Playing Catch Up....

Okay, I've been really slow at posting, lately. Here's what we are up to:

Landon had his 6th birthday this last month. We went to Fat Cat's for a bowling party with Mom, Dad, Korbin, Jeff & Jan and their kids: Katie, Lydia, Gwen, Uncle Matt, and Mic & Melena and Mason. He got a Trick Tracks and Hot Wheels.

We, also, got a sweet new puppy named Diamond. She's half English Pointer and Half Germen Shorthair, although she seems to take more after the Pointer. She's very sweet and Daisy loves her. Daisy is being a good little mom to her. (The brown puppy is Ace, Matt's new dog.)

Korbin got his first "real" hair cut. It was very sad, but he looks really cute and they gave us a card to put his first locks in. I'll keep it forever!

Before

During

After

We had a really nice Christmas this year. Although, I'm usually way ready way before Christmas, but I got sick for the two weeks before and I fell behind on a few things. So, I kind of feel like I missed out on Christmas a bit.
We did our usual Christmas Eve at home, with chinnese take out. We usually watch for the Noel Star, sing carols, do the nativity, light candles and eat dinner, but this year I wasn't feeling that well, so we just ordered our usual take out and watched a Christmas show. I really enjoy our quiet Christmas Eve's. It gives us a chance to get to bed at a decent hour and wake ready for the fun!
Although, this year Santa's helpers kept us up until 1am. They had to put together a big train table for the boys. Apparently, they tell us it was very tedious work and very detailed. It looks great though and they did a fantastic job!

Christmas morning, Landon ran in at the usual time of 7am yelling, "MOM! DAD! SANTA BROUGHT A HUGE TRAIN SET!" He was so excited. Chris and I got him a metal detector, a book and legos, along with Santa's stocking stuffers. Korbin got a basket ball hoop, a thing he pulls (that pops) and a book.

I heard of people doing 3 gifts to represent the 3 gifts that Christ got. So, that's what we started doing this year.  Grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends give presents,  too.  It ends up being an aweful lot, so I like this new tradition we have started.  Chris and I bought each other Diamond for our Christmas present. Check out her adorable pictures!!

We spent Christmas morning at home and then went to my parent's house for the afternoon. We were able to see Victoria and her family there. Mom cooked us a nice ham dinner. Then the next day, we went back for a couple of hours and met up with Jacqui and her family for another ham dinner. Yum. Yum.

(Mommy, Korbin, Papa Holland, Baylee, Jacob, Nana Holland, Landon, Brinlee, & Kenadee)

This year I opted for home made gifts for my sisters' families. I made all of the kids knitted hats. (All 10 of them, plus a couple extras for the kids I work with.) It was kind of fun and nice to learn a new skill. I really enjoyed it and hopefully they like them. :)

(Nana Holland & Landon)

My mom gave Victoria her present, a beautifiul sweater, and says, "I got the smallest one there was." Victoria then looks at it, pulls it out of the box, checks the tag and it says 3XXX. lol!!! She got the smallest one in the big ladies department!!! lol! Anyway, we had a great laugh, I was actually crying laughing!

Here are some pictures of our day with the Holland Family:

Landon and Kenadee

Jacob and Auntie Victoria

Uncle Marc and Korbin

Mommy, Landon, Daddy & Korbin

We got the boys a really awesome sled and we got Landon snow shoes, like the kind you use to walk on snow, not snow boots. We spent a full day snow shoeing before New Year's. It was sooooo much fun! I have to download the pics off of my cell phone still. Landon did an awesome job and kept up really well. We walked all around North Fork, with Korbin in a pack on Chris's back.

After a full day of snow shoeing, I was too exhausted the next day to celebrate New Year's Eve, so we stayed in and started painting our bedrom. (It's not yet finished, but is looking soooo cute!) I, also, got to hang out with my sister, Jacqui for an afternoon. She and Caroline took me out for lunch, without my kids. Thanks Chris Wilsher for watching them!! Anway, there's the update. Now I just need to download my cell phone pics and do those! lol!
Happy New Year!!

Here's what I'm up to:

I got my first client about a month ago. She's a real sweetie and has beautiful babies. I am really enjoying working with her. I am really glad I decided to go ahead with Peer Parenting. It's very rewarding and it gives me the opportunity to get involved in Foster Care, from another perspective, the mom's perspective.

Being involved in Foster care, in one way or another, whether it be foster parent, peer parent, caseworker, or whatever you may be is not the most glamorous thing, but the excitement of helping reunite a family is just beyond words! Kamber is now home with her mom and I couldn't be happier! My client, I am currently working with, is doing great! She's genuinely trying and putting her all into it.

Just today, we opened our file with Foster Care to provide Shelter Care. What that means is that a baby would come to us temporarily, while the RFC finds a permenant foster family for the baby. The baby would more than likely be with us only a day or two, sometimes a week and very rarely they could stay with us for up to 2-3 weeks. They will only call us on weekends and holidays. Shelther Care is used for after hour care, until they locate a Fost-Adopt Family. They did tell me make sure my bassinet was out and ready to go because they can call at midnight and say, "We are on our way!"

Anyway, that's what I have going on right now, at least a fraction of it! lol! My life usually consists of taking care of Landon and Korbin and cleaning, to name a few. And that's exactly what I need to go do! Clean my house! I've been sick, still am actually, so my house has been neglected.

It's been the weekend, Chris hasn't been working and hasn't had anything to do, so I got on Chris about it. Chris said, "I've been taking care of the boys, I couldn't keep the house clean, too!" I replied, "But I do, everyday!" And my sweet husband then went on to tell me what I good wife and mommy I am and how he knows I do so much and he admits he can't do it all...lol...he never tells me that!! It made me feel so appreciated! Unfortunetly, sometimes I feel too needed...lol..ah...off to work I go!!

McDowell Family Christmas Party

Every year the McDowell's have a family Christmas party with John's siblings. This year Chris thought it'd be nice to start the tradition with his family. We invited everyone over to our house. It's been a while since we've all been together, so it was really nice to see everyone. We had all 5 kids, spouses and all 5 grandkids there.
In the morning all the guys went out on a pheasant hunt. Later, we had a declicious dinner, a smoked turkey made by "Grandpa". It was sure good! Then, we opened presents. We do a gift exchange each year by drawing names. (Thanks everyone for our presents, they were perfect!!)
Here's a cute picture of Korbin, now 20 months old!

This is Jamar, our nephew. He is Ty an Joy's little guy. They are expecting their second, a girl at the end of January.

Above, is Isaac. He's our nephew, too, and belongs to Justin and Diana.
Landon got binoculars from Grandma and Grandpa. He was so excited!

And last, but not least, here's Grace. She is Justin and Diana's newest baby.

Grandma made all of the kids pajamas. We didn't manage to get a picture with Isaac and Grace, but here's the other three cousins.

We had a great time and we were so excited to see everyone!!! Thanks for coming!

Celebrating Landon

Landon's birthday is on Friday. He will be six years old. I just can't believe it!! I figured I'd do a tribute to Landon! (Actually I just got a brand new printer/copier/scanner for $30 and I'm dying to try it out!!!)
Here's Landon's hospital picture. He is less than a day old.

Our Landon baby, sitting in a hamper...

Here he is at 18 months old in his Burnley Football Jersey (soccer) that his Grandad Browne gave to him:

Landon's Uncle Justin took this picture for us when he worked at Sears:

Here's little Eden (about 2 months) and Landon (about 15 months). I can't believe how they BOTH have grown!

This was our first professional family picture. Landon is about 18 months.

Landon two years old in an outfit from his Great Nana Hussey:

Ahhh....a two year old Landon and a Daisy puppy!!

Two year old Landon at Grandma and Grandpa's house, on Sugar, the good old horse.

And I think Landon's about 3 here. I can't believe how young everyone looks!

Landon 3 years old with some friends, Emily and Logan Hadley:

These are some of my favorite pictures!

And one more muddy picture:

Now just for fun. Here is Landon at 6 years old (or just about):

And here's Chris, at 6 years old:

And here's me, Christina, at six years old:

Soooo....who do you think he looks like?

It's been a GREAT and FABULOUS and WONDERFUL six years with our sweet little Landon boy!!! (There are more new posts, but you'll have to scroll down and click on "older posts".)

Please, Please, Please, Please....

SNOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!! We are waiting!!!!