Our Forever Family

This weekend has been awesome. Yesterday we were able to go to the temple to see our baby nephew Davis be sealed to his Mum and Dad. Davis is our adopted nephew. He couldn't be more perfect and our family couldn't love him any more. We are all so thrilled to have Davis be a part of our forever family. Watching Davis be sealed to my brother and sister in law brought back so many sweet memories for Brad and I of our own experience with our Gabe. Dealing with infertility is very hard and adoption is also extremely difficult, but having the oppurtunity to take your sweet baby to the temple to be sealed to you makes all the hard, sad, empty days feel worth it. I truly consider it a tender mercy and I'm so glad that Brian and Shanna got their turn!

Shanna had asked me to take some pictures after the temple and then we all went out to dinner as a family. It was so much fun.

Here are some of my faves!

 

It was getting dark and I was getting nervous about losing light but it made for some cool sunset pictures

 

Davis and his cute Daddy

I love love love this one!

 

Brad's Mum and Dad- Sandy and Clark. Proud Nana and Papa

 

Not the greatest picture of Davis and I but I just can't tell you how much I love this special little boy.

Today Davis was blessed in church. It was so fun to see the large circle of men surrounding baby Davis as his Dad officially gave him a name and a blessing. After the blessing, we all went to Shanna's parents house for lunch. It was a perfect weekend and we couldn't be more thrilled for Brian, Shanna and baby Davis.

Father and Son's Day out Fishing!!!

Yesterday, Brad and his brother Blake took Gabe and our nephew Andrew fishing at a local pond. The boys had so much fun. We were grateful the weather was so nice and that both boys were able to catch some fish. Having grown up with no aunts, uncles or cousins close by I am so grateful to know that Gabe will be able to grow up surrounded by so many amazing people who he loves and who love him so much.

Cute cousins- Gabe and Andrew

Gabe's little Spiderman fishing pole we bought him for his birthday proved to be great for catching fish. Brad said he could barely sit down to fish himself because Gabe kept pulling them in so fast. 

 

My lil man

 Brad took this video of Gabe bringing in a fish. We laughed at how he calmly sits in his little chair and doesn't get out of it the whole time he is pulling it in.

 

 

Messin up the kitchen

Today seemed just perfect for making some chocolate chip cookies. You just have those days sometimes.

Gabe loves to be my lovely assistant in the kitchen and I LOVE that he likes to cook and bake with me. He was so excited when I told him this morning that after school we were going to the library and then we would head home and make some cookies together.  He loves to "try" the dough and it is always his job to dump the chocolate chips in...if I ever forget that I'm in BIG trouble.

 

Step away from the chocolate chips! They are MINE!!!

My lovely assistant!

This was a new recipe I had found on Pinterest and was wanting to try. I have another FABULOUS recipe that I love from my friend Holly BUT these are awesome! It's hard to know which one is better.

 

OH YEAH!!

 

 

(I may have already eaten 3...shhhhh!)

 

Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pinterest

Ingredients:

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all purpose flour

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3. Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4. Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges. (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5. Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes. Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely. Makes just shy of 3 dozen if your kiddo also can't keep his mits out of the dough =)

Our first experience with Soccer

I was lucky enough to be able to coach Gabe's soccer team last season. It was his first time playing soccer and we really didn't know how he would do but he really tried hard and is a fast little runner. It was also fun to have my good friend Holly's son on the team as well as my nephew. It was so much fun watching them all run around. Who doesn't love a little boy in a soccer outfit?! I was so proud of my little guys.  They named themselves the Superhero's.

Go Gabe go!

 

My nephew Andrew telling me a VERY important story!

 

 

Our little soccer star

 

Gabe kicking in!



My cute little soccer players

Draper Rodeo

One of our favorite things to do in the summer is to go to at least one rodeo. We all love the rodeo. This year our friends invited us to go to the Draper rodeo with them to watch their 4 year old son Nash Mutton Bust. We all had so much fun! Can't wait till next summer when we can go to another rodeo!

Fun at the rodeo!

 

Gabe and Nash. Nash is one tough cookie and he did an awesome job on his first try of Mutton Bustin. Can I just say though...there is NO way I'd let my baby do that! =)

School Festival

A couple of weekends ago, Gabe's school had their fall festival. Nana, Papa, Aunty Shelbi and Uncle Bridger came with us. We had lots of fun.

 

Gabe having his photo taken with the camel...he thought this was pretty cool. I'll be honest, it freaked me out JUST a little.

Pony rides!

 Having the time of his life...check out that smile!

Gone Fishin

 

We all love to go fishing. I however, mostly like to watch my boys fish and especially like watching Gabe get excited about catching "stuff"...most times he is just excited if he can catch some seaweed.

 

I love this shot...a boy and his Daddy, just fishing

 

 My cute boys

 

Look Mum...seaweed!

We love this one!!!

 

We had a little more luck when we hit the pond at the cabin in the warmer weather

 

Oh yeah!!



 

Even Mummy caught one

 

Check out them apples!

 

 

Mum is a citizen!!

This summer my brother Josh and I were able to both take the citizenship test to become US citizens. We were both thrilled to have passed but were even more thrilled that we were able to be sworn in together at the same ceremony.

Waiting for Mummy to be sworn in

 

US Citizens!

(don't mind the poor picture quality, I noticed later that our camera was on some funky setting)

 

 

It was a fun day and I was thankful to have some of my favorite people there to celebrate with us. Having my brother Josh be sworn in with me was truly special also.

After the ceremony we went and had lunch at one of our favorite resturants Tucano's. It was a blast! Gabe thought Tucano's was the greatest!!

Kindergarten!!!

I cannot believe my baby boy is five and headed off to kindergarten! It blows my mind. In many ways, it feels like just yesterday that sweet little babe was placed in my arms. Now...he is getting so big and grown up and even starting school! Where did the time go?

The day before his first official day of school, the parents went to school with their kids to meet the teacher, see the classroom and get some information about school for the following year. From the  minute I listened to Gabe's teacher talk to the kids I felt so grateful that she was going to be Gabe's first "big boy school" teacher. We both love her!

We are so thrilled that Gabe was able to be included in the Spanish immersion program. He is loving it so far and we just feel that it is such a tremendous opportunity. It is so much fun to listen to him walk around the house singing songs in spanish or teaching us our numbers and colors.

Gabe was so brave on his first day. Of course I was a wreck inside, trying to play it cool and keep it together so as to not make Gabe nervous but he had no problems lining up with the other kids and marching on in with his new teacher. He was ready!

I love hearing him come home from school excited about his teacher, making new friends and learning new things. We are so proud of our lil guy.

For Gabe's first day of school breakfast he requested Mummy's picklets. I love this kid so much!

SOOOOO handsome!

 

 

Stylin with my new backpack- Thanks Wooley Family!

Our happy lil guy

 

 

 

Lining up with the other kids....eeeeekkkk!!!
 

 

Here comes teacher!

 

 

My baby!