The Last Two Weeks

Oh, goodness! I can't believe I haven't updated in two weeks, but then again, it's been a crazy two weeks!!

1. Pineywoods 2011: Wonderful weekend of catching up with family. Clint's family all meets up at a camp in Texas for the first weekend in August. It's a celebration of Clint's parents' marriage and all that has come of it! (Bro. Curt always says that when he married DeDe, he never imagined all the people that would join his family....from three sons, to daughters-in-law, and now grandchildren!)
We had a great two days spending time with our extended family, but also as our family unit of four. This was a great get-away after K-Dog was placed back home, and we soaked up some together time!

2. Laura's wedding: Also a great weekend with family! Laura and Bob have now moved to Denver to start their lives together, so last weekend was a sweet time with my mom and sisters before we all move on with our families, babies (Jenn), and moving across the country (Laura).
My grandparents were in from Arkansas, and we were able to meet Laura's new family, the Bass family!

3. While we were in Baton Rouge for Laura's wedding, we got the news that Clay's family was moving to Alexandria! He got a teaching position at ASH, and it was a whirlwind of decisions for their family! Clay, Robin, and Luke stayed with us for a few days while they found a place to live and scoped out schools for Noah. We were happy to spend time with them and are so excited that they will be living close!

4. School: Jack went for testing (I have no idea how he did, I had to stay out in the hall) and brought his school supplies to his classroom. His teacher is wonderful, and his classroom is amazing! In just two weeks he'll be at school full-time. Crazy!

5. New office: Clint's company moved to a new office in town. It is SO much bigger than where he was...he has his own room now! His boss really did an excellent job in fixing the place up, and I'm glad he is a few minutes closer to home.

Okay, next time will be more pictures, but I mainly wanted to remind myself of all that has gone on the last two weeks!

Campbell's Soup, Anyone?

I brought the kids to the library today (free way to beat the heat!!) and Jack played games on the computer while Sydney bee-bopped around the children's section. She pulled books off shelves, tried to run away from me, laughed hysterically when I tried to catch her, and basically made a scene (but a cute one) in the otherwise quiet library. There is a glass-enclosed office that overlooks the children's section with several stern librarians to ensure the quiet nature of the library. I made Jack pick four books - he pulled the first four he could get off the shelf to appease me - then we headed for checkout. As we were leaving, one of the ladies in the "stern, quiet office" stopped me and said, "Excuse me, but has anyone ever told you that your daughter looks like the Campbell's Soup baby?" She handed me a picture that she and the other ladies had just printed out.

I'll give you a second to process this....

Isn't that hysterical???




And here's my little soup girl...

Nicknames

I have always called my kids random nicknames. Not really in public, but around the house they earn all sorts of names. Jack was "Cricket" for the first few months of his life, Sydney is "Boopsie." If you have to ask why, you've never met her.

Other names we throw around:

Summer lovin' (either kid)
Waverunner (Jack's personal fav)
Squishy (Sydney, of course)
Boppy
Loopy



Clint and I don't have nicknames for each other. For some reason, that's weird to me. But calling my daughter "Squishy" doesn't seem strange at all....

Anyway, Jack has caught onto me calling them off-the-wall names here and there and has started calling me funny names.

For example, the other day I was in the kitchen and I called his name, and he said, "What do you need, Spooky?" I should have corrected him, but I was stifling laughter, so I let it go. I probably should have held it together and told him that he should just call me "Mommy," because now I may be referred to as any number of names, such as...

Smuffy
Snookie
Spunky

Well, it went on for a couple of days, until at the supper table, Jack referred to me as "Swoopy" and Clint didn't find it quite as endearing as I did. He's the stronger disciplinarian. Oops.

Aren't you glad for that little peak into our home? We're normal, I promise :)

Part of It

Setting up a room to make it feel like "his"... part of it.

Going through a tube of Boudreaux's in two days..


Trying to soothe a baby who doesn't know you, much less love you...


Figuring out feeding schedules, likes, dislikes, and sleeping routines...


These are all a part of foster care.

Buying a wardrobe of new clothes that reflect his fun personality,

Babyproofing the house because he is such a busy boy :)

Watching him learn to scoot, then crawl, then pull up, and walk.

Hearing his first words and starting to discipline. This is all part of it.

Planning his first birthday,


Going on vacation,Vacation Bible School,

Praying for him and his family fervently....and calling on our prayer warriors to do the same.

Soothing him after shots,

And watching him enjoy ice cream and snocones...

Building quality relationships with his family, becoming friends with his mother....part of it.

In the midst of it all, you try to keep your emotions in check, even though you fall in love...

Because letting go is part of it, too.

We love you, Kaden, and we are so proud for you and your family. And so immensely blessed that you were a part of the Iles family for seven months.

More than we can ever ask or imagine!

A few months ago I was praying about needing another twin bed in this house. Right now we have two cribs and a twin bed, but in the near future we would be needing to take down K-Man's crib and put up a twin bed for another placement. I knew we needed a quality twin bed, but I didn't really want to spend a lot of money.

So, I just told God that we have this need and asked him to please provide someway.

I told Clint that we needed to start thinking about another bed, but then I kind of put it out of my mind.

A few weeks ago, a friend of ours (who is in the process of making room for a new daughter they will be adopting) called me up and asked if we could use a solid wood twin sleigh bed.

Ummm...yes!! It is absolutely beautiful!!

On the side rail, she wrote: This bed is dedicated to be used for God's glory in obedience to James 1:27. Her entire family signed it and it will be signed by every child that comes into our home through foster care/adoption.

Right now it is set up in Jack and Sydney's room because the foster room has a furniture set that included a twin bed. We bought an additional crib when Kaden was placed with us, so now we have two twin beds and two cribs - crazy!!
Little Miss Priss thinks she is ready for a twin bed...she gets in Jack's bed and says "Night night." Yeah right, Priss, you have at least six more months before I'm ready to tackle that challenge!!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Eph. 3:20

Summer Fun with Friends

We have been so blessed with our friends, the Carnes. We have had many fun summer play dates this year, but Becca and I are always so busy with the five kids that we never take pictures! Becca and the boys came to play a while back and a got a picture of Jack, Ethan, Asa, Sydney, and Kaden all together on the couch. We marveled that when we became friends, there were only two kids - Jack and Ethan....and we've only been friends for a couple of years! Also, Seth and Becca are almost through with the process to become foster a parents, so before long there will be SIX kids running around our houses!

The Lord has blessed us tremendously in our friendship with this precious family and we cannot wait to see all of our kids grow up together.

Oh, the difference!!

Right now I am raising two kids almost the exact same age - a boy and a girl three months apart. (We're foster parents in case you're not up with the blog...ha!) Funny story: I told a nurse in the doctor's office that they were three months apart and she told me it wasn't possible. I chose not to correct her and just agreed with her. Whatever.

And Sydney Kaye is ALL GIRL. Priss, sass, clean, and scared of everything.

And Kaden is ALL BOY. Rough, dirty, and fearless.

The other night I made spaghetti and looked over where the babies were eating and witnessed first-hand the difference between these two kids.

Sydney was eating one noodle at time, trying not to get anything on her face, and not putting any food on the floor. Except for her face and hands, she was spaghetti-free and working hard to stay that way.

Kaden was sloshing spaghetti all over his tray, throwing it on the floor, stuffing it in his shorts, and hollering about it the whole time.
I mean, just look at his expression....doesn't he look proud??




The pictures don't completely portray the moment, but trust me. They are night and day.

But, they love each other so much. When they spend any time apart, they are so excited to see each other again. And every once in a while (if they're not fighting over toy), they will pause and smile at each other. Oh, so sweet!