Happy Halloween - Starring A Vikings' Fan and/ or Squirt

Josh and his baby boy dressed as Vikings fans! GO VIKINGS!! He already loves to watch football with his daddy.

He also went as Squirt, the dude-alicious little sea turtle from Finding Nemo. We really love our little guy!

Happy Halloween - Starring Tinkerbell

On the Tuesday before Halloween, Gweny's preschool teachers asked her what she was going to be for Halloween and when she answered, "Tinkerbell," they said, "Oh, of course you are. Who else would you be?"

Happy Halloween - Starring The Pink Pirate

Arrgh Matey! Mikayla was so excited about her costume this year. She will get to wear it a lot more for Josh's basketball games. Go Pirates!!

At the ward's Trunk or Treat, she came face to face with Captain Hook, (an adult who was dressed to perfection). She ran up to him, drew her sword and shouted, "On Guard!!!" Captain Hook looked a little flustered for a moment, but he drew his sword and Mikayla and Captain Hook had a duel in the church parking lot. Mikayla swung her sword and fought a great fight and finally, Captain Hook staggered back and admitted defeat. She is usually a little shy around strangers, but she was brave and fierce in her pirate costume!

Look at her perfect pirate "Arrgh" face!

and here she is attempting the ever-popular eat-a-donut-off-a-string-without-using-your-hands game. She did awesome and almost beat the boys!

Crazy Hair Day

Today is crazy hair day at Mikayla's school. This is all I could come up with. I'm a lame mom.

A Post About Sleeping

This is the way that Gweny sleeps - calm, with her head on her pillow, and her blanket and stuffed animals tucked around her. A sleepy little angel.

This is the way Mikayla sleeps - why do we even bother with the pillow or blankets? It makes me a little nervous with her on the top bunk. I'm sure she could find a way to fall off. But still, a sleepy little angel.

7 Months!!

Our little man is 7 months old today! He's growing like crazy! And yes, he's a Vikings fan, just ask his daddy! And he also has a little black eye. It's ok. He's a boy. He's probably proud of it.

Here is a picture of Gweny and the baby.

Here are some pictures of Gweny poking the baby in the face.


Here is how the baby feels about that.


Here are some adorable pictures of the little man! We love this little guy!

MUSE!!!

I love Josh for many, many reasons, but mostly because after all this time, he is still spontaneous and because he loves Muse almost as much as I do. I don't think anyone loves Muse as much as I do. And Josh and I don't love Mr. Bellamy in quite the same way, but that's another subject for another time.

Anyway... Josh and I left last Saturday morning to drive all the way to Denver. We stopped quickly to see my older sister's adorable, brand new, tiny, little Brynn. Then, we went to the concert. It was amazing. They are such talented people.

We drove home Sunday. You may be asking, "16 hours in the car for a 3 hour concert? Really?" And to you I say, "Yes, sir. It was worth every minute of it!"

Scrapbook Pages

A Forever Family

I've been putting off this post because I know that it will by hard for some of you to read, but I want to remember and I want my children to remember these special days.
It’s hard to explain how those first six months feel. For those of you who don’t know, in most states, including Utah, an adopted child is technically a “foster” child. You have physical custody of the baby, but LDS Family Services had legal custody. Then, after 6 months, you have to go to court and if the child is bonded and things are working well with the family, you are granted legal custody and then birth certificates can be changed and things like that.
Our 6 months were finally up on September 13, 2010. Josh’s mom represented us. We are so grateful for her and what a wonderful memory and connection she has now with her little grandson. Josh’s mom first questioned our LDS Family Services case worker and then she had to ask Josh a lot of questions. She asked him if he felt that he had bonded with the baby. He got a little teary-eyed and said, “Of course, he’s my son.”
The judge loosened up a little after the papers were all signed and the bailiff mentioned that we wanted to take a few pictures. The judge said, “Well, we have a few rules about taking pictures in the Utah courts. We allow it during adoption finalizations, but only if the judge gets to hold the baby.”
It’s hard to explain how those first 6 months feel. I wasn’t scared or anxious that he would be taken away from us. I guess, for me, it was more that I needed that piece of paper to truly solidify our family. It was a great day, one that I will never forget. To hear the judge say that the adoption is final was a relief, but mostly I am just so, so happy that I get to have this little guy in our family.

Matching ties...AWW

Poppa Rog

Auntie Leeann

If looking at my shiny face hurts your eyes, please feel free to look away...

Then, on Saturday, September 18, 2010, we were able to go to the temple to be sealed together for time and all eternity, to truly become a forever family. It was an amazing day. Mikayla and Gweny were able to be in the room with us and it was such a special thing. I will never forget their angelic little faces as the three children came into the room.
I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I am grateful for forever families. I love my children and my husband so much and I can’t imagine how different my life would be if I didn’t have the knowledge that we can be together forever. That knowledge gives me peace and the ability to live life to its fullest, because no matter what happens, the Lord’s plan for us will always be fulfilled. I love the gospel. I love my family. I love my girls and my little son. What a happy day for us!

Thanks to all of our wonderful friends and family who shared these special days with us!