A Girl's Day

Last Weekend my girls had birthday money burning a whole in their purses, so we took a Girls Day and went to the Spaghetti Factory for lunch (had a free meal coupon for Gracie's birthday) and then to the American Girl store in Seattle. 

Here she is getting sung to, and her American Girl Doll Molly is in the next seat (unpictured).  All the female servers asked her about Molly and shared int he excitement of going to the AG store.

 Here we are in front of the store about to go in with their dolls in hand.

 We felt a special closeness to Kanani after visiting Hawaii this past summer.

We spent two hours int he store during scavenger hunts and looking at all the expensive dolls and many many accessories.  Let's just say that the girls blew their wad of cash, but we had a great time doing it.  I was a little spent after two hours, but we made such a great memory.  I love these girls!  I do not remember ever having a "girl's day" with both my girls, but it won't be our last!

Visits

Visits are just plain hard for foster kids and families.  They are the last right that parents have and are not taken away until the parental rights are severed or relinquished.  It is weird to feel two opposite feelings at the same time.  I feel excitement for the child knowing that no matter what they will always love their bio parents.  I feel good for the parents to finally see their child that they have missed out on seeing.  I feel protective of the child's heart if the parents doesn't show and if they do for how they interact with them.  Sometimes it is disappointing when the visit does go well since that means that we might have to say "good-bye" soon. It can also make me happy for the parents but protective for the child.  It is a dualistic emotional roller-coaster sometimes.  I want the bio parents to succeed and be re-united with their child and I also want them to fail quickly if they are going to fail so that the least amount of pain would be inflicted on the child.  But nobody really know if a parent is going to get their act together.  We just have to wait and see and endure visits.

Fall

Sorry it's been so long.  Hannah had pneumonia, then I got it and then ANOTHER cold.  Our family has been surviving ever since.  "Let me essplain.  No!  There is too much.  Let me sum up...."  (name that movie)  So, here are some pictures of the things we did manage to get out and do.

Here are the kids enjoying the local Cider Mill.  The sun came out and so did we.

 We did get to a pumpkin patch and do a hay maze and climb on this tractor.

 This shot includes their our good friend as well.

 Gracie being brave with feeding the goat.

 Hannah feeding the baby goat. 

 Jack gettn' in there too!

 This is Gracie's Birthday Party.  She had an American Girl Party and she set up a tea especially for her guests.  (Please ignore the homeschool mess in the background) Gracie dressed up like Kirsten (the pioneer doll) and Hannah was felicity (colonial).  It was sweet fun!  They also decorated their own cupcakes and drank camomile tea.

 And their dolls.

 Then the girls had fun solving a Samantha Mystery.  After that they watched Samantha and had popcorn and went to bed.  Easiest party ever!  What a great bunch of girls!

 Here are the kids earning their keep.  Come fall all the Fuller kids have to rake up the leaves.  With two huge Maple tress in our yard, it's gotta be done.  Gracie is showing off her nails b/c I took her to get her first manicure/pedicure.  She loved it.

 Here she is soaking up the attention at Red Robin as the restaurant sings to her.  She voluntarily wore the hat the entire evening.

 We also celebrated our favorite adopted grandma, Dorothy.

 Here's the Halloween costumes! Little Man was Yoda and he actually kept the hat on all night.  What a trooper.  Although he didn't eat any candy, he enjoyed the people that talked to him.

 Here's the crew:  Hannah is peter pan, Jack is Bobafet, Little man is Yoda, and Gracie is Laura Ingalls.  (That is the WORST picture of me, but the best of my kids.  See how much I love them!)

Whew!  Now I can have a few normal posts.  Happy Fall (to my two readers).  :)