Vintage Toy

When I was a kid, we would play with all kinds of things. Sometimes the simplest toys were the best. I grew up in an era where battery powered toys were starting to take hold in my childhood. My dad would always comment on how cool our toys were, but they left little to the imagination.

 

Sobriety Malfunction

I came up with this title awhile back, yet haven’t figured out just what to write about to justify such an awesomeness.

Tonight, I have just the topic. Yesterday, June 10th, we finalized the adoption on our three kids. Tonight, we’ve celebrated some.  But more importantly, I’m bathing in the drunkedness of all the things this adoption means for myself and my family.

No more caseworker visits from DHR, or the adoption agency. No more monthly reports, or incident reports every time one of the kids gets hurt. No more safety plans dictated upon us, or having to play by someone else’s rules. We no longer have to put up with someone else telling us how to raise our kids, how to be a parent. We no longer have to go through several training hours, or foster care meetings. No more court hearings. No more sending in countless documentation just to keep in compliance with government agencies to be a foster parent. No more restrictions on where we can go and when. No more, no more, no more.

Being a foster parent can be many things. But it’s definitely not easy.

Our stress levels are already plummeting and now we can truly relax and enjoy our kids. Now, we can be more of a family than we were able to be. I know it won’t be easy being a parent, but I now have the chance to really do something.  So, I’m sitting here in a level of sobriety malfunction as I anticipate what will now come.

 

When Everything Else Takes Precedence

Sunday night was bliss. I finally took the time to smoke a pipe, read some of my novel, and drink a beer. I haven’t done this in quite some time. What’s even worse, is that I haven’t smoked, touched, or even cleaned any of my pipes since before Christmas. I haven’t looked on-line at any of the pipe forums I used to frequent, nor do any of the research on pipes and the pipe smoking hobby. I haven’t even looked at Ebay. *shock*

 

Wondering Children

Last year, Christmas changed a bit for my family. We didn’t know our children very well yet and we had two kids to attend to. We didn’t do much aside from the usual family get-togethers and the kids were the added bonus. Christmas for my family this year has been quite a bit different than years before. This year, I have three children. Christmas gifts are mostly centered around the kids, and activities have been for all of us. A good part of it being for my wife to get some great pictures.

 

As My Wife Says…

The schedule fairy threw up on our calendar. We’ve been busy with therapy appointments, dentists, and caseworker visits. Now, we’re busy with all of that AND all of our Christmas schedule with family. Every weekend this month has at least one thing we’re committed to, and I don’t have any time off left to spend the holidays at home.

 

Savinelli – Estella

That’s right, this might be my newest pipe, but it’s taken forever for me to finally get it cleaned up and a picture posted.

 

Three Days Past The New Year

I’m really hoping that this year will be fulfilling to the point of overflowing. My family has grown with the addition of two great children we are fostering. My wife is closing the door to a company she’s been with for seven years. It’s been a bumpy, great, and interesting ride for her, but she’s had enough of the changes the company has made. Many of them aren’t for the better. She’s going to stay at home to take care of the kids and work to organize our home and home-life. There are many positives to this major change, so I think it’ll benefit not only my wife, but our whole family.