Sweet Baby M

We picked up Baby M from the hospital on the last day in January. Amazingly, we had another newborn baby girl literally the day before we got him. She was born on the same day as Baby M and we picked her up at the same hospital the day before. She wins the award for Shortest Stay at our house, as she was returned to her mom a little more than 14 hours after we picked her up. We picked up Baby M the same time the next evening. But I digress...

We received Baby M in late January. He was sweet and mellow and everyone loved to snuggle him. The boys enjoyed holding him and feeding him. Even Lucy was helpful by piling blankets and baby toys on top of him.

He was just moved to another foster home this week, after being with us for two months. Because he has two older siblings the social workers involved really wanted all the children together in one home. It took several weeks for them to find someone who could take them all. Thankfully, the family who was able to take all three was someone that we know from our other church campus. So we will be able to get updates and possibly see him now and then.

Now that the last bottle and blue baby blanket has been washed and put away, and I've caught up on my sleep, I've been thinking about what's next. We are definitely taking a break for at least a month. But after that, I'm not sure. We are praying about whether we will accept another foster care placement at some point. On one hand, it is hard on our family to have foster kids. For our whole life to be upended at a moment's notice. To juggle homeschooling, a toddler, a household, and foster stuff all at the same time. But on the other hand caring for these little ones is so needed. It is something we are praying about so we don't make a decision based on our own desire for an easy life.

My Birthday

For my birthday this year I wanted a family day at the beach (have I mentioned yet that I love the beach? ;-). Mark took the day off and took us to Monterey. We hit Dennis the Menace park (the boys' favorite playground in the Bay Area) and then a crêpe place on the wharf that makes awesome crêpes. After that we found a great beach and settled there for a while. We were sunburned and windblown by the end of the day, but it was a great day.

Waiting for our crêpes

The best place to read a book

A Workbench of Their Own

A few weekends ago Mark and the boys set up a work space in his workshop. This was to solve two issues: 

1) The boys repeatedly borrowing Mark's tools to work on projects and not returning them. 2) One of our children has a habit of tinkering with things that aren't meant to be tinkered with. Usually, this results in the thing being broken. Usually, it is beyond repair. And usually, it is very expensive. I guess only expensive things are worth tinkering with. 

To solve the first issue, Mark purchased each of their boys their own basic set of tools: hammers, wood glue, screw drivers, tape measures, wrenches, and pliers (plus aded some nails, screws, and clamps, from his own stock.)

To solve the second issue, he built them their own tool bench in the corner of his workshop. They are allowed to build anything they want using scrap wood and other specified materials. It's been a few weeks, and so far nothing else has been broken! And some cool creations have been made. 

The boys' workbench

First project: a "go kart"

Santa Cruz Tidepools

I love the beach. I won't go so far as to say I'd want to live there, given that coastal places tend to be overcast large portions of the year. But if money wasn't a factor, I would definitely want a little cottage by the ocean so I could stay there during the sunny times. I seriously love the beach.

We visited some new tide pools (new to us, anyway) in Santa Cruz in early March. They are supposed to be some of the best in the state. We saw tons of sea stars, purple sea urchins, anemones (or sea enemies, as the boys like to call them ;), and huge hermit crabs. It was a beautiful day and a great time together as a family.

The end.