Home 4 years!

At the airport 4 years ago.

 Meeting the family.  He was 7 months and 8 days old.

And here he is today!

Opening a few gifts.

She's getting to big!

I can't believe she was ever this small.

And here she is today just shy of 7 years old. 

She came to the table for snack with her ipod blaring Hannah Montana too cool to talk to us. 

Hair Cut by Daddy

Not to bad.

The new year

After 4 months of school under their belts my kids are finally settling in.  Bubba is more social at school and hasn't complained in awhile that he doesn't want to go.  I have been signing him up for special classes after school.  Some are sports related and some have a theme such as "super heroes."  He seems to really like them and it has given him an opportunity to work on his friendships.  Goose hasn't had a rage in a few weeks which tells me that she is finally able to handle the stress of the school day.  The part that scares me is that we are going to go through this with her each year.  I really thought Christmas break was going to be a nightmare for her.  So much unstructured time as well as all the excitement of the season is a recipe for disaster for a kid with her issues.  But....it went pretty well.  I did sign her up for a few camp days to break up the monotony and we were really busy,  but I feared all the "newness" to her schedule would be too overwhelming.  Going back to school after the break has been relatively smooth.  She is better able to express her distress in having to be at school all day away from me.  I am finding that her ability to verbalize her fears and worries are really making a difference in her behaviors (thank God!) Now reality sets in again and we are back to our routine.

Baby boy has transitioned into staying with his parents during the week and us on the weekends.  We learned this week that this will go on until March 7th (or longer) depending on the judge.  I believe that he will be sent home permanently on that date.  Now the task of preparing Goose and Bubba for the finality of it all is bearing down on us.  I really just want it all to be over.  I wish it could be like ripping off a band-aid, the pain is intense but it's over quick.  The realness of not having him around for an extended amount of time has been haunting.  At the same time caring for two kids who are growing in their independence from me has been nice too.  Then the guilt sets in.  What kind of mother am I that I can even enjoy some of the peace that is setting in.  I guess the answer is, a real one.  I keep looking ahead, to when he's gone, to the summer, to next fall.  That's all I can do.  I have to keep living.  I am looking forward to getting back to a more peaceful existence (if that's at all possible.)  I'm not sure what doors are going to open for our family but I do believe that when God closes one door he does open another.  In the new year I want to make some real changes in my life and in my relationships.  Maybe the door being opened is that of time;  time to work on my relationship with Christ and time to work on my relationships with others.

Christmas presents in action....

Bubba and his crayon maker

Melting and waiting.

His I'm tired of waiting face.

All melted and ready to be poured into the mold.

After they are done in the machine they have to sit in the mold for 10 minutes.

Getting the crayons out of the mold.

See my crayon.

Coloring with the finished product.

Making sour candy

Boiling until it gets to 300 degrees.

Pouring it into it's mold.

The finished product.

Goose enjoying the candy.

Bubba enjoying the sour candy

Goose planting her carnivorous plants.

Pushing down the peet moss.

It all began with one little rock.

Goose putting in more rocks.

The rocks were suppose to look like a river so daddy fixed them a bit.

Goose is watching and taking note I'm sure.

Daddy putting in the seeds.

All set and ready to grow!

Happy New Year!

This year we went to Timber Ridge Lodge in Lake Geneva WI for New Years Eve.  My parents very graciously took our family for some fun at the water park and on the slopes.

On our way up we stopped at the Brat Stop

Upon entering this is what we saw.

At the water park

Our NYE dinner was at the Grand Cafe.  It was buffet style and featured crab legs, roast beef, salmon, shrimp, cheeses, salads and desserts.  It was an amazing spread.  The kids both tried crab meat for the first time and loved it.

Bubba with his roast beef.

Grandma, Papi and Goose

A family shot

We walked around the Grand Geneva to see all the decorations.  It was beautiful.  Here is Goose in front of the display for the spa.  We thought it was so "her."

Bubba in front of a Sponge Bob display.

Santa on a golf cart

Timber Ridge had a NYE party geared for families.  The party started at 7:30 in the water park.  They had a D.J. and games while the kids swam and had a blast.  Then at 11 p.m. they had a beach ball drop and sparkling juice toast.  The kids had so much fun.  Bubba hardly made it to 11 but Goose was ready to party in the new year.

Grandma and Papi rockin in the new year

The beach balls

On NYD the kids went skiing for the first time.  It was freezing out so we weren't sure how it was going to go.  The lesson was for an hour and a half.  Bubba did awesome.  He stayed the whole time and went down the hill at least 4 times.  

Goose didn't like it as much so she came in after going down the hill one time.

It was a great weekend and a great way to ring in 2011! The kids tried new things and had a blast swimming.  Goose tried clams at dinner New Years day and really enjoyed them (the girl has great taste.) Bubba went down a pretty big water slide for the first time and loved it. Both kids tried skiing and we were so proud of both of them.  Thanks grandma and papi for a great weekend get away!