The Christian Crew

We had a Very Long vacation and it's best to divide it up based on our travels. SO, this last summer we left at the end of July and went to my mom's place, in a little town called Fallon, NV! It was pretty cool to drive down memory lane but, as I get older, this is less of my town and more of the past. This town holds very special memories and some sad ones as well. Like performing as Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, helping out with the Local ARC with the special needs adults and students, meeting some of my Best good friends here, singing at the Christmas tree lighting, swimming at the pool, playing at the parks I played at as a kid, passing by the schools and soccer fields I once frequented and so much more! I will always have a love for little Fallon and the great people I know from this town who helped me become the woman I am today! We got to see a few friends and the zipped off to June Lake and Mammoth , CA to visit my grandma's gravesite and walked again down Memory...

This post goes out to ALL the HYBRID families out there!  Don't know what that means? Here's a Run down... us last May 2015   Definition of HYBRID 1 :   an offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera 2 :   a person whose background is a blend of two diverse cultures or traditions   Grandpa Max feeding Gavin on the Orchard when he was 2 SO, In HYBRID families- you have this amazing vast diversity of gene pools in your children who come from two different sets of parents!  Def. #2 is my FAV-  because My children Do have two diverse cultures- their birth family cultures/ mannerisms/ nuances/ genes and ours!     The funny way I like to tease people about how our family was created is by saying " I have 4 children by three different fathers........( long pause) and THREE different Mothers too! " It gets them every time!  ...

I can't believe its been 4 years already! I remember this day like it was yesterday!!! Jessica, His gorgeous birth momma!       He is such a SPUNKY boy and his PIRATE PARTY Was Fantastic & fun! Over 60 ppl and loads of kids! Here's a whole bunch of pics to feast yer eyes on!     Lots of GAMES and Challenges!   We had a big potluck after snacks:)   The fish food was the pirate's booty and natural gummy fish:) the play set made a GREAT Ship!   Loads of fun was had by all! Aren't we the coolest pirates ever? Nah, we try though!   So Glad our special boy had a great day! We always have a BIG party for our kiddos. It's not about how many people come or how many presents they get- Its about the amount of FUN they have, no matter the cost/ time/ effort! I believe in Celebrating every moment and the kids are only young once, then its over! So Party On!      

well, try moving 2 times in 2 years and adding two kids along with those moves-Oh and switch companies and become a business partner owner... That's how it all seems so fast! I can't believe we are planning Gavin's 4th Birthday already- it's bittersweet!  He is SUCH A JOY now that he is out of the terrible twos and is doing so much better as a big brother and overall, little person. I'm not sure if I ever shared his 2nd year with everyone but let's just condense it to a few words- Fecal fiesta- every other day, lots of dirt, yelling, messes and screaming! It was HARD and I'm so glad he is speaking so well now- most of his yelling was in frustration that we couldn't understand what he wanted or was try to say. Enjoy some BABY pics of this little man!!!   5 days old...       10 months old  7 months old  

We all come to different stages in our lives where we see the end of what was our life for the last um-teen years or months and the change that is ahead. Some of us are overjoyed at these next steps or end of that certain chapter but, most of us see these as bittersweet experiences. For me, the most recent one was TODAY! I seriously went through the whole grief cycle in a matter of hours. I bargained with myself saying internally " i can totally still do this if i just give up what i really need to do" " I will just try harder, then everything will be fine"! I Denied that this was going to happen today- i said now way- This is not happening! I felt GUILTY for not being a more equipped mother to my most recent baby. I was ANGRY at Myself  for being a QUITTER! I held my limp , stretch marked abdomen and SOBBED uncontrollably, Hating that i didn't Get to NURSE ALL of my Babies and get that bonding time with each of them.  As I held Slade in my Arms after nur...

have happened to the Awesome couples hoping for a Miracle column in my sidebar. Some are good and some are what they are! I have removed a few names and normally i do this glorious post of who adopted a child and then go gaga about it! This time... i do not know what happened to one of the couples and the other has yet to know of the great news that awaits them! Well, that's all for me now... I have to work on my talk for the Adoption Conf. It's gonna be FUN! Want to know how this picture ties into my class??? you will just have to find out on Saturday!

you have those days where you feel like the life has been sucked out of you by a shop-vac. Every ounce of you is drained and your fingers can barely move to type. I stayed home ALL day today with the Girls b/c B's sick ( cough-nothing major) so, i did laundry, played with the girls, built a blanket fort, kinda did dishes, and did an overhaul on the Navigator and it's sparkling clean now! The leather, floors, mats, windows everything! There's nothing like a clean car! I got to chat with my friend Hales in Scottsdale and SKPYE with my family and my littlest brother, Brent! He's is heading off to Afghanistan in the Marines and that may be the last time we get to do that with him. We shall see. He's a strapping young man and I'm totally proud of him. Also, my friend Jessica is in training in the ARMY to head there in a few weeks too! So, i will have a few cool peeps over there. I wonder how much a box costs to ship there? I'm also rounding out the midpoi...

Our Colorado FSA Party was quite fun. The girls loved making graham cracker gingerbread houses and hand print ornaments. We made enough for Birth mom and birth grandparents too! I am still wondering if B's birth father ever wants any of these keepsakes or his parents. I'm not really sure on that. And i will respect whatever they want in that regard. daddy was a great help while i shot pictures for everyone. cutest little hands. Those ornaments were a hit. Next year, I'm going with more of an acrylic ornament so, i can ship them easier and they won't break. Here is some of Brielle's Art! She LOVES drawing and coloring and is getting quite good at it! I plan on enrolling her in an art class this summer. We plan on traveling more in the spring and sticking around here much of the summer so, they can do Ballet, Swim and Art. But plans change so, we will see.

So... we are STILL in vacation mode and enjoying my older brother, Todd's company! He's an awesome uncle! Christmas day and Eve were both fun and special and i will have to write even more pretty shortly here about all of it! No snow though- you'd think living in CO you'd have a white Christmas. Oh, and I'm getting older too. In less than 2 weeks I hit the last year of my twenties- kind of frightening but, I'm great with it. I love where my life is and don't wish to change a thing. Well, except i wish we could have a son and another daughter in the near future. But, God knows more than i do and knows what We need as a family right now. more to come... for now we are enjoying our TWO little sassy angels!!! stay tuned!

I know i have TONS to catch up on and the reason why i have blogged less is due to busy work. I'm editing a bunch of photos, planning and helping with parties, decorating the home for Christmas and so forth. So, for today You will get these pics of us and our friends- Jesse and Dara- at the Denver Nuggets Game. I will give you the FUN details in a later blog post. SO much cool stuff to say about this night!!! Till later! and yes we are STILL Hoping for a Miracle and hoping that it will come when It's right!!! Our friends are all awesome here and are hopeful right along with us!!!

a flight for Brielle's awesome birthmom, KARA, to come see us for the week of her birthday! I'm so excited to see them at Thanksgiving and have her and her little boy come up for a visit. They better get ready for some good times and snow!!! This will be the first Birthday that Brielle's whole Birth family won't be at b/c we live 12 hours away now. But... Having Kara there will be so Special. We are very close and can't wait!!! Plus, January birthdays can be tough. So, i go ALL OUT when it comes to them b/c i know how it feels ( mines the 4th of Jan.). I always wished mine was in the summer but, i can't change that and I'm so glad i was born when i was. Even if it was only for the purpose of making Brielle's Birthdays even better!!! She's hitting the big half decade mark too:) Man, has it really been that long? It feels like only a few blinks ago, we were standing in a hospital room gazing at this perfect tiny baby and amazing young woman. Now, Kara...

Need i state who we are? Okay then- Brandon is the Wizard of OZ, I'm the wicked witch, and Brielle is Dorothy and Aria is Glinda the Good witch. More detailed pictures to come soon! We have WAY too much fun! Hope all your Halloween celebrations were great too!

So today i had the privieledge of doing a Photo shoot for the Larson Family with their 2 kids and 2 BIRTHMOMS!!! It was unforgettable and I am so happy for them and a bit envious ( in all the best ways) too! I can't wait to have another amazing birth parent and child as part of our family when It's the right time:) Here's to waiting and hoping and praying!!! * This is the shirt B and A wore and IT'S almost an understatement!!! They really do have him wrapped around their little pinkies! Hope to learn more about our adoption family? Click on the words underneath our picture!

Here's the link to the Sunday Placement Family ! Congrats to Mike, Maryanne, Chelly and Little Baby Gabriel or Jacob ( what ever they decided:) PS... Open Adoption Is the BEST! ( in my opinion)

Last week was so AMAZING and long . With 2 placements within 5 days and all the other day to day stuff i do with my girls and husband- it got a bit crazy BUT... I LOVED IT and i wouldn't trade it for the world! I Put up some Placement pics and hospital pics of Jessica on my photo site - so check those out. The 2nd placement will be on there shortly!!! PS. Birth Parents ROCK!!! Brielle's Birth mom turned 22 last week. Brielle made her some art and sent her a bag of candy corns b/c she said she wanted Kara to have treats on her Birthday! I sent her a SPA Day package for her to get pampered at a local spa( where she lives)! WE LOVE her and her whole family and miss them a ton but, GOOD NEWS... Looks like we will get to see them around Thanksgiving!!! We also hosted a B-day Party for our little friend , Cora, who turned 7! She has been so fun to get to know and a bunch of us moms and teachers are rallying around her to let her know of our love for Her! Her bio- mom is an addict ...

little Madison!!! This is Jessica's Baby Girl! She is a birthmom placing with Jeff and Ciara! And has been so good to her mommies!!! Can't wait to see her again. Jessica had her today! She had a pretty fast labor and delivery and many visitors:) This family will be LOVED by all!!! I LOVE OPEN ADOPTIONS! Congrats Jessica, Ciara & Jeff! You are all so blessed. God has sent an angel to us today!!!

Although we have not met you yet, we already feel a closeness to you! We want you to know that we are people who KEEP our promises! We prefer openness in every situation (if possible) and we won't HOLD back from letting you know how we feel. We hope you choose to do the same. Brandon has more of grasp on adoption that i do (being that he is adopted) but, we both equally have a hold on birth parent ?'s and overall adoption culture. We LOVE celebrating everything about adoption and birth parents! Brielle is currently working on a Birthday package for her Birth mother, Kara. She has been making Art and I'm including a few surprises too! She and her Family are part of our family now and forever! You can even call them, if you don't believe us. (I'll email you their numbers:) We know placement will be so hard and i remember the feelings we had at the hospital and in the placement room over 4.5 years ago. It was terrifying and so Heavenly all at the same time. I felt so...