Peter

Where does the time go??? It was three years ago that we were in Guatemala City bringing our little man home...no more having to leave him behind when we visited!!

Peter was 4 months here when my girls and I visited him in GC.

This picture was taken by his foster mom around 7 months.
He finally came HOME at 9 months!!

 This was his FIRST Forever Family Day!

Each year we celebrate the day that Peter OFFICIALLY joined his forever family.  This year he wanted this giant cookie.  He had a special date with his daddy and they went out to dinner.  Then we watched home movies of our visits to Guatemala and our pick-up trip.  Peter was fascinated with the videos of himself as a baby and his native country!  Can't wait to take him back there some day!

In honor of his forever family day, I am giving away a set of 7 hair bows from my etsy shop!  All you have to do is go to my Sox That Rock Facebook page and leave Peter a comment...he will draw a winner tomorrow!

Life continues to be busy and fun at our household!  We still have our foster baby, Little Miss S!  She is 5 months already and has been with us since 23 days old.  The plan is for her to return to her mommy and daddy this month so we are already grieving for the time when she has to leave us.  She is an amazing sweet baby and we will miss her so much.  I am not sure if my heart can handle doing foster care but I am sure we will jump back into it again once she leaves us.  

But before we take any more children into our home, I NEED a vacation from this cold and snow!!!  Rich and I are hoping to get away to somewhere HOT...just the 2 of us!!

What about you...any plans for a warm weather vacation? 

How about any of you with Guatemalan children...how do you celebrate their Forever Family Days?

Wordless Wednesday-9 Years!

FFF-Christmas Card Outtakes

Do you know how hard it is to get FIVE children to all look at the camera at the same time AND smile!!?? This year, the smiles were so "cheesey" and the kids were exceptionally uncooperative.  Peter has a stubborn streak and was the hold-out for most of the smiles! Here was one of the out takes where Peter would not sit up straight...

 Ricky was really trying to be a good boy and smile nicely but this was the best we could get in the end!  I figure that at least 4 of them look natural in the picture!

FINALLY got my Christmas cards ordered and received them yesterday so I need to get them out today.   I usually have them sent by the beginning of December but this year has been busy with one extra little peanut in our household!  Our foster baby, Miss S, will probably be with us until February.  What a joy she is to our family!!  We love this little girl!

To see more FFF Christmas card out-takes, go to Hannah's blog.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday

FFF

We attended a Christmas party this week where Santa was present so we got some pictures with him.  Even got some great pictures of little baby S with Santa to share with her birth parents!

Peter was scared to death of the reindeer and wouldn't go anywhere near Santa until the reindeer completely left the area!  Then we was all smiles!!

I still have lots of Christmas shopping to do for my big crew!  This weekend we will start some holiday baking.  In years past, my Christmas cards  have been ready to send by the first of November...not that I mail them that early...but this year I still don't even have a photo to use for the cards.  I am really behind on all counts but most of my time goes to caring for a beautiful little baby who needs us right now!

A big snow storm is on it's way to Minnesota this weekend!  Stay warm and have a great day.  To see more FFF, go to Hannah's blog.

FFF

Our days are filled with loving this little lady while she's in our care!  What a blessing it is to be her foster mommy!  Her sweet smiles make those middle-of-the-night feedings more enjoyable!!

To see more FFF, go to Hannah's blog.

I'm Here!

I have thought of blogging so many times in the past several months but the longer I went without posting, the easier it was to just forget about it again!  Life has been so busy...

In August, my oldest celebrated her SWEET 16 with friends at a local water park.

We are still working on practicing driving...some kids are just not ready for their drivers license at age 16(and some parents are not ready for that either!).

In September, the kids went back to school...two in high school, two in grade school, and Peter at home with mommy!

Also in September, a new little addition joined our family, temporarily!  We became licensed foster parents and baby "S" came to live with us.  She was 23 days old.  We absolutely LOVE this little one but know that foster care is temporary and that she will return home to her birth family again. I am dreading that day!

In October, we took a family vacation to Florida.  It was a quick trip and we decided to leave Peter home with my sister.  We visited Universal Studios one day...

And Disney's Magic Kingdom one day...

The last day, we just hung out at the pool! Then spent the evening at Downtown Disney.

I have been busy with my etsy shop, Sox That Rock, and am currently working on lots of great Christmas items!

I wonder if I even have any followers left!!  If so,I'd love to hear from you.  I have occasionally been reading other blogs and promise to not be gone for 3 months again this time!!