Thursday, May 27, 2010

I've decided to become a CASA

Since having kids it has really open my eyes to child abuse/neglect. It really breaks my heart to see kids that aren't being taken care of. It saddens me to know that there are alot of kids out there that don't have it 1/2 as good as my kids do. They don't choose to be born to idiots... I mean, what if that was me?... What if I didn't have the great parents that I do?.. Where would I be?... So that's why Ive decided to become a CASA. I can give that child hope. I am current training to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). I will be a guardian ad litem for children who are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. I will represent the child's best needs. Tonight is my last night for training and Tuesday I will officially be sworn in as a CASA! I'm really excited and anxious to work with the kids. I'm excited to get my first case and scared at the same time. Wondering how I wont break into tears when I read his/her file and talk to them for the first time.

Casa of the Pines
WHAT WE DO:
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.
When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe, a judge appoints a committed volunteer from CASA of the Pines to help them.
Our official title in court is Guardian Ad Litem, a role required by law in the state of Texas. CASA Guardians ad Litem advocate in court for the best interests of neglected and abused children in foster care to help insure their placement in safe, permanent homes.
Volunteers research case records and speak to everyone involved in a child’s life, including their family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers and others. They investigate, evaluate and make recommendations to the judge who has the responsibility of determining the child’s permanent placement.
CASA volunteers are committed people – teachers, business people, retirees, stay-at-home moms and grandparents – who want to make certain that foster children have safe homes.
CASA volunteers receive extensive training prior to working with a child as well as ongoing support throughout a case:
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training and development program that consists of at least 30 hours of pre-service training, followed by 12 hours of yearly in-service training.
CASA advocates are supervised and supported every step of the way by CASA staff.
The CASA volunteer commitment is about 15 hours a month until the case is closed. The length of each case varies but could last over a year.
CASA volunteers are asked to commit to a child’s case until it is closed and a child achieves a safe, permanent home.
-Casa of the Pines

Monday, May 24, 2010

Daddy & Raigen.....

The CUTEST video of Raigen laughing at her Daddy. And ofcourse we cant get her to do it anymore!! Darn kid! :)



Thursday, May 20, 2010

Raigen's $3 Bumbo seat!




SO, Ive been wanting to get Raigen a bumbo seat for a while. I almost bought one on ebay until my lovely sister in law told me not to because she sees them for sale all the time in Spring at the garage sales. So I didnt. And Im glad. About a week later Rachel was hitting up some garage sales and spotted this cute pink and purple one! For ONLY $3!!!It looks brand new! :D Raigen sits up in it soooo good! I love it.
Thanks Rachel!!


My School Girl!

Here is a picture of my big girl on her 2ND day of school.
Isn't she so cute?!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Our 1st Family Picture!!

Saturday we had an appointment with a friend of ours {Emily} to do outdoor family pictures, she takes really good pictures and I was super excited UNTIL it stared to rain. :( SO, we went to Portrait Innovations in Kingwood. And they did a great job! AND you get all of your pictures the SAME day at no extra charge! :) We got over 20 sheets of pictures, greeting cards, and the CD for $80! :)



































Friday, May 14, 2010

Rilyn's 1st day of school!

Rilyn keeps telling me " I wanna go to school!". SO I put her in school! She is going to school(Mothers Day out) once a week. Her 1st day was Tuesday and I was a little nervous to see how she'd do. She was SO excited about going, Ive never seen her happier about anything. While we were packing her lunch she said "I need to take juices for all my friends!" She hadn't even met the kids yet but they were already 'all her friends'. I took her in I introduced her to her teacher and stood there for a few minutes then I said "Ok, Mommy's going to work." she said "Ok, love you mom." I was sort of heart broken. I kinda wanted her to cry for me. I dont know why. I told her teacher that if she cried or freaked out to call me because she had never been before. The teacher and everyone else there assured me that she'd do fine. And I reminded them once again that they could call if they needed to. Then they were like psycho mom. she'll do fine! They didnt really say that. LOL I know they were thinking it though. She was there from 8:30-4:30. I almost went to pick her up at lunch. I really wanted to. Josh told me to leave her alone and let her 'spread her wings'. LOL Yes, he used those exact words... ((Hes a dork.)) SO at 4:00 I headed over there to pick her up. Its only like 2 miles away, maybe. But I didnt want to get stuck behind a train or anything. When I got there she was playing out side with her class. I went and got her and when we got inside I asked how her 1st day was. She said "Dat boy was pushin me!" Then she said "And I hit him." I kind of laughed. I never thought it would be funny to hear her taking about her 1st fight. It was just something about a 2 year old saying it that cracked me up. I said "What did your teacher do?" She said " Her say, NO FIGHTING" LOL Anyway, she LOOOVED her 1st day of school. So now when she is misbehaving I say, "You do that again and you cant go back to school." Then she behaves. :) Alisha said I am a horrible mom for not taking her picture of her on her 1st day. Truthfully I didnt think we'd even make it to the school. I had planned on having her at work with me that day. Not because I thought she wouldnt go, I didnt think I'd actually go thru with it. My baby is getting so big. And Im not ready for her to yet. This maybe good for the both of us, she is getting to play with kids and its weaning me for when she REALLY start school.
I guess Ill just have to take a picture of her 2nd day on tuesday to post. She looks adorable with her backpack and luchkit.... Like a real school kid.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Too Funny...

Last night we were sitting at the Taco Bell drive thru and Rilyn said " Hey look at dat big giant pineapple!"....LOL
I was cracking up trying to order!
Shes so funny....

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

My cutie....


Heres a cute picture of Rilyn... I caught her playing in her room wearing Mr Potatoe-head's glasses! LOL...

Rilyn's 1st play date with Lane and Laci!

I brought Lane and Laci home with me the other day to play with Rilyn for a bit and she was ecstatic! She calls them her 'fends'. They all had a blast! Lane was so sweet, he helped Rilyn build a sand castle. And Laci and Rilyn played house. Rilyn kept yelling "Mom!" And Id say "What?" She said " Not you, Laci my mom and Im the daughter!" It was cute. When Bubba came to get the kids, he said "wheres your mom?.." Rilyn said "In the house.' And I was standing right there! LOL... (She was talking about Laci!) Then poor Rilyn SCREAMED and cried when they left, she said... "He taking my fends!"...
Look at these pictures... Arnt they so cute!



Monday, May 3, 2010

Raigen 4 1/2 months....

Raigen is getting so big and active! She is grabbing things now! She can pull her hanging toy and make the music start! She grabs her feet and then goes strait for the mouth, which is SO cute! We've started her on baby food, yesterday she ate a whole can of sweet potatoes (in her feeder), 3oz of Gerber juice then still wanted 3 oz of milk! What a piggy! Shes goes pretty good when we feed her with a spoon too, as soon as she sees that spoon that mouth is OPEN...lol She laughs and smiles 24/7! I have never seen a baby that is this happy! Rilyn still loves her to death, today she said " Can Ragie go to nastics(gymnastics) with me?..Pweese?"... And when she wakes up Rilyn says "Good morning sunshine!"...Its so cute.
Heres a picture of her napping the other day, notice she has to have a blanket to hold. Its cute...Atleast shes not doing what Rilyn did and pinch! heck, Rilyn still does it! She has to pinch your arm to go to sleep.... PAAAINNNNFUL.