Stocking Stuffer

The best Christmas present we ever got was Aaron! He also makes an amazing stocking stuffer.

Aaron's Birthday!

FOUR! WOW I cannot believe he is four. It feels like just yesterday our little Aaron was placed in our arms. He has always been, and continues to be a joy in our lives. He has such a sweet spirit, and so willing to do what is right. We love him!

For Aaron's birthday his dad treated him to his favorite lunch, McDonald's. We then went to see a live nativity, with reindeer, camels and Santa. When we came home, Aaron opened his presents with his grandparents.

Aaron and Craig made his cake. The best way of making cake is eating the batter, especially when it gets all over your face!

Birthday, Birthday and More Birthday!

10 years ago we were blessed with a little baby boy. Now 10 years later are family continues to be blessed by the wonderful family that placed this baby boy in our arms. I will never forget the day we found out that Cade would be apart of our lives. I had a feeling a few weeks prior that I needed to finish a blanked that I had been making. My mother-in-law thought I was crazy. I not only had to finish the blanket but I also had to re-do our profile letter for adoption. We were packing and getting ready to leave for Lake Shasta, and I spent the entire time revising the letter. Craig was annoyed and my mother-in-law was frantic and I was busy retyping and printing. Craig rushed to the post office and off we went on our trip. Two weeks later Craig boarded a flight for Florida for a new flying job. While he was on the plane flying across the country I received that amazing phone call that has changed our lives forever. I had to wait two hours for Craig to land, and then I had to wait two days for him to return home due to a hurricane that grounded all flights in Florida.
When Cade was born we cried and cried. We could not believe how lucky we were, nor could we possibly imagine the love that his birth mother has for this little boy. The day finally came that we loaded up the car seat to pick up our little boy. We traveled to the social service office to sit for three hours waiting for Cade and his birth mother finished taking pictures. It was one of the most agonizing three hours of our lives. However it was also one of the saddest moments of our lives. We experienced true love that day. We witnessed what it must have been like for our Heavenly Father to give His son to the world. When we brought our little Cade home he was all blotchy from the tears that were shed on his behalf that day. I will forever love his birth mother. She is a much stronger person than I will ever be.

Happy Birthday Cade we all love you beyond words. Thank you Grandma Tonya and your beautiful daughter for helping us have a family forever. We LOVE you always.

Halloween Party!

For the past few years, Grandma has had this crazy idea to invite all the grand children over for a Halloween Party. The kids look forward to it all season. As we were asking Aaron what he wanted to be for Halloween, he informed us that he wanted to be a hotdog. Aaron made the cutest hotdog! Cade on the other hand had a very difficult time choosing a costume this year. He just could not decide, and when we ran across this scary sweatshirt jacket, that was the costume that won the prize.

How do you take a picture with 13 grandchildren! Very difficult especially when the twins kept escaping! Cade tried to contain them, but even that did not work.

Innocent??

Our perfect little Aaron, who is always so innocent was found playing in the sink floating his boat! You always know when trouble is brewing when the house becomes quiet. He was very ingenious, and figured out how to stop the water and create himself a little lake to float his boat.

DOUBLE DIGIT BIRTHDAY!

The only thing we have heard from the Cade the last few months is how he will be having his double digit birthday! 10 I cannot believe that he is ten, it feels like yesterday he was placed in our arms. We are so lucky to have this amazing young man in our lives. A little moody at times, but overall a great kid.
The Bummer birthday gift. Craig decided that he wanted Cade to have a real RC car. He shopped for weeks and finally found one in our budget. Craig was more excited than Cade was when he opened the gift. However when they went to put it together things did not turn out the way they had hopped. The remote control did not work. On Saturday we took it back to the store and they were not able to fix it, our only choice was to spend more money and buy a new upgraded truck. The new truck is much better quality, but a little out of our budget. What do you do when your give your ten year old a bummer gift that does not work! YOU suck it up and eat the difference. He loves the new truck and has not stopped driving it!
On Friday we gave Cade the option to have a birthday party with friends or his grandparents. He chose to take his grandparents to Mr. Toads for a round of laser tag. We had a blast running around and chasing each other in a round of laser tag. It was a great emotional booster for my parents after still struggling with the loss of their job. They were pleasantly surprised how fun laser tag is and we are planning a return in the future.

The infamous WATER FALL!!

After hiking for 4 hours, and searching for this waterfall, we finally gave up and headed back down the mountain only to discover that we drove right past it. At least we had fun on the journey.
My parents take a yearly trip to Malad summit every year to experience the surreal beauty of the fall leaves. This year we joined them. We packed a picnic and headed up the mountain for a short hike. The hike turned out to be a small adventure. Throughout the entire hike, Aaron was determined to carry a rock so he could throw it into the river. Craig offered to carry his rock for him, but then he just chose another rock to carry up the mountain. So Craig was stuck carrying a rock along with Aaron.

Cade's first time carving in a tree! Destructive and totally against the law, but who hasn't carved their initials in a tree somewhere?

Trying to smile, after just learning that they no longer have a job! All will be taken care of, no worries!

Pumpkin Run 5K

Running for Fun! Cade and I had a blast running together. It was not easy for Cade but he would not give up and was a great sport the entire time. He loved getting the new t-shirt, and when we finished we headed over to Kohls to buy Cade a new pair of running shoes. He was so motivated and excited that we have decided to run another 5k in November. Our time was 30:34, AWESOME job Cade for only your second run!!!

Lake Shasta

Lake Shasta, the greatest lake on Earth! 70 degree water, sunny skies, and beautiful scenery. There is just nothing better than spending a week at the Lake.
We spent a week on the lake camping, wake boarding, water skiing, and enjoying the sun. We somehow managed to make it home without a sun burn!!
Cade learned how to water ski, and wake board. We even brought crafts for the kids to do while we were sitting at the camp site.
To top it off we had a mountain lion walk through our campsite (scary), but other than that only a few squirrels and bugs to keep us company.

Cade spent hours on the tube! He loved to go fast and crazy!

By the last day Aaron was completely worn out! He did so good and never once complained. He is a real trooper.

We visited the Shasta Caverns and explored the fabulous caves! Was a nice break from the 100 degree weather.

Craig attacked the Bear, or the Bear attacked him, not sure who was at fault? But in the end they both survived and only the hat was lost!

Learning to wake board!!!

Learning to water ski!