A little summer outing!

Family time was wonderful this weekend, except for the weather could have cooperated a little better! Some of the favorites at the zoo!

This guy was having a bad day! I guess they have brought another gorilla in to his habitat and he isn't happy about it. His observationist said it could take years before they can actually put them together. For now he can smell and hear him. He, I guess was in a state of depression from what the lady told us. She was writing down his behavior every 3 minutes.

This guy put on a show while we stood there. Swinging from all the trees and carrying a sheet with him. It was pretty funny.

Kylee was so excited to see Zuri! She was quit happy she was out and about. Is Zuri a girl?

Kynzee just happy to be at the zoo!

Temple Square was great. It gave me a window of opportunity to think about my talk, I have to give on Sunday. Scary not much time to prepare!

A little family photo for fun! Thanks Jillian and Brandon for putting together this little trip! You two are so organized, and we had a lot of fun.

Love this picture of Kylee she has one just like it only a few years younger!

Cherry Hills, we actually made it in the pools for a little over 5 hours. What a surprize the weather fought us the entire time. Bracken is such a great cousin for my girls. Endless hours of him and is brothers entertaining children. Your all awesome boys!

Last but not least my two favorite girls in the world. Those smiles speak a thousand words!!

Graduation

Congrats to my Beautiful Graduate. Kylee has enjoyed preschool this year. She really learned alot from Miss Hollie! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, bright daughter. Kylee you are such a great example for your baby sister. Mom and Dad love you tons and tons!
Kynzee too!!!

Camping at it's finest!

OK so it has been awhile since I have posted. I hope to be a little better! I am still alive just a little occupied with my kids and family!

The wild bunch planning their adventures. Poor little thing was teething on our camping trip. Still smiling though!
Bracken and Steven riding one bike! Should we say FLAT TIRE!!
Mom and Dad at the game table they love to play and compete against each other. It gets pretty brutal at times!

"Get that camera out of my face!" Drinking tons of water! But isn't this a cute little guy?
She enjoyed herself and the bike riding even over rough roads. Bumps!!!

Catching up Easter style.

I have been slacking a little. I need to post about Easter. I just read my post from last year, and I am quit grateful for my blog! I really need to print this in a book form. I think it is possible. I just need to find out how.

I said last year in my post, how Easter makes me reflect on my trails and blessings this year is no different. We have been so blessed with another little special spirit to grace our home. I am so so grateful and forever indebted, to the people who have made or been a part of my family. I can tell you probably every person I know has had some kind of impact on me, that has helped with this.

I think, I read somewhere this week that "no act of service is small". I really like that! I can't remember who or where it came from but I must have needed that this week. I hope I render service constantly. I do think it is important to always be serving. I love how service makes you feel. I love doing something special for someone else. I love it when you get hugs from your kids and husband, because you made a good meal or you gave them a treat. (Kylee loves treats!)

I guess this leads into the other part of this holiday I wanted to address. I am grateful for the people who teach my Kylee at church. She came home last Sunday telling me everything she could about her experience in Primary.

She started walking outside and picked up a prickly stick and showed it to me saying "MOM look this it is sort of like what they put on Jesus then they pushed it on his head." Then "MOM those people made him drink vinegar, and they put screws in his hands and feet". You know like the ones we put in our walls.

Oh man I thought to myself this is power right from a four year old. Well that has stuck with her since then. So the other day, we went in the salon at my home to get our hair done for the day. I washed Kylees hair, and she then sat under the dryer while I did mine. I was blow drying my hair for a few minutes. Then had to figure out how I could get the rest of my hair dry without the blow dryer, so I could listen to her sing about the Resurrection.

She indeed was making up the words as she went along but told all about the pain and suffering Jesus endured for us. THEN (power hit) once again she said "Jesus my love Jesus is my true love." WOW that is amazing to me she is learning and bares such a strong testimony of her savior and redeemer.

I am so grateful for her leaders and family that help her learn. This goes to show that these little minds are embracing every fiber of what is said and learned unto them. I love the gospel. I love how strong the teachings are. I love my children. I love the fact that they were meant for me. They teach me everyday.

Well of course I have pictures from Easter but they are not by any means reverent.

Instead they are the things that make me tick they are the smiles I wake up to every morning. They are the happiness I experience on a daily basis. They are our gifts. They are my beauties and my pleasure. I love these little ones and I know it wouldn't have been so without the help of many! To many to mention. So thank you to everyone that is a part of me and my FAMILY! I do mean everyone!!

This makes me giggle! SORRY I cant get it to turn the right way! Don't hurt your neck!

Kynzee's special day!

I have a few minutes to jot down a few thoughts about Kynzee's special day! Once court was over we took a deep breath and began our spiritual journey of the week. We had a wonderful time on Saturday at the Temple. We had the sealing scheduled for 2:00p.m. in the Logan Temple. We was fortunate to have many guests in our company. This was a extra special day. I decided I wanted to not only remember this day forever but I wanted every detail to be a special thing as well.

I asked my wonderful, talented, mother about a month ago if she had ever heard of anyone that recycled their wedding dress, into a blessing dress. She thought it would be a challenge. I knew she would make it a success. So I took my wedding dress to her and we discussed on few possibility's for it.

I knew I really wanted a dress for Kynzee to be sealed and blessed in and I thought it would be cool if we could use the skirt for a temple dress for me. Then we started talking about Kylee and decided we all needed a small piece of such a special dress for a special day. SOOO my incredible mom spent the next month putting together 3 elaborate dresses. Can I just say Wow! We began cutting my one and only wedding dress into pieces. Piece by piece it all came together.

Kynzees blessing/sealing dress.

Kylees whites!

and the rest for myself!

Yes all three out of my wedding dress. I was getting nervous that Steven might get a little upset. I broke down a little early and told him. I don't keep secrets from him to well. That's OK, he was fine with it and it meant alot more on that particular day.

We of course went to the temple a little early but still was rushed a little. Got everyone settled and started the paper work. The lady in the office said "you have done this once before so you know you will need a tissue right! Something about those kids all dressed in white that makes you break down and cry". My tears started long before that. We sat in a sealing room just off to the side of where we would be sealed and watched as many friends and family walked in. At this point you start thinking of all the people it takes to raise a child and your so thankful they are there to support you. Steven and I then entered, sat in the front and I was already doing the emotional breakdown.

Oh what a great feeling to know you are safe as one family never any thoughts of something coming to an end without one of your most precious pieces of life. I so adore my two beautiful daughters of God. They are true gifts of heaven. They bring more joy then words would ever express. I marvel at the strength they give me. They are pure. They are the true meaning of white, when they enter in that very sacred room.

I then take Kynzee in my arms and Kylee takes her seat not far from us and we are able to become the eternal family we have dreamed about for years. This was an overwhelming spiritual endeavor that was filled with the spirit. I cant really share the sacredness of it in it entirety but it was a wonderful peaceful day. We then was able to take a few photos of are family outside.

( I will post pictures of this part when I get them from a dear friend.)

On Sunday March 7th Kynzee was blessed by her father and given the name of Kynzee Sue Atkinson. He gave her a beautiful blessing. I am so grateful to the woman who took notes she handed her blessing to me on paper it will be cherished. We then had a wonderful gathering with family and friends and enjoyed the week immensely.

Our eternal family!

I had my friend Nicole, take some pictures of us after we were sealed to Kynzee. Take a look at the great job she did! Leave her a little love, in the comments too if you will! It was the perfect day! I will write about it later. http://leavittphoto.blogspot.com/

Kynzee's court day!

Oh how we wait for this day! Six long months go by in order for this day to appear. We stress and fret over all the things new adoptive parents stress about. Then we stress a little more waiting for a judge to tell us she is ours. Nobody can take her away. Oh how nice it is to hear those words.

We have had a long busy week! But we have had a wonderful week as well. We had court on March 4th. The agency we went through was unable to make an appearance in court. This didn't impress the professional people we had working in our behalf. It set a few people off including ourselves. The judge easily could of denied this in his court, but had mercy on us thanks to our lawyer. We have had so many people help us in this process and I'm so grateful to each of them.

Disneyland!

Kylee had a wonderful trip to Disneyland! She walked forever and tried to get every signature possible. We covered a lot of ground on Saturday. We went back to the hotel exhausted! She loved the castle! Kylee seen Alice and Wonderland for the first time. She wasn't to fond of the man in that big hat. They wanted her to stand in the middle of them. Obviously see wouldn't!

Donald Duck was great! It started to rain and she was pretty excited to wear her poncho!

I love this photo of Minnie Mouse! This was one of her favorites!

She was fascinated with her appliances.

Goofy is one of my favorite character!

We had to ride the tea cups a few times. Space mountain was her favorite ride!

Kylee absolutely loved Tiana, and was so disappointed she couldn't get her autograph!

We did see her sing about 3 times though. She did great!

This picture is one of my favorites she loved the beach even if it was a little chilly! She was not afraid to get a little wet!

Oh how sweet! Don't you always have to kiss when your on the beach?

This was such a fun trip. Things went so smooth and Kylee LOVED being with mom and dad!