Playing Catch Up

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted!  Time flew by this November and our calendar is already filling up in December!  I also just realized that while I've been taking tons of pictures - always - that I have not downloaded them yet!  Alas tomorrow I return to work so picture downloads will have to wait.
As for the month of November.  It was busy as always.  My beautiful niece Ms. P turned 3!  I have been in love with this little girl since the moment I found out she was coming :)  She had a My Little Pony party at her house complete with "Pin the cutie mark on the pony" game and a Repunzel tower cake.  It was a pretty snazzy party for a three-year-old.
We've also taken up ice skating. Saturday nights from 7-9 is open ice at the Pelham Civic Complex.  It's great exercise and alot of fun.  Hubby and I went with friends the first time, but then with the kids and friends the next.  The boys LOVED it!  They even asked today when we'd go again!  Anything that keeps us moving during these cold months count me in!  I do not want to be sedentary.
Of course we had Thanksgiving and oh how I wish I had those pictures downloaded.  I made some incredible food!  An amazing stuffed pork loin with an apple and sage stuffing, 4 cheese mac n cheese that included gruyere, cheddar, parmesan, and feta; my great grandmother's should be famous corn casserole; roasted sweet potatoes; peanut butter pie; pumpkin roll; brownies.  I really had a BLAST cooking everything.  It is what I love.  Hubby's family and my parents and grandparents all came to feast with us.  Our boys even got to come much earlier than expected and made it to dinner with us!  It was a wonderful day of family time.
We saw Breaking Dawn part 1 Saturday evening.  Oh how I love the teen drama :)
Sunday we put up the Christmas Tree!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and Christmas decorating!  Putting up the tree has become a tradition that Hubby and I do alone.  The boys get to participate at their mom's house so I don't feel they're being deprived and I feel like it's special time Hubby and I share.  We go pick out the tree together, which mostly consists of him holding up various trees for my inspection :) Then we bring it home, test the lights, and sing Christmas carols while we decorate.  It's always a fun time. Our tree is purple and blue and coordinated with the house.  It's pretty :)
We still haven't received our first foster placement call.  I followed up with our social worker today to confirm we were licensed.  She responded "I'm sure you're licensed let me check on it and I'll get back to you asap".  That was early this morning and I haven't received another message today. It's frustrating.  While I don't wish for what creates a foster placement, I wish to help and I really want to have a small child in the house for Christmas.  There's something magical for small children at this time of year and I want to help create that magic for a child that needs and wants it.
Tomorrow marks the end of November and then the 25 days of Christmas begin! YAY!

Quick update - Foster license is coming

This is really just a blurb.  I had to run by the DHR office today and add some paperwork to our file.  I emailed our social worker preparing the licensing to tell her I'd dropped the papers by.  She responded that she received them AND that she's trying to get our report finished up.  She said she expects to have us licensed early next week!
That is both exciting and very scary!  After we get the license then we'll start getting the phone calls. I really hope I'm able to do and be everything that's needed of me and that I can give the best of me.

Halloween fun 2011

Halloween is kind of a big deal at our house.  It was never something big when I was growing up, but as an adult and particularly with the guidance of my Hubby, I have now embraced it completely.  It is the one holiday of the year that you can choose who you want to spend it with and not feel alot of pressure.  Besides, who doesn't like to play dress up on occasion! Here are some pics of our pumpkin carving.

We had some dear friends marry over the Halloween weekend.  I have known the groom for well over a decade and his bride came into our lives several years ago.  In keeping with the festivities, they had a pirate wedding!  It was so awesome and was quite tastefully done.  I particularly enjoyed seeing all our old friends that we don't get to see nearly as often as we'd like.  It seems life and children have slowed the number of gatherings we're able to all keep.  Here are a few of the pics, but I'll post more on facebook later.

Then there was the actual trick or treating.  C was a Zombie with homemade costume and realistic make-up done by my sis (who apparently has a gift for creating zombies...), M was a scary clown (as if clowns aren't scary enough), my niece P was exactly what you'd expect - a Princess.  Hubby and I went as Jack and Sally from Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas.

Nonna came to see everyone on Halloween!

Princesses like PB&J! 

upside down waiting on the keys to get inside!