Toothless

Joseph lost his first and second tooth less than 24 hours apart...just adding to his cute factor!

Adoption Time

Two and 1/2 years a go we said yes to fostering a sibling group of 3.  It has been by far one of the toughest cases we have taken on.  It has made us dig deep, changed us in big ways, challenged us, blessed our socks off, and somewhere along the way....we feel in love with them!

This past Monday, they became an official --in a legal sense --a part of our family.  They have been a part of our family in our hearts for much, much longer.

We gathered together with friends, family, CASA workers, our DCYF worker, our Luthern Service worker--a crowd to be reckoned with numbering over 50 at the court house in Concord.  You could feel the excitement in the air.  The adopted kids were given a balloon by their worker which became a valuable tool as they raced among all the folks that were a part of their life.  We were ushered in to the court room, filled it to the brim.

The judge did an absolute wonderful job of making it official.  Each kid got to pound the gavel to make it official!  You could hear Harmony giggle up the stairs to sit with the judge but we could only see her balloon bouncing up and down as she walked up the stairs.  Joe loved sitting in the judges seat and Devon brought much mischief as he raced down the steps afterward and tangled his balloon with Harmony's wrapping a court worker with it!  They even served cupcakes to the kids attending and I think there were enough for most of the kids!  It was fun.

We then headed to Kimball farm for ice cream, the petting zoo and the sand pile (a favorite among the kids). The grown ups chatted, checked out the beautiful flowers in the green house till late in the afternoon...as folks started to leave, we  invited those that were left to join us for dinner.  We took home tired, sandy kids after special day.

We welcome Joseph Aden, Rebecca Harmony and Devon Jackson to our family!

All of us in the judges seat.

Devon checking out the icing in his cupcake.

The judge with Harmony and Joe.

The sand pile at the farm...fun!

Devon in truck, sand happiness!

I snapped this picture in my happy place- the garden she's.

Barefoot Harmony at the sand pile.

50 Years

This past Sunday afternoon, we celebrated my parents 50th Anniversary with family and friends!  It was a day of seeing many folks that we had not touched base with for a very long time. We reconnected as we celebrated together.

We were able to start the morning off with them by joining them at church (after running errands and doing last minute set up). This church has a lot of family history...my dad grew up in it, my mom's dad was a pastor there...my parents were married there and so were my sister and I. So, that was a treat...Aunts, Cousins, my Sunday School teacher from when I was in 2nd grade, choir members that I have know since I was a kid were there too.

We then went over to the church hall where my sister, her husband and her son were keeping the food part going --very well I might add. We fellowshipped, played a newlywed game with my folks, reminisced and ate lots of food and dessert.  

One woman who I have know my entire life reminded me of several events that happened before we made the move to. NH.  She then stated she would never be the same knowing our family.  That was a very humbling statement.

A cool fact about the day...one of their bridesmaids was in attendance...my Aint Carol Bennett and their flower girl, my cousin, Suejean Bowles was there.

So...here are some if our pictures....

Aunt Suzy taking some pictures...

The cake celebrating the occasion.

Dad and Mom playing a version of the newlywed game.

Dan and Caris "hosted" the game...above are the 50 facts about my folks in numbers. That was fun to put together!

All the grandkids lined up in the stairs at John Boggs Hall.

Carolyn, my sister, my dad and I chatting.

The whole Fitzgerald Clan...aren't we something to behold??

A beautiful picture board my sister created...she did a beautiful job!

Dan did all the cooking that morning, it was pretty awesome. Here Darrell is giving him a hand serving.

Here, everyone pitched in to clean up ...my cousin Jackies son, Jeffery with my nephew Mitchell and our Harmony.

Some of the numbers for the 50 facts about my folks.

My mom and dad chatting with Marjorie Reeves.

Caris entertained some folks with her piano playing.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

26 Years and Counting

We have had so many things going on this year, we chose not to set aside time to celebrate our anniversary with a traditional date night but took the whole gang-1 to Olive Garden for some yummy dessert!  We enjoyed the company and the sweets to celebrate!

Bright Lights New Hampshire Style

Kiara's Bright Lights group is comig to an end to take a summer break.  She loves the fellowship and wonderful girls she gets to hang out with and be challenged in God's word. I love that she is challenged in her faith, laughs a lot and enjoys getting together with these girls...and they serve dessert...a special treat to or sweet loving girly.

50 years to rack our brains over.

My parents just recently celebrated their 50th anniversary except the actual celebration is coming up in a few weeks.  We have planned food, decorations and activities.  

One of the activities we have worked on is a number presentation idea we found on Pinterest.  For each year of their marriage we had to come up wig something they did during their marriage or something that happened the year they were married.  Like #25 is the cost of gas the year they were married or #11 is the number of countries stamped in their passport.

It made all of us especially my folks put on their thinking caps about the last 50 years.  Some came easy but others not so much.

We giggled on the phone one night as I questioned them over and over with possibilities....some, I did research on through the internet, and then others took a day or two for them to really rack their brains over something to fit the numbers.

In the end, we have a fun tribute to the events, and things they did as a couple and they had fun reminiscing over those years.  A treasure that I will enjoy at their party knowing the fun they had when they put it together.

I am looking forward to getting together with them to celebrate this important milestone in their lives!

Let Freedom Ring

This morning as we were making breakfast, Kiara asked me exactly what Memorial Day means...

I told her it's about the men and women who died to keep our nation free, it's about the soldiers who came home to try and rebuild our nation and their lives, it's about the families who sacrificed brothers, sisters, dads, mothers....it's about sacrifice, the bigger cause.

We have many stories in our immediate family of sacrifice for our own USA...Dad, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Dave, Opa, Great grandfather, numerous uncles...a heritage...something to stand tall for their sacrifices for our nation...Let Freedom Ring!

Remembering what the gave for us!