Summer Fun

We had such a busy summer and such a fun summer. We spent most of the time in the water, trying to stay cool. We went swimming at Papas' pool, lots of times with friends. We also went to the park and played in the water there. It is fun to get out and enjoy the water...and Blake sure loves it. He is really getting to be a great swimmer too. He can make it all the way from one side of the pool to the other!

Abducted by Aliens on the 4th of July

Obviously all our pictures aren't on here but I think you can see that we had a great time....lots of laughs, lots of adventures, and most of all, lots of driving! We drove from Vegas to Albuquerque, NM, then to Roswell, NM, to Carlsbad, NV, back to Albuquerque, NM, and then back to Vegas.... crazy!!!!

Here is a snapshot of our trip:

Hanging out at the KOA halfway between Roswell and Carlsbad

They had a fun, free firetruck ride which Blake LOVED... It was a pretty cool old truck.

Storytime with Uncle Brian...of course! Brian makes up some pretty crazy stories though.

Swimming with Aunt Cindy

We did make it to the Carlsbad Caverns and they were pretty awesome. We went late in the afternoon...took the elevators down and HIKED OUT!!! Not a very good idea but the only feasible one at the time. We were able to stay and see the bats come out at dusk.

Blake hitching a ride on daddy's back... what a way to go!

Even with getting to ride the whole way up and down he was exhausted that night!

The whole reason for the trip was the 4th of July and of course that means fireworks... YES we kept Blake up to see the fireworks...and NO he was not impressed. Maybe next year.

Again it was a fun trip and we love to be able to make these great memories and share times with great friends. We know Blake won't remember these yet but we have pictures to share and
great stories to tell him and soon enough he will start to remember!

Big Bear or bust

We were able to get away for the weekend and enjoy some time with our friends from CA...Marvin and Maria and their daughter Arianna. We were bummed when we arrived in Big Bear to find NO SNOW...but we still had a great time. Dan tried his legs at skiing for the first time and enjoyed it. He was sore but had fun.

Blake was sick for most of the trip unfortunately but that didn't stop him from running and playing with Arianna.

Bang that drum

Some of you may remember a group called "Recycled Percussion"...they were on the show America's Got Talent last season. Well...they now have a Vegas show! We didn't actually know who they were but we took a chance and decided it would be fun to go out and celebrate our friend Brian's birthday and see the show and grab some dinner.

It was a a great show. Very interactive and a lot of fun. But don't go if you have a headache...or don't like loud noises!

Brian with his pot lid

Aranne and her cowbell

Dan and his pot lid

Cindy and her colander

We had a lot of fun...made a lot of noise...and celebrated Brian's birthday in style!

2010 in a glance

Wow... I can't believe 2010 has come and gone. It has been a really great year for us. Of course we have had our struggles just like everyone else but we have also had some really amazing times too. This year we were able to enjoy things as a family of three!

January - The Cox family came to town and we took family pictures which now included Blake! Other than that we just continued to settle into family life.

February - We celebrated our 8 year anniversary. Dan took a little trip to Utah and went hiking with his friend Brian.

March - We had a few visitors this month. Auntie Laura came to visit for a weekend, and Grandma Holly and Grandpa Mike were down for a week.

April - We celebrated Easter at home and were joined by Robert, Lisa and the girls. We also had a Families Supporting Adoption Education Conference.

May - We took a weekend trip to CA to watch Morgan and McKenna play a baseball game. I was able to celebrate and enjoy my 1st Mother's Day. We had our 6th and final post placement visit with our caseworker, and we also had a meeting with our lawyer for finalization of Blake's adoption.

June - Dan and I both helped out with Girls Camp for a few days. Auntie Laura visited for a weekend trip. Dan celebrated Father's Day.

July - We went to South Dakota/Mt. Rushmore for the 4th of July. We had all our family and friends here for Blake's finalization,sealing and blessing. Our friends Marvin and Maria came to celebrate Dan's 30th b-day. Blake and I went to Utah for the Stampin' Up convention.

August - We enjoyed the end of summer and stayed at home and relaxed!

September - Grandma Holly and Grandpa Mike came for a final summer visit. Blake and I went to visit friends for a weekend in CA. Auntie Laura came for her final summer visit.

October - We made a trip to AZ so the girls could go to Time Out for Women. We celebrated Blake's first Halloween and dressed as a farm family... Farmer, cowgirl and cow!

November - Blake turned 1 year old! Took a trip to Park City for a little time away. I had my 30th b-day. Grandma Holly and Grandpa Mike came to spend Thanksgiving with us.

December - Marvin and Maria were here for a weekend. We went to CA to celebrate Christmas with friends. We took Blake to Disneyland for his birthday - and mine too! Spent Christmas in AZ with the entire Urbancic family. Auntie Laura, Robert, Lisa and the girls were all here to ring in the New Year.

CA Christmas

For the past 9 years we have always gone to California and done a "California Christmas" party with our friends and family who are still there. This year we decided to keep it small and just had a small group of us get together for some dinner, presents and then we headed to see Santa! We found out about a great park out in Irvine and does a wonderful display and puts on a Christmas train that takes you to "the North Pole" to see Santa. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it (I think all of the adults did too).

It is always so nice to go and visit our friends and family in California and enjoy the holidays with them. It was really nice this year and do something just for the kids and have Blake with us and have him be able to get in on the activities. I think next year he will REALLY enjoy Christmas (oh no!)

Birthday Boy

The Birthday Boy....

The theme of the party was "B"...we had B everything... Balloons, Bundt cakes, and a "B" buffett complete with bugles, Baby Ruth, brownie bites, bubble gum, blow pops....

These are the "birthday bundt cakes"...instead of cupcakes. This was a great idea at the start until I was at home (with the help of Auntie Laura) making all of these on Friday...

Present time!!

Blake's yummy cake made by our great friend Sue.

Our way of saying thanks to all those who came to the "bash"... Bubbles from Blake

We had a great day and most importantly it was a way to spend time with family and friends and really just think about the past year. WOW! We can't believe that a year has come and gone already. A year ago we honestly didn't know when we were ever going to get that call....and then we heard that a little one had been born and they wanted to hurry and get that baby connected with LDS Family Services... Well thank goodness they did because four days later that little baby was in our arms. The amazing miracle of adoption. And then a year later he is a walking, mumbling, ball of energy and we could not be more excited and happy to have him as our ONE YEAR OLD!

One year stats:
walking since 10 months
says - mama, dada, ball, nite-nite, bye-bye, barks (for doggie), blows kisses, waves goodbye
27.5 lbs, 31 in
pacifier only for naps and bedtime

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.

For time and all eternity

Here are a few shots from the day at the temple.... What an experience! Words are really just too hard to find to express the feelings and emotions that were felt that day. After years of waiting for a little one to join our family.. then having to wait the months to finally know that he is truly ours FOREVER it was amazing. It was also so great to have all of our friends and family with us to show their love and support. We have had such amazing people with us through this journey and are so thankful for that.

Families are forever and we now have one of our own.

A Forever Family (Part 2)

Mike trying out the kayak

Blake and daddy...Blake was such a good sport with his life jacket.

Too bad Preston is too little to drive...he sure looks ready to go?!

Friday morning..early morning...whoever was in town decided to take advantage of the lake and go out for some jet skiing. We also had borrowed some kayaks from our neighbors so there were lots of activities to partake of while at the lake. It was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed ourselves. I think we could have spent a lot more time there but with two little ones, other things on the agenda that day, and all of us trying not to get sunburnt before family pictures we had to only spend a few hours out in the HOT Vegas sun! But we made the most of the time out at the lake for sure.

Grandpa better hold on with Nate in the driver's seat....

Grandma and Grandpa Petersen...Grandpa just returning from a trip around the lake!

Grandma Holly and Preston with his flag...very important

The Urbancic family...Holly, Mike B. Amy, Nate, Dan and Mike A

Blake's first trip to the lake