Ice Skating

One of the things we are trying to do is have the boys try a lot of different things to see what they like and are good at.  Today they started ice skating and if they enjoy it hopefully moving toward hockey.  

Alex patiently waiting for his turn on the ice.

They both did amazingly well.  We were surprised at how fast they picked it up!  

 They were 'skating' around on the ice before the end of the first session.

 Alex showing off his skills.

 DJ is an anxious boy and before we got there he was very nervous about the ice breaking and falling into the water.  No matter how much I reassured him he couldn't get the thought out of his head.  

 He was a little clingy at the beginning of the lesson because of the unexpected, but after getting out on the ice he did a wonderful job. 

 It was fun watching them teach these little kids how to do things.  I loved that they did songs like 'Once there was a Snowman' to get them to fall on the ice so they could practice standing up after falling.

 This is a small clip from the on your own practice time.  They had their 30 minute lesson and then got to free skate for 15 minutes.  DJ ended up skating the entire length of the rink by himself.  We are excited to see what they will be able to do after next week!

Adoption Awareness Month Day 5 - Anticipation

Day 5 - Anticipation

There is so much to anticipate in adoption.  Some of the things I am always anticipating are: texts, calls, visits, when my boys learn or try something new and I get to share it, and just being able to spend time together.

One of the biggest things I am anticipating right now is being contacted by an expectant parents.  We are currently approved to adopt again and are anxiously awaiting our next piece to our family.  The waiting is the hardest, but it is ALWAYS worth it!

Adopton Awareness Month Day 4 - Family Photo

Day 4 - Family Photo

This is one of our most recent pictures of all 4 of us together that isn't just a selfie!  We love camping and this was our last camping trip for the season.  The leaves were gorgeous and my 3 favorite boys were with me so I could not have been happier.  

Adoption Awareness Month Day 3 - Education

Day 3 - Education

We hadn't known anyone personally that had adopted when we started the process the first time so we had to get educated!  One of the biggest parts in educating with adoption is what openness is and the terminology that is used.  My boys were placed for adoption and not 'given up'!  Their birth parents spend a long time looking through families and finding just what they wanted for their children.  I am not easily offended but when it comes to people saying the wrong things about our birth families or adopted children I get very upset, but also try to remember that they are not immersed in the world of adoption and that I need to educate them on how they should say things as to not offend others.

I was at first terrified of an open adoption because I wasn't educated, but the moment I was, I knew that it is what I wanted for my future kids and loved the idea of it.  I am so grateful that I became more educated in openness because I don't know what I would do without our birth families!

Adoption Awareness Month Day 2 - First Step

Day 2: First Step

After 4+ years of trying to get pregnant we decided to start looking into adoptin.  We decided that it was how we were suppose to grow our family and we were full steam ahead.  We did the paperwork and got approved as quickly as we could and prayed for our expectant parents.  It was a year and a half later that we were contacted by an amazing couple.  After chatting to many expectant parents in email and over analyzing everything we wrote, we looked at this contact much differently.  We just wrote emails and didn't think about rewording anything because they might like this or this better, we just wrote and sent thinking that this would be like the others and we would just stop getting emails from them.  Well, it was much different and now have a little man that will be 5 this month because of these wonderful people!

Adoption Awareness Month Day 1 - How does adoption impact me

November is one of my favorite months, adoption awareness month!  Adoption is a very big part of my life and very close to my heart.  I became a mommy for the first time 5 years ago in November and then again 2 years later, both through adoption. Everyday I am going to post something about adoption. 

Day 1 - How does adoption impact me? 

How does it not impact me???? I became a mommy through adoption. These two boys are brothers because of adoption. The hole in my heart was able to be filled because of adoption. Our family grew not just by these two but also their amazing birth families! I am so grateful for adoption and every single way it has impacted me!

 We made these cute little collages to send to our birth parents.   We LOVE Utah and Ohio because that is where our birth families live!

 We are so lucky and blessed to have these sweet boys and their families in our lives!

Boxtrolls

We went to the movie, Boxtrolls wit grandma and some of our cousins.

 What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

We went home and we luckily had boxes at our house that the boys could decorate.  I gave them both names: drums and spider.  They love being boxtrolls and walking around and hiding in their boxes.