Pumpkin Patch

With out Botanical Gardens membership, we got free tickets to the Pumpkin Patch and free pumpkins.  Can't beat that, so we went.

Grandma and Grandpa were in town, they walked around the Gardens with us for a bit but (wisely) skipped the Pumpkin Patch.

We had to wait around for the hay ride to come and get us and take us to the Patch.  The kids had no idea what was about to hit them.

 Jessenia is smiling in this picture but due to lack of sleep from the Ward Halloween Party the night before she was actually a big Grump-o-la!

 On the other hand, there is no lie behind that smile.  Reese was Mr. Chipper.

 Although he looks like he is trying to get away from me in this picture.  Hmmm.... This is actually just him asking me a million questions about the overall wearing farmer who was driving the tractor for the Hay Ride.  Just the other day he donned some overalls and said, "Like the guy who drives the tractor!".  The things that kids notice and retain is amazing.... but they can't remember such simple rules for the life of them.

 Reese walked right into the pumpkins and selected the first one he saw that he was able to carry.  And just to show me how strong he is, he lifted it over his head!

 Jessenia started out with this adorable little pumpkin.  Somehow she managed to hoodwink her father into a giant pumpkin.  Must have been that smile, she is a charmer.

 Brisbane was in heaven.  As soon as he saw the pumpkins he started saying, "ball. Ball. BALL. ball. Ball.  BALL."  He didn't know where to look first.

 But he then proceeded to pick up as many pumpkins as he could and throw them as far as he could.  Sorry to the poor people who ended up with those pumpkins.

 Then it was a loooooong wait for the hay ride to take us back to our cars.  As rookie Pumpkin Patchers we made the mistake of allowing two of our children to get pumpkins bigger than our heads.  With one child that has to be carried, two ginormous pumpkins, and a four year old who was tired of being the only kid carrying a pumpkin, we were in a sorry state.

But we tried to make the most of it.  All in all it was a good experience.  We didn't even get to carve our pumpkins this year because Mack's schedule was too crazy.  Maybe next year.  But you better believe that next year we are leaving the Patch with smaller pumpkins that weigh less than our kids.

Ding Dong, Hostess is Dead!

I am supposed to be cleaning my house in anticipation of family arriving this weekend, but instead I am taking this opportunity to mourn the loss of Hostess.  If you haven't heard, Hostess is shutting down due to bankruptcy and the ongoing Baker's Union Strike.
I was supposed to go buy milk this morning, but instead went to Target to get boxes of Twinkies and Ding Dongs.  Good thing I did too, I got the last box of Ding Dongs on the shelf!
You had better believe that every time I walk into a store the next few days I will be making a beeline for the snack cakes and buying a box.  Since I know that hundreds of other people will be doing the same thing, and I got to get my stash!  Besides, the shelf life of a Twinkie has to be at least twenty years.  So you just can never have too many of them.
I cannot even imagine a world without Twinkies.  I know for a fact that Brisbane has never tasted a Twinkie (besides the one that he and I ripped into when we got home).  Reese and Jessenia I can be less sure about, but I doubt it.  Tragic.
Now I am sure that some other company will buy up the rights to the most iconic Hostess' snacks and this whole stocking up on snack cakes is not necessary (but very fun).  I am still saddened.  Ding Dongs were commonplace in my house growing up.  We quite often had a box of Ding Dongs as Family Home Evening Treats.  It is one of those things that I will always associate with my childhood.
I could not have single handedly saved Hostess, but this whole thing makes me wish that I had bought more snack cakes over the last twenty-six years.  I am a cheapskate, come on...I have an entire blog dedicated to being frugal.  But I am considering a weekly splurge now.  What if Entenmann's goes out of business?  What if we lose Snickers bars?  Maybe if I buy a favorite treat each week, I won't be so depressed when my favorite potato chip company goes out of business.  (Let's just keep this between you and I and not tell Mack about it, k?)
So go out and enjoy a Hostess snack cake.  The lady at Target's favorite are Ho-Ho's.  What's yours?  And if you see a lady wrestling someone for the last box of Ding Dongs, there is a good chance it is yours truly.

Halloween Night

I am so behind on my blogging.  I am finally getting around to finishing up Halloween posts and then I have to go back and do a few more October highlights.

We weren't sure that the kids were going to get to go Trick or Treating.  I was not wanting to take them out on my own.  Trick or Treating is a Dad job.  I don't know why.  Probably because my dad always took us Trick or Treating.  Staying home and eating, I mean passing out candy is a Mom job.

Mack worked really late on Halloween and got stuck in heinous traffic on the way home.  He made it about an hour before bedtime and committed to taking the kids down one street.

 Here is Dad and the big kids about to go out.

This is the only picture that Brisbane would tolerate being in.  Plus it is a much needed Zippy appearance on the blog.  We are loving our Zippy these days.
They weren't gone very long but when they got back I was surprised at how much candy they had.  Mack said the street behind us was a raucous of a time, with all the neighbors sitting on the driveways having a blast.  One family had set up a Haunted House even.  Our kids were the only little little kids he saw and people thought they were so cute, they were getting fistfuls of candy each.
The kids were obviously thrilled.  I was happy for them but as the weeks have worn on I am getting sick of Halloween candy.  I am thinking of throwing it away and telling them that Zippy ate it all.  She can't talk so I figure it will be ok.  (If you read this blog and don't know me, I wouldn't do that...tempting, but no.  I will however, eat my kids candy since they have no concept of which is the good stuff.)
After this year, I have decided I am a total Halloween Scrooge.  We got about 20 trick or treaters and they were mostly older kids.  Older in the sense that if they were my child, they would under no circumstances be out trick or treating.  One child even had the audacity to come into my house and pet my dog.  Weirdee.  I told Mack I was only giving one piece of candy to big kids.  They should have to walk farther for their candy, one piece at a time.  Yep.  We had a lot of candy left over.  Don't you even worry about it, I have taken care of it nicely since then.

Talking

Last month Reese heard Mack or I say something about moving (in a year and a half) and he has been obsessed with the idea ever since.  He wants to talk about moving four of the seven days of the week.  He asks us all sorts of details about what we are taking, who is coming, does he get to come, and how we are going to fit in all in our van.
A few weeks ago, Mack and I tried to explain to him that we weren't moving for a long time.  First we told him it was after he turned five and than realized it is almost ten months after he turns five.  So we changed it to, "after Brisbane turns three".
"Oh" <pause>  "Is Brisbane going to be talking when he's three?"
<Parent's laughing.>
Trying to help Brisbane learn to talk has been a family affair.  Last Sunday morning, Mack put Reese in charge of teaching Brisbane.  Of course Reese took this opportunity very seriously and attempted to teach Brisbane to say "Momma".  Of course he learned to say "Momma" the day before, but it was the thought that counted.
We are making slow progress.  But at least Brisbane can say more than "Up, ball!" and we have hope that he won't be a mute for the rest of his life.  When you ask him to say words he will repeat them after you, but if you ask for a word that he knows the sign language for, he just does the sign, won't even attempt the word.  Needless to say, we have stopped teaching him signs.
Currently his favorite word is 'outside'.  He pronounces it more like two words 'out side' and it melts him mother's heart every. single. time.  He walks around the house repeating 'out side' all day.  Adorable.
Some of the words he can currently say so that we can recognize them (in no particular order):
ball
up
snack
Momma
Dadda
Brisbane
bear
outside
baby
diaper
Wow, that was a short list.  I will have to ask Mack when he gets home and do an updated list.  Unfortunately, none of the words he knows are at all helpful in figuring out what he wants when he is wandering through the house whining at me.  All in due time.  We are just glad he talks at all.  Hopefully Reese can make further headway with some private lessons.

Adoption. Final!

This mother had a hard time sleeping Tuesday night in anticipation of the Adoption Finalization Hearing the next morning.  I think it was better than Christmas.  Strike that.  I know it was better than Christmas.  

The parents had to wake up at 5:30 to get themselves and the kids looking presentable for the first hearing of the day at 8:30.  When I went in to get the kids singing "Good Morning" (from Singing in the Rain) Reese asked if we were going to church (because why else would Mom be in something other than sweatpants).  I told him we were going to go get him adopted!  (He has no idea what that means despite our many attempts to explain it in four year old language.)

As we were getting ready I told the kids we were going to the courthouse.  Of course the kids thought that meant we were going to someone's house.  I explained to them some hocus pocus about "lots of rooms" "important stuff" and "judges".  "Are judges nice?"  "Let's hope so."  "Do they have toys?"  "Nope."  At this point I can already tell Reese is thinking this is going to be a bust.

When we loaded the kids in the car I told them that I was so excited to go and make them my kids forever.  Reese asked me what I was talking about.  I said, "Are you excited for me to be your Mom forever?"  "Uhhhh.....nuh-uh."  I guess when you ask a question, you should take the honest answer.  

We were there a little early.  I am a bit neurotic like that.  My kids are used to sitting in the car ten minutes before entering any building, because we are always early.  Sorry guys.

We made it through security and then had to wait outside the courtroom until all of the case workers and attorneys arrived.  The adoption agency brought the three kids each a super cute homemade bear.  Then they proceeded to run around the halls with their bears while Mom and Dad signed last minute paperwork for the new birth certificates.  The last thing anyone said before we walked into the room was, "Judge Hartsell is good, he won't care if the kids are running around the room".  Do you know me at all?  Do you think I want to remember this moment with my kids running wild around a courtroom?  I didn't think so.

Thankfully, none of our children seemed inclined to run around.  That's what happens when you put them in extra large cushy chairs that spin and have wheels.  Reese wanted to sit on my lap and so I got to hear the whole hearing through the mouth of a four year old.  (Commentary to follow.)

"All Rise."

R: "Why are we standing up?"

Me:  "To show respect for the court."

R:  "Respect?!"

Then the judge asked us to confirm who we are and we are sworn in.  I think Reese thought we were sustaining people in church.  Minor difference.  Then our attorney asked us a bunch of questions to identify ourselves.  Names.  Address.  Birthdate.  Confirm our wedding date.  At this point I realize Mack is totally distracted because Brisbane has decided to take his shoes off and throw them around.  Good times.

Then the attorney spells the kids names as they will appear on their birth certificates.  Reese's name was first.

R:  "That was me huh?  Reese?"

Me:  "Yes."

Then she spelled Jessenia's name.

R:  "That wasn't me, huh?  Not Reese?"

Me:  "Nope."

R:  "Was it Jessenia?"

Me: "Yes."

I then hope I answered the rest of the questions correctly because Reese was obsessed with his shoe itching and wouldn't stop talking to me about it until I took his shoe off and scratched his toes.

The last question the attorney asked is if it our desire to adopt these children.  That's when we both started crying.  We maintained out composure pretty good and managed to say, "yes".

After thatwas all settled the judge asked the CPS caseworker to make a recommendation.  She of course gave us a glowing recommendation as the best possible parents for the kids.  Thanks Nancy!

Then the judge declared us the parents of Reese and Jessenia.  That's the coolest part of the whole hearing.  Too bad Reese was still talking to me about his foot because it was a little harder to soak in the whole experience compared to Brisbane (so it was nice that we had done it before).

When we adopted Brisbane it was National Adoption Day so there was a bunch of hoopla.  This time it was just a regular day at the court so we didn't know what to expect.  But the judge invited the kids right up to his desk so we could get pictures.

 He shook both their hands and congratulated them.  Then he gave each kid a medal that said "Winner".  Of course Reese wanted to know why it said winner.  I told him because he won us as parents and we won him and Jessenia as our kids.

 Then we took a few awkward snapshots with the judge.  I am posting a few because there were four cameras and we didn't do a very good job of all looking at the same time.

 Don't ask me what Brisbane is doing with his ears.  But I love Reese's pose in this one.

 We are all kind of looking in the same general direction in this one.
After the pictures the judge let each of the kids bang on his desk with a giant foam gavel.  They thought that was awesome (especially Brisbane).
Then we got the heck out of the room and had to go do some official stuff.

One last picture outside (Reese and Jessenia look midget sized here.... probably a dilemma they will face their whole lives).
We then went to IHOP, since the adults had not gotten breakfast that morning.  Then went home and took naps.  And then went out to eat.  It was a glorious day.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and the kids.  We have come a long way since January 21st and we couldn't imagine life without all three of our little ones.  We are so grateful to all of the caseworkers and families who have loved Reese and Jessenia during their time in foster care.  And especially to the case workers and attorneys that made the finalization possible.  Thanks also to our parents, they have been our number one support team through all of the craziness of getting the kids and going through the lengthy appeals process.  Family really is the greatest thing on earth and I am truly blessed to be a part of the family that I am...both near and far.
I know my kids won't remember this day but I hope they know how proud and blessed I feel to be their Mom.  A lot of people have cute kids, but mine are the cutest.  A lot of people have sweet kids, but mine are the sweetest.

Halloween, Part 2

The weekend before Halloween was the Ward Trunk-or-Treat Extravaganza.  Our Ward puts on a pretty mean Halloween Party.  We didn't participate in any of the chili cooking off or costume contests, but had fun fraternizing with the Ward Members.

 I love that Reese and Jessenia walk around holding hands when they are totally overwhelmed.  They have always had one thing their whole life that they can remember, and that is each other.  I hope that they always remain each other's best friend.

 Here are the cuties standing in line to get a free treat, I mean to pretend to play a game and then get a free treat.

 Brisbane's favorite game was the cupcake walk.  We were partners, because let's face it....that Gentleman Bug had no idea how to play.  We may have cheated to win that cupcake, but since we had been playing longer than most of the other players and hadn't won yet, we felt it was well deserved.  Is it really cheating if when they call the number 10 and nobody is sitting in the 10 chair we are the first to run over and sit in it?  I didn't think so.

Mom with all of the kids before they are about to go Trunk to Trunk and get their treats.  They may not have known what Halloween was a week before this, but it didn't take them long to figure out that it is awesome!
Grandma and Grandpa Peterson went to the Ward Party with us and I bemoan the fact that I got no pictures with them.  I am really bad at taking pictures with Grandparents....it is a goal of mine over Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Grandparents, did you hear that!?  Consider yourself warned!