COOL SAVINGS

These are the items I received for free this week.

6 Johnson's Buddy Soap (this soap is the best--and the store paid me .72 to buy it!) 1 box Tylenol. 2 Sure deodrants, 2 boxes of toothpaste ( I made .50 on one box) 1 box Electasol Powerballs (with an overage of $1.26!), 2 bottles of Sunscreen, Nivea Body Wash, Kotex Pantiliners, 4 bottles Loreal ProVive Shampoo and Conditioner, 2 cans Lysol Nuetra Air Freshner, 2 packages of Schick Disposable Razors, and 2 boxes of Kellogg's Cereal.


My friend Nicole has a great blog where she offers information about coupons, sales and great deals. I decided to follow her example in an effort to stretch our dollar further! On her blog,she posts a picture of her savings for the week. I thought it was a fun idea! It was great to display everything on the couter and be amazed by all the savings!!!


She has a great blog--- http://www.frugalisfab.blogspot.com/
You should check it out and join in the savings!!!

OUR LITTLE FIRECRACKERS!!!!

Wikepedia definition of firecracker:

An explosive device (temper tantrums seen daily)


that produces noise (squeals, screams, giggles)


provides entertainment (hours of laughter and fun)


and is aesthetically pleasing ( gosh darn it they are pretty adorable).

It's the 4th of July EVERYDAY at our house!!!!!

MARINE WORLD

T-BALL

Opening Day---Go Sharks!

Olivia with her best friend Kaitlyn!

Olivia loved playing first base or pitcher. Any other position

and she got bored and would spent the rest of the time doing

cartwheels with Kaitlyn.

Hey batter, batter, batter, batter---Swing!!

The tunnel was a hit for all of the kids!

The best part of the whole season for Olivia was getting her trophy!

MONTEREY GET-AWAY

I have been lame about blogging some of the simple things that have been happening in our family. Someday I hope for this blog to be a great journal for my girls to read---so please forgive me for the next few posts.

In April we took a weekend get away to Monterey. Our purpose was to take the girls to Monterey Bay Aquarium. They enjoyed the aquarium---but would have most definitely thought the trip was a huge success if we would have just stayed at the hotel. It was so fun to watch them jump from bed to bed, turn on and off the tv, open and close every drawer---there was not an inch of the room that was not explored by them both. This was the first time they had stayed at a hotel---so they thought it was glorious!!! The buffet breakfast was fabulous, the swimming was great and according to Olivia---the beds were the most comfortable beds and she never wanted to leave!!! The aquarium was wonderful---unfortunately the pictures I have are horrible---I could not get the girls to stand still long enough to take a picture. They were too busy having fun.

MY DAD

This letter was actually sent to my dad via email a few months ago. My parents returned from their mission this past week and were able to spend a few days with me before they flew to their home. We all spent the weekend at my brother's house. I was actually with my dad on Father's Day, but with the packing and traveling and catching airplanes that happened that day---I don't think a big enough deal was made by me to tell my dad how much I love and appreciate him. Since I am using my blog as a journal, I thought it would be a perfect place to include this letter.



Dear Dad,

Today I was so homesick for you. I was at the gym participating in a group class. There was a man in the class that was about your same age, looks, and same fun-loving, teasing personality. He was making all of us in the class laugh quite a bit. I looked over at him one time and I swear I was looking at you. I watched how the others in the group admired him and enjoyed his company and friendship. All the sudden an overwhelming feeling of love and pride for you overcame me. I started to silently shed a few tears. The poor instructor kept coming over and telling me she didn't mean to work me so hard to bring me to tears. I just laughed and told her they were happy tears! I watched that man be appreciated and respected by the group and thought about you and all of the lives you have touched and how many people respect and appreciate you. And now you are on a mission opening up your heart and your arms to even more people and letting them feel of your love and your testimony. Thanks for being such a wonderful example to me. The other day I was watching a program about President Hinckley. His daughter said "my parents were loved all over the world. It is such a wonderful feeling to have parents that are considered beloved by so many people." Tears came to my eyes and a warm feeling in my heart as I spoke to the tv and said "I know exactly how you feel!" I love you so much!


Love,
Sheri

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE, IT'S FINALLY HERE

Day 70 has arrived!!! We will now meet with the social worker to sign papers and to request a court date---it looks like late June we will go to the courthouse for the final adoption!!!! It seemed like this day would never come. (Whew) Thank you for your prayers and crossed fingers!!!

Grab a Tissue

My brother sent me this clip the other day and I just have to share it. I found the story sad and beautiful, interesting and heartwarming all at the same time. It made me grab my girls and kiss their little faces--grateful to know that I could. You will most likely cry--so grab a tissue or two.

Just a quick suggestion---I let it run once so it could buffer and then I watched it--without all the stopping and starting.

http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=AC0C351872368ECAE6207EE1ED31EBE2?contentId=6471039&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1


And if you think you can handle it---here is part 2.


http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6471230&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

SWIMMING LESSONS

Olivia just finished taking swimming lessons and she LOVED it!! She is proud of the fact that she can dive in and swim the length of the pool. Olivia enjoyed the last part of each lesson because the kids would race each other using the new technique they had learned that day. The teacher told me Olivia was the fastest one---which Olivia loved hearing because she always had to race the boys. Here's to a great summer of swimming!





On your mark, get set, GO!!!




And the winner by a long shot!!

PICTURE DAY

At a recent adoption hearing the judge mandated that I provide the birth mother with a professional picture of Cosette. I send pictures and letters to Olivia's birth mother on a very regular basis, so I should be fine with providing a picture. However, I have been putting it off for a few weeks. I finally decided I better go get it done. Here are my favorites---needless to say I spent too much money. Thanks Melissa for letting Olivia come play---you are an awesome visiting teacher!!

P.S. Today is day #62----only 8 more days!!!! Keep your fingers and your toes crossed!!

Labor of Love

My sister Michelle is a wonderful cosmetologist. Her daughter's hair always looks so nice. I so badly wish that my sister lived next door to me. I do not possess her talent for fixing hair. In fact in years past I would consider myself horrible at doing hair. That is why I find it quite comical that I was blessed with a daughter that has a beautiful, but challenging head of hair! It is very thick and wiry---a combination that I am told does not bode well for my sanity.

When we adopted Olivia the very idea of doing her hair intimidated me (in fact it still does). I quickly learned that the African American community does not tolerate a child's hair being messy. To them, a neat head of hair is a sign of love, dignity and care and that neglected hair indicates the lack of a mother's love. I did not want anybody to think I did not love or care for my child. I have read books, taken classes, bought more hair product than you can imagine, and have asked other mothers for advice. I am still learning---mostly by trial and error.


Every day as my fingers fumble I worry that someday Olivia will look at pictures of herself and wonder why she was blessed with a mother that has no clue! I do her hair in an effort to show her that she is loved and valued and to take pride in herself. We try to make a big deal of her hair and praise her constantly and it is definitely fun to watch her eyes glow as she looks at herself in the mirror.


I recently convinced Olivia to cut 5 inches off of her hair and we have never been happier!!! Her hair is still thick and wiry---but there is alot less of it. Doing her hair use to take 45 min-1 hr. Now I can finish her hair in about 10 minutes. I was a little sad at first --no more cute, curly ponytails. My sadness was short lived when the next day we did her hair so quickly and painlessly! I love a morning that does not start with tears and rapid heart rates.


I will continue to learn, seek advice, buy new product and always try, in an effort to show my daughter that I value her. Olivia please know that as I struggle to learn and as you cry out in pain that I am doing it out of love for you. You truly are beautiful and I want you to know that.




As her hair thickened single braided piggytails
turned into double braided piggytails



Hair pulled back in a ponytail (my favorite) usually meant lots of tangles the next day(not so much my favorite)




Single braided ponytails led to double braided ponytails



She loves to wear her hair down because she likes when
it whips around as she spins.


Moments after we cut 5 inches off of her hair. She was so afraid she was going to look like a boy---the hairstylist did a nice job of fixing her hair so pretty.

QUESTIONS

These are the questions that ran through my head this past week.

1. How many times do you have to tell a four year old something before they finally get it and obey?

2. How come one year olds climb on EVERYTHING!! Do they not know the top of the piano is a dangerous place to be?

3. If moms are tired can we call in sick?

4. How come on the days we are extremely busy our kids choose to be extra clingy and needy?

5. How come I cried at the preschool Muffins and Moms program.

6. How come I have a hard time not laughing when my daughter puts her hands on her hips and gives me "the look"

7. How come my daughter always needs to go to the bathroom just as it is our turn to check out at Costco?

8. Do the samples at Costco count as a well rounded meal for my children?

9. How come it can't be day 70 already?

10. How come I was lucky enough to marry a wonderful husband who has taken care of all of the household responsibilities this week (and so many other weeks) so that I could fulfill my church duties.

11. How come I don't always like what I hear when my daughter imitates me.

12. How come my one year old can play so well by herself but my four year old can't even grasp the concept?

13. Is Cosette's hair frizzy because she is infactuated with plugs and light sockets?

14. Why are toddlers so intrigued with the toilet?

15. How come I love my calling so much?

16. How come in one moment I can completely understand why some animals eat their young and in the next moment my heart is bursting with love?

Kids Say the Darndest Things -- April 2008

Olivia: (upon discovering the throbbing in her finger due to a knife cut) "Mommy my heart is talking inside my finger.

Olivia: Mom look at this picture of this pretty house

Me: Yep

Olivia: See mom now THAT'S what a clean house is supposed to look like



Cosette: Crawling all over Olivia

Olivia: Cosette I am not a playground---I am just a kid

Olivia crawled up on my lap the other day and gave me a "long and mushy kiss"

Me: Wow! What a kiss. Where did you learn to do that

Olivia: That is a Temple kiss. That is how they do it in the Temple.

Me: How do you know that?

Olivia: I watched you and daddy on the day you were married and I need to practice so I will be ready when Easton and I get married

Mom I want the super nanny to come to our house and live with us.
You do---why.
Because she is nice.
Well she will make you be nice to mommy.
Hmmm...nevermind.

Mom get out of bed.

But sweetie I am so tired.

1, 2, ---don't let me get to 3 little missy

(needless to say I jumped right out of bed)

Why I Love This Picture

This all forehead, all smiles, silly faced little girl reminded me of an important lesson--- Clap for yourself! Cosette loves to clap for her accomplishments---no matter how big or how small. In this particular picture she had been working so hard to climb up onto the bucket. She finally made it and was so pleased with herself! (Nevermind that she was climbing where she shouldn't be) As I took this picture it made me think that I need to be a little bit more like her. I think sometimes as women we tend to be so hard on ourselves and compare ourselves to others. When in reality we should be clapping (even if it is silently) for our efforts and accomplishments. Thank you Cosette for reminding me about this important lesson.

I LOVE YOU

About 6 months ago, Olivia became interested in sign language. The first sign I taught her was I Love You. She loves signing this to me as we say goodbye at preschool, primary and other places. Sometimes I will be working around the house and she will call for me. I will look up at her and she will quietly show me the I love you sign. It has become quite endearing to me and I love the places and the circumstances she chooses to use the sign. It always warms my heart, but none more than the other night. I was singing "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" as she lay in bed. She asked me what the song meant and as part of my explanation I told her that Jesus is always watching over us. Her eyes opened in amazement and then made the I love you sign with both hands, lifted her hands up to the sky and said "I love you Jesus." I guess it is times like these that make the bad days worth it!!

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!!!!

After several appeals and court delays we are finally moving forward with Cosette's adoption!!!!! Last week was the final court date with the biological parents and all rights were terminated at that time. The birth parents still have 70 days in which they can appeal, which will of course delay the process. So, it is with much prayer, hope and faith that we count down these next 70 days. If there are no appeals, then after the 70 days we can apply for a court date so she can be legally adopted and then we will take her to the temple to be sealed to us Forever!!! If all goes well, it looks like we will be able to seal her to us sometime the middle of June. Keep your fingers crossed for us!




HOW DOES COSETTE FEEL ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

Me: Olivia mommy is so proud of you for not sassing your gymnastics teacher.

Olivia: Thanks. Heavenly Father visited with me and He told me not to sass my teacher anymore, so now I am not.

Me: Great!! What did He say about me.

Olivia: He said I could sass you whenever I wanted ---that it was ok.




Girl at park: Olivia why is your mommy white?

Olivia: What? She is white?

Girl: Why is she white?

Olivia: Jesus made her white---Jesus made my mom to be the same as Him



Olivia: Mom is President Monson part of our family?

Me: No he isn't

Olivia: Well Johnson rhymes with Monson and my teacher said rhyming words go together.

EASTER 2008

We had a wonderful Easter this year. Saturday we took the girls to a local egg hunt and then came home and dyed our own eggs. Sunday morning was great --- I love church at 1:00 on days like this! The girls had fun playing with the bubbles and playdoh that they received and then jumped into the bathtub to try out their new swimming suits. Olivia was excited to wear her new dress and had fun spinning and twirling in it. After church we had a delicious dinner of ham, real IDAHO potatoes, corn and salad, with strawberry shortcake for dessert. At dinner Olivia said let's all cheer that mommy didn't have any meetings today! I have to admit it was nice. The rest of the evening was spent enduring the sugar high and playing Princess Monopoly. That night as Robert tucked Olivia into bed she proceeded to tell him about how Jesus was resurrected-----thank goodness for primary teachers!!!