Disney Date

WARNING: Photo Overload...

We went to Disneyland and there were a TON of us. I thought it was going to be a disaster... with kid and adult meltdowns... long lines... arguments over what rides we were going on... and just pretty much the "happiest place on earth" coming to life... but we had a great time. The kids were awesome. We had a few issues with diapers, and needing new clothes for a certain little boy, and it was super HOT but overall it was a great day and we did a bunch of stuff and made it onto a ton of rides. SUCCESS!

Blake, mommy and Minnie

Lori, Jordyn, Minnie, Brad and Kaitlyn

Blake and Jordyn....two peas in a pod. They were so fun to watch during the day and became such great friends.

Blake and mommy on the "merry-go-round" at California Adventure

Auntie Laura and Jordyn on the "merry-go-round"

One tired little boy....one of those kids who falls asleep at Disneyland...you always wonder how that can happen!!!

Blake hitchin' a ride with Al

Blake in his Mickey Mouse shirt.... ready for a full day at Disney

Blake doing some coloring while some other are waiting in a line

Auntie Boo (Carey) on Dumbo with Jordyn

Thoughts on the New Year

First off I still can't believe it is 2011...

What do I want from this New Year? What do I hope it brings for me and my family? What do I hope to accomplish during the year? What do I want to change about myself this year? These are the questions I ask myself at the beginning of every year.... I love the New Year because I feel like it gives me a chance to start over and reconnect. I have a lot of big goals for 2011 and a lot of small ones too.

* I hope to find the time to reconnect with my creative side. I miss working on projects and using my hands. If I can find a way to sell them/earn some extra cash that would be great. But my main goal is to just get busy making things again. I miss that.

* Try to figure out this whole coupon thing. I am not very good at it and want to be. I see and hear about how people save tons and I have not yet been able to do that. I want to!

* Save, Save, Save... Most of you know we want to adopt again and this is our year to SAVE in order to begin the process again. We hope to be putting papers in this year and want to have money saved towards the adoption costs.

* Get moving! Now this doesn't always mean lose weight but that would be a great outcome. I just want to feel like I have more energy. I want to run and jump and play more with Blake and not feel so worn out after doing so.

Again... there are tons more little things I hope to do but these are the BIG ones on my list this year. I hope to be successful with these goals and see progress. That is the thing that keeps me going. Wish me luck and to all a wonderful 2011!

Weekend with Friends

My dad was heading to CA so Blake and I decided to tag along and we spent the weekend with an old friend of mine and her new (adorable) little baby girl Madison. It was nice to just sit and talk and watch the little ones try to play together. Maddie is only 4 months old and Blake being nearly 11 is just a little too big but he sure wanted to see what she was doing and make sure she was alright... too cute!

It was a great weekend and we hope they will come and visit us sometime soon.

Crafting for a cause

A friend of mine Shaela (from Yellow Umbrella Designs) told me about a great cause and I totally wanted to help. She told me of a great opportunity to donate cards that was being hosted by Taylored Expressions.

I designed the cards and the rallied some of the ladies that attend card class at my mom's house and they helped me get all of the cards together. We worked and got the cards together and then sent them on their way. It was wonderful to share my creative juices and also know it was for a good cause. Thanks Shaela for sharing the event with me.  

The dreaded day

So... the day finally came for me to go to Jury Duty... NO! I had been dreading this day for about a month since I got the summons in the paper. Is it just me or does everyone's stomach sink just a bit when they see that red, white and blue paper in their mailbox?

The biggest worry for me now was the idea of what I was going to do with Blake?! I got a summons for a Wednesday.... Hello?! Wednesday?! If it had been a Friday my dad could have watched him for him but not on Wednesday.

So Tuesday night I call in and they tell me I have to report... but not until noon. That was the only positive thing. So Wednesday I wake up, get ready and Blake is spending the day with mom (while she attempts to get some work done, hoping that I don't really have to be there until 5:00 like they say). I find my way downtown, park, walk what seems like 10 miles to the actual courthouse, sign-in and begin the waiting process...... and wait, and wait, and wait. They finally call a few people. They then say that they are not going to need EVERYONE (good news) and begin to release people... and they release a few more. We are left with a room of about 25 people, which I am sitting in and continue sitting in until 4:45pm!

Needless to say... it was a LONG, BORING day wherein I accomplished nothing. I LOVE JURY DUTY! But I am done for at least 18 months and I fulfilled by civic duty... just not quite with a smile.

Happy, Happy Birthday

This year my birthday pretty much just came and went with all the excitement of our new arrival but I didn't mind... I was actually okay with no one really noticing that I had turned "29"... Dan did bring home roses and they were beautiful.

It was a great day though I was able to spend it with my two favorite boys and that was the most important thing. I had a fabulous day and I felt loved! Happy Birthday to me!

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a weekend.... I think I learned that things don't always go as planned!

Friday I was still not feeling great... Thursday was NOT a good day. I had a terrible migraine. I mean a really bad one. I ended up at my doctor's office to get a shot and I hadn't done that in a LONG time. So needless to say Friday I still wasn't feeling fantastic. I had a lot of things I wanted to get done and needed to get done...but people had other plans. It wasn't a bad thing really. We ended up going to a local high school football game and then out to dinner after. It was fun.

Saturday morning there was an adoption 5K charity run waaaay on the other side of town and I really wanted to go, BUT I was suppose to be helping out at our ward's Super Saturday. The run started at 9 and our activity started at 10... So you do the math?! I can't run that fast! I had to make a tough decision because I really wanted to do the run, but I had committed to helping a few weeks ago so I went to Super Saturday. The classes were great and then it came to my class (card making). I had all my cards ready to go but people's bellies were talking to them and many choose to have lunch instead of make cards so I ended up with a lot of cards not done when I got home. A little disappointing especially since I really wanted to be at that 5K run!

Then as it turns out when I get home my sweet hubby is outside digging in the dirt and tells me we have no water... just a nice leak instead. WHAT? We were suppose to do this, and this, and this... not have to fix a water leak all day! Oh well... Life goes on...

Sunday turned out great though. We were helping out with the FSA adoption and foster care fireside for the valley. We were nervous because we didn't know how many people to expect, what to expect from the speakers, or anything really. But the night was a success. Everything went off really well. The speakers were great. There was a great turnout and the night was just perfect.

Families Supporting Adoption

A lot of people ask me now that I work completely from home.... "What do you do all day?", or "Are you bored?", or "How do you stay busy?".... well the biggest answer to all of these questions is usually FSA! 


I am so excited that we started our adoption process at the time that we did, and got in with the group of couples that we did and have the idea to raise our hand and say that we would help out with that first activity, because that has helped us out in so many ways. 


I spend a lot of time, probably a little too much, working on FSA projects, thinking of things we can do in the future, trying to make things run smoothly, organizing the activities, writing the blog over at www.nevadafsa.blogspot.com, planning the next meeting, you know... all of the behind the scenes kinda stuff.... and I LOVE IT! It keeps me involved, keeps me inspired, gives me hope, and reminds me of the miracles that happen through adoption, because of adoption and that will one day happen for us. 


I really am grateful for the support network of Families SUPPORTING adoption and hope to continue to be a part of it for years to come (hopefully this means after we have been placed with a little one of our own!).

Girls Camp Wrap-up

Palo Verde / Alta Vista Girls Camp 2009!!!

From packing and preparing... to setting up camp....

To learning our devotionals and cooking our meals....

To enjoying ourselves with a little partying in the night....

and a little singing in the day.... along with some hiking, shooting, ice cream making, fabric braiding, archery, zip lining....

and a day of fun in the sun and canoeing....

It was a great week with the girls and the leaders! We had a blast and made a lot of great memories that will last forever. Hope the girls had as much fun as I did.... It was a lot of work don't get me wrong but it was totally worth it and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Corn and Carrots and Peas, Oh My....

I have been eating a lot of these types of food lately... Since around Easter I have changed my diet and gone strictly vegetarian! This is a big deal for those that have known me a long time and know that my standby has always been chicken strips. Now I was not a big red meat eater so that has not been a big change but the chicken has taken a little getting use to.. but a few months later I am still going strong. The biggest thing I am struggling with is trying to find ways to make sure I am getting enough protein and also not getting bored with what I am eating.

Dan has been supportive (not on board with the idea, just supportive and eating more vegetables too) and everyone else just seems to keep saying "are you STILL doing that?"... so in answer to everyone else - YES... I am still doing that!

today....

I love my mom. I love my mother-in-law.

i hate mother's day.

Working Woman

WOW... I made it through my first day back at work. I wasn't sure if I was going to or not, but somehow I did! No, honestly it really wasn't that bad, after all it is the same place I use to work, 6 out of the 9 people are the same and I am doing pretty much the same thing as when I left so that makes it a pretty easy job. I will admit that I am a lot more tired than I thought I would be though.

For those that don't know... My old doctor's office where I use to work has always asked me to come back but I have resisted. Well this time they made it sound pretty good. I will be working there on a pretty much full time basis until they find a replacement for the girl that they let go. BUT... they gave me a pretty good deal. The office is open 6 days a week but I will only be working Monday-Thursday and have Friday and Saturdays off (Sundays too of course when they are closed). I also already told them about some upcoming days that I will need off due to plans I already had and they said no problem. I thought it sounded nice and gave me the opportunity to get out of the house for a bit and hopefully save some of the money I will be making and help them out too.

We will see how long it takes for them to find a replacement and how much I push for it, depending on how tomorrow goes!!!!

YW Fun-Raiser

Everyone loves fundraising right??? Just kidding. Fundraising and putting on ward parties are probably some of the things that people like doing the least. Well tonight I was in charge of doing those two exact things. Great....

Actually after a few weeks of planning, TONS of great help from the ward, an amazing turn out (which was so not expected on a Valentine's day, holiday weekend.. hello!) and an awesome assistant we did have a successful event.

We held a Valentine's Dinner that we called "Sweets for your Sweet". The entire ward was invited and it was a baked potato bar. Then we had the young women (okay mostly their moms, grandmas, YW leaders..etc.) make sweets that we auctioned off at the end of the evening as our fundraiser. We ended up with so many sweets I could not believe it. This was the part that I was the most nervous about, but was the most successful.

The whole ward (practically) turned out to support the YW and I am so thankful. I think we might actually be able to make it to Utah for Camp this summer. Yeah!!!

A special thanks to Dave Smith for running the auction. A part of the night I was not wanting to do at all.

Dan was able to head home with a Hawaiian desert that he missed from his mission. The Polynesians in the Branch used to feed him well.

So I stressed a bit but when all was said and done it was a great night and we were able to earn some money for Girls Camp and that was the most important part!

Decisions, Decisions...

Confusion and questions basically filled my head this week. We are in a very crazy time and trying to decide what we want to do and how we want to move forward. Here is the story:

I have been helping a friend of mine do odd jobs here and there as he is trying to start up his own business. This is all great since it gives me some time out of the house and some extra money. But is it not very steady and not enough extra money to really count on. Then the other day I get a call from my old boss saying they could really use me to come back and work for them at the doctor's office. The only catch is that it is for sure a full time position. We have been struggling with the decision on what to do. Here we are with two opportunities when some people are struggling to keep their jobs or can't even find one!

Our feelings have not changed that once we are placed with a baby and the adoption goes through we still want for me to be at home and only work for my mom but we feel that right now while I am physically able to go out and work and make some cash that would be helpful (pay for a nursery, and planned trip to England in September, etc.) it would be silly for me not to accept the invitation to go back to work full time right now. It is just hard to wrap my brain around the idea when I have not worked full time out of the house for over 2 years and really wasn't planning on it. But this has just fallen into our laps so maybe there is a reason for it.

So I think I will be giving the doctor a call and as long as he is okay with giving me time off to attend Girls Camp and the wedding in the UK in September then I might be joining the outside working force once again. We will see what happens.

End of the Year Tag....

1. What did you do in 2008 that you had never done before? PARTICIPATED IN A 5K
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? KEPT SOME... WILL MAKE A TON FOR THIS YEAR!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? YES... WE HAVE TWO NEW NEPHEWS!!
4. Did anyone close to you die?... WE LOST AN UNCLE AND OTHERS WE KNEW
5. What countries did you visit?.. NO COUNTRIES BUT WE WILL THIS YEAR!!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?... MORE PATIENCE AS ALWAYS
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?.... NOVEMBER 4, 2008 VOTING DAY
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?... JUST BEING CONSISTENT
9. What was your biggest failure?.... BEING LAZY
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?...NOT REALLY (THANK GOODNESS!)
11. What was the best thing you bought?....A Wii
12. Where did most of your money go?... TO BILLS OF COURSE
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?....OUR TRIP TO DISNEY AND KNOTT'S IN OCTOBER
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer? A) HAPPIER FOR SURE B) FATTER? C) RICHER?
15. What do you wish you’d done more of?... RELAXED
16. What do you wish you’d done less of?....COMPLAINED
17. Did you fall in love in 2008?...EVERY DAY
18. What was your favorite TV program?....SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (LOVE THAT SHOW!)
19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?...NOPE... SAME PEOPLE. JUST KIDDING!
20. What was the best book you read?.....TWILIGHT SERIES OF COURSE!
21. What did you want and get?....Wii FIT
22. What did you want and not get?....iPOD
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?....HAD FRIENDS HERE FOR THE WEEKEND... TURNED 28 (NOT AS EXCITING AS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER!)
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?..... RECEIVING "THE CALL"
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?.....TRYING?!
26. What kept you sane?...MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE GOSPEL

The end of the month...but not the road!

Well.. here we are at the end of the month. November 30th! I can't believe the month is over. I had been waiting for the month to get here. I was so excited for it. I was so anxious for it too. I was working so hard this month. I made 16 posters that said either National Adoption Month with a description of what that is... or Families Supporting Adoption or a combination of the two. Then we called the local libraries and re-called the local libraries. I wrote a letter to the libraries. I mailed the letter to the libraries. I called other adoption agencies and asked them to donate some of their pamphlets to us. I help to organize with our local FSA chapter a book drive for the local libraries, to collect additional adoption books to add to their collection. We held a pancake breakfast and book drive for our FSA chapter. We took the posters I made, and the pamphlets we collected to the local libraries for them to display during the month.

We now have to return to the libraries and collect our posters again. I have to distribute the books that we collected at the book drive.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH!!! It has also been a successful month. I wish we could be doing things like this to promote adoption to the community all the time. I feel like there is such a negative connotation about adoption out there about adoption and I wish we could change that. I wish people didn't only hear about adoption one month out of twelve. I love adoption and what it has already done for me.

I wish I could have shared more of my real thoughts and emotions that go along with adoption but I didn't. I WILL! Adoption is not just something that I think about once a year... It is daily for me and I love it that way.

Gratitude Countdown #6: Health

#5: I am thankful for my HEALTH

Right now this is very apparent to me. I am very thankful for the health that I am able to maintain. I complain sometimes about the headaches I have or the aches or pains that I feel but I know that these are all just temporary and I know that I could be much worse. I remember back to when I had to deal with horrible headaches daily and I am thankful for having them under control so much better now.

I have had pains in my knees for many years and no one has been able to figure out what the deal was. Well... that has all changed. As of this week we know what the problem is and we are going to take care of it. I am going in for surgery on Dec. 24th. So, I am going to have a pretty rough Christmas but at least I will be able to get my knee fixed. For this I am thankful.

I realize that there are so many people that have so many problems and can't do anything about them. I am thankful for the good health I have been blessed with and I can only hope that it continues. I try to do what I can to make healthy choices but I know I struggle sometimes.

Gratitude Countdown #5: In-Laws

Mike and Holly Urbancic

#5: I am thankful for my

IN-LAWS!

I know that a lot of people don't have a great relationship with their in-laws. I know that a lot of people grow up fearing the day that they will have in-laws. I also know that there are a lot of horror stories out there about in-laws... well, none of this applies to me and my in-laws. I love my in-laws and I am so thankful for them.

I am not only thankful for them and the wonderful son that they raised and then blessed me with, but I am also thankful for them as individuals. I am so lucky to have another set of wonderful parents to call my own. They are such loving and caring people and I get to have them as additional parents. They have always welcomed me into their family and for that I am thankful. They are so warm and inviting and you can't help but fall in love with them.

I am thankful for their example to us and for their support in all of our decisions. They lend a helping hand when needed and that is also wonderful. We wish they lived a little closer so we had a chance to spend more time together, but it just makes our trips that much more exciting. I really am a lucky girl to be able to say how much I love my in-laws and how thankful I am to have them in my life.

Gratitude Countdown #4: Time

* I am thankful for TIME.

This one might seem strange to some people but to me it makes perfect sense. I am thankful for TIME in a lot of ways. I am thankful for the TIME that I have been given with certain people in my life. Some of those people are no longer here and I look back and cherish that TIME. I am thankful for the TIME I have each day with my husband. We are both so busy with work, and church callings and just doing day to day things that we take advantage of the TIME we are able to spend with each other. I am thankful for the TIME I had a child to play and to just be a kid because it seems like kids "these days" (man I feel old) don't always have that chance. I did, and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for the TIME I have had to be with just my husband. I know that we are desperately seeking to become parents and want that as well, but I will never forget or regret the TIME that we have been able to be just "US". This TIME has been wonderful as well. We have been able to travel, go on countless dates, and just get to know each other 100%. It has been priceless. I am also thankful for the TIME we are able to spend with our families. That is TIME that we love.

While there never seems to be enough TIME in each day if you sit back and remember all of the good TIMES I am thankful that they add up and outnumber the bad. I really am blessed and for that I am thankful for the TIME that I have!

Gratitude Countdown #3: Adoption

#3: I am thankful for Adoption!

Dan and our caseworker from LDS Family Services Brad at our 80's dinner!

I know I have said it a thousand times before, but it is true. I am so thankful for adoption and the opportunity it gives Dan and I to build our eternal family. I am thankful for the loving birthmother and her love that she has her her child and for us to place her baby for adoption and then to chose us to parent that baby. I am thankful that Adoption can take place and that we can give that baby a loving home and a chance and all the love in the world (because that is what we will do!) I am thankful for all that I have learned going through the waiting process. I am thankful for all I have learned about adoption. I am also thankful for the people I have meet because of adoption and the activities and projects that I have been able to be a part of because of adoption. The entire process has truly changed my life and me forever.