LOOONNNG 4th of July Weekend!

I am SO MAD at myself for not having my camera attached to my finger all weekend...there we so many Kodak memories that I missed...Oh well- here are the highlights......

So Mon-Thurs were pretty casual this week! We mostly spent them getting ready, shopping, just hanging around- when we went to bed Thursday night we expected a kinda Lazy Friday- But instead Malachi and I took turns throwing up all night and NOT-sleeping! ARRRHG! So he called in sick to work Friday morning (which really sucks because now we don't get Holiday pay) We both felt a lot better- but really weak from throwing up and no sleep!

Friday morning I had planned to go bowling with a few ladies from the ward....Picture taken by Andrew



So we went bowling (He-89 She 69 Malachi-169 Me-??) When we were there one of the 2-year-olds we were playing with dropped a 6 lb ball on his hand and had to go to the hospital and got 5 stitches! OWWW!
Then we did go home and took a LONG very needed NAP
THEN Friday night we had a date...

One of the rules of foster care is that you cannot leave your children with anyone who is not "foster-care certified". So even though we have lots of family and friends around willing to watch our kids for a few hours- we cannot leave them, so since they got here (full-time) in February either Malachi or I have been with them 24-hours!! So we really NEEDED a date! There is a couple in our ward that runs a daycare (they have fingerprint clearance, blah blah, blah) So we asked them to watch our kids so we could have a date!

We went to Red Robbin for Malachi's Birthday Burger! Then went and saw Larry Crowne (it was pretty good) and went out to Ice cream afterwards!! It was so nice to spend time Just with my husband- But I am one of those silly moms that miss their kids after only a few hours!!

Saturday Morning we got stuff ready for our Big BBQ!!! Malachi took the kids to Home Depot to build at the kids workshop so that I could try to clean our house up with out them un-cleaning it as I went! We had LOTS of food and it was fun to just hang out with everyone! Malachi was in charge of the grill!

Since we got married I have worked at Albertsons and almost always had to work this weekend- so it was great to be able to do a big BBQ like this! It was really fun- Thanks to everyone who came!!

So we woke up early Sunday and packed and got ready and left to go camping at Talitha and John's Camp site! That was fun too! We swam in the pool and played on all the playgrounds, looked at the river, sat around the campfire, and hung out with all his family!

Monday morning we hung around the campsite for a little while then packed up and headed to Eatonville for the 4th of July parade! Then headed home for a NAP!! after we were rested and showered we went over to the fairgrounds for face painting and bouncy houses!

There was a free fireworks show at the fair grounds- and our crazy neighbors were shooting off TONS of fireworks-----but after a long, fun-filled packed weekend like that we were all in bed by 10! We didn't see any fireworks! Yep- I guess you can call up party-poopers!

I'll share really quick...

Yesterday we went to Her Ballet class and when we walked up she said " look mommy, Courtney.." (one of the girls in her class- that we met briefly last week)

Sometimes when we are listening to the radio they will say the "Pledge of Allegiance" and She will say "we say that at school".... So today we were at the Dollar store picking some stuff up for the party and she was carrying around a flag and started saying "...one Nation Under God- divisible- justice for all..."
Things like that just make me all warm and fuzzy inside!

She is SO SMART!!! I cannot belive how much she remembers and how much she is picking up- even when she looks like she is off in La-La-Land!

It's A party....

....And your invited!!

We are having a Birthday/ 4th of July BBQ

Saturday July 2nd @ 3:00- till Past dark!

Very casual- open house style! I know there are a lot of things going on this weekend so feel free to come whenever you want- for however long you want! We are going to have YUMMY BBQ food and play in the back yard. I am going to have a little blow up pool for the kids and sprinkler going (if it's hot) and games! We are going to have LOTS of food and we will just cook it as ya'll come! And Yummy Cake!! We are going to have a fire going for smores and hot-dogs in the evening.....It should be really fun!

For your information- Malachi's Birthday is on the 4th and Amanda's is on the 2nd...Gifts are not necessary!

Rainiers game and Taste of Tacoma!

So we had a really busy week- Monday we had a BBQ at dad's house, Tuesday we had Ballet, Wed we went to the Zoo, Thursday we went Bowling (He got an -86 She got a 66, I got a 115) So Friday was our Planned "sit around and do nothing day........ But Malachi called and the owner of his company had season passes and gave him 4 tickets to the Rainier game Friday night!!!!! WAHOO!It Really was a lot of fun- our Ticket came with a special VIP parking- 4 free Hats, free drinks and snacks and REALLY good seats! We were 3-4 rows behind the dug-out! He got 2 balls and we got a free T-shirt! He and Malachi Ran with Rubarb! I have to say Rubarb was our favorite part- his dancing was more entertaining than baseball!So it rained a bit, but overall it was really a fun game...and We won!! This kids loved it! And it was Friday night Fireworks, that was GREAT!!

So the funniest part was that our Pass got us free drinks- alcholic or soda...we got bracelets green for minors and blue for people who were of age.... I went with the kids to get a green braclet (I don't care, because I am not going to drink) and they were like "oh no, you get the "fun" braclet!" ....They didn't even ID me...Do I really look that old??? Malachi said it's because we have two kids we look older- but I am only 23- I want the kids braclet still!

After the Game on Friday I woke up early and went to garage sales with my momma! I think this is my favorite thing about summer! I love finding good deals! I got TONS of stuff for free this time- it was great!

Malachi took the kids to Lowe's to Build their "flag waving Boat" then we both came home around 1 to head over to the Taste of Tacoma...I have never been, but it was free, it was a really beautiful day outside and it sounded really fun! You are suppose to go around have little samples of food, either free, or really cheap and other family activies!

So it was NOT family friendly! There were TONS OF PEOPLE! 3-4 bands playing at the same time! The food was like $2 for a "taste" and Parking was a nighmare- $5- 10 blocks away... $10 5 blocks away and more as you got closer! it was just NOT fun...but I am glad we went- we walked around in the sunshine looked at what there was to see and we will not put that on our calender for next year!!!

THEN....we have a ward actvity! Our version of "Price is right" and guess who won??? ME the shopping queen!!! I always knew I would do good on that show!!!

Prima Ballerina!

Schools out for SUMMER!!! YEAHHH!!!
No more school--- So starts our summer of FUN!! SO She had her first Ballet class today...she was really excited to be a beautiful Ballerina...

....but durring the class she mostly just stood there and watched all the little girls bounce around, but when we got home she was practicing all the moves...maybe it will just take a few times for her to soak it in!

Scout and Mandy

When I was young we had horses...I did 4-H for awhile and rode some. I eventually decided that I was More interested in Choir and Drama then horses- I don't regret my decision because I LOVE to sing, but sometimes I wish I would have realized how amazing it was to own a horse! I don't think I took full advantage of it when I lived at home. I have been wanting to go riding for a long time, and haven't been able to find someone to ride with- or somewhere to ride! A few months ago I decided that I wanted to go and that I wanted to take my Dad along with me because I know he loves to ride too and doesn't get much opportunity to ride either. My Dad and I used to hang out ALL the time, go out to breakfast, go on road trips....but busy lives have gotten in the way of our quality alone time!
So I researched and researched and found a trail- riding dude ranch and called my Dad and asked if I could have a date- I didn't tell him anything else!

This was my horse- it's name was Scout!

It was REALLY hard to keep the secret for so long- because my dad is REALLY hard to surprise, but I did! So Saturday morning my dad came to my house bright and early and picked me up and we went out to breakfast!

This was Dad's Horse- it's name was Mandy

Then we headed over to Easton (kinda by Ellensburg) He HAD NO IDEA where we were going!!
We got out of the car and he finally realized what was happening- but then got a little nervous because he was not dressed for ridding- he was wearing flip-flops!

Luckily he taught me well and I was fully prepared with a duffel bag full of riding clothes for him (I had raided his dresser earlier that week) so he had boots, hats, socks, the whole shebang- What a sneaky girl!!

So it was a fun ride! I have never done anything like that- we went up mountains- crossed this river 5 times, went through woods and saw some beautiful countryside! It was great! Fortunately the weather was nice for us and we had a great time!

I have to admit I was a little soar the next day- but I was so grateful to have such a fun day! Something I very seldom get to do- and do it with my dad!

"Growing like a weed"

So I have always heard the phrases "growing like a weed" and "growing up too fast", but I never really understood them until now! I kinda thought parents were saying that it "SEEMED like only yesterday she was my little girl"...I didn't realize they meant literately!

HE is 4 years old- when he came here (in January/February) was in a Solid 4T, size 9 shoes and is STILL in a 4t and about ready to go into size 10 shoe.

So SHE was really small for her age- She turned 3 in February but still fit into size 24 months (some 18 month pants) and size 6 shoe.....So (in Jan/Feb)....but I cannot believe how much she has grown over the last 5 months! Dresses that used to fit her fine are SUPER short- and shoes that used to flop around and digging into the back of her heal---- She is now in a 3T ( or bigger) and size 8 (going into 9) shoe.....I don't know how to keep up!!!! She is gettin to be SO BIG!

Emerald Downs

So Grandma Swift and Grandpa Swift offered to take Tucker and Our boy to Emerald Downs Friday night...well we can't let him go by himself so Malachi went with them. And since Malachi was going Caleb went too. I stayed home and watched Penelope and Our girl. They had TONS of fun...He and Tucker get along SO well, I love that he has a boy to play with.

We are SO LUCKY that we have Such cool grandparents that live so close- (Remember Last weekend, Granny and Grandpa took us to the Rodeo) How much fun can we have? I wonder what we will do next weekend!

WE LOVE SUNSHINE!!

We have had some BEAUTIFUL days this week! I love all the sunshine!! So Monday was Memorial day and Malachi didn't have to work so we went to the ZOO (again, we love the zoo) (Please note: they were climbing up the spider web and HE fell off and Malachi caught him by his foot- what a good Daddy?)

Then Friday night we went to the Park over by our house and bumped into a few of our friend from church- they live close, it was kinda fun! So we walked on the logs and played in the stream!
Then Saturday Grandpa came and took us to the Roy Rodeo! Granny, Auntie Manda, Buggie and Audrey came too! It was SO MUCH FUN and the kids LOVED it! They saw Horses and cows- but the cowboys kept falling off- silly cowboys!


Sorry I don't have very good pictures to show you! I don't want to show their faces on here and it seems all the pictures I took are of their cute faces!

UPDATE: We got our adoption packet in the mail ( They have to do another home study and check our fingerprints again- 3rd time this year) So we sent in the back round check and Malachi has a doctors apt. scheduled in two weeks (for medical clearance) then they will process it (about 6 weeks) and then we can go to court--- we are getting closer all the time!!

Faith that the Lord will provide...

We are SO Blessed! With our new "budgetary demands" I sometimes wonder how we are going to do all the things we want to do, but every time I talk to people they say just keep paying your tithing and the Lord will provide, but I wasn't seeing how? I have herd many stories about people getting "mystery" checks, but I keep checking my mailbox and all I find are bills!
I think I was having a hard time recognizing Heavenly Fathers blessings- they come in so many shapes and sizes.
Generally when I go to garage sales with my mom and I am just looking for cool stuff- but now that I have kids we Need the next size up because when they grow we don't have much for them to grow into...
We got so LUCKY, We went to garage sales last week and I was just saying how I really need some 5T clothes for Him.... the very next sale we went to the lady had two little boys- I ended up taking a HUGE box of 5T,6T, and 7T boy clothes for ONLY $10!!!! THEN this week we went and all I really needed was size 9 girl shoes- the last sale we went to the lady asked if we needed anything specifically and I said 9T girl shoes- she went into her house and brought out a huge box of SUPER cute 9T shoes- dress shoes, tennis shoes, ballet shoes (SHE starts ballet on the 22nd) I got 15 pairs of shoes for $20!!!
They grow so fast I feel so blessed to have these wonderful children in my life and be able to be their mother and to have Heavenly Father helping me even with my monetary trials.