Tuesday, April 26, 2016

4.24.16

This week was a hard one to come back to to adjust to reality. We had scheduled a home study through Utah Foster Care for Friday. We already have a current home study done through a private individual that is effective through next month to be able to adopt, but the state does not accept private home studies and has a different list of qualifications that you have to meet...thus a list of stuff for me to work on this past week. Blah!

After we got home she wanted more braids in her hair. We spent about half an hour, and added quite a few. She loved them, and insisted on them being in until I insisted they were washed out on Saturday.


We spent some fun family time together playing memory...as per S's request. We played several rounds before she was done.


One of the many projects I conquered while Brett was at work to meet Foster Care home study approval. This was much more work that one would have thought, but we nice to get something handy done on my own :)


Yet another thing I installed this week to meet foster approval. All chemicals have to be in a locked cabinet. Our pesticides, spray paints, fertilizers, etc... all together in one place.


We had our home study on Friday, but a friend needed someone to watch her 2 yr old while she had something at school with her kids. I debated whether or not I really had time to, given all the stuff I needed to finish and have tidied up but have a really hard time saying no. So, we spent about 45 minutes at the park. S was such a good friend. She helped to distract him when he wanted his mom, insisted on being the one to push him in the swing, and just play. I wish so much that she could have that little play buddy all the time. I feel like we've been on this road for ages. I wish the time would pass faster in that regard.  


swinging


pushing her little buddy

I had to get a picture of this cutie in her Jamaica shirt and braids. I loved it! It was a little sad to take them out that afternoon. We got dressed that morning without checking the weather...it had been so nice since we got back that we were doing shorts and t-shirts. We were going on errands and I had to run back in the house to get sweaters because it was so cold. It was quite the little reality check for me. We had been so used to constant temps everyday that this drop was unexpected to us.


We have our usual Sunday family picture. S wanted to be the photographer. I love how she would turn the camera and frame Brett in. She also insisted on setting the timer and running to jump in. 


little photographer


just her

She was quite grumpy about not wanting to get in a family picture with all of us. So, I set the timer and ran to sit by Brett. She decided to be funny, and ran to jump into the picture. She found herself quite funny. I love the way it was captured!




We went over to see Nana and Papa on Sunday evening. We had S ride her bike to wear her out a bit. Before we left she played through the window with her littlest cousin. It's lots of fun to watch them together!


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

4.17.16

 I debated blogging about this because of the appearance of the cost of it from others, but ultimately decided to because this is us and our family and used as a family journal of sorts. We have been on vacation this past week. It has been SO great!! We tried to widdle down our options several months ago when we were trying to decide how to celebrate our ten years. Ultimately we decided on Jamaica, and we are SO glad we did! We were able to fly for just taxes and fees by using Brett's frequent fliers. We stayed 4 nights free at a Hilton using Brett's Hilton points, and paid for just 2 nights.

This place was pretty great. It was right on the ocean, all inclusive, kids under 5 stay free, free activities to do there as well as free water activities. Brett has enough time put in with Hilton from traveling that he is a diamond member, and got extra perks that way as well.

I was a bit nervous traveling that long and far with S, but was hopeful it would all be okay. We had lots of activities up our sleeves for her while traveling, and different fun snacks. All in all we felt pretty well prepared.

I jotted down this note in my phone when we were waiting for our first flight there from something S said. It went something like this...

Me: The people are going to call our name so we can get on the airplane.
S: But she doesn't know my name!!

She had a very valid point there.


checking our bags


our little traveler


walking to our gate with dad


watching the plane get ready


pre-boarding our first leg of the trip


our ride on a brand new plane


lunch break in Atlanta


sunset over Jamaica


first morning checking out our hotel


playing in the ocean


enjoying a pina coloda


Brett's favorite


fun swimming together


birds at lunch


ice cream every night


live music most nights


an alligator under the couch- this one startled her to begin with.


our afternoon at the beach


at the water park


swim up bar


playing together


paddle ball


swinging on the beach


our cabana for a day





view from our cabana


pool time


our little fish




enjoying the beach


finding "treasures"


I'm not sure who she learned that from...not me....I don't sunbathe.


Brett enjoying the ocean


lounging together


a fancy dinner together


getting her hair braided


playing the drums


grateful for the large brimmed hat we bought just before leaving


our view from dinner


Jamaican sunset


after our dinner on the beach


Miami Vice, my favorite drink this past week


sunset our last night


Brett and S


our family


our "pretty girl" as all the locals called her


inlet 


our hotel


last walk on the beach...


...and in the ocean


sunset


view from our room


This was our favorite server, Javahn. He really took to S and would look for us at each meal whether or not we were seated in his area. He was SO kind and friendly!


She insisted pushing the button each time, and by the end kind of got over her issue of elevators.


us just before leaving


the courtyard at our hotel


view from the entry balcony


S's alligator friend


our place for a week


the bus ride back to the airport


leaving Jamaica


sad to go


view from the plane


thank you Delta for all the free in-flight movies


greeting the plane for our last leg


getting a ride from dad around the airport


the things you do to keep a 3 yr old happy


our Salt Lake sunset from the plane