Super Fast Week

Stoney had a work picnic at Water World on Saturday. Stoney had wanted to get a babysitter for Natalie and just us big kids go. But after we got our foster boy, we decided to take the whole family. Stoney took the big kids most of the time to do the slides and I was perfectly content to hang out in the kiddie area and watch the babies play. We enjoyed the lazy river. I want one of those in my back yard.
We don't have any pictures....Stoney was cleaning the toys out of the pool and fell in fully dressed and with his cell phone in his pocket. Electronics and water don't mix too well with us so we decided we weren't going anywhere near water with anything that we like.....oh, yeah I forgot I hate my digital camera it would have been the perfect opportunity to accidentally drop it in the water. The kids had a blast and we stayed almost the whole day. And no one got sunburned!

Our little foster boy went home today. It was a super fast week and yet I can't believe he was only with us for a week, it seemed so much longer. He really just seemed like one of my kids. Except I think he listened better and He was so grateful, always telling me "thank you, mama". I am going to have to work on my thick skin. We miss him already.

6 Days

While on our cruise I got a phone call letting us know that the State had certified us. We were now licensed, certified foster parents. We never thought it would be this quick but it was only 6 days from licensing to placement. I think we may have set a record. He turned 3 yrs old in January, so him and Natalite are just 10 months apart. He is hyper and crazy just like all the rest of my kids. He has been running and playing non-stop since we got him. He is a sweet boy and loves attention, his laugh is infectious. He is adjusting well, I couldn't ask for a better transition.

Cruise or Lose.....er

We just got back from our Cruise.....and it was fantastic. We have taken this cruise before about 4 years ago, and I think it was more fun the second time around! Sorry Becky! The boys golfed and the girls hit the spa. We started our week out with a nice massage. Golf cart rides and shopping in Catalina. Bargaining for jewelry, hammocks and crap that breaks almost instantly in Ensenada. And of course eating. We enjoyed the evening comedy acts and dancing, and eating. Fun hanging out poolside and relaxing, and eating. We stopped at a Love's truckstop on the way and they had a scale that gives you your weight, lotto numbers and fortune. Our plan was to weigh on the way there and the way back. I can't remember what my fortune was but I gained 5 lbs. WHOO HOO!
Tendering over to Catalina, Sarah, Brenda, Lynn, Wick, Rachel, and Jason.
Mom, Rachel, Sarah, Me, Jane, Brenda, and Allison stopping at the top of the hill to enjoy the view and take a few pictures.
Brenda and Lisa. If there was a Piston Cup for golf carts Brenda would be the winner. She let no one pass us. We thought all our yelling was obnoxious enough until we found out where the horn was located.
Brenda, Chad, Lynn, Wick, Jane and Layne
Mom and Dad
David and Allison
Reagan and Spencer
Sarah and Rachel.....Don't Ask!
Me and Stoney, Dinners were so fun.
Ensenada
Spencer and his $7 Ray Ban knockoffs, those are totally SICK!
Buying junk, Spencer, Reagan, Stoney, Mark and Allison
Brenda and her tower of Bling-Bling. I think between the whole family we bought at lest 40 of those cups.
One of our many towel animals that the housekeeping staff left for us every night.
Stoney, Jason, and Amy cruise is over and we are waiting for our turn to get off the boat.

Believe it or not I didn't take hardly any pictures, in fact my camera didn't even make it out of my bag until day 3. Too much fun!

It's PSYCHOTIC!

We have been busy over here. Running to end of the school year choir concerts, programs, parties and Kindergarten graduation.

My favorite quote from The Incredibles:

It's not a graduation. He's moving from the fourth grade to the fifth grade.
It's a ceremony!
It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity.

I am proud of my kids and all thier accomplishments. Nicole finished the year with sraight A's. Haley mostly A, she is mostly there for the social party, and Arthur....we were just happy to be done. He wasn't your model kindergartener. The girls had their piano concert I am so impressed at how well they are doing after only taking for 6 months.

We are leaving for our Mullenaux Family Adults only cruise on Monday so we are busy working to get the house and kids ready for us to be gone for a week. Our niece Senia is staying over here to babysit and we're trying to make sure everything is ready for her. Plus, Arthur and Stoney went on a church father and sons campout last weekend. Stoney went to a D-backs game/concert with a friend on Saturday. Our upstairs A/C went out and a friend came over to fix it for us on Sunday. Last week I had to prepare and give a talk in church on Sunday. I also spent this week making end-of-the-school-year gifts for the kid's teachers and also gifts for 5 graduating nieces. Our A/C went out again today and our friend came back with a new part instead of a used one. Now I am preparing a sharing time lesson for the kids for this Sunday. We have a home visit with our foster care worker today (still waiting to be certified by the State). Haley has a "schools out" party at a friends house tomorrow. Arthur's going to 2 birthday parties on Saturday. Then on Sunday we'll have a house full of guests, waiting to drive to L.A. for the cruise.

I can't believe it is the first day of summer break and I have all the windows open in my house and am enjoying scattered showers and 64 degree weather right now.

I promised pictures from the Relay for Life, Wick put together a picaboo book, check it out. Face painting sounded like a good idea at 3:30am. Now that I see the pictures not such a good idea. Just copy and paste this link.
http://preview.picaboo.com/Webview/CoverPage.aspx?album=0000000000022956DC&user=00000000000074BAA0

Can You Relay?

We just wrapped up our 2nd annual Relay For Life. I use the term "We" very loosely, I didn't do too much of the work, I just showed up for the party. Those of you in Thatcher did an amazing job! Collecting donations, organizing the survivor dinner, sewing tu-tu's, making signs, baking treats and moving around the purple pooper and more. I just checked the website and it says our team has raised over $11,000. They worked so hard! Before the relay even started we had raised over $7,000 dollars and the night of we sold cookies, soda, water, tu-tu's, and hairbows. We also raised money by giving train rides, and doing up do's (hair). We donated several services, pressure washing, tractor, photo shoots and even a brand new generator that were auctioned off that night. Last year we only raised $1,500. We have to do better every year, so the pressure is really on for next year.

It is an all night event. I'm not sure who all made it all night around 4:30am I just couldn't handle the cold any longer and curled up on an air mattress with Natalie and tried to get warm. I think I managed to sleep about 20 min. I should have just stayed up so I could have said I made it all night long. I wasn't counting laps this year, but I did do some dancing and although I didn't run in the relay I was a great cheerleader. Who knew Chad could run so fast?

It was a great night and I am so proud of my family!

All my pictures are crap so as soon as Uncle Wick e-mails some good ones I will post them.