Return Missionary

I did not get Zach's permission to share this last little event in our family, but I found this cute picture and I just wanted to share it with you all.  My nephew Zach came home from his mission in Canada a few weeks ago and we were able to meet him at the airport!  The kids were so excited, and I think that he was amazed at how everyone had grown up.  We love you Zach and are glad you are home!

16 Years!!!

I can not believe it!  David and I have officially been married for 16 years!  Our anniversary was a few days ago and I thought that I would just say a quick little public note that he is the best!  No, He did not get me diamonds, or a cruise, or a day at the spa. (Hint, Hint David, if you are reading this :)) However he did buy me the flowers that I had at our wedding.  But the most amazing gift that he could give me is the love that he continues to show me and our children.  He is amazing and I love him for it.  He has given me the wings to fly and truly let me use them!  Thank you David... I love you


SHMILY!

Addy's Dance Recital

More fun concerts to go to!  This time we got to go and watch Adaley in her first dancing debut.  She was a doll!  She did so well remembering all the dance steps and performed them beautifully.  Before the performance started we were instructed to drop off our girls with their teacher and they were to stay with the teacher throughout the performance.  There were a few girls in her class that were crying and did not want to go onstage.  I asked her if she cried at all, her response, "Of course not mom!"  She loved being on stage!  I think that the only problem that I had with the whole performance was the fact that I had to put make-up on her and, wow, she looked so grown up!  My sister Rebecca, who came to watch her, started to cry, because she looked grown up!  Adaley has some pretty amazing eyes, courtesy of her birth mom, and I must say that they were quite accentuated that night!

James Concert

James Young Voices 2012

We had the opportunity to put James in a children's choir this last semester, and his concert was just a few weeks ago.  As I sat and listened to the beautiful sounds that were sung by these amazing young children, I thought back to the day that James was placed in our arms by his amazing birth mom.  I remember that before she brought him to us, she rocked him and sang to him, leaving her voice as an eternal imprint on all of our souls.  As I sat and listened to him that evening and reflected on the lyrics of one of the songs that he was singing, I could not help but feel that he was returning that gift of song, to her and us.  It brought me to tears, to realize what an amazing blessing that we have been given!  I wanted to share the lyrics as follows:





Irish Friendship Wish
by Ruth Elaine Schram

May there always be work for your hands to do
May your purse always hold a coin or two
May the sun always shine on your window pane
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
Keep this wish safe in your heart even though we may be apart

Sing this song and it will remind you someone sends you this friendship wish

you may need to turn the music off to hear the video

Pre-K Graduation

It was really fun to watch our little girl graduate Pre-K.  I was not prepared for all the people who would be in attendance and so I did not get a very good seat, and I did not think to bring my telephoto lens, however I think that you get the idea, if you watch the video.  Addy is going to grow up to be a ballerina. At least that is what she wants for today, ask her in a week and it might be a "cooker" again or a cowgirl. Oh how I love that little girl!

A visit to the museum

We had a day of of school so we took the kids to the Denver Museum.  I think that this picture reveals so much about all of us.  We can be very expressive with our faces.

Broken Finger!!!

Ugh!  As careful as Addy is I was shocked to find out from preschool that she had broken her ring finger!  She was at school the other day and wanted to close the door that was being held open be a large rock.  She decided to pick up the rock so that the door would close, however she did not realize that her shoe was untied and she fell and smashed her finger with the rock.  She went to the "nurse station" and got some ice, at first she wanted to go home, but then she realized that she would miss playing on the playground.  She then decided that she was fine and would go out and play.  What a tough little girl!
James is a little jealous because he, for some weird reason, thinks that it would be cool to have a cast.  I do not think that he realizes the pain that would be involved with the "need" for a cast.