Catching up Halloween

Well, as many as you know I am notorious at being slow in posting pictures. But last night I finally downloaded from my camera and am posting the pictures, starting with Halloween. At first Anna wanted to be a princess or was it a fairy...oh no, it was then Tiger Lily, but her friend Kaylee was going to be that. So then she was goign to be Lucy from Narnia (she listens to the story on cd all the time). Yet with luck I was able to find her old costume in the garage for Caiden to wear. She was adorable as a little leopard when she was 10 months old. And Caiden has done the costume justice with being completely adorable in it this time. So Anna had to match Caiden and it all worked out..whew. They even had a tiny picture in the base housing paper that Tierra Vista (our landlords...kinda...lol) puts out.

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!