Happiness

Well, the first day of school is ONE WEEK (plus one day) away! The kids find out who their teachers are this Friday, there is Meet the Teacher Night next Monday Night and school is bright and early next Wednesday Morning, Aug. 7th. We've been staying home for the past two weeks to prep for all these events and we're excited! Yes, even the kids are! And where did the summer go, I ask you? It's a common phrase that's heard around this time, but I tell you- I thought the summer would be long and hot and dry. Instead, it's been hot and interesting and fun! T-shirts with bleach in a spray bottle and spending the night on the trampoline (not me)- yes, please! My kids are at a great age (7-11) where I don't have to worry about going out during nap time or them having temper tantrums in public (usually) and it has been wonderful! Knowing it will end soon with the baby we foster helps me enjoy it all the more! The kids have also done a lot of play dates this sum...

 All the kids, strapped in and ready for an adventure. Josh's boss owns a cabin in Pine- a community (not even a town) two hours Northeast of Gilbert. He had told Josh he could use it anytime and we had talked about going for awhile. Finally, I penciled it into our calendar and we were able to go! I was excited to get away from the 115 degree heat that hits July (so many people go on vacation here in July because of it) and to go camping, but be in a cabin.  It was gorgeous up there! We got up there Thursday night and spent Friday Morning exploring the small community. There was a thrift shop and a museum built in the very first LDS Church in the area (there was even an LDS church in the community. Not Wal-mart, but a church!). The people were friendly, the weather was downright beautiful. Even the thunderstorm that blew through that afternoon was lovely and refreshing! The kids took out the umbrellas and had a great time enjoying the rain! Josh's boss has two kids so th...

hello, Mania. thanks for stopping by. I haven't seen you for awhile. A long while. I lost sleep over playing a somewhat difficult piano solo in our new(ish) ward and somehow started being slightly manic. Wanting to buy anything I saw today at Michaels (although I didn't), wanting to keep talking and talking during Visiting Teaching (which I didn't). And then it turned into more of an irritation. It was really a lot of little things that came together to bother me. Josh came home from work early (which he would never have been able to do in MD), and I spent some quiet time at the library, reading magazines and then walking around the nearby lake. That was scary. Scary enough that I don't want to do that again. Ever.

 Going Forward (also headed North) We signed the final paperwork for foster care this week. I thought that it would be a bigger deal for me: finally signing and finishing all of the work on our part after this long while. But it wasn't. I signed, Josh signed and we were done. The papers were combined with several others, placed on top, and placed in a large, frayed manila file folder. Our case worker said that he would finish the work for a few more families and then he would get to us. He apologized that it was taking so long, explained that these foster kids need good families but that it is such a long process (why?! makes me want to go to law school and simplify it!).  I am grateful. I am grateful that this application process is drawing to a close. I am grateful that we are one step closer to be licensed as foster care Parents. And I am grateful that I get to finish off the summer with these kiddos. It's been a little stressful (although fun) going back to scho...

Ethan at the ward pancake breakfast Jonah, ready for the bike parade We had a GREAT Fourth! A Patriotic Pancake Breakfast in the morning- along with a moment of silence for the 19 firefighters that lost their lives in Northern Arizona in the end of June. Such a sad story. Swimming, bbq, setting up and dropping off of flags for me, and of course FIREWORKS!- at home and the city's. It's fun  to live in a place where it's okay to do fireworks. When I was growing up, we would visit those big black tents, hot and sticky, picking out black cats, smoke bombs and morning glories. The BOYS LOVE seeing anything spark, smoke, fizzle and pop! A quick story: my kids were over tired and grumpy. They were snappy, fussy and short fused. That night I slipped a little love note under their pillow: "I love you a lot"- each one said. The next morning I went to the gym and came back to a miracle (in my eyes). Elizabeth came up to me and said "I love you a lot too, Mo...

   Depression. It doesn't care if it's 110 degrees outside. It doesn't care if it's summertime or if school's out and the schedule is lax. And it hates when you go on vacation. It flees for a short time but returns with a vengeance.   Depression. It's been my friend for 5 years. And it looks like this it's a long term relationship. Which stinks. There are worse things that I could deal with. Depression is not the worse thing out there. But it feels pretty close to it sometimes. In 110  degree weather.

  At our Abbott Family Reunion, each family had their pictures taken and we also took one of the whole group (minus those who will be photoshopped in later!). It was fun taking pictures and I  think they turned out really good! If you want a copy of any of these, you can right click on these pics, save them to your computer and print them out. You know, if you want to do that for some reason or another.  " The Boys" - Ethan and Jonah (in tie dye)  Ethan  Jonah  Elizabeth  More Elizabeth Asher  My Favorite One of All of Us!  Grandparents and Grandkids!!  Parents, Kids + Spouses Thank you, Thank you to Looky Loo Photography for such wonderful pictures! We loved them!

 The Birthday Boy! Some Games:  Hot Potato Played with a Lego Block and coloring a Mini-Figurine    Playing Legos!  The Lego Cake!  Opening Presents!  Candy! The Party Crew!

Dear Asher, You LOVE to learn  You LOVE to create  You are AMAZING.  You LOVE to smile,  You LOVE Holidays,  You LOVE to play games,  and you LOVE to make people laugh!  Happy 7th Birthday, Asher! We LOVE you and all the little- and big- things that you LOVE to do too! Love, Mom

 Our Living Room, complete with a 10 yr old girl!  Our Kitchen/Dining Area  Our Front Room/Music Area, notice those two blonde heads pouring over a library book: so cute!  The Master Bedroom  The Boys Room  Elizabeth's Room  *complete with an Elizabeth* Our Spare Room/ Office/ Storage Room or Future Foster Baby Boy's room Happy July 1st, Everyone!