A fun filled weekend

Boy, March is a BUSY month around here....Birthday's, Birthday's, Birthday's!! I am going to have to get used to ALWAYS having March be a month of PARTIES! (all I know is I am going to need a month to recover...haha)

This last weekend we had my family out for the blessing of little Mr. Owen. Kc and Brookie came into town from Utah and blessed him here, because all the family is here in Az. It was a fabulous, busy weekend! Everyone came into town Friday and it was a party until Sunday evening.

Saturday we had a combined birthday for Ethan, Hollie and my dad. We had all the family over, ate bbq sandwiches, yummy pasta salad, visited, held babies and just had fun! It was great. Here are a few pictures from our day.

Sunday, was the day baby Owen was blessed. It was one of the nicest blessings I have been to. It was at Brookie's families home and it was very intimate and special. The spirit was so strong and baby Owen was just precious. Here are a few cute pictures from that day.

My Mom's Birthday! March 24

Today is my Mother's birthday. A day I will always remember her, thank her for being my mother for the short time she was on this earth. My mother, Holly, passed away when I was eight years old. I cannot believe that she has been gone for 21 years. It may seem like a long time, but most of the time it feels like it was just yesterday. The memories of her are so fresh and so real and I am SO grateful for them. I hold them dear and treasure those memories. Allthough she is not here on earth she is still with me each and every day. She is a mother to me in a way I could have never imagined or thought was possible. She still lives, in my heart and in my thoughts. I have an adorable little girl who is named after her and there is NEVER a day that goes by that I don't think of my mom. I am so grateful to her for the mother that she was and is today. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

3 years

Today, March 6, 2006 is the day that we received an email from our amazing birthmother telling us that she had chosen us to be the parents of her baby girl! It was a Tuesday afternoon about 3pm and we were at the office. For lunch Ryan and I had gone to the Superstition Springs Mall. We ate, walked around, talked and just enjoyed our time together. I clearly remember walking and talking about how we had not heard back from Amanda on her decision. It had been 2 1/2 weeks since we had replied to her email and had not heard anything from her. I remember telling Ryan that if it is suppose to be it will all work out. It was easier said then done, but we were trying our best. When we got back to the office I was up at the front desk, checking patients in and doing what I do best. I had a free moment and I decided to check my email. (checking my email was an hourly accurance, it felt.) Every day passed by and there was no email, no email and then I opened my email and there was a new email from EVE FS; Re: Ryan and Kerri (that was the email from LDS family services). I opened the email and this is what I read.

03/06/06 2:21 PM >>>Ryan and Kerri, Hello again, this is Amanda. Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to the last e-mail, I wanted to have my decision made by the next letter. I have read over yours and the other couples email many times, to help me in making my decision. This was a really hard choice to make not only because who I choose will be the parents to my baby, but because you were similar is so many ways. So I had to look at the differences between you and the other family and, that is what made you two stand out to me.So congratulations, soon you will finally have a baby of your own.I understand that you are willing to meet with me before I actually give birth, and I would like to know when is a good time for you to meet? I arranged time with my worker so we could possibly meet this Friday or next Friday (we figured the weekend would be the best time for you). Whenever works for you will be great. Hopefully we will see eachother soon. LoveAmanda

I was in shock and couldn't believe what I had just read, I was going to become a mother! I screamed, cried and Kristin (one of the girls that worked there) ran back, with tears in her eyes, and got Ryan and said, Kerri has some good news. I couldn't believe it! I think we were all crying in the office and everyone was SO excited for us. I couldnt believe it, my dream of becoming a mom was finally coming true! It was amazing. The emotions that were going through my mind and body were crazy. I couldn't sit through another 3 hours of work, but I did with a HUGE SMILE across my face. No one could concentrate, we already new what her name would be because her due date was my mothers birthday and I wanted to name her after my mom. We sat and came up with a few middle names and were trying to figure out the way we wanted to spell Hollie. We were talking about everything pink and how much fun life was going to be as a mommy. I called my parents and told them over the phone and, ofcourse, they were so excited as well.

Ryan and I took some time and quickly responded to her email and said that we would LOVE to meet with her this weekend. Ryan has a wonderful partner and because of that we were able to leave and drive up to Idaho to meet her as soon as possible.

Ryan and I couldn't believe all of this was happening and that someone saw us as "qualified parents" for their child without even meeting us. It was AMAZING to say the least!

The last 3 years with our beautiful daughter have been nothing less than wonderful and amazing! The dates of when everything took place will ALWAYS be remembered. They are dates and times that I will NEVER forget. They were the times that my dreams of becoming a mother came true. How could that moment ever be forgotten?

Just a thought:

I think I am going to start "Our Adoption Story" blog. Adoption has touched my life in a way that I never thought I would be able to be touched. It's Amazing and is such a BIG part of my life. I just may have to get going on that.

Ethan's Birthday!!!

Wednesday was a GREAT day for our family and especially our little boy! I cannot believe Ethan is now 1. My dad and Janene suprised us Tuesday night and drove in just to be with Ethan on his first birthday. We loved having them here to help us celebrate.

We woke up Wednesday morning and sang, "happy birthday" to Ethan. He enjoyed some waffles and strawberries for breakfast. After breakfast he was good and ready to go play. Both of my kids are so lucky to have such a good papa. He spoils them rotten and LOVES to play with them. They ALL had a blast and Ethan was showing off all of his new stunts and Hollie was doing everything she could to get ALL of Papa's attention. It was a fun morning and then Ethan was off to nap time. He napped pretty well and when he woke up we were headed to daddy's office to go to lunch. We went to our favorite place and that is Barro's Pizza. We know everyone by name and the manager always comes over and says "hi" to us and the kids. We enjoyed eating our pizza and Hollie had 2 pieces!!! Yes, normal size pieces. (Holy cow, that's how many I eat!)

After lunch Ryan had to head back to the office and we headed for Freestone park. Ethan LOVES being outside and since the day was gorgeous we couldn't help but to take advantage. He LOVED the ducks and the big pond! We walked around and then stopped and played at the playground. Ethan is a climber and loved climbing up the playsets and then sliding down the slide. He is such a big boy!

I just LOVE this picture of my dad and Ethan...a favorite!

Papa and his grandkids

Momma and her BOY!!!

After the park we were headed home to get ready for our little party. We had some close friends come over for cake and ice cream! It was just perfect and everyone had fun. Ethan enjoyed his cake, unlike his sister Hollie, who at her first birthday screamed and cried and didn't want ANYTHING to do with hers. Allthough, I think he did enjoy playing with the balloons more. Janene took more pictures of him eating the cake, so when I get them from her I will post those also.

Ethan got everything a little one year old boy could want and LOVES all of it. Thank you to those who came, we LOVED having you. It was a GREAT and PERFECT birthday for our Ethan! He enjoyed every bit of it!!

Okay so now for my cake that I am SO proud of. I got this idea off of familyfun.com and LOVED it. It was SO quick, easy and YUMMY!! I made chocolate cake (2 rounds) and cut them up into squares. I layered the back of a dump truck with chocolate cake, chocolate pudding and crushed up Heath bar with gummy worms on the top!!! It was GREAT!! I even layered a bucket too. I also put vanilla ice cream in a bucket and it was all served with shovels. Such a cute idea and I just LOVED it. Now my mind is running crazy with other ideas using this same cake recipe....wahooo! Here are a few pictures.

My Baby is ONE!!! March 4

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday dear Ethan....Happy Birthday to you! Today marks the one year birthday for our baby Ethan. I cannot believe it has been ONE year. Where has that time gone? I am so grateful Ethan came into our life. I truly couldn't imagine life without our little boy. He amazes me each and every day and I love watching him grow. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I remember every little detail and I hope those memories never fade. I love him so much and once again am SO grateful he came to OUR family. I love you Ethan and Happy FIRST Birthday!

Here is a re-cap of his last year and how much he has grown.

Here we are at the hospital just before she was induced

Ethan Cade Larson born at 3:53am. Wide awake and ready to party!

Here we are as a Family at placement

1 month

2 Months
3 Months
4 Months
5 Months

6 Months

Adoption Finalized 6 Months
7 Months
8 Months
9 Months
10 Months

11 Months

12 Months
The last year has been fabulous! And I look forward to many more with my little boy.

A surprise trip to Flagstaff

What a great surprise we received on Thursday afternoon. We were doing our normal afternoon routine of playing in the backyard when I received a phone call from Amanda (our birthmom). She said,"guess what?" Ofcourse I replied and said, "what". "I am in Flagstaff at a track conference for the weekend", she said. I was so excited. She asked us to come up and visit if we could and ofcourse we made time and went up to see her. It was GREAT!! We left Friday afternoon and came back Saturday evening. Yes, it was quick, but SO worth it. We had a wonderful time and she looked fantastic. She got married back in December and seems to be very happy. We couldn't be happier for her.

We are so grateful that she called us and that we were able to see her. I LOVE seeing her and being with her. She is amazing to me and my 2 children are so lucky to have such a awesome birthmother. Yes, this may sound weird to some, but to me I couldn't imagine our adoptions any other way. Seeing the connection between Hollie and Amanda was so amazing. So amazing that there are not words to describe it. Amanda loved playing with Hollie and it was cute listening to Hollie ask where Amanda was. I couldn't believe how much a 2 year old can understand. Out of the blue, Friday night, Hollie told Amanda, "I came from your tummy, my mommy's tummy broken". I have to say, tears came to my eyes and Amanda couldn't believe it. Amanda just smiled and said, that's right Hollie. It was adorable and a moment I will never forget. I am so grateful for Amanda and the woman that she is; she is simply AMAZING and I love her SO much. I love the connection that Amanda and I have; it is also something that I will never be able to describe in words. I will always be eternally grateful for her and the decision she made for her sweet angels. I know with every bone in my body that Hollie and Ethan were meant to come to our family, but just through another avenue. I know that Amanda was placed in our lives for many reasons and that we were placed in hers for many reasons also. I LOVE adoption and what it has brought me and my family.

Me, Amanda, and Hollie

Amanda and Hollie

Amanda and Ethan

Our little Princess

Daddy and his girl

Speaking of an amazing birthmother she is also an amazing track athlete. She runs the Heptathalon (7 events) and also competes in the high jump. Friday she did the heptathalon and got a PR (personal record) for the high jump; 5ft. 8 inches. Yes, she can pretty much high jump over me....WOW! Saturday she just competed in the high jump and went for 5ft. 10 inches and just barely missed. She received the silver medal and was super excited about that. There were quite a few schools there and for her to medal was a big deal. We were so glad that we were there to see her and support her, it was GREAT!! We now know where Hollie gets her jumping skills from.

Amanda jumping 5'8"

Amanda getting her reward on the left

It was a fabulous weekend! And I will say it 10 times over, I am so glad we got to go and see her and be with her, even for a short period of time. Here are a few pictures of us.