Introducing Tyce

 As a form of self-preservation, we had kept our latest adoption endeavors very quiet.  We are glad we did too as it took well over a year for this day to arrive.  In fact, we were beginning to think it may never happen for us.  Nathan returned from scout camp on Saturday around 2 PM.  He was tired from all his adventures, and I was tired from mine too, so we headed to town to eat out for an early dinner.  When we were a couple minutes from home around 5 PM we got a call on my phone.  Little did I know what was coming our way.  It was Heart to Heart telling us a healthy baby boy had been born the night before in Louisiana.  They had received a call from his birth mom asking for help in placing him with a family.  We were told we had about 15 minutes to decide if this was a situation for us and that we'd need to be in Louisiana the next day to sign papers.  And the rest is history.  Hannah and Jake were kind enough to take our kids that night so we could catch a 1 AM flight and kept them for 2 days while Nathan tried to get home.  We had Tyce in our possession less that 24 hours after that first phone call.  A crazy whirl-wind of emotions and time.  We are so grateful to EVERYONE who has helped us make this happen.  Your service, kindness, phone calls, and prayers have been felt and have made this process as seamless as possible.  Thank you, thank you.  So grateful as well to welcome another sweet spirit to our crazy home. We sure hope he'll like us as we already love him to death.

 He's a wide-eyed little fella...a great sleeper, eater, and pooper.  Couldn't ask for more at this point.

Here we are right after placement.  We had to sign papers at the library because the hospital wanted nothing to do with the adoption.  But look at this fun backdrop we found.  Ha ha.

 Beautiful.  I know I'm bragging, but I can't help it.

I'm still in Louisiana waiting for Utah's approval of the adoption.  Can't wait to get home to my kids so they can meet their new little brother.  Love you all.

This n' That

 All our kids have gone through this slightly annoying stage...refusing to go to sleep in their beds.  It's always a little cute to find them in the funny positions they finally cash out in.  Here's one of Jaren's latest bedtime spots.

 Mallory just finished another great soccer season.  In January, she set a new year's resolution to score a goal in soccer.  She did it!  Yay Mals!

 At this same soccer game, Mia took my camera in attempt to make some photography magic.  She ended up with some great pics.

 One Saturday,  in attempt to convince our kids that we had "done something fun" that day, Nathan let them wash the van.  Ha ha.  Funny thing is, they did think it was fun.  We also discovered that the hose bib in our front yard only puts out scalding hot water.  Made for an interesting time.

 Check our Claire's hair. Evidence of that wonderful Saratoga wind we endure most days.

I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about this day.  Our little Libbie isn't little anymore.  She has become such a great person and recently completed her last year in elementary school.  She received many awards for being an outstanding student and a good example for her peers.  Such a fun/sad day.  So excited for her bright future but sad to see her fly to that middle school nest.

 She's a very smart girl.  But neither of us was smart enough to figure out she was holding her award upside down.

 Jaren sporting the graduate cap while eating a treat.

Claire eating some very bright yellow frosting after the ceremony.

Libbie with one of her good friends.

Dancing Queen

 Claire had her dance recital last month.  She did a great job remember the dance and was even awarded a trophy for her dedication to dance.  Isn't she a doll?

 A silly doll.

 Claire and her good friend Izzy all ready to perform.