Happy {heart} day

I am bad at keeping up with this blog huh? It overwhelms me... I think that maybe if I don't put as much effort into it.. maybe the rejection is less? Not sure....

I am sure of this though. I LOVE my family with a fierceness that I can not explain. I feel it everyday. Not just the days we are told to say it. I can't say it enough EVERY day. Abby and Scott make me happy. Blissfully happy really. We have more love to give.. I know it. But for now.... This is it. And its great!

click on the pics to view them larger!

Our Trip to Missouri....written by Scott

We got back last week from a great trip to visit my brother Shane and his family in Missouri for Thanksgiving. We had tons of fun visiting all sorts of different places and doing some really cool activities. Thanks Shane and Michele for hosting us for 9 days!

Here a few pics:

Abby was so excited to take her new polka-dot suitcase on an airplane...this wasn't her first time on a plane but the first one that she will be able to remember. She did such a great job and always has been a great little traveler.

It was such a Great experience to go to the church visitor's center in Independence, MO. They had a great presentation about the family...loved to be there with my family. Left to right my sister Jenny, Mom, Maria, Abby, me, and Dad.

Me, Maria and Abby!

Abby was all about riding her cousin's little 4-wheeler around on Thanksgiving Day...after it ran out of batteries, Abby moved over to the electric scooter (check out the video). I was a little nervous at first but she seemed to get the hang of it...probably a good thing that mom was in the house!

The day after Thanksgiving we got to go to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO...things that Abby, Ashby, Jaxson, and Bristol learned about eachother on that day:

Abby loves to pose for pictures

Bristol does not like pictures

Ashby does not look at the camera

Jaxson just goes with the flow

Hillbilly...billy bob...at SDC was definitely the real thing!

We went to the Dixie Stampede in Branson for dinner and a show...it was like Medieval Times but Western style.

The kids and Santa at the Christmas Market in Branson.

Abby at the Butterfly Gardens.

The day before we came home we went to Liberty Jail just north east of KC. Amazing to see the replica of the jail. It was also good to be there at the time of year when Joseph Smith was put into the jail (he was put in Dec 1). It gave us a greater appreciation of how cold it really was and some of the conditions that they had to endure.

The morning of our flight, Jenny, Maria, and I decided to drive around to all of the church history sites north of KC. Abby was sick again...grandpa was sick too so grandma stayed with them back at the hotel, thanks Mom! It was surprising how far apart the different sites were, this was at Far West...not much there but the cornerstones for a temple and this monument. We also saw Adam ohndi-ahman and a memorial of the Hahn's Mill massacre.

On our way to the airport, we stopped by the new KC temple...the temple is almost complete but was really cool to see.

Our last night in West Plains we had a family dinner at Colton's. Left to right Jenny, Michele, Shane, Abby, Maria, Scott, Mom, Dad, Ashby, Bristol, and Jaxson.

This was the first time that we were able to go visit Shane and Michele in Missouri in the 9 years we've been married...we definitely won't wait another 9 years to go again! We had such a relaxing vacation and were able to see a lot of church history sites in the Kansas City area...look forward to going back again some time!

Another Christmas Card.

I remember when we took family pictures after our very first failed invitro. It was so hard for me. I really can't even describe it. I felt like we were be forced to accept a future that really was not of our choosing. Now here we are... 3 years, and four family photo sessions later. I was just designing our Christmas card this year... I am completely in Love with it! Not only am I in love with the card itself. But I am totally in Love with my little family. Yes the desire to have more children still burns very strongly inside me. But I am so blissfully happy with what I have it has made it so much easier to bear.

This years Christmas card will feature this address... to our adoption blog. And I am excited about it.

We have so much to enjoy. So much to look forward to. And I really am just feeling very grateful. And very hopeful. And very happy. Love to you all....

Its about time....

Wow, have I been a blog slacker. In all areas. My photo blog is about 20 shoots behind. And my family blog... well its just embarrassing. But its all for a good cause. As much as I would like to think that I can be perfect at everything it just never seems to be possible. And I (we) have been so busy the last few months that has hardly been a moment to breath.

But one thing there is always time for... Being a Mom. I figure I can share that here right. It feels right. To share it here. I love being a mom. The good... the bad and the ugly.

Abby started School last week. There was a day that I would definitely have put that under the category of "bad". I had a hard time. It was a huge milestone that meant so much more than Kindergarden. It meant me being home alone.. a lot.

But this morning. As Abby walked into that big school all by herself for the first time. I was nothing but proud. She even turned around to wave to me.. she sure knows her Mommy. It meant a lot to me And now school is under that category of "good" . Good for her. And what is good for her.... is good for me. I just love her. I just love everything about being her mom. And I want to do this all again. I want to have a baby again. It feels like starting over. But I am ready. And I hope it happens soon.

PS.... I laid down for a quick nap.. and abby woke me up 8 minutes in to offer me the last of her popsicle. This would go under "ugly" .... and "good" I guess. Because now I am writing on my blog instead of sleeping. She is the best.

Live

Well, our profile just went live and we are so excited! But... not quite ready! Please bear with me as we work on this blog over the next couple of days. There are a few links working and then rest will be up soon! Thanks so much!