Happy Spring!

My sister & I picked this shirt out for J a couple weeks ago.... He always says 'Hey Girrrlll' when he sees girls-- especially pretty ones (of all ages!)

We went to the park/zoo to enjoy this beautiful first day of Spring! (yeah, I now realize I set the wrong date on the camera when I put the batteries in this morning)

We met my friends and their daughter there.... J & J playing in the sand.....

J and his new 'girl' J walking in the zoo..... He wanted to hold her hand but, she didn't have time for that ;0)

Today was the first day of Spring... It was beautiful out so my friends invited J and I to meet them at the park..... J had never met their daughter J yet.... He didn't really seem interested in her at first because in his eyes she is still a 'baby' (she is 2 1/2) and he is a big boy.... But, as the afternoon went on he started showing interest and trying to get her to play with him but, then she was too busy to care.... Isn't that the way it goes in life? One party is interested and the other isn't then when party #1 is interested party #2 isn't.... They learn early don't they? The park & zoo are right next to each other so, after they played we walked through the zoo.... Both places were packed... After all the 'snow days' our area had this winter I think everyone wanted to enjoy the day...... J played in the sand box the most while we were at the park so, I think we are going to invest in one for him at home because he loves to create stuff...

After the zoo we drove by Rita's to get a treat... It was packed (they give out free stuff on the first day of spring) and so I didn't think J would wait in that line so, we went down the road to Baskin Robbins and he enjoyed a treat from there.... After enjoying our treat we went home to throw the football around and blow bubbles until J decided he didn't like the bugs and wanted to go inside.... It was a good day! I was so proud of J doing such a good job at taking turns with the toys at the sand box and waiting his turn for the slides..... He can be impatient sometimes so, I was a proud 'Mama' to see that!

We finished the night off by watching Scooby Doo... He loves that movie and I can't believe I had never watched them before now.... The actual 'movie' ones not the cartoons... Don't get me wrong the cartoons are cool too but, the movies they made several years ago are so funny! I enjoy them just as much as J I think!

While we were at the park, I saw someone who I had not seen in years.... She said hi and asked who J was.... I quietly said 'He is our foster son' (didn't want the whole park to hear) and she said 'Oh, he's cute.... How long do you get to keep him?' I told her we don't know and that he had been with us since October... She said 'Is he local?' and I said yes.... Then I said something that let her know his family gets visits (sorry can't remember because her next comment shocked me-- kinda) and she said 'So, they just want someone else to raise their kids?' I don't know this didn't sit with me very well.... I just left it by telling her his family is working to get him back.... Then I changed the subject by asking about her daughter and she introduced me to her 20 mo old son I had never seen (she is more an old friend of my hubby than mine so, we don't really see each other much)...

One thing I forgot to mention the last time I posted, was a cute thing J said a few weeks ago... We were eating pizza at my in-laws house and someone called him 'Darling' and he said "I am not a darling, I am the foster son!' I tell you-- the things kids say.... He has heard me call him my foster son and he is conflicted that I am doing 'Mommy' things but, I am not his Mommy. I told him Mr. T and I are substitute parents like when his teacher is out he has a substitute in school.... But to hear him come out with this so matter of factly cracked us up inside... We didn't want him to think we were laughing at him....

Well, I am exhausted from our busy day... I have been going non stop (almost I did watch most of Scooby Doo w/ J) since I got up this morning... Happy Spring everyone!

Bad Blogger......

Hello there! I have been a bad blogger lately and I am sorry.... Every time I say I am going to sit down and write, something happens and I don't get too....

Unsupervised visits have been mixed up lately for J. He has had 2 overnight weekend visits and some day visits. Shortly after the first overnight visit, J has been having some behavior issues at school. DSS, the school and I are working to get him back on track.... They are going to get back on a 'regular' schedule so, hopefully it will help J.

It's getting really hard to balance work and appointments for J. I have only been at my current job 8 months and I am nervous to push my luck at work. The caseworkers don't seem to understand sometimes.... They don't stress the 'it's your job as a foster parent' thing when it comes to appointments in my opinion when you are taking the classes.... I am don't know if it truly is, but, they make you feel like it.... I try to do the best I can and my co-worker and supervisor have been really understanding... But, what if they stop? I cannot jeopardize my job. I try to voice this and they say they understand but, I don't think they really do. I understand they have a lot of children to 'watch over' too but, I just don't know what to do.

J's behavior has been better at home... He is listening to us better... That's a plus! I am so glad spring is almost here... We have had some nice weather the last few days..... I can't wait til it stays warm and we can go out and do things with J again.... I want to take him to a local minor league baseball game, the beach and the park....

That's about it for now..... Again I apologize for being a 'bad blogger'... I will try to do better :0)