We made the move!!

So I haven't blogged in FOREVER!!! But when we decided to make the move to Kansas I told myself I was gonna blog more often. Mainly to keep our family and friends updated. Even though I know I can do most of it on Facebook not everyone is on Facebook.

So we made it here Saturday August 13th after 3 long days in the car. The kids handled it very well. They were real troopers and did really well the whole drive. Unfortunetly before we left Jeremy came down with a yucky head cold I tried my best to not get it but no such luck, day 3 rolls around and I started to feel miserable. I am feeling better now but still fighting getting rid of the last of this thing.

Here are just a few hings about our new town Shawnee, KS.

1. I LOVE the kids new school. They are friendly and super helpful. The first day of school it was pouring rain. And of course we didnt have an umbrella so when we got out they noticed we didnt have an umbrella and came over to us got us under the umbrella and walked us to the covering to get in the building as dry as possible. The other thing I love about them is on the drop off area they have 12 spots and there are 12 teachers that stand at each spot. As you pull in they come to your car open the door for your kids and greet them with a smile and hello and make the kids so welcome. They do the same thing for pick up too!!

2. I love that at our inside our Wal-Mart instead of a McDonald's there is a Subway!!

3. I am THRILLED about how green it is here and how many lakes, rivers, brick buildings, railroad tracks, and much much more there is here for my photography business.

4. We didnt escape the wind. It is windy here. Not terrible but a breeze is almost an everyday thing Ive noticed so far.

5. I bought some groceries and realized that some foods are taxed and some are not. So now I must figure out which ones are and are not!

So those are just a few things about our town so far. I know there is a lot lot more we just haven't had a chance to explore yet due to being so sick. But we are on the mend and getting ready to explore our town a bit more. Next blog I will add pictures!!

Marriage Matters Camping Trip 2010

Every year we go camping with our Marriage Matters class from church. This was our 4th annual camping trip at Lake Lopez in Arroyo Grande, Ca. We had a blast! Above is our family picture from the trip and the group picture with everyone who attended this year. It is our biggest year yet.

Getting our camp site set up.

On Thursday we went to the waterpark that was located on the campgrounds. Aaden and Abbie had a great time. Gavin on the other hand was not to sure about the COLD water. All in all we had a wonderful time.

Thursday night we went into town and ate at Doc's Ice Cream. Then went to the park to let the kids play.

 We attempted fishing a couple times but just had no luck. Our last day of fishing it was so windy we couldn't have been successful even if we wanted too.

Check out the Newsletter!

Another newsletter by Smilebox

Aaden & Abigail officially become OUR kids!

We thought the day would never come! Aaden and Abigail joined our family January 23, 2007 and 3 yrs, 1 mth, and 8 days later on March 3, 2010 at the Los Angeles Children's Court in Monterey Park Aaden and Abigail were finally adopted.

(top left) Jeremy and I getting sworn in. (top right) Jeremy and I signing the adoption papers.

(bottom left) After the judge offically announced them OUR kids (bottom right) Aaden & Abigail meeting the judge.
(top picture) Our family picture with the judge.
(bottom picture) Everyone who joined us for this special day.
Addison, Savanna, Sissy, Aunt Jessica, Uncle Brandon, Matt, Nana and Papa.
And where do we celebrate DISNEYLAND of course!
We went to lunch at In N Out and then headed to Disneyland for the rest of the day and had a wonderful time. We all wore We're celebrating pins so all the cast members were asking what we were celebrating and the kids were sooo excited to tell everyone that they had just been adopted.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was wonderful! We spent Christmas Eve at Jeremy'sparents house. It was very different this year as it was the first Christmas without their dad. Then we had a great Christmas morning at home with the kids.

Abigail (5), Aaden (6), Gavin (1), Devin (7)

and Jeffrey (3 mths)

After a nice morning at home we went to my parents house for Christmas dinner and to open gifts.
The picture above was our final clue to the gift we were all getting. My mom being the creative person she is thought all this up. Each person got a gift. I got an umbrella, the boys got kites, Jeremy got a clock, Alyssa got a large purse, Abbie got a carasol horse figurine and I dont remember what Brandon got. But between all thoseclues and the letters. We figured out that we were getting tickets to Mary Poppins.
It was a great show! We had a blast.

The best birthday present ever!

Being a foster parent defiently has it's challenges. But one of the best benefits is getting to take the kids to special places. Especially when they have never been there before. So when we got Devin and found out he had never been to Disneyland we said we wanna take him there. So in mid December we took Devin to Disneyland for his birthday. It was amazing and we had the best time.

All of us that went to Disneyland and celebrated with Devin. Ben, Elaina, Jeremy, myself, Brandon, Devin, Abbie and Aaden.

Everyone but Elaina and I going on the Teacups. Not my cup of tea.

Also Aaden and Devin. They really did become best friends.

The birthday boy!

Aaden and Abbie with Santa.

We really did have a fun time at Disneyland!

Gavin Turns One

This was a day we had been looking forward to for a long time. We have never been able to have a 1st birthday party before so we were excited.

This was the invitation I made for his party. He was actually in the tree in our backyard at the time. (Don't worry daddy was holding on to him).

I got this great I idea from my good friend Breanne. She took a selection of her favorite pictures of her son of the first year and put them in the cupcakes. I loved the idea so I stole the idea. So these were black and white pictures of Gavin of the 1st year of his life. They were a hit at the party everyone loved them.


Gavin loved opening presents. And he loved every single one of them.

I made him his own little monkey cake. He really wasn't sure what to think about the cake.

All in all his party was a complete success. We had a lotof family and friends that came. It was a great way to celebrate such a special day.

Catching up!

Well last time I posted was in August of 2009. So I am gonna try to do my best to get all caught up in a few blogs.

August has always been a difficult month for us. I remember when August came around we were praying that it would be a good month this year. Until the treaded phone call came on August 9th, it was Jeremy's mom calling him to tell him that his dad had passed away. It was not any easy time for our family. Just a little over a week later we had his memorial service. It was a very nice service.

That very next day August 16th we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. We were able to head to Disneyland for the day and try to have as much possible after such a tough week.

It's been way to long!

I'm not sure if anyone really reads my blog and if they did it's been so long they sure don't now. Hahaha!!!

Well I need to get back on the bandwagon and start blogging again. If for nothing else but my own memories. I can't believe it's been over a year. And we have done and been thru so much. So over the next week or so, I am gonna try to update my blog with all the important things that have happened over the last year.

2 years!

Well it's been 2 years since the day we had to give our daughter back to her biological mother. I miss her everyday. There hasn't been a day or moment I don't think about her. Its funny cause Gavin is soooo much like Nikki was but a boy version. I am extremely thankful and blessed with the kids I have today but that doesn't make me miss her any less.

Court Update!

Well last Thursday July 16th there was court for Gavin. We were unable to go because it is such a far drive it makes it hard with the kids and all. Plus Jeremy couldn't get time off being we just returned from vacation so I would have had to go myself. So we didn't make it. But we knew it wasn't a huge court. So here is what happened. The bio mom did not show up (which we knew she wouldn't) so reunification services were terminated. This means that all the services the county offers to the mother to help her get her child back were taken away. What we were anxious to find out was when the next hearing would be set for. So the next court date is set for Nov.12th the day after my birthday. At this hearing they should be set to terminate parental rights and we can finally move forward to adoption with Gavin. This is great news! We were praying it would be sooner.

We wanted rights to be terminated by his 1st birthday which is Oct. 19th. Now this can possibly happen and this is where we need prayer. Most of you know that Gavin is Guatemalan, well his mother doesn't not understand our language or even the spanish we speak here. So understandably she is very confused with things and is fearful. She is under the impression that they want to find her because they want to force her to take Gavin back. That is not the case at all. So we need to pray that they can again find her and that she would come to understand that they aren't trying to force her to take him back and that she can sign the appropriate paperwork to release Gavin for adoption. If this happens in a timely manner there is a good possibilty that the court date to terminate parental rights can be moved up. Now understand that this is something only God can orchestrate. Because she is not from this country it is hard to track her. So we are praying she either comes forward or that she is some how found.

No matter what the day ends up being it all looks great to finally get to adopt our baby. I was telling our social worker today that his case just doesn't feel normal and she asked why? I said cause it has just been to smooth. LOL! With Aaden and Abigail we have had almost 3 years of ups and downs. One minute worrying if their parents would get their act together, the next worrying if another family member would get them. It was just one thing after another all the time. Delay after delay. So all in all Gavin's adoption process has been great and we can't really complain. And best things yet is looks like we can relax this August. Don't want to make it 3 yrs in a row.

As for Aaden & Abigail we are almost complete! I talked to the attorney's office last week and they were sending all the paperwork to us to sign and that we should have a court date sometime in the next 2 months.

We are getting there! Slowly but surely!

Randomness

Well life has been crazy!!! Jeremy and I were in Hawaii for 8 day in early July. I had RFKC the week before that. I feel like I have no time to sit. Yet all I wanna do is sleep. Haha. But I do have lots to post so very soon I will be posting Hawaii pictures, beach pictures with the kids and much more very soon.

I Heart Faces week- 27 Sports in Action

I took this picture this last baseball season. This is at my sons game. All the kids were sliding at this game cause they had just been taught how to slide at practice. They are so cute that young.

Stop on by at http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/ to check out all the other enteries.

Please leave me a comment. I love to hear what other people think and who all is stopping by.

I Heart Faces week 25- Wedding Bells

Celebrating Wedding Bells at

This was a photograph I took at my very first wedding I photographed. I captured this portrait and LOVED how it turned out. I was so nervous but I am glad the bride and groom and their family had so much confidence in me and they turned out great. It was at this wedding I realized how much I loved photographing weddings and have done quite a few lately. In fact I am headed to Hawaii in just a couple days to photograph a wedding. I can't wait.

Oh how she has grown!

It amazes me how much she has changed!

She is becoming more and more beautiful ever day!!!

Happy Birthday Abigail

Disneyland

So since Disneyland was offering free tickets for your birthday we decided to give Abigail a choice of a birthday party or go to Disneyland! She decided on Disneyland!!! We had so much fun! Every corner we turned the cast members were telling her happy birthday and she LOVED the attention!

We finally got in the park and we saw

Mary Poppins so she wanted a picture with her

After riding a bunch of rides Uncle Brandon wanted to buy
Abigail Mickey Ears with Abigail on them!

These are the ears she chose!

Then Uncle Brandon wanted to treat her to something special. After she got her face painted was may favorite part of the day! It was the longest line we stood in all day but Abigail wanted to do it so did! We went to the Princess Court! She got to meet 3 princesses, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel (her favorites) and Belle! We didn't tell her what princesses would be there cause they rotated quite often. So when we got to the front of the line the guy made Abigail close her eyes and lead her to the first princess which was Sleeping Beauty! She is her all time favorite! Needless to say it was AMAZING! I know she loved i but so did I!

Abigail with Sleeping Beauty

So most people know that I LOVE Ariel! She is my all time favorite disney character! And yesterday she was amazing! I mean I know its just someone dressed up like her but man it is just magical at Disneyland! So Abigail has this thing about sitting like a mermaid when taking pictures! It all started in August of last year when she was in a wedding and now almost every time she takes pictures she wants to sit like Ariel! So in the picture above you can see she is sitting like a mermaid! Well we told Ariel that so she said lets sit on the floor and sit like mermaids! I am not kidding you I almost cried! I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to take a picture with her myself :(

Abigail and Ariel being mermaids


Abigail and Belle

Family

Mommy, Aaden and Daddy with Abigail

Uncle Brandon, Cameron, Sissy, Nana and Papa

Abigail's presents from Nana and Papa

Big Day for Bug!!!

Well Sunday we took Abigail to Claire's to get her ears pierced! This was her birthday present from us! She did a really good job! They didn't do both at the same time so she was a little nervouse about the second earring! She was so excited to have them done! They turned out really cute! They are a little hard to see in the picture but the are little pink flowers! So cute!

I heart faces week 17-hats

Here is my entry for week 17 -hats at I heart faces!

(http://www.iheartfaces.com/)

Gavin is such a ham when the camera comes

out this shots shows it! This was taken in

my backyard on Easter. Enjoy!

Easter 2009

I can't believe Easter has come and gone!! Here are pictures from the Easter egg hunt at church and pictures from Easter at our house! It was fun we had Easter at our house this year being in the new house and all! We had a lot of fun with our family! Enjoy the pictures!

Gavin Michael

Abbie MaelenaCan you say drama??

Aaden Romeo

The kids with the easter bunny!