Halloween Crafts

We have been gearing up for Halloween. Both Kaleb & Jasmyn have trips to the Pumpkin Patch planned. We have costumes figured out (whew! Huge load off my mind). So the next step is to decorate the house. Our friends Sierra, Keagan, Rowan and Sara came over last week and we decorated foam pumpkins to help get the kids ready for all the festivities.

Keagan & Jasmyn

Sierra & Kaleb
Mason & I
Sara & Rowan
Our final projects

I made the kitty cat. Jasmyn got very creative with some scrapes and came up with the other two. They kinda look like Modern Abstract art! She is so creative.

Every year before this one I have gone out and bought new Halloween T-shirts for the kids. Last year each kid had a T-shirt and PJs. LOL! This year they have outgrown last years shirts or they are not appropriate gendered, etc.... I went shopping for new ones, but I could not justify spending the $ on them at the price they were asking. I had planned on skipping the whole idea, until my Family Fun Magazine arrived in the mail. This is the cover:

I figured I could make those for way less than what it would cost me to buy premade ones. So I bought Rit Dye ($3). Salt to add into the Dye ($0.53). Mason needed a white shirt ($3.50) Rubber bands($.049). Black Fabric Paint ($0.44) For a total of: $7.96 before tax. That is about what 1 shirt would have cost me to buy premade. Using white tees we already owned, I made 6 Halloween shirts for $7.96.

I tie dyed white shirts in orange dye. Once the shirts were dry I used cardboard that was around my house to put inside the shirts to prevent bleed through. I painted the Jack o Lantern faces inside the tie dyed circles. I added stems to some of them. 2 of the shirts I put just 1 big Jack O lantern face on. The other ones I put faces on the front and back of the shirts so I had to do those shirts in stages so the fronts would dry and then I could do the back (Wow sorry about the run on sentence. LOL).

Here are some pictures

I made 6 shirts in total. 1 for me, 1 for Mason, 1 for Jasmyn, 1 for Kaleb and 2 extras that may end up being gifts for some respite kids or cousins.

The kids love the end product!

Tea Party for Terrie

My Aunt Terrie celebrated a birthday on Sept 29th. I have no idea how old she is because I didn't ask! She just so happened to be hanging out with my Mom at her house on the 30th with her granddaughter Trinity. My Mom invited the kids and I over for a Tea Party to celebrate Terrie's birthday. This was Trinity and Terrie's first Tea Party. My children have done lots of tea parties with Grandma, so they knew just what to do to show Terrie and Trinity the ropes. First on the menu was of course Tea. Tea for the adults and milk for the kids. No Tea Party is complete without something sweet. I made mini cupcakes and a mini Heart cake for Terrie. She loves hearts. Red is her favorite color.

Terrie & Trinity blowing out the candle

We also had cookies, grapes, and bear shaped cakes.

My kids really enjoyed the time spent with Grandma and Aunt Terrie. I hope this Tea Party is followed by many more to come! Happy Birthday Terrie. We love you!

Babysitters Homecoming

I have been blessed with some really great babysitters. It started with Roselyn, she lives across the street from me. She started watching Kaleb & Jasmyn while I was pregnant with Mason. Roselyn watched the kids so I could go to my midwife appointments and my physical therapy sessions. Not to mention she helped me do grocery shopping, bathing the kids, and anything else I needed when I was close to my due date and couldn't move around the same. My children just love Roselyn. As our family grew with the birth of Mason and Future coming to live with us, we needed a team of sitters when I had to leave all 4 kids with Roselyn. She introduced me to her friends Katie H. and Shadea (pronounced Sha-day-a). Katie H and Shadea started to watch the kids and build a relationship with the kids as well. All 3 girls would stop in and say hi whenever they could and soon they built a friendship with me as well. This past summer when Roselyn, Katie H, and Shadea were unavailable Roselyn reintroduced me to Katie P. I had met her previously but she had never babysat for us. Once she started coming to help with the kids our relationship with her grew and she has become like one of our family. She has spent family holidays with us and many family dinners, events, etc... I just love all my girls! I am so blessed to have these young ladies to help me with the kids. They are a lifesaver and a godsend when I need them most. And it is even cooler that they are all friends and work well together. I know I can count on them to take good care of my kids working together or by themselves.

Last weekend was their high school Homecoming dance. Katie P got ready at my house and then went over to Roselyn's when the rest of the girls got there to help do their makeup and get everyone else ready. I got to do Katie P's hair in hot rollers and help her get dressed etc... It was very fun. Once everyone was ready the girls came outside and I got a few pictures of the whole group before they went to the dance.

Here is all 4 girls. L to R: Roselyn, Katie H, Shadea, & Katie P.

Roselyn

Katie P

Katie H

Shadea

Katie H and Shadea
Roselyn & Shadea
Roselyn & Katie P

Roselyn & Katie H
They all look absolutely beautiful! And from what I hear they all had a great time at the dance!

Jen's Job

Yup that is right... after being basically unemployed for 5+ years I have a job. Well I should say being unemployed from a monetary paying job. I have obviously been working my fingers to the bone with my children. Anyway Tim & I recently decided that we should try to supplement our income in some way. With the rising gas prices effecting everything from energy costs to groceries, I think we are probably like many Americans that are cutting back on expenses and trying to earn more income.

Our major hurdle to overcome was what kind of job could I do while still keeping the kids out of childcare, maintain the same amount of our family time, and still provide enough income to make it worth the effort. I decided to explore the option of using my Foster Care license to provide respite to other foster parents in need of child care. I can do this work in my home with my own kids and still earn some income to help out with our growing expenses. So I contacted the Dept here in our hometown and they were able to quickly set us up with 2 siblings who need care every other weekend while their foster Mom works.

These little ones are just a joy to have in our home. The little boy is about Jasmyn's age and the little girl is a year younger than Mason. They blend very well into our routine and are easy to care for. Our kids just think they are having an all day playdate. It seems to be working out well. We have had the kids for 3 weekends now.

I also can provide respite for other families during the week and on my free weekends. Since Tim works the weekends anyway, I might as well work then as well. Last weekend we had a little 13 mo old girl stay with us overnight on Fri and Sat. It was fun having a baby in the house again! She liked to be held and rocked. I was in heaven since my little ones don't let ya rock them much anymore. It did not however do much to curb my baby fever!

I did find out this week however that I will be making enough money with just the 2 little ones every other weekend that I won't have to take on other respite jobs. I can if I want to, but financially I don't have to which is nice. So I can still have 2 weekends a month free to do stuff with friends and family.

Anyway, I just thought I would share the latest in my life since I have updated you on the kids. I should probably do an update on Tim at some point as well! I do plan on posting some other stuff today, so Tim's update may have to wait!

Update on the kids!

Kaleb has been really into Transformers lately. Tim finally talked me into watching the new Transformers Movie and it was to my delight a VERY good movie. So now Kaleb watches the movie all the time. Tim is especially thrilled with this new passion of Kaleb's because Transformers have been around since Tim was a kid. So he gets to relive his childhood through Kaleb. There for a while Tim was coming home with a new Transformer action figure every couple days. I finally had to tell Tim to quit buying himself new toys, because clearly he was enjoying them as much or more than Kaleb was! So my world is now a hodge bodge of transformer parts. Autobot (good guys) and Decepticon (bad guys) pieces and parts for me to find and try not to suck up into the vacuum! Kaleb also has recently become a fan of my Zucinni bread. My recipe isn't anything special, just straight outta the Betty crocker cook book, but Kaleb loves it! I love that he will eat a green veggie, however it is prepared. LOL!

Jasmyn is in Preschool this year. Last year she was in the same class but Future was in their with her. I really thought that she would be the queen of the classroom as a returning student. And for the most part her teacher says she is. But she is sometimes having a difficult time when we drop her off. SO we have been working hard on trying to make her comfortable in the mornings. We read a book called "The Kissing Hand" about a Raccoon that is afraid to go to school. His mother kisses the palm of his hand and he carries the kissing hand with him all day long. When he is feeling sad he presses his kissing hand to his cheek and it is like his Momma is there kissing him and telling him he is loved. So our tradition in the mornings when I drop her off is to give each other a kissing hand. It usually works, although sometimes she still is a bit clingy. It will get better as she gets more confident in her place in her classroom.

Mason is just talking up a storm. When Mason was born Jasmyn was 2, the same age Mason is now. After Mason was born it just seemed like overnight that Jasmyn's vocabulary boomed and she was speaking so much more clearly. I always assumed she did that out of survival since Mason had essentially taken her place. But now that Mason is the same age, his speech is so much better and gets more advanced everyday. I have to admit that it really does ease my mind about Jasmyn when Mason was born. She was just ready to speak, kinda like Mason is now. The coolest thing is now Mason is saying our names. He has always said Momma and Daddy, but it is so cool to hear him say Taybub (Kaleb) and Ja man (Jasmyn)and Utchur (Future) and Davit (David) and Gamma (grandma). I also love to hear Peez (please) Tank ou (thank you) Er Elcome (your Welcome). And when he is upset at you he also has been know to say "awp awuking" (stop talking). LOL! It took him saying "Awp Awuking" a few times before I finally understood what he was saying. I had to laugh, but then realized he was basically telling me to "shut up"! LOL!

Now I have 2 little stories to tell......

Kaleb & I were sitting next to each other at dinner. I held up a piece of zucinni on his fork and tried to feed it to him. "See Kaleb, this zuccinni is just like the stuff I put in the zucinni bread yo love so much." He looked at me and shook his head. "No Mom that is Decepticon Zuccini" LOL!!! He didn't eat it.

Jasmyn and I were on our way to her school. Parking around the school is a nightmare, so I was circling the block trying to find a place to park. Jasmyn asked me if we were going to the school. I said, " Yes Honey, we are just trying to find a parking spot and then I will drop you off. Are you ready for school?" "yes Mom, and I won't even cry or Nuthin' " I say " Oh good Jasmyn. You will have a good day and you will be with your teachers. They are very nice teachers, right?" Jasmyn says, " Yes Mom they are very nice teachers, and they WON'T even KILL me" LOL! Yes Jasmyn they won't even kill you!

Kids say the darnedest things!

Visit with Future

A few weeks ago David invited our family to join him at his visit with Future. We met with Jessica and Dave at a park in CDA to see Future. Future's Siblings Clarity and Raife were also there. It was good to spend time with Future as a family. Jessica is doing very well. She recently graduated from a rehab center. We all have high hopes that she will be successful in her sobriety. It was awesome to see Future hanging out with my kids and his parents his grandma and us. It was very cool to be part of such a healthy interaction between all of us.

Future and Grandma

Future & Jasmyn on the tire swing

Kaleb Future and Jasmyn

Dave & Future get the nerf guns out

Dave helping Mason with the nerf gun

Tim & Mason shooting me with the Nerf gun

Future & Dave

Jessica & Future

Jessica with Raife, Future and Clarity
Before we left, Grandma wanted to show the kids the bear statue in the park.

I look forward to the next visit we have with Future, Dave, Jess and the rest of the family!

First Day of School!

It is Fall again. And with Fall comes the start of school. This year Kaleb is in the AM session of Kindergarten. He loves his school and his teacher. He enjoys being independent and figuring things out on his own. This school is much more strict about parents being in the classroom. Kaleb has essentially found his own way in the school and classroom. I am very proud of him!

Here is Kaleb on the first day of school! He is wearing his "kindergarten smile"!

Jasmyn is in ECEAP. ECEAP is what "HeadStart" was for me when I was her age. Early Childhood Education and Assessment Program. It is run by the school district. Kaleb and Future were in this program last year. Jasmyn is a bit slower in transition to be in the school alone. Last year she went to preschool from Feb to June, but Future was in her class. This year she is alone. Well I say alone, but really there are about 4 or 5 returning preschoolers from her class last year in her class this year. So really she isn't "alone", but she is alone in that no one from her family attends with her. Her teachers are the same as well. We feel very blessed to have her back in Ms Casey's class with Ms. Melissa and Ms Carole. These ladies are just wonderful and really love Jasmyn! We are thrilled that Jasmyn is back in the same program.

Here is Jasmyn on her 1st day of school! She looks so big!

And of course we had to get a group shot so Mason wouldn't feel left out! He is still a few years away from preschool!

On the first day of school Kaleb's class made these puzzles! They are so cute!
And they came home with this poem attached! Such a cute idea!
Here is Jasmyn playing at school in the doll house with Ms. Casey
Kaleb and his teacher Mrs. Sine

This year is going to be about me letting go I think! LOL! Last year in the ECEAP program that Kaleb, Future and Jasmyn were in, parental involvement is a crucial part of the program. They level of my involvement will continue with Jasmyn in her ECEAP program. Kaleb on the other hand will not get the benefit of my involvement in his daily schooling. His school principal told the parents at orientation that for the first 6 weeks of school we are not allowed to volunteer in the class or school. They feel that we parents will disrupt the progress of the children learning to follow rules, procedures and also learning to see the teachers and principals as authority figures. Well they didn't actually come out and say those exact words, but the message was the same! LOL! Not only that but we have to pick up our kindergartners out side of the school. So no chatting with the teacher or seeing the classroom. We pick up and drop off in a valet line outside. The first day of school I tried to go inside to pick him up and the principal would not let me past the double doors! LOL! I kinda feel sad because I really got to know the preschool teachers last year just from pick up and drop off. It is amazing that the 5 minutes a day of small talk can really ease your mind about leaving your kids with them. I really believe that the kindergarten rules are more for getting the parents to let go of the reins or "cut the cord" so to speak than it is for the kids! LOL! Or at least that is the case for this Mom!

Kaleb, Jasmyn & Mason have never been left with any other adult that wasn't a parent, grandma or close friend for any amount of time. I mean we have babysitters like Katie, Roselyn, Katie and Shay, but they watch the kids for a few hours at a time a few times a week. Kaleb has never been away from me for any length of time ever in his little life. Neither have Jasmyn or Mason. So it was as difficult for ME to leave them the first day of school as it was for them. So being able to volunteer in the classroom last year eased my mind as much as theirs.

This year with Kaleb in Kindergarten will be lesson in letting go. I am not sure I like it so far. But he seems to be thriving in it and adjusting quite well. I am happy for him and proud of him. But at the same time.... a bit sad for me! My babies are growing up!

Katie

Katie is our friend and babysitter extraordinaire! The kids love her. We love her. She loves us! She spent quite a bit of time over the summer with us. We hung out and BBQ'ed and even spent the 4th of July together in Sandpoint with my family.

Katie is a Senior in high school this year. She needed a photographer to take her Senior pictures. I happen to know an extremely talented and beautiful photographer! So I called my dear friend Megan Owens and she was happy to schedule a photo shoot with Katie. I was able to join Katie and Megan at their photo shoot. It was a privilege and an honor to see Megan and Katie work so well together to take such beautiful pictures. Katie is a beautiful girl to start with, but Megan really brings Katie's inner beauty out in these photographs. I am posting these pictures with permission from Katie. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do.

This one is my favorite of the whole shoot! She looks so beautiful and I love the metal wall behind her. The colors look awesome. It is just my favorite!

Here are 2 that capture Katie's personality. She has such a coy smile on her face.

These 2 pictures are just fun. The graffiti on the wall is rebellious and has great texture. Love them both!

This is my other favorite! She looks so grown up and sophisticated. She is simply beautiful!

Rainbow & Sara's 33rd b-day

On August 21st I was at my Mom's in Post Falls. It was rainy and cold, but after the rain passed we got to see the most beautiful rainbow. We could see both ends of the rainbow but it was so massive I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture on my camera. When I saw the rainbow I immediately thought of my best friend Sara. She has a special connection to rainbows. So I took a few pictures of the rainbow just in case Sara did not get a chance to view it herself.



The next day was my friend Sara's birthday. She was coming over to my house to spend the day with us. I wanted to bake and decorate a cake for her but I had no ideas or creative thoughts. Well, that is until I saw the rainbow pictures on my camera! So I decided to make Sara a Rainbow Cake for her 33rd birthday!

I need to work on my writing with icing skills! LOL!

My kids, Her kids and I sang Happy birthday to her.

Sara Blows out her candles!

Sara and her kids.

L to R: Sierra, Keagan, Sara and Rowan

Here is a group shot. Thank Goodness for my self timer on the camera!

L to R: Sierra, Jasmyn, Kaleb, Keagan, Sara, Rowan, Mason, & Jen

Happy Birthday Sara! We really enjoyed spending your day with you! We love you and wish you many happy birthdays for years and years to come!!!!