Monday

Monday on the way home we stopped off to see my Aunts Gravesite at the San Juaquin National Cemetery. She died 6 month before my mother did. I hope they are not fighting up there now...hmmmm. Anyways it was a peaceful experience, a little solemn. Young and old are buried there, veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. Some around 19, some lived to the fullness in their lives, some having succumbed to illness in the middle of their lives like my Aunt, and then there were the ones who gave their all in the service of their country, in dawn of their adult lives, their ultimate sacrifice. And what they all had in common was the willingness to serve their country. It was surreal there, we were the only ones there. Up on a hilltop there was a tall flag pole with the flag waiving and music started playing. It was bells playing different hymns and it was nice. My Aunt had a hard life and sometimes I wondered if she ever had true happiness. I hope she does now.

Our Forever Ours' Caiden

It's hard to believe its been a week now, but here it is. A week ago today we were at the Oakland Temple and had Caiden sealed to us to be ours for forever. In actuality it went rather quick and Caiden screamed with a red face the entire time his hand was held, but he's like that. He did the same thing when he was blessed. What an independent little boy! But it was wonderful to see both our children in white to know know looking back on the journey it took to get them both, that they are ours. And after all is said and done, I would go through everything all over just to be in this spot with these two special spirits in our family.
It was a small group in the room that day, just Dave's parents, his sister Debbie and her husband Tony. We are grateful Tony and Debbie were able to make it down from Washington to be there for us on this occasion. So, to you two: THANK YOU! And we are beyond grateful to Dave's parents for putting up with us (heh heh heh), and being there for us, and to you: THANK YOU!
I know that this isn't very descriptive of the occasion, but sometimes there are no words. We were filled with joy, relief, and peace with the knowledge that nothing can keep us from being together. It was a little bittersweet though. My side of the family wasn't there. With Dad being way up in Oregon and my mother having died a year and a half ago, it was a little hard. I hope she was able to be there to watch. We have always felt that perhaps she picked Caiden out for us. She wanted a baby boy Grandson so much and she was going to get one, even if it meant she had to go and pick one out herself. Thanks mom, I miss you. We were able to get some good pictures at the temple, but you know, one-year-olds are not very cooperative when it comes to pictures...lol.
Afterwards we went out to pizza (yum, Round Table, our favorite), the Italian restaurant that was planned turned out to be not open for lunch..lol. Thanks Mom and Dad Leach for lunch! Then we went to visit with my brother Dave and his family. The two little girls, Kate and Audrey are so adorable! I was so happy to finally meet them and it was great for Anna and Caiden to meet their cousins. On Sunday after church (and nap time) Our niece Ashley and her husband Austin came and joined the bunch of us for dinner. Mom Leach cooked some great casseroles and we are so grateful for all the effort she put in for us. Later in the evening Our little family of four went to see the new Sacramento Temple. It was beautiful! Wow!

The Night Before!

Ok, here I am again waiting until last minute to post and not even updating as much as I should. Sigh. lol. But here we are at Dave's parents house getting ready for our trip to the temple tommorrow! Tommorrow morning our son who is now legally ours, will be eternally ours! And we are so happy and relieved this moment is finally here. It's been a long journey to this moment. Last time Dave and I were here in a similar situation, waiting at his parents house on Friday evening for a Saturday morning appt at the temple we were getting married 13 1/2 years ago. For Anna we stayed at a hotel with good friends of ours the night before in the the same area as the temple. Well I have much to do before we are ready to leave in the morning! I will try to update more tommorrow!

It's Final!!!

Dave asked me the other day why I didn't keep up with the blog...sigh. I think it has to do with having so much to say and it being too hard to sit down and sort it all out. We went to court today to finalize Caiden's adoption. We went into the judges chambers to talk with him and sign papers. It was much more of a personal experience versus being in a large courtroom (that we did pass through on our way to the chambers). Seth and Lacey came with us to check out the process in preparation for their own adoption. Lacey took pictures and Seth recorded with our video camera. I'm glad some one was there to help us record the experience. Thanks Lacey and Seth!!!I don't think I stopped smiling the entire time we were int eh chambers! I'm just so relieved, happy, and de-stressed now that its final and done!

Oh to Court we go...

IN one hour we will be in hour finally making Caiden legally ours! I'm excited nervous, and mostly relieved. Waiting for this day has been frustrating as we waited for paperwork to clear California. To all who have been there with us through this process, thanks for your support. OH and I was told that if I didn't update my blog more regularly the few who read it would lose faith in me..lol. So to the one that said that...look I updated!!!!! Heh heh heh. So corss your fingers, here we go!

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

California accepted the paperwork from Idaho!!! Finalization here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Caiden will finally legally be ours! Then sealing comes next! We are so excited!!

Writing from Oregon

Just a quick note from Oregon here. For those who have never been here in Southwestern Oregon, it is beautiful. Here in Roseburg where I am visiting, the hills surround the area and they are covered in green trees. Yes it's small town and perhaps may have a small town mentality, given the views they wake up to everyday...who cares. Its easy to imagine that there is nothing else beyond those hills. There are two rivers that run through here, the S. Umpqua and the N. Umpqua and they meet at this incredible park. At the fork of the rivers, you can stand and watch the two rivers each going different speeds, merge and become one river. And Its green, green, green. We had ice cream the other day at a grocery store called Sherms. They had an ice cream counter at the front of the store. And the one scoop serving is actually 2 scoops, 2 different flavors if you choose. And the best part? It was 99 cents. And it was fresh and incredibly good. I had mountain blackberry revel and huckleberry cheesecake (yes with real bits of cheesecake in it too). The funny thing is that they had a Coldstone here in town, but they went out of business because they couldn't compete with Sherms. SO the moral of this story is eat Umpqua ice cream, you'll never eat any other kind again!...lol

Reminscing

Here in Sacramento, I keep passing by places that I remember my mom being at and dong things at. In the last year and a half I have found myself at odds with how my relationship was with my mom versus how I feel with her gone. Her death hit me harder than I ever thought would. It shook me to my foundations. and I miss her so much, but there were so many times we did not get along. I can picture here here in Sacramento so easy. We moved here when I was in my junior year of high school and I hated it here. Yet it was here that I met my husband briefly before we re met at BYU after his mission. I was so eager to move out on my own away from my parents. I was never homesick at college. So why now do feel myself looking back? I'm a mom now with 2 wonderful children. One who remembers her grandma and misses her and the other who came 4 months after she died. I know she loved Anna with all her heart and would love Caiden in person the same way. Guess she will just have to do it from above now. Ok, this is sappy enough, but thanks for letting me get it off my system. Until later see ya!

In Sacramento

Just a quick note to all as we are visting here in Sacramento. Casi (thats me) and the kids are visting Dave's parents on our way up to Oregon to visit my friend, her family, and then over to visit my dad and Grandmother. So far the trip has been not too bad. I made it through the first leg of driving alone with 2 kids in the car. Well almost made it fine, Anna did puke all over...yech! Dave's sister is here with her husband and child also. Cousin Max is a couple months older than Caiden, so it is fun to see them interact together! Anna is loving having 2 babies to mother.

Please don't go into shock!

Yes, here I am updating...and six months hasn't even passed yet!...heh heh heh. SO this week has been full of being sick, Caiden being sick, Dave feeling sick, and Anna being busy girl. On Monday Anna started swim lessons. On Tuesday she started karate lessons. She definitely loving both! Of course on Tuesday Dave had to take her and he was amazing to get the day off as I spent the whole night previous, spewing (can you believe the Dr didn't know what spewing was?). So out of pity or was is preservation for the kids, he got the day off to take care of them, and I slept. Caiden has been under the weather also since Friday. So today after talking to the nurse at the clinic, I was told to take him to urgent care. (Now why couldn't they see me or send me to the main clinic?.....). The urgent care has virtually no one in there waiting and still it took 1 1/2 hours to be done! All of it for the Dr to come in, make some noises, comment on how he does not look like me (yes Dr he is adopted...) and ask if our other child was biological (nope, and happy for it!). Some other nonsense (I think trying to assess if I had brains enough to understand anything, hmmmm) later he said well he has a viral infection (no duh), a little red in the ears and throat (I did just tell him the whole family with the exception of Anna has been under the weather and had sore throats). Since hes not dehydrated (yes I know to make sure my child has plenty of liquids...), then to just give him Pedialyte and watch him and have him seen on Friday......... An hour and a half for something I already knew and was doing. argh!!!!

Hmm well thanks for letting me get that vented. Lol.

Faces of Caiden in May

Ahhhh You Caught me! 11 May 2008

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance 7 june 2008

First day exploring Yosemite 5/10/2008

I'm Back

As you can all see, I've decided to take charge of my blog and change it. Not that I'm satisfied with it yet...but it's a start. Everyday is so full that it's hard to sit down and put it into words...or even have hands free to type..lol. But I love my life. It's full of those moments where I am feeding my baby and hes falling asleep in my arms. At that precise moment as I look out the window at the great view, everything is right with the world. Anna may be outside playing or watching a little T.V. and I know I wouldn't give any of it up.
Caiden continues to grow more each day. This week he cut his first tooth. He weighed in at 21 lbs, 28 1/2 inches. He's developing into a perfectly happy baby and I know its for him and Anna that we weren't able to ever get pregnant. And I'm fine with that. He's crawling everywhere and he can get up the stairs and into his own room within a blink of the eye. Thank goodness for gates!
Anna graduated from preschool last week! Wow she is growing so fast! She starts swim lessons in the morning tomorrow and karate lessons in the afternoon at the youth center on base. She adores her baby brother and is so stinking cute (and yes she knows it). Shes still my baby girl though and I still get snuggles from her and she still willingly holds my hand, gives kisses, and creeps into my bed during the night.
Dave keeps busy at work and keeps coming home with saying he got more jobs to do. And of course he can't tell me any details about it at all.
My time is kept busy with making jewelry (loving it) and teaching other friends how to. Then there's house cleaning, baby caring, and child rearing. Of course there's reading, playing, and hanging out with friends and their kids. Eventually I am going to get my Pampered Chef business up and going again...sigh.

Not forgotten!!

Yummm watermelon!!

HI, Just to let you all know that no we have not forgotten about this blog. However I did foget how much work a baby can be! Especially one who just started crawling last week and now thinks everything is supposed to be put into his mouth!! Plus, Anna lost her first tooth! ( and no Caiden has no teeth yet!..lol) We are going out of town, but when I get back I PROMISE to post more with pictures! Heh heh heh heh

New Years in Nevada

We spent several days over New Years in Las Vegas and Overton Nevada visiting friends and family. Anny is here playing with her friends Emily and Heather.

We went to Overton to visit Dave's brother Darin and his family. Here is Anna with cousin Drew, Caiden, and Kris. Drew sure loves babies!

It was fun to help them put up the trampoline in the back yard. Look at Dave's sweet jumps!

Anna sure loved being with her Aunt Kris! It was a good time.

Christmas 2007

Anna sang "Mary's Lullaby" with help from her Primary President at the Church Christmas party.

Caiden gets comfortable smiling in front of the camera.

Anna love's her baby doll!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Anna's 5th Birthday!

December 21st 07. Grandpa W came down from Oregon to visit. Here he is with Caiden.

Anna enjoyed her 5th Birthday at Chuck E Cheeze's with her friends.

"Please don't take my cake!"

More pics from 1 December

Cousin Max was visiting. Anna and Caiden showed their enthusiasm for football. Caiden posed in the swing. Anna showed off her authentic Scottish attire brought back from Grandma and Grandpa's mission to Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Blogger Shmucks (Us) have awoken from our hibernation!!

Catching up!! December 1st 2007
Dave's entire family came down from Washington, Nevada, and Northern California to visit. We all went to the BYU vs. San Diego State football. We had a great time.
Anna, Tony, Alan, and Darin
Mom & Dad

Casi, Caiden, Debbie and Max (not Max's best side)