This + That Friday! {My Life}

Prom was last weekend!

And it wasn't for Kaia.

The County of Napa puts on a Foster Care Appreciation Party each year for the foster parents.

Rosa always has an amazing themed party that is totally Pinterest worthy with details.

This year was Prom.

SO.MUCH.FUN.

Like still talking about it kind of fun.

I searched for a dress with sleeves. Couldn't find one.

My niece had a bridesmaid dress we all thought might fit me.

And it did. Borrowed and didn't cost a penny.

BAM.

So I went sleeveless for three hours. 

We danced the whole time.

Like high school dancing. 

Fast, slow, make out on the dance floor.

All in the middle of the day.

Hey...they had the lights down real low in the party room.

We were even nominated for Prom King and Queen.

They picked a few couples/foster parents that represented these three things:

Currently had a placement.

Had mentored a birth mother.

Was an advocate for foster care in the community.

They then put all our names in a bowl and drew from there.

Our dear friends Steve and Anna won and we couldn't have been happier for them!

We then hit the dance floor again until the lights came back on and it was time to go.

And in true high school fashion...

well back in our day....

the girl always left Prom wearing her guy's bow tie.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

BottleRock is this weekend in our hometown.

It started Thursday with Macklemore.

We let Kaia go with some friends.

Her first concert experience.

She said it was the coolest thing ever.

She actually has the clean version of Macklemore's whole CD downloaded.

He sings the Thrift Shop song.

She said he sounded amazing. Wish we would have gone with her!

Dave said his first concert was when he was 15.

Mine was when I was 17 and it was The New Kids on the Block.

They are expecting over 35,000 people this weekend to watch over 35 bands.

We didn't get tickets. 

They were pricey...like $300 and Kaia has a volleyball tournament this weekend.

So wish we were going now though to see so many of our favorite bands

in our own backyard.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

So I haven't shared much yet about a weight loss journey I am currently on.

It is an 8 week program that includes:

eating healthy

exercising daily

prayer and scripture study daily

good deed/act daily

water consumption daily

It's based on points and geared toward whole body.

I'll share more later but you could search for some details if you want.

It's called...Feeling Great in 8.

It is a team based, points run program.

Easiest healthy living/weight loss I've ever done.

I've lost 11 pounds so far. Approx. 2 pounds per week.

Totally healthy. I feel great.

I haven't seen the 140's on the scale in a long time.

{I'm actually down 21 pounds from my heaviest weight right after we got the babies.}

Dave and I are on a team together with another couple.

We have been exercising daily together.

Usually at 9:30 pm because that is the only time we can get out of the house.

Sometimes we take the babies in the double jogger earlier...but later afternoons

are hot around here and not the best time to exercise.

A week ago we picked up our walking to a jog.

I have never liked jogging. Actually have hated it.

I have asthma. Allergy induced asthma...so this time of year is bad.

But we started running. 

First it was 1 time around the lap.

Then a few days later 2 times around the lap.

Then I added music...HELLO...and went a whole mile!

I asked Instagram friends for music suggestions.

Couldn't believe the difference it made in making me want to keep running.

Last night...I cranked out 2 whole miles without stopping.

I kind of like running now.

Might be a new addiction.

Adding a 5k to my bucket list and possibly and 10k 

and then we will see from there.

What about you....any songs you like to exercise/run to?

I think I'm gonna need a longer play list if I keep this up!

Happy Weekending.

Happy Mother's Day.

This + That Friday {My Life}

Just a few instagram pics to go along with my THIS + THAT post. 

I'm aprilkennedy on instagram if you want to follow along.

 Instagram not only hijacked my blog

but also my nice big fancy camera!

THIS has been talked about for years. Turning our garage into an additional hang out space.

I feel like a broken record when I remind y'all that we live in less than 1300 sq feet.

It wasn't so bad before babies came. But now...oh it's tight. My dad has been coming over on weekends for a few months now helping us clean out our garage. We threw away A LOT  and I sold a lot. I've stocked away the money and this past weekend we took a trip to IKEA.

Hello fun new orange couch and bright blue and orange rug! I feel a surf theme inspired room

coming soon here. And a TV was just added a few days ago. I can't even begin to tell

you how nice it is to have the TV on out there in the afternoon instead of in my main living space!

THAT man right there has the bluest eyes that weren't captured in this picture.

I titled this picture....hella hot.

Luckiest girl right here to be married to him.

Luckiest kids to have him as a daddy.

Luckiest baby boy in his arms right there.

THIS picture was taken right before the diapers came off and we let them 'swim' nakie!

We've had 90 degree weather this week. Speaking of hella hot.

We totally counted this as their bath.

Counts...right?

And who put the old coral pillows back on my outdoor couch?

They don't belong there...just the new ikat black ones!

THAT boy has my whole heart for my whole life. 

We are getting close to the 'littles' 18 month hearing.

We should know in a month or so the plan for this sweet family.

While we are supportive of their parents in trying for reunification, if they can meet

all the childrens' needs and provide a safe environment for them, in my heart

I know that this littlest guy would do best in our home forever with all of his special needs.

If reunification is not possible with his parents we are planning on adopting him.

Little Miss and her two other brothers would be placed with dear friends of ours for adoption.

We have all committed to one another to be family forever for the children.

{And have even committed to a somewhat open adoption with the birth parents.}

Plus I couldn't just walk away from our Little Miss and not love on her forever either.

And I love their brothers. If reunification does not happen we are sure of Heavenly Father's

plan with this family and ours. It has played out from day one with this other family...our dear friends, 

and is clear Heavenly Father's hand has been with us from the start.

Little Miss had her first sleepover last weekend {providing us a little respite care}

 with this special family and she did wonderfully. And the family loved every minute of it.

I do have to admit it was so nice to just have one baby home.

So much easier. Almost too easy.

But we were so glad to see her come running up to us also when she got home.

Little Mister played so well on his own. I think he enjoyed the break too.

Little Miss likes to steam roll her brother.

Although...we plan on lots of play dates in the future if adoption happens.

Why can't we keep both...some people ask?

Honestly, it is just too much.

And there are two other siblings that are involved.

Little Mister has the most intensive needs and we know him

better than anyone else since he has been in our care since 6 weeks old.

AND.....

I am swamped with appointments these days. I'm overwhelmed.

I'm not getting much more done than appointments.

Most weeks average 10 appointments a week.

three therapy appts for Little Mister

two therapy appts for Blake

one therapy appt for Little Miss

two visit appts each week with birth parents

and then throw in either a social worker visit, a doctor visit,

a specialist visit for Little Miss, a dentist visit and we are up to 10.

I'm ready for life to slow down a bit.

To find our new normal as a potential adoptive family

or as a family of four again if the children return home.

I know the transition will be hard.

Saying good-bye to Little Miss in our home will be bittersweet.

So so bitter for us, but so so sweet for her and her potential forever family.

Possibly saying good-bye to both of them...heart wrenching.

But I believe we are quickly approaching the day that we have dreaded/waited for 

when we first took this sweet sibling placement. 

18 months is a long time. 

A long, rewarding, somewhat-challenging, sweet time.

Installing Fence Boards to a Wall {My Style}

I showed this sneak peek on instagram a few weeks ago
of a little project Dave + I are working on for a customer!

Here is a picture of the room before install 

with a list of necessary tools....

a 6ft level

a stud finder

a saw (we used a compound sliding miter saw)

finish nail gun with longer length nails depending on depth of boards

a table saw to trim width of board to fit wall at top or bottom

I love my contractor hubby.

He already had it all!

Layout is important. We wanted to use different widths and lengths of boards.

We measured the height of the wall and then planned accordingly based on the widths 

of the reclaimed fence boards we were using from our client's property.

Yup...these boards were free and recycled!

Next and most important step is to use a stud finder

and a longer level to mark the studs all the way up the wall.

This allows you to know where to nail your boards as you install them

for secure installation.

We made sure our first boards placed on the bottom were level

before continuing up the wall.

And for the record...we did rip off the existing baseboard

on that wall only. It wasn't needed!

We continued to check for 'level' as we made our way up the wall.

This project was upstairs so Dave had two helpers...

me and my dad running up and down the stairs using the saws

to cut each length to fit!

Dave also made some special cuts on two pieces of wood to allow

the electrical outlet and a whole house vacuum outlet to be exposed.

Dave is super talented and was able to scribe each end so that no 

trim piece was needed on the sides. He was able to hand cut each end

for a perfect fit against a not so level wall surface.

But never fear...a simple trim piece of ripped down boards would

have looked just as nice.

We ended up piecing trim together for a top border when the wall was all said and done!

Stay tuned next week for some final shots of this room!

{also I've installed a new, easy to use 'pin it button' to all my pics...
just hover over the pic and the button will appear in the top right corner!
Please...pin away!}

Of Course You Are Going To Get Attached. {My Life}

{waving good-bye to daddy in the morning}

The number one thing I hear almost every.single.time I tell people that we are foster parents is...

'OH, I could never do that. I would get SO attached.'

well duh. that is what you are suppose to do.

I usually respond kindly with something to the like of....

'Actually really good foster training prepares you for heartbreak.

We are in the business of getting our hearts broken but that is exactly what these children need.

We know what our job is...and that is to put our heart on the line.

To provide love and safety for these children.

And to encourage reunification with the family when and if at all possible.'

They are as much a gift to us as we are to them right now.

I sometimes get offended by the 'I would get too attached' comment.
I think....

'then what kind of people do you think we are....cold, hard, callous people that 

bring children into our home and put a wall up and don't get attached?' 

I would never say that to them...it's too snarky for me 

but sometimes I look at them somewhat quizzical and think it!

Best job I've ever had....hands down.

And I don't even consider it a job.

These babies are part of our family for now.

They have been for the past almost 18 months.

A lot of times I drop the 'foster' part because they just feel like

part of the family.

Oh we are ALL attached. All six of us.

To each other.

Exactly how it should be right now.

These Four. {My Life}

{two posts in one day....what?!}

I leave for Snap Conference today.

Dave will be corralling these four by himself the next five days.

Good thing they are all cute!

He can do it. And he will do it GREAT.

His own way....

which is exactly what the kids need.

A little time of daddy's way.

Because Mommy's way isn't necessarily the right way.

Even though we think it is!

Then There Were Two. {My Life}

After taking the big kids away for the night to Santa Cruz,

it was time for a little date weekend the very next weekend!

Which meant my mom stayed with the babies two weekends in a row.

Bless her.

We headed to our happy place....Southern CA Beaches.

And I say beaches because when you are married to a surfer

you do not just go to one beach!

Our Marriage Maintenance Weekend started out sweet with a little upgrade

from a kind lady behind the Hertz rental desk to a Mercedes SUV.

We were rollin'. And smiling.

 Neither of us had ever driven a Mercedes before.

We ate yummy BBQ in Seal Beach.

Did a little shopping before the surfing began.

You know it was date weekend. Not just surf weekend!

Oh the sunsets in our happy place!

And the car wash signs.

Make sure you read the parts in the boxes.

Too funny.

This was posted at our favorite Frozen Yogurt place Velvet Yogurt

in San Clemente that we went to twice that weekend.

Once for our very first Acai bowl and second for a double date

with our sweet queen bee market friends Summer and Matt!

We brought exercise clothes and took brisk walks on the pier each morning or evening.

It was so nice to reconnect without a 15 year old well being a 15 year old,

a 10 year old jumping and walking all around you, and pushing a 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old in a stroller 

all while the 2 1/2 year old is trying to get out!

Saturday morning brought an early morning surf sesh with about 50 hand planers 

(body surfers using a small wooden hand plane to propel them up and out of the water)

while I wrapped myself in towels to keep warm and chatted it up with the locals.

That afternoon brought out the sun and a nap on the beach which included

the start of my summer tan!

We had hotel nightmare after nightmare.

First night checked in to a little hotel late that had a broken bed.

Seriously, Dave kept rolling off it all night long.

Our dream hotel for the rest of the weekend accidentally

cancelled our reservation after I had already received a confirmation number

and had spoken with someone in person to confirm the reservation

and was sold out due to spring break that week.

I spent the first 45 minutes crying in their hotel lobby because I had been dreaming of this view/location

for weeks with just me and Dave. You know us women and our expectations!

The hotel finally got it right on our very last night and it was a little slice of heaven.

I love a good hotel with {my style} beds and baths!

Dave instagrammed on Sunday morning he was paddling out to church.

He wasn't lying!

Our last morning there we ate breakfast at The Deck watching the waves

crash along the shore.

While waiting for our food, Dave squeezed my hand as OUR SONG, 

the one we walked back down the aisle to after we were married,

starting playing in the restaurant.

It was magical. 

And the perfect end to a great Marriage Maintenance Weekend!

Refreshed and ready to come home.

Kind of.

Things Heard in our Home Recently! {My Life}

KAIA::  'Anyone have any errands they need to run?'

Kaia got her driver's permit on Monday. 

As soon as she came home from her first driving school session

with Sweet Sisters Driving School 

she was legal to drive with Dave or me. 

I braved the first outing. 

We drove to Chipotle. 

Lets just say if you've ever had one of those 

Vulnerable dreams where you are naked  and at school

YOU KNOW HOW I FELT! 

I felt naked and might as well 

have been sitting in an open air car

in that passenger seat with a new driver. 

It's not that she isn't doing well. 

She takes her driving very seriously.

It's just nerve wracking not having a 

pedal or steering wheel on your side!!

Just the Four of Us.

We had a wonderful overnighter with our big kids.

We headed to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

We strolled.

We ate.

We rode up high in the sky.

We ate dinner at Hula's Island Grill and didn't have to rush

or hush a fussy child!

We ate way too much.

They have the best sweet potato fries...

all because of their wasabi ginger dressing you dip them in!

And then we checked into our motel.

Yes...I said Motel. The doors were on the outside!

{more on this swanky motel later this week...it was amazing}

We missed the babies. We pointed to cute ones on the boardwalk.

We talked about them a lot.

But we also talked about how nice it was to just be us.

To visit and sit and chat. 

We hung out.

And we talked about how really we have been just the four of us

longer than we have been the six of us.

But we all admitted that it felt like something was missing.

Kaia kept saying it felt weird.

And then the magic happened.

It was 9:30 pm.

We headed to the hotel motel pool to swim and sit in the hot tub.

It was a bit chilly. The hot tub was full.
So we ordered hot chocolates from the bar by the pool.
And we all sat and chatted and for sure agreed right then and there
that this special moment wouldn't have happened with the babies there!
One of us would have stayed with the sleeping babies in the motel.
It wouldn't have been ALL 4 of us.

It was perfect. It was just what we all needed.
A special moment with our children to reconnect.
To laugh and just be us.

We drove home Saturday afternoon and practically pushed each other down
because we couldn't get into the house fast enough to see the babies.

And then they cried ALL afternoon!

Oh and then Blake made us all laugh when we said...
"This is FUN!" and blake said...
'what kind of Fun....like fist fight FUN!'
his one-liners are killing us right now.

Heated Poo.

We are headed here in a couple of days with our kids.

Only the big kids.

Kaia & Blake.

Just the four of us.

I've talked about Dave and I needing a break.

Well our kids need one too.

This week is our Spring Break.

I asked Kaia what she might want to do.

She said...'anything but stay in a hotel with the babies.'

Don't get her wrong...she LOVES the babies.

But the hotel stays can be brutal.

Actually, I call them HELL.

Two cribs, no quiet space for Little Miss to sleep through the night.

Little Mister waking everyone up, including Little Miss, with his every waking.

Dave having to get dressed at 2:00 am because Little Mister woke up Little Miss

for the third time already and she is screaming for MILK...but we have no MILK.

So I start screaming to Dave....GO TO THE FRONT DESK AND ASK FOR MILK!

He isn't too keen on asking strangers for favors. Me, I'm not shy.

But I'm holding two crying babies. So he puts on his jeans and goes and gets milk.

Sheepishly from the hotel desk.

Let's just say, that night we got a second room that was adjoining

and empty and it blew our budget.

So back to Spring Break.

As much as Dave and I are needing a break...

and oh it is coming. You just wait and see.

We decided our big kids needed a break too.

So we are heading to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for a day and a night.

A night...in a hotel with just the four of us.

But now that the kids are getting bigger that means

Dave and Blake share a bed and Kaia and I share a bed.

Which is why Dave and I will be going to a hotel room

ALONE the following weekend.

woot. woot.

I joked with Kaia that we were staying in the hotel that said...

"Heated Poo" on their sign last time we were there.

The L had fallen off in 'Pool' on their sign.

We laughed at the time.

But she didn't laugh this time.

She actually got really upset thinking our little getaway would be

in a stinky dirty POO MOTEL.

and my kids know the difference between Motels and Hotels.

They are like their mama and prefer a Hotel.

(doors in hallways, not doors outside)

Wait until you see the sweet deal of a hotel I scored in Santa Cruz.

Although it might be considered a swanky Motel.

I can't remember if the doors are outside or not.

It doesn't matter though. 

There is reclaimed wood planking on the walls!

It is just our style.

Kaia will be beaming! 

In Case I Ever Led You to Believe I Was Perfect...Part Two.

This Little Mister is giving us a run for our money at nights.

I have no one to blame...but me.

No birth mother, no bad habits that he came with.

Nope, just me and the bad habits I started.

With Little Miss, I won't be the one to blame for her rotted teeth if she has them

because of milk given at bedtime.

She came that way and who were we to change up her routine

after being removed from her home at the young age of one.

That was traumatic enough.

But after about 3 months we did break that bad habit.

But Little Mister, I will be completely to blame for any rotted teeth.

You see...about 6 months ago the middle of the night waking was killing me.

And getting him up to hold him to feed him was too stimulating.

We'd be awake for over an hour.

In came the hurry up, make bottle and hand off to mister in his crib

before he would wake up in full wailing cry.

Now...I'm paying the price.

And if he has rotted teeth, I'm the only one to blame.

Darn foster mom!

But we are making progress.

Little Mister switched to milk over the weekend.

No more formula.

It was on his own terms.

He made the decision.

Would throw any bottle at me that had formula.

But give him milk only and he would suck it down.

With the switch came a water bottle stuck in his crib

 for any in the middle of the night waking.

And it is working.

We are also pumping him full of yogurt right before bed.

As much as he will eat to help fill up his tummy.

The past two nights...he has slept until 5:00 am.

I've heard him wake around 3:00 and suck on the water.

But no crying. No real waking.

In the morning, I notice it was really just a suck.

He isn't starving anymore in the middle of the night.

And oh...he isn't a good eater.

He is very protective of his throat.

He has sensory issues related to his diagnosis.

Mostly affecting his upper body.

He eats very little and is very picky.

Chews and spits out so much food.

So we knew he was starving in the middle of the night.

Which was why I was so bad with all the bottles in the night.

Can you blame me?

I didn't want him starving and crying and me ignoring him.

We have been working with a feeding therapist.

Did you know they existed?

I didn't. 

She comes to our house each week and helps with Little Mister's

feeding in the morning.

We brush his cheeks, nose, chin and then lips with a toothbrush

before meals to help stimulate the senses.

She set goals for our family.

And her first goal...to get him to sleep through the night.

I loved her instantly!

We are almost there.

She will be so proud of him. Of me.

Because you see, it was just last week I admitted to her

that I wasn't holding him for his middle of the night feedings.

I was handing him a bottle. In bed. Oh the horror.

I might have made it seem that I was getting up and holding him.

Just to save face. The first few visits.

But she handled it well, and we changed up the plan,

now that she new the truth!

I'm nowhere near perfect.

In Case I Ever Led you to Believe I was Perfect.

Just typing that title makes me laugh.

Out loud.

{picture is totally unrelated to topic...but I did catch Little Miss trying to change Dora's diaper!}

I've had a screaming headache for two days.

My family has had the flu again.

Not fair.

I've cleaned up my fair share of puke.

Including a crib full of puke that was slept in all night long

because Little Miss never cried out so I had no idea

until I opened the bedroom door in the morning and started dry heaving instantly.

I almost threw out the sheet but it was a favorite one.

Of course, she puked on a favorite one!

And because it is so gray outside...here on this first day of spring,

I'm feeling some raw emotions.

Which I feel like sharing here to remind me and everyone

else that this family is normal.

Nothing special going on over here....

except maybe loving on two babies that aren't ours...

that is kind of special...at least to us,

but we still have our downside and imperfections.

Oh lots of imperfections.

One in particular is this one....

Sometimes, just sometimes,

I let my kids stay home from school.

I call them mental health days.

I'm starting to think they are more mental health days for me

than for them.

Although usually on those days,

they are having a hard time pulling it together in the morning.

And I'm not up for the challenge.

But it usually because I mismanaged the night before.

Or scheduled a crazy busy week that has caught up to us.

{I've shared about this before on the blog, but only the pretty side of it.}

But on those mental health days the mornings are so sweet.

I usually go buy them some breakfast.

Like donuts.

And not just one donut, but a dozen donuts

for us to eat throughout the whole day.

We usually dispose of the box before Dave gets home

so I don't get the disapproving, but loving look from him.

Because it's usually then that he asks if the kids stayed home from school too.

For no reason....he says. 

He wasn't raised with mental health days.

Oh and I let them watch TV all day long.

They do nothing else except sit in front of the tube watching netflix.

Now you might be thinking...oh that is the sweetest mom.

You are perfect. You are doing the right thing.

Listening to what your children need. 

But here is where it changes.

Usually around 4:00 pm or so, when I am so sick of hearing the TV on,

 I snap on them.

Oh ya...I snap. And get all crazy.

Usually start raising my voice and asking repeatedly to

turn off the TV...mid show.

How dare I. So not fair to them.

But there is no stopping it.

Then I start giving them a verbal list of a few chores.

Kaia cringes...she hates verbal lists.

Blake usually ignores me. 

Because he is the baby and gets away with it.

Which then makes me go into

 'Hello....Hello....anyone hear me' rant.

And that reminds me of McFly on Back to the Future.

But I continue with my verbal list and rant about chores.

Laundry, dishes, bed making and bedroom clean up.

Because normally I have taken the day off with them.

Around 4:00 mental health day ends.

Mommy becomes the wicked witch and we are back to reality.

What started off feeling so right ends with frustration about a wasted day.

And poor Dave walks in around 5:00 when all kinds of unhappy is going on.

And guess what...he joins in with the unhappy and it is such a delightful

home to be in at the time. {total sarcasam}

Am I exaggerating.

Not really.

And I think you will believe me.

And hopefully will add....

same thing happening over here.

Just keeping it real here.

So you know we are all in this together!

This thing called REAL LIFE.

My Style...Society 6 {My Style}

You guys...I'm dying over here.

Seriously, these iPhone covers are so cute I need one for every outfit!

Society 6....you are definitely My Style!

Happy Friday.

Little Mister is more and more on the move

 at almost 17 months old.

Still not walking....but moving!

He has all kinds of tricks he's pulling.

This was his most precarious move so far.

Seriously his bottom is straight up in the air.

He could go join the circus,  

but we hope he hangs around a bit longer with our family!

Happy Friday.

Happy Weekending.