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.

I love Fall-

I seriously LOVE falltime! I love the colors, I love how it gets cooler and I can wear sweaters but I'm not usually freezing cold. I love the campfire smell in the air at night, and the scarecrows, cornstalks and haybales, and pumpkins that just seem to be everywhere. I LOVE Halloween and seeing all the little kids in their costumes- AND because that awesome holiday is rapidly approaching I realized that it was high time that we went to pick out our pumpkins to carve on Halloween. We went to a place out in Sandy. Kennedy LOVED it- and took her "job" very seriously. She was very careful and picky about which pumpkin would be just the perfect one for her. I got a huge kick out of it.

Kennedy walking up and down the aisles in search of "The one".

I loved all the cute fall decorations! It made it so fun.

Seriously you just thought the last picture was cute- she is a rockstar!

Kenna and Mom

And WALA! The perfect pumpkin! We each got one and now we just have to keep them from getting smashed for another week. Sigh... I will have to post our finished products after they are all carved.

Wahoo for new hairdo's!

Ok- I realize that it is stupid and whatever to "toot your own horn".... HOWEVER- there are moments in life that sometimes you just have to shout from the rooftops and say "YES! I, (Whatever your name is) THE GREAT- ACCOMPLISHED THIS CRAZY FEAT!" (Kind of like the scene in "The Castaway" where Tom Hanks is running all around screaming-"I made Fire!!"- ya- kind of like that...) Anyhow- Last night Kennedy and I went to "Hair night out". A little while ago I joined a group of mom's who have also adopted black kids and it is just a place where I can vent and make new friends, and talk about skin care and hair care without boring everyone else...and Kennedy gets to play with tons and tons of darling little kids that look just like her and also "get" how it is being raised as a black child with white parents. AND!! I learned how to do extensions last night! At first I thought it was pretty hard. It just felt unnatural and I didn't know where my fingers should go- and I was afraid that I would just rip her hair out by the roots if I pulled or yanked too hard. BUT!! I quickly got the hang of it...and after TEN long hours of braiding, and braiding and braiding....(and I am not even kidding when I say it took me 10 hours...I was up until 2:00am and even then I had to finish the next day...) My beautiful little girl has a new 'do'!

I realize that this news seems lame to most people...but I have to admit... it has been a real challenge for me trying to learn the art of black hair. It is so different from anything I have ever experienced and it takes meticulous care and effort to make it grow and keep it healthy. I do a style and then I freak out and worry if it is good enough or if I should start over. It takes SO long even to just comb through it sometimes. Top that off with the fact that I have had complete strangers walk up to me in the stores and tell me what they think of it...good and bad...makes me feel even more completely lost with trying to manage it. However..this past little while I have almost felt like I have had tons and tons of help from the big guy upstairs. I have not only been able to manage it, but I feel fairly confidant- and I am learning new things all the time. ME! The girl who never even learned to braid my own hair! So- I am just so excited about this newly acquired skill and I am so grateful to Kristin for not only showing me how...but making me do it on my own. Now my tiny little girl looks SO grown up!! She loves her new hair- and I am just feeling so good right now.