Books From the Heart

It is that time of year again: Books From the Heart

It is a month long campaign to get books into the hands of foster children in Oregon. Books can either be donated to your favorite child welfare worker (that's me) OR donate at Barnes and noble. The have suggestions right there at the check out stand. For every NEW children's or young adult's book you donate your will receive a $10.00 dinner certificate good at any of the McCormick and Schmick's restaurants.

Today was the kick off event and my favorite reading partner and I went to the Clackamas Barnes and Noble where we met up with a few special readers.

There was Margarete Carter, the Deputy Director of DHS, so like the boss of my boss's boss's boss. Ms. Carter was a long time US Senator prior to coming to DHS.

Then Elmo came out and shared story time with the kids and lead them on a Parade around the store. There was a photop but Carina was not going anywhere near that.

And then Mr Jeff "Wednesday child" Gianola came out and read a bunch of storeys.

The film crew never showed up so I shot a little footage myself.

I was so proud of her for being so brave and going up there to sit with Jeff and have her story read.

So donate! All throughout the month of May. Books are an amazing gift to share with a child.

Bad Romance by Lady Gaga featuring Carina

This video does not need any introduction. Carina loves Lady Gaga, who to say the least we don't wish our daughter to be emulating but before this she was going around singing Womanizer by Brittany Spears.

Hair by Tamara

This kid has always had hair , she was born with a head full and never really lost it.

And it grew and grew and it was long and shiny and so pretty.....

So cute......

So what did I decide to do, cut it. Cut it all off into a stacked bob.
This picture doesn't really do it justice

That's better.

Cute and very practical cause daddy was getting her ready in the morning and this is a NO fuss haircut. But I grew very sad that I didn't have my little girl's hair to play with and so one day Carina finally took pity on me and convinced me to "let me grow it out".

So the condition was we will grow it out but you have to let me style it.

There are some really great hair blogs that leave us mother not from Utah feel completely inadequate. But I tried.....

This was all I could manage until she got some length to it. That and the twistees which I can't she seem to find a picture of which I have now found out in the hair blogging community are called Sherk Ears.
Sometimes it was a hot mess.....that took way to long.

I have really been working on my braiding abilities. Which love ya mom but I did not learn from you. She once took me to a hair salon to get a simple french braid, hey but at least she tried to make me happy.

We call this Sherk Ears with wisps.

I love that little face and I love when I find it under all that hair. I finally understand my mother was always sweeping my hair out of my face, just so I could tuck it back out from behind my ear.

turn-a-bouts fair play

Hair by Carina.

Disneyworld

Here are some of the pictures from Disney world.

This picture pretty much sums up Travis's feeling about going on the whole trip.

Carina on the carousel, I think she rode it like 20 time, only a slight exaggeration.

Of course we went on the teacups and Travis steered.
Hands down the happiest I saw him on the trip.

wow I thought we were going to fly off the track

I had a little time before we went to SeaWorld where we had a private party one night so I fixed up Carina's hair. One of the great joys of having a girl.

Princess Carina in front of Princess Cinderella's castle. I have a nearly identical picture from when we went when Carina was 15 months old.

Carina got her Mickey Mouse Ear pancakes!

I met up with some bugs.

A fish at the Rain forest cafe took a particular interest in grandma's shirt that resembled his food.

All in all we had a great time, with great company and we are planning our next great escape.

Officer Carina

Apparently Carina learned about police officers today at school. She has a badge that she wrote police on and a citation book that she said was for writing tickets "for if your mean". Now don't you wish all police officers were so cute?

Jury Duty

I was summoned to Jury Duty today. I initially deferred my services back in December because of all things I was in a trial. For work of course. I was hoping somehow they would forget about me and I wouldn't hear from them again, like what usually happens when I return the questioner describing what I do. However, this was not the case this time so off to court I went this morning earlier then I have ever gotten to court before. I march right in flashing my badge that allows me to bypass security and got in line to enter the jury room. A sheriff's officer let me know that I would need to go through security. It is a good thing that I left all the contraband that I usually bring to court with me at home today. Apparently my good judgement as a caseworker not to bring things into court counts for nothing. Urgh this should have been my first clue. For those of you who have never served, they heard you into big room, Moo, and you wait for your name to be called. First for grand jury where you are required to serve for a month. I do not know anyone other then a single independently wealthy individual or the retired who could commit to that. So much for a jury of your peers. Oh wait I forgot the most important part of my story. Before any selection happens one of the judges comes down and talks to everyone followed by an inspirational video about how important our service is today. How we set off to form this county independent of the English King because he was denying us the right to trial by jury, how people literally gave their lives for this right, how it is more important then voting and just how necessary it is for people to serve as jurors. I really then and there felt proud to be apart of the judicial system and was hoping that I would be selected so that I could be apart of this necessary part of the Judaical process that allows people fair trials. I digress...

I was rather quickly called up to a court room where the judge and lawyers ask questions to better determine who will be an impartial member of the jury. I knew the defense attorney so I wasn't to surprised when I wasn't selected. Then we broke for lunch and when I came back I was again selected with 39 other people to go up and go through the whole process again.

Again I was not selected....

After 3 hours of questioning.

It is a big joke when I talk with other caseworkers about jury selection. Almost without exception we are never selected. I would think that a group people who's job it is to appear in court and present impartial evidence , who appreciate the importance of the process would be valued jury members. But there must be some assumption out there that we are anything but impartial. The least they could do is not summon me to come down there if they aren't even going to assume that I can perform the duties of a juror. It is a waste of tax payers money to pay me for a lost day of productivity. Calls where not returned, court reports did not get written, referrals did not get made and meetings were not scheduled.

So to all of you who have the chance to serve, I envy you and hope that you are inspired about how important the process is even if it doesn't include me.