Princess Josie

Josie had her Ballet Recital this past weekend.

So in honor of all things twirly and full of tulle, we decided this week would be all about Princesses!

We used another Preschool Pack from 1+1+1=1.

They are adding in some activities geared towards kids ready to move on from basic preschool so Josie is enjoying it a lot.

Her favorite activity was the Graphing Game.  

We made a Die and she graphed what she rolled.  First one to get 10 was the winner.

The rest of the activites were adorable too.

She made a J for her room.  Lots of buttons and glitter were used.

We had a Fancy Princess Tea where we talked about manners.

And we made Peanut Butter Play Dough.  

It was pretty yummy too!

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Honey

This wraps up Preschool for Josie. 

We are going to do some fun stuff with Alphabet Summer, but that's more to keep us from dying of boredom.  We can only spend so much time in the pool.

I am really excited for next school year but am ready for lots of time outside!

Matthew 6:26

New Life.

Passion

Gabe's case has been hard.

I'm being pulled, stretched, tested in ways I never expected.

I've felt fear in the core of my soul.

I have learned first hand that a Mother's Protective Instinct is real and unbelievably powerful.

And I've realized that our country's Foster Care System is seriously broken.

I can count on one finger the amount of times Gabriel's best interest has been pushed for.

Yup, one finger.

And that was the day they removed him from his awful living arrangements and placed him with us.

Drag him out for 4 hours right at naptime so he can sit at McDonalds with a woman he doesn't even know?

Sure.

Allow a baby with a heart condition around people who smoke?

No problem.

Drag this out so that, after 12 months, there's still a chance he could be pulled from the only family he's ever known and make him live with strangers in poverty for the rest of his life?

That's just the way it is.

It's frustrating.

And the amount of times it's broken my heart and crushed my will?

Well, I'd need extra fingers to count that.

His case has been hard and it's left us with one of two options for after Gabe's case ends, deal with the injustice or pull out.

And we decided to pull out.

We will advocate.

We will work to change laws.

We made our minds up to seek out private adoptions.

So why am I sitting here, heartbroken and torn over the call to take in 2 little girls?

Two innocent lives that did nothing to deserve the Hell they are about to go through.

While I'm sitting here, trying to get clairity, asking God to make His will known loud and clear, I know the answer.

Passion will always win out over what's logical.

And I'm passionate about kids in Foster Care.

Sure I hate the system.

I hate court dates and visitation.

I hate parent aids and asking permission to cut my child's hair.

But the kids?

I love them.

The broken, ridiculous, make no sense laws aren't their fault.

They are kids.

Babies.

And I can't stop myself from feeling the injustice they are going through.

I can't help but take it personally.

So while I'm 95.7% sure theses adorable girls won't end up under our roof, I'm also 96.9% sure we aren't calling it quits.

Because saving our orphans is more then just something we do.

It's our passion.

Please send prayers out for these girls.

That wherever they end up, they are loved and treated with kindness. That they would be allowed to be little girls.

That someone would be passionate for them.

Forced Embraces

Nothing says Love like forcing your baby's head to look at the camera.

Or a nice bite on the arm.

Oh well, we tried!

Maybe you'll have better luck EMBRACING THE CAMERA with your Midgets!

WIWW

I had a good clothes week!  Love when that works out!

Wednesday - Cardiologist & Church

Jeans - Banana Republic

Shirt - Bloom (@ Serenbe)

Belt - Gap

Shoes - Target

Thursday - Cater Job, Ballet Dress Rehearsal, Slices

Skinny Jeans - Target

Shirt - Gap

Necklace - Target

Shoes - Nordstroms

Saturday - Ballet Recital & Geranium Festival

Shirt - Gap

Shorts - Old Navy

Necklace - NY&Co

Shoes - Gap

Sunday - Lenox Mall & H2H Group

Dress - Forever 21

My phone was dropped by my favorite 2 year old.  It's a good thing I love Matalie so much or it would've been ugly.  The screen was ruined and I thought I might die, but my brother saved the day by suggesting I talk to the guys at Apple and see if they'd help me out.  Not sure if it was the short dress or just the store's policy, but I walked out with a brand spanking new phone for free.

It was a looonnnggg day and I almost forgot to take my pictures, hence the dark shot.

Monday - Lounge Day & Grocery Store

White Halter - Gap

Black Shorts - Banana Republic

Stressed Face - Result of taking 2 kids to the grocery store.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.  Head on over to get inspired to GET DRESSED!

2011 Ballet Recital

Well, I did my best to narrow it down.

But 4 year olds in tutus with their hair in buns makes my heart swoon so you'll just have to deal with an overabundance of pictures today.

I'm sure the Grandparents that couldn't make it out won't mind a bit.

We let Josie get all Toddler and Tiarraed up for her big day.

It scares me how beautiful she is.  

We'll call that "Reason 12,499 She Will Be Homeschooled."

These are from Dress Rehersal.

It was dark so I did my best to get good pictures.

Josie was insanely cute.  She had her lips sucked in the whole time and was very serious about her dance.

And the girls got some serious moves.

These next ones are from the actual recital.  

She was a bit more nervous.

We were a little later then we planned so we had to sit a ways from the stage.  Luckily I had my mega zoom lens and the tripod my brother just gave me.

I used the lens my Dad gave me.  It was my Uncle's.  He was an amazing photographer and I adore that I was able to capture his Great Niece with the same lens he used to capture so many other kids.

My Mom flew in Thursday.  Josie had no idea she was coming so it was a fun surprise.

Although Josie acted like she was expecting my Mom to walk in so her reaction wasn't quite what we thought it would be!

And, as you can see, Gabe didn't find the whole thing as adorable as I did.

I'm so proud of my Ballerina!

Teaser

I'm working my way through 100's of pictures, trying to narrow it down.

But I know there are many anxious Grandparents waiting to see their Ballerina Princess, so here's a tiny taste of the preciousness.

She had her lips sucked in the whole time and I love that she is the only one jumping.

Amazing.

Be back soon with lots more.

16 Months

My Tiny Stud is 16 Months Old Today!

The Little Man is into EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.

He is loving being outside and makes a mad dash for the door anytime anyone opens it.  He would live outside if I let him.

 Pulling up, Cruising, and Speed Crawling but no walking yet.

He's still very shaky on two legs and pretty much falls over as soon as I let go of him.

I'm hoping for some steps this month.

But for now, it's rolled up toes and lifted feet to get around outside.

That concrete can't feel good on those pretty knees.

Speaking of curled up toes:

I could eat his chubby, wrinkley feet.  

And those curled under toes.

He says, "Hot", "Mama", "Dada", "Ball" and "Bye Bye Paci."

This past week he has perfected the disgusted face.  He gives it freely when he is unpleased with any situation.

His favorite past time?

Throwing a ball.

And by ball, I mean whatever he can get his hands on, lift, and toss across the room.

He just recently overcame his fear of balloons and will now spend endless minutes popping one in the air over and over.

It's adorable.

When he isn't throwing things, he's harassing Josie.

Wherever she is, he's never far behind.

He thinks she hung the moon.

We've already started the, "MOOOMMMM, Gabe's annoying me!!!"

And yes, she says "annoying."

But as much as she pretends she wants him to leave her alone, if he does, she's out tracking him down.

I think they are going to have a blast together this Summer once he's mobile.

And then I'll be seriously outnumbered.

He's finally wearing 12-18 month clothes and even though the Dr. feels he isn't growing quickly enough, I think he's growing too fast.

He had a Cardiologist appointment this week that went pretty well.

As far as his case goes, still nothing new.

We are pretty much just waiting on word about the TPR.  We have court on the 7th, but that's just to extend DFACS custody.

I can't quite get a grip on what I'm feeling about where the case is going.

I'm frustrated and pretty much over it.

It makes me sick that BM would be allowed any more time to get herself together when she's done nothing to show she cares at all about him in the past year.

But that's all old news.  

Of course I'll update as soon as any new information surfaces.  

If you're a Pray-er, we're asking God to make the TPR Process quick, speedy, like any day now.