We love it!

We got a new lawn mower! We have a riding lawn mower, but it jolted too much and seemed overwhelming for me to handle. Wes works so much, and when he gets off he just wants to spend time with the fam. Not mow the lawn.
We wanted to get a battery operated mower, because it is more green. We were searching all over and this is what we found...

It is a great workout to mow the lawn now.
It is great for the environment, no gas, noise pollution, or battery charging.
The blade is sharp and gives a clean cut.
It takes up hardly any room in the garage, the handle folds forward.
It scatters the grass evenly and there is no clean up.

I'm excited for the next time I have to mow my lawn. Last time I mowed the front and Wes mowed the back. It's nice to just listen to my music and get a great workout at the same time. :)
So, there's my two cents.

Memorial Day Weekend

We went up in the mountains this year with Wes's family. I played paint ball for the first time, it was a blast. All the cousins that had been playing went to lunch. Wes, his brother & fiance and I played our own little game. We made up the rules. It was pretty funny. One of the games the guys were moving targets. We hadn't been shot the whole time, so at the end Whitney and I stood there and got shot. We just wanted to say we had been shot by a paint ball. :)
Byron got sick up there for like 24 hours. It was sad and nerve racking. It was a good 24 hours before he could keep anything down. Ethan and Lilly had a blast. I love building memories as a family. We did four wheeling, ate good food, played fun games, and spent good quality time with family.

Yay!

This morning at 7:30 I got the call I have been waiting for for over a week now.

Just before we had to give our foster baby to her family our Licensor called and told us I might not be able to be a preschool teacher and a foster parent. Something about not having so many kids in the house at a time. Yet, Wes would be watching our foster babies while I taught.

Anyway, I have been very stressed and just on edge waiting. Our licensor had been sick and out of the office for a while. She finally called this morning and told us we are good to go. I am so relieved. I definitely thought this road was the path we were supposed to take.

Apparently, it is! Yipee.

Oh the pain

Our foster baby has been such a joy in our lives. Kinship came forward (her great uncle), so we have to give her to them this Thursday. It just makes me sick with heart ache. I have cried so much. I thought that Heavenly Father was supposed to give us trials no greater than we can handle. I know, I know, we can handle it. Some days I just want to take her out of the country and forget the whole giving her to family business. Ha ha. J/K. It just hurts because the other family is almost done raising kids. We are still growing our family. She would be so happy with us. But, at least the other family has the gospel too. That is the comforting thing. We will get through this, but always miss her like crazy. We are so attached.

Easter Gift

We got an amazing Easter gift this year. We got a call last Wednesday that they had a placement opportunity through the foster care system. A little 6 week old baby girl. She has a biological brother who has been adopted by a foster family in our area. She was removed because of drugs that her birth mom was using around her. Luckily she doesn't have any visible signs of being affected. She is such a great baby! We have already bonded to her, it took about a day. Now she feels like our own. So, if you are reading this, please pray for us! We would love to keep her forever.
On Monday I will go to court and the judge will decide if we are going to shoot for reunification or if they will want to place her with the other foster family that has her brother. Their are so many contingencies places upon each case. It is definitely an emotional roller coaster. We just have to have faith that Heavenly Father will have happen what is best for her. We know he has been there for us and her always. We are just enjoying every moment with her! She fits in so well with our family. Our kids love her, I just adore her, and Wes is whooped. He helps take care of her while I teach, (what a great guy!). So, pray for us. Thanks!
Because of the rules or whatever I can't show what she looks like, but she is a doll!