The Christian Crew

I can't believe they are growing up so dang fast! The FALL is in full swing and we have some interesting weather here. One day its 60, the next it's snowing! We have been enjoying it all and the wildlife eating our left over pumpkins and elk bugling. The girls are busy practicing Songs for Christmas and the Winter Sing that the school holds and this year they will be in a Holiday walk/parade on the main stage. They are so excited. Life is busy but, great most days and when it's not, I try and remember- things could always be much Worse. Brandon likes to remind me that We could live in a third or second world country where people are Really suffering! It's humbling to think about and my Girls are gearing up for Christmas and getting ready to tell Santa to send their toys/treats/food to the orphanages this year- Again! They have such huge hearts! The boys are staying busy with preschool , library, play dates, trips to the children's museum and more!  They are...

Can't believe We were so lucky to have her up here to visit with Brielle and our whole family! Her little man, Jr., came too. He was able to experience what it would be like to have 4 siblings!!! He had a blast too! Kara came up the day before the Birth parent retreat and we spent the day just catching up a bit! She is a special part of our family and we all just fit together like we have never been apart. When we are together, we cook and clean and play and nothing is awkward, its just natural and feels like home when we are together. We snuggle on ALL the kids and when we left to the retreat, Brandon surprised all our kids + jr. and took the to see Minions movie and out to panda! He was Brave but, they had a great time and He is a Super Dad, so it's not too shocking! He also took them to a furniture store- now that is even more impressive! After the retreat, we spent some time playing on Evergreen lake,   Us ladies!     Navigator Slade  S...

Summer is in FULL swing and in a few days CAMPS and lessons start up! We had a wonderful vacation ( which I will post about soon) and the kids are loving the gorgeous weather here in Evergreen. Today they decided to play in the tiny creek and have a mud fight!!! ( followed by a hose down). The fun camps ahead are Adventure camp, Mad science- sleuth/ detective camp/ Archery lessons for both girls/ swim lessons and gymnastics for Gavin! I'm excited and can't wait to see what these sweet children learn. Here's some updated pics from the wedding of the kids ( more about the wedding to come!) BRIELLE SLADE    GAVIN     ARIA

We headed out to UTAH on a SECRET TRIP to meet JESSICA- and to SEE if we would bond the way we did over the phone/ email etc...  Let me back up a bit... Our first contact from her was via email on April 7th!  We were setting up for an adoption conference  that day and we had just finished our CPR class and told our caseworker that we were switching to Foster care b/c we were ready and wanted to see what it was like. He went on about how a cute couple in Grand Junction just got an email from an expectant mom. That night- I got home and we had this email in our inbox too!!! "Hello, my name is Jessica . I am not entirely sure how to go about this but, i am seriously considering adoption, my due date is May 24th and there are a few families that i have been considering. I don't really have any questions for you at the moment but if you have any please feel free to email back. Thank you. Please respond by: EMAIL" WE FREAKED OUT! I told our case worker the next d...

on my etsy store with this coupon code at checkout: FREESHIPAPRIL Grab your adoption onesies and tanks and all the other snazzy stuff! I'm hoping to close this as soon as i can but... i have inventory left and i get excited about Adoption Stuff so... I may have some sleep sacks and toddler tees coming. It all depends on how things go over the next fe w months. Today... i will enjoy folding laundry finishing my table and chairs makeover, taking care of little sick Aria and see what needs to leave us before we move to our new place in June! Oh, and I'll be editing pics fro the adoption conference last weekend- it was awesome!

Thus far, has been pretty eventful! I visited 3 hospitals- one to take birth mother and baby pics, one to drop off a gratitude basket to a social worker and one to visit our friends daughter who was getting checked out after a car accident- Everyone is okay and the Car took the brunt of the accident. My friend , Dara, was driving home from the gym and was hit by a drunk driver from behind. The man had a DUI, suspended license,a warrant out and NO Insurance!!!!! What the heck was he thinking??? Emily and i went to D Bar desserts again! The meal and the cake and shake were so scrumptious and we met the owner of another bakery in Nashville- where my sister lives. It's called Crumb de la Crumb! Her and her husband are competing on a Food Network Cake Challenge that was to be filmed 2 days after we met and they were also thinking about adoption! And I sat by an adopted college lady too! She was about 2 years younger than me and knows both her birth parents now! Pretty awesome nigh...

We had our Colorado FSA meeting yesterday and we have so many COOL things in the works and underway and on our events calendar... Like a 5k run for Adoption , Our Regional Conference , Making Birth Parent Valentine's , Parade floats and so much more:) It makes me giddy with excitement to think about all that FSA is doing! So proud of the gang for all they do! Good Job Everyone!

So Much Fun , 13 little girls , 1 little boy . Tea party with a 3 course meal . Sleeping Beauty came and performed and played and we took pictures and did make up and games . Lots of cake and ice cream , and running around, musical chairs and gifts and friends. I'm BEAT and so ready to hit the hay.I LOVE PARTIES, just a tad more toned down. I am congested, my feet hurt and so does my brain. Next time a birthday comes i will either hire it all out or take some of the friends to ski or a water park( summer b-days) . So much easier. I literally had 5-6 people help with this massive tea party. SO MUCH FUN but, so much work. More pictures to come... Dara covered the cake with buttercream fondant and i made the crown ,5, and cakes and iced them. It was a great team effort! It was fantastic having Kara there too. Kara is a great birthmom !!! We are so blessed !!! Can't wait to have another amazing adoption in our family. Open adoption is like adding more people to your fa...