Forever Found

We delivered Beignet to the perfect-for-her forever home today:

8 days before Christmas
7 siblings
6 kids in school
5 car seats in the car
4 furry feet on a dog named Cooper
3 girls bunked in one wonderfully girly room
2 parents with an excess of energy
1 family that will be hers for always

The good-byes are always hard, and this one was no different. Fortunately, though, it's more of a see you later.

See you soon, Baby B. I loved every bit of having you here.

Hair and TV

Blonde, curly haired 5 year old to Beignet: I just want to watch TV. Do you even HAVE a TV in this house?!

Beignet to Mr. Blonde and Curly: Yeah, don't worry. You get to watch TV on Hair Nights.

More to be thankful for...

Tonight I am thankful for:
Beignet's reaction to her BIG NEWS!
A great foster care Christmas party with, I am pretty sure based on the beard alone, the REAL Santa in attendance.
Legos and coloring books = entertainment for what seems like hours.
Caseworkers who work weekends.
"Seasoned" foster kiddos who welcome newbies with enthusiasm and compassion.
A friend who traded cars with me so I can fit three kids in for a week.
Getting to see Bug and her mom today.
Clementines enjoyed by 2/3 of the short people population here.
Kids who sleep soundly enough that I can pack things in their room without disturbing them.
Caffiene and the opportunity to go to sleep before midnight.

Life is crazy. Life is good.

The New Two

In a flurry of activity, a new pair has landed here. Three-year-old girl and five-year-old boy are snoring away in the bunks. They are settling in, but with some sadness and confusion. Tonight at dinner, little guy says: Why do you take kids from their houses to come and live with you without even asking? And at bedtime told me he will be running away in the morning. Sister appears much younger than her age, so toddles along behind Brother and Beignet. Here's hoping they settle in soon and can feel safe and happy here.

Finding Forever

The cat is finally out of the bag. The cat that has been prowling about for a good solid month now. Beignet was told today where her forever will be. There were mixed feelings about how she'd react. She is headed to a fantastic family...one who came into our lives almost three months ago and with whom we have spent many hours. We were able to show Beignet a slide show that her new family had created just for her. She sat with bug eyes watching the pictures go by, telling her caseworker who everyone is. Beignet doesn't quite get the timeline we've created. To all the grown-ups around, we are hurrying things a bit to get her home for Christmas. To Beignet, she wants it NOW. "Why can't I go now? Why do I have to wait till Thursday?" Her week will be hectic, which will hopefully help things fly by. As her caseworker pulled away, Beignet came to me: Can I start packing now?

Sending you on your way with love, baby girl.

Christmas Carols

Excerpts from last night's dinner:

hum, hum...Why Santa says "Better watch out?" (explanation provided)
hum hum hum...Why we can't shout? (more explaining)
hum hum...What is a town? (answer)
hum hum...How does he know if we are sleeping?
Why we need to sleep?
I always sleep so he doesn't have to worry.
hum hum hum hum hum...How does he know if you are good or bad? Miss Sanderson said that not this line but the one after this line (weeks on the calendar) on the 17th, after we go home for a lot of days, she will call Santa and tell him who was naughty and nice.

What will tonight's carol be?

Love Letters

I get love letters from Beignet almost daily now. Yesterday's was one of my favorites:

"Dear Tammy. I love you Tammy. We have very great fun together at our house. We are a good good foster family. I love you. Beignet"