Andy's 21st Birthday

Happy Birthday Andy. Here are a few pictures of the last year or so.

Happy Anniversary

Love you

First Home visit

So the kids came to our home on Friday for the first time. The social worker brought them about 4 and they stayed till around 7, as she had to take them back to their foster situation by bedtime. Katie and Melody were very excited and took the kids around showing them the rooms and our toys etc. The little boy was really exited by the dog (Daisy) and was happy to get Daisy to chase after him as he ran around the backyard. He's a fast runner and didn't quit. Eventually Daisy gave up and jumped on a chair to watch the boy. And then he would stop and try to get her to jump down and chase him some more. They are about the same size, so when Daisy decides to jump up and lick his face, its a bit scary but he held his own and wasn't afraid.

Now that the kids have been here and we have been to their place, Michele can now drive to pick them up without a social worker. Next week, three daytime visits and then a sleepover on Friday night. The week after that we get to a double night sleepover and they can come to church with us. So things are picking up. Might even make the plan of being in our home by the 1st. We're trying to get the almost 5 year old into pre-school or mid-year kindergarten which is just starting up.

Another date

So today we had another meeting with the new kids. This time at the home of their aunt and uncle who are the current foster parents. They also do daycare work, so the backyard is full of play equipment. For most of our visit the other kids were on nap time, but our kids came out to see us and ran up to give us big hugs. We sat at the kitchen table and talked with the parents for a long time, mixing Spanish and English.
Tomorrow the kids are coming to our home for the first visit.

Two social workers came with us for this visit, but one of them excused herself as her role is finished and we transition to the last social worker who will be the key contact for the rest of the adoption. She'll be bringing the kids tomorrow.

Michele and I took a 'Survival Spanish' course on Wednesday. Spanish in 4 or 5 lessons. But unfortunately it doesn't come with some magic method. Instead it's some in person discussion and links to online lessons with lots of homework. But it's a start. Of course, Michele already has a good start so this is more like a review for her. I thought maybe I should focus on teaching the kids English more than me learning Spanish. We'll see.

Geocaching

Geocache Find. First for the year.

It was a long hike but the locator made it fun, even though the switchbacks were frustrating as we got closer then farther away till we finally closed in on the location.

The final find was a challenge and Katie got scratched up from the bushes and blackberry plants. But we found it, added our names to the log book and traded one toy for another.

NewYears Eve in CA

but not this year.