Happy May Day! Sunny Skies!

We cleaned up for Junior/Senior Banquet

The kids were all spiffed up too! They looked so good!

A neighbor came over and brought us flowers to help celebrate the approval to adopt! Yes, you heard right! After 9 months of paperwork, classes and so forth we have been approved to adopt. Now we are waiting for a birth family to choose us. Our neighbor and her husband have adopted both of their children and so she understands the process. They've been very supportive!

I don't think I posted these pictures on the blog yet: A months ago on April Fool's day it was near 100 degrees and we tipped our toes in the water and laid on the beach.

The kids loved it! I mean loved it! Hours of simple play time = sand and water!

Dakota took a dunk and we laughed so hard. After we had told her that it was too cold to swim she took the plunge anyway. I don't think she will do that anytime soon. However, we've had the small pool put up on the deck. I fill that with warm water and the kids play out there on 80 degree days. They love the water.

Two Years in a Row! Yes! Two years, Folks! I hope to make it annual! This Easter we went again to the Easter Egg hunt on the governor's lawn. He is kind enough to take a photo with us. More like 5 photos with us and yet this is the best we got. Actually the best we got was the one with Daraby digging in her nose but I can't put that up here. We had great laughs though. Really I just use the kids as pawns to get photos with the governor!

Daraby loves her Audi! Sometimes Audi sleeps with Daraby during her afternoon naps. Audi is feisty but she is fitting in really well with our family. She is very busy!

Crazy dog loves to sleep on her back. I think it is adorable! I just shaved Abby's hair off. Of course she still had her hair in this photo. Now she looks like a pink wrinkly dog. In a few weeks her hair will grow out more and she will be her pretty chocolate color again! She loves having it short though. She is much cooler and more content! I like that I can wash her off quickly after she's been swimming in the muddy pond water.

Lately I've been making these. I'm making them to give as graduation gifts. I've also sold quite a few. All the money we make we keep putting in the adoption fund. The are stiff, fully lined with interfacing in between. They are super durable and nice looking. These ones are around 11 inches long and 4.5 inches wide. They are perfect toiletry bags for men and women. I sell these for $17.00 each. Shipping is extra.  

I also sell square ones (left side) 6x6 for $15.00. Shipping Extra.

If you are interested in buying bags just let me know.

A friend that sells Thirty-One products is also throwing a fundraiser party for our family and adoptions funds next Tuesday night at our home. She has graciously decided to donate all the proceeds from the Thirty-One party to our adoption costs. WOW! Not only can you buy a great product from Thirty-One but you'll be putting money toward our adoption fund. YAY! This is the link to shop online! www.mythirtyone.com/pardee find the Boersma party! I can get you a catalog to look at. Just let me know.

Other than that life is crazy busy here. We have events pretty much every night until school gets done. I'm working on adoption grants- paperwork, paperwork and paperwork! The girls are wanting to be outside all the time! I agree! the weather is nice. The dogs love it too! Mud is our buddy right now. I live in gumbo country and so it is pure slim and sticks to you. Makes for lots of baths!

I hope you are enjoying your May Day! May your skies be Sunny! If I was organized- which I'm not- I would knock on your door and leave you a fun basket! Is it the thought that counts?! :)

They up and flew the coop!

So perhaps they didn't fly the coop but went to live with wonderful families. All the pups are gone now except our pup Audi and our dog, Abby. I think I've had way to many headaches brought on by crying over the leaving of our pups. I'm happy for them and their new families. I really am! I just miss them! I don't think I would want 6 pups at 9 weeks of age. I would be crying about them not leaving. I know some of you will be sending pictures of your pup and family. If you want, I'll post them on the blog as updates throughout the year. We would love to hear how it is going. We are very happy with all the new homes and the calliber of families that have chosen to buy pups. Other than that we had an excellent Easter! I'm so very thankful that the Lord made the choice over 2000 years ago to die and then arise for me and you. I'm so very thankful that He is making me new. It is a humbling yet refreshing time of year. New Years isn't one of those seasons that make me think of a fresh start. The smell of spring, the realization of the depth of the sacrifice of Christ,and the budding of all things green always makes me hopeful for a new beginning in my own life. May you be blessed as you realize the depth of Christ's love for us and His power to make all things new!

Visit from Aunt Rachael

Dara on the swing at the park. She loves her old fashioned dresses!

Aunt Rachael and Dara on the tire swing. I think I about made Rach sick with my twirly push!

At another park with the pups. Rachael and her husband claimed the pup that is in her lap. He rode home with her to CO and it settling in with a big golden retriever, Belle!

The girls absolutely love Rachael and wanted her to play with them all the time. Rachael has a great way with kids!

The kids were filthy after we left the park with dust from the rocks in the play area. They had a thick coat of film on them. Everything was a chalky mess!

Speaking of a chalky mess: Dara thought that coloring herself with bright pink sidewalk chalk was fun. It was fun and cute until we had to scrub it off in the tub! Don't think we will do that again!

I still have one pup left for sale and would like him to go to his new family very soon! Hugh will be a great hunter! I think he will be a bit bigger than Abby around 40-45 pounds. He is laid back and lovable- likes people. Again if you know of anyone interested please let them know. 

Our litter is leaving us!

This last Sunday Skeeter met her new family. I believe she will love it in sunny Colorado. I almost wish I was her since she will be living within a couple hours of our old place in NE. We really like her owners and are tickled pink that we've had such great people contact for pups. They even sent us home with music CD's that Skeeter's owner recorded. We've enjoyed listening to them. So long Skeeter! I keep counting you as I watch the pups. "Where is number 6? Oh yeah, I only have 5 now!" The count down begins.

This is a day perfect for twirling!!!!! We have some really exciting news to share: Today we had our final home study!!!!   In a couple weeks our profile can be shown to potential birth parents. This is BIG! I mean HUGE! Gigantic! Memorable. Today marks the end of the paperwork trail -although we will still go to classes and continue to read!

Most of you know that we started on the adoption process last summer and after pounding on the adoption door for 9 months and it is now swinging wide open. It is daunting, exciting and unrealistic. Can this finally be happening? We could possibly have a child in a month. Our birth mom may or may not be pregnant yet. We've yet to know the birth parents who will trust us with their child. What a huge sacrifice for them. What an honor for us. Daraby wants another sister and Dakota wants a brother. We- we want a baby!

We are prepared that it may take up to three years until another little one joins our family but we are praying that it wouldn't take that long and we'll be chosen sooner. I would love for the kids to be close in age and friends. We will see what the future holds.

"Take a picture of me Mom!" I hear this a lot but she rarely sits still long enough for me to take it. She wants to run back to me to see herself on the digital screen. Daraby is starting to be a big ham with people and says things that make me laugh and cringe. Today Daraby and Dakota talked to our social worker without us and I can just imagine what she said. The social worker came out laughing. Daraby is so outspoken and I love her natural curiosity for life.

This is Abby, Wilson and Neefy after our walk. The pups played in the reeds at the edge of the pond while Abby swam and swam and swam after a muskrat that she just can't catch. Today she probably swam over an hour trying to catch him. She is getting so skinny and she has unlimited food to eat. She still nurses twice a day or so. She likes to lay outside in the grass to nurse the pups. She rarely goes in the box with them anymore. She enjoys playing with them outside. She rolls around and lightly bites the pups. The pups are a constant nuisance to her- tugging on her ears, biting her legs, and nipping at her nipples. Little heathens! I would have weaned them a long time ago.

Wilson and Neefy are playing in the shallow water by the pond.

Neefy

Oh Audi- you rascal! I won't mention that you ran completely away from me today. A good block away. I haven't ran that fast is a very long time. Did God send you to be my new diet plan?

I still need an excellent home for this beautiful boy. He is quiet and inquisitive. He likes to follow Abby and be outdoors. He is smart and takes his time as he learns things. He doesn't rush headlong into anything. He calculates his steps and when he does something he does it well. He isn't the first to meet you at the edge of the box but he is the last to leave. He's content and doesn't cry.  He has great endurance- he'll chase his mom our entire walk. He doesn't need a lot of attention- he just likes to be near me. I often forget he is in the kitchen or out of the box. He isn't needy and doesn't cry so I forget and then I'll find him curled up asleep somewhere. If you know someone interested please tell them about Hugh- name subject to change based on owners. $350 Firm

Puppies are coming your way!

So many of you are getting antsy to get your pup and I would be excited too. I wish I could keep them but I'm thrilled with they families they are going to. Currently I still have one male left for sale. We call him Hugh!

Other than that the rest of the pups are heading out soon or in the next few weeks. I know most of you are wondering what we are feeding these little fur balls. I did a ton of research and since we are a natural family I settled on this dog food. It is made without wheat or corn. In nature would you see a dog consuming a bunch of wheat or corn? They are meant to eat meat. Most of dog foods now are made up of fillers and cheaper ingredients to cut costs. I want the best for our dogs. For a long time we fed Abby a vet recommended dog food but since switching her to this she has more energy and her coat is much healthier. It just makes sense to me to feed her the best food since she only eats 2 cups a day.

So I highly reccommend this food but you may switch your pup to whatever dog food you desire. Just make sure you mix some of the dog food I give you with some of the dog food you will be feeding your dog. That helps on their digestive system- which means no runny poop for you.

No matter what food you choose, you'll want to make sure you are feeding them a puppy food for medium bred dogs. That way they will get the nutrients they need to grow and mature. When we meet I'll have vet checks, a bill of sale, papers to register your dog and a small tupperware of food. We look forward to see you and handing over your new pup! See you soon!