A Trip to Cocoa Beach.

 Well today we went to Cocoa Beach! I have not been there for a number of years...ok a lot of years. We went to Ron Jon Surf shop. The first thing we saw was a diver cleaning out one of the aquariums it was funny to see him in there like that. 

When the big eel came around the tank the girls were shocked!

This is what it looks like on the outside. It's one of those you just can't miss it places on A1A. 

In side there were lots of surf stuff strange...

I like all the boards up like this.

Heidi being a little cheese cake.

Where is your smile?

We met Stef and Aaron there.

I was looking at the tags on the board and had to take a photos of it.

It says that surfboards are fragile! What!? Then why do people take them to the beach and ride them on waves drag them across the sand and slam them against the rocks? LOL I thought it was funny. the price was anything but.

Silly shoes we found.

We all went out and took some picks outside. The day was wonderful.

this is a fence I liked how it looked.

After the surf shop we all went out to eat, then off to the beach. We went to the beach that was just down the road from the house we use to live in when we were in the Air Force. Some of the housing is still there.

It looks just the same but now it is no longer military housing it's for rent and yes you to can live like the ilisted military families of years past for only.

LOL I thought that was so funny that they are now for rent. They are not bad. 3 bedrooms 2 bath family room, living room and screened in porch just feet from the beach. But after driving around there it is deffanetly not the best of neighborhoods any more. sad day. I have so many happy memories of my children growing up here.

The best thing we found is they have done a major upgrade to the beach we would go to. It use to be just a small tilted parking lot that only 4 cars could fit into and no bathroom. Big problem with little's in tow. Now its all fixed up!

This photos is looking down towards the base housing. They have torn all of the homes down that were on the left side of the road but there are still about 40 on the right side.

We then all had a lot of fun on the beach the wind was up but that did not stop the fun.

 Fun running from the waves.

Alas it was not all fun and games. Poor Heidi she was caught by a monster wave and the fun was over for her.

Heidi running up the beach to safety.

Cursing the sky! Why? Why? Why?

Then the tears and a wonderful big sis to help wring out her clothes. Josh gave up his shirt for her for the drive home so she would not freeze.

All in all we had a wonderful time and loved doing something different for a change. We hope to see more family soon.

Oh Halloween how I love thee.

I think Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays for as long as I can remember. The thought of getting all of the candy was just pure ecstasy! We generally made costumes digging though an old box in the basement full of old dance outfits and other miscellaneous items. It was so much fun planning for what we were going to be for weeks sometimes before Halloween. But I think some of my best outfits where ones I just tossed together at the last moment.

This year most of the kids wanted to carve a pumpkin. Will even got into the act and found a squash in the store over a week before Halloween. The is always a risk due to the heat and humidity things like pumpkins go bad fast.

Josh was not really interested in carving a pumpkin but he agreed to be the carver for Heidi.

So the best part came first the part that everyone looks so forward to each year. The traditinal gutting of the pumkins.

 

Yes that is Autumn eating an ice cream cone she was a little slow with snack and so was trying to do both at the same time it was funny.

Here is the treasure everyone was digging for. They epically loved how it would cling to their fingers and would not come off. We had pumpkin guts flung all over the table.

The carving began. Everyone designed out their own pumpkins. Heidi directed Josh on what she wanted and she wanted a scary witch. The all also cut out their own. I think some of them learned that the more complected the harder it is to carve.

 Josh working on Heidi's

Will working on his rotting squash. Never fear it turns out but you will have to see at the end what it looks like.

Abby started with wanting a bat but decided to go for the spider instead very ambitious.

With the carving completed it was time to get dressed. Josh and I got dressed as well. Yes I did also carry a bag and I got my own candy. Yummy. Sad thing is that I don't like candy as much as I once did but that might be a good thing. 

Josh is a carpenter, I'm Queen Elizabeth the first. Autumn is a ummm she kept changing her mind so I'm not 100% certain what she ended up calling herself, but she loved spraying her hair all purple. She has been begging me to let her die it in real life. Let me think about it...NO! Hannah is a witch. Heidi is Tinker Bell and Abby is a Dead Bride. lol. They all came up with their own things. It's never the same from year to year.

We headed off to get the good stuff leaving Ben and Will to hand out the candy and light the pumpkins. Here is what our front porch looked like.The bats hanging down flash. The purple thing off to the left is a big spider that moves and then there is the orange web above it.

Here is everyone's pumpkins.

Abby's. It was a lot of work and Will ended up having to help cut out the legs. She was very happy with the result. Also I don't think she will do one like this next year but then you never know.

Hannah's masterful mermaid. I would have never thought of doing something like this. I'm amazed at how creative they all are.

Autumn's she was very happy with it and enjoyed the fact that she did not need any help with any of the cleaning or cutting.

Heidi's and Josh's creation. Heidi loved it and said that is just what I wanted Josh!

Benjamen's It is so artistic I liked how it was so original. the nose I my favorite part.

This is Will's creation. it is a squash and so had the top part of it and the bottom part. He had this planed out for day's and he was so excited that he had Halloween night off so he could carve it and that it turned out just the way he had envisioned it.

We had a lot of fun. Not much candy this year. A lot of the homes we usually go to did not have their lights on. Oh well we got enough to keep us in candy for a few day's anyway.

Happy Halloween post a few days late. LOL

A lot of fun going on.

Over the last few weeks we have been doing the every day thing every day...Ummm well. First off we celebrated Heidi's 5th Birthday on October 4th. She was so excited for days prior to her birthday she would tell everyone that it was her birthday.

On the big day she took Dora the Explorer pop cycles to school she was the most impressed by the fact that they were in different shapes. That night we fixed up the house. I was just going to do a little crape paper and fill a few balloons.  I was running around like crazy trying to do my job and get things set for the party. Heidi wanted an ice cream cake. I had wanted to make her one of my home made cakes that I use to do for the other kids when they were little but she had her heart set on having one just like Josh did for his birthday. LOL except his was not pink!!

Well when Will went out to get the cake unbeknown to me he had taken the balloons as well and got them filled with helium. Way cool in anyone's mind so now we had like 25 balloons floating around.

We had a wonderful party and Heidi got a number of Polly dolls and the new Tinker Bell movie.

 

On October 12th when I got home from work I was met at the door by Autumn she was so excited because she had just found out that a T.V.  band called Big Time Rush was going to be coming to the Mall in Daytona beach and she wanted to go so badly. Big Time Rush is a show on Nickelodeon. There There are 4 boy's in this band, it's kinda the same kine of thing the Monkey's were in the 60's and 70's but the girl's think they are wonderful. I asked her when it was going to be and she told me the next day; and that it was going to start at 6:00 PM. I looked at my planner and saw that I had a 4:00 appointment. Autumn was discouraged but I told her that we may still be able to go because of the fact that the appointment would only take about a half an hour and we could get out to Daytona in no time at all. 

Well she started looking for more information when she learned that in fact they were not going to be in Daytona but in Altamont Springs that is down in Orlando and there would be no way I could get my appointment done and down there in enough time. Autumn was dissapointed but she handled it pretty well.

Ok now on the day of the event I was doing my job kinda lol when the phone rang and it was the family I had the appointment with and she said that she was not going to be able to make it and wondered if we could reschedule it. I was like let me see. Yes, yes we can. So I then stated to research about taking the girls to see Big Time Rush. What I found out was that they were only going to sign their new CD and nothing else. For each CD you bought you got a blue band to put on and with this band you would be able to talk to the boy's.

I also found out they were only giving out 600 of these tings and I wondered if there was any way I would get one of them. So when the girl's got home from school I told them that I was taking them to see Big Time Rush boy did they ever get their homework done fast.

On the road by 4:15 we made our way down. Got there and the line was half way around the building but we did not get worried we went in and asked if they still had any bands and they did so we bought the CD. The next thing we had to do was to decide who would be the one to wear said treasure. I chose Autumn because she was the one to find out about it and she was the most excited about meeting them. 

 SOOOOOOOOOO standing in line.

      

 While standing in line we saw a terrible travesty! the murder of a helpless Resse's Peanut butter cup. As we slowly filled past such a waist of a fantastic Yummy treat. Poor Poor candy never to fulfill it purpose in life. To never be devoured and licked off of the black paper cup. snif.

The sound of a helicopter caught our attention away from the tragedy of the uneaten candy and we were then entertained by Channel 6 News the girl's waved and jumped up and down. We wondered if we were one t.v.

After a short wait of ....2 hours we were getting closer. Behind up were the poor saps that did not get there as early as we did. lol

 

Almost there. Here is the person telling everyone what to do. He asked how many and I said 5 but we have only 1 blue band (aka that evil thing that we had to have for the girls to meet the band.) So he ushered Autumn forward and Hannah, Heidi and Abby off to the side. They could still see the boy's but not talk to them. Then one of the people asked why they did not have a band and I said I just did not have enough money to buy 4 CD's. Then  they asked so they're sharing the CD and I said yes. Well all of a sudden the man in the suit you see in the back ground walked up and said this wont do hurry up all of you can meet the band. My heart filled I almost cried. The girls were so happy!!

Here is the video. 

Here is the end product. They were so pumped.

Poor Heidi she was getting so worn out. It was now after 8:00 her bed time. But we could not go home hungery so we stopped off at Cracker Barrel and had a fun dinner.

I'm so glad that I was able to do this for the girl's. It will be a wonderful memory.

Baby Fox's

Here is the video of the baby fox's I got when I was in Utah this spring. I'm so happy that they have replaced that option on blogger.

I love being outside and enjoying this wonderful world God created. Each place I have lived and visited has filled me with such wonder and joy. lol even the bugs here in Florida are fascinating...as long as they are NOT in my house.

Life has changed once more at our house

As some of you may or may not know the girl's are living with us once more. The adoptive placement did not work out and the foster home they were in was not much better. Well I just could not stay away I had to keep pulling us back into what was going on. People would tell me its not your problem anymore so let it go. Well me being a control freak could just not do it. Plus I just love these girls so much it was breaking my heart to see them all so unhappy.

There is a family in Kentucky that had met the girls and they were planing on adopting them but they were having some trepidations due to the fact that Autumn did not want to go. LOL silly teen girl wanting to stay with your friends?! What's up with that?? Any way the foster home they were in the family really had no idea how to handel the girls and they were running the place it was a mad house and I'm not exaggerating. (not that I ever had...) anyway, there was no bedtime and the girls were staying up every night until 3 and 4 in the morning. It didn't help that the foster parents were on the strange side and did not sleep at night so they were up and thus led the girls to wanting to be up as well. (I wonder if they sparkled in the sun light?). Well the state wanted them out of there asap but they did not want to split them up. so they called and called and then I said ok. Just make certain that it is only temparary. They told me that all they were waiting on with that other family is to have their home studdy compleated and that it would be two months at the longest. so they moved back in with us.

The house is a mess. We have been remodeling the room above our garage and so everything that was in that room is now stacked in all of the bedrooms. I felt no prob two could sleep in our newly created guest room there is a wonderful full size bed in there and the other two could be in the other room. Poor Ben and Josh they would have to bunk up once more. Well the state said no way they all need their own beds. OK...what ever. Well then we put Autumn in the guest bedroom and had the other three sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor until we could buy some bunk beds. How hard could it be to find bunk beds? Well let me tell you its hard. Most places no longer sell them they told me that it was a liability problems. What?? Oh brother people today can't even sleep in a bunk-bed without getting hurt and suing someone.

Ok two weeks latter we realized that we would just buy three frames and mattress sets. Ta-da. everyone is now sleeping in their own little beds.

So now we are once more getting into the mode of having a house full and we were letting that family call the girls anytime they wanted and things were moving forward. Autumn was even getting on board when the unthinkably happened. Will and I began to have the feeling that the girls just needed to stay with us. And so we called and I told the Case worker that if things did not work out with that other family we would keep the girls and adopt them. She said what do you mean. do you want the girls or not. I said yes we want the girls but I don't want to interfere with that other family because they were wanting adopt the girls. The case worker informed me that the other family did not have the bond with the girls we did and if we wanted to adopt then to just say so. And so I said so.

That got some excitement going for about an hour when I was called back and told that we needed to follow protocol and that we would have to be put in with the other family and they would have to meet and decide who would be the best fit for the girls. So here we are we can't tell the girls what we want to do and its so frustrating especially when they say how much they were going to miss us and that they wished they could just stay with us. Autumn even said the other night that once she is 18 she is going to be unadopted and move back to Florida. It made me sad.

I don't know how long we will have to wait and i hope they let us keep the girls. If we do we are planing to come to Utah and have them sealed to us in the Salt Lake Temple; because that is where this family started an it just would not seam right for it to happen any place else.

Here are some pitchers I took recently of them at the splash park.

Life is full and believe it or not I feel so much better having them in our house even when they are being pesty!! LOL

My job.

 As you may or may not know I have a job. I am a Children's targeted case manager. What I do is I help families get services like counseling, occupational therapy, link them to basic needs like food stamps, child care and anything you can imagine. I also help get their children involved in a peer group activity to help them with socializing.

Ok so I have to go to their home and discuss what needs they have, if it a transfer case then I just monitor the situation and get them hooked up to what ever they need.

Today I had a visit with a family it's a mom her partner and her son. When I called to set up my home visit she made a big deal about her being in a same sex relationship, she kept telling me over and over; I was like ok...so. It's not like I don't know people in same sex relationships. She was a little put out I guess that I was not more shocked. LOL

I get there and the house is all dark. It's 9 AM and I'm wondering if perhaps she forgot I was coming and had gone out for the day. Well I knock and after a moment a window next to the door opens and a woman tells me just a moment. I wait and after a bit the door opens and there she is in her pj's, ok no big deal. she then asks me in and the house in completely dark it was like walking into a cave. She can hardly keep here eyes open and the thought that she was hung totally hung over entered my mind. she fumbled in the kitchen trying to get her coffee pot on and then she asks me into the rest of the apartment. (the door I came in opened into the kitchen) So she walks ahead of me into the living room, does not turn on any light...when she gets to the other side of the room she pulls a blanket off of the window letting a little light but the fact that there is a blind behind that blanket and she does not open it keeps the room in almost complete darkness.

She goes into one of the bedrooms to get her son he comes out in his pajama pants with no top holding a mini box of Pop's cereal; he runs and jumps onto the couch next to me and proceeds to eat it. I get the paper work out of the way first off and then we begin to talk while I'm trying to find out how this little boy is doing on his case plan she is up and down multiple times getting things out of the kitchen at one point she comes back with a Boost drink and drinks it down. After a few moments she lets out a huge belch!!! I'm like... no pardon me or anything, so we continue to visit when all of a sudden she lets loose with a huge FART!!!! Oh MY Goodness!!?? She does not even pause in the conversation the look on her face does not change it was like it never happened but it did!!!! I pretended that I did not hear it and after some final discussion I left.

This woman has never met me before in her life and yet she did things I still feel uncomfortable doing in front of my own husband. When I got into the car I sat for a moment and then I could not help it; but I began to laugh I wonder what she will do once she gets to know me better? *shudder* ROFL

Well that's it until the next time, stay tuned for further adventures with ANNA the CTCM!!!

Graduation Day

We are proud to present Joshua Loren Triplett class of 2010; graduating Magna Cum Laude!

 It was a crazy day for all of us. I had had a dream the night before that I was a hour late for his Graduation and I was devastated. So I was worried all day about getting everything ready so that would not happen.

Will had to work but he was able to get off early so that he would be able to attend, the graduation was taking place in Daytona Beach at a convention center there. So all was going well I knew it was going to be close because I had to drive Josh out there so that he was there at 2:30 it takes 35-40 minutes to get there. (it wasn't starting until 4 but they wanted all the grads there early).

So I drive Josh out, during that time Will got off work  and it taking Autumn, Hannah, Abby and Heidi to a friends house. (they were able to come and visit us for 5 day's) we felt they would be board with the graduation so we shipped them off for a little fun.

I get home and Will, I and Ben all load up into the van and we are off with time to spare!  I'm so happy life is good...yes you guessed it things suddenly changed.

Half way there we realize that we had forgotten the parking pass and tickets to get in. So we have to turn around and go home. Needles to say I was not a happy camper any who knows me can now paint a picture as to how I was looking, behaving and feeling. I'll give you a minute.  Ok got it yup that's what I looked like.

By the time we got there wait for it yes we were a hour late!!!!! Just like in my dream. I had calmed down by the time we got there and beleive it or not it ended up being a good thing, we missed all the talkes!!! BORING and all of the regular seats were filled and so we had to suffer and sit down by the graduating class! We ended up with some of the best seats in the house. LOL

So even when bad things happen there is always a silver lining, sometimes we have to look very hard to find it but its still there just the same.

Congratulation Josh we are so proud of you!!