Foster Parent restrictions

As foster parents, we're given all sorts of rules and regulations we have to follow regarding the kids placed in our home. One being that we can't share pictures either with our family or online. I've been frustrated with that one cuz a lot of pics I have show Jaz or Kaleigh's faces. Well I mentioned earlier that our friends Katie and Adam were granted permission to adopt foster child Marceah, well along with that comes the privilege of sharing pictures. Here's a link to her blog so you can see just how excited they are, and adorable Marceah is.

www.adamandkatherine.blogspot.com

4 in the Tub-bub

Last week, some of our friends came over to play late in the afternoon. They stayed for supper, and afterward we threw all the kids in the bathtub-together. 4 boys, one tub...I'll let you do the math!

Doggy "Dungeon"

We put the dog's in the castle's dungeon because Duchess kept chasing after the wheels on the go-kart and jeep. They weren't very happy about it. Doesn't this picture of Duchess look like she's got her tongue up her nose?

Box Elder Bugs

For some reason, we seem to get inundated with box elders every year. For a while, I thought they were really gross, and was so embarrassed when people would see them at my house. Then-reality check-every person I apologized to about them said they had the same problem. After a while, I came to realize that box elders are harmless, although annoying. You just can't get rid of them! Now I can pick them up with my fingers and not get grossed out. Well this evening, Ryan's friend Colt came over to play, and they found a box elder bug on the kitchen floor. Immediately all the boys were fascinated by it. For a few moments, I was afraid Jake was going to eat it. Instead he played with it so much he killed it, and I put it down the drain. 1 down 99,999,999 more to go!

Nana's New Store

After we left the birthday party, Joel drove us out to my mom's Subway. The store recently underwent a HUGE remodel. Joel hadn't seen it yet, and I wanted pictures for the blog, so we ventured out that way. I didn't get very good pictures, but we did get some great sandwiches for the drive home!

Papa's 50th B-day Party

This last weekend we went to Plainview for Papa Schmitz's 50th b-day celebration. There was a golf tournament, an open house at the golf course, and afterward family and friends at their house. We asked to have Jazmin for the weekend so she could share in the celebration and meet our family, and unfortunately, she ended up being a bit under the weather. So I stayed back at the house with the kids, my sister and sister in-law, and a great family friend (as we used to call her our 2nd mom) Carol. Even though it would have been nice to be outside at the golf course, and enjoying the sunshine, it was a wonderful time catching up and just spending time with her. While growing up our families were so "melded" together, and did everything with each other. We called ourselves the McHeins' - a combination of our last names. We did make it out to the open house, and stayed for the get together at the house too, but we didn't stay overnight like we intended, instead we drove home. It was a VERY long day, but it was great to see so many friends and family-from all sides together having a great time. Once again Happy Birthday Papa...ya ole' fart!

Congrats

We want to say congrats to our friends Katie and Adam who just today were granted permission to adopt one of their foster children. They got approval from the Tribal Council, and will be starting the long, but rewarding path toward adopting Marceah