A new year!

The kids are off and already enjoying the new school year! Emerson loves kindergarten. His favorite part about school is recess and computer time. There is a boy in his class with down syndrom and Emerson really likes him and says they are good friends. I just think it's sweet. J.R. is in the best pre-school and is learning all of his sounds and starting to read words. He loves his friends but really enjoys his cousin Eliza who is in his class too! Carly is having a ball in her pre-school! They baked cookies and dressed as clowns this week. SOOO cute! Carly started a little dance class and you would think she was in heaven in her little tutus and leotards. She is a very fun girl and has more friends than any 3 year old I know!! (She even considers most adults her "best friends") Bob loves his job and is keeping VERY busy!! We feel so blessed to be keeping busy and enjoying our little ones grow everyday!







It is hunting season again! Bob shot a nice buck in Wyoming this year!

Who said men can't decorate??? This is what I found Bob doing the other day when I came home.

I turned 30 this month!! Yikes! I'm getting used to the idea! My Mom made this poster and I found it on my doorstep. What a thoughtful Mom I have!

Enjoying the Lake

The summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to Bear Lake. It was so relaxing we could hardly muster up the strength to come home! I tried to get some candid shots of the kids! I wish I knew a little more about photography!








J.R. and Emerson started tubing by themselves this year. They love it!

A little sidewalk chalk goes a long way!

This should teach Carly not to mess with one of Emerson's toys! She was running and before I knew it they were on the ground wrestling. Carly does not give up easily!


J.R. and Grandma Ann

Carly likes to find a "new mommy!" wherever she goes. This weekend it was her favorite Aunt Niki who was the victim!

July!

We had such a great week! We were so lucky to have friends and family come and stay with us over the 4th of July! The Anderson and Coats families from Logan and my cousin Wendy and her family all stayed with us which totalled 18 people in all! We stayed up late one night talking and laughing and making Wendy's favorite chocolate chip cookies! We enjoyed a night at a baseball game, and swimming at Heise hot springs and golfing for the guys! It was so enjoyable.

Uncle Kevin had his anual celebration at his car barn and this year he rented miniature horses to pull people around on rides. It was so funny and the kids had a riot!

We had fun at the parade this year! Is it just me or am I the only person who can't stop the flow of tears everytime the servicemen and women pass by holding the American flag? It is almost embarrassing how emotional I get but I am so grateful to live in this beautiful country and for the many people who serve to protect it!






We didn't go too far to get some great fireworks. Our back porch was perfect because we have a field behind our home which gave us a great view from all directions of many personal firework shows! Thanks to our great neighbors who put on great shows for us!


Last but definitely not least Bob and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary! We were so busy that we woke up and actually forgot what day it was! Bob made a quick trip to the local grocery store for some pretty flowers. I know I am so lucky to have such a great guy in my life! I love him soooo much! Happy anniversary to us! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe weekend as well!

Family 2011

One thing I bet you don't know about Bob and I is that we are adopting 15 more kids!! Aren't they cute?? can you image having that many kids? I feel like they are mine anyway! Here are my adorable kids and nieces and nephews on J.R.'s sealing day. We are so lucky to live by them. I don't think a day goes by when we don't see eachother!

Sophie

Carly and Savannah having a sleep over

All the ladies...and a couple guys

Nik made the trip without going into labor! Thanks sis!

Summer 2011

We made a quick weekend trip to Denver to visit Aunt Nikki before her little guy is born. The kids had a great time. We went to the Denver zoo and a Rockies game! It was so fun. I had no idea how awesome the Rockies Stadium is! We sat in the nose bleed section also known as the "Rock Pile" and it was still so cool!



Having fun in the jetted tub. I have to look for them under the bubbles!

Only one set of stitches so far this summer. I am getting a little braver now that it is my second set. Still no fun for J.R.

Sigh of Relief!

We were holding our breath until the adoption was finally official and signed by the judge! It finally happened on May 24th! What an amazing day!! We worked with our judge throughout the whole foster care process and finally at the adoption hearing he gave us a smile and a hug! What a sweet man and what a tough job! Our family and Grandma Ann went to the adoption hearing and then celebrated at Charlie's for a bit of ice cream! We were also able to take our family to the temple to be sealed together on May 28th. It was the most beautiful, sunny day and it was so fun to have my entire family with us. We were able to get my best friend from high schools' Dad to do the sealing which meant a lot! We have so many people who we hold dear to our hearts for bringing J.R. into our lives and helping us through the process. Melissa, DCFS, teachers, counselors, our attorney, our family, J.R.'s relatives, etc. THANK YOU SO MUCH! We love you and couldn't be happier!

It's finally here!

We have so many blessings to be grateful for! First of all, our sweet, adorable little foster son J.R. will officially be our little boy next month! We are so excited to have him be a part of our family FOREVER! I can't imagine our lives without him. We got some more great news today. J.R's pre-school teacher called me and said that he has surpassed all of his requirements in his special education class and he is no longer eligible for special education or speech! I can't tell you what a miracle that is!! Those of you who knew him one year ago when he first came to live with us truly know what a miracle it is!

Lastly, in January Bob totally shocked me when he said he was offered a job a couple hours away! It was bitter sweet thinking about leaving Logan and all of the many memories and friends we have made here. But we will be moving to the same city as my sisters and parents and many family and friends so the decision took like...1/8 of a second to make! Since that time we have sold our home, bought a new home, and Bob has been working there while I stay here and MISS him all week long!! I know thats cheesy but I am really excited to be together as a family again! So, this Friday is the last day in our wonderful Logan home! We will miss you!

Carly's Birthday Party!

It has been so long since I posted but I will give it a try again! For anyone who is wondering, I tried to go private for a while but never took the time to compile email addresses so I decided that I will keep it open for now. Anyway, we had a really fun time last weekend celebrating our sweet little girls birthday! She wanted a princess party so I made a castle cake and decorated pink! The funny part was this castle pinata I bought that nobody could crack open! Even my 8 year old nephew who is an avid baseball player couldn't budge the pinata! Dad tried to take a swing at it and instead of breaking the pinata he just broke the handle off it! It got very competitive!! Those things are made of some crazy cardboard! I haven't laughed so hard! It was fun to spend time with family and we were so happy to have aunt Niki stay the weekend with us! I love my Carly. She makes me laugh everyday at her witty comments. I can tell there is a lot of fun in store for the future! It is so fun to watch her grow and see this amazing personality! Happy Birthday to my little princess!











Look at Ty's face! He was so focused! He is the funniest kid I've EVER met!