Birth Family Visits

Today we went up to Kansas City to visit with Arianna's birth family. We went to Deanna Rose Farmstead and played with Tyson's family. His parents, fiance, and daughters joined us. 

Then we went to Science City and met with Lindsey and her fiance. 

San Diego Trip

My mom's family had a mini family reunion in San Diego this July. It was a lot of fun but I Ben wasn't able to come because of work. I don't think I'll do another family trip without him...it was harder than I thought it would be.
It started out great, Deven was scared during take off and landing but did well the rest of the flight. 

 We went to LA and visited with a friend from high school and another friend from college, but I didn't get any pictures. 
The next day we drove down to Coronado and the kids got to see the beach. The kids were ecstatic.

There were a ton of clams

Ari dug a pit and then built a castle for her shells

Sisters, Sisters...

They made a fortress!

Thanks Uncle Kelly!

 We spent one morning at the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center. It was great, the kids were involved the whole time! I highly recommend going if you are ever in San Diego. 

We did a bit of hiking up the hills

Cousins! It was Selah's birthday and we got candy :)

We found a ton of sand dollars, both alive and dead...

Watermelon Gelato!

Ari having a Moana moment...

The whole gang! My mom and her brother Rex, her sister Lisa and her family.

 We stopped at La Jolla and saw the seals and sea lions. The kids were pretty tried by the end, but they enjoyed it.

 They were exhausted by the time we got to LA, but we made it!

 Here are a few videos from our trip...

 

Five Years Ago...

Five years ago today Arianna was sealed to us. We went before God and promised to be true to Him and her for all eternity. Because of that promise I know we will be with her after this life. This month also marks three years of Deven being sealed to us and the amazing blessings that come with it.



We have recently been in contact with a birthmom who was considering placing her baby with us. She chose another couple but throughout the process I was reminded of the miracle of adoption and how blessed I have been. It is the opportunity to take a difficult situation (at best) or a bad situation (at worst) and make it something beautiful.
 I am grateful for my family. For the children who are still with me and those who are not. I know these experiences have made me who I am today and I love who I am, so I can accept these experiences.

Dear Deven, (10 years)

Dear Deven,
You are now in double digits!This last year we have seen a lot of changes, physical, mental, and emotional. You completed the 3rd grade and did 3 oral reports, learned about simple machines, famous people and did many experiments. You started speech therapy at MSU and have loved both your teachers. You had a great time at cub scouts and even got your first big cut from your pocket knife. One of your current favorite things to do is to pull all the bark off of wood and make it smooth.

You have gotten so strong and can climb a fireman's pole with just your hands. You love to play soccer and got a skateboard for your birthday. You can ride you bike for 2 miles straight and have learned to run very fast.You still love to build things and love your Legos. 

You got to see the ocean for the first time this year. We also went to Sea World which just encouraged your love of animals to extend to sea creatures. You love to catch bugs in the yard and sometimes try for hard prey like rabbits and squirrels.  You love to be outside and go crazy if there is a reason you can't get outside at least once a day. 
You have always been good at cleaning and organizing but you have started to do more on your own. You have earned more responsibilities around the house. When you went to Arizona for a week with dad, I missed you and all that you do to help me! 
You are turning into a young man and my heart swells at the progress you have made. The deck has been stacked against you for so long, but you are finally starting to pull ahead. I am excited to see what this next year will hold for you. 
I love you, my little boy.
Mom

 You had a great birthday this year. You got Styrofoam airplanes that we threw in the field behind our house, you decorated your own cookie cake, the spent hours at Busiek with cousins catching crawdads, fish and tad poles. It was a perfect day.

Ari got a little bored of the airplanes :)