Christina's Summer So Far

This is from Christina. HELLO :) So I have been out of school and onto Summer for one week today. So far it's been fairly good. Despite a couple arguments with my friends, it's been a great start. I have already gone on Vacation to Palm Beach and been to the beach and Universal Studios several times. I have started my Summer off mostly with my new friend Shannon. She is a great singer and you should really hear her. We get along so well. I already consider her one of my close good friends. Katelyn has been out of town in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the past week. She is coming back tonight. It's been a good break. hahaha, meaning I got the bed and my room to myself again. Well with the exception that Shannon has been here the entire time lol. At the moment I can not remember who I have told about my poem so I will just retell the story. I hope that you all remember the poem I wrote back February. If not here it is: You live everyday in the presence of yourself Not realizing that the choices you make, could affect somebody else. Those choices you make could hurt your best friend, But you shouldn't let that stop you two, in the end There are days when our world is flipped around and we don't know which way is right or wrong, let alone up or down. At times you have those days when your lost and confused, And feel like falling to the floor, because you don't know what to do Some days you feel like your world is coming to a crash, but then that's when you must stop, and take a step back. That will be the day when you come to realize where you stand and not everything will be an "I will try", but an "I can." At the end of the day when the battle was lost and the war was won the only thing that matters is what you have gained and have become. The next day you will realize what life is truly about, not to find yourself, but to create yourself. Anyway, I sent the poem in to an online contest and my poem has been selected to be published in their collections. I should be receiving the book in about three to four months. Also, if my poem makes it to the top ten, I could win $10,000 (I think it was). I was also chosen to be a judge for the finalists. So, Yay me! haha. I have been talking a guy named Chris. We are not dating but only talking. I'm trying to take things slow with this one. He is literally the definition of sweet, incredible, and perfect. He opens the doors for me and gives me kisses on my hands. It's nice because most guys don't do these kinds if things today. I connect with him so well. I hope things work out between us for as long as they can. I have put together some pictures for you all to see. I hope you enjoy them. :) I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, dislikes or anything that is going through your mind. Love you all ! ~Christina

Getting Ready at the Hotel in Palm Beach

New 'Friend' Chris At the Beach Climbing on the Lifeguard Tower In Palm Beach Prom Date Will On the Mummy Ride at Universal Studios All wearing Tye-Dye shirts At Robbie's 19th Birthday Party Making Cookies at home at Midnight! Holding a Snake at the Boy Scout Fair Christina and Katelyn In the Hummer Limo going to Cocoa Beach At Cocoa Beach, Christina third from right

Good News, Good Times

While Elektra and I were stuck at the Social Service Place, waiting for them to approve the Food Stamp Card for us, Elektra entertained me by singing. She reminded me a Choir Girl. Leonard and Michelle were FINALLY able to come to the Blue House to see Elektra! No more Clover House visitations! It was such a nice afternoon. The 3 of them played together for about an hour. Then we went out to dinner. Next time Mom and Dad are here, we are going back to that little restaurant. It was really good.

After we got back to the Blue House, Leonard blew tons of bubbles for Elektra, because it was a BUBBLE DAY!!They also played out back. Elektra loves to swing. You keep pushing, she will keep swinging. And Swinging. Doesn't it just make your heart happy to see the three of them together? Look at their beautiful faces and smiles.

Did you see how long that grass is? Well, I mowed it today, so it looks good now.

The last day of School!! My boys plus Zachary's best friend, Avery went to BK and to the movie, Night at the Museum (part 2). They said it was very good, and they had a blast hanging out.

Twice this week they went to Universal Studios.

On Men In Black, Mike had 3000 more points than Zachary, which is like ONE alien more!

Getting ready to go on SpiderMan!

They love playing in the water. Especially on such warm days. Christina brought 2 friends with her. I bet Woody was a happy boy! With Betty Boop. Do the shorts have to be so short!? This is the new Roller Coaster they are building. Supposed to of been done already. Now its scheduled for a fall opening. Look out Frank!!! T-Rex must not of gotten his fill with Super Skinny Frank. Although it looks like Zachary is tall enough for The Mummy Ride, they wouldn't let him on. It is a very jerky Roller Coaster, so he really needs to be a bit bigger. Mike and the boys love to play the carnival games. This is why...They always win stuffed animals. Because we don't have enough. Probably just under 1000. or Two. Ever since seeing that tornado in Key Largo, the boys have been freaked out when storms come. Caleb's last day of school stuff.

Zachary's design. I hope those dolls hold on!

Every time there is a horse race on, they place bets. These are the prizes.

Zachary helped Daddy cook breakfast today.

Christina and her friend going to a party tonight.

Party Safe Girls! Leonard and Michelle drove to AZ last night. My cousin Kim's memorial service is on Monday. For those of you wondering who she is, she is my moms first cousin on my grandma Ann's side. She developed Leukemia after under going chemotherapy for breast cancer. She only found out about 5 weeks ago that she had gotten Leukemia.

My thoughts and prayers are with my AZ family during this sad time.

Every day should be a Bubble Day

I spent yesterday morning running around trying to get someone to help me get financial support for my niece. I feel that since the State took custody of her, the State should be paying for her needs. I had to bring the CPS Investigator with me, and its a good thing to, because they even tried to railroad her. I know I would of never gotten anywhere if she hadn't been able to muscle her way to the top. I now have an appt today at 9am, where earlier in the day they told it would be at least a month. I have to go without the backup help today, but hopefully she got the ball rolling enough that I wont get the runaround. I also intend to write as many people in Government explaining my problems with getting support. I have been told so many different stories by so many different people it is a joke. One explanation I got was that my brother, a Navy man, makes too much money. Michelle is wondering how come those millions of dollars he makes isn't being deposited in their account. I directly asked the 'Powers that Be' "If I was just a foster mom with no relation to the family would I have already received support?" Answer? "Oh yes, absolutely" Discrimination!!!! This is just one problem that we have been facing. Ok, on to the part you really look at my blog for.... Pictures!! After all the running around I did, Elektra and I stopped at Target and Home Depot. We bought flowers to plant in the front yard. But first I had to pull the weeds. Soo many weeds.... But look how pretty it is starting to look. I bought several plants and flowers. Although there are not many flowers left on the plants because Elektra plucked most of the flowers off. She loves to pick flowers!

While I was working on the flower beds, Elektra was playing in the sprinklers. She LOVES playing in the water! Here she is in the back yard playing in the sprinklers. I don't know how she does it, but she will spin around in circles for the longest time! I get dizzy just watching her!

Elektra loves the Gymboree bubbles, like all my kids do. And I love blowing bubbles as all my family knows! If you have never blown Gymboree bubbles I suggest you run to your nearest Gymboree store, and get some. No matter what kind of day you are having, it will instantly brighten with these bubbles.

She is really good at blowing them all by herself, although she mostly loves to dance with them while I make myself light headed blowing them.

My parents were here for the weekend, and while mom, Leonard and Michelle went shopping, my dad had lunch with Elektra and I, then hung out at our house for the day. Elektra is a Poppie girl!

These pictures are from the middle of May when we went to my brothers restaurant. I had forgotten to post them before, so here they are now.

Zachary is so handsome in his Boy Scout uniform!

Caleb jumping on a bounce house while Zachary 'worked' his booth.

Zachary had a Cub Scout Graduation party last week. He was a wolf, now he is a???? Leonard would know, since he is an Eagle Scout. (the highest you can get, quite an honor)

I forgot to ask Mike what Zacharys new rank is.

Yummy cakes! Bet Zachary didn't eat this one. Its chocolate.

I bet he had this one! Congrats Zachary!The kids last day of school is tomorrow. Zachary has a Boy Scout Day Camp that he will be attending. I hope I can get some pictures of him.