't have 2 car seats so I asked on our foster care facebook page if anyone had car seats and some one had one to donate. That's one benefit is that everyone is so willing to help each other out and give when its needed.

After about a week of looking after these 2 I was done, and it wasn't because they were bad or had issues, I just couldn't keep up with them. It was having to constantly keep an eye on the 20 month old not getting into things and then just either holding or just watching a 10 month old. And it felt like it was one meal, clean up, watch them play, eat, clean up, watch them, eat......everyday. Kinda felt like I was stuck. It was hard to go anywhere with all 4. I just wasn't use to it. But it was a good first placement to get out feet wet and for our kids to see what it was going to be like.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day

Saw this billboard on Father's Day Weekend...........

So to the BEST DAD around we want to CELEBRATE YOU and say WE LOVE YOU!!



Thursday, June 18, 2015

Fun & Fancy Free - "My, what a happy day"




We thought it was "OH, what a happy day!" that's why are mouths are shaped likes O's. Anyway we love this song from the singing harp from one of our favorite Disney cartoons! Just wanted to share a classic today!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Many Faces of Christian..........

 A Rainbow and A Smile!

 Are We Grumpy??

 That's A Big White Sucker!

UNO MASTER!

Monday, June 8, 2015

Pictutre of the Day...........


Do as I'm doing, follow, follow me! While doing his daily stretches the kids decided to following Layne's example. It was funny to see them try and do the same stretches. Then Christian wanted to show everyone how high he could get his leg to go!

Saturday, June 6, 2015

I can touch the sky..........

I love this shot of Christian swinging. Looks like he's up in the clouds!

Friday, June 5, 2015

40th Birthday Surprise........

For one of my gifts Layne had given me an overnight stay at the Homestead. So we got a babysitter for the kids and we headed out.

 Before heading up Layne had to make a stop at work to get a picture done for a new website they were putting together and it was suppose to be in a suit and tie.....very professional. He claims he left early the day before and they didn't send out the email until after he left. So a quick stop before heading up to Heber. Then my mom calls us right before we leave saying they got what looks like a check mailed to their house with our name on it? She said she thought we should really stop by before we went up to look at it. Maybe a refund or something. At this point I was getting pretty annoyed. I thought with all these delays we aren't going to have much of an evening because with traffic and all the stops we are never going to get up to Heber. So we headed over to my parents house. We pull up into the driveway and all my sisters and mom are standing there with overnight bags in their hands??? I was thinking what in the world is going on? Needless to say, Layne got me good. I had no idea what was going on, obviously!

He planned to be our chauffeur for the night,(hence the suit and tie he was wearing, no pictures at work were needed!) driving us down to Provo for dinner and then taking us up to the Zermatt for an overnight stay for just us girls!! My mom and sisters really didn't know what the plan was either, it was a surprise for everyone.

We had a great dinner and really stuffed ourselves at the Macaroni Grill. The big joke of the evening was Kristy's dish. A giant pot and a giant spoon to eat it with. Amy's face says it all.
Layne had us on a tight schedule so after dinner he met us out in the parking lot. We see this big black "party" bus parked and Layne is talking to some guy. We were talking saying, "is that for us?" We get a little closer and Layne told us he was handing the reigns over to another driver and he was taking us up to the resort. He was going to go home and be with the kids. We were all blown away.

On the way up we could help ourselves to anything in the fridge but all of us were to stuffed to eat anything. Kasey was the only one to have a drink in a fancy class! We all sat near the back, facing forward so we wouldn't get sick riding through the canyon. Sad we all get motion sickness. It was pretty cool. Radio, TV, drinks, and food, we always wanted to know what it was like to be in one of those now we knew!

We arrived at the resort and the valets outside we all impressed with what up. We could all read their lips, "Wow, that's really expensive." "Wonder how much that thing costs?" It was pretty funny. I told everybody to talk in a foreign accent to make them think we were important but nobody would go along with it. So we stepped out, plan and ordinary. The valets quickly jumped inside to take a look. We all had a good laugh about that. 


As soon as we got there Kristy and I were scheduled for massages. So we went down to the spa and had a lovely, relaxing hour to unwind! What the others did, I don't know. The spa was great, you got your own robe and slippers. The massage was just what I needed and I slept like a baby that night too!

 After massages it was a little to late to go swimming but the pool area was really nice. So we just hung out in the room had treats and watched a movie. Also an inside joke was played on Kasey. We laughed until we cried!


The room was amazing. Nice living area with a little kitchen and then a king size bed with its own en suite. Then an adjoining room with two queen size beds. I kinda wanted the big king size bed but then thought better. Do I want to share a bed when I could have a bed all to myself??? I slept by myself and I'm glad I did. Amy said she didn't sleep much because Kasey snored all night.

Next morning we got up and had a great breakfast buffet and walked around the grounds before Layne came and picked us up and took us home. It was a great way to spend my 40th birthday. I was totally surprised and caught of guard and that usually doesn't happen to me. Kudos to Layne for planning this and making this happen!






Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Grandma Camp.........

The kids anticipate this moment each year......the arrival of the letter in the mail to announce Grandma Camp. They each get their own letter, which they are very excited to open. It each details the days and what is needed to bring to grandma camp. And then the kids ask me every day after they open the letter when grandma camp is.

Grandma Cromwell does such an awesome job planning camp for the kids. She does them in age groups. Julia gets to go with her cousins, Logan, Ella, and Miles. This year they get to go to Yellowstone! They get to be Jr. Camp Rangers. Julia is very excited. Sherry makes themed pajamas for them and always has activities planned out for each day.

Christian gets to go up to his own grandma camp without Julia. He gets to go with his cousins his age, Olivia and Eli and have a Safari adventure!
Cute pj's and safari/hiking hats!

Update: Julia saw tons of animals. Bison, coyotes, white fox, a bear, woodpeckers, and osprey. They saw geysers, old faithful, and upper falls. They received bandanas and hiking hats to wear on their trip. They even received a badge for their Jr. Ranger Program completion. She couldn't stop talking about it when she got home. I have to say I was a little jealous.

Update: Christian had a blast as well. Christian did a lot of swimming in grandma and grandpa's back yard. Down the slide and into the pool at the end. They got to eat lots of popcicles to keep cool and played bingo for prizes. They got to go to the zoo for a safari and see lots of animals like monkeys, and a turtle and reptiles.