Santa Lap, take 2

This was our second time visiting a Santa. Jaylan would not go for it either time. The first time when I tried to push him toward Santa he started crying. This time I was holding him. And when I went to put him down (still quite a distance from the Santa) he clawed at my faced trying to stay up. Its unfortunate how quickly his nails grow.

Christmas Break

ATTACK WITH RUDOLF

Its officially Xmas vacation for Joshi. She came home from school super crazy yesterday. I decided it would be a good time to decorate Christmas cookies. But I realize I'm going to need to come up with a lot of activities to keep them occupied this week.

2 year old in glasses

Now the question is how do you actually get a 2 year to wear her glasses. I can't get this 2 year old to stop chucking her scrambled eggs into the Xmas tree. So you could say she's not very co-operative. I bribe her to put the glasses on in the morning by offering her a piece of gum. That lasts about an hour. More if she's distracted.

A gaggle of princesses off to the movies

Here is our group princesses at the movie theater. We all went to see the movie Tangled. I LOVED it. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD.
OK, maybe I was a little too excited!


Here's cuties Mikel and Bailey. It was their bright idea for the whole affair.

A gaggle of princesses off to the movies

Thanksgiving 2010

The 3 musketeers in the Sheehan backyard. Braving the cold for the unexpected fireworks display. It was great having Thanksgiving with our favorite Welches Family for the second year in a row.I love that there is an adult table and a kids table. It reminds me of big family gatherings when I was growing up. My little evangelist (Joshi) always suggests grace before a meal .. even if its not at our house. I wish I had her bravery.
We had much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Good friends to spend the holiday with. Troubled friendships that will withstand the test of time. Health problems that tapped into our fears and insisted we rely on our faith. Surprisingly instant joy, like our foster son delivered to us within 4 hrs. notice, and he has brought immense joy to our family for over a month now. Blessed our we.

3 weeks - not enough

We all love Jaylan. Surprisingly, I have become fond of his birth parents, and their extremely complicated case. Friday they petition for he's immediate return. And I have promised to be there in court with him to support them. Of course, the selfish part of me wants to keep him for Thanksgiving and Christmas too!

-update- we get Jaylan for a little bit longer. The judge is very much in favor of putting birth families back together no matter what. So, they just have to follow the steps to get there. But it will be at least 2-3 weeks more. The birth moms visits will be stepped up. Right now, I drive him in to Gresham once a week. I'm not sure what that will increase to.

Life with Jaylan

We got an emergency certification to foster parent a boy over the weekend. A 2o month old sweet heart. I love this guy. I thought it was just going to be the weekend so I'm super happy I got him the whole week... but I'd really like him for a long time. His Aunt is in the process of getting certified to foster him, if that works out he may be gone next week. The girls have a lot of fun with him. Well, Billi is EXTREMELY jealous of "the baby". But they still have fun.

Harvest Party at School

Roller Skating in her 6th Year!

The big roller rink partE was great fun. Pretty much no one knew how to skate. But we had the employees tighten up the bearings and everyone had the hang of it 2 hours later. I ordered too much food, bought glow necklaces none of the kids would wear, and worried too much. Soooo, preparation is NOT everything. All in all, it was a great success.

Turning 6

Joshi turned 6 on Thursday. We brought cupcakes into class for snack But the big rollerskating party isn't until Saturday. Actually, I'm starting to freak out at how many people I invited. But you have to invite the whole class if you want to hand out invitations at school. Elwood is, of course, out on the road. I wish there was a rent-a-husband service for events like this. He'd probably like that too. He'd tell me to use it even if he was home so he could stay home and sleep in.

I had our pastor over and her 4 girls after school so Joshi had a birthday play date. She opened some presents with breakfast and we had a cake with dinner. So, she gets to have 2 birthdays this week basically.

Pumpkin Patch Excursion

Now you can just go out and grab a pumpkin

OR

you can stew over the decision, like a teenager standing before her closet.

Eventually, everyone was happy with there pumpkin choices.

But we had a great time at our impromptu trip to the pumpkin patch this Saturday. Joshi goes again on Wednesday with School but Billi could not be left out of the fun. The had a pony ride(Joshis' ride was more like a horse), went in the kids play center, and then "inspecting" pumpkins more than picking them. Then to get them to leave the festival quietly, I bribed them with Mc Donald's for dinner. And, just in case, any social workers read this post I won't disclose how many times thats makes it this week. I don't want to get blacklisted for nutritionally depriving my children.

This was our big pumpkin haul. The pumpkins have survived the night. If Billi hasn't smashed them by morning, we may paint them tomorrow. Thats the plan anyway. I can't commit to carving. I can't handle removing all the squishy guts.

Joshi on Tour

Some pics of Joshi on tour

Oregon State Fair

Best petting Zoo ever!! Here the deer is eating Joshis skirt.

Different girls, different temperaments. Joshi was petrified of this ride and Billi loved it.

Everyones a winner! That way we have 2 huge inflatable hammer prizes at home. I'm thinking of letting the girls work out their differences in a trampoline/ inflatable hammer cage match.

Billi looks deceptively innocent on this pony ride.

Well, now that Elwood is back in town I have my camera back (and the photos that were on it). So, we are going back in time for a few posts. This one is when we went to the state fair and got to visit Daddy at work. Although all these photos are of the fun we had together during the day before the concert.

Apple picking in Hood River

Finally some warm sunny days. I'm trying to get in the mood for autumn so I took the girls apple picking. Soon it will be pumpkins. Billi is still upset every morning when Joshi goes off to school. So much for enjoying having mom and the house to herself. One more week and Daddys home for a 9 day visit. Then all will be right with the world.