Let it snow!!!

So we got hit with a lot of snow on Hannah's birthday! Here are a few of the pictures of the kids enjoying the freezing cold weather!

Hannah's Adoption and Birthday!

We were finally able to legally adopt Hannah Fay on November 15th, 2010. Then two days later we were sealed together as a family on November 17th.

It is so nice to finally have all three of our children sealed. Our house has been really quiet. No social workers, CASA workers or visits.

This was such a special day. I don't believe people understand what it is like to adopt until they have experienced it themselves.  I look at people that are able to have children the "natural" way and sometimes think how lucky they are! But then I look at my three beautiful children and realize that No I am the lucky one! It took tons of paperwork, many years and heart breaks later to finally have the family that we do!  People say that pregnancy is 10 months of pain.... well try YEARS!!!

A few days later we were able to celebrate Hannah's 3rd birthday! She wanted a pink teddy bear cake.

Hannah is the tiniest little 3 year old that you have ever seen. She weighs barely 27 lbs. Just now a 24 month 2T clothes and size 7 shoes.

She has the strongest little personality. In fact she loves to be the boss!

Things accomplished and Things to look forward to!

I have been in a blogging slump. I have so many things to talk about but I just don't have the motivation to write it down. I know that I should because this is as close as I get to journaling... So I will try and wrap up the past few months all in a nut shell. I will try and add pictures as we finalize Hannah's adoption!!!



1. Once returned from Branson we spent time hiring an attorney and getting a court date set for the adoption! It will be November 15, 2010!!! Then we will get to go to the temple to be sealed 2 days later.



2. Gavyn turned the big 3. I can't believe that he was once so small at 3 lbs and now he is 25 + pounds. He was way into Buzz this year. Gavyn has now graduated from 24 month clothes to 3T. He also has graduated from infant toddler program to the local elementary school. Mommy and Daddy now get to drive him once a week to get OT services since the local school doesn't feel that it is necessary for him to have!! UGH!

3. We signed up Gavyn and Isaiah for Preschool at our local elementary. They are having a great time and are learning alot. I was able to help in their classroom for their Halloween Party. Isaiah keeps asking me when I can come back and help!

4. Isaiah turned 4 on September 15, 2010. He is such a great little big boy. He wears size 11-12 shoes, size 5-6 clothes. No toddler sizes for him any more! It doesn't seem possible that he was little at one time. Isaiah also loves to sing and after he hears a song he can sing most of it! Right now his favorites are Hey Soul Sister and Dynamite... of course he sings all of the primary songs that he learns also!

5. We went to the Southeast Idaho State Fair and it was so much fun! Ted's mom and dad and grandma came with us. Isaiah and Hannah were able to ride the Faris Wheel for the first time. Hannah is the dare devil and will do anything. Isaiah will follow suit as long as he sees that his sister will do it!

6. We attended Shelleys Spud day! It was so crowded that we stayed for the parade and let the kids play for a few minutes and then we left!

7. Ted and I tried to potty train Gavyn and Hannah. At first is seemed like Hannah would be able to be trained the first. Little did we know that Gavyn once he got the hang of it would surpase Hannah in this area! He is know wearing big boy cloth underwear. If only we could get Hannah on the band wagon!!!! She is trying though.


8. We then went to a farmer's potatoe field here in Rigby for an old fashioned potatoe picking. The kids loved to see the tractor harvest the potatoes' for people to pick up. We came home with 3 sacks of Idaho Russet potatoes. It is true when they say that potatoes are best fresh!!!

9. We planted a garden full of yummy goodness. From carrots, peas, red potatoes, tomatoes, and beans we had quite the harvest. We spent lots of time harvesting and preserving these yummy items. Gavyn liked to go out to the garden and just pick a pea and eat it... shell and all. We also had lots of Raspberries... so into jam they went!



10. Summer wouldn't be summer without trips to Rigby Lake, playing in sprinklers, and riding bikes!! Isaiah mastered the art of riding a two wheeler without training wheels. Ted and I were so proud!

11. Ted and I have started back to school. Ted on his bachelor's degree in NURSING and Gwen on her Masters in Education in Instructional Design. I hope to have mine done before Isaiah hits 1st grade!
12. Ted likes his job. He is still working in the NICU and now is on the transport team. He gets to go all over the area and pick up critically ill babies and take them to the hospital. There may be times that he gets to take them to Salt Lake or Boise if needed. This adds a little bit of surprise to his job as he never knows when he may be called to go.
13. Gwen is staying busy writing papers, driving kids, cleaning house, cooking, playing, and writing papers. It seems like everyday there is something to do. I know that it won't change but I don't want it too! I waited for so long for this chance to be a mom that I am enjoying every minute!!!!
That is all for now! I hope that you are now caught up! Until next time!

Excitement!!!

We just got back from our vacation to Branson, Missouri! We were able to visit this area with my father, and twin sisters and their families. I was excited to go there. However, I forgot how hilly that area is! We had alot of fun. There is much to do there. We spent time at a water park, amusement park based in the 1800's, a cavern that was discovered during the Civil War times, Dixie Stampede, and the Showboat. It was so very fun. Isaiah loved the water park! He would float on his back and kick. One time he was floating and started to kick his legs. He started to go under the water. He is a little fish! Baby H also loved the water. She would tell me,"Mommy, I do it myself!" So I would let go and off she would go. Gavyn on the other hand was so very scared of it! He would grab hold of Ted and not let go. It is funny to see each of their personalities come out. On the way back we almost missed our airplane.. talk about stress!!! But that is for another post.

When we go home we listened to our messages on our answering machine. The best one of all was one that was there from the state attorney general who did the termination of our foster daughter. We had been waiting for the decision of the appeal from the Supreme Court of Idaho. This message stated that we recieved the decision from the Supreme Court and that the termination was upheld. MEANING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT SWEET BABY H!!!! We were so excited! I can't wait to post pictures of our WHOLE family!!!! So now the next step is to meet with our attorney and get the ball rolling on the adoption process. It seems so sureal! We were told that it would be months after the oral arguements. But it was less than one month!

Isaiah' Rides a two wheeler!

It took much convincing to get Isaiah to ride a two wheel bike without training wheels. Daddy took off the training wheels and mommy and daddy took him to the middle of our lane.  Daddy and Mommy put him on the bike between them and started to push him back and forth each time getting a little farther away!

Before we knew it... HE WAS RIDING BY HIMSELF!!

Of course there was a few falls, but he kept on getting up and riding!

By the end of the day we had one proud little boy!!!!

Great Job ISAIAH!!!

A Master's Degree.. who me!

So I have been accepted to an online master degree program for teachers. I decided that I would do this in instructional design. I have had a feeling for a few months that I need to do this when I was prompted.. to look into it. I took the assessment to get in and have been accepted to start on August 1st. I am so excited. I know that I will be super busy with this and 3 kids but I know it is what I should be doing! So wish me luck!

Gavyn's Sealing

Ted and I were able to take Gavyn to the temple the day before my mother's memorial to have him sealed to us for Time and all eternity. My mom had been bugging us since January to do it but we were waiting to see what would happen to my other foster daughter. Ted and I decided that it would be the perfect time to do this while all the family was there. I had a really hard time trying to keep my emotions in check .. all the while thinking that I should have done this earlier. Two days after my father was able to return from Tonga we were able to accomplish this. It was an amazing day! It was so wonderful to see Isaiah and Gavin dressed in white. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have my family sealed for time and all eternity.