Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas from the Hustons

It's that time of year, again.  To wish our friends and family a Merry Christmas and prayers for a Happy New Year, too.  We celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary this year!!  We were able to take a family vacation (for our Anniversary) back to Colorado to visit Trish's family.  All of her cousins have kids that are Thomas's age, so it's fun to watch them all play together.  We also spent some time with Grandma & Grandpa Donohue, which was very special since Grandpa was getting pretty ill.  We have spent a lot of hot summer days, at Seaworld cooling off and seeing all the attractions there.  We also visited Lego Land this year and got to see how fun that is.  We also went to the Zoo a few times and the Wild Animal Park, too.  It's nice to have so many things to do locally as a family.

This year has been a year of change, for Thomas.  He has grown from a little toddler, to a very smart 4-year-old little boy.  We constantly have to remind ourselves that he's only 4, as he acts much much older.  He started preschool this year.  It's a Montessori program and he goes 2 days a week, for half day.  He is learning how to write, learning his letters and so many other things that are taught in the Montessori program.  He loves to play outside, but mostly at Grandma Papa's where he can run, ride his bike, play on his battery-operated car (from Grandpa Huston), dig for worms and help Papa in the garden.  This year, Papa & Thomas won 3rd place in the pumpkin contest for the largest pumpkin.  Their pumpkin weighed 353 pounds!!  They hope to grow a larger one, next year.  Thomas has also advanced in his swimming skills.  He takes swim lessons two times a week (during the summer) to teach him how to swim and water safety.  In the pool, he's like a little fish, swimming, diving and splashing all around.  He loves to visit his Daddy at work (occasionally) where he gets to see his "favorite Hotshot" Jaime (a girl on Jim's crew) and play ball with the other Hotshots, too.  

Jim was pretty busy this year.  Fire season started off in early May and kept Jim away from home a lot (over 700 hours of just overtime, not counting regular hours).  It seemed like he was gone more than home this year.  It makes for some lonely weeks, but we love to look forward to our family time in the winter.  Thankful for SKYPE as we got to talk to him a lot while he was away.  Thomas knows that his Daddy is a Hotshot and sometimes leaves for fires, but it hard explaining how long 2 weeks is to a 4 yr old.  This year they did more than fight fires, his crew was flown back east with 4 other Hotshot crews to assist with clean-up efforts after Superstorm Sandy.  They flew in to Penslyvannia and were sent to West Virginia to work with the National Guard to clear roads. They got to experience the friendly, country welcomes from the locals there.  They made a few side visits Hershey, PA as well as Gettysburg, PA too!!  He came home with some SWEET souveniours and cool pictures.

Trish is enjoying being a Stay-At-Home-Mommy and working on some homeschool stuff with Thomas.  This year, she also began watching a friend's baby during the week.  The baby arrives around 6:30am and is with Trish & Thomas until 4:30pm.  It makes for a long day, but what a great opportunity to make some extra money and stay at home with Thomas. Thomas is a huge helper and practicing to be a big brother as we are once again on the list for placement/adoption of another child.  We are hoping to get a placement and grow our family, but if that's not God's will, we are okay with that, too.  Trish lost both of her Grandpas this year which was hard on the family.  But we are thankful that neither Grandpa is in pain, anymore.  

We plan on staying home this winter with many "stay-cations" planned.  We'll be doing our annual tradition trip to Knott's Berry Farm before Christmas, going to Lego Land (one more time) and many more fun things.  Part of making memories isn't about going lots places, but spending lots of time together.

Blessings,

From the Huston Family

PS- For more pictures and stories from the year, you can read more on our blog. 

A Special Message for Thomas

Annual Knott's Berry Farm Visit

Every time this year we go to Knott's Berry Farm as Knott's let's Firefighters and their families in for free as a Fire and Police Recognition Day.  As Thomas gets older the more fun we have as he can ride on more rides.

Thomas's Favorite Ride

Thomas likes to drive Daddy around the race track.

Mommy and Thomas ride the air balloon.

Thomas was so excited that he was finally big enough for the Bumper Cars.

 

Thomas has always loved flying his red plane.

Uh Oh, we're in jail!

Thomas meets Joe Cool himself.

Bronco Tom

Our Lil' Buckaroo!

Thomas and Santa have a serious Discussion.

 

In the above photo there is a story.  Santa is informing Thomas that a certain Elf by the name of George (Thomas's Elf on a Shelf) has been visiting Santa every night to give updates.  Thomas's eyes got real wide.  Santa told Thomas he is currently on the NICE list but George say's Thomas needs to do better in cleaning his room up...  This was such a magical moment, we only wish we had a video of it.

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Happy 4th Birthday Thomas!

Random Bits

Thomas has been growing so much lately.  He amazes us with "stories" all the time.....his imagination is huge.  He loves to help around the house with chores, and helping Mommy babysit a little baby.   He's doing well in preschool and making friends there. 

Helping Daddy stack firewood for the winter.  When they were done, the stack was a cord & a half.  Combo of Oak and Pine......ready for winter, now!!
 

Our little yard worker.  Learning how to scrap a hand line.....LOL  Future Hotshot like Daddy??

Helping take care of baby Cameron.  My mom watched Cameron's mom when she was little, now I'm watching her baby. 

Today is our 3 yr. Anniversary when we got that phone call that would forever change our life...

Today is our 3 yr. Anniversary when we got that phone call that would forever change our life...

 

He's Here.....

Yesterday afternoon we recieved a phone call from our Social Worker at 2:30. She had a baby boy (11 months) who needed to be placed immediately. This kind of situation is called concurrent and isn't your normal adoption situation. However, after talking together and writing things down and talking some more, we decided to open our hearts and our home up to love this little boy. His name is Thomas and he is a very cute, happy and healthy little baby. He has his 1st Birthday coming up on Decemberd 8th. So as you can imagine our hearts are filled with so much joy and love for this little guy, for this child we've waited for. He had a diaper bag full of clothes, bottles, etc. And 1 suitcase with some clothes, mostly shorts. I found a longsleeve onsie and some sweatpants and socks. He was very cuddly after we got him changed. He appears to be adjusting well, laughing at the "ogs" (our dogs) and playing with a basket of toys. He loves to play "oo" (boo) and he smiles huge smiles. Yesterday had to be very confusing to him due to the situation (we will keep private), he got his shots, the H1N1 shot and placed in the arms of these people who took him away from his surroundings he'd been at for 24 hours......US!! We picked him up around 5:30 down in San Diego at the Polinsky center. What a day!!
Last night, neither one of us wanted to put him down to sleep. We wanted to hold him, feel him breathe on our chests, watch him and just bask in the moment.
Who knows what could happen with this situation, but as you know we have put this in God's control completely. Definetly like how we pictured it would happen. We had thrown our hands up and started to feel hopeless with the adoption situation . We feel that this child, this situation and this very moment that God wanted us to be available to love and open our arms to this little boy and be his mommy & daddy.
So many questions we have about how to care for a baby......a 11 month old baby. How often do they eat, should he sleep on his back, will we hear him when he wakes up? Oh my goodness........ So we both finally made it to bed after 11:30. Our bodies were tired, but our minds were spinning a mile a minute. I know that I slept good, but lightly. I kept listening for him. So at 5:40 this morning, I heard a cough, so I jumped up out of bed. Careful not to wake Jim, and rushed into his room (with only a night light on). Our little angel is sleeping peacefully and probably just sneezed or coughed like a big person does. So I am awake and ready to face the day with our son and all the adventures we are going to experience with him.

Please pray that we can be good parents. That we will make the right decisions in raising him up. Pray that God will protect him and place him forever in the right home with the right mommy & daddy........................WITH US!!!

Posted by Hotshot's Wife at 5:48 AM 10 comments:

3 Years

Below is a video from Thomas's Adoption party from last year.  Thought we would share it as tomorrow is the 3rd anniversary when we got the phone call to an answered prayer.

A little conversation

Since Thomas has a big boy bed now, me (or Daddy if he's home) lays next to Thomas as he goes to sleep.  After reading our story and turning out the light tonight, while laying next to him we had a little conversation.  Here's how it went:

Thomas:  "Why are your legs so long?"

Me: "Because I'm a mommy."

T: "Are you an old mommy?"

M: "Yep, I'm an old mommy. Okay time to go to sleep.  I love you."

T:  "I love you, too Mommy.   (pause)     Are you married to Daddy?"

M: "Yes."

T: "Well I'm gonna get old and married, too."

M: "Oh you are, huh.  Are you going to marry a pretty girl?"

T:  "Yep, I'm gonna marry you cause you're pretty."

M: "Well I'm already married to Daddy, so you can't marry me."

T: "Well Grandma is married to Papa, Daddy is married to you and I'm gonna marry you, too.  We can all be old and married as a family."

M: "Well you have to marry another girl."

T: "But I love you.      (pause)       When I get old like Daddy I'm gonna grow a BIG beard (laughs that little boy chuckle) and never trim it.  And maybe I can grow a moustache like Daddy and look like a different man.  You know when Daddy trims his moustache off he looks like a different Daddy.  I'm not going to do that.  When I get old and have a moustache maybe I can work with Daddy.  Mommy, I love my Daddy."

M: "I know and Daddy loves you.  You are so lucky because you have a  Mommy and a Daddy who love you."

T: "Are you going to love me when I'm old like Daddy?"

M: "Yes I will love you when you're old like Daddy."

T: "Mommy I think I'm tired now."

M: "Okay well let's go to sleep now.  Close your eyes."     (pause)

T:  sleeping and snoring lightly

It's moments like this that I kept thinking while we were talking that I'd like to freeze in my head.  It's things like this that make being a mom the best thing in the world!!  Not only am I lucky to have a precious little son, but I'm married to his old Daddy, too.

Halloween 2012

This year our Halloween was a little different than planned.  Thomas dressed up as Super Why, Jim was going to be the big bad wolf (dressed like Grandma) and I was going to dress as Little Red Riding Hood.  Well last night Jim and his Hotshot crew got ordered by FEMA to Superstorm Sandy on the East coast.  They are helping crews with the cleanup from the storm.  So only Thomas got dressed up.  Thomas & I walked Main Street with our friends Mary & Cameron Martineau.  We found Daddy's "boss" Smokey Bear handing out candy to the kids. 



Thomas & "Daddy's Boss - Smokey Bear"

Thomas & Cameron

   

Our little boy is growing up

It's official, our little boy is growing up!!  

He's growing out of his toddler bed and we got a good buy from a friend.  Thomas is so excited to be a really big boy, now.  Kind of sad, for us as parents as we look at the little toddler bed on the floor next to this big boy bed.  What an exciting time for Thomas to move up to a big bed.  The bottom part pulls out as a trundle, but we have to get a mattress for it.  So right now, it's just going to be used to store extra blankets .  

 

 

Jim said to me last night "it's only a matter of time before he walks out of his room to ask for the car keys".  They grow up so fast!!!

Papa and Thomas make front page

Click on cover to read full article

                Pick of the Patch 2012 – And the Winners Are . . .

Photos by Carol and Darrel Kinney

By Tracy Rolling - Ramona Home Journal • Mon, Oct 01, 2012

Taking third place was a 353-pound pumpkin grown by Ronald Serabia and his young grandson Thomas Huston. Adjacent to a garden filled with sweet corn, beans, peppers and zucchini, his giant pumpkins rested on six feet of topsoil and were quenched by well water. 

"Everything grows well on the property, and we don’t have to worry about a water bill,” said Serabia, explaining the semi-drip system he uses in conjunction with soaker hoses and five feet of rope. 

He tells how each time his grandson visited, he would dig in the dirt. Then he read about the Ramona Home Journal pumpkin contest and planted a few seeds a couple years ago. 

"The biggest pumpkin we grew our first year was 140 pounds,” he said. He saved seeds from that batch, and this year when Thomas asked, "Papa, we gonna plant big pumpkins again?” Serabia couldn’t resist. 

He looked online, went to the library and studied how to grow the mammoth pumpkins. "It was only by chance it got that big and didn’t rot,” he said, adding that the recent rains and hot weather gave them a run for their money.

 
Serabia plans on sharing his winnings with Thomas, and says besides the luck of the draw, he didn’t use any artificial stuff. He got caterpillars, praying mantises and ladybugs to help manage the bugs.

"Growing pumpkins has been a great blessing to our family,” he added. "Just like our little grandson Thomas.” 

Homeschool lesson & craft day

Today Thomas & I did our first Halloween lesson & craft.  We learned the Five Little Pumpkins poem, painted 5 little pumpkins and Thomas did a full packet (about 8 pages) of Halloween spelling, matching and some math.  Our little smarty pants loves to do that stuff.  For a 3 1/2 year old, his hand writing is great.  He writes some letters better than others, but we're working on it.  He's also learning how to do a lot of that at his preschool 2 days a week. 
His little toddler laugh is turning into a little boy laugh.  He has quite the imagination and can tell you some good stories.  At  his 4 year old physical (just a couple months early) his doctor was blown away at how much Thomas could talk about, how well he's eating and how great he's developing.  It's sad, but also fun to watch our baby boy mature into a little guy.  Being parents is one of the greatest things Jim & I have done.  So thankful for our answer to prayers......Thomas!!

It's a secret

Yesterday, Jim & I were looking like crazy all over the house for Thomas's Leapfrog case.  I kept telling Jim, "I remember seeing it somewhere, but can't remember where and I haven't seen it for a few days now."  Thomas who was following Jim around the house, as Jim looked for this case.  He said to Jim "I saw it last day ago.  It's in a secret place."  Jim said, "Thomas can you tell Daddy where it is?"  To which he'd reply, "Last day ago I had it.  It's a secret."  So Jim & I still combing through every inch of this (not so big) house, couldn't find it anywhere.  We called Grandma & Papa, thinking it was at their house.  It was no where to be seen.  Thomas kept saying (in his sweet, innocent, little boy voice) "It's in a secret spot."  So Jim said "well Thomas can you please tell us where the secret spot is?"  To which he looked up at Daddy and said "but it's a secret."  Obviously we'll teach him as he gets older, that sometimes it's not good to keep secrets.  But in this case, it was funny because he kept insisting that he had it in a secret spot.  He never has hide anything before, so I was wondering if he was just feeding off of our conversation.  After about 20 minutes of looking EVERYWHERE not once, not twice, but three times, we were at a loss.  Jim stepped in Thomas's closet and opened a rubbermaid box, that has pictures in them, and what to his wondering eye should appear, but the green Leapfrog case, which was laid on top of the pictures.  How in the world, did Thomas ever think to open that box, let alone put something in it.  It was worth a good laugh....

Our Preschooler

Our little guy is growing up so fast.  This year he has started preschool (part-time) only 2 days a week for half days.  We figure this will give him a little structure to set a foundation for homeschool.  We bought him a backpack, a lunch bag and some new clothes.  I have him go shopping with me for his lunch stuff, so he feels like a big boy.  I kept telling him every day, that soon he'd be going to school.  I'd tell him his teachers names' and all the fun things he'd learn.  I also would reassure him that everyday I'd pick him up and couldn't wait to hear about his day.  Right now they are still doing the "summer schedule" so things aren't like they will be come Sept-June.  It's a Montessori program which is allowing children to learn on their own while being guided by the teacher. Montessori teachers do not correct work and hand it back with lots of red marks. A child's work is not graded. The teacher assesses what the child has learned and then guides him into new areas of discovery.  The Montessori School's is devoted to helping each child grow toward independence by building confidence, competence, self-esteem.  Thomas was so excited on his first day (which was Tuesday).  Tomorrow is his second day, and since it's still summer mode, it's "water day" where they play with water.  Perfect for a day like tomorrow, since it's been in the low 100s here.  Jim is gone on a fire and will be home next week (after 18 days).  I'm bummed he missed the first day, but next week he can take Thomas to school.  I'm thinking he can pick him up and go get an ice cream or something special.  We sure do miss Daddy when he's gone, but we know that this is what he does to provide for our family. 

All ready for Preschool

If you can't tell by the smile on his face.....He was SO excited!!

Meeting his new friends on the playground

Adoption made our family complete....1 year ago today!!

 

A year ago today, a judge made our family complete by finalizing our adoption of Thomas.  As I look at this picture, I remember the way I felt that day.  I was so excited.  I was so relieved.  I was so ready to sign the papers.  As the judge pulled the papers out and handed us a pen to sign them, I couldn't stop crying.  It was such a surreal feeling.  To know that day, and that moment, God revealed to us the answer to our prayers of becoming parents.   I read this story to Thomas last night before he climbed into bed. I'm not sure he understands what it means now, but I hope that as he hears this story and his story that he'll know why this story is precious to us.         

(I'm gonna change the story a little)

The day God found Us You  (by Lisa Bergen)

 Little Fox cuddled up to Mama Fox one night

 and said sleepily, "Mama, tell me again about the day I came home."
"Oh, yes."  Mama said with a smile. "That is our favorite story of all. When God found us you, it made us the happiest mama and daddy in the whole world."

 

"Just by comin' home?" Little Fox asked with a yawn.  "Especially by coming home," Mama said. 

"For so long, we dreamed of you." she said snuggling closer. 

"Bout me?"

"About you. I dreamed of how you would look, smell, even what you would sound like. And every day I thought of how wonderful it would be to hold you in our arms."

"I started seeing you everywhere, in the leaves of the giant oak and in the bark of the pine.  Even in the stars!  Oh how I longed for the day that you would arrive, when God would find us you."

"And then I came?"

"Oh, no.  No matter how much I prayed it would happen.  We still had to wait."

"You waited and waited and waited?"

"And waited.  But I knew that someday you'd arrive, when God would find us you."

"It made it hard to see other mommy and daddy's with their children," she said, like she was telling a secret.  "You were lonely for me?"

"Very, I could not wait until the day you'd come, the day when God would find us you."

"I'd go up to the cliffs and watch for you.  I stood there day....after day.....after day."

"Did you ever want to give up?"  Little Fox asked.

"Sometimes,"  Mama said rubbing Little Fox's cheek with hers.  "But I trusted that God knew you, and knew us and knew when we'd fit perfectly together."

Little Fox paused.  "How come I couldn't stay with the mother who had me?"

"She must have had very big reasons to have to give you up."

"Did she have fur like mine?  Eyes like mine?"

"Most likely."  Mama smiled softly.

  

"She must have been as beautiful as you are handsome."

 

"I think she prayed like crazy that you would be safe, Little Fox.  I think she prayed for me as much as I prayed for her."  Mama's voice got all whispery.  "And God answered both our prayers."

"I came then?  To you?"

Mama nodded, happy tears in her eyes.  "You came then.  When God found us you, you made us the happiest Mama and Daddy in the whole world."

Mama Fox tucked Little Fox into bed and he giggled through her last kisses.  They said their prayers and whispered, "nighty night," just as they always did.

Little Fox was glad that he had a cozy home and good food and a Mama and Daddy who loved him very, very much.  And he went to sleep dreaming about the day he came to the big woods.....

  and first smelled his Mama and Daddy....

and knew he was loved....

and finally was home.

"When God found us you," Mama Fox whispered in his dreams, "you made us the happiest Mama and Daddy in the whole world."

A dirty word??

I can't wait to share this post with Thomas when he's like 18. When something goes wrong or something breaks, Thomas says "Oh cribbets." I don't know where he got that phrase, nor do we use anything like that around the house. It's rather funny when you hear it, because he is so serious. 

Fourth of July

We spent the 4th of July with our new church family (Grace Community Church) and played games and ate good ol' American BBQ food.  Thomas was big enough this year to participate in some of the games, and boy was he happy!!  I think his favorite by far, was the "wheelbarrow race" which his Daddy helped him with.  The fireworks were great and it was a perfect evening to celebrate our freedom!!

Who stole the candy from the candy jar??

Wheelbarrow
Race
get ready, get set, GO...

The waterballoon toss was a little too hard, maybe next year!!

Watching fireworks from Daddy's shoulders.

1st Bowl!!

 (Sorry the pics are small.  I didn't know how to adjust the settings on my phone camera) 

We have passes for a Kids Bowl Free program this summer.  We planned on taking Thomas bowling for the first time, but not telling him until we got to the bowling alley.  He has a little practice, plastic bowling set at his Grandma & Papa's, so he knows the concept.  He fell asleep on the way to the bowling alley, but when we got there and woke him up, he was SO excited!!  When we walked in, he couldn't take his eyes off the bowling lanes and people bowling.  We got our shoes and he got the cutest little bowling shoes.  He bowled a few times using the little ramp, but had the most fun doing it by himself.  He really had a lot of fun.  We ended the bowling afternoon with a surprise visit to Mimi's for dinner.  That is his FAVORITE place to eat!!

He's so strong.....it was a 6 lb. ball

Quick bowling lesson from Daddy

He did this little stand every time he'd throw the ball

Jim has a power throw

A more casual throw

Not bad for Thomas's first time bowling!!