Another respite

As we have been waiting for a baby to come our way, which is what we really want, we have been doing respite for our agency.  Respite is when a foster family goes out of town and don't take their foster kids with them.  We enjoy doing respite, because it is always for just a short time and then they go home. :)  This is Maressa.  I was making a cake and she decided to help me.  She is  12 and we had such a good time together.  She was with us just for the weekend, last weekend.

This weekend we got two more kids for respite.  I love these kids to death!!!  They were just so cute. Laynie reminded me so much of my niece Emma when she was little, and Zaid was just fun.  Of course we still have Thomas, and he liked having little kids to play with.  He was so good with him.

The neighbor surprised us with this slide.  It was just sitting on our doorstep.  So we set it up and put it in the Living Room so all the kids could play.  They had so much fun.

I had Choir practice tonight after church and I could hear giggling and laughing.  I had left my phone on the bench with Zaid and Lainey  and when I was done I looked at my phone and saw they were taking pictures...of their feet!! I thought it was so funny.

We had so much fun with these kids.  They even loved going to church with us.  I hope I get to watch these kids more in the future.

Our First Placement

Today we got a call from our agency that there was an 8 year old boy that needed a place to stay for a couple of weeks.  This is for just a short term placement.  Jon and I talked about it. Originally we wanted only ages 0-5, but we thought since this was just a short term placement we could go ahead and take him.  His name is Thomas.  We just got him and he is having a really hard time because he just got pulled out of his home today, and he misses his mom.  Jon pulled the Xbox out and suddenly Thomas decided we were OK.  I was able to snap a quick picture of him and Jon playing.  I thought it was cute.  So we will see how things go.

New Years Eve 2015

On December 23rd we were officially licensed to be foster parents. Our hope in doing this, is to adopt some little kids since Jon and I seem to struggle having kids.  Our first little kiddo we had over New Years Eve. We just had him for respite for a week. Respite is pretty much just babysitting. He is such a cutie.  We spent New Years Eve down at my parents house in Grandview so they could enjoy Angel as well.  We have had so much fun with this little guy.

It is fun to see Jon in that father role. I can hardly wait to be full time parents.  What a great way to spend our anniversary. Happy Anniversary Jon. I have a feeling it's only going to get better.

Christmas 2015

On December 23rd, Jon and I went to Moses Lake to spend some time for Christmas.  We stayed the night on the 23rd at Jon's sister Melinda's house.  We were really worried about roads, but they were really good.  We had a little bit of fog as we got closer to Moses Lake.  We had a wonderful visit that night with Melinda.  Thurs the 24th, we went out to Karie's house to spend the day.  We had a great visit with all who were there.

Jon's mom Dee cutting Fruit

Jon, his Niece Sophie and her fiance Josh

Katelyn Patnode, Sophie and Josh opening gifts from Grandma Dee

Jon opening his gift from his mom

Brookel & Roscoe

That night for Christmas Eve, they decided to play out the Christmas story.  All the kids dressed up, and we sang a few songs.

After the kids did the Nativity, Jon and I headed south to my parents house in Grandview.  I was really excited to be there.  My cousin Jeff Juett, from Hawaii was spending Christmas there and I hadn't seen him 9 years.  It was so fun to see him and visit with him.

Christmas morning

Stuart

Jon with Uncle Tim 

Tim wasn't feeling very well and was cold, so he got all bundled up in some of his new Christmas stuff.  I believe the blanket was Aunt Mel's tho. :)

Jeff photobombing our picture

The kids loved being around Jeff.  They found out he was an extra in Jurassic World and they thought that was so awesome.  He was so good with these kids.

Mom spending some time in the Kitchen

Darin and Elise

Makaela

Playing Telestrations  We had so much fun with this game.

Before we left we all took pictures with Jeff

Jeff being silly