Monday, April 28, 2014

Being the Foster Mom

No matter how much I love her and all I do for her, she's still her biological mom. No matter what she has put her through, how many times she messes up, how unfit of a mother she is- she's still her mom. I'm just the foster mom. It breaks my heart right in two! This whole process is so one sided! All the state cares about is trying to "fix" her mom so they can send her back to her. Even if that's not what's best for Kara...
Sometimes I'm really good at blocking out pain. Physical, emotional, mental I can sometimes sort of take my self out of it and block it. Not this. I FEEL. SO. MUCH. PAIN

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Boys' Surprise

Jake sold the boys' little 4 wheeler and has been searching KSL ever since for a little dirt bike. Well guess what he finally found? To say that the boys are excited would be an understatement! Dalton, Gunnar and I were at scouts when Jake went to pick it up. When we got home Gunnar noticed it on the back patio right away! He went crazy! He was squealing and giggling and jumping up and down! Gunnar has a bit of an obsession with dirt bikes and he is a really good little rider! Every day when he gets home he hurries and does his chores and homework, then he spends hours riding this thing around in the field. Dalton likes riding it too, but he's so busy right now with soccer, piano, his astronomy class at school and homework that he doesn't have near the time to ride that Gunnar does. Plus Dalton's not quite as obsessed. We have had an entourage of friends coming over every day wanting a turn on it. I've told them the rule is that it has to be ok with their parents and they have to wear a helmet. Gunnar is a great riding coach! Ridge so far hasn't shown too much interest in it. He loves to ride with Jake on the big motorcycle!

Gunnar


Dalton

Kara is pretty cute in a bike helmet!

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! We started off Saturday morning at the park at the annual Plain City easter egg hunt. Then we got some yardwork and projects done around the house. Kara and I went to a baby shower, and Saturday night Jake and I went to a fun Elder's Quorum party.
Sunday morning the Easter bunny came and we had fun watching the kids try to find all the hidden eggs and candy. Then we had a yummy breakfast, got ready for church, had a wonderful day at church, and a relaxing afternoon at home. Jake made us Fijian food for our Easter dinner. I wish I could say I loved it as much as he did! I'm sure if I had eaten it every day for 2 years I would have an acquired taste for it! It was so nice of Jake to make it for us! Later that night we dropped by both our parent's houses to drop them off an Easter treat. Then we came home and put the kids to bed. I am so grateful for our Savior- for his life, his example, and most of all the atonement. That through him I can return to live with him and our Heavenly Father again, and I can have my family forever! What a wonderful blessing! I love my Savior and am so grateful for his influence in my life!

Kara and Annie at the Plain City Easter egg hunt. Kara didn't really care much about finding a lot of candy, all she cared about was eating her candy!

Kara, Bentley and Annie. These girls are all the same age, they're birthdays just weeks apart. They have so much fun together!
                                   
Baby Jesse, Kara, Bentley and Annie

Kara and Bentley trying to decide who gets to climb up the ladder first!

The cute little girls behind Kara are in Ridge's old preschool class and they just absolutely adore Kara! 

Dalton, Gunnar, Kara, and Ridge with their candy after the Plain City egg hunt

Easter morning- looks like the Easter bunny came!


Kara again didn't care about finding any eggs- she just wanted to eat candy!


Kara and her "cheese" smile!

Ridge finding lots of eggs!

Gunnar's basket is so heavy he can hardly lift it!

 Dalton posing nicely for the camera!


Easter Sunday best:)