Ezra blowing GAK

Ezra's therapist gave us a recipe for this really cool substance called Gak.  It feels like play slime my brother used to have when we were kids but you can blow it into bubbles, smash and stretch it.  It doesn't mold like play dough but it is it's own unique creation.  We created it at the hospital, where we had to hang out for several days and it kept Ezra and several other kids entertained for days on end.  Here is the recipe:

Gak

-In a lg (gallon) ziplock bad mix together 1 T Boraxo and I cup warm water.  Mix until sudsay

-In another lg (gallon) ziplock bag mix 1 cup of school glue with 1 cup of warm water

-Combine the mixed bag of boraxo with the mixed bag of glue and add food coloring (we didn't have any with us at the hospital so ours remained white).  Continue mixing until gak consistency is reached 

-Add rubber tubing or straws to blow bubbles in it for extra oral motor fun.

Btw, Boraxo is not the same as Borax.  Boraxo is a hand soap.  It's in a cylinder shaped container on the bottom shelf of the hand soap area in Fred Meyer.  It cost only a little over a dollar.  And the Gak will give you lots of entertaining fun.

Now this is not an adoption entry-as we are not currently looking for another child but just to tie this into adoption-we were at the hospital because Ezra's birth grandfather was there.  It was a very sad event, made a little sweeter by visiting so many loved ones and having so much play time.  

Ezra is seen here with his birth mom Randy and her boyfriend Justin.  

Yes, the Gak kept them entertained too

Additions to the family

Well, out of no where I posted the last entry after an absence of about 8 months. The reason being that we had our world turned a little upside down...in a good way...but it doesn't change that it was stressful. We took on 2 new foster kids Miles and Zayla. They are adorable 10 month apart siblings and boy, did they keep us busy. 17 month old Miles is a busy boy with no sense of self preservation. 7 month old Zayla (it's Kayla with a "Z") was a very mild, sweet tempered girl...who woke up the house hold at 4 am, 5 am and finally we gave in and got her out of bed at 6am. And usually a few more tossing squeals in the night. Then our formerly perfect only child became a biting, scratching till he drew blood, kicking, pooping and rubbing it into the carpet older role model to the new youngins. It was quite the ordeal. I'm not sure how we survived in our 752 sq ft house-other than we had a lot of help from friends, family and blessings from above.

And then after 3 months of hard work we lost our little girl Zayla. She has a different birth father than Miles and he stepped up. We were prepared to hate this smuck who never was there for Zayla before but we found that we really liked him. He was clean cut, kind, had intelligent questions to ask about how to care for her and he just looks so much like Zayla. Strangely, I found that our previously failed adoption was harder and we never even met that baby. Either our ability to handle the heartbreak was stronger or the Savior lightened our burden somehow...or maybe both.

Anyway that's our update, for those who haven't heard. We still have Miles and he's looking even more likely to work out to stay in our family.

Sumo wrestling

Ezra has recently been diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder and he has to go to occupational therapy. To reinforce the therapy at home we need to do heavy work activities. I think I understand it but explaining it back somehow always eludes me but it's supposed to "decrease sensitivity to sensory input." So things like pillow fights, lifting heavy objects, shoveling. I starting thinking, "I'm seeing a lot of opportunities for chores and activities here." Then I got this swanky idea from pinterest to put Ryan's shirts on the boys and stuff them with pillows to sumo wrestle. They were too cute and funny.

4th of July (oh yeah, I guess that was last month:)

Sitting by the water to watch the air show (and eating cheetoes,

what 4th of July would be complete without them?)

Okay I know I should've put these up a month ago and I have no real excuses for not doing it sooner (other than vacations, distractions and forgetfulness). But here was our Independence Day Celebration.

I actually really love our city when it comes to the 4th. There is so much to do that's free, unique and family friendly. Our city does an air show every year. We sat by the water and watched the air acrobatics. There were some really amazing "stunt" flights.

It was hard to get a good picture but those little specs with the

white trail behind them-those are the planes

Ryan and I were pretty enthralled but Ezra got bored so we went down to play in the water-which was actually pretty fun too. We found small crabs, oysters and Ezra hauled up lots of sea weed :) And lots of boats (we saw them-Ezra didn't haul them up :)

Yes, son that's a boat too.

There was a freedom fair too, with lots of food, booths with fun junk. All of it was overpriced of course. We bought 3 corn dogs and it cost us $18. Whew! (In the corn dog's defense they were delicious).

Making the hike home (still smiling too-at least when the

camera is on)

Even though this event took place a few minutes

drive from our house it took us probably 45 minutes to get home. There was no driving in that crowd. This was no reflection on how fit we physically are. We just had to park the car...millions of miles away up a hill, with a toddler (a very cute toddler but still a toddler none the less).

Ryan, Ezra, Aaron, and Isabella sitting on my quilt

Later that night we got together with our next door neighbor Aaron and Isabella (Ezra's best friend) and walked over to the water to watch the fireworks. It was Ezra's first time staying up to watch see them. Here in Washington it doesn't get dark until 9:30 or 10 and I am a normally a stickler about bed times. But holidays are meant to be exceptions.

We sat on my quilt. I just have to point this out because-I made it. This was a huge feat for me because I don't like to sew. I started the quilt as a YW project when I was a leader in the YW presidency. It took about 2 years after the fact but I did it. (A big part of that time was spent searching for a good mentor. I was just too intimidated to do it on my own). Made from old jeans and this is the only picture I have of it (but don't look too closely or you might find some... imperfections).

We didn't get pictures of the parade or the picnics we went to (or naps we all took after walking/melting in the heat). But you get the idea! It was an incredible fun filled day!

Ezra made a sandwich

I am a proud mother of a master of culinary skills in peanut butter and jelly sandwich making! I was so pleased he was very patient and interested in trying it and and he ate it. Okay, it's a little dorky (you can go ahead and question the "little" part too) but where does a mother get to brag shamelessly about her child's accomplishments? Grandparents can only take so much :)

Visit to Yellow Stone

For the first time ever I went to Yellowstone National Park. As you can see we all loved it. Never mind the little boy who won't show his face because he was hot and over tired. It was beautiful, exciting and HOT! I keep forgetting Washington is so much cooler than the rest of ...well, the country. Or at least everywhere else we ever go to. Luckily there was a breeze but I was in constant fear of loosing my hat (as you can see by how far it is pushed over my eyebrows). If your hat blows off on the path surrounded by gysers there's no going after it.

We saw at least 3 or 4 hats that endured a similar fate.

And of course we need to visit the ever famous Old Faithful. We sat and waited about 30 minutes for it to go off (I ask you, what's not to love about sitting around waiting for water to boil?). And shortly thereafter, Ezra's good mood went off with it. Definitely worth it but we probably won't do it again until he's older and better able to appreciate it :)

Jumpin' Jack and Jill

I don't know who had more fun, me or Ezra. My friend Juliet works at a bouncy fun type of house, Jumpin' Jack and Jill. I wish I could say she got us in for free but...we did get a great coupon for our next visit and really I only had to pay for Ezra. I was only in their in a supervisory capacity (at least when the other adults were looking). It was so much fun, there were slides, video games, jumping castles, something of an obstacle course and lots of other fun games.

I didn't get a good shot of Ezra's friend but this is Kingston. We met his family at an FSA (Families Supporting Adoption) activity. It is actually really awesome to know other families that are also going the adoption route.

The aftermath...another advantage of having your friend work there, we got to watch it all come apart.