Highlights from our trip to Boise for Allison's baptism.

We had a great time visiting with cousins at Allison's baptism this weekend. Josie and JJ decided to "clean" the bathroom in the nursery with Macy and Jayda. They worked really hard and got soaking wet!

On our way home, we were stopped near LaGrande, OR for over an hour while the freeway was closed. (we heard it was an accident)

We are fingerprinted!

Woo Hoo!!! We have one more thing done. I have 1/2 of my TB test done, the Dr. still needs to read it. Jason had more work that he thought yesterday so he couldn't get the TB test done yet.

We got a call from Irma yesterday asking if she could come do the home study today about 3...I said sure, then found out she was just trying to figure out who the appointment was with and wasn't coming here. That was good, because we didn't have all the beds we needed to be licensed yet and the house is a disaster. She would have had to make another trip over to see the bed we received from a co-worker of Jason. Now, we are loaning our toddler bed to Jason's dispatcher because he is getting 4 kids this weekend and needed beds for them. (They have already adopted 2 kids through this system and plan to adopt 1 more...they are brave to take in 4 at this time!) We are going to borrow their crib so we can have 4 beds in the house and be licensed for an infant too. The home study is the last thing we need to be licensed.

The fingerprints will take 2 weeks to 2 months to get to Irma. The home study is the only thing left...hopefully we are in compliance with everything they require to license our home. When Irma receives the results of the fingerprint check...we could have kids in our home within 3 months. Wow! That is kind of fast!

It's springtime!

I love seeing the beginnings of our flowers coming up! I was about to believe that spring would never arrive. Josie and JJ have been outside for most of the last 2 days and I have a sunburn to show for it. My dad would ask if I am bragging or complaining...I am bragging! I am so happy the sun is out and we can be outside a lot. I have been out pulling up more of our lawn for a flower bed I began last fall. Jason has talked about getting a flag pole to put near the fire hydrant.

The kids wouldn't come in yesterday to eat, sleep or go to the bathroom...all they wanted was to be outside with the neighbor children. It is so much fun to play all day. We are looking forward to playing in the water and our little pools. Josie has been putting her bathing suit on the last couple of weeks asking to go swimming. (20 degree weather doesn't permit that) Today it his close to 70 degrees and I am loving it!

References

Wow, I sent in my paperwork to the DSHS last week with every intention of contacting the people I hadn't for references and come to find out...they already have their paperwork to do. I guess now I ask for forgiveness instead of permission. It is amazing how fast time can slip away as we are working on every aspect of getting our family's additions.

We are also working on spring...I was beginning to wonder if it would ever arrive.

No more training!!!

Oh, sigh of relief...no more "training" to become licensed. I received a phone call at 7 this morning from the state saying they got my packet and the fingerprinting appointment is on its way to us. We also received the name of our licensor, Irma. It will be fun getting to know her as we go through this process...she will be the one to do our home study and check up on any accusations that come our way through the CPS office. The social worker assigned to the child(ren) placed in our home will also be doing checks on us and our home if there are other accusations coming our way. Jason and I are now mandated reporters for the state. That means if we see anything that appears to be child abuse (in our opinion) we have to call CPS or 911 immediately. I was joking that the calls are going to be there about us already because of our recent trips to the ER with the kiddos. Hopefully there won't be more ER before we can adopt the children.

Rice Krispies

Josie and JJ decided that dumping rice krispies on the floor would make a great sand box while the weather didn't permit them some time outside in the sand. It amazes me that they can do so much while I take less than 2 minutes to use the bathroom. They even had some toys to play with in their pile.

Chuck E. Cheese

Josie and JJ finally filled their potty charts with stickers and we took a trip to Chuck E. Cheese last night to celebrate. They were really tired, but that didn't stop them from running between games and rides the 1 1/2 hours we were there. Josie would take a bite of pizza then run to play on something with a token...back for another bite and token when the game was over. They each got something special to bring home with them and remind them that they need to continue to use the bathroom if they want more prizes later. We had a great time and we are very happy that Josie wanted something enough to work for it!

2 down, 2 to go...

2 more Foster classes are done...2 to go. It was a long weekend and a lot of information is running around in my head. Not only from the state, but Stake Conference also. I went to the Saturday evening session and Jason took the Sunday one while I was at the Foster class in the morning. I took home the message that we need to pray more often alone, as a couple and as a family...being very specific and using JJ and Josie's names while we pray for them individually. Missionary work was also a very prominent message during the sessions.

Josie and JJ are feeling the effects of Jason and I being gone so much...today there has been a lot of craziness. They are pushing every button they know about me to see what will happen to them. I have run out of ideas to keep them distracted and entertained. Coloring, TV, wii, and just a ride to the Dr. to remove a staple from JJ's head is not doing anything to keep them happy today.

To top of the craziness in our home...it snowed, hailed and rained for a bit this afternoon. Yippee!!

One more Foster class down...

Woo Hoo!!! We completed one more class and there are 4 to go. We received a lot of information last night as we work toward expanding our family. We also received paper work and more paper work that we need to fill out. There will be finger printing to do and so much more, but we are ready for it.

It's March!?

Wow! Where did February go? If you haven't already heard...Jason and I are taking the lessons so we can become Foster Parents. We would like to have 2 more children so we are going to adopt through the foster care program. We would like children that are younger than Josie and JJ, but not really wanting an infant. We have already taken the CPR/1st Aid training that we needed and we have 3 more classes this week. The finger printing and background checks are coming up as well as the medical release. We will keep you posted as we progress toward the additions to our family!