Eve of New Years Eve...

WOW! Can you believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve and we will be ringing in 2009? I can't! It's amazing how things change in a year! Last year at this time Billy and I were waiting to begin our foster care training which then would turn into a few years of foster care. Now, don't get me wrong, we knew that we wanted to adopt when we started this process a year ago but just not yet. Now, a year later, I tucked our two little boys into their beds tonight and gave them goodnight kisses and hugs in their forever home. 

We have gotten the go ahead to contact the lawyer to get the adoption process rolling. I placed a call to him yesterday and am waiting a return call. We know we still have a few months and steps to tackle before we can finalize everything but meeting with the lawyer is a good first start! 

The past week has been a busy one to say the least. We spent a great deal of time with our families over the course of the extended holiday weekend. Sunday we traveled to Hillsboro to have a holiday dinner with Billy's dad's side of the family. We do not see them often so it was nice to see everyone and have the boys meet more family. I know the boys are overloaded with who is who in the family but they seem to enjoy getting to know everyone. We have started to call my parents and Billy's parents by Grandma and Pop and Mamaw and Papaw. The boys use these names and their first names but know who we are talking no matter what we say. "J" has also started to call Billy and I "mom and dad" sometimes. He will often ask "Where Mommy go?" or "where Daddy go?" and if you ask him "where is she/he?" he will point to one of us. It is such a great feeling to have someone call you "Mom".

Sunday evening we went to the Columbus Zoo with Cara, Doug, Hannah and Jeremiah to see the Christmas light display. It was a nice evening but the kids were disappointed that the monkeys and gorillas were sleeping and not allowed to have visitors. I suppose that gives us a good reason to go again in the warmer weather. Tomorrow evening we are going to be spending the night a hotel with the Laynes. We all figured the kids would enjoy ringing in the New Year  with a night of swimming in an indoor pool! 

We hope that everyone has a safe and happy New Year. 

Christmas Eve excitement!

Today has gone by very quickly and very slowly all at the same time! This morning, "K" and I went and ran the last few errands I needed to get done. We came home, attempted to get two little men to take a nap but that failed miserably! "J" slept for about an hour and "K" didn't sleep at all. I told them they could not get out of their beds/room until their clock said "4:00" and at exactly that time "J" came running out yelling "Jennifer, zero, zero, zero!" Ok, quick baths and then off to Aunt Janet's for a evening of family visiting. We all had a good time visiting and catching up with our family. It is nice that everyone can get together and enjoy each other's company. I have always loved, and continue to, the fact that family is so important to mine and Billy's family. On that same note, I feel so lucky that my family is in Ohio now too to be with during holidays. I still get a bit emotional about that. Being away from my parents and sister on holidays was the hardest part about moving to Ohio. Not a problem anymore. 

The boys were very concerned that Santa would miss our house because it was late and he had to be getting close. Billy and "K" had a discussion last night about Santa not knowing that the boys were in their forever house now. Billy suggested that Santa may not have gotten "K's" change of address form on time! "K" didn't fall for it though. We got home, put out the milk and cookies and threw the bag of reindeer food out and then it was off to bed. After we knew the boys were asleep (which didn't take long at all!), Santa arrived and BOY did he leave A LOT of stuff here for those two! I must tell you, I think I am just as excited about the morning as the boys are. I can't wait to see the excitement on their faces when they wake up! 

Tomorrow is going to be a fun-filled day. It will be another day full of family time. I suppose I should get to bed! From all of us, Merry Christmas! 

Almost two months "home"...

I can't believe that is has been almost two months (Dec. 17th) since the boys moved in forever. It has gone by so quickly. Mom and I ran around tonight with the boys. Mom cracks me up because she just seems so exhausted after spending time out with them. I will admit that the boys can wear you out but it is still funny. They are NONSTOP! We stop at Hobby Lobby and "J" just wants to go! His hat got stuck to his velcro on his coat and he just thought that was the funniest thing ever. We went out for pizza and eating out is always a fun time! Off to Kohl's where "K" wanted to push the stroller/cart and "J" wanted nothing to do with that...he wanted Karen to push. We decided to divide and conquer the store. "K" did get a compliment for his manners while we were walking around the store. That made me proud. Hit Walmart after Kohls and used the same game plan. Walmart was NUTS! Afterwards we headed home. The boys were ready for bed. Billy went out to do some Christmas shopping with his parents. I enjoyed having a nice quiet house to myself. 

We are still working really hard on the potty training. "J" goes when we put him on the potty but doesn't ask to go yet. He is quite funny when he is sitting there trying to pee. Sometimes we just have to walk away. We have started the one M&M for peeing. He likes them so it seems to be a motivation for him. 

We signed "K" up for basketball. Tomorrow he has to go to for a skills evaluation. He is really excited about it. I am not 100% sure he even knows what basketball is but he is still excited about it. We hope that playing a team sport will help with issues of needing to be first, waiting our turn and not always winning. Keep your fingers crossed that it works! 

The boys are both really excited about Christmas. "K" wrote his letter to Santa the other night. His requests aren't difficult...a jeep, a car, a wagon, a lawnmower, and an Emily train. I told him we have a jeep in the driveway already and he told me that is one he can not drive! From his wants, you can tell that he is an outside kid. "J" wants an orange circle. Not really sure what that is, the only thing I can think of is something to do with a matchbox car that he may have seen somewhere. His speech and difficulty with word recall makes it hard for him to explain what his wants or needs are. I hope that the things Santa brings him are things that make him happy! 

On another note, our best friends Cara and Doug received word today that they have gotten the green light to head to Serbia and adopt another little girl. We are very excited for them and know that Mila will be just as lucky and blessed as Hannah (their daughter from Ukraine) has been! 

Another first...

Well today we had another first, well actually two firsts but one major one! Teays Valley (my school district) had a teacher work day so that meant that "K" had no school. The boys could have gone to the preschool for the day but when I was telling Diane (previous foster mom) about the day off, she offered to watch the boys for us. Great idea, we knew the boys would like a day with their special mom, dad and sister! So last night, the boys went back to their old house for a sleepover and day of fun. I must say, I was extremely nervous about it since "J" really wants to go "home" when he sees Diane. I went out to the house to pick them up tonight and both boys were fine with coming home. No tears at all! They were excited to come back and see Billy and their kitten, Patty. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. I know it broke Diane's heart to have them leave but she said she knows the boys love it here. Last night as she tucked them in "J" was asking for me. It was so quiet here last night though. Billy and I both had a sad feeling when they left. Needless to say we are glad they are home! 

The other first we had tonight was "J" told us he had to go potty and actually went! We are working SO hard on getting him potty trained which runs hot and cold. My goal is to have him almost totally potty trained over Christmas vacation. Wish me luck! 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My parents, Billy's parents, my sister in law and her family, and my sister were all here. It was a nice relaxing day spent with our family. The boys had a great time playing with their cousins and grandparents! Every holiday reminds me just how thankful I am that my parents have moved to Ohio to be closer to us. I get this overwhelming feeling of content seeing my WHOLE family together. We are truly lucky! 

One on one time...

Billy and I have talked about spending time with each of the boys on their own but it just doesn't seem like time allows it. Well tonight I had to go get a new windshield wiper and I took "K"with me. Now I must tell you, it was Billy's idea to take him along for a ride. I was excited about the thought of going to the store alone. Quiet time is very hard to come by lately and we both jump at it when we get the chance. I am very glad Billy was able to convince me to take a buddy along for a ride. We went to Sam's Club, Hobby Lobby and Walmart. We also stopped off at McDonald's for a quick bit to eat. While at McDonalds, I was being silly and "K" said to the lady at the counter "Look at my Mommy, she is being silly!" I loved hearing that! We had a great time talking about kindergarten and preschool. We discussed how you can't get married until you are a lot bigger, like 100 years old! I had a shopping cart pushed into my ankle because the little man wants to push the cart. We looked at things that we want to ask Santa for, which included pretty much anything in the toy department. 

While sitting at McDonald's, we were talking about things that "K" is learning at school. I know they are talking about pilgrims and Thanksgiving this week at school. While we were talking about it, I began to think how different this holiday season is going to be for us and for Diane and Grover. We get to enjoy having the boys at our home for Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time. On the flip side, Diane and Grover will be spending their first holidays without the boys in three years. I also started thinking about how much their biological parents have missed out on. Sitting talking to "K" today I just looked at him with this look of amazement at this neat little boy sitting across from me. What neat little men they missed out on. It makes me sad to think that someone could be selfish enough to care more about their own life rather then the life of a person who can't take care of themselves. As I was talking to Billy about my thoughts, we both said that the boys may not be who they are today if they had stayed with the parents who gave birth to them. Like we have said so many times before, the screw up of someone else's life has been a HUGE gain for Billy and I. We feel very, very luck to have the boys sleeping in the next room and to call home here!  

One month later...

Well one month ago today our boys moved into our home. WOW! A month has gone by really quickly at times but feels like forever at others. This weekend Billy said it feels like we have had the boys from birth. I would have to agree with him. It doesn't really seem like just a month and a day ago we were just two! November is the official start of our 6 month waiting period to apply for adoption. Until then, the boys are just placed in a pre-adoptive foster home. 6 months sounds like a long time but considering the speed of the past month, April will be here before we know it. 

This past weekend, Billy and I took the boys to The Great Wolf Lodge with Cara, Doug and Hannah. We had a good time celebrating the adoption of such a special little girl. The kids loved the water. I definitely think the favorite part were the 4 kid water slides. By the end of the night, the slides had three little butt marks from the many trips they took. Hannah took the cake on the water intake though. She was too funny when she would purposely fall into the water. It still amazes me that just a year ago, she was newly "sprung" from an orphanage. Watching her walking around the hotel halls and room just makes me smile. 

The boys are excited about meeting Aunt Susan this weekend. I know that it will be a week of craziness around here. Both boys are going to have a blast playing with and getting to know Susan. I know there will be a great deal of love all around. 

Well I suppose that is all from our happy home. We got some snow today. Nothing major but enough to make me remember I dislike winter greatly!! Oh well....Summer will be here soon. 

A great Friday and a special visit make two happy boys

Friday night we went out to dinner with Aunt Cara and Hannah. The boys just love Hannah and Aunt Cara. Billy and Jeremiah went to a chorus concert afterwards and the boys and I went to Hannah's to play. It was a great time. The boys were excited to see Hannah's house since they have been asking about going their for days now. 

Yesterday the boys went to spend the afternoon at their first home with their special family. Their special family misses the boys so much considering they have had them for 3 years. "J" asks about mommy and daddy a lot so we all thought it would be good for them to go "home" and see that everyone is still where they should be. We were right! The boys and I went to watch their "sister" cheerlead" in a competition then the boys went home with the Temples. The boys came home around 8:30 and their sister played with them for a while. Goodbyes were said, a few quick tears were shed but all in all, everyone seemed happy. We made plans to go to Burger King with the playground on Wednesday. 

This morning the boys are up and ready to go. The weather isn't so great today, a bit cloudy and cold but nothing a few layers and gloves can't overcome. Outside they will go to run off some of their extra energy! We love having 7 acres for their little feet to run around on!