Everett is 3!!

Our little guy turned 3 today! It really does go by so fast! He's had a crazy and hectic year! He's has also made good progress and is just growing so much.

He LOVES dinosaurs!

He LOVES the color yellow maybe even more!

He loves watching Blippi on youtube.

He runs and gives me the best hugs in the morning!

I am excited to be able to spend more one on one time with this fun kid!

Today we started the day off with getting donuts as a family! And they actually had a yellow one for him!

We then made our way to Dinosaur World!! The animatronics at the end of the museum totally freaked him out and he started to run out of there! The dinosaurs on the path were a lot more fun for him! He also did a fossil dig and dug for dinosaur bones. We just love this park!

We then stopped for his birthday lunch at a mexican restaurant and made our way home for him to open his presents!

We then gave his new scooter a try at the park.

And of course we had to get his birthday measurements down! My tall boy!!

We love you so much Everett!! We hope you had a wonderful day!!!

Baby girl's room

I finally bought something for my baby girl's room! The top picture is already in Emily's room....and the bottom picture will go above baby girl's crib. I love that they coordinate!! Getting excited!!

Saying Goodbye!

Tonight is our last night with these cuties. And this will be the end of our foster care journey....for now. It's been such an experience! So many highs and lows. So many days spent in tears for these kids. So proud of them and ecstatic for their achievements. So happy to be there for them as they cling to me when they were fearful. We've been constantly told that this was an extreme foster care case and not the norm...but really we didn't know any different since it was our first...and really what is the norm with foster care?!? It's so sad and absolutely heartbreaking to see where these precious kids came from, but it's so amazing to see how far they have come and overcame as we send them on. We started this journey in hopes of adopting our #4...that didn't end up being the case...and we are thrilled to welcome our #4 in a few months. But we do have hopes to be foster parents again in the future...not to adopt...but just foster to foster. There are so many precious ones out there that just need a safe and loving home. 

Hanging out with Everett!

I love that he wants to hang out with me....and I love how he does it in his own way!! 😂

It's a Girl!!!!

Patrick, Elliott, Emily and I went in for my ultrasound today....we knew going in that one would be excited and one would be disappointed. There were tears....but they were mine! I don't know why I cry when I find out I'm having a girl!! Gosh you hormones!! But I am just so thrilled to be welcoming another girl into our family and home!!

Dentist

Everett was a champ today! He didn't have the patience for the dentist, but he let the hygienist in his mouth!

Elliott had zero cavities....so proud of him!

Emily has a "struggling" mouth...and will probably always struggle with her teeth problems. But she did great and I'm so proud of her too!!

Christmas morning!!

We were so fortunate to spend Christmas morning with my parents!!

It was a great morning...the kids had way to many presents! But we loved watching them open their gifts!! It was also special to have the foster kids with us....we hope they had a wonderful Christmas too!

The biggest surprise for me was what my parents did for us. We are buying their old car from them for Patrick. I gave my dad the check a day or 2 before Christmas. And on Christmas morning I saw all their envelopes...which they always give us money. I wasn't going to have anyone open them yet because I didn't want them to lose their money. But their was one for "Baby Irish"...I thought that was quite thoughtful. My dad urged me to open it...and he said...it has to be used for the baby. When I opened it...I just cried....it was the torn up check for the car!! And now that money can go towards this expensive baby of ours!! Emily was quite concerned because I don't think she's ever seen me cry before! That was the best surprise for us!!