It Wasn't That Big in the Forest!

So we knew we had picked a very tall tree and that we would have to trim it to get it to fit with our 11ft ceiling, but in the forest it didn't look 8ft wide! Brycen says it is the first perfect tree there has ever been, it is growing on me, of course it has also grown on , or taken over, the entire family room.

Brycen wants this to be our Christmas tree in about 10 years.

Zac made some new friends while we searched for our tree.

I am so happy to have our home all decked out for Christmas. I just love this time of year. It makes me even feel extra hopeful about adoption. What a gift it would be to find out we have been matched with a birth family.

We also had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We found this bunch of monkeys up in the tree--we think they are all cousins!

Uncle Jason looks like swinging Scottie is hard work, but Scott thought it was great fun. After dinner we started a movie and the kids all jumped up on Auntie Ali. She pretended to complain, as we all streached out on the couch, but we know she loves it. And all the kids are just crazy about their Auntie Ali.

Monterey Bay

We took Bycen and Zac to Monterey Bay for the weekend. Scottie stayed home with my parents because he would not have been able to go on the whale watching boat and he doesn't like being in the car for long periods of time, plus he loves being spoiled by Nana and Pappa. We went to the aquaruim, played at a wonderful park, swam at the hotels indoor pool, went whale watching, and splashed in the waves at the beach. I absolutely love the ocean and I am thrilled to be able to share it with my children. The boys just loved being on the boat, feeling the wind on their faces and the ocean spray. The whales were really cool too, I kept telling them they were seeing things that most people never get to see--including two huge blue whales. It was so much fun--I think we might have to add Monterey to our list of annual trips. All and all I think this was one of our best trips, we crammed a lot into two days, but it was still relaxing and we always love exposing the kids to the incredible and beautiful aspects of the world.

Trick-or-Treat

Halloween was a blast! I was able to be with each of the boys for their school halloween parties. On Halloween night we had three other families over for pizza before we headed out trick-or-treating. The kids all got tons of candy. A lot of people in our neighborhood give out full size candy bars--the kids were all thrilled.

Lance won first place at work for his Indiana Jones costume

My little California Surfer boys.

All Aboard the Brycen train.

Happy 10th Birthday ZAC

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the past 10 years with Zac. The time has just flown by--I can't believe he is already 10 years old. He is growing up to be such a charming young man with the biggest heart in the world.

Zac and I looked his baby book and quickly relieved how much he has changed over the years...

Then I noticed how much we have all changed...Zac and Daddy visit Alcatraz Mommy and Daddy kissesNanaGrandma Carolyn

Grandpa LowellPappaAuntie Ali

Uncle JasonAuntie LindsayAuntie AmandaCousin JonasSecond cousins from UtahMommy, Zac and Beka crossing the Golden Gate BridgeMy old roommates.

Some people who love Zac are now in Heaven...

Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma JonesGreat-Nana

Mammaw

The most amazing thing though is how much Zac has changed each of our hearts. He has taught us so much about love and never giving up. I love you my sweet birthday boy!

Grandparents Are Great

Lance's parents drove out from Utah in their motor home to pay the boys a birthday visit.
We were so busy having fun that we forgot to take lots of pictures while they were visiting. Last night we drove up to their motor home to take these pictures. Brycen was fascinated by the motor home. He now wants one of course. Zac is so sweet he always tries to take care of Grandpa; he likes to always hold his hand, and at dinner he kept checking to make sure Grandpa had enough food.
Scottie liked the bed in the motor home. He also loves when Grandma comes and holds him.
This is the only action shot I got during their visit. Lance and Brycen are having a big wheel race, while both grandpas enjoy the view before Sunday dinner.

It was a great visit and we already miss them. Grandma Carolyn and I even got to spend a day shopping. She is so sweet she always wants to buy me new clothes when she comes. I now I have some really cute things for the Fall and Winter. The boys also got great birthday presents.

Thanks for visiting Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Lowell; we love you and we miss you. We will come to visit just as soon as we can!

Happy 8th Birthday Scottie

I really can't believe Scott is 8 years old. I love sweet Scottie with all my heart. Looking back at pictures today I realized how far he has come and how much he has accomplished, and I am so thankful. He is a beautiful child inside and out and brings so much joy to anyone who allows themselves to get close enough to him to experience his special love. A hug from Scott is like touching a piece of Heaven. Caring for Scott nourishes my soul and lifts my spirit. The honor of being his mom is one of my lives greatest blessings.

Happy Birthday Sweet, Sweet Boy!

Slug bug, very dirty BLUE

Our "new date car"--or at least it will be in a few years. It is a '56 VW bug. Lance's dad has owned it since at least 1963, according to the paperwork in the tiny glove box. Lance just towed it home from Utah today. Lance's dad had always thought he would one day restore it himself, but his health issues has made that impossible. Now Lance can restore it and his dad can watch the progress through pictures and visits and give advice over the phone. It will be almost as good as them restoring it together.

I am really grateful that Lance's dad let him have the car I think it it is awesome to own a piece of family history, plus I have always felt bad that Lance had to sell his little Porsche back when Zac was first born. Once the engine caught fire at my grandma's she didn't want him storing it at her house anymore. We lived on a block with street cleaning at the time and pushing it back and forth across the street twice a week was not really an option.

Brycen wanted to get right to work with the restoration project, before the car even made it off the trailer. All we could say was "gently"!

Tonight the task was just to get it off the trailer and into the garage. Lance called our good friend Aaron who helps on all of our manual labor projects and Ryan, an awesome young man from our ward. Luckily Ryan brought re-enforcements so we had a total of 5 guys. Our driveway never seemed very steep until I watched the guys try to push a bug with two flat tires up it! I'm just very glad it didn't roll back over any of them. They finally hooked the jeep to the front and drove the jeep all the way into the garage. Lance managed to wiggle the jeep back out with just a two point turn. From there it was just a matter of getting the bug lined up and pushing it in. One of the guys was even manually adjusting the tires to get it lined up right. I guess tomorrow I will baking lots of thank you cookies.

My Ford Windstar is now feeling very out of place with it's two VW garage mates. I guess I'll just have to go out and buy myself one of the new VW minivans! :)

Statement of disclosure: No friends were hurt in the making of these pictures!

A word to the wise: Do not bend down in front of a car that is being pushed down a ramp!

"Okay, we got it down, NOW what do we do with it?"

Keep pushin' ! You guys are doing great.

Safely in the garage at last, but perhaps we should have washed it while it was still outside.