This is it...

I can hardly believe it where did the year go? This is the last day of 2010... I am spending the day painting our TV room and then later going to a small early party then coming home to get in my pjs with the kids and my Mom and Sister to watch a movie and eat junk food to ring in 2011.

It has been a while since I blogged... so sorry... but we got a new house!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its been a long journey and some hard work but were in. I LOVE IT, its the most perfect house ever, its like someone was taking notes of everything Shawn and I talked about doing to our old house and put it in this one. Our furniture even fits perfectly, this is it! We moved in 4 days before Christmas and I had the whole down stairs unpacked and ready for Christmas Eve gathering to be out our house (I know I amaze myself sometimes!) Our first Christmas with the girls was awesome, J was sick but it was still momentous. Friends and Family spoiled them silly and they loved it, something I am sure A has never experienced. I took tons of pictures just need to edit them and then will post a few (only of A sorry no J) I missed Shawn terribly but he pulled out his Knight in Shinning Armor and was the perfect husband. The day before Christmas Eve he had 3 dozen roses delivered to the house, they are sooooo amazing!! I have never gotten that many at one time, they are beautiful! He coordinated with my sister who bought some presents and had them under the tree from him... I got a 16 bottle wine fridge whoo hooo cant wait to stock that puppy, he also got me from A a diamond bracelet that says I <3 U and there is a diamond in all the hearts, and then the best for last... I got the new Silhouette machine... I cant wait to get that to good use!

Since Christmas we have been busy trying to settle in, were about 75% unpacked and I am almost done with the last little bit of painting. We had bushes torn out, a pool fence put up, garages painted, light fixtures put up, common areas painted, carpets and tile cleaned... one day I had 3 different workers here it was pretty crazy. Now its just putting my touch on the place and I cant wait to finish and post before and afters, I have never been so in love with a house before it truly is a home and I'm bursting to fill it up with kids. We had our home inspection for our foster license/adoption process. Because we closed on the house a week late we may no longer be able to wrap up the adoption in Feb as planned but more like March or April. As long as it happens were patient but excited. As of right now it looks like we will be keeping J thru April/May time so she will be sharing her first birthday with us! If her Mom keeps up the good work she will be reunited with her family... bitter sweet. But we are licensed for 2 so as soon as the adoption goes through we may very well get a 2nd and see what happens with J, its all a process.

2011 is filled with so many good things...  J's 1st Birthday, A's 9th (1st with us) Birthday, my sis is turning 21, I am turning 30 (aahhh) Tyler is turning 18 and graduating High School (O, boy. watch out world) We will be going to OR to see his big moment! Shawn should be home on R&R some time and then home before the end of the year, Shawn's cousin Al is getting married so a small trip to CO for that big day will be in order (should be able to meet my twin nephews then!!) SO MANY exciting things and this is all just what we know... last year I had no idea I would become the Mom of 2 kids and get a new home or send Shawn off on another deployment... each and every day is an adventure and holds so much in a single moment. I look forward to reflecting on 2011 cause 2010 has been amazing and life is only getting started!! Happy New Year everyone! Be safe out there. (Stay tuned for new house pictures and Christmas pictures!) Love to all from the Adams clan.

Hello pjs, sofa, flat screen & Chipotle!

So Nutcracker was great last night had a really fantastic time! "A" really enjoyed herself and thats all that matters. Shes getting so much better at picking up the proper way to behave in certain settings, she really blew me away with how awesome she was last night which always makes for a really enjoyable time. The pictures are not the greatest (cellphone pics) but here was our night... "A" before the show, us before the show and then us when we got home from the show my dad took the 3rd pic so...
I had Army drill today was up at 4am and was out on a almost pitch black high school soccer field playing some rough soccer with my fellow soldiers at 6am. One of my favorite movies a quote kept coming to me as I was driving in to "work" (I work one weekend a month and am earning a full fledge retirement-thats so awesome!) any way the quote "Bryce, Bryce (some knocking on a door and some mumbling from Byrce) cordial smiles are exchanged and Bryce says "whats that smell?" the female character responds with "5am" any takers on the movie...?? Ok, Ok, its Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie (who I am madly in love with) thats my morning summed up 5am I am driving in. Anyway soccer was fun I rough housed right back withe boys and we even got soaked with sprinklers... the big boss said keep playing, so we did. Closed up shop after several training classes and got home around 4 to relieve my sis of baby duty so she could go to work. Now I am home with the kids going to run to Chipotle... in my pjs! To come home and watch a movie with the girls!!

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

Wow

So yesterday was a complete epic fail. I ate some Panda Express on Tuesday night and it was not good. I was hurling at 11:30pm until 6am, every 40 minutes. The rest of the day I had a slight temp and an upset stomach, the hurling showed its face again at 2:30pm. Talk about fun right? NOT.  I spent the whole day laying around trying to get my stomach to co operate with me and got nothing done in the house. I am now a day behind with my to do list and the big move is creeping up fast. Supposed to sign papers today but so far no word so my realtor thinks hopefully we can sign papers tomorrow and get keys on Monday. This sets my whole moving time line back too, had made appointments for painters and Merry maids to come on Monday... I am crossing my fingers I only have to shift those appointments by one day, I think I can swallow one day... I hope. So, today I dove back into packing and catching up on emails and house work. Its 12:30 and I am exhausted now. So, I fear I will have to take a nap. I got lucky and was given FREE tickets to the Nutcracker tonight, a show I have seen so many times and it never gets old. We girls in the family try to go every year but it doesnt always happen. I couldnt pass up FREE tickets so I am taking "A" tonight, she has no idea I will have to go sign her out a little early from school and then head home to get dressed up. I think this year the girls will still go the day after Christmas and we are thinking on making a sound yearly tradition. Speaking of, every year I host Christmas Eve and we usually do a dinner but are doing a lunch instead this year. Everyone seems to like it, that it will fit in there schedules so much better so it may be a new tradition! Kinda nice, Shawn and I always love being different! Ok, eye lids getting heavy, will post pictures of Mom and daughter outing later so be on the look out.

Ok how about Tackle Tuesday

So, Mission Monday was not an epic fail but it was not as successful as I would have liked. The day started out really well and I actually thought I would finish my to do list with time to put my feet. I made it to the Chiropractors for a 9:30am appointment when I came out my cell phone had been on silent and was on over load with missed calls, messages and emails. I zipped over to Dunkin Donuts to get some of there amazing coffee.. this was a little after 10. When I walked out I had set up an appointment for next week for "A", coordinated Christmas Eve plans with the family, got my schedule set for choir practice to sing on Christmas Eve, and had done some coordinating for my up coming drill weekend with the Army this weekend. Not bad right? I then went to go pick up 150 cards that were waiting for me at my Alumni High School Sunrise Mountain that the Honors Society had been kind enough to help with. I got home by 11ish and was feeling energized. I jumped on the internet to get some non-profit stuff done and that is where things kinda came to a screeching halt. I had some serious technical difficulties with Facebook and setting up and updating my non profit page... still not fixed because after 2 hours of sucked up time I threw the towel in. This was also about the time that my neck started hurting from the Chiropractor and I had a dull constant headache. I later found some re newed energy to do 2 loads of laundry, make dinner, do a few more Christmas cards and then was done for the day. So, today I try again... if at first you don't succeed try, try again!

In the world of the new house news, as of yesterday my realtor was told that we are still on track to close this Friday... today will be another phone call for a are you sure were on track cause she didnt really believe the loan lady. I am crossing my fingers. The house is now 75% packed and the remaining 25% could easily be done in less than a day. I am really getting excited for this journey ahead, having room to breath in a house with room to grow for more kids to be a part of our lives!! Maybe Shawn is right I have a giant heart and my sister too, that I am trying to save the world... its worth a try!!! Enjoy your Tuesday everyone!

Tomorrow is Mission Monday, says I

I am designating tomorrow as Mission Monday... I am on a mission to complete, yes I said complete my TO DO LIST. Dun, dun, dun..... Laundry is out of control at my house I swear "A" is wearing 2 outfits at a time cause I seriously thought I just did her laundry 3 days ago... apparently not cause she is out of the essentials tonight I discovered when I went to lay her clothes out for tomorrow. Bleh. I sat on her floor sorting her laundry and I said "I am going to run away to a far away island." She says "Mom, which island?" I told her I cant tell her cause I want to be alone so I don't have to do chores lol!! I did not accomplish hardly anything today and realized time is ticking away quite quickly. I hope to make a post tomorrow night boasting of my accomplishments... we shall see. Today was Church which is always nice and my Mom drove an hour to come with us, the girls always love seeing Nanny. We went to lunch with "A's" biological sister and brother as required by the case worker. I know its not nice to be judgmental and I work really hard not to be but her siblings who are being raised by Grandparent (not blood related, just tagged as Grandparents... long story) are just not good people for "A" to be a round, they bring her down without even knowing it and hold her back from moving forward. She desperately needs to move forward and she tries but these visits can set her back some times. I had been dreading this visit all week. I even suffered some serious panic attacks late last night, something I have not experienced in years not since my divorce way back in the day of bad decisions. Lets just say I am glad the day is over, the visit was not as bad as I imagined but it was not enjoyable at all. My Mom and sister were amazing enough to come and be my support, they did great. I think it was a good call too for "A" to see that support. "A" her self did amazing I was worried at her decision making process being affected but she truly proved me wrong, I am so proud of her and the way she handled it all!! Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, I am anxious for Christmas and am hoping for some good news on the house this week so that I can get into the spirit of Christmas a little more. As weird as it sounds cause I know thats not even close to what it is about, but without the house decorated I am just not feeling it this year. It could very well be because I am so pre occupied with the girls and Shawn being gone, who knows. This could be proved if we get into the new house and I can get the tree up and a few strands of lights outside, then see how I feel. I have been doing the Christmas music thing since Halloween... as I do every year. Christmas is my favorite and its been fun sharing things with "A" we watched the movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby... she loved it, which is good cause its a family favorite and a tradition to watch it every year. We watched Christmas Carol with Jim Carry tonight while drinking hot chocolate which was fun! I am dying to decorate though... fingers crossed I will complete my Mission Monday with success and we will get great news on the house and all will be well in the life of the Adams family!!

Christmas cards.... EVERYWHERE

It is one of those things that gets put on the list of having to do every year for Christmas. I am considering an alternative but with kids now I am not so sure. Everyone wants pictures of them and since they are children with a story everyone wants to know it. So, yet again I am working on our yearly Christmas letter, addressing envelopes and stuffing them with said letter and our family picture cards. On top of these 40+ cards I currently have 300 Christmas cards sitting on my kitchen table. Me and my giant heart Shawn would say, or my sister would say there I go trying to save the world again... last year I did a Christmas in July Christmas card drive at our church. I asked the congregation to bring in any un-used Christmas cards that would then be filled out by our young adults group and sent over seas to deployed soldiers. The church blew me away and I collected over 1,000 Christmas cards. We sent about 250 last year along with 250 empty ones in the same box so the soldiers could send some to there families back home. This year the congregation filled out 300 cards on two different Sundays in between services. I also got the Honors Society from my Alumni High School to fill out 150 which I will be picking up on Monday. Then I am headed to the post office to mail out 450 Christmas cards to our selfless troops over seas. I am so excited but it does put some weight on my to do list. More Christmas cards... I have to help my Mom fill out 50+ cards for my Army unit since she is the Family Readiness Group leader (FRG) for my unit and they do thing to support the troops and there families here and abroad. I some how became the FRG leader of Shawn's unit so I have ANOTHER 20+ Christmas cards to fill out for his guys. Dont get me wrong these are the things I love to do, just some times when you are in the middle of it all it can seem to be a tiny bit overwhelming. I am surprised I have not turned into a Christmas card at this point.

Baby "J" is gone all day for a visit with her family so I decided to make a break for it and run a marathon of errands. Its so much easier to do with out a baby in tow. It is still a bit sluggish for my liking since I did have to bring "A" she can be the pokiest 8 year old ever sometimes. But, mission was accomplished. I finished our angel tree gift shopping, I decided since baby "J's" family is living in a shelter with 2 small girls to get a bunch of things for them... almost like an unofficial adopt a family, so I finished up that shopping today too. Helped "A" finish her shopping, she saved up her money and wanted to buy something for my sister (her Nanny lol) baby "J" and me... what a good kid! I also did a little shopping for myself... had a stack of gift cards from my BA graduation from family and I decided to finally spend them! Now I am at home blogging when I should be doing Christmas card somethings, FRG stuff for Shawn (so he will stop bugging me about it), Army planning since I have drill on the 11th and I am the training NCO, and I have a GIANT pile of laundry to tackle. It never ends, no matter how hard I try. I am praying for a miracle cause I need to complete all these loose end projects so that I can finish packing cause if everything goes on schedule we will be moving in about a week. AHHHAHAH!! I think I can, I think I can....

I am considering, after the holidays, maybe running off to a remote island for a little while to do a whole lot of NOTHING!! That sounds so wonderful...

Hope everyone is enjoying there weekends. I do have to say how nice it is to be home on a Saturday I try really hard to make this happen. They are rare but I love them. I would so much rather be at home cleaning, or doing nothing that being out and about.

Be sure to keep an eye on my photography blog: todaytomorrowforeverphotography.blogspot.com
I have some posts coming up of "A" after we make it thru the move and Christmas. I also have the family session I did with adorable nephews coming up!! So, be sure to add our crazy life blog and the fun calming photography blog to your favorites!

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving Day! Us girls dressed in Brown and pink theme!

Time is ticking away

This happens to be the story of my life as well as the title to a Christian song by DC Talk a group I grew up listening to. I am bitting my finger nails down to the skin almost waiting for word on the new house. We are just about packed up and ready to go, I cant wait to not be tripping over boxes and my house looking like a Uhaul store threw up in it. I have seen the new house enough times that I have a furniture lay out plan and all the boxes labeled down to the corner of the appropriate room, the rooms of course will be labeled as well. We have so many things ridding on this move 2 being a Foster license has to be renewed and they have to do a home inspection. It would be dumb to have them do it on this house cause they would just have to do it again when we move. The adoption of "A" requires a home study they call it, a fancy name for a home inspection and the two cant be done simultaneously either, two separate. My sanity as well is ridding on this move, I just need a little more breathing room in the house now that we have kids and all that they come with. I am praying hard that everything goes according to plan and on the original time line so we can get settled in before Christmas!! It will be nice to start the new year settled into a new home!
The kids are growing like mad and they keep me very busy these days. I try to set some me time aside as often as I can, this being said I thought it would be nice to take a nice hot bath on Sunday and relax. Well, I  was apparently much more worn out that I thought and I fell asleep in the tub. I woke up in cold water and a GIANT kink in my neck. I tried to gut through the pain of the kink and let it work itself out but yesterday I couldnt do it any more. I had a constant headache and I could barley turn my neck to look left or right to be able to drive = dangerous. So I had to give in and go to the Chiropractor. Its not that I dont like Doctors I just prefer to let nature take its course and try to remedy at home with good old fashion tea, water, hot pads, orange juice whatever the situation may call for. This was not the case. The kink was so bad and Dr couldnt even pop my neck on the first try it was pretty painful. But, today I feel like a young spring chicken again it so wonderful!! No plans on the calendar this weekend and I am actually happy to just stay at home doing nothing with the girls! Hope everyone getting into the Christmas spirit and not losing the true meaning. Only about 22 more days til the big day. I will keep everyone posted on the up and coming move... plenty of pictures to share when it all happens!