Tuesday, January 27, 2009

My Crazy Boys

Today my new Flip Mino HD Camcorder arrived. I am having all kinds of fun with this gadget. Here is our first movie made with the boys and yes, they understand they don't climb on the bear.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Touching Base With a Childhood Friend

What a surprise. Today I got an email from a childhood friend. My friend Amy and I were best friends when we were kids. We played together almost daily climbing the mountain outside our homes, jumping on the trampoline and going to Jazzettes - dance team. I'm guessing it's been 20 years since I have heard from her. Thank goodness for Facebook as she found me from one of our friends. Hi Amy- glad you found me.

Friday, January 16, 2009

21 Months of Waiting for a Referral

Yes today marks 21 months of waiting for a referral of a baby girl. A little humor - I feel like this picture of a dieting woman chasing the chocolate covered carrot. I know we will somehow, someday get our daughter, but I am sure getting tired of waiting.

Monday, January 12, 2009

My Cousin's Adoption Story

My cousin Glenda and I have been trying to adopt at the same time. It has been fun to be going through the same experience with a family member. She was able to adopt a baby from the USA. Here adoption story is pretty unique in that it all happened during Hurricane Gustav and was a pretty scary experience.
I got to meet little Mason over the holidays and I just love him to death. Anyway read about her adoption story titled Newspaper article: Through hail and high water, professor rushes to adopt Louisiana baby

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Today I Just Entered 13 Blog Posts

So, I have been a horrible blogger and one of my resolutions for this year is to keep up on this blog. I just went back and entered 13 posts of the highlights from last year. So, if you want to know what we've been up to, take a glance. I also noticed that I think I need a new camera, especially before we head to Taiwan (please let it be this year). So, if anyone has suggestions of a really great camera, please put it in my comments.

Decorating the Home for Christmas

I love my new home and am really pleased with how the Christmas decorations look in the new home.

The view from the loft.

No loft is complete without a Hawaiian Christmas tree and a Mele Kalikimaka sign.

Agnus and Clyde.

The tree and the mantle.

My little trees and entryway.

My coffee table and a close up of my bows.

Parker Turns 3



Parker turned 3 just before Christmas. He is such a sweet boy. We had a birthday party with Sara and family, Dick and Luanne, Debbie and Randy and grandma Luci was here as she visited us for a month.

December 2008 Pictures in our New Home

We are so excited to be in our new home. One day after church we took these cute pictures. It is not often that I get all four boys this clean and happy at one time!


Jack O' Lanterns 2008

With moving right before Halloween, we were really lucky to get our pumpkins carved. I think each year they get better than the year before.

Fall Football 2008

This Fall was incredibly crazy. I had 3 boys playing football on the same nights in 3 different fields and one was in another town. Talk about going nuts. It was also a lot of fun. I was not a football fan, but have become converted. It was the first year any of my boys played and they did really well! I wish I had taken more pictures, but some times their games were at the same time which was really confusing.


Christian #55 blue

Jeremiah in black.

Ian playing Ultimate football in orange on right.

Utah Peace Officers Memorial Sept 2008

In September of 2008, the Utah Peace Officers Memorial was dedicated. I was able to attend the ceremony. My dad died in the line of duty and it is a beautiful monument that will forever remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

My nephew Jackson standing by my dad's flag.


Each one of these peace officers represents a peace officer that died in the line of duty in Utah.

Riding the ATVs at Camp Hale July 2008

We had a great summer riding the 4 wheelers. One of our favorite spots is Camp Hale. My kids love it because Grandma lived at Camp Hale when she was a little girl. There is also lots of pieces of the buildings there and the boys feel like they are uncovering the past.


The 4 boys riding down the road.

This is how I rough it!

My Birthday June 2008

My boys were really sneaky the day before my birthday. They had something planned and all I knew is that I wasn't allowed to go into the backyard or look out the window. On the morning of my birthday they all came to get me because they had a surpise for me. What a surprise it was! They had taken the weed eater and cut the grass back to write "Happy Birthday Mom". I was quite stunned and I thought it was perfect! What a fun greeting card. It's hard to see from the picture, but it's there.

Family Vacation Orlando 2008

We went on vacation to Orlando in June of 2008. We were priviledged to have Grandma and Grandma along with us. This is the first time we have taken a vacation with them. We had a great time and made wonderful memories. We went to Disney World and took a day to go the Kennedy Space Center. We have been to Disney World many times and I forget to take pictures. Darn! The only bad thing was that it was incredible hot and humid!

The Magic Kingdom


Animal Kingdom Park

Kennedy Space Center

End of School Concert 50's Style

At the end of school concert for their musical pictures, they were to dress up 50's style. Don't they look cute? This is the last time all 3 of the olders boys were to be in elementary school together.

All boys taking a picture before the concert.

Jeremiah gets his Wolf in Cub Scouts

In May of 2008, Jeremiah passed off his wolf for cub scouts. We were so proud of him. One of the traditions is to paint his face and then he paints ours.

Jeremiah getting his face painted.
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Jeremiah painting the white stripe down my face.

Dad's white stripe- we need to teach him to smile in pictures.

Ian's Birthday May 2008

Ian turned 6 in May. He had one of the best birthday parties ever. We did a Star Wars theme birthday party and had everyone dress up as their favorite character. One of the highlights of the party is that we gave all of them homemade light sabers. We cut a pool noodle in half and then a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe in one end. Then we wrapped electrical tape around it so that the kids would have a handle on their light sabers. At one point everyone went in the backyard to fight "Darth Vader" -a.k.a. Dad. It was a hit.

All the kids beating up Darth Vader with their light sabers.

All of our Star Wars friends.

Ian's Star Wars cake with Darth Vader talking head on it.

Ian got Star Wars figures at the family birthday party.