A Little Open House

We had a small openhouse after Cody's Baptism. Again I wish I would have taken more pictures.  I always think that people will think me dumb for taking pictures all the time.  I am kind of shy to take pictures with a crowd of people, then I am to just take pictures in my own home with just my own little family. But we are so glad that we had some of our friends and family there to celebrate with us.  Anyways!!!  I was so excited that I finally got to use my CTR cookie cutter for my own little boys baptism. I have lent this out and made so many CTR cookies for other peoples kids Baptism or for Primary teachers etc. that I was so happy to be making them for Cody!!! Later on we went to Cafe Rio (see Cafe Rio post below this one) and then came home and Cody got to open his presents.  Turning 8 is kind of an expensive year....Buying Scriptures, New Suite (which I was cheep and am trying to get a few more months out of the one he already has.) $70.00 worth of scout stuff...Well it seemed like more when I was looking at the budget, but I guess just the two things....but still!!!!  Oh and presents too!!!  He LOVED his new scriptures and was so happy that they were blue. (i got the last blue one....they are now on back order for who knows how long)  My mom sent him his own little hymn book that matches his scriptures. He thinks it is the coolest thing!!!!  It was a busy, fun, wonderful Birthday!

Cafe Rio with Birthmoms

Cafe Rio...a pretty common place for Delicious Mexican food.  Yes it is our go to place when we need some yummy food stat.  We can always find an excuse to go get Cafe Rio.  But our favorite excuse has been getting our kids bithmoms together for a visit.  With one birthmom living in Utah and one living in Arizona, it was always a real treat when we got them both together.  The first time we did this was when Elena was three weeks old and then a couple times more through out the years.  Well with Sandi in town for Cody's Baptism and Carrie living really close by, we diffidently jump on the opportunity to get us all together again. I have always said that we went into adoption with our fingers crossed that we would get a baby, never did we think that we would come away with a new best friends.  I love the relationship with have with these two wonderful women.  We happened to run into one of our really good friends while we were there and tried to introduce her to our crowd that consisted of two birthmoms, one birthgrandma, a grandma and a grandpa.  She was a little over whelmed and speechless....it is quite a lot to digest.  But our  relationships are something we continue to cherish!!  I also had to throw in a picture of Elena with Mickey Mouse ears made from the...whatever those things are called. 

It's Those Moments

I have a million and one other things I need to blog about, but this picture just popped up as my desktop and it was like I was back in time.  This is one of those pictures that at the time, really didn't stand out as being anything unusual or one you feel like you want to show case to the world.  But looking back at it now....this was my world.  Miss matched PJ's, shirt on backwards, crazy hair, having a ride in a box and all smiles, especially that ever so famous "passy smile" that melts your heart every time!!!  Maybe I am just a little sentimental right now as I am making my sometime tearful adjustment to being home alone while the kids are at school. Maybe it's that ache for another baby that I am trying to heal.  Maybe it is the fact that life is moving on and I am not quite ready to move with it.  Can't we just stay in these moments a little longer?  But whatever it is.. I am thankful for these moments, moments that say "I Love You!!!"  Moments that make me a mom.  And I am glad that I have the insight to realize that moments like this are happening to me everyday...moments I will have forever!!!

Easter 2012

K-  It is now July 29th ok wait..now it is August 2nd and I am just getting around to finishing this post up. I am so behind with blog posts it is not even funny.  Oh well, it is what it is.  Enjoy Easter!!!

 K- I am getting lame at taking pictures.  I have no pictures of the Easter Baskets before they got dove into.  And no pictures of them in their Easter clothes...What is this world coming too???  Oh well, they were cute.  This year was kind of crazy...I had planed somewhat a head and ordered a few things on Walmart.com and had the items shipped to the store, because you all know I am too cheep to pay for shipping if I can avoid it in anyway.  Turns out I spent WAY more in gas driving around looking for the same items I bought online....because they did not arrive in time for Easter.  Never did find all of the items I had ordered, but luckily the Easter Bunny did find some great stuff.  Seriously these kids were playing with their new toys ALL day.  Let me just say that again.  ALL DAY!!!! 


We had a wonderful day and as always enjoyed each other and the time we have together.  I kind of like what I said last year.  (Do I quote myself??) "Not really sure how our fun Easter traditions have to do with Jesus and his resurrection, but I do know I love the family time and I am sure that makes Jesus really happy! Along those lines, I am really grateful for my Savior, it is because of him that I can be with my family forever!"

The video clip is the kids finding their Easter Baskets....they had just searched the whole house prior to this clip, so they were glad the search was finally over.

And then this last clip is of the kids finding eggs. This was after church...ya the kids strip down into some comfy clothes any chance they get!!!  The more they look like ragamuffins, the comfier they are.  :)
 

Swim Lessons

 We lucked out and were able to have swim lessons right in our very own back yard.  Our neighbor and good friend Emilee needed a pool to teach swim lessons and we happened to need swim lessons, so we were a perfect fit.  For the past couple of weeks we have had a pool full of people a couple hours a day.  Elena especially liked it because every 30 minutes there was a new friend to play with.  The kids LOVED their swim lessons and are really becoming strong swimmers.  Elena has watched a few too many mermaid movies and never swims with her arms...so when the teacher is trying to get her to use her arms, her legs stop.  She just can't quite master them both at the same time.  Too cute that girl of mine!!!!  Cody, well see for yourself as you watch the video clip of his back stroke.  WOW!!!!

The Peanut Butter Spoon That Keeps On Giving

This everlasting peanut butter spoon puts the GOBSTOPPER to shame.  This was the first day of summer break and I laughed when I saw Cody had helped himself to a GIANT peanut butter spoon. Seriously, by the time I had taken a picture, he had eaten a ton already.  After putting quite a dent in that sucker, Cody decided to set it on the kitchen table and there it sat....that is a normal cereal spoon sitting next to it.  I finally stuck it in a zip-lock bag so he could come back to it later! I know kind of a random post, but it is one of those many things I would have forgotten, if I had not snapped a picture of it.

Pre-K Graduation

May 17th was a big night for Elena as she had her Pre-K graduation.  During the day I took her to pick out a graduation balloon and some flowers.  We stopped at Dollar Tree first for the balloon.  They had all sorts of cool graduation balloons.  As I showed them all to Elena and asked her what one she wanted, she got this frowny, disgusted look on her face and said...."These don't look very cute!!!!  I want that princess one over there. I had to agree with her, the princess crown was much more fitting for my little princess. The fake flower isle also caught her eye.  She found this little pink bouquet and "really really really super bad wanted it".  I smiled knowing the price was only one dollar.  But to be fair I asked her...are you sure you want these cute fake ones or do you want to pick out real flowers at Costco?   We were both happy with her decision of the little fake pink ones. We then went to Walmart to get some graduation cupcakes...(I know, me and my excuses to get Walmart Cupcakes.)  But again the graduation ones were not cute and the princess diamond rings were way more appealing to this little Pre-K graduate!!!!  Oh how I wish I would have taken a pictures of her wearing all of those princess rings....heaven knows I had plenty of chances, as she wore those things non stop for several days after.  We had a busy afternoon with piano lessons, karate and then jumped in the pool to cool us off before heading out for the graduation.  The graduation was held at our community amphitheater, and turned out wonderfully. The kids were adorable!!!  She has had the best time in her Pre-K class and sure has learned a lot.  A big thanks to her amazing teacher Ms. Nicole!!!!  and Look out Kindergarten....Here she comes!!!!  Here is a video clip of the processional.  Not the best filming as it was just with my little point and shoot. I love Cody and his friends way in the back at the beginning of the video.  :)