Nothing New-

Nothing new to report. Kennedy's Birthday is tomorrow though- YAY! She will be three years old- so hard to believe! She has been the biggest joy in our lives- and even though I have enjoyed every second and she gets funner by the day- I am kind of sad that she is growing up so fast and becoming more independent.
I don't have any new pictures or funny stories to tell- oh! except when we took Kennedy to Build a Bear and she got a "Hello Kitty" doll. It came with a little black cat for a "friend" for Kitty, and we asked Kennedy what she wanted to name it. She said,"I want to name it Popter." and McCarrey and I were like..."ok...Popter?!" and she says, "Ya! Hello Popter...(helicoptor) Hello Kitty- and Hello Popter!" Too funny- we got a good chuckle out of that one. We are just anxiously counting down the days until our newest family member makes her grand entrance. We have been enjoying getting to know her birthmom a little bit better and I am excited to be able to meet her this next Thursday. We are going out to dinner and it will be neat to get to see her. I already love her and just have a great time talking to her. She is so warm and open and we seemed to really hit it off. I am excited because from the way things are going it seems like this adoption will be much more open than the relationship with Kennedy's Birthmom. I am so grateful for any contact that we can have because I think that in the long run it will be so nice for my girls to know their story, and where they come from.
That's not to say that I haven't been feeling nervous or stressed though. Adoption is such a LONG scary process in a lot of ways and we have gone through every emotion under the sun on a wild roller coaster ride. I wouldn't want to go through it with anybody other than my McCarrey though. He is a constant calming presence to me. Such a great man...mmm! He sent me to my favorite Spa yesterday with my mom, and we had a girls day with Japanese hot stone massages and getting painted from head to toe with volcanic ash and clay. MMM! I'll get painted with mud any day of the world! Holy Cow! Good stuff. He is so good to me, and it definitely helps ease my worries and stresses.
Well- that's all that's been going on for now. I'll post some pictures of Kennedy's birthday later.

Well we survived the Holidays and had a wonderful time!! Right before Christmas Santa Claus paid us all a visit and the kids loved it -while the parents were excited about the picture opportunities! We had my brother's family there and our close friends Erin and Zar with their two girls. It was so funny to see the different kids reactions! Kennedy was just open-mouthed and could hardly stop staring. Josh was all excited and hyper, Charlotte was scared to death and wanted nothing to do with it, and Zachary wanted to pull the beard off. Good times!!


I love this picture of Boo looking at Santa with these huge eye's that scream- "Stay the heck away from me!" After awhile though- all of the kids warmed up and we all had a great time! When Santa came he sang some songs with the kids and we got this picture of Zachary when we were singing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. I love it. The little nose blinked bright red and Zachary thought he was quite the stuff.

On Christmas Eve McCarrey and I had the family over to our house. We had a big Turkey dinner and then we all sang songs and read the Christmas story out of the New Testament. It was fun because it was the first time that we had hosted the party at our house. We seriously missed Neil and Annie and the boys though! With as much fun as we had- it just wasn't the same without them! We did English Christmas crackers where two people pull an end and it bursts open and there is a party hat and a toy of some sort inside. Everyone loved that- then we mangled a few songs with Bell Chimes and that was pretty fun too. Christmas morning was AWESOME!! Before we even had Kennedy up to see the tree and open presents we got a phone call from our Birthmom and got to talk to her for a little while! I LOVED it- and was so touched that she wanted to talk to us on Christmas morning. I am ultra sensitive I guess because every time we talk we both end up teary. She is just such a wonderful person and she is going through one of the hardest things, that I can't even comprehend. We visited for awhile and it was seriously the best present I got for Christmas- that little reminder of the package that she is holding for us. Such an amazing thing! After that- we took Kennedy downstairs to the tree where it was just magic! My parents came over and we opened presents. It was so fun! I was so wrapped up in the moment that I kept forgetting to take pictures! AHH!! But I did get a few so I guess it's ok.

This is one of the few pictures that I got of Kennedy- but I think it is so great! She had just started to open one of her presents and she saw what it was on the box and it was that prefect moment when she looked up at me to say "Oh my goodness it's a ....!!!" I think it is just priceless! Kenna got the things on her list...a teddy bear and a variety of Little Einsteins toys. Plus- crazy amounts of other spoils from Mom and Dad and Grandparents. Mac and I had such a great day!

After we finished opening presents we went over to my folks house for Christmas breakfast. Then we went over to McCarrey's grandparents house to visit them. Kennedy was so cute playing with their Nativity set and "putting them all down for a nap" even the cows and the sheep. We are so lucky that Mac's grandparents are still here for Kennedy to get to know. Family is so important- and we love them! After that we went to Mac's Dad's house to visit with the family on that side. We had a great time and the kid's just loved playing together. This is a picture of all of them- except for Aaron and Holly's family- who are in Kentucky and Aunt Sage who lives in London. We missed them lots and lots! So in this picture we have Kennedy, Morgan, Nyaangatr and Anyango- (Omat and Gizma's kids- they are our adopted brother and sister from Sudan) Kayla and Ryan. After we played at Grandpa Dub's house we went to visit Mac's mom's side of the family. We went to her house and played with all of the cousin's on Grandpa Don's side. Kennedy had so much fun with everyone. I feel so bad that I don't have pictures to show! All of the girls were making necklaces and bracelets with beads and that was fun- and Kenna has always adored playing with her cousin Jeremy who is about 12 and is very sweet to let Kennedy follow him all over the place. We feel so lucky and so blessed to have so much family close to us! It makes everyday life so much better to be surrounded by people that we love. The only thing that would have made this Christmas better is if everyone who was out of town could have been there. Anyway- hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas!! Now that the holidays are over- we are just getting ready for our new little one. They are inducing our birthmom on January 30th! The countdown has begun! YAY!

It's almost Christmas...

It is almost Christmastime and I can not even believe it! I got this little video clip of Kenna singing Christmas songs.This little clip just cracks me up! And I was laughing so hard when I was recording it that the camera was just shaking. Kennedy was singing for us- and she just makes me laugh. You might have to pause the music so you can hear her- she's pretty loud for most of it- but gets kind of quiet in the middle.

We have been so busy getting things ready and doing so many fun things! Even though I have been laid up- and my mother basically comes over everyday to help me do the most basic things...I have had a wonderful holiday season! We went to "The Forgotten Carols", the Mormon Tab Christmas concert, the Zoo lights, Temple Square, Pioneer Christmas up at "This is the Place" Monument, and my sweetheart husband surprised me with tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet! It's been so busy- but so wonderful! Kennedy has been on cloud nine with all of the decorations and the music. She is getting so excited for Christmas and spends her days coloring pictures and making birthday presents for Jesus. I haven't been able to do much of my baking or making Christmas candies because of my stupid injury- but again- my angel mother has made sure that Kennedy has decorated cookies and made my favorite English Toffee. I swear I would be lost without her and my incredible husband! Only a few more days though until I throw away the sling and leave it forever behind me. It literally has driven me nutty to wear it.

I took my sling off for two seconds so we could get a family picture without the nasty thing in it. I had it made into a Christmas card at Costco- but don't feel bad about not getting one- because I can't stuff them or label them without my right arm- and my honey has had so many other things to do that we just didn't even get them mailed out. SO! To anyone reading this blog- Merry Christmas from my family! I will definitely try to do better next year!

So pretty and ready for Church- Kenna loves her new Christmas dress! (And I love it because she can wear it later on in the year and not just at Christmas- I think the fur trim and plaid dresses are so cute at Christmastime....but I am too practical I guess- I can't justify buying a dress to only wear in December. Well all- hope your Christmas is wonderful! I'll have to post some more pictures of all of our adventures after the holiday. This post has literally taken me 2 days to put together and I still have to figure out how to get Kennedy's hair re-braided....hmmmm....that might have to wait too. :)

We're Having a Baby!

Just some exciting news! McCarrey and I have been chosen by a birth mother and we are going to be adding a new addition to our family in February! It's a girl!! We have had a chance to talk with the birth mother and she is just awesome! We are so excited to get to know her better and have her be a part of our lives. She is making such a difficult, unselfish choice- and I am so grateful to her! We are so thrilled and can't wait to meet the newest member of our family! YAY!!!!

What a month-

Well- Contrary to what most people might think about me by now- no I am not dead. We have had a crazy eventful month though! Neil and Annie came down for a visit from Washington and we were soooo happy to see them. The kids were screaming and hugging and picked up right where they left off from the last visit. We have missed them like crazy! We spent a week doing all sorts of fun stuff- and we had a blast! My birthday was this month also- so happy birthday to me. I got the cutest video clip of the kids all playing in the leaves at the park by my house- so I had to share it.





Doesn't that look so awesome! I must admit- even all the adults got in there and played in them. The pile was HUGE- who wouldn't want to roll around in them! Kenna loved it!

We did Thanksgiving early with my family- and we had the kids doing little games and crafts to keep them busy and out of the kitchen while everything was getting ready. This picture is of the stylin' "turkey hats" that the kids made to wear while they were eating dinner. Yep- I know you're all jealous of how cool they are. They all looked hilarious and it was great.

We found this fun place in North Salt Lake called Kangaroo zoo that the kids just LOVE to go to. It's a place that has just tons of bouncy, blow up slides and things for the kids to play on. We went a couple of times while Neil and Annie were here to just let the kids work out a little of their energy. These pictures kind of give a good idea of what the place is like. Except for the bottom one- which I just added in because of how hot my husband is. (You rock my world baby!)



Well- (sigh) All was not fun and games because I was bouncing around at Kangaroo Zoo with all the kids and I fell...hard...and I broke my shoulder bones in two different places and dislocated my arm. Ugh. It was AWFUL!! Teach me to be bouncing around like a 3 year old huh! So- I have just been recuperating and my sweet husband basically has to do everything for me. The doctors are talking surgery- but I am going to try my hardest to just let the bones heal and get as much of the movement as I can back through physical therapy. I really don't want to do the surgery right now if I can avoid it. (I have had shoulder surgery before...no fun at all!) Anyhow- I literally have been working on this stupid post for what seems like hours because I am working as the "one armed monster" at the moment. Typing left handed and pecking at the keyboard like a chicken really sucks. All in all though- the month has been good, and everyone says from the way I landed that I am just really lucky that I didn't break my neck- so there you have it. Heavenly Father is blessing me once again!

Gotta Love Carousels...

We all got season passes to Lagoon this year with my folks and Christian and Melody's family. It was So worth it because literally we went twice and they were paid for. We didn't even go for a full day once, we didn't do nine-tenths of the rides, but several times during the summer and the fall- we would go for an hour or two and let Kennedy do all of the little kiddie rides. She absolutely LOVED it!!! For me- Lagoon is over rated with huge long lines, too many buildings that need a fresh coat of paint, and hundreds of 12 year olds-dressing like would be hookers and making out with their pimple faced boyfriends in braces. But- for a kid- who doesn't see all of those things- Lagoon is a magic place with rides and music and cotton candy- and life is just awesome for those hours that you are there. It was so great to have a place that was free (because we had paid for it months before...) that we could go and meet up with the family and play. By far- the favorite ride was the Carousel. Which I was completely pleased about because that (by far) is my favorite ride at Lagoon. It just makes me feel like life is a lot simpler and calmer, than all of the other high-tech crazy ones. Kennedy rode it at least 2 times every time we would go. Every time she would wave at people and pretend to do stunts and tricks. I loved watching her imagination go wild. Anyhow- this little video clip was our last night at Lagoon before it closed and I just thought it was fun. She was having so much fun- I just love her so much...and my goofy husband. He just makes me smile!

Halloween!

We had the best Halloween! Kennedy was a pirate and looked SOOOO adorable! I have to say- I was tickled pink that she wanted to be a pirate! I was totally expecting some girly princess or something like that- but she wanted it- and totally went for it. And- I just love seeing all of the other kids dressed up in their costumes! We have an insane amount of trick-or-treaters come to our house every year. Last year I bought 400 candy bars- this year I bought 450- and we only had 20 left at the end of the night! AH! 430 kids!! It even rained- which I was certain would slow them down- but no dice. We literally just had to leave the door open because it was so tedious to close it just to open it 2 seconds later. We had a few friends come over and the guys took the kids out trick or treating while us moms stayed and manned the fort. We had lots of fun just playing and visiting. I am MAJOR bummed because I got the cutest video on my camera of Kenna right before they went out- but I shot it vertical and now it will only play sideways! (sniff, sniff...) I am major stupid when it comes to computer stuff, and I can't figure out how to rotate it...but she is so flippin' cute that I am hoping that everyone that looks at it- won't be too annoyed with the fact that they have to view it with their faces against the keyboard. Awesome.