Sealing Day

The first anniversary of Tyson's sealing fell on a Sunday. Since we don't go to church until 1:00, we spend some time that morning at the temple grounds. It's a beautiful time of year to be outside the temple, and the kids always love being there.

Asher was being a stinker at this point and refused to come sit near us for a picture.

So instead, I told him I'd take pictures of him pouting all by himself. I only got one... 

 ...before he flashed me this grin.

 Then he remembered he was mad, and went back to pouting.

Luckily that boy doesn't hold a grudge long, and it ended up being a very enjoyable morning for our family.

Musical

We haven't officially started the kids on piano lessons yet, and don't intent to until they're 7- or 8-years-old. But Scot has started teaching Riley some basics, and she practices when she wants to. It's Asher, however, who gets excited about music. Each time we get a new issue of Friend magazine, the song is the first thing he searches for.

She Says . . .

If you aren't familiar with our church's Articles of Faith, check out number 4 so you'll understand the following joke. During dinner, Riley and Asher debated about who would be the first to finish eating. As Riley started to bring her dishes to the sink she stated, "First finished." And then with a chuckle, she added, "Second, repentance."

After finishing her green beans at dinner, Riley asked for seconds, then thirds. It was about that point that Asher told her if she kept eating she was going to get sick. She corrected him, "Green beans. You mean I'm going to get healthy."

Tyson's Sealing

With Tyson's adoption finalized, we went to the Denver Temple last Saturday so that Tyson could be sealed to us. It was a really special day that we have been looking forward to. Riley and Asher also got to be in the temple with us to watch (they have been previously sealed into our eternal family). Unfortunately, the weather was cold and rainy that morning, but since we now live less than 10 minutes away, we went back Sunday evening for some pictures. It was nice since there weren't many people on the temple grounds.

On Sunday, we gave Tyson a name and blessing (sometimes called a baby blessing, but Tyson is no baby). We believe in baptism at the age of 8 when a child is accountable for their choices, but a name and a blessing could be thought of as similar to a christening, where the child is blessed during the congregational meeting and their name is 'recorded'. Normally, the baby would be held by the men giving the blessing, but since Tyson is nearly 2 he sat in Becca's lap in a chair and we laid our hands on his head. We feared that he might freak out and/or throw a tantrum, so Becca had a sucker ready to go. Everything went smoothly though, and it turned out well. This was a unique experience for Becca and most others to see since usually the baby blessing happens around 1-2 months old and the mother just sits in the pews and listens.

One of the few instances we have gotten a picture with Asher smiling. He smiles all the time at home, but for some reason, in public he's serious, shy, and quiet.

For some reason, Tyson thought it was hilarious to almost touch the flowers and then quickly pull his hand back. Things got a little irreverent, but they're just kids and there weren't many people around, so we let it be.

A Christmas To Remember

I find myself enjoying Christmas-time more each year, as my kids’ understanding and enthusiasm grows. I love this season, but every year it seems like it goes by too fast. Part of the reason for that this year is that, in addition to all the holiday festivities, we’re busy making arrangements to bring Tyson home.

But when I look back, I want to remember this time of year for more than just the excitement of bringing Tyson home. This is the first year that Asher has really gotten excited about Christmas. He’s the one that reminds us every evening to turn on the Christmas lights. Riley has been involved in making and shopping for gifts for family members and friends, and has been very excited about the giving aspect of Christmas. They each have a favorite Christmas song. When “Let It Snow” came on the radio last week, Asher told me it was his favorite song, and every time he’s heard it since then he declares, “dis my favewit song” or “I wuv dis song.” Riley loves “Angels We Have Heard On High” for the alleluias.

We have three “kid-friendly” nativities that are all set up side-by-side on a sofa table. The kids have been playing with those nativities more than just about any toy in the house. Not surprisingly, Riley is very particular about how each nativity is set up, and is careful not to get the pieces mixed up with each other. On the other hand, I often hear Asher orchestrating battles between the camels and the donkeys. One morning Mary and a palm tree were even caught up in the fray.

I’m so happy that Christmas is on a Sunday this year. That we will have the opportunity, mid-morning to join with our church-family in singing praises to God and Christ, and to be reminded of the reason for this holiday.

Merry Christmas to all of you! We look forward to sharing photos of Christmas day, and photos of Tyson. They may be a little delayed, but I promise to get them up here. Don't forget to send me your email address, since we'll be making the blog private soon!

Little Boy

I’ve got to take a post to brag about my little man. Although he still corrects me when I call him a big boy (“No, I a widdow boy.”), Asher is accomplishing so many things lately, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.

First, we started potty-training with him last Friday. Ten days, and he really has the hang of it. His little legs are so short that he still needs help getting on and off the toilet, but he is telling us when he needs to go. He is still a little nervous about pooping in the potty (Scot read that this is normal, something about the act of pushing it out makes some kids think that they’re losing a part of themselves.), but he hasn’t had a wet accident in nearly a week. Also, only two Sundays wearing underwear, and the clever little stinker has already figured out that saying, “Go potty” to one of the adults leading the toddler group will get him out of class.

His second accomplishment started out with that same toddler class at church. Ever since Riley “graduated” into the Sunbeam class at church, Asher has had a hard time in his class. I’ve been going into class with him for the first 5 or 10 minutes every week since January. Every time he would stay close by me, and then cry when I pulled myself away to go to my own class. But last week we were running late to church, so on the drive over I told Asher that I wouldn’t be going into Nursery with him. I prepped him for what was going to happen, that I would take him to the door of the classroom and give him a kiss. Then he was going to walk in by himself, without crying, and find a toy or a friend to play with. And low and behold, he did just that! (Thank you for being his buddy, Chad!) Yesterday I prepped him and went through the same routine, with the same result. Hooray!

It has worked so well that I thought I’d give it a shot with his Curious Twos class this morning. But rather than telling him that’s what was going to happen, I asked him on the way to class if he was ready to go in by himself. I reassured him that he wouldn’t be able to see me, but I would be waiting in the hallway just outside his class. I was shocked when he agreed to the plan. As we waited for the classroom door to open, I again walked him through exactly what would happen: Miss Jenn would open the door and he would go in and get stamps on his hands. Then he would go inside and find his favorite helicopter toy while I stayed in the hall. When the time came to walk away from me, he hesitated for a second or two. But with a little cheering from me, and the motivation of Jenn’s rubber stamp, he went ahead. Soon he came back to the open doorway to show me that he had indeed found the helicopter, but he didn’t make any attempt to step outside of the classroom, or convince me to come in, but wandered back into the room to play. Several minutes later a teacher closed the classroom door, and he did just fine the rest of the time!

I knew we would eventually get to this day, and I’m just so happy that he is starting to feel confident on his own. I just want to squeeze him every time I think about it!

Big Day for Riley

Something finally happened for Riley that she has been looking forward to for months…she is a Sunbeam in Primary now! Her teachers are fantastic and she had a great first day in class. When I asked her afterward what it’s like to be a Sunbeam, she answered, “We singed a LOT of songs.”

I was able to fill in for one of the teachers this last Sunday, and I think it’s safe to say that the singing is her favorite part. Because her class is the youngest, they sit on the front two rows in Singing Time. Riley leaned forward in her seat, paying rapt attention to the music leader the entire time, and sang along with all the songs she knew.

Sealing Celebration

This was the second year that we celebrated Riley's sealing. Last year Scot gave her pink gerbera daisies (because they were pink) and she chose pizza for dinner. This year Scot gave her pink gerbera daisies (because she likes the way they droop after a couple of days) and she chose pizza for dinner.

We tried a pizza place that we hadn't been to. The pizza was great, and the kids loved playing on the Galaga and Cruisin' USA games. I think we'll be eating there again.

For her bedtime story that night I told her about her sealing day. About all the people that love her who drove, and even flew, to San Antonio to be in the temple with us. About how angelic she looked in the beautiful white dress her Grandmommy gave her. About the ceremony that was performed in the temple that allows me to be her mommy for eternity. Then I showed her the dress she wore that day, and I could see her eyes light up as the story became more than just a story. And hopefully the day became about more than just pizza and flowers.

I Am Thankful

Have you seen this video yet? It’s awesome. I want to invite the college student on the skateboard over for dinner. I bet he’d be great company. And around my house, we’re also very thankful for muffins.



I love this talk of Elder Oaks’ because I am so thankful for my adversities.

I am thankful for all the work and stress and frustration that was involved in settling my Dad’s affairs after he passed away last September. Without that my brother and I wouldn’t have the trust and respect for each other that we have now. We wouldn’t have had the chance to work so closely together and learn how much we have in common.

I am thankful to have been stuck in Texas for 6 weeks after Asher’s placement. Without that I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know my aunt, uncle, and cousins as well as I did. I’m a better mother because of the short time I lived with Ann.

I am thankful that Scot had the ambition to get two graduate degrees after we were married. Without those he might not have a job now. And we have some great memories and great friends from our time in Austin.

I am thankful for my experiences with infertility. Without that I wouldn’t have learned how to trust in the Lord so completely. I wouldn’t have the empathy and the sensitivity to others (and maybe even the thick skin) that I gained during that time.

I am thankful that we “had to” adopt. Without that I wouldn’t be Mom to the two most perfect children, and I wouldn’t have been blessed to have their birth-families in my life.

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for these adversities, and for those I will surely face in the future.

What are you thankful for?

My so called crazy life

Since there wasn't enough going on or to worry about, Becca decided that she would have her appendix taken out on Sunday. She started feeling abnominal pain Saturday and decided it was bad indigestion. When it didn't go away or lessen, she finally gave in and went to the hospital. They couldn't find her appendix on a sonogram, so they decided to do a laparoscopy. When they went in, they found that the *appendix had not ruptured (phew!) but was inflamed and so they took it out. She was discharged Monday morning. The timing wasn't the greatest, since her Mom, who has been in Texas for the last two and a half weeks to help with the kids, had to fly home on Sunday morning.

*blue = blessings

Due to this change of events, I booked a flight for later in the day and am back in Texas. My work has been really understanding. I talked to the CEO today to make sure he didn't think I was a flaky worker. I mean, work 6 days, take 4 off. Work 12 days, take a day off (when the pipe burst in our house), work 7 days, take probably 5 off. Since I'm taking care of the wife and family, I at least get to take sick time and not vacation. I don't know if it was due to the principle of compensation, but I got bumped up to first class on my flight and got bumped up 2 car classes on the rental car.

I remember back to when my appendix burst my freshman year of college and I didn't go to the hospital for 12 hours or more. I was in the hospital for 5 days. Becca - barely a day and a half. So the moral of the story? If your tummy hurts and you think it's food poisoning, indigestion, etc. and it doesn't go away, get it checked out. Once you go through it and get your appendix out, it does you no good to know the symptoms anymore. Well, maybe to warn others. Also, if your 2 year old daughter copies and keeps saying, "my tummy hurts" you can probably ignore it.

Before going up to Becca's aunt & uncle's to relieve them of baby duty, I stopped in to be with her in the hospital. By the time I got up there Riley was in bed asleep. This morning, when Riley woke up, I went to get her and she looked at me, put both hands on my cheeks, said, "daddy!" in the sweetest way possible that melts your heart, then gave me a big hug. When we came out of the room, she looked at Aunt Ann and point at my chest and said, "This's my daddy". She has only seen me on Skype for the past 3 weeks, so she was very happy to see me. While she has been hugging and kissing me via the computer monitor, I think she was excited to finally see 3D Daddy again.

It's been great to see Becca, Riley, and Asher again. Riley has really stepped up her talking since I left and I can have a real conversation with her. I know, it's only been 3 weeks, but man, it's made a difference. She mostly talks in subject, verb, direct object (and sometimes indirect object) phrases. She is cracking me up. In fact, as I type this, she is trying to get me to look up something on Youtube and is saying something like, "pinjewy". I have no idea what it is (maybe Becca does, but she is taking a nap), so when I repeat it, she looks at me, repeats what she said and then asks, "What're you saying?" That's what I want to know. Riley and I went outside and played some tennis. Asher has grown and is looking cuter and cuter.

I've realized that although I enjoy my work, it's not what I live for. I'm committed to it, I'm interested in it, and it provides for my family. I love being a father. I knew I missed my family, but didn't know I missed them this much. I guess I've tried to ignore it so that I wouldn't get too depressed while being alone.

On a better note, we now have a signed contract on our Austin home that should close Feb 23rd. We allowed a contigency that their house gets sold (they have a contract on it, but previously had another contract fall apart so they are understandably nervous now). It was the same family that we were in negotiations with in December, so they were the ones that requested the foundation work. Let's hope that everything goes well and we move the property and get back to paying just 1 mortgage.

When things were really looking bad last week and we were all down, I emailed the director of the Colorado Bureua of Investigation and also our State Representative to see if they could help move things along with Becca's background check. The next day, someone from CBI called me and started to look into it. They were able to see that it was approved in Colorado and it had been forwarded to the FBI. He put a priority on it with the FBI last last week. I just got off the phone with him and Becca's fingerprints have now passed the FBI check. So now we are a good deal closer to getting everyone home.

I've realized this post has become quite long, but it's a nice way to put down some of my feelings. Although this whole experience has been really hard, trying, frustrating, demanding, there have been many blessings along the way. The Lord has looked out for us. If our house had sold in December, Asher wouldn't have been able to be placed with us (he was placed with us under our Texas homestudy since the Colorado one was waiting on the background checks) and would have been in foster care up to this point. Becca was in good hands with her appendicitis. Becca's Aunt and Uncle have been incredible and have not complained at all. They have been such a help and blessing and we pray that they will be compensated in their lives. My job has been very understanding about all the craziness. Our new church congregation has been great. They have been supportive and I've been invited to quite a few dinners with their families. One person called during the water pipe burst just when I was totally overwhelmed. Maybe because of our situation, more people know us (or at least are interested and concerned for us). I think we have learned alot about ourselves and our priorities. We've just tried to roll with what life has given us and make the best of it. We are grateful for all the prayers that have been offered on our behalf. We have no doubt that those prayers have been heard by a loving Father in heaven, and that things are working out according to his plan for our family.

Thoughtful Jess

My little sis is just so thoughtful and talented. For those of you who know that I have three little sisters, I'll clarify that Jess is the sister I'm referring to here. She posted a charming slideshow on her blog in honor of Riley's adoption. Here is a link to it. And a photo of Riley playing on the lawn after her blessing at church last Sunday.

San Antonio LDS Temple

Today we went to the LDS temple in San Antonio to participate in a ceremony so that Riley could be part of our family forever. We are grateful that so many friends were able to come and share this wonderful experience with us. Really, we know everyone just wants to see pictures, so here they are.