What you've missed :)

A weekend with Brandy and Jermaine:

Brandy and I at some super yummy crab place, in the middle of a very sad part of Baltimore.

Loved this shot of Brandy and her girl!!

The crab at said restaurant! 

Jermaine playing photog.

Though I did like this one :)

28 year old mommies getting tattoos, I find that so funny!

His name was Shane, it was meant to be.

 

The big star is our 'core' family and the little star at the top is for J, anymore foster children will get another little star :)

It was a great few days!!!!

I finally got to meet me new little niece. Elaina Brooke!

 

I tried to take her, but you know how parents are...

 

My Breezy girl!!!

Uncle Johnny and the new bundle!

Cousins!!!

I guess that's all the big stuff, at least the stuff with pictures. :)

Never Mind, the darn things ARE weeds.

I recently wrote at blog called Weeds, I think not. about how dandelions are not weeds, but fabulous little flowers that kids love to give mommy. It was a great blog, if I say so myself. HOWEVER!!!! We weeded the garden today, the whole front of the house. And it was FULL of dandelions. The things are weeds, horrible, evil, long rooted WEEDS. I recant! I was wrong!!!!!

Our Last Day

Today is our last full day with our little man. He leaves tomorrow afternoon. I cannot describe how wonderful of a baby he has been. He has an amazing smile, and infectious giggle, and the drooliest kisses ever. It's been such a blessing to have a baby in our home again. I wouldn't trade these last 8 months for anything. I wish with all my heart he was staying with us and was our forever child, but it's not meant to be. He has a loving home to go to full of aunt and uncles and his brothers and amazing grandparents. He's going to have a great life, they are wonderful people. When I had my own children, they were back to back, 3 in less than 4 years. When my baby was born, all three were in diapers and I was exhausted. I wish I had taken the time to enjoy their stages more, instead of waiting anxiously on the next stage, when they would sleep more, hold their own bottle, eat with their own hand, use the potty, sleep, and sleep!! I missed some of it. We were given the greatest gift in this little baby. Handed to use at 11 weeks old with a huge smile on his face. I cherished every moment with him. Even the sleepless ones (though on his behalf, he is a great sleeper), feeding him while catching up with my old friends on the 2am news. (my they've aged). I'm so thankful to have back a few baby moments. The boys have loved him like a brother and have taken such joy in having him here. We're going to miss him so much, and I'm very much dreading tomorrow's goodbye. But, we know this is what's supposed to happen. This is the system working the correct way. He loves his "dada" and will crawl to him every day when the door opens. He calls for his "nana" (we never did get a mama out of him) from the crib in the morning. He's waving hi and clapping, walking along furniture and standing on his own for a few seconds. He'll take his first steps in his new home and celebrate his first birthday there. He had a rough first few month, then joined us, and will take on his new life in a great home. And we will always love him from our home.

"It's my chore" "Can I have money?"

So my sweet darling 8 year old came out of the bathroom with bits of shaving cream on his face. He asked for a towel. I asked him what he was doing. He looked at me with a "duh" expression and said "I'm shaving, I have to do this every morning." I asked who told him that, (since his daddy doesn't shave every morning) He said "No one told me, it's a chore I made up on my list." He's so funny!!! However, none of his 'real' chores were done yet. He got them done. I came downstairs to him folding a load of underwear and socks. (quite well) I again asked why he was doing that. "To give you a break, mom, to help you out" Now his cheeks are turning PINK as he's saying this. I asked what he wanted, figuring it would be to skip school or to play the Wii. Nope. "Money" is my child's response. I told him it was nice to know that he could fold the laundry so well. He said "thanks, mommy" He has no idea of what he just did. Guess who's going to start helping me fold laundry!!!!

Look at those piles! He's doomed to help me forever!! LOL!!!!

Easter Scavenger Hunt!!!

So we bought the boys (and us) a Wii for Easter. We made sure they knew that it came from us and not the bunny. Darn bunny got the credit for the candy. So after a beautiful sunrise service at Ware Neck Landing.

We came home to do Easter baskets. After Easter baskets we did a Scavenger Hunt!!!! Here are the clues that I came up with, I was so proud of myself! :)

Shane, Jackson, and Sam:
This is an Easter Scavenger Hunt, there is a special gift hiding in the home. Look high and low, hunt and roam. You'll never guess what it will be, work together to fit it and see.
Clue #1: When you are wet and want to get dry, you use me, remember to look up high. (in the towels)
Clue #2: I make you warm in the winter, I give off heat, I give off light, to find me use your sense of sight. (fireplace)
Clue #3: Now you are warm, you found me in the fire, to find clue number 4, look even higher (top of the fireplace)
Clue #4: You're doing so well, I know what your gift is, but I won't tell. Keep looking is what I have to say, the next clue is where we eat and pray. (the table)
Clue #5: I'm a movie in mommy's room, it's something you hate, but she thinks it's great! (twilight movie shelf)
Clue #6: Daddy wears me when he wants to be seen, I come in all colors, yellow, red, and green. (closet shelf)
Clue #7: You're getting so close, but don't start to boast, you use me to make waffles and toast. (toaster)
Clue #8: You're almost there, mommy uses me to brush her hair. (brush basket)
Clue #9: You're only one clue away, you look at me to tell the time of day. (large clock)
Clue #10: I've lost, but the gist of it was: You've found me, play fair.

Hunting for clues.

Found one!

Found it and opening it!!!

Shane was the most excited! He's the only one that's played one before!

We've had a great time with it, my shoulders hurt so darn bad. It was a wonderful Easter Weekend. We went to Busch Gardens as well and the lines were nill, so that was fabulous!!!

Simply Succotash

I love this recipe and I even made it vegetarian this time around. (well nearly, they were out of veggie broth, so it had chicken broth in it). It got 5 our 6 stars on The Anderson Meter. :)

1 bag frozen lima beans.(run under warm water until tender)

4 cups of corn (fresh or frozen, even canned I guess)

1 red bell pepper diced

1 small red onion diced

1 tomato seeded and diced

1/2 Cup veggie broth

1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

salt, pepper, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, chives

Olive Oil

Heat Olive Oil

Add pepper, onion and saute a few minutes.

Add lima beans, corn, broth, salt, pepper.

Simmer 5 minutes.

Add whipping cream, tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

Stir well, heat until warm.

The original recipe calls for crumble bacon, and cooking the veggies in the bacon grease, but I didn't do that after the first time, the veggies tasted to greasy. 

Weeds? I think not.

Oh Dandelion with your little yellow rays! How can they call you a weed. When a little boy comes in with hands behind his back with "a present for you mommy!!!" and there you are, picked at your tops, little yellow flowers. When you start to die, you become enjoyment for children, blowing your seeds into the wind followed by giggles. You may not be the most loved plant, and they may call you a weed, but my dear dandelion, you are my most favorite flower!!!

My gifts this afternoon with promises of "there's a million more out there, mommy!!"

A weed, hardly!