the update

"D" IS FOR DINOSAUR

2012-02-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur Train, on PBS kids, is one of Orion's favorite shows. And we admit, we love their take on adoption.

Kami's grandparents have lived in Wyoming for years. It's a tradition, each time we go, to stop at Little America on the way and see the big green dinosaur out front. It's nice to get out of the car and stretch our legs. Plus, they have great restrooms!

Trip with cousins in summer of 2011

Nana and Orion in the fall of 2010

"C" IS FOR CHOCOLATE

2012-02-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

We are a chocolate family!!! We have to use the word "chocolate" in our home very carefully... Orion perks up very quickly if he hears it. Cadbury chocolate has got to be our favorite and we try to bring back as much as we can from England, but it never seems to last long enough. (:

some of chocolate items in our home

easter morning last year. i love orion's
expression before he took a bite of the chocolate egg.

"B" IS FOR BIKES

2012-02-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

We love bikes in our family! Tim and I both grew up riding bikes. Tim remembers feeling a sense of freedom the first time he was able to ride without training wheels. He will be riding in a 120 mile race this summer with a 10,000 elevation gain. Go Tim!!!
I have fond memories of bike rides along the Provo River and competing in a small annual race. And waking up early as a teenager to get a ride in with my dad before he headed to work and I went to school.
We hope to get Orion on a training bike of his own this year. He has already made a super hero outfit from Tim's helmet (backwards is the new forwards!).

the plunger helps defend against monsters

just finishing a race at the 2011 utah summer games

LET'S BEGIN... "A" IS FOR ADOPTION

2012-02-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

If someone had asked us a few years ago what we knew about adoption, the answer would probably have been very basic and not something we thought about much. We had no idea that right around the corner from us was a great experience waiting to happen.
Orion came into our lives exactly two years ago. We were contacted through e-mail by his birth parents through LDSFS. It was an exciting and anxious time for us. Exciting because we wanted to find out all about them. And we definitely wanted to meet them. Anxious because we were worried that they wouldn't chose us to be Orion's parents. Shannon (Orion's birth mom) didn't have much time left in her pregnancy and we soon made a trip to see them. It didn't take us long to feel a great love for Shannon and Drew (Orion's birth dad). On Valentine's day two years ago Shannon and Drew informed us that they had chosen us to be Orion's parents- what a great Valentine's gift!!!

Our first face-to-face meeting. About a month before Orion was born.


A visit in Las Vegas when Orion was about 6 months old.

A visit to the zoo with Shannon.

A visit with Drew right before Orion had his 1st birthday.

Shannon was able to come to Utah this past summer to see Orion and attend an adoption conference. We had so much fun! This photo was taken at a park where they were both dripping wet from the water toys.

THE ABC'S OF OUR FAMILY

2012-02-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

Ok! Our blog has been pretty pathetic lately...so to get things going again we're taking an idea that our friends, the Moon family, used on their blog. We are going to list a word from each letter in the alphabet that represents our family. We hope you get to know us a little better and see what we're all about. Thanks!

Orion's Dance Moves

2011-10-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

Orion puts on his dance moves while we clean up dinner... enjoy!

Summer is here!!!

2011-06-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER

2011-04-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! It's been long...

2011-04-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

No worries. We have the updates coming soon!

daddy time

2011-01-29T21:30:00.000-08:00

EATING CAKE

2011-01-15T20:36:00.000-08:00

Orion's friend, Charlie, celebrated his 1st birthday this weekend and was nice enough to share part of his cake with Orion. It was fun all watching them make weird faces at the beginning and sad when it was time to clean up. Happy Birthday, Charlie! Thanks for having us over.

YEAR-END PHOTOS OF 2010... WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THE YEAR!

2011-01-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

COURT FINALIZATION: Towards the end of December we went to court to finalize Orion's adoption. Being in court is an interesting experience. I wouldn't wish to be there for any different circumstance.

I love these photos because of the expressions on Orion's face. The weather on this particular day reminded me a lot of the weather the day Tim and I were married... cold!!! Good thing our hearts were warm on both occasions. :)

We were so excited when we left the courthouse that we forgot to get pictures inside where it was warm. The idea of going back in through the security check point didn't excite us. So, I quickly took a couple pictures holding the camara out in front of us (we wanted at least one photo to put in Orion's memory book). Just then a nice lady walked by and was happy enough to help us. Hence, the final shot of our whole bodies.


I love Orion's facial expression!

Trying to keep warm.


I think we were all caught off guard by the burst of cold wind!

CHRISTMAS:

Not quite sure what to do...

caught the hang of it...

and wanted to unwrap everything...

glad at this age that a 99 cent orange ball is good enough to make a child happy with the gifts from Santa!!!

The best gift we got for Christmas this year... Orion.

TEMPLE DAY:  On December 31st we had the great opportunity to take Orion to the LDS Oquirrh Mountain Temple to have him sealed to us. There was a warm feeling in the temple that day and we know families are important in our Heavenly Father's plan for each of us. Click HERE to find out  more about LDS temples.

WELCOME 2011!!!

2011-01-02T15:13:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

2010-12-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to be reminded of what Christmas is all about...

CLICK HERE

and

HERE.

bath time

2010-11-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

Orion loves bath time; he would stay in there until hands and feet are all wrinkly. Tim and I enjoy this time with Orion and wanted to take pictures to remember these happy memories. Orion is truly a blessing in our family!

orion's 1st halloween

2010-11-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

IT MUST RUN IN THE FAMILY

2010-10-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

MY MOM WAS GOING THROUGH SOME OLD THINGS WITH MY GRANDAD ONE NIGHT DURING OUR TRIP TO WYOMING. I CAME INTO THE OFFICE JUST AS MY MOM TURNED AROUND AND SAID "HERE, KAMI, YOU WILL PROBABLY LIKE THIS."

I GUESS WE HAVE BEEN CUTTING COUPONS FOR GENERATIONS IN OUR FAMILY. (MAYME, I DON'T SEE AN EXPIRATION DATE... DO YOU THINK IT WILL STILL BE HONORED?)

Visit to Wyoming

2010-10-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Orion and I spent last week in Wyoming visiting my grandparents. My mom decided to come at the last minute and we were glad she came. Orion really enjoyed her company in the back seat and I enjoyed our conversations whilst he slept. The week flew by as we played games, ate good food, and listened to stories about how my grandparents grew up. Thanks for everything, Grandad and Grandma!

We made the usual stop at Little America and took a ride on the dinosaur.

It was nice to stretch our legs and get some fresh air!

Enjoyed the autumn leaves that Maddy made into a pile.


Happy as can be and just about to put a big handful of leaves into his mouth.

Delicious!!!

One of Orion's favorite books that we had to bring.

Getting a quick nap in before the journey back home.

Saying good-bye... hope to see you again soon!!!

SPECIAL TRIP FOR US

2010-09-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago we had the opportunity to spend the day with Orion's birth parents in Las Vegas. We had a great time catching up and Orion loved all the attention! He is loved so much!

red barn

2010-09-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken today in front of the Red Barn in Santaquin, Utah. I love the colours and, of course, the two handsome cowboys in it. My Grandad is a great man and someone I look up to greatly.

YUMMY!

2010-09-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

Family Night

2010-08-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

So... one of our goals for this year is to have family night every monday. Normally we do some kind of activity and a spiritual lesson but tonight I thought we would use our reward money to Smith's. We each picked out something we normally wouldn't buy for ourselves, but would enjoy (Orion- didn't have much of a say this time around). So we packed Orion in the stroller and walked over to the grocery store. I don't think Tim and Orion were into it as much as I was... but we walked out of there paying less than $2. Bargain!!! You can probably guess who got what by the photos.

Yes!!!

Heading out

Tim couldn't wait to eat his treat until we got home

odds and ends

2010-08-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

After church snack.

Emory takes good care of her nephew.

We love giggles...


and more giggles.

Getting ready for bed.

summer saturdays

2010-08-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are probably my favorite day of the week.  I snapped these two photos this past weekend to put in Orion's photo book to give him an idea of what life was like when he first came to our family.  I love that Orion is looking at the camera in the first photo and Tim in the second.  Just to give you a quick background... Tim loves mountain biking and is starting in get into road biking, Orion loves being outdoors, and Kami loves corn on the cob (just kidding). :) 

TRYING NEW THINGS

2010-08-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a wonderful and busy week for us. Cousins came into town to visit and we enjoyed an evening of swimming. Friends also came to visit as their daughter started at the local university (can't believe those I babysat are now going on missions and starting college). And... Orion is almost sitting up on his own and has loved trying some new foods. Carrots are his favourite!!!

ORION'S 1ST HAIRCUT

2010-08-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

We noticed lately that Orion's hair was thinning out as his new, blonde, hair grew in. Our good friend, Pip, said she had just bought a new pair of hair clippers for little heads that she was going to use on her 6 month old. We popped over and got the camera ready. Orion just sat through the whole thing trying to figure out what was happening!!! So cute!

Many Thanks!!!

2010-08-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to thank all our family and friends for the many gifts that have poured in for Orion... homemade blankets, diapers, clothes, toys, and the list goes on. We feel very blessed and grateful that he is loved so much!!!

The daughter of our friends made this for Orion. It is the perfect size for him and he loves the bright colours. Thanks, Uini!!!

Cheese, Onion, and Potato Pies

2010-08-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, my friend Lis came over to make one of my favorite recipes. Cheese, Onion, and Potato Pies. We spent the afternoon making a big batch of these pies to freeze and have on hand for quick dinners. This recipe cames from Nigella Lawson cookbook, "How to Be a Domestic Goddess", the first cookbook Tim got for me before we were married. I highly recommend the book, although you can get the recipe here.

happy and healthy

2010-08-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

Orion had his 4 month check up yesterday and is growing big before our eyes!

ORION AND THE FAMILY

2010-08-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend Orion and Kami went up north for an adoption conference and to spend time with family. Orion really enjoyed watching his cousins play and they loved having him around to play with.

Orion and Annika

Emory loves how soft Orion's head is and asked if she could give him a kiss!

Orion- enjoying Annika's high chair

WHAT GETS US LAUGHING!!!

2010-07-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Faces We Love

2010-07-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

GOING FOR ICE CREAM

2010-07-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

We went to visit our (Kami's side) family over the 4th of July weekend. We decided to go one evening with Nana and Papa for a drive. I had to chuckle to myself because "our drive" included swinging by an elementary school so my dad could look at some concrete work. This reminded me of all the drives we took growing up to visit construction sites. At one point I tried snapping a photo of Nana and Papa both bending down to look at some joints in the side walk with their backs towards us in the car. It would have been a great shot!!! Oh,well. The ice cream stop was perfect and we had some good laughs through out the drive. Happy Days!

Papa and Nana trying to share a little bit of ice cream.

Never noticed until this occasion that my dad and Tim eat ice cream the same way!!!

Orion- waking up from a nap and trying to figure out where we are.

THE LITTLE MAN IN OUR LIFE

2010-07-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

This is very exciting for us... we are adopting!!! We are happy to introduce Orion to all of our friends and family. He is a very special boy and we feel blessed to have him in our family. We plan on updating the blog regularly so you can see how he is growing and know what he is learning. Orion's birthparents will always have a special place in our hearts.

We hope you can all meet him soon!!!

Tim's Accident

2010-06-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, Tim broke his arm whilst mountain biking. We feel lucky that the break won't require surgery as long as it heals properly and that he doesn't even need a hard cast (I really wanted to see him in a bright pink cast)! We appreciate all our family and friends checking up on him and asking how he is doing. I think it is safe to say that he will be back on his bike in no time... sigh. :)

Chicken Zucchini Linguine

2010-05-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I decided to make a homemade version of one of our favorite dinners from the frozen section of the grocery isle. I think it turned out pretty good and I think Tim would agree (he even asked for more sauce).

Here is what I did:

Simmer in a pot for about 45 mins: 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

2-3 tablespoons of butter

1 whole onion (don't chop)

salt to taste

Saute some chopped zucchini and cooked chicken (I cheated and used some frozen cooked chicken).

Cook some linguine.

Now, this next step might seem weird but I once saw an Italian cook on TV make a basic tomato sauce and this is what he did with the whole onion that was simmering in the pot- discard it. Pour remaining sauce over chicken and zucchini.

Add some mozzarella (fresh, shredded, sliced, or whatever you have in the fridge).

Lastly, drain pasta and toss all together.

During dinner Tim asked if there was any sauce left. If you decide to share your sauce with your neighbor...this could happen to you too!!!Enjoy!

Trip to Las Vegas

2010-05-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Last week we went to Las Vegas so Tim could take a test for work. We got in on Wednesday night (the rates are cheap for weeknights) and were gone Thursday afternoon. I decided to go do a few odds and ends while Tim was taking his test. One thing on my check list was to head to the Las Vegas temple and take a look around. The grounds were beautiful and flowers so fragrant!

*the photos were taken on my phone- which ended up pretty good- i think*

Tim's bike race

2010-05-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Tim headed to Colorado for a bike race with a few of his friends. He has been training for a while now and was excited to participate. I was happy to have him back home safe without any scratches (just a sore bum)! Click here and here for a couple pictures taken at the race. Go Tim!!!

Zion National Park

2010-04-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we headed to Zion National Park with a few friends. Little did we realize that it was Spring Break and the park was flowing with people. We had such a fun time finding a place to park and the best part was reaching the Middle Emerald Pools while it was windy. Instead of the water running down the cliff- it shot water right into your face. Oh, I wish we had some photos of us getting drenched! And we couldn't have finished the day any better than at Texas Roadhouse. YUM!

Some words that brought comfort today:

2010-04-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

For reasons known to the Lord, some women are required to wait to have children. This delay is not easy for any righteous woman. But the Lord’s timetable for each of us does not negate our nature. Some of us, then, must simply find other ways to mother. And all around us are those who need to be loved and led.
Sheri L. Dew, “Are We Not All Mothers?,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 96

Easter Memories

2010-03-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

A few years back the family got together at our house for an Easter dinner and egg hunt. It was so much fun! And, the pictures have been some of my favorites. (I hope my family won't mind... they were all good sports to allow the paint to come out.)

Avatar

2010-03-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Tim and I were talking with some friends who had recently seen Avatar. After hearing what they had to say about the film we decided to use our gift certificate to the movies and head out for a date night. I would have to agree with many others that the graphics were amazing!!! Wearing the glasses for the 3D effects just topped off the date!

FOUND SOME OLD PICTURES

2010-02-23T17:19:00.000-08:00

Today I was organizing some things in our spare closet and came across some old photo cards. I decided to see what was on them. I was so excited to find some pictures of when Tim and I were
engaged... so I thought I would share a few of my favorites!

We took a walk with Tim's family and it was SOOO cold!

We went golfing on a pitch and putt course. Let's just say that neither of us are any good at golf. All we could do was laugh at ourselves.

A river ride in Cambridge. It was stunning there!

2010-02-10T17:05:00.000-08:00

      Tim having a Wii bit of fun!!!

Create

2010-02-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

I love this video clip on YouTube. It's my two minute inspiration video on most days.Click on the "create" link below to view.

Create

Falafel

2010-02-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

We made it a goal this year to try new recipes, including some without meat. Don't get us wrong we enjoy meat and appreciate the meat my dad provides from the cattle he raises. Recently, Tim's mom has battled cancer and as a result eats a vegan diet. She often tells us of the different recipes she has tried. Every week we try a meatless dish and last night was falafel. We had tried it once at a friend's in London and liked it. If you are interested in the recipe I got it from Studio 5.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=204&sid=9460023

Falafel is a fried ball or patty made from spiced chickpeas. Originally from Egypt, falafel is a popular form of street food or fast food in the Middle East. It is usually served in pita bread, either inside the bread, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in flat bread.
I highly recommend making them at least once. Tim was so excited he ate 4 of them!!! Dad, maybe you would like them...they have a lot of garlic. :) Here a few pictures and if you like what you see check out the recipe from the link above.

the chickpeas

cilantro and parsley

this is the fun bit where it turns into a green paste

form bite size balls

fry them up

tzatziki sauce (tim especially like this because it reminded him of greece)

delicious!

2010-01-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

This is Sparkle. She likes to get into everything. Now she just waits patiently on the garbage can where she can see everything happening. Very good, Sparkle.

Ladies Day Out

2010-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Mom, me, Natalie, Jenna, Hannah, and Grandma ( we missed Elizabeth there with us) headed out to Peteetneet Museum and lunch earlier this month. We had fun learning about the history of Payson and how people have lived in the past 150 years. Natalie and I even got out our cartwheel skills in the dance hall!

Jenna trying to figure out the mannequins.

Hannah getting her moves on in the dance hall.

I tried deep fried green beans and pickles for the first time!

3 Generations!

So much fun! We'll have to do it again!

2009-10-04T12:18:00.002-07:00

Giving A Blog A Go