My Best Dressed Man!

Bryan had a best dressed contest at work. Everybody voted on who they thought was the best dressed employee, and Bry won. Here are some picture highlights. He really got into it and had a lot of fun.

"Show me the money" Here is Izzy holding the $500 cash prize. We start them young, don't we?

Park City

Bryan is such a thrill seeker and has always wanted to try the Bobsled ride at the Olympic Park in Park City so we made a fun weekend out of it. I can't believe Bry did it, he made it up to 69 mph, so crazy. We had so much fun, we also went on the Alpine Slide and the Ziplines. I am so afraid of heights so this was a big deal for me. We forgot our camera but here are some pictures I took on my phone.




Bry's the second person.

Summer update!!!

It has been way too long, where as the summer gone. It looks like fall is finally coming, which is my very most favorite time of the year, and I can not be happier. Here are some fun pictures from the last couple of weeks.

Bryan is finishing the basement, and doing a very job of it. He decided to build Izzy a little playhouse under the stairs the joy on her face when she realized it was for her was incredible. We can not wait for it to be done, I personally can't wait for the extra play room this winter.




Swimming with the cousins when they came to say with us for a few days. Izzy loves having other kids around, her cousins are her favorite people in the whole world.

BBQ time with Daddy! Izzy loves steak as much if not more then Dad, if that is possible, she gets so excited and loves to be his little BBQ helper/buddy.

Life!!!

Just some crazy things on my mind.....

Life is incredible one moment you are floating on cloud 9 and the next eating dirt. A lot of crazy and sad things have happened this month, starting with my very special Grandpa passing away. Funerals are never easy, the only positive is the family that always comes together to celebrate a wonderful life like my grandpas. It was wonderful to see all of my Dad's family. I can't believe how hard it was saying goodbye to such an important person in my life. Bearlake will never be the same without him. I am so grateful that I had the chance to say goodbye in person 2 weeks before he passed away. I love him so much and I am so grateful for his life and all that he did for me. He will be extremly missed.

The rest of the crazy happenings are things that just make you take a moment and really look at yourself and your life. I love my Husband and my daughter so much. I realize that in this life everything you love can be taken away from you in a blink of an eye, so you must appreciate every moment you have. Tell the people around you that you love them and show them daily how you feel.

Adoption, hmmm... where do I start, being on a waiting list is the easy part of the process if you have no feelings. Every time a birth mom looks at us is so exciting but you lay awake at night wondering what she is going through, has she made up her mind, will she pick us to be apart of her childs life. I really try not to care, who am I kidding? I care with all of my heart, there is nothing more precious then a baby. Perhaps you know how I feel, waiting for a family (anyway it happens for you) is a long hard process. Sometimes it just feels so good to talk about it, get it out there. Now I can go on with my daily life and pretend that we are not waiting for that phone call. I am just so grateful that I have beautiful Isabelle to tuck into bed each night, what would I do without her, and I can't forget Birdie, Izzy's Birth Mom. Going though this process again really makes me remember how much a miracle it is to have her in our life and what she has done for us.

I am so grateful for all of my friends and family, they make this life so enjoyable and I really can't imagine what life would be like without each one of them not there. Okay just a few of my thoughts and feelings. Writting really can be theraputic and for me is very needed.

Our Little Dancer!

Izzy had her first dance class this week, she loved it. She is a year younger then the rest of the girls in her class, but she did really good. She never stopped dancing and was so happy all the way until the end.

Izzy with her darling dance teacher.

She was great at jumping the cones and playing with them too. She was very upset when anyone knocked one over, she had to fix it every time.

She was in heaven, doing her favorite things in the whole world, dancing and wearing princess clothes. I must say I was in heaven too, I have waited my whole life to have a little girl to take to dance class, and what a perfect little princess she is.

Friday the 13th

Here are the promised pictures of the weekend.

Friday the 13th around our house is quite a special day. For those of you who do not already know, my sister Cody was born on Friday the 13th and I was born 17 months later on Friday the 13th. Growing up my Dad always made a big deal about it and treated it like another birthday for us so that when kids made fun of us (which they did) we would not feel so bad. When we were told that Bryan and I had been chosen as parents for a baby girl due in the middle of January, Cody called me late one night ( I believe it was during one of her graveyard shifts at the hospital so like 2 am late) she was so excited and just knew that Isabelle would be born on that Friday, which would also be Friday the 13th. When I got the phone call from our caseworker that Izzy had been born at 8:03 on that very day I just knew that she was destined for our home. Every girl so far born into our family has been on the 13th. If that is not fate then I do not know what is. Now it is even a bigger deal and we will continue the tradition.


This Friday the 13th I was so happy to spend the day fishing with my Dad and Bryan, I caught a really big fish. (I have pictures to prove it, I promise to add them later) We went up to Bearlake to visit my Grandparents and spend Father's Day with my Dad who is living with them to take care of my Grandpa for the time being. Father's Day is really an important day to me, both Bryan and I really Cherish the fact that he has the opportunity to be a father. Bryan is such an amazing dad to Iza and I still cry every time they have a cute moment together, I really thought the sweet moments would stop affecting me after awhile ( it has been 2 1/2 years since the first time I saw him hold her) but I really don't think the tears of joy will ever stop. I love that I have a day to spoil Bry, my own father and Bryan's wonderful dad Jay, who I would like to say is one of the most incredible Fathers and Grandfathers I have ever known. As far as my Dad I do not even know were to start, he is such a rock for me. I always know I have a friend who will never judge or make fun of me, only listen and love me, he always has the greatest advice for me and what a grandfather he is. My little Izzy just loves him with all of her heart, they have such a special relationship that I know will only get stronger the older she gets. Thanks to all of the Dads in my life.


I will add the pictures from Bearlake and Father's Day as soon as I can.

6 Years together!

Today is our 6th year anniversary. Wow, has time gone by fast. My life has changed so much since the first time I met Bryan. Who would have ever guessed that a blind date could alter your life so much. I have to admit I was one of those crazy girls that knew she was going to marry someone after 1 date. I knew he was for me and I am so glad that he agreed. I didn't get him a card this year so I would like to write a special message for him, plus I don't mind telling the world how I feel about the love of my life.

Bryan, I want you to know how much I love being your wife and I can not imagine how my life would be without you. You are such an amazing person and I am so proud of all you have accomplished in the time I have known you. Thank you for always listening to me and being my constant in such a crazy world. Thank you for making me laugh all the time and for laughing with me when you could be laughing at me. You are my best friend and the most amazing father to Isabelle. Happy Anniversary, I love you.

Summer is here!

I love how amazingly small this world is. Our best friends are Matt and Kristin from our neighborhood and when I worked at the Hospital, before we got Izzy, my closest friend there was Barb, who I later found out is Matt's Mom. It's perfect and I just love them all, so sometimes we go swimming at Barb and Curt house, which we did last night and had a blast.




I am so surprised with Izzy, she is an absolute dare-devil with everything except for when she is in water, and I mean any water. Bath time is a very stressful time in our house. Swimming with Iza last night was no exception. She followed Matisyn everywhere and did everything she did but was completely scared the whole time. She would never let go of us even for a moment. Our greatest moment of the night was when Isabelle finally put her face under water all by herself, without screaming. We ended the night right then just so we could have a great finish.




I am very excited for summer to be here, and so is Isabelle. Winter was very long this year for a 2 year old who loves to be outside, and even longer for me. She is so funny because when she is outside she has to yell “outside” at the top of her lungs so everyone can hear that she is outside. I love the simple things that make her so happy. She is my greatest Joy.

The Perfect Moment

Have you ever had a “perfect” moment before? Well I did the other night and it was amazing. I was sitting in my backyard in my lounge chair, listening to my favorite music on my iPod. Izzy was riding her bike . Scruffy was playing with his toys. Bryan was working on the yard. The sun was setting and the light was hitting the blades of grass just perfect making it the most beautiful color and to top it off I could hear Izzy's giggles over my music. At that very moment life was perfect. All I could feel was pure happiness. It was a wonderful feeling I wish I could keep forever.

Then Izzy fell and was crying. Bryan decided he didn't want to do all of the work by himself and was yelling for help. Needless to say my real life started again and I was out pulling weeds, getting my hands covered in mud and chasing Izzy all over the neighborhood. Don't get me wrong I love my life, but that perfect moment was great while it lasted. It also taught me to love the small special moments. If you move to fast through life you will miss them and you can never get them back.

Princess Izzy

My Sister-in-law, Tiff, took the most amazing pictures of Izzy. Tiff is so talented and we just love the pictures. These are extra special because we took them as a present for Isabelle's Birthmother, Birdie, for Mothers Day. We were blessed to be able to spend the day with Birdie. She came to church with us, and Bryan made us the most amazing brunch. I must say being with her made this day extra special for me because I am a Mother only because of her.

Discovery Kids Museum

We finally made it to Discovery Kids Museum. Izzy had a blast, she loves the hands on environment and the freedom. Mom is not quite sure about the freedom yet. Sesame Street was there with "Your amazing body" What a treat for the girls.


Izzy's favorite part of the day was the helicopter. She yelled "I want my Daddy" with the biggest grin on her face during her pretend flight. Whenever she is having fun she wants her Dad and when she is sad or hurt she needs Mommy. I think I'm still fun, but apparently Dad is a lot more fun.

Thanksgiving Point

Every year we try to make it to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. It is one of my favorite times of the year. It reminds me of all of the Tulips and Daffodils of my childhood in England. This year we went with our best friends Kristin and Matisyn.

My sweet little girl.

Ring around the rosy

A pocketful of posies

"Ashes Ashes"

We all fall down!

A special thanks to Kristin and Mati, we love you and are so blessed to have you in our lives. You are the perfect "best friends"