Getting ready for Halloween!

Last night we finally went to get some pumpkins. We went to this cute little place that Mya and I went to last year. It is near my mom's house in South Ogden. I was so sad to find out when we got there that my camera was out of batteries. So no pictures but we had a fun time. We didn't know it, but I guess it was family night at the pumpkin patch. They had all sorts of fun things for the kids to do and some wonderful smelling food. Mya got a ghost painted on her face, the same as last year. Mya is so funny, she likes things just the right way. There was a witch walking around and she made Mya a bit nervous, I even had to hold her at one point. Man, I wish I would have had my camera. All in all it was a fun little family home evening. Here are some pictures after we got home. Jesse was all tuckered out so he was asleep for the first photos.

Jesse with the pumkins this morning.

All the kids! We love you, Toby!

Random Pictures

Just some fun pictures of the kids lately.

Mya and I made a Happy Halloween sign for her room.

Kites and Picnics

Before the cold weather hit, we went to the park for a few picnics. I have been so busy I haven't had time to post the pictures. This is a little park right by our house. Jesse got hungry so we didn't stay very long but it was still fun to get out of the house. Mya and Jesse love to be outside!

I totally forgot about this until I stumbled upon this picture. One day Mya saw me putting on my belt and she said that she wanted to wear her belt. This was the next thing I saw. She tried to put on her pants all by herself, she did a pretty good job. But they are on backwards! Silly little bug.

Another picnic, this one was just days before the weather turned bad. Jesse was intently watching the trees move in the wind.

Sitting up by himself, good job!

Cute Mya!

I tried to get a picture of all of us but it really hard.

My kids.

Big sister feeding cheerios to little brother while mom does dishes. Mya is such a good little helper.

Happy brother

The day before the weather turned bad was perfect for kite flying. So Mya and I got out her kites. We were able to get them up for the first time this year! Mya loved it!!!

For 2 years old, I would say Mya did an awesome job flying her kites!

When it looked like her kite was coming down, Mya would talk to her kite and say "no no kite, stay up high". It was so much fun watching all of her expressions. Mya is such a fun little girl!

Zoo

Getting ready to go stand in line to buy our Zoo tickets. It was the longest line ever and we got there at ten o'clock.

Mya had to get a drink from the Lion's mouth water fountain. She thought it was very silly!

Mya and mommy watching the monkeys. Mya would laugh and say "silly monk, monks".

Cutest little girl ever!

A picture by the elephants.

Baby elephant, Zuri, 6 weeks old.

Jesse was so good the whole time. He really enjoys riding around in his stroller.

Love those eyes!

Mya trying to see the rhinos.

This monkey came right down to see Mya, she loved it!

Daddy and Jesse

A little snack break.

Getting ready to ride the Merry-go-Round.

Waving to Daddy

Giraffe's are this BIG!

Just about right!?!

The annual picture with the gorilla.

Now, Jesse too!

Over all it was a fun day!

7 years & counting

Friday, September 25th, was our 7th wedding anniversary!! Months ago our plans started out with possibly staying over at a hotel somewhere, which by the way would be a first since Mya has come to us. Then Jesse came, so maybe just dinner and a movie. Come to find out Scott was planning to ride in a 100 mile bike race in Heber City on the 26th, so the plan was to take the kids and go and stay in Park City for 2 nights. (Mind you, we have not been on our own little family vacation for 3 years. So we were getting excited!) The next thing we knew, our Jeep needed to be fixed, the cars needed to be registered and a baby blessing ended up on the same weekend. Lo and behold, Park City was out the window. We were pretty sad, Scott had already taken of Friday so we decided to take the kids to the Zoo. We had a little laugh that these were the plans for our anniversary, but we were going to be together so it had to be fun, right?!? We woke up Friday ate breakfast and headed off to the Zoo. Mya was so excited, she kept on pointing at everything and asking us "Is that the Zoo?" She loved the Zoo! It was so much fun. Scott and I were talking about how fun our anniversary had been thus far as we were walking to go see the giraffes. As we were with our 2 children walking I started thinking back a few years before Mya came to us. And I remember on our 4th anniversary talking with Scott and recalling us talking about if we would ever be able to adopt and have a child in our home. I started crying right there at the Zoo as I was walking hand in hand with our daughter and Scott and our son next to me. What a miracle our life has been, we are so blessed! There are so many couples out there that have been waiting for months and years to be able to adopt and here we are with 2 children! We are so blessed to have these angles in our home. I love being a MOM! It is so hard some days and I am not the most patient person around. But I love being at home and having Mya ask me question after question about everything and to see Jesse change so much in the last 8 weeks. I swear time just keep on going faster the older I get. Mya will be in preschool in 2 years, OMG!!!! I find myself savoring everyday because before I know it my kids are going to be all grown up and then what am I going to do. So what do I do today, I rock Jesse to sleep and watch his beautiful face and try to remember every detail. I lay be Mya while she fall asleep every night and enjoy the fact that she wants me there and take time to talk to her about her day. I give them hugs and kisses as often as they will let me. I can only hope that I am doing even so my husband and children can see how much I love them. Thank you Scott for being such a wonderful dad and husband! I love you so much....Forever and For Always!!!

Sprite or Water

Saturday, we went to dinner with Mya's birthmother and her son Ethan. We had so much fun visiting with them. It had almost been a year and a half since Shannon had seen Mya last. So it was a special night but like most 2 year olds, Mya did not totally understand how special that night was. Mya knows that Shannon is her birthmother, can point her out in photos and knows the story of how she joined our family by heart. It is so hard to know how much Mya understands but it is truely amazing to watch her comprehend more and more of her story each time she asks us to tell it to her. I am so glad that we are so open and honest with Mya about adoption. I get excited for the time when Mya has more questions for me. Adoption is so AWESOME!!!

Shannon and Mya

When we got to the resturaunt Shannon and Ethan were already there. Shannon had a few presents for Mya. Mya got a cute purse with an "M" on it, a little kitty toy from Ethan and a necklace with her name on it. When Shannon gave Mya the necklace she asked if Mya knew what it said and Mya pointed to the letters and said "M-Y-A, Mya!" I have to admit Scott and I felt like the proudest parents in the world at that moment!
We had a great dinner and just enjoyed sitting around chatting. Jesse was such a good baby and Shannon even held him for a little while. The night before we went to dinner Scott and I were reminding Mya that we were going with Shannon and Ethan. And Mya said "Does Ethan like Sprite or Water?" We told her that she would have to ask him when we saw him the next day. Mya love Sprite, we don't ever have it at home but when we go out to eat she knows that she will get a Sprite. So Mya continued to ask us the whole next day if Ethan liked Sprite or Water, it was hilarious! I thought I had lost my camera but come to find out it was just in a different place in my diaper bag. Luckily Shannon had her phone and we got some pictures with it. We took pictures, Mya sang songs, Ethan and Mya played, all in all it was a super fun evening. I don't know for sure but I think that it meant a lot to Shannon to see Mya and hear her cute little voice. Towards the end of dinner Shannon said to Mya "I love you, Mya" and Mya replied " I love you too!" Mya melted all of our hearts! Mya is one amazing little girl and we love her more than we can ever explain. Thank you Shannon for blessing our lifes! We love you.

Mya and Ethan (Mya's half-brother)

Mya, Ethan and Shannon


Mya and Ethan playing in the water

Silly Mya eating her ice cream

The whole crew

Like Princess Fiona

Last night I took the kids to my mom's house to visit while Scott went for a bike ride. When we were leaving Mya wanted to have a few of my mom's flowers to take home. Grandma siad that was okay and Mya brought them home very carefully so she could show daddy. When I told Mya it was time for bed, she asked if she could sleep with her flowers. I replied that she could keep them in her room but not sleep with them. Mya quickly replied as she was walking back to her room with her flowers "like Princess Fiona". I had to stop and think for a minute of what she was talking about. Then it hit me, close to the beginning of Shrek when Princess Fiona is still in the tower, she is laying on the bed with flowers. I pictured my little Mya laying there with her flowers! Mya is so cute. I love her imagination, it is blossoming right now and it is so fun. I just try and play along with what she says. Lately she has had a friend clown that comes to the door often and Mya lets him in. The clown doesn't have a name but he does have a painted face and he is nice, not scary. Such a fun little person!!