An Eternal Family, Loving Life One Day At A Time

There are sticky notes all over my walls

2012-02-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

All over the house there are little pink post-its labeling each room: office, Ben's room, master bedroom, laundry, etc. The floor is littered various boxes with similar labels. Most are opened and half empty, but some are still sealed shut. They are just waiting for their contents to be revealed and subsequently organized.

We've moved.

Left the cold air and snow of Detroit, for the sunny and warm (soon to be scorching hot) Las Vegas! And while I am ecstatic to finally be here, I am having difficulties unpacking. Zero motivation. So tonight I am playing on the computer listening to Ben sleep in his room. Matt is downstairs watching a little tv- the news about whose winning the caucus here in Nevada. And I'm happy... I'm content in this moment. Because I'm at home. So I think the pink post-its will stay on the walls just a little longer, as I relish in this bliss of being at home here in Vegas.

...now, if only I could figure out how to get everywhere...

We're an eternal family... living one day at a time!

2011-08-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

I just have to say that yes we are alive...

no i haven't forgotten about my blog...

I've just been too ~~lazy~~ busy to sit down and write about our lives!

Ben is 10 months old! He is still just as fantastic as ever! His adoption was finalized May 19 2011. And he was sealed into our eternal family July 16 2011! I have plans for a more detailed account of Ben's big day at the temple- coming soon. Ben was able to meet a whole slew of family! And he loved every minute of attention!!!

He is just getting so big! I don't want to admit that he is getting taller. But I do love that he is becoming even more animated and confident in himself! Ben has this sweet and feisty BIG personality and he is just happy as a lark to share it with everyone he sees! And he has the cutest dimples any mom could ever swoon at.

Ben Loves:

Pulling himself up to a standing position

Eating "real" people food

Walking with mom or dad's help

Walking along the furniture with out any help from mom or dad

Toppling over the laundry baskets- esp if they are filled with clean laundry

Shaun the Sheep

Veggietales

Giving kisses (although at the moment he's being a little stingy! lol)

Pulling mommy's hair

Throwing his food

The Bathroom- we've had to keep the door closed otherwise he crawls like a mad man in that direction to play in there.

Chewing on the Wii remote

Mommy's cell phone

His blue blanket from g-ma and g-pa G

Ben Hates:

Taking naps

Eating baby food

Being stuck in his exersaucer

Yo Gabba Gabba - he gets the biggest scaredy cat look on his face, then he starts screaming bloody murder! it really does terrify him (and i don't blame him. it is one freaky show)

Being contained for diaper changes

When daddy is away

Not being allowed to play with mommy's cell phone

Going to bed

And when mommy has to say "no"

Life is really good at the moment.

“We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves"

2011-03-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Benjamin is 5 months old! And he is just fabulous!!

His favorite things right now are:

Bananas- we've started eating solids yummy

Biting- we've got two little bottom teeth sticking out

Laughing- sooo cute! and sooo hearty! no girlie laughs here

Fake coughing- which i'm convinced is part of him trying to laugh

Sitting up- which he can do unassisted for about 10-15 minutes at a time!

His Toes- he loves to grab them when he sees them, not tasting yet

Headbutting- he likes to put his hands on either side of my face, scream, and then WAM!

Things we're not quite sure about...

Apple juice- he'll drink it but you should see the look on his face!

Bath time- he's never really hated it but we're still not lovin it!

Rice cereal- he'll eat it but he'd much rather have bananas!

Rolling over- actually he absolutely hates rolling over!

We love having Ben around!!!!!

If we are going to pay this much for crab it better sing and dance and introduce us to the Little Mermaid!

2011-01-25T10:34:00.000-08:00

Matt & I enjoyed a wonderful date night over the weekend.

And can I say 'Thank Goodness!'?

I sooooo needed it.

Motherhood is kicking my butt! Add on top of that, Matt working, and you've got one frazzled Courtney. I think that besides sleep, the thing I miss the most is the ability to just go see a movie on a whim. There's something about finding a sitter that is so difficult for me. Maybe it's the time suck of having to call around- maybe it's the need to make a plan- maybe it's the possibility of people saying no. I don't know but when Matt got called in to do a quick out and back trip last Friday the only thing I could think of was DATE NIGHT!

See, when Matt gets back from a trip he gets several hours of "rest time". Time that he doesn't have to be 15 minutes away from the airport. Time to not stress!

And then the planets aligned! My very good friend Brittany called to see if I wanted to go shopping. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity...but only in exchange for free labor! *evil laugh*

I had:

Matt available stress free for a few hours after work

A wicked sweet babysitting team (Brittany and her husband)

I needed:

A movie selection!

Season of the Witch

We originally wanted to see Tangled, but we got there 10 minutes late. So we decided on Season of the Witch with Nicolas Cage. It was very good. A little different than I was expecting, but then again I'm not sure what I was expecting! It was pretty intense. It felt like time stood still! We both loved the twisted perspective on the black death, aka- the plague!

Stadium seating, surround sound, dimmed lights, a handsome man seated next to me, and freshly popped popcorn were the perfect therapy for a frazzled mommy! I'm looking forward to the next time the planets align and I get to go to the movies again!

Get excited and enthusiastic about you own dream. This excitement is like a forest fire - you can smell it, taste it, and see it from a mile away.

2011-01-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

My Christmas present finally came in today!!!

I'm sooooo excited!

Matt this year got me a studio lighting set!!

Strobes! I got Strobes!!!

I was able to play a little bit with them tonight. I'm loving the results. Grandma was so kind to pose with Ben. Here's an example of what I'll be able to do from now on.

Ps. very little post editing was done! Practically perfect straight out of the camera!

I feel sooo spiffy!

We'll be doing family photos real soon!

"Everyone carries around his own monsters"

2010-12-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

My monster, you ask?

A 10lbs little boy named Benjamin!

Who is currently, and thankfully, asleep in his swing. Allowing his mommy(aka- me) some time to make herself a tasty dinner, watch a movie, and clean the kitchen. And yes, that is all at the same time! I'm even managing to get some blogging done!

Honestly, it's Heaven!

I am having a blast getting to know Benjamin! He is an amazing baby! Completely handsome, smiling up a storm, and winning over all the hearts of everyone that comes in contact with him! And while we call him our little monster, he is normally very easy going! But Ben has definitely found his voice and he loves to see how loud he can be. And he loves to stand. He gets the biggest smile, sticks out his tongue, screams, and then starts trying to bounce! It's sooo funny!

Well, I hear my little monster starting to fuss, which probably means he wants something to eat. So I'll leave you with just a few pictures.

Enjoy!

I know I do!!!

Since We've Been Home

2010-12-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

We are loving having Ben home! He is a very good baby. He sleeps, he eats, he poops...he has mastered two out of the three. It's amazing! He has almost doubled his birth weight. And he is meeting all of his milestones so far!

An impatient person plays differently than a more patient person.

2010-11-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

I'll post more tomorrow, when I can get some good photos, but for now I'll leave it at......

BENJAMIN IS HOME!!!!!

“The helicopter approaches closer than any other vehicle to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of the flying horse and the magic carpet.”

2010-10-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Ben has not been able to come home yet. But we have been able to visit him at his foster mommy's house. She is so kind and gracious to host us most nights! We absolutely love holding his little snuggle butt, feeding him, and of course changing him. He is such a content baby who loves to talk, grunt, and yelp at us. We are very excited for when he'll be able to come home with us. This past week my parents were in town(totally pre-planned way before Ben even came into the picture- talk about a fun treat for them!) and so they got to spend some time with their first grandson. We've been going camera crazy! I hope you enjoy the photos!

2010-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Matt and I got a call from our case worker Jill in the early afternoon Friday October 8, 2010. She had a situation that she thought we might be interested in. Typically we only get a call about those situations when there is something special going on. And of course this was no different.

Jill told us there was a little boy about 3 weeks old, healthy as can be, but has a family history of dwarfism. Now we are not the tallest people in the world, so we figured it wouldn’t be a big deal. And as we thought about being presented the only thing that kept coming to mind was that there was NO REASON to say no. I emailed Jill to let her know that we were good with everything and to let us know what happened. Neither one of us thought that we would get another call from Jill. Especially on Monday, the day they were presenting us.

But we did get that call from Jill, who told us that we were picked!!! We were amazed at how quickly things seemed to be coming together. The birthparents already had a court date to relinquish parental right set up for Thursday, just 3 days away! At this point we were still scared that something would come up and the match would fall apart again, like the last time. So we decided to play it safe and not say much to anyone about being picked.

But I did take the time on Tuesday to go up to the office to meet the little guy. He was sleeping when I got there. And so I held him as he slept, he loved just being snuggled. When he did finally wake up he wiggled, stretched, and moaned a lot. I gave him a bottle and talked to him. It was very nice. I was able to ask Doug, the head honcho guy, some questions about what to expect. I had a few of my prayers answered during that conversation. And I walked away that evening feeling very confident about everything.

We waited for Thursday. We waited to hear about the court hearing. We waited to hear if the courts accepted the relinquishment of the birth parents rights.

But we didn’t wait long! We were on the final stretch! It was looking like a homerun!!! The courts accepted everything!! Our little guy was free to become part of our family! Since then we’ve been busy with trying to name him (btw, we’re naming him Benjamin Eugene), sign documents, and getting ready for Ben to come home- which should happen in the next couple of days.

Benjamin Eugene

9/20/2010

6:16am

5lbs 11.9oz

18in

Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.

2010-09-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Every girl says she wants romance in her life.

But do we know what romance truly is?

Matt sure does!!

This is what Matt does to romance the lady of this dreams...

I have to admit that if we were cartoons we would definitely be in a Pepe Le Pew episode!!!

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.

2010-08-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

As a child I moved around a lot! Most people thought we were army brats, but we weren't. And through out the years I have tried staying in contact with people that I've met along the way. Sadly, I am awful at mailing letter through the US postal system. (I am MUCH better at emails though!) And there have been friends that I've lost touch with. But now with the wonderful age of facebook and blogging I am constantly searching to see if I can find old friends. It always makes me happy to run across a familiar face!

Well, just this past month I found an old friend's blog. I still haven't gotten up the courage to email and say "hey remember me?" but that's beside the point. The point is that one of her sisters is taking a stand, or taking a yoga pose, to help women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Yoga for Congo Women

You still have a month to check it out and SIGN UP! The event is being held in Golden Colorado. It will be recorded and broadcast ONLINE for those not able to attend but still wish to participate! All 100% of the proceeds are going to Women for Women.

Here's a list of links to check out:

www.yogaforcongowomen.org

www.womenforwomen.org

Little Women And A Mom

Sometimes I wish I were a little kid again, skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts.

2010-08-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

The adoption match has failed.

We will not be bring home little Jack...

Our hearts are crushed...

We feel a numb emptiness...

We are taking a break.

I don't know when I'll be back...

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known

2010-07-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Wednesday

3:06pm

My phone rings. I'm jamming out to the radio while driving to Hobby Lobby, my most favorite store of all time. It's not a number I have saved in my phone. But I still recognize it. It's Doug, the director of our LDS Family Services office here in Detroit. I turned down the music. Doug knew of a mother thinking of placing her son for adoption and wanted to know if we were interested in being presented to her. I pull into a nursery(gardening) parking lot to get all the details. The situation is perfect for us so I told him to "Show Us Off"!

Thursday

Matt's not home so I go and see a movie to try to stop thinking about if the phone will ring. BTW, Sorcerer's Apprentice is pretty cute. And I'm pretty sure I failed not thinking about it...

Friday

Work, Work, Work. 9am to 6pm

I get home at 6:30 and as I'm turning the key to get into the apartment, the phone rings. It's Matt and with only two words he gets my heart racing. "Doug Called"

We've been matched! The birthmom picked us!!!

We are so happy, excited, nervous, and every other emotion you can think of having! We will be adopting a little boy, who we plan to name Jack Patton. He is one and a half weeks old and is a current resident of the NICU. He was born at 32 weeks, or 8weeks early. He is on the ventilator and will be there for a while. Our little man is 4lbs, 8oz and 18inches long. His birth mother is Hispanic and his birth father is African American. We've been told that he already has a full head of dark hair. We can not wait to meet him, which we do tomorrow!

We are frantically trying to get everything together and ready for when he can come home. If anyone is interested in sending a gift we have registered at Target and will be registering at Babies R Us sometime this week.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

2010-07-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Fourth of July! Our apartment complex hosted a lovely carnival. We enjoyed some elephant ears, fried oreos, and fried snickers! We love carnival food. Sadly there weren't that many rides...and nothing that we thought was worth the price. The complex also hosted a grand fireworks show! They shot off some great fireworks both Friday and Saturday night! Since it was practically in our backyard we figured we'd walk down to the waterfront (we're on a lake!) and watch the show. We were right under neath everything!!! During the grand finale Saturday night we were showered with ash from the fireworks!! We were that close!

It was AWESOME!!!

We really enjoyed ourselves. And we're so glad that we were able to sneak in a couple friends to celebrate the occasion!

WE LOVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

In gardens, beauty is a by-product. The main business is sex and death.

2010-07-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

We Are Blooming!!!!

Soon we will be enjoying some tasty jalapenos!!!

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

2010-06-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

It's Finals Week....

I'm stressin' out over here!

30*40 Self Portrait of my Brain

That's right folks, a self portrait of my brain!!! try that on for size! I had a heck of a time defining what my brain is. I finally figured it out and this is what I came up with.

That is right folks, my mind is a giant maze! A twisting, turning, get lost in it labyrinth! In fact I get lost quite often...

where was I?

Oh yeah!

This bad boy is due in two days! yikes! And so I'm a little stressed out about getting it done on time. It's also one of the reasons I haven't posted much in the last couple weeks.

There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

2010-06-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Matt wanted to share some of his flying videos. It's fun going through the clouds. He almost always has his camera on hand to snap a few shots of the horizon. The first video is flying in between a couple clouds and the second video is flying right through a cloud.

We thought you might enjoy!

PS. there isn't much to listen to, so don't feel bad about muting it as it can get a little loud.

Campers: Nature's way of feeding mosquitoes

2010-06-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

We Went Camping!!!!!

For my birthday this year we decided to pack everything up and head to the UP(upper peninsula). It was awesome!!! Matt and I love to camp but sadly, it had been years since out last camping trip. I'm so glad we did it again!

We built a fire...

We even did most of our cooking over an open fire!!!

Saturday we spent most of the day hiking. Here we are at the largest waterfall in the USA east of the Mississippi River!

Our friends, Robbie & Brittany, came out with us! It is so much fun to have friends that like camping and hiking too!!!

A fun sign that we saw while walking through the woods.

The park that we went to is well known for it's waterfalls. We hiked from our camping site to both the smaller falls and the larger fall! It was a hike! The sign from the small one to the big one said 4 miles-not bad eh? But when we got to the top someone in the know informed us that it wasn't four miles... it was 6!!! We were all done by the end of that trail. All in all we hiked about 8-9 miles that day!

So here are a few pictures I took of the waterfalls.

Isn't he good lookin? I think so!

Oh! while hiking we came across a TON of trees that looked like this. Guess what did it!

Beavers!

The park ranger said that they are some of the laziest beavers ever! they never finish cutting down any trees! lol and they've never built their dam!! lol

But I think this is my new fave picture!!! Thinking I may have to print this one out. What do you think?

Like I said before, we had a blast!!! I'm so glad that we made the trip! Besides being eaten alive by mosquitoes, it was great camping. But we did realize something out there in the wilderness...we are too old to be sleeping on the ground!!! Next time we'll bring an air mattress!!!

I tried to draw people more realistically, but the figure I neglected to update was myself.

2010-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

ok, ok, ok...

yes, i am awful at updating! we've got 2 planned posts that need to be put up! they're going to be awesome! I hope...

anyways, just thought i should say we're still here and i'll post something a little later!

ps. my art class is awesome this semester!!!

You may delay, but time will not.

2010-05-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have seemed like more much than a couple of weeks! Lately I have had the interesting experience of feeling that one day is actually two days! Has anyone else felt that? It can be rather annoying!

Well, mother's day was very nice. I made it to church and it was just like any other Sunday! Can I just say that I LOVE my church? And especially the ward that we go to!! Wow! So much support for infertile families. Anywho...When I got home I was able to open my gifts. Matt always gets me something on mom's day even though we don't have children yet. (he's a really nice guy!)

He got me some dirt!!!!

...and I should probably mention the oregano, basil, and jalapeno pepper plants planted in that dirt!!! It's just what I wanted!(along with the box of chocolates)

I am trying my hand at gardening. I've never really had a green thumb so we'll see how this goes.

Wish my plants luck!

Sana, sana....colita de Rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanaras manana!

2010-05-02T18:45:00.001-07:00

This past week has been an emotionally raw week for me. It was National Infertility Awareness Week.

One of the blogs that I read on a daily basis is The R House Blog. Mrs. R decided to showcase infertility in all it's "wondrous glory" by posting story after infertility story everyday, all week! It was both inspiring and heart wrenching to read these women's stories about their heartbreak and shattered dreams.

Mrs. R said this...

"tears. panic. stress. chaos.i was suffocating."

One of the guest bloggers, Kerstin Daynes, said this...

"Surviving means to continue to live. Surviving means to be of use. Surviving means to remain happy, healthy, and unaffected in spite of what goes on around us. In the midst of those ever present pains of infertility (we all know them), it is sometimes hard to feel like you are of use, happy, healthy, and unaffected. What you really feel is broken, sad, and without purpose or direction. You feel as though infertility’s grasp has changed so much about what you thought life would be."

Oh how, these words hit me. They cut through all the way to the depths of my heart. They brought back memories and emotions of my "dark days". These stories made me remember the day Matt called to tell me the test results. I was at work... My heart broke... I felt like I couldn't escape... The one saving grace for that day, was that I wasn't alone. I had a friend, Becky, at work that day that let me break down, that held me as all my hopes and dreams of carrying a child were shattering around me. Becky showed me such an amazing kindness, that only a friend would, by sending me home...and giving me the rest of the week off. I was allowed to run away. To run home...To a safe place...Where I knew I could be broken.

Several years have passed since that dreadful day. And we have thankfully gone through the healing/grief process. So today we can once again enjoy life exactly how it is at this moment. Today we allow ourselves to be whole. Those memories will never go away(as much as i wish they could). But I know I am better for surviving those dark days.

"The first state of normal grief is usually shock and disbelief. To absorb the loss so that they will not feel overwhelmed. The second state of grief is actual suffering. Experiencing the painful feelings of sadness and emptiness. Weeping and sobbing, loss of appetite, exhaustion, choking or tightness in the throat. This "grief work" progresses, and the acute state of suffering will usually pass within several weeks to several months. Finally after the third state of grief, recovery begins. They will establish relationships and new interests as well as show renewed ability to experience pleasure, diversion, and satisfaction. Grief, of course may be reactivated, but the suffering is never as acute again." Adoption Education Resource Manual, LDS Family Services, Kearns Agency.

Mrs. R did a wonderful job putting stories and resources together to shine a light on the practically taboo topic of infertility. Whether you are fertile or infertile, you really need to read the week's worth of posts.

Check out www.therhouse.blogspot.com

ps. the title of this post is a saying that my mother would say while she kissed away our ouchies. It is an old Spanish saying that I think she picked up while growing up in

Argentina

Deliver Us From Evil

2010-04-27T03:04:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I was crawling into bed I decided that reading one little chapter of my newest book, Deliver Us From Evil, couldn't hurt. Boy was I wrong...

One chapter before bed has turned into 35 chapters!!!!

I can't put it down!!!

I can't stop myself!!!

I think I may have a problem!!

I want sleep so badly, but my need to conntinue reading is overwhelming me!!!

Help?

I LOVE DAVID BALDACCI!!!!!!!

Thank goodness I bought a 2 liter bottle of Big Red today...I'm going to need it tonight!!

Lear Jet Check Ride

2010-04-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

On Sunday April 18 I took my Check Ride to become a First officer on the Lear Jet. My company flies the 25/35/36 model of Lear Jets.
My weekend started on that Friday afternoon when I took a Delta flight from DTW - MSP - ICT (Wichita, KS,) with Eric, my sim partner who was taking his yearly caption recurrent ride,. After getting to ICT we meet up with Brad, our company director of operations (D.O.) and went out to dinner. Then we went to the sim housed at flight safety where we spend the next 6 hours, just letting me fly the aircraft and get used to it and practice the steep turns, stalls, vor holding and IFR approaches. At the end of the day I was tired but it was an ok day. Saturday started at 10 AM at the sim again I got to practice all of the above and did more approaches. then we had a lunch break and then back to the sim, where we spend the rest of the day dealing with engine and system failures until about 6PM, when we stopped for dinner and the night. Sunday started at 10 AM again the first flight of the morning started with Eric taking his checkride, he passed, then I had one more practice sim where I went over every thing that I could see on my check ride, at this point I did not do very well I was thinking that if I did not pick up my game I would not pass my check ride after lunch, to say the least, lunch was a hour of nerves, I was almost to the point of saying that I did not want to take my checkride because I was thinking that I was going to FAIL! But when I got to the sim I took a deap breath said a prayer and went for it. The checkride started out with a normal takeoff with an engine failure after V1. I was able to restart then normal climb, steep turns, stalls, direct to the VOR for the vor approach with a circle to a different runway upon going missed (not being able to land) I had another engine failure then to the VOR and hold. after that I was vectored for the ILS, for a full stop, my landing was too long down the runway so I had to fly the ILS again and land the aircraft again. With a sigh of relief I am done and I pass! While my brain is fried I just want to never study again, but that is not to be the case..ATP at the end of MAY and my Falcon 20 checkride in the summer... more to come as I continue my quest .. Never Stop Learning, Keep Moving Forward!

A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it.

2010-04-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

I have a confession...

I can get pretty baby hungry sometimes. Last week was one of those weeks. Now, there's always a sense of hunger for a little bundle of joy, that's just the way it is when you're hoping to adopt. But every once in a while it gets kinda painful. It's no bueno! (that's Spanish for "no good") So what do I do to kick the cravings? What any good girlie girl does!

She Shops!!! lol

Now, I am not a shopaholic by any stretch of the imagination. But when it comes to waiting for a special little one, it calms me. Not just any kind of shopping...baby shopping! Bedding, toys, bottles, little do-dads...But mostly clothing.(It's my version of "nesting") So when I saw this cute little onesie, I could not help myself!!! I even paid full price for it!(which I typically refuse to do!)

I think it's just perfect! We both love sci-fi! And this is great for either a boy or a girl!!! Imagine a handsome little guy sporting this around town!!! And a sweet little darling girl parading around town with a cute jean skirt and a huge yellow bow in her hair!!! Either way, it'll be bliss!!! i hope...

What does Yeaster mean to you?

2010-04-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world." 3 Nephi 10:10-14

We really enjoy celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We're so grateful for the sacrifice that He made for us. And this Easter Sunday was wonderful. This year Easter fell on the same Sunday as General Conference(a world wide mormon conference that happens 2 times a year). So instead of heading to church at 9 we headed over to a friends house for an Easter brunch! Everyone brought something- fruit salad, spinach salad, juice, eggs, a honey baked ham! We made strawberry pancakes(from scratch). It was a great meal! Then we watched conference on their big screen!

60 glorious inches!!!

It was awesome!

When we got home it was time for our Easter Baskets!!! Except this year the Easter Bunny got a little lazy and just put the all candy in one candy dish.

*we've given the Easter Bunny a stern talkin' to...She knows that this will not be acceptable when children are in our home and has agreed to separate baskets*

We're still enjoying the sugary goodness! I love Easter candy, it's the best! While devouring a few Starburst Jelly Beans I pondered the age old question...

If I were a candy bar, what would I be?

I came up with a Snickers Bar. Firstly it has chocolate, and there's that saying "you are what you eat" so I'd have to be chocolate! But it's also creamy, sweet, salty, and nutty!

So then I asked Matt. He said that he'd be a Baby Ruth. Because it has a little bit of everything!

What Kind of Candy Bar Would You Be?

One other thing that we like doing around Easter is listening to an awesome comedian, Terry Foy. He does think really funny skit about Pastor Fuzzy, Scout Masters, and Easter! Check it out! I know it's not the best quality but it's the only copy I could find online! I hope you enjoy! We sure get a kick out of it!!!

Don't Panic

2010-04-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hi!

We're still alive!

Finals are next week...

I'm a crazy stressed out mess

But I promise to tell you all about our Easter Sunday real soon!

Copper and Wool

2010-03-26T21:16:00.001-07:00

A little over seven years ago Matt and I knelt across from one another and answered a simple question. We both gave the same answer, Yes! Matt even said it twice! I love that man! Our lives since then have been filled with an array of emotions and experiences.

I am so grateful for every minute!

I tried thinking of something fun and interesting to do to celebrate on our little blog. I came up with absolutely NOTHING! That's why this post is a good two weeks late! So, I'm just going to share a little something from our special day, seven years ago, with you. Our song- ok, not really "our song"...just the theme song of our wedding!

Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers

2010-02-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

In our house Football is a big deal.

We watch practically every Sunday. When Matt is home we also get our fill on Saturdays and Mondays. We have our favorite teams. And we root for them all season long. Now Matt can get pretty loud when watching...but it's surprising for some to hear that how loud my decibels can become! hehehe

Of course we realize that the season has to end at some point...and we look forward to big game at the end! The SUPERBOWL!!!!! We always watch even if one of our teams doesn't make it. And every year we host a Superbowl party.

The boys doing a belly bump after the Indianapolis Colts scored a Touchdown!

Here are Robbie and Matt just watching the game. And yes, Matt always looks that way when he watches a game. After all football is a serious matter! We had so much food! We made tacos and queso, a spicy cheese dip. We had chips and french onion dip. Brittany and Robbie brought a Red Velvet Cake, super yummy! We drank tons of Vernor's, a Michigan treat.(it's a really good ginger ale)

It was a great party but this is what happened...

The Colts Lost! All our high hopes ruined...

but we couldn't end the night on a sad note so we played some games!

Ben and Stephanie brought over a couple of their Wii controllers to add to ours so we could all play! We had so much fun playing Tennis. Since we only had 4 remotes we all took turns playing. We also pulled out the fitness board and played some of the balancing games on Wii Fit. That was a blast! I'm so glad we have such cool friends to hang out with!

Can't wait till next season!!!!

It takes a long time to grow young

2010-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Matt!!!!!

I love his cheesy smile face. It's just so happy.

We recently celebrated the anniversary of the day of Matt's birth. I baked him a cake(from scratch), bought the fun number candles(which he had never had before!!!!), sang Happy Birthday to him, and then we watched a movie! It was a great day! We took it nice and easy, just relaxing spending time together. Matt got tons of phone calls from family and friends sending birthday wishes. I know for a fact he got sung to at least 3 times! I'll tell you, he is Mister Popularity!!

And so in honor of Matt's 34 years I am going to tell you 34 things about Matt!

1-he is obsessed with flying!

2-he used to play the trumpet

3-he loves to work out with Tony Horton (P90X)

4-he is the fastest reader I have ever met!

5-he loves eating steak

6-he always listens to Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck

7-he wishes he could go back home to Seattle

8-he loves to read books about physics (for fun)

9-He likes to go fast

10-he has a loud voice-it carries very well

11-he is a master at the BBQ grill

12-his version of being romantic is trying to blow raspberries on my neck

13-he loves football and basketball

14-he loves to teach-doesn't matter the subject

15-in the car he likes to talk instead of listening to the radio

16-he loves Science Fiction

17- if he can't fall asleep he will read airplane system manuals

18-it sometimes takes him a long time to change his mind

19-he is the best kind of friend

20-he has the prettiest eyes! green with a hint of yellow at the edges

21-he loves to talk

22-he drools when he sees a cool airplane on TV

23-he is a college graduate

24-his favorite snack to buy is Peanut M&Ms

25-he plays church ball Weds night on the weeks he's home

26-he loves to go hiking

27-he's a great public speaker

28-he wants to adopt an English Bulldog and name him Rush

29-he is very politically conservative

30-he is very competeive

31-he loves to read

32-he is amazing with kids, even though he doesn't think he is

33-he will spend hours playing Sims2 when he has the free time

34- he is married to the most amazing woman ever, ME!

lol...ok maybe I'm not the most amazing woman, but I am pretty good!

A hundred hearts would be too few To carry all my love for you

2010-02-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines' Day!!!!!

We Love You!

We spent the day being lazy! We exchanged those little candy hearts, ya know the ones with sayings on them. I watched a couple girlie movies while Matt took a nap and then went home teaching. When he got home we spent the rest of the evening catching up on all our favorite TV shows.

It was a great day.

Thanks for being my Valentine, Matt!!!

So Shut Your Eyes

2010-02-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last few nights awake till the wee hours of the morning working on homework assignments. I just finished a huge project, due tomorrow I might add. And I started working on another paper, also due tomorrow when I received the most blessed email. It was my professor letting the class know that because of the snow day our papers aren't due till next week!

I'm so happy!

I could jump for joy!

if I wasn't so exhausted

Matt is already in bed...has been for a few hours enjoying the blissful slumber of night. But the bed is now calling my name. "...Courtney..." I hear its tempting words, "Courtney come snuggle with me...rest your head on a heavenly down pillow...sleep away your stress...and dream of a world filled with magic....Come, Courtney.....Come to me"

Before I answer its call, I want to share the poem I'll have in my pocket tonight.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe,--

Sailed on a river of crystal light

Into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"

The old moon asked the three.

"We have come to fish for the herring-fish

That live in this beautiful sea;

Nets of silver and gold have we,"

Said Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,

As they rocked in the wooden shoe;

And the wind that sped them all night long

Ruffled the waves of dew;

The little stars were the herring-fish

That lived in the beautiful sea.

"Now cast your nets wherever you wish,--

Never afraid are we!"

So cried the stars to the fishermen three,

Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw

To the stars in the twinkling foam,--

Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,

Bringing the fishermen home:

'Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed

As if it could not be;

And some folk thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed

Of sailing that beautiful sea;

But I shall name you the fishermen three:

Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

Is a wee one's trundle-bed;

So shut your eyes while Mother sings

Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

As you rock in the misty sea

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:--

Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

~Eugene Field

“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.”

2010-01-20T12:31:00.000-08:00

We have been a couple of busy bees so far this year!!! And firstly, I must apologize for my lack of blogging attention. Being a busy bee has taken a lot of my energy.

Matt is dutifully flying round the world (ok, just Northern America) and bringing home the bacon-or honey since we're currently bees! He has recurrent training in February- extra training that pilots have to go through every year to make sure they still know how to fly! And so he is busy studying and reviewing the handbooks, company policies, and whatnot. It will be nice to have him home for the majority of February.

I on the other hand am not working so much right now. January is really slow in the portrait world. In the aftermath of Christmas, I'm only working about 10-15 hours a week. It will pick back up the closer we get to Easter. But, my time is being taken up by a much more demanding endeavor...

COLLEGE!!!

While at my parents during Christmas I got a call from the admission office letting me know that I had been accepted!!!! Let me tell you I was ecstatic!!! It was official- I was an Eagle!!!

It was really funny because my little sister had just gotten her acceptance letters from a few of the schools she applied to! We definitely celebrated the prospect of higher education.

They had called the last day they were open before closing for the holiday! When I got back home I only had a few days to get everything together before classes started! Thank goodness that I wasn't working much, because I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off! But I did it! I got everything done in time. So now I am a full time college student...(and it's kicking my butt!)

And I'm loving every minute of it!

so far

I think 2010 is going to keep being a busy year for us. I'm confident that we'll be able to stay afloat...

and for those who are concerned about our humanity- we are not actual bees, or actual eagles.

We are still human!

A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer. - Robert Frost

2010-01-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

Matt got a very special letter the other day! He got summoned to JURY DUTY!!!

"I was called to go 'try out' for a jury; they called 25 people (they gave us numbers and they just read that number) to go to the court room where the judge asked if anyone knew the defendant, or the witness, or the lawyers, or judge. Some people stood and told who they knew. They where sent back to the jury selection room. Then they called 13 people,12 and 1 alternate that would be chosen and random after the trial. (I was not among them.) The judge asked them questions like what do you do for a living, and about your family, and so on. Depending on their answers they were asked to stay or dismissed. To fill the seats of those dismissed they called in more people to ask them the questions. That's how I got on the jury. When I was called, the judge just asked me what I did for work, where I went to College, where I went to High School, and how long I have lived in the county. I was also asked if I had any law classes, 'Aviation law' I replied. That was it, I was on my first jury... After some instructions from the judge we started the trial.

We had a felony assault charge with a handgun. It was just like in the movies the lawyers had their opening statements. (But with out any context it did not tell me a whole lot.) Next came the witness for the prosecution. They told what they saw, and what they where doing. Then the cross examination where the defense tried to raise the reasonable doubt level. I believed some of what they where telling me and did not believe other parts of their testimony. Next the police officers who responded to the 911 call. They were good officers and did a good job of investigating the call; but they did not find any physical evidence at the scene. When the detective that was in charge of investigating the crime testified I thought that she did a great job. While the defendant did not take the stand, he did talk to the cops so we got to hear his side through them. It took a while to get through everything. But when all of the witnesses and the little evidence that was presented were finished we had the closing statements from the attorneys. And the final instructions from the judge.

I was chosen as the jury foreperson! We started our discussion on guilty or not guilty, we took a early vote (I voted not guilty) and it was tied. I knew it was going to be a long day so we ordered lunch early. After all day of talking about the case and the evidence we all came together and ended up with a not guilty vote. I decided that he was not guilty due to lack of evidence while he might be guilty of the crime I needed to have proof! And the witnesses were a brother and sister who had a feud with the defendant; so I could not believe every thing that they said with out being tainted.

So that was my experience and it was so much fun I was cracking jokes, I am so glad that I had the chance to get to serve. So when you get a chance to serve I would hope that you would want to."

Nothing's better than to awake Christmas morn' and be a child

2009-12-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

We love Christmas time, even though Matt thinks he's the Grinch! We love singing carols, watching Charlie Brown's Christmas and White Christmas, decorating sugar cookies, baking our favorite holiday goodies, and opening up our Christmas Jammies (PJ's or sleepwear) Christmas Eve night. This year Matt helped decorate the tree and I hope that we will be able to continue decorating the tree together! This is only the second year we've had a Christmas tree.

This year we are celebrating apart...Matt is working flying here and there, so I am spending Christmas with family in Utah(so as to not be alone on Christmas day). We're looking forward to next year when Matt has Christmas off and we can spend the holiday together!

Whether you're near or far we're hoping you have a very Merry Christmas!

When you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls!

2009-12-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

New picture!!!

Had a friend snap this really quick at a Christmas party last night. While I was photographing everyone else she said we needed to do one too! So I handed my camera off to her to "capture our souls"!

Whatcha think?

It has been many years since my last confession

2009-12-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm not Catholic...but I do have a confession.

I am obsessed with our adoption profiles!

I mean it's bordering "stalking" !!!

I can't help myself...

I'm addicted...

I think I may need a 12 step program.

Our newest profile on MyAdoptionProfile shows us how many times we've been viewed. And it shows us how many times the others have been viewed! It's so much fun to see how much action our page is getting! Every day I see the viewed number going up and up and up! Like today, it went up five points!!! In the stock market that would mean big money! LOL...Matt caught me checking it at dinner on my phone. He says I need help. I only check it a couple times a day...But with 85 views in less than a week? How can I not? I mean that's awesome! And while it's not a competition, I like to think we're kicking butt! That people are looking at us. And that gives me hope that the right young woman or young couple will find us. That they'll want to know more about us. And someday we'll be picked to parent one (or two-yes we're open to twins) very special little spirit(s)! I'm sure that our viewed numbers will eventually start to slow down. And at that point I'll stop stalking myself. But right now it's so fanscinating to watch!!!

Adoption is an amazing process!

PS: To whoever you are, dear birth parent, we're thinking of you!

Check It Out!

2009-12-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

I just read about this and HAVE to share!!!

www.LetsSayThanks.com

Xerox is providing a great FREE service for our troops over seas! Check out the website and create a thank you card to be sent to a soldier serving in Iraq. It's really easy and they have wonderful cards to choose from! You don't know who will get it...it's like a secret Santa! This holiday season give up a minute of your time to say thanks to the men and women who are willing to be in harms way. They are fighting for our freedom, they are away from their loved ones, and away from their home this Christmas...

It's so easy to let them know that their sacrifices mean something!

Let There Be Light

2009-12-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

YIPPIE!!!!

I'm so excited!

Last week I bought some studio lights for a great price!(after shipping? an OK price)

And they got here yesterday!!! And today I got to unpack them to see if they even work.

Guess what!

THEY DO WORK!!!!

this is just like Christmas I have to tell you! I'm so giddy and happy and excited and exuberant and any other positive word you can think of! I have my very own set of studio lights! Granted they are not the newest or coolest or most popular...but they are MINE!

And they are huge! This is George, my stuffed Oliphant, to show just how big these suckers are!

On top of the world

2009-11-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

I was thinking a few week ago just how lucky I am. I get to go flying and see some really cool things like flying at just the tops of clouds, so during one of my flights I brought out my camera that has a video option and shot some video, that I wanted to share with all of you.

the first video is just 5 seconds, it was my first try of using the video portion of my camera. the second is 30 seconds and takes you through the upper area of a cloud bank.

I hope that you enjoy.

In Memory Of

2009-11-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Thursday November 4th, 2009
Army Base Fort Hood

A gunman opened fire on his fellow soldiers. Wounding 31 and killing 12 of our brave men and women of the United States Army.

Read the whole story.

This attack hit close to home for us. Fort Hood is in Killeen Texas, where we met and dated. We made our first home there. Killeen is where we spent the first year of our marriage. It was a very happy time for us as we worked and went to school. Matt even had classes on the base! We have many friends in and from the area. Luckily no one we know was injured. But even more than a week later it is still shocking...

To the families of the Ft. Hood fallen, we're so sorry. We hope and pray that peace will come to you in this dark time. Know that you have our love and support.

We Support Our Troops

Let Freedom Ring

2009-10-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is Matt and I had the chance to go to Philly, I had a day off from Dover. I went to the Independence National Historical Park, it was a lot of fun, if you get the chance to go you need to go, the city has great sidewalks.

If you go and want to see Independence Hall you'll have to get tickets (they are free) at the Independence Visitors Center. Get there early as thy only give out the tickets for that day and when they are gone they are gone.

It was so cool to go on the tours and the that lead the tours really knew their history so it was a lot of fun to learn even more about the early history of the great country that we live in.

I saw the Liberty Bell and had a Philly cheese steak for dinner... what a great day, so here are some pictures from that day.

enjoy...

Old City Hall

George Washington

Independence Hall

I cant tell you how much I enjoyed this trip, every one should go and realize just how much of a blessing that this country got off the ground. The many sacrifices that the founding fathers gave. I think that we need to be reminded of this, it is fragile and must be protected.

Old City Hall

George Washington's copy of the Deceleration of Independence page 1

George Washington's copy of the Deceleration of Independence page 2 (the correction was done in Washington's hand)

Old Senate Chambers

Me and the Liberty Bell

Liberty Bell

Masonic Temple

I can't believe it's not butter

2009-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Matt and I fancy ourselves to have a great sense of humor. Well at least we love to laugh! Courtney likes her jokes on the dry side and corny side. Matt enjoys a little bit of everything, in moderation. But we both LOVE British comedy! Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served, and The Vicar of Dibley, to name a few. This is one of our favorite skits from The Vicar!

We have tried to memorize it without success...But we are hopeful one day that we'll be able to run circles around friends and family with this bit. We wanted to share it with you, so you could know what makes us laugh and what keeps us laughing time and time again! Enjoy!

One man's trash is another man's treasure

2009-09-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Matt and I are hoping to adopt. But adoption costs an arm, a leg, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears! Not to mention the financial aspect of it! lol So a few weekends ago we hosted a yard sale to raise money for our future little one.
It was HUGE! I had a month of planning and gathering donations and promoting it like crazy and it still didn't feel like enough time! We had everything: clothes, shoes, toys, baby stuff, furniture(large and small), china, small appliances, decorations, books, games, and tasty treats! It was amazing how many donations we received. Everyone was willing to part with their household goods to help us! And some friends let us borrow their garage and yard! (We live in an apartment, it's a little difficult to have a yard/garage sale with no yard/garage!) We were way in over our heads with this thing! WOW!
(Pst...I'm the one in the hat above. And Matt is in the blue shirt below.)
(This was only on the first day!!! We got soooo much more that night and the next morning!!!)

We had tons of friends come and help us out! Here are some of our "Helpers"(Stephanie- she was a huge help! She helped set up and take down...and she answered people's questions and even helped take money! Thanks Stephanie!!!)

(Ben- he was an organizing genius!!! Did you notice the puzzles? All his doing!!! Thanks Ben!)

(Brittany- she and her hubby*down below* came both days to drop off donations and give moral support! And they couldn't leave without a few of the items we had there! Thanks Brittany!)

(Robbie- don't let the toy car fool you, he did some very heavy lifting!! Thanks Robbie!)

It was a ton of work...we were going non stop all week! We're so glad that our friends were so willing to come and support us... And in the end, we had a lot of fun and it was a big success! Even though I got SOOOO sunburned-with sunscreen! I'm still pink(and it's almost two weeks later!)

I think we may try to do another one in the spring....

The family is a haven in a heartless world

2009-09-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

This last couple of weeks have been super crazy! We've been busy getting our yard sale together. I'll be blogging about that next. But before I can tell you all the fund stuff about our fundraiser I have to finish telling you about our vacation!!! LOL

So after the conference and spending a few days with friends, We went down to St. George UT to spend time with my parents!!! While we were driving we listened to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We love books, and have enjoyed the Harry Potter series! But while we were listening I noticed something very funny! It was a Utah license plate that said MUGGLE!!! It was perfect timing too! The story was talking about muggles!! I grabbed the camera and Matt got close enough and I got a picture!!!! Sadly however, that was one of the great pictures that was lost. I still had to share though!

When we made it to St. George it was so hot! But it was so wonderful to be in my parents tiny apartment with the WHOLE family!!! *A little background- one of my brothers and my sister haven't really been on "speaking terms" for the last 6 years. But while we were there they decided to start working things out!* It was so comfortable to have everyone in the living room on the couch just hanging out and joking around! I had thought that it might feel monumental for everyone to be there but it felt natural, like the way it is supposed to be!

While we had everyone together I knew we HAD to do family portraits! The last family portrait was about 17 years ago!!!! Just after my sister Jericca was born!!! So being the family portrait photographer I forced the issue. Most of the family knows about my bossy and obsessive ways when I'm behind the camera(I'm not that bad!) but Josh, my youngest brother, was in for a shock!!! We decided it was be fun to go out to the Red Rock Canyon and hike and do pictures. It was a lot of fun! And it was so pretty out there! We stoped a lot to do a shot here and there. But we got some great shots!!!

Anyways, here is my family!

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment

2009-09-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry about leaving you on that cliff for such a long time! My boss lady at the studio had me working a whole bunch of hours while she was on vacation. I know you can find it in your heart to forgive me!

So where were we? Ah yes! The conference. So FSA(Families Supporting Adoption) held a conference in Layton UT with classes for everyone in the adoption triad. We of course attended the adoptive parent classes, but the kids classes and Birth Parent classes looked really good too. There was only one class that we wished we hadn't gone to. It was just a bit too negative, which was really sad.

The big event was the keynote speaker, Troy Dunn. Wow! He was amazing! He talked a little about his company and what they do...his TV show...and even about his own family. He has an amazing testimony of adoption. It was truly inspiring. I am so glad that he was able to take the time away from his family to speak with us.

"My mom introduced the beautiful concept of adoption in a very simple manner," Brother Dunn said. "She said, 'There is something that is called prayer trading, and we're going to trade prayers with somebody. Somewhere out there is a girl praying for a good family for her baby. We are going to pray for a good tummy with a baby in it, and we are going to answer each others' prayers.' "

After Brother Dunn spoke we had the wonderful opportunity to listen to the experiences of several birthparents. They were so brave to open up their lives and share their own history. Adoption touches so many people, it's amazing to think that we are all here on earth to love and support one another. Adoption is a wonderful process that Heavenly Father uses to teach us of His love for us. The birthparents at the panel bore their testimonies of His love and of adoption in general. It was a very heart felt hour. I wish I could find the broadcast to share but I don't think it's available yet. But if you're interested in reading some amazing stories from actual Birth Mothers check out www.ItsAboutLove.org

We really enjoyed our time at the conference. The classes were jammed packed with information and we walked away a little overloaded. =) Thank goodness for all the handouts they gave us, otherwise I'd forget everything we heard! We tried to attend a good varity of classes. We did a few parenting classes, finacial classes, marketing classes, transracial classes, and a few other panels. I wish that we had more time to do a lot more classes, or that I could split myself into two and been able to attend two classes at once! It was really great and I want to go again next year! Most of the people there were from Utah but there were a few of us from other states. I think we were the only ones from MI.

We were able to get together with a few friends after the conference, Chris and Theresa. They had some great advice for us. I'm so glad we have friends who have been touched by adoption. They told us about this amazing group out in UT, The Genesis Group! We just happened to be in town on the night of their fireside. So we went! It was absolutely amazing! The group is a Church organized support group to serve the needs of the African-American Latter Day Saints. Anyone is welcome to attend the firesides and I highly suggest it.

If you come home as happy as you leave, you have had a good vacation

2009-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

We went on VACATION!!!! We took two weeks off and headed to Utah! (Really, honestly, truly we had to take my sister back home before school started for her.) We had a blast!

We packed up on Monday, and left town in the early afternoon. We drove a straight 18 hours to Denver. My Grandma and Aunt and Uncle live in Littleton so we stopped for the night. We hung out with a few of my cousins who just had a baby...an adorable little boy! We had a very tasty dinner and then it was off to bed. We left early in the morning for the remaining 9 hour drive to Provo. But it was really nice to see my Grandma.

On our way we stopped in Grand Junction for gas and some lunch...We had to stop, there was a CHICK-FIL-A!!! We don't have one here and I've missed it oh so much. I know it's not gluten free but sometimes it is worth the pain! *sneaky grin* We even took a picture to celebrate. However, during some routine computer updating, all of our car trip photos have been sadly lost. But I promise I thought of you when I took the picture. So just imagine, a lovely, colorful picture of the tasty Chick-fil-A.

We finally got into Provo, after a few melt-downs on my end. (I can really freak out when driving through mountain passes. The twists and turns and shoulder drop offs do me in.) My brother met us in Provo to take Jericca, my sister, home to get ready for school and we spent a few days at Jill's(Matt's sister) place. Matt got to visit with two of his siblings...which sadly doesn't happen enough. We're looking forward to the next family reunion.

While we were in the general Salt Lake Area, we attended the National Families Supporting Adoption Conference. Wow, talk about uplifting! I know Matt wasn't super crazy about going but he had a good time. There were a few classes that we weren't that crazy about, but the overall experience was great.

I'm going to leave it here for now. I want to go more in depth about the conference and then we still have to head down to St. George. Plus some pictures have survived! However, this is long enough...and it's late and I have an early morning. (The car window broke while in UT and now I have to get it fixed)

So consider this your cliff hanger....

Seize The Skies

2009-07-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to the annual air show. This year was very exciting. We had the Blue Angels in town! Matt's company was hosting a picnic and we tried to make it but traffic was so backed up around the airport that we turned around and went home. Luckily for us we live close to the airport and so we were able to watch some of the show from the strip mall near our place! Here are some of the pictures of the Blue Angels.

Unfortunately however, most of the cool tricks like loops and low passes were done on the other side of the buildings. So we didn't see a lot of the special Blue Angel show. Next year we'll know better! Matt and I both took our cameras to try to get some awesome shots of the flight action. I think a few came out ok. I like this one of Matt...all the action was behind the buildings and he was anxiously looking for where they might reappear for us! He really loves anything to do with flying!!!

Here is me with my sister who was still in town! It was a little chilly and raining just a bit, so we snuggled up in our picnic blanket that we keep in the car!

This was my first time seeing the Blue Angels and it was awesome!!! Not even the rain could bring down the experience! Next year will be even better, now knowing the absolute best place to park and watch!

Freedom cannot be bestowed; It must be achieved

2009-07-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Courtney's mom and sister were here for the Fourth of July. We had a wonderful time watching the fireworks from our balcony. We settled into our camp chairs wrapped up in a few blankets and watched the pyrotechnics.
I didn't get very many good pictures...but here are a few that turned out.

And here's one of my sister...she's so cute. I thought I got one of my mom but her eyes are closed, so I won't post it.

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends.

2009-06-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

Matt and I LOVE to read! Almost every night we climb into bed and grab our books and read a few chapters before turning off the lights. Since reading is such a big part of our lives we thought we should share what's on our reading list.

Courtney
Currently I am reading "What to Expect The First Year". About a month ago I started stressing about knowing nothing when it came to taking care of children. I think every parent goes through it at some point, right? Well, I went out and bought this most informative baby book. It takes you through every month with developmental details and answers concerned questions. It's a wonderful book and I am learning from it. It's funny for me to see how much I already knew, since I work with children. But reading this book has given me a lot of confidence that I'll know what to do when we have a child. I'm about half way through it right now. I'll finish reading the 6 month milestone today.

My last book was "First Family" by David Baldacci. A really great book! Baldacci is one of my most favorite authors. I have read all but one of his books. This story is a continuation of the King and Maxwell series. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are two ex Secret Services workers who now run their own private investigating practice. They are hired by the First Lady to find her missing niece. It twists and turns and you're not sure at the end of the book who really is the bad guy. I mean you find out who did it, but...well, I won't spoil it for you. I'm not sure that Baldacci will continue with this series. He ended the book so beautifully, it just completes the story of King and Maxwell. I can't wait for his next book, whatever characters he decides to use!

I think that my next book is going to have to be "Lord of the Rings, Return of the King". I've read the first two this year but I needed a break since it is a very intense story. It's a long and slow read... I love the movies and enjoy reading the story because I'm getting so much more out of it. But it is very tedious. Once I finish "What to Expect" I'm going to buckle down and finish the saga.

Matt
Ok so I have read a few books this past month.

Liberty and Tyranny A Conservative Manifesto by Mark R. Levin:

During this time of where it seams to me that common sense has been disregarded, and replaced by madness, it discusses the progressive movement and how that movement has destroyed our liberty's as Americans. In the end Mr. Levin talks about some ways that we can reverse the liberty's lost and help preserve this great country of ours.

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz:

The fourth book in the Odd Thomas saga, about a young fry cook that can see dead people who have not moved on and he tries to help them, he can not talk to them because the dead can not talk, so he has to try to help them. I have enjoyed each one, the third book seamed to have run the course, so I was not sure if I want to invest my time to a bad book so I waited until it came out in paperback at Sam's Cub. I was pleasantly surprised but how well the storied played out. With Odd on trying to stop a madman from smuggling and detonating nuclear bombs on US soil, while helping Mr. Blue Eye's Frank Sinatra move on, and while he did not end the series, I am happy with the ending.

The Third Revelation by Ralph McInerny:

This is a ok book, it's about the Catholicism and the story of Our Lady of Fatima, the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II, the CIA, and the Former USSR and the KGB. Since I am not a Catholic I am talking the information provided in the book as fact, and it has a good plot line and some interesting twist, with the conclusion tying everything up nicely by the end. I would not read it again and will place it in my book case to be given to someone else to read.

I don't know what book I will start reading next! any suggestions???

He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner!

2009-06-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

I love trying new things in the kitchen. It's exciting to find out if something is going to work out well. Well, the other night I decided to try making pizza. I used to have a good pizza recipe that was very tasty; but after going gluten free I gave up the thought of ever having a tasty pizza again. Honestly, the other night I really wanted Pizza. So I found a gluten free mix and we tried it out. Now, most of the time gluten free bread stuff tastes AWFUL! So, I wasn't expecting much. But it turned out fantastic! It wasn't a brick...it was light and fluffy! It still had the gluten free texture but it tasted just like my old pizza recipe! We were so happy! It's something I will make again.

We had fun making our pizzas. It made a really large batch so we each had our own pizza! I made mine, and Matt made his. Matt had pepperoni, ham, and tomato(it was suppose to have olives too but we forgot them). Mine had mushrooms, ham, and tomato. It was a lot of fun and really tasty! I like it when we can both work in the kitchen together.

The Sugar-Plum Tree

2009-06-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share one of my favorite bedtime stories. This is one that my mom read to me, and her mom read to her! I anxiously(and patiently) await the day that I can read it to our children.

It is by an amazing author, Eugene Fields.

Have you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree?
'T is a marvel of great renown!
It blooms on the shore of the Lollipop sea
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town;
The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet
(As those who have tasted it say)
That good little children have only to eat
Of that fruit to be happy next day.

When you 've got to the tree, you would have a hard time
To capture the fruit which I sing;
The tree is so tall that no person could climb
To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing!
But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat,
And a gingerbread dog prowls below---
And this is the way you contrive to get at
Those sugar-plums tempting you so:

You say but the word to that gingerbread dog
And he barks with such terrible zest
That the chocolate cat is at once all agog,
As her swelling proportions attest.
And the chocolate cat goes cavorting around
From this leafy limb unto that,
And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the ground---
Hurrah for that chocolate cat!

There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and peppermint canes,
With stripings of scarlet or gold,
And you carry away of the treasure that rains
As much as your apron can hold!
So come, little child, cuddle closer to me
In your dainty white nightcap and gown,
And I 'll rock you away to that Sugar-Plum Tree
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town.

Up, Up, And Away

2009-06-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Today is date night...or date matinee! We went to the movies this afternoon. Matt and I both LOVE movies, especially kids movies. So we went and saw "UP".
It is really a fun movie.

It was in 3D! So we got these awesome 3D glasses! Don't they look like the Blues Brothers glasses? I love them! Up was a lot of fun. Pixar did a fantastic job with the story and of course the animations! The 3D element was fairly decent, not as good as Monsters VS Aliens but good enough! I don't want to give away any of it, so I won't go into details. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you feel adventurous, & then it makes you all warm and fuzzy-like warm and fuzzy donuts! You really should see it!

Last night we had a Burn Notice Season Premiere Party. We invited a few friends, grilled a few burgers, fried some french fries(first time too), and enjoyed the start of the third season. It was wonderful to have friends over. We have a great apartment that allows for plenty of visitors, and we love having a full house!

But for all the fun we've had so far, it has also been a very busy week! This week we had the pleasure of having our case worker, Julie, over for our home study! It was/is a very exciting prospect! We think it went well, and now we're just waiting for the written report to be finished up. But to prepare for Julie's visit we went a little crazy with the cleaning...I cleaned a lot more than I needed to. Oh well, at least now we have a super sparkling clean home!

Thank goodness that the week is almost over.
Then we'll be off for another week full of adventures!

Here's to all your adventures.

A Day For The Books

2009-05-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

An Update:
We have all of our adoption paperwork done! We're currently waiting for our doctor to mail our medicals to LDS Family Services. Once they get that, our case worker will give us a call to schedule our home visit. That's where they come in and see where and how we live. It's completely unnerving! I'm running around frantically cleaning and organizing the house. I am starting to feel like a beheaded chicken. But I have a feeling it's going to be completely worth it in the end. That idea is the thing that keeps me going.

But in the last few days I've begun realizing that we don't have much in the way of baby supplies. And that as we are getting so close to the home study visits that now is the time to prepare for having a baby! So, today I went and bought a few supplies. I bought diapers for the first time! =) I suppose it's kind of silly to get this excited over 36 newborn diapers. But to me it feels so concrete that some day in the (relatively) near future we will have a baby in this house. I also bought some baby proofing items, a few onsies, and some bedding for our crib. It's strangley uplifting for me to search and buy baby items. I am glad that we have a few larger items arleady taken care of so I can focus on the smaller things. Hopefully, by the time we are picked we will have almost everything we'll need.
~*~
Outside our world of adoption, I have started another semester of school. This summer I'm taking a Digital Imaging class. I'm learning all the cool tricks to photoshop. I find it nice to actually know that I'm preforming the correct techniques. It's only two nights a week but it's starting to be kind of intense. I'm excited to finish the class.

Matt has started a home fitness program, P90X, and is enjoying the hard workouts. He's already lost a few pounds and it's only been a few weeks. He is very excited to see how far this program can take him. Work is a little slow for him right now, but that's the way we like it. He flies fallen soldiers home, so we like it when he doesn't have to fly anyone home.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2009-05-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung! And wow, it is beautiful out here in MI. Everything is turning green and the trees are blossoming. It really looks like popcorn is popping on the blossoming trees. You can even smell spring in the air. It smells lush and refreshing. And the amount of daylight is wonderful! I'm writing this at 8:30pm and it's still light outside, just barely starting to turn into the sunset colors.

Spring isn't just warmer weather. It's also time for Spring Cleaning! We're working on keeping the house organized. We're down to two rooms that still need a little help, the master and the office. I'm sure that we'll get them all set in the right order this week. Spring is also well known for "Twitterpation" or being "Twitterpated"(from Bambi). It's a great time of the year because you have a wonderful excuse to hold hands and snuggle up close. Love is in the air.

But I think my favorite part of spring is that spring brings so many options. There's tons of things that you can do! Our complex just opened up a frisbee golf course. I'm sure we'll enjoy that this season. All the putt putt places are finally open again. Soon the amusement and water parks will open up. But the best part....is all the great picnics that you can have! With the food and the friends, it always a perfect time, even with the ants! We have pulled the grill out and it is ready to see some firey action. Plans are already in the works for some geniune good ole' Texas Bar-B-Que slow roasted brisket. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it!

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

2009-04-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

April 15th, Matt and I enjoyed attending the Tax Day Tea Party. It was all about standing up and letting the Government know that we don't approve of their spending habits. And protest the burdens of taxation for their bad judgments concerning America's wallet.
It was a really neat experience. It was my very first political rally!

With Matt being a pilot he can be away from home a lot. But that doesn't stop us from doing things together! Like the Tea Party...Matt had business in Delaware and I was home here in Michigan. But we both went to our own Tea Party and we we're able to talk about our experiences later that night! It's neat that even though we're apart, we're working together towards the same goal.

Here in Michigan: We made posters and stood on the corner in front of the court house. We waved at the passing cars and talked to the people on the street. We had a lot of support there! About 150-200 people showed up. The news and paper were there talking with people. We even sang "America The Beautiful". =) It was very uplifting and encouraging.

There in Delaware: It rained all day. But they still got a large crowd together. I'm not sure how many people, but more than here in MI. They had speakers...who talked about the hardships of taxation, and the appalling amounts of money being spent in Washington. People had picket signs. Matt was glad that he went. And even happier that he took his wife's advice and bought an umbrella! =)

We like to stay politically informed and involved. Matt is always listening to or watching some Conservative Talk Show. We both really love this country.

Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat.

2009-03-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

So for the last few weeks I have been trying to figure out how to get a cool funky template for our blog. And I had the darnedest time doing so....it never worked! So I stayed with the boring old pre-made templates that blogger provides. I mean they're not bad....but I really wanted something fun! And I finally figured it out today!!! I'm so happy!

I also figured(kinda) how to have music on here. So, these are some of our favorite songs and types of music.... Now, I hope this thing is more fun to read! To friends and family, if I have failed to have your blog on my reading list let me know and I'll add you asap!

Marriage is our last, best chance to grow up.

2009-03-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Matt and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary last Saturday! It was a beautiful day, clear blue skies and not a cloud in sight. Since it was such a wonderful day we decided to enjoy the opportunity of being outdoors! We found a state park nearby that boasted about great trails...and we went on a 9 mile hike. We packed up our day pack with water, nuts, a few extra pairs of socks, and our camera equipment. We hiked, talked, and took pictures along the way.

We found these awesome train tracks and couldn't help ourselves.
We had to take a few pictures!

About the middle of the trail was this little lake...there were a few people fishing, a few enjoying a picnic lunch, and us taking in the crystal clear water... It was very refreshing to have such amazing surroundings.

We even got our feet wet! Only not in this beautiful lake...and not really by choice! We went on the blue trail because the yellow trail was flooded. Only to find out that the yellow and blue trail shared the last quarter of a mile...including the flooded bridge that was warned about at the beginning of the yellow trail but not the blue trail!!!! There was only a quarter of a mile left, it was almost dusk, and it was starting to get cold. We had to walk right through it! There was still ice in the water! It was freezing! Thank goodness for the extra pair of socks we packed! We finally managed to get back to the car and we took full advantage of our heater to warm our cold piggies.

When we got home, we both worked on making dinner. We had Shrimp Diablo and Steak with rosemary potatoes and asparagus. Matt even spoiled me with chocolate cake for dessert!

It was a great day!

Happiness is not pleasure, it is victory.

2009-03-01T19:18:00.001-08:00

What are three of your guilty pleasures?

Courtney: All Kinds of Candy, Reading in Bed, and Sleeping In!

Matt: Krispie Kreme Donuts, Mountains of Doctor Pepper, and Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Alright, so we'll admit we love the sweets! I'm not sure who actually has the bigger sweet tooth...but then again, I don't really want to figure it out! I'd be afraid of losing...and winning! But I do think I'll dust off my baking skills and bake Matt some of my famous Chocolate Chip Cookies! They are one of the reasons Matt liked me so much when we we're dating!

Today is the first of March; and oh, how I love March! In fact, we are getting ready to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary! It's coming up in the next two weeks! We're so excited to be married! And for six years, it feels so comfy. But right now we're just trying to figure out what to do...where to go...for the big day. It's been our tradition to go to the temple, but it's closed for cleaning that whole week! I'm sure that we'll figure something out!

There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.

2009-02-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

I was thinking that I would show everyone out there that I actually do work on the rare occasion. I don't just sit around and wait for the boss man to page me. Oh wait, we've been upgraded to the twenty-first century and now I receive text messages!!!
For those who don't know, or can't tell from the video...I fly airplanes for a living. This was shot by a good friend of mine who was flying with me.

The end of an era

2009-02-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

Well, after at least 6 years of faithful service to this family, our truck has finally said it has had enough. About a week ago it hit a patch of ice and couldn't handle the pressure. So it bounced around for awhile and finally died. It was so sad to see the trail of blood(transmission fluid) leading to our little white truck in the parking lot of the tow company. Luckily in its final minutes it gave all it had to keep Matt safe! It dies a hero!

This shocking death has opened up a need for a new vehicle. Matt and I went out shopping for a replacement. And I think we may have found the perfect family car. In fact I'm so sure of it's perfectness that we went ahead and bought it!!! I'll get some photos taken and post them soon.
Till then!

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.

2009-01-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2009, what an exciting time! And boy am I glad that I don't have to write 2008 anymore. For some reason, I don't like writing the number eight. Strange, I know! Well, this is the normal time to make resolutions for the upcoming year...My last few resolutions haven't worked out very well. Of course, it's always had to do with getting pregnant or finishing up adoption paperwork(which is very time consuming!) And those things are very much out of my control. =) But this year I think it is safe to say that I have picked something that the general population has also picked! I think I'm going to try to lose about 20lbs. I know Matt is also trying to lose some weight. (We had been kinda lazy last year) You know, the whole eat super healthy, exercise everyday, never be lazy resolution. And I have to say that I might actually agree with F.M. Knowles when he said, "He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool". Fool I may be, but I'm still going to try. =)

Well, whoever you are and where ever you may be we, hope that you can find comfort, happiness, knowledge, and whatever(or whoever) you are looking for in 2009! And like Matt always says, Don't sweat the small stuff!

Christmas is not a date, it is a state of mind.

2008-12-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

Well, Thanksgiving was a complete hit! We had way too much food, which is the only way to go on Thanksgiving! Two of my cousins and their families came over for the big feast. It was great to have family there. And it was so fulfilling to have a bunch of kids running around the house.

Christmas is getting closer. We're almost done with our Christmas shopping. I have to get Matt's present, and I have to buy Matt's gift for me! At least he's honest when it comes to the fact that he has no idea what I want/need in a jewelry box and allows me to get it myself! lol I love him! We have all the gifts for the rest of the family. I'd list them off but I'm sure they are reading this! Everything is labeled and mailed off. Hopefully they get it in time! I love this time of year...

We sign the lease on our new apartment on Monday. We can't wait! Candace, my cousin, came over and helped me start packing. We got a lot done! But there's still some left to do. The bathroom, all our clothes and bedding, and half the kitchen. That's of course not including large items like the tv or computer stuff! But we have a whole week to move stuff into the new place! This is the first move that I actually am excited about moving boxes from point A to point B. I'm hoping for a stress free move. So far so good... I think I'm even going to paint the new place! I will be taking tons of pictures...and of course posting them! So, keep your eyes open!

What's Up Doc?

2008-11-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Wow! Well, I have definitely fallen behind! So what have we been up to that has kept us away from the wonderful world of blogging?

Everything! lol

It is the beginning of the holiday season and my(Courtney) work has been swamped! Today we had 50 appointments on the books...in just 7 short hours!!!! It's crazy busy...and I love it! And then outside of work, I've been prepping for Thanksgiving. We are hosting dinner at our apartment this year. I'm making the turkey, potatoes, and desserts. And my cousin is making all the veggies and rolls! I still have to clean the house sometime this week....yikes! Plus, we're getting ready to move soon. Found a new apartment with some great amenities...fireplace, our own washer and dryer, and tons of fitness classes. We're really excited about it! Moving day is Mid December. Matt has been busying flying here and there. He actually was able to come home for a few extra days after a big trip! It's so nice when he's home.

We're spending a lot of our time focused on finishing up our adoption paperwork. Most is done....just waiting on a few things to come back! I know that I'm very excited about the whole process. I think we are going to be good parents. And honestly, I'm a little nervous...I get to play with children all day almost everyday at work. But when we actually have a child of our own...it isn't just making them smile and laugh...it's teaching them right from wrong. Teaching them how to be truly happy... Teaching them everything they'll need to know to fight against the powers of Satan. That's a big responsibility...and it's kind of scary! I believe that Heavenly Father trusts us with his precious spirit children. And I know with His help, we'll be able to get them back to Him.

Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one

2008-09-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Who was your childhood hero? Who is your hero now?

Courtney: I don't really remember having one hero growing up. I looked up to a lot of people. I wanted to be just like my cousin Jamie for a long time. She was so cool, and pretty, and had a lot of friends. I, of course, was envious. I looked(and still do) up to my Grandma H. We have so much in common, and she was always there to encourage me to be the best I could be. In the cartoon world, Raphael from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle could rescue me anytime. And I fell in love with Robin Hood at a very young age. So I think I had it all...a person to imitate, a person to grow up to be, and two dashing heroes for when I became a damsel in distress. =)

And now...

Now, my hero is my younger sister! She is amazing...her strength is inspiring. She has a huge heart with a giant desire to love the people around her. And she has courage to stand up for what she knows is right, and forgive those who have hurt her. I endeavor to be like her.

Matt: During my younger years my hero was Luke Skywalker form the movie Star Wars. As it tells a story of a young man who it comes from humble situations, and rises up to help lead the rebel rebellion. I thought that I could become like that.

and now

Rush Limbaugh, as he helps keep me informed on all the liberal media hype, and lets me know that I am not alone in my conservative ideas.

I'm not nervous. Well, maybe I was a bit...concerned but that's not the same thing.

2008-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you get nervous?

Courtney: I call my mom and dad. Or any member of my family that will actually answer the phone! I talk about what's going on with my parents. With my siblings, I talk about silly and random things, teasing them, and goofing off with them. And while I talk, I pace...Up and down the hall, around the kitchen, I have to be moving. And when in a situation where pacing is not the best idea, I fidget. I have to have something in my hand that I can play with. Like a rubber band, or a pen, or clothing. Movement, in any form, is my coping mechanism. I have to be doing something.

Matt: I get scared and embarrassed that I have already made too many mistakes and that I have failed , like when interviewing for a new job or taking my 6 Mo check ride..my job is on the line. I just want to get away from the situation, or the people that I am around. And do something fun to take my mind off of that situation, like working out or watching a movie.

Bah Hum Bug

2008-09-05T19:14:00.001-07:00

The leaves are starting to turn yellow and orange. And as the air is cooling down I've been thinking about the holidays.

Describe your favorite holiday tradition?

Courtney: In my family, a lot of traditions center around food, like making Pumpkin Roll, Buttermilk pie, and Reindeer Droppings. It's not really Christmas or Thanksgiving with out it. But I think my favorite tradition would have to be our Christmas sibling gift exchange. As a kid we would draw names and would have 20 dollars to spend on that person. It's like a Secret Santa. Only the tradition really is how you buy the present! See, we would all pile into the car and go shopping together. We'd go into Target, get 2 carts, and start shopping. Mom would have one basket and Dad would have the other...and you'd shop for your person. The trick was that they were there too! And you had to do a cloak and dagger thing to get it into a basket without the others knowing who you had, and what you got them! Imagine having 7 people running around trying to keep everything secret. After everything was paid for, and stored safely and secretly in the back, we would go out for a nice dinner.
It's kind of hard to do it with just two people. But this is a tradition that we will do with our children. I have so many wonderful memories, and I want my children to have the same chances of creating their own magical memories!

Matt: One of my fondest memories during my early years was carving pumpkins. I loved to clean out the insides, puling out the seeds and "guts" of the pumpkin. And help my mom wash the seeds, place them on a cookie sheet, and bake them. Yumm, they are so good. We had to wait until dad was around so that we could use the sharp knives to cut out faces in the side of the pumpkin. It was always a challenge with my siblings to see who could come up with the scariest or goofiest face, and place it on the pumpkin.

Playing in the Great Outdoors

2008-08-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Courtney: Camping! I love cooking over an open fire, snuggling into a cozy sleeping bag, and enjoying a nice warm cup of hot chocolate in the cool mornings. It's nice not to have to worry about what time it is...if it's light it's day time, if it's dark it's time to wind down for the night. It's so simple and relaxing. It's great to get a bunch of family or friends to go with you. Camping allows you a lot of time to really spend quality time together. And honestly, I think everything tastes better when it's cooked over a fire! Oh! and how can anyone deny the awesomeness of S'mores?!??!??

Matt: Surfing the internet. Oh wait, thats my blackberry. Hiking! I just love being outside and trying be unplug myself from the demands of the job and just connecting with the great outdoors.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

2008-08-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

"What is your least favorite chore?"

Courtney: I have to say that my least favorite is dishes. I know I have a dishwasher and all I have to do is put them in, but still I really dislike it! lol The act itself takes up everything...it's not like folding laundry where you can pop a movie in and fold while you watch. No, you're stuck in the kitchen with wet food stuck on your plates. (yuck)

Matt: I hate cleaning the bathroom. Just because it's a bathroom.

A warm welcome for Matt & Courtney

2008-08-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Please let us introduce ourselves. We are Matt and Courtney. This lovely blog is for prospective birth parents to get to know us a little better. We want this blog to be a place where we can share more openly who we are as a family. We want to share the things we do that make us Matt and Courtney. Keep checking back!

Well, we might as well start at the beginning! Here's our story of why we're hoping to adopt someone special!

We decided a few years ago that we wanted to expand our family. We, of course, started trying...We heard it's supposed to be pretty easy. lol But about 18 months later we found out that we aren't physically able to conceive children. After numerous doctor visits and many hours in prayer we decided that our family would grow through adoption. We felt that it didn't matter if we aren't physically able to bear children...we are physically, spiritually, and emotionally able to be PARENTS! We strongly believe that family is what you make it! That you don't have to be born into a family to belong there. And by the sealing powers of the priesthood, the children that we parent, will enjoy the blessings of an eternal family.