Halloween

My kids love Halloween.  But then, who's kids don't?  They talked for weeks about their costumes.  Sean staying a Ninja the entire time and Ryan changing his mind along the way to become a pirate. Sadly the morning of Halloween arrived and Ryan had a cold and didn't feel good.  I tried to get him to nap, thinking that would help and he may still want to trick or treat, but no, he wouldn't nap.  And he didn't want to go trick or treating. I was Ok with that.  Grandma Gail came over after working in the Mesa Arizona temple and brought candy to hand out.  Steve had an early shift and he came home and took Sean trick or treating, while Ryan went to bed early.  I didn't even get a picture of him in a costume, and now the moment is past and I probably won't.  That makes me a little sad, because the costume we have probably won't fit him next year.

Sean had a great time out with his dad, and only went around the block as he tires quickly and doesn't like to walk much, but he was satisfied with his candy haul and I am so pleased that the next day he did not even blink an eye as he divided up his candy with his brother!  After trick or treating, Sean helped Grandma and me hand out candy.  We didn't have many kids this year, but they were sure fun. My favorite door comment was from a cute little kid who peered into our house and asked (while the other kids said trick or treat), "Where's the dog?"  I was informed from his mom at the sidewalk that most of the houses they had been to that night had dogs!  My other favorite door response was when these two cute little twin princesses came to the door and got so excited about our candy.  One reached into the bowl to help herself and got so excited about Gobstoppers.  She rand and showed her mom and then ran back to us and said I love these!  What are they?  When we told her Gobstoppers, she suddenly got so sad and said, Ohh, we can't have these! - in the saddest voice.  It was so cute!

Ryan's Pumpkin

Sean's Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving

For several weeks, the boys have been asking me to buy pumpkins to carve.  The week before Halloween, I finally got one for each of them and then I decided to do a little "school" while having fun carving.

We compared the two different pumpkins for their size.  We guessed if they would sink or float (they float if you have enough water).  We tried to guess how many seeds were in each pumpkin (and sadly, by the time we could count them, they lost interest - so I have no idea how many seeds were in our pumpkin).

Finally we cut them open.  First reactions from the boys - "Ewww!"  "This stinks!", "It looks gross!"  Lots of love for the pumpkins.  So I talked about how to clean them out and that caused other looks of horror at touching the slimy, gross seeds!  Knowing they both have a bit of sensory issues, I didn't push the issue and instead asked if they wanted to clean out the pumpkins while wearing a glove.  Yes, that was the trick and each one of them tried a bit (but really, I did the majority of the work).  Sean hated the smell so much that he had to leave the table while I finished.

Once the seeds were out, I placed the seeds and slime into baggies for them to play with and feel and get the sensory input without the "mess" and "smell".  They liked that much better.

Then I asked each boy what they wanted their pumpkin to look like.  We searched the internet for pictures and once they found what they wanted I traced a face on their pumpkin.  I cut out the face for Ryan's pumpkin, while the boys got to enjoy a Halloween show.  I actually enjoyed the process of carving!

When it was Sean's turn he wanted to try so I bravely gave him a knife and gave several instructions on how to handle it and where to put his hand and a few corrections and he managed to cut out one of the eyes.  It really was tough to cut through the pumpkin so he was done and let me finish.

They were both so excited when they were finished (even though I couldn't get a picture of them smiling).

Now, what is the fun of carving pumpkins if you can't get a bit of science involved with - pumpkin barf (aka food coloring, baking soda and vinegar).  Here is my poor video attempting to capture the pumpkins barfing!  The boys loved it and we were able to get more going once I stopped the video and added even more baking soda and vinegar.

Who knew pumpkins could be the cause of so much fun and learning?

Here I go again...

Every time I click on my blog to check out what is new in the blogs I follow I see my last post - about Sean's first day of Kindergarten.  Boy that was a while ago.  I get hit with so many emotions from that post.  How nervous and excited I was for him to start Kindergarten.  Then how much we both hated it, and eventually took him out to homeschool.  And then the next two years of huge life changing events.  I then think about how I am missing recording it and attaching pictures - my own family history.  I want to start again.  I have tried to start again many times in the past year.  It seemed too overwhelming with all that I had missed and all I wanted to share.  I even have posts that I started and did not post.  And then there is changing the background - another thing to do.  

So here is to today - to starting again, to starting from right now.  And it is perfect that it is fall and my background still works!  I am back!  It may take some time to get back in the habit, but it will come.   And eventually I hope to post past stories and events that I have missed (including our foster care years) so that eventually I will have a chronological story for me and my family.  

I am excited.. So here I go again!!

Sean is a Kindergartner

I can't believe that Sean is in Kindergarten! Time has flown so fast with him - it almost seems unfair.  But as time marches on we adjust and enjoy each step.  Because Sean taught himself to read at 4 1/2 years old and he has a strong mind for learning we decided to enroll him in the charter school - Caprock Academy.  They have a strong educational program of leadership education, which we like and they push the students academically, which we feel would help Sean continue to learn and to not get bored.  They have 4 day weeks and so in order to get all their days in, they start a month earlier than other public schools. So this week, Sean experienced his first week of Kindergarten!

He did amazingly well. Each morning was a little difficult getting out the door at 7 a.m (yes, that is right - they start early and he wanted time to play on the playground), but we made it.  One of the easiest things is that Caprock has a dress code and we didn't have to worry about what to wear.  We got to the playground and Sean quickly learned where to put his bag and the best place to play and my only struggle was whether to let Ryan down to play too.  Sean wanted me to be with him on the playground all this week, so by the second day, Ryan was running around playing too.  I just had to watch out for him a bit, but he did really well too.

Then when it is time to go in, their teachers come out with a sign and they line up by classes and then they walk to their classes.  While they were waiting in line the first day, Ryan fussed and fussed until I let him down and he ran to be with Sean in the line.  They held hands while they waited - it was so cute! Then Ryan decided that he had to be in front so he snuck in front of Sean in the line.  So funny.  Each day, this became the ritual with Ryan and Sean holding hands in line before he went off to class.

I am so proud of myself that I didn't cry the first day, but I did get emotional on the second day. Sean is doing so good, even with a few road bumps along the way (like getting pushed by a kid on day 2 and then resolving it the next day), or having to learn to sit still for a period of time (and thank goodness he has a teacher who understands his need to stand and work or to move around and she made accommodations so that he could do that without disrupting the other kids!) He seems to really like it and each day is slowly telling us more and more about it when I pick him up from school.  He also really likes that he gets "3 days off" each week.

This is a new change for us and I am sure it will take a bit to really feel comfortable, but it is a nice start and I think it will be good for all of us.

Good morning school boy! Aren't you so cute in your uniform!

I'm ready to go!

This is where Sean like to hang out in the mornings before class.

Waiting in line - looking for me in the sun.

Ryan ran over to be in line with Sean - holding hands.

They seem to be waiting so patiently.

Ryan loved getting on the swings when all the students went into class.

4th of July Day Trip

For the 4th of July we decided to get out of the heat and take a drive up to the Grand Mesa and have lunch.  It was a beautiful day and the weather was only about 68 degrees up at the top.  We enjoyed a nice drive with the boys and got out at the Visitor's Center and ate at a nearby picnic area.  Then we enjoyed a very short hike with a few views.  We are not used to being outdoors, but it was really nice.  Ryan and Sean loved it as well and we learned that Ryan is fearless and it was a little scarry on the hike as some of the areas had a dropoff, and Ryan didn't seem to care how fast he "ran" or where he was walking.  He also didn't want to hold hands and so it was a round short hike as we could not hold him every step of the way.  But it was well worth it and it was nice to get out of the valley and the heat.  A couple of fun things (or not so fun things) happened during our drive.  First our SUV almost overheated.  We had to stop and let it cool and we offered a prayer asking for it to work well, and very quickly the engine cooled and we offered another prayer of gratitude.  After lunch and our hike on the drive down we drove through pouring rain and it was so wonderful.  Also we stopped in a small town named Eckert on the way down the mountain and there was a quaint Chocolate shop open and we were able to get a chocolate treat.  What a fun day!

Sean at the visitor's center

Ryan enjoying the stairs at the visitor's center

 

Ryan is pointing something out to us on the map board.

Mom, Sean and Ryan on the short "hike".  Its sure hard to get everyone to look at the camera at once.

View of lake from our hike (above and below)

Dad and Sean on Hike.  Sean is holding a piece of paper that has information about the trail we are on.

The boys found one of the numbered markers along the trail.  Sean had fun trying to located all the markers.

Sealing Day

Today we had the most amazing opportunity to take Ryan Phillip Richards to the temple and have him sealed to us and to have him become our child for eternity. It is amazing to me how special this blessing is in our lives and I am extremely grateful that I have been able to experience my eternal family this way.  I know that it would have been much easier having children born in the covenant, but when you are in the temple being sealed together the difficulty and extra effort are rewarded with the sweetest blessing.

We chose to take Ryan to the Vernal Utah temple to be sealed to us.  We awoke early to travel the 2 1/2 hours there and everyone was in a great mood.  Ryan was very happy and snuggly when he woke and both boys did great on the trip.  At one point they both said Whee for about 5 minutes with Ryan covering his eyes the entire time.  The weather was mild, but the wind was crazy - about 30 miles an hr winds.  Even as we drove home the skies were brown with dust.

We got to the temple and quickly changed the boys and then Grandma Gail and Grandma O took the boys to the Children's room while Steve and I got ready.  In attendance were both of our parents - Grandma and Grandpa O'Dwyer and Grandma Gail and Papa Bill Richards and our bishop and his wife, Bishop Mike and Sister Terri  Nelson.  We are so grateful that they came to support us. We also felt the love of many friends and family that were unable to attend, they sent their love with us.

Before the sealing, Steve and I had the opportunity to spend time in the Celestial room and ponder on our day and eternal families.  I felt such a wonderful feeling there.  I knew it was all worth it - the waiting, uncertainty, tears and joy.  Then the time came to go into the sealing room and the boys were brought in. Sean was wearing his white shirt and church pants and Ryan was dressed in white with a tie.  I wish I could have taken a picture of that (we used the temple clothes for Ryan and they don't let you take them out for pictures).  What cute boys they were and you could see their eternal natures in that room.  Ryan was being held by Grandma Gail who was going to help him at the alter.  He was very mellow (compared to his normal whirlwind excitement) and was laying on her shoulder and he was very calm. Sean was also pretty quiet for him as well.  I am sure they knew they were somewhere special. 

Before the ceremony the Sealer spoke to us for a minute and he asked Sean his name.  After proudly stating his full name, he quickly and not so silently "transformed" down on to the chair he was sitting on.  Sean might have known we were someplace special, but his personality still came out!

The sealing ceremony was very quick and Ryan was very calm. Normally he will fight you if you try to make him or force him to do anything and he did not fight having his hand held on ours.  During the actual ceremony a smile came across his face and he smiled the entire time.  Afterwards he hugged us so tightly and didn't want to let us go when it was time to get changed. Sean hugged us as well and we all stood in front of the eternal mirrors and saw our family go on forever.  What a wonderful experience, I will never forget this special day!

One special thing to mention is that before we came to the temple we had a family home evening about temples and what a sealing is and we used paper chains to demonstrate how without sealing we are just individuals alone, but with the sealing power we become an eternal family with bonds (like a chain) that can't be broken.  Ryan usually runs around during FHE and doesn't participate, but this time he seemed to listen just a little bit and helped with the chain. Then the night before going to the temple, we mentioned to Sean that we were going to the place where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ come on earth.  He agreed and then said that all the good people come there too.  We asked him what good people? He said all the good people who don't live on the earth anymore.  We clarified by asking - do you mean those who died? And He said Yes.  Little children seem to be so close to the spirit and seems to just know things - as least our boys do.  When we got home from the temple Saturday night, Sean asked me, "Mom, can you set up a play date for me tomorrow at the temple?"  I am so grateful Sean was able to experience that and knows that the temple is the right place to be.  I hope he will remember this experience all his life.

Even though the wind was blowing I insisted on getting some pictures as we never got the chance when Sean was sealed (it was 5 degrees outside with wind at the Monticello temple and no one would even try it!).  So the pictures aren't the best, but I love them.  After pictures we got something to eat and drove right back home, taking a little longer because the wind got worse.  A long day, but wonderful day!

Ryan running around outside the temple. 

Ryan and Grandma Gail

So Happy, Ryan and Grandma Gail

Our Eternal Family - even with a boy who won't look at the camera!

There's my boy! love the mommy and Sean pictures.

Grandma and Grandpa O'Dwyer

Grandma Gail and Papa Bill Richards

The boys had this funny fascination with holding on to the pole - afraid they were going to blow away???

Steve and Val

   The next day, while Steve's parents were still here, we went to my parents house to give Ryan and name and a blessing.  It was a beautiful, simple blessing and Ryan was back to his normal squirmy self - as he sat on my lap with all the hands on his head, he was ok for a minute, but then suddenly he tried to move his head out from the hands and kept moving trying to get the hands off! And they kept trying to move with him so that the connection was there! So funny and so Ryan.

Steve O'Dwyer, Steve, Ryan, and Bill Richards

Family Pictures

We finally got new family pictures.  It has been 3 years and since making Ryan a permanent member of our family, I decided that it was well past time.  They turned out so cute, even though we had a 5 year old that did not want to participate (and who put a sticker on right before so to avoid fighting we just left it - it is who he is!).  So glad we captured these and the bears in the boys pictures are the bears they got at the adoption, so they were extra special.

The first four pictures are ones we printed, but the last four are ones we loved, just because they were funny. Sean did not want to participate so we have pictures of him shooting a gun, showing off his sticker and then he wouldn't stop pouting at one point so we all did.  Love that one!

 

 

 

  

Adoption Day!

 On December 6, 2010 a baby boy came to live in the Richards' home.  It was a rough start.  He cried a lot. We were excited for him to be there, but hearts were raw from our last foster child and we wondered what would happen in the next few months.  Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and this boy became a part of the Richards' family.  He didn't cry as much. We bonded and loved.  Now the only question was would he remain?

For a while now Ryan has been a part of our family.  He bonded with us quickly and despite our initial hesitations, we truly loved him from the beginning. In January of this year we knew he would be staying with us forever, but until today it was not "official" in the eyes of the world.  Today we had the great joy taking Ryan to court and making him an "official" Richards.  He woke very early today and was happy right from the start - almost as if he knew what was happening today (and we have talked about it a lot).  Grandma Gail and Papa Bill came from Tucson and Grandma and Grandpa O were also there.  We got to the courthouse early to make sure all was in order. Ryan danced and played around in the hallway.  He would run to Grandpa O and others - back and forth - so happy.  He knew today was important and special.  Sean was excited in his own way - but being 5 got bored waiting - so we let him play Angry Birds on Daddy's phone while we waited. Two happy boys - it can't get better than that.

The time finally came to move into the courtroom.  We got settled in and as we were placed under oath, Sean joined us in raising his right hand.  That got a smile out of the judge and he even made a verbal note of that.  Our judge was Judge Deister, who has overseen Ryan's case from the beginning.  Both boys wanted to sit on Daddy's lap and even fought over him a bit during the proceeding.  Even for the short 15 minutes it took, they both had a hard time sitting still.  Sean found that he couldn't resist the microphone on the table and we had to move it several tines out of his way. Ryan wanted his drink and refused to be still (no surprise).  Steve and I both answered a few questions and most importantly told the judge that we wanted to adopt Ryan.  Our caseworker answered a few questions and then the judge said a few things - mostly just official stuff about this situation and I don't remember anything that he said because the boys were really squirmy so I couldn't hear that well.  Just when it seemed that they were starting to get even more restless it was done. We are "officially" his parents (even though we became his "parents" on December 6, 2010). And his name was officially changed to Ryan Phillip Richards. The judge brought out 2 stuffed bears, which got both boys excited. We then got to take pictures with him and our families.

Afterward, we visited with everyone for a few minutes and got well wishes (others who were there besides grandparents were our two caseworkers and Ryan's two C.A.S.A. workers, who were so helpful during his case), then we went for breakfast at the Pufferbelly Station and then walked around downtown Grand Junction for a while.  

Even though he has been part of our family for so long and we have known for months that he would never be leaving, it was a relief to have this part finished and know that we don't have to worry anymore or fight through this process of bringing children into our home.  He is meant to be ours and he fits right into our family.  And even though we have called him Ryan for months, I don't have to worry anymore that I shouldn't be calling him that, or that when we go to the doctor or other public place, I will have to hear his birth name and remember to call him by that. His name is Ryan and it fits him.

Ryan was so happy that day from the moment he woke, like he knew it was a special day.  As we were leaving the courthouse, Ryan was hop-skipping all the way out!  He was so happy! It was a wonderful day. One of the best parts of the day is that we are now "officially" our own little family and we don't have to have any interference from the county, the state, caseworkers, or anyone.  No one can tell us how to run our house anymore.  We don't need permission to do anything for Ryan anymore.   It is a wonderful feeling to be complete and to see what this new part of our lives brings - as just us.

Sean and Ryan looking out from the 3rd floor window in the hallway outside the courtroom.

Steve visiting with his mom, Gail - Bill behind her taking pictures.

Ryan loved playing on the bench by the window while we waited.

Steve's dad Bill taking a picture of me taking a picture of him (we just couldn't resist)!

Sean was trying to sneak into my bag to get my phone and play Angry Birds!

This and the next 2 were me trying out the fast burst on my camera.  Ryan was so happy and was just dancing around the hallway.

Grandpa O'Dwyer and Ryan.

Grandma and Grandpa O'Dwyer and Ryan.

Judge Diester shaking my hand after with Steve and Ryan.

Judge Diester, and our Family! This was the first of many pictures this week and Sean would not have it - it was tough to get any smiles out of him. The Boys were holding the bears given to them by the judge.

Our Family with Grandparents from L to R: Grandma O'Dwyer, Val, Sean, Grandpa O'Dwyer, Steve, Ryan, Grandma Gail and Papa Bill Richards