foster: Did You Know?

Do you know about Eyes Open Wider? She's a social working blogger. LOVE it! I've been reading her on and off for about a year. Did you know she has links to lots of foster family blogs?

fun: Big Bubbles

(Pictures Published with Permission form Mom H)

Have you made Gigantic bubbles before?

Here's what you'll need:

• Plastic cup with a hole in the bottom (We just shoved our scissors through the bottom)
• 1/4 cup good dish soup
• 1 cup water
• 2 TBS corn syrup (optional)
• pie dish

Mix a little water with dish soap and corn syrup in a pie dish. Dip you cup into the mixture and BLOW

Check out this blog for HUMONGOUS bubbles.

Wanda Martin Wilson 1925-2010

This is my Grandmother. She died May 17th 2010. I was lucky enough to go home May 15th and be with my mother until Grandma's funeral on May 24. I've thought a lot about what I'd like to post. It's no secret that Grandma and I didn't get along very well. I always attributed it to us being so very much alike- stubborn. But ACTUALLY SPEAKING it may be because she lived with me as a high schooler - I'm sure that was no BOWL OF ICE CREAM!

I've been thinking a lot of legacies. The legacies passed down to us from our ancestors. Those we know/knew and those we only know through family history. It seems to me that I come from a family who is called upon to endure trials. There are many women in my family history who have endured harsh trials, both because of some one's use of agency and because of circumstances they lived in. My Grandmother was one of these women. I am so proud of the legacy she gave me of not being afraid of the darkness life sometimes offers. Some things I love to share about my Grandma are:

She stopped smoking after 50 years because Oregon raised the taxes on cigarettes and that ticked her off.

She went back to school after the early death of her husband and obtained not only her GED but a degree in bookkeeping/accounting.

She could make up her mind about something and you could not argue with her about it.

She was so worried I put too much product in my hair she asked her hair dresser about it.

She left home at 18 and traveled the almost 1,000 miles to work in San Diego. She did the electrical on airplanes during World War II-

She's our very own Rosie Riveter!

We have the picture below in our home of Grandma Wanda on her wedding day. It is gathered with other pictures of our parents and grandparents and is one of the first things you see as you enter our home.

I hope that I can share with my children the determined spirit my grandmother shares with me.

Project: Box Shelves

House to Home

Have you seen this post by Apartment Therapy almost a year ago? LOVE it! I think I'm obsessed with box shelves.

I decided I had to have some and started looking online. Wow these puppies are EXPENSIVE! J suggested we modified our current nightstands. GENIUS!

Do you remember going off to collage and buying these babies?

Image from KMART

Yeah we still have ours. I scrubbed them up, took out the shelves and added one to the end. Made sure to paint the unsightly particle board. I can't wait to see them over our bed!

foster: Update

We are now 79 days through the twins' 90 day trial home placement and have heard great things about Mom C's progress in the last 3 weeks. It is such a relief to know that things are going well.


Yesterday we told our RFC we were ready to be considered for placements again.

projects: Inspiration

I've been inspired-AND that means lots of work for my husband.

I really LOVE Jane Lockheart on HGTV. And this was my first bedroom inspiration. I LOVE the color on the wall-

Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray.

I had it mixed at Home Depot this weekend making the gallon just over $15 rather than the $40 at ACE.

And this was my second inspiration - found at ALL THINGS THRIFTY.

LOVE the yellow on the furniture.

Hopefully this will all come together this weekend and you can see what I've been working on!

foster: Introductions

We'd like to introduce you to Grace and Garrison (aka G and Lil G). In March of 2009 these two were our first placement. They went home to their loving parent August 13, 2009. Last week Gracie turned 9 and next week Gar Gar will be 3. I can hardly believe how time flies!

Gracie is so thoughtful and mature for her age. She acts like a little adult and has superb social awareness. I know that she will impact many people throughout her life and will be able to do so many things because of the wonderful gifts she has to share.

Garrison is all boy. He is obsessed with motorcycles. Even as a 20 months all he could talk about was Motorcycles Fas(t). He lights up a room with his ready smile and is eager to entertain a crowd.

(of course I don't have a picture of his smile-ugh)

We sure LOVE our G and Lil G!

All pictures posted with permision of Mom H.

foster: G and Lil G update

May is an incredibly hard month for me. I'm so glad I have little rays of sunshine (G and Lil G) born in May! They are such amazing kids and I really do admire their Mom H.

We sent G and Lil G birthday cards early this week. I was so surprised Thursday to get a call from Mom H thanking us for the cards and inviting us to Lunch Saturday afternoon. I'm so impressed with the challenges Mom H overcame and the success she has found.

G and Lil G sound so happy and healthy-living the childhood I hoped for them. It was so nice to talk to them I didn't even mind missing the last 15 minutes of BONES. We're sooo EXCITED to see them!

foster: The Easy Way?

I remember the first couple of Sundays we brought the girls to church we had SEVERAL people tell us "congratulations" and "it looks like you took the easy way." I'm assuming they thought we adopted. We kinda laughed and said "yeah the easy way-UNTIL we give them back" Someone please tell me what is easy about adoption? And if adoption isn't what they meant, someone please tell me what is so "easy" about fostering - twins? It really makes me think about school age kids. Nobody ever said things THAT STUPID when we had G and Lil G. BUTTTTT I know it's best to keep our options open....

foster: Countdown

For those of you wondering what's going on with foster care and our family-WE'RE ON HOLD. And holding stinks. We are 59 days through the twins 90 day trial home placement. 1 more month and and we can be active on the list again. In the mean time we've done some respite (over-night baby sitting for other foster families). It was great to see Little Boy and Little Girl for 3 days last month. Although we were happy when they went back to their foster (soon to be forever) family. We're taking a 6 year old and 8 year old tomorrow night and a 2 year old and 4 year old next weekend for 3 nights. That's the update! 31 days until we can have another placement.

Oh and the caseworker did help me find the addresses I needed. It took just 3 business days.