Family Pictures 2009

I am finally posting our family pictures that my friend took of us in October. I love them!

Our 2009...

This last year seemed to have gone by so quickly, way too quickly! But when I looked back at my posts from the beginning of 2009 it seemed like so long ago. This wasn't my favorite year, but we had some really big things happen that made it good and memorable for sure.

January

*Hubs turned THIRTY!

*We got a Four-Generation picture with Hubs's Dad and Grandma

*We were able to drive to Myrtle Point to see Hubs's Grandpa Curt and get another Four-Generation picture.

*Mac started to learn how to walk on his own although he did not master it yet.

*Hubs's brother became engaged.

February

*Found out Mac is allergic to milk.

*Mac and I got the flu pretty bad.

*I started my photography blog which in turn boosted my photography business. I have really enjoyed improving my skills and sharing them with so many.

*Our nephew Cash was born.

*Bryce was called as the 1st counselor in the Spanish Branch presidency of the branch we are serving in. It has been a huge amount of sacrifice and with a huge amount of blessings.

*Mac actually started walking completely on his own.

*Shared my testimony of adoption with someone at church. (And the results are amazing)

March

*Took engagement pictures for Hubs's brother.

*Mac got his first little hair cut.

*Mac came into full toddler hood.

*I turned 3o years old.

*And a few other little things.

April

*We had another sweet little nephew born.

*Some more of the things that we did this month.

My beautiful niece came to visit. We had so much fun with her.

*I took a quick trip to visit a friend in Spokane. Mac was awesome on the flight there and back and I had a wonderful time even though I ended up with a massive head cold right after I got there.

*Bryce and I celebrated our 8th anniversary and as soon as busy season was over we were able to get away to celebrate.

*I was able to take some pictures for my friends for their adoption profile.

May

*We went on a road trip to Utah to visit my brothers and their families.

*On the way to Utah we were able to make a stop to visit Mac's beautiful Birthmother.

*We took a day trip to the coast.

*We signed papers to build and buy our FIRST house.

*Hubs's brother took out his endowments at the Temple and my Mother-in-law was able to go through for Brooke (Bryce's little sister) who passed away a few years ago.

June

*Hubs's little sister Jessica graduated from highschool.

*Ma had his first Urgent Care visit when he fell and gashed his ear.

*Bryce's brother Spencer was married in the Temple to Lissa.

*Went to an extended family reunion for my mom's side of the family.

*Mac turned 18 months old and had his check-up and even though he was old enough for nursery would not go.


July

*We spent the 4th of July at our family lake house near the coast.

*Mac and I tagged along with Hubs to Las Vegas for a business trip. It was miserable trip (too hot to go outside, food was way too expensive so we almost starved) with some great highlights of seeing two friends, Rose that I had not seen in years (and who came to my rescue with some delicious food) and Emily who had her baby girl while we were there (and who was also so generous). Unfortunately I never posted the pics for this trip, maybe someday.

*It was a super hot month in Oregon reaching temps of 108 degrees.

*I chopped my hair!

*Mac fell out of his crib for the first time.

*We went to the Rodeo and Mac got very dirty.

*Mac went on his first horse ride.

August

*My photography business kept me very very very busy and because of this didn't take many pictures of our happenings.

*My friend Rose came to town and stayed with us.

*Mac went on his first bike ride and camping in a trailer.


September

*We took Mac to the Air and Space museum, AWESOME!

*We moved into our brand new house after alot of frustrations.

*We had some prayers answered after more than 5 years.


October

*I had alot more photo shoots.

*Just enjoyed being in our new house and getting unpacked.

*We started the application process again to adopt.

*We went to the pumpkin patch.

*We had our family pictures taken by a friend. I will need to post those soon.

*Mac was a train conductor for Halloween and loved trick-or-treating.


November

*National Adoption month. Tried to celebrate on my blog.

*I got really sick for about two weeks with a head cold and cough that seemed to last forever.

*We were finally able to bury our beautiful Brooke and have a small family service.


December

*We watched the Civil War~Beavers against Ducks at a friends house.

*We had Mac's 2nd birthday party with lots of family and friends.

*Went and cut down our Christmas tree.

*I took Mac's two year photos.

*Mac turns TWO YEARS OLD!

*And had the most wonderful Christmas with both of our families and in our new home!

My goal this year....

is to find HOPE,

believe in HOPE,

feel HOPE,

have HOPE!

Christmas Day!

I also love the little traditions we do with my parents. They came to our house this year since it was our first Christmas in our new house. We always have omlettes Christmas morning and we were able to use the new Food Processor that my parents got us (we have used it a ton already). Then we just relax watch movies and cook and eat a turkey dinner.

Looking at this picture I realized that Santa did not do a very good job a arranging the gifts to make them look pretty, I think he needs a little help in our house.

Also I didn't really take many pictures the whole day, I was just enjoying it.

Mac was overly spoiled. His new stuff mostly consisted of anything with wheels and ALOT of it. And I think he has loved everything that he has gotten.

Mac sitting next to his new bike.

In his super cute Carhardts.



Hubs did good on the gift giving this year. He bought me a super nice set of dishes, that i will use as my "China" for special occasions. I LOVE them. In this picture it may look like I am not eating very much food when in reality these plates are HUGE (10.5"x10.5")

Christmas Eve

I love the traditions we have with Hubs's family. And I love that we all live close enough that we are all able to spend Christmas as a family.

The first thing we do is go bowling as a family. And I totally forgot my camera and was super bummed about it the entire time we were there. Mac was really clingy and was having trouble with walking because of his weird limp. But he really liked to roll the ball.

As you can tell there are always a ton of presents under the tree (presents for 20 people). And actually I thought that there wasn't as many this year, funny!

Then in the evening we all get dressed to act out the Nativity. It was sad to see that most of the kids are so grown that no one wants to do any of the main parts anymore. I am always the photographer.


Mac left this on for a half of a second.

They are so cute!

The fun Uncle J!

I was trying to get a cute picture of him sitting on the step but he wouldn't cooperate. This is the best I got.

Our Traditional Nativity Family Picture!

Santa usually has left the his presents for all the kids on the front porch after we have eaten dinner. It was youngest to oldest, but some how Mac still got his last. The older kids knows there is no Santa but they play along great.

We kept on asking him what it was and he would only say "open it!"

Hubs was kindof mean and put it away so Mac couldn't see it.

But he is just trying to make sure we don't lose anything, with 20 people opening presents and almost half of them kids things get lost in the chaos easily!

The Chaos!

Merry Christmas!

SMILE...

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky,

you'll get by.

If you smile through your pain and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

for you.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear

may be ever so near.

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile.

Happy BIRTHday!

Mac the morning of his birthday!

Mac's actual birthday was pretty lax. We ended up being stuck at home because Hubs took the car with the car seat. But as you can see Mac was acting very "two" getting into everything, it was very cute!

When daddy got home from work they sat down and watched a movie and Mac gave him the play by play of what was happening in it.

Grandma and Mac

We did end up taking him to a pizza place that has a carousel. We told him that we were going to go eat pizza (which is one of his favorites) and go on a horsey ride. All the way to the restaurant he kept on talking about the horsey ride, and every time we would mention that we were going to eat pizza too he would say, "NO! Horsey ride!"

The horsey ride was a different story. I couldn't really tell whether he really liked it or not. He just clung to the post and kept his face smashed up against it.

Merry Christmas!

Two years ago today...

A beautiful, red headed, sweet baby boy was born
to a beautiful, amazing young lady who only wanted the world for her baby boy.

We watched as tears streamed down her face while she held her precious baby.

She sacrificed an amazing amount, all because she loved Mac!

Adoption is a miracle, a blessing, a gift!

All of which made us Mac's parents!

Today he is TWO!

And our most precious GIFT!