Thomas is real

We went to Heber City and rode the Heber Creeper who was decked out as Thomas the Train. We took Sean's cousin Empress along. She spent the night at our house on Saturday night. They were so excited when they saw the train "It really is Thomas!"

Saturday was super windy. It was cold too. I didn't bring jackets. Lucky for us they were selling Thomas the Train sweatshirts. They had fun making Thomas hats and coloring pictures. When Empress came over Sean was cute. He asked "what's that girls name?" I said "Empress" and he said "that sounds like a Super Hero name." He couldn't say her name and kept calling her "Prince" or "that girl."

Waiting in line to board the train.

And there's Thomas in person.

Walking the rails.

We had to buy a couple more over priced Trains, Empress got Rosy. Fortunately they went with our set.

Double dipping

I borrowed an idea from my niece Jaclyn the strawberry dipping queen and went dipping with Sean's preschool class. I took strawberries, big pretzels, white chocolate and dark chocolate. We put out wax paper and Lanette (their teacher showed them how to dip). She told them no one could eat anything until it was all dipped and dried. We spent awhile dipping and finally they were all done. After the kids started eating I found an undipped strawberry in the middle of the wax paper. "Look we missed one" I said. One of the kids dipped it. A minute later I found another one and the kids dipped it. A minute later Lanette picked up ANOTHER one and said "children, you cannot just lick off the chocolate off you have to eat the strawberry." I said "oops, I think we re-chocolated some licked strawberries." Lanette said "oh well" and re dipped strawberry number three. How's that for the ultimate double dipping.

It wasn't really that messy and they had a great time. The only thing more fun than a craft is an edible craft.

Remembering my dad on Memorial Day

My dad was in the navy duing the Korean War. Happy remembering on Memorial day.

Dad before he was orphaned.

In high school.

He was always very thin

In front of the Durham chapel on Green Street.

1960's

Early 1970's in front of Grandma Dolder's house on Hyde Park avenue.

Always fixing something!

May days

Sean has spent lots of time with his sisters this month. This weekend he spent the night at their house. That was a first. He did really well. Lanette said he got a little tearful in the morning but once they started playing he was fine. We picked him up at 4 and he was so tired and grumpy. They went to bed late and got up early and never stopped going. They swam, rode bikes and played with the girls friends in the neighborhood. Lanette said the neighbors were fascinated by this little boy that looks and sounds like the girls. A neighbor kid came over and asked Troy "did you pick up another one?" He thought that was funny, "yep we went to Walmart and bought another one." He loved playing with them. It was great to be able to have him go spend the night with them and not have to worry about his safety. Lanette sent home some hand me downs from Luke. That's Kylie and Brie's brother. This whole extended adoptive family relatiohship is a peculiar thing. So many "adopted" relatives.

Sean's class went to the chalk festival. I brought Popsicles to them and they quit drawing and starting running around with their Popsicles.

I tried to gather them for a picture and this is as close as I got.

Alex and Loreal brought the puppies over on mother's day.

Brad and Teresa came to see Grandma.

A mother's day picture missing Carter. I don't know what he was doing.

The many faces of T-ball

Guarding first base. Ball, what ball? How did that ball get behind me?

Time for a little nap.

Time for a laugh.

Concentration

Swing

And miss

Hanging in the out field

Sean's adoption party

The adoption party is over, it's all official now. Yesterday we had our "pony party." When Catherine told her kids they were going to an adoption party one of them said "What Carol and Don don't want Sean anymore they are giving him up for adoption." It is funny that most people thought he already was adopted or assumed we'd just given birth. His teacher from school came and until I told her she had no idea. Sean called it his "doption party." He thought it was awesome because people brought him presents and it was all about him. What's not to like about that.

I took a ton of pictures so be prepared!

Brie getting up close and personal with Harley the pony

Ethan's mom, Miranda was a hit with face painting.

Don did pony patrol. Steph (Kylie and Brie's adopted sister)

Maren, she would not look up at me for a picture.

Claudia with her granddaughter Bailey and her sister Lynda in the background. I was worried about not having enough food and of course I had WAY TOO MUCH! I gave lots away and I will be providing lunch at Sean's daycare on Monday.

Johnny the Clown did the BEST balloons ever. John is Loreal's best friend Al's husband. He was as big if not a bigger hit than the pony. That's Liam with a martian.

Ryder with Spider man and his web.

My big brother Lynn whose 6 year old son was calling me grandma. He he.

Kylie, Sean, Brie and Ryder. Sean wanted his face painted green. He was a dragon. Not sure what's with that face.

Don was pony patrol. The only problem with that is Don's allergic to pony's. His eye got really swollen. Even the sclera of his eye was swollen. All in the name of love and amusing the children.

Alika and one of the neighbors grand kids on Harley.

Steph, Heather, Grandma, Jaclyn and Maren.

I love this mermaid balloon. John was the most talented balloon twister I have ever seen. Stephanie holding it.

Luke, Kylie and Brie's adopted brother and his pug balloon puppy.

Probably my favorite picture because it tells such a tale. Lanette, me and Heather. The adoptive mom's. I was trying to figure out what we are all to one another. Char said there needs to be a new nursing definition for adoptive families. Catherine said it should be called "kinship". I think that's a good word. The definition 1. connection by blood, marriage, or adoption, family relationship. 2. Relationship by nature or character. 3. The state of having a common characteristic or common origin. Adoption adds an entire tier to kinship. Lanette, Heather and I are all parents of siblings does that make us kin parents. What is the relationship of all the kids adoptive siblings to their biological siblings. What are Lanette and Heather to Sean. Kin mothers. Heather said Aunt is fine. It's just an interesting relationship. It's a long term relationship because the families will always be there as the kids grow and have kids. Funny to think about.

Cowboy hats

Emma's flower balloon.

Steph and Polly.

Jameson and Harley.

Empress and Sabrina (Jenny's sister)

More cowboy hat pictures.

Alika and Sean.