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!!

Lot and lots of pictures

On Saturday we woke the kids up early and went to Antelope Island for the Kite and Hot Air Balloon Festival. Mya loves balloons, so a little while ago I showed her some pictures of hot air balloons and told her that you can ride in the little basket. Mya has been talking about going up up up in a hot air balloon basket ever since. We found out that Antelope Island had a hot air balloon festival and I had to take Mya. She wanted to ride in the basket so bad but unfortunately the weather was not good enough, hopefully next time!!

Mya was so excited and couldn't wait to get to the Island

Mya is always asking Scott to show her his big muscles and I happened to have the camera out this time!

This is the whole crew, waiting for the balloons to get blown up.

The sun looked so pretty, I had to take a picture.

I love this picture of Mya and me. Too bad the lighting is so horrible.

Our little family

Jesse eating his bottle, such a good boy!

Gram Mary with all the little girls

Jesse did not know what to think of the big balloon or maybe it was too early in the morning for him to care.

I got to ride the little train with Mya :)

I love this picture, he is so cuddly

Some sand and a orange cone can go along way with a 2 year old

Mya and her cousin Abby

Mya's cousin Whitney climbing the rock wall, she made it to the top!

Mya was a little nervous sitting on the buffalo but Jesse thought it was great fun

Of course, Mya will give the buffalo kisses.

Jump, jump, jumping

Playing on the BIG blow up slides with Mya's cousins

Mya loves slides

Both kids were so worn out that they fell asleep on the way home and slept for 3 1/2 hours!

We need to do more things like this more often!

These are just some random picture that I love of my adorable kids

Mya loves her brother

Playing play dough with mom.

Nest, eggs and a birdie

I made this bird for Mya and she thought it was the coolest thing ever

Not the happiest faces but still a cute picture

Sweet Mya

Cute Jesse, love that happy little face

One of my favorite pics of Mya, she is beautiful!

All ready for dance