Marshmallow Cones

I bought these ice cream cones at Walmart. The packaging said that it was for kids so I was hoping for cones that were a little smaller. But I didn't expect this small! How do you get any ice cream in those?

They seemed sized for marshmallows, not ice cream. So today we made marshmallow cones. I melted some chocolate and got out our sprinkles. I put a little chocolate on one end of the marshmallow to hold it in place.

Then I dipped the end in chocolate.

The kids decorated.

It was a chocolately good mess.

Then they ate some, naturally.

Great, tasty fun.

What do you see?

When you look at this child what do you see?


We saw a child, a child who needed a family. We were told that she was 7 years old, perhaps 8. In fact she was 10 years old, perhaps 11. Although all the adults in her life thought she needed a family, she did not. In her mind she already had one. However, she felt betrayed by that family. She also felt betrayed by our family when she came to America and didn't receive everything she ever wanted. We have never met her view of what a perfect family is supposed to be. I struggled with that for years until I realized that no family would meet her idealized view of a family.

Over the years I have tried to teach her to forgive for those betrayals. She needs to learn to forgive so that she could move forward. She refuses. Until she can forgive, she will walk around with so much bitterness and anger that she will always be miserable.

I have learned something in life.....you can't force a person to forgive. It must come from their heart. They must decide to forgive. I wish I had the answers to help her. All I can do is pray for healing of her heart.

When I look at that picture I see my daughter. My hard headed, obstinate daughter....who I love.

Another Unfinished Project

These boxes showed up today. Free delivery is a great thing. In those two boxes is a ladder for the pool. The outside ladder folds up and locks so kids can't get into the pool.

My first thought after opening the boxes was that John was missing out on the fun!


I got this far before the directions said I needed to put it in the pool and put sand in it.....uh, not prepared for that. Tomorrow I will have to buy some sand.

So, I have another unfinished project at my house, this one sitting in my driveway.

Busy Day

The kids were busy today.....


So was the dog......

and my sweet husband.

We were all busy making pizzas together.

How was your day?

Lots of Green

Was it a green pepper or a green blob?

Anthony really didn't care.

He was pleased with his green pepper outfit.

He really loved the little hat made with a sleeve.

Mission accomplished!

Momma Can Make It

Momma....that is what my kids call me when they either want something or they are being affectionate.

A few weeks ago I had two kids calling me momma.......can you make us something?

Jason was holding a bunch of beer boxes and Tasha had two shower curtains. They were going to a non-clothing party together and needed clothing made of other items.


Naturally they needed them right at that moment. Jason ended up with a vest and kilt made up of beer boxes and Tasha got a top and skirt made with her shower curtains. All put together with duck tape. (The kilt was a big hit by the way although Jason was skeptical at first. How do you make bottoms with cardboard?)

I have got to say that those outfits were the most unusual requests up to date. I have made many school and Halloween outfits. The kids just naturally expect that if they dream it up momma can make it. Some days I am challenged but I love it.

Today Anthony told me that he needs a green pepper outfit for tomorrows play. Yep, tomorrow. Green pepper! Anyone make a green pepper outfit out there? I asked him if his teacher had told him his vegetable was a green pepper or if he had chosen it himself. He said he picked it. I asked him why since it seemed like an odd vegetable to pick. He said that I put green peppers in my fajitas. Naturally, I should have known, one of his favorite dishes.

So, I made a second trip to Walmart today and bought two t-shirts, stuffing and brown felt. I purchased a grey shirt in his size and an adult mans shirt in green. My plan is to sew the green shirt to the grey shirt and put some of the stuffing in between to add some fluffiness. If anything he will look like a green blob. When I told him I was going to cut the sleeves off of the green shirt since green peppers don't have arms he immediately said that I could use the pieces for a hat. Funny, that was what I had planned. I knew last year that A in Anthony was for Artist.

Well, that outfit was from last year (another last minute creation). If you want to see the green pepper (aka. green blob) on Anthony you will have to wait until tomorrow. I guess I'd better go....I have a green pepper outfit to make.

That pool water is very cold....but it didn't stop the little ones from trying it out.

Anyone with an Intex pool out there? I need to figure out the filtering system. I am also looking for a safety ladder. I have found one that folds up and locks and a different style the has a cover on it, I can't decide which would be easier to secure. I know my kids well enough to know that if I leave the ladder in they will be up it. Actually, any ladder set up anywhere and they will be up it.

I have been trying to get myself organized for the summer. It feels strange to not have anything due for school....I feel a little adrift right now but I have many things to do.

In medical news, we got an appointment for Larissa to get an evaluation done......in August. That was the earliest appointment available. We are on their call list if they have a cancellation. I also have an appointment for Sarah in July with the geneticist. A long neurofibromatosis story for another time.

In Joselin news....well, not so good. More lying on a regular basis. She took Sarah's phone from her bedroom and used it to text until I looked up the account, found the text phone numbers and called some of them. I realized that they were to/from Joselin's friends and suddenly the phone was found in a laundry basket (by Joselin). But she still denies that she ever had it. Even tonight Sarah lost her IPod (actually her dads because hers disappeared in the house) and we scrambled to find it because I had seen it on the island right before Joselin walked through. Suddenly it appeared but we must have been too quick because her facebook was still up on it. So, we live in a house with a person who is always on the lookout to take stuff. It is getting really, really old.

In foster child news.......the baby is finally walking. She just got up and started walking, little stinkpot, I think she has been capable of doing so for a while but liked being carried more. She is not a light little one either! Their court date is at the end of this month and the SW tells me that they are definitely going home. With her level of confidence I'd say that there is an 80% chance that they are going home. Just in case, she wrote down our cruise dates for respite care.

In fostering news....we have signed up for a 6 hour class in love and logic later in the month. Anyone hear of it and use it? We will get 6 hours of training hours for foster parent recertification and hopefully some new parenting ideas. We are always open to new ideas.

So, even though I feel like I am doing nothing, I am slowly getting things accomplished......even if it is looking for lost electronics.