Boating cont'

Sophia and Janine
Our co-captain Bindi

Keep swimming...keep swimming.....

My cute husband Jeff

Bill wiped out so hard he turned his life jacket inside out.

Some early morning fishing with dad.

No fish though. :(

Rachel, Anna and McCall

Anna, McCall and Rachel

Callie and Kjersten

Stopping for lunch

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Snow Canyon

While in St. George this June Jeff and Greg went on another hike without the group into Snow Canyon. Here are just a few of the photos they took.

What a beautiful place.

Happy 13th McCall!

Happy 13th Birthday to my sweet daughter McCall. Where in the world did 13 years go? The first time I held you I knew you were mine and worth the wait. Seems like only yesterday we brought you home and I was scared to death. I was so excited to be your mom and hoping that we would always be close.

Thank you McCall for coming to my life and making our family complete.

You are so special to me.

13 things I love about McCall:

1. Your kind heart. You always think of others feelings.
2. Your generosity. You worry about those less fortunate than yourself.
3. Your love for all animals….especially dogs.
4. Picking good friends to hang around and making good choices when you are with them or alone. I am so proud of you!
5. How cute you’ve always been with Callie. She adores everything you do and you are a great example to her.
6. How you still like to sleep with me when dad is out of town. Staying up late watching movies or just falling asleep together. You are my snuggle girl.
7. Going shopping at the mall and getting our favorite “Hot Dog on a Stick” together. Yummy!!
8. Your laugh. It always makes me smile.
9. Watching you play soccer. You are so good at it. I hope you always enjoy it.
10. Your cute drawings and notes you leave me around the house.
11. Your need to keep things organized. (You get this from me. ha ha!)
12. Our talks we have when we are together. Serious, funny or about nothing at all. You know you can always come to me for anything.
13. Knowing that you will always be my daughter and I get to be your mom! We will have each other for the rest of our lives! I love you!!!

Random summer photos....

Been busy with all sorts of activities. Family in town and a quick family reunion down south. Here are just some random photos of the things we've been up to the last few weeks.

Callie broke and scrambled 92+ eggs for a reunion breakfast.
Callie loves Uncle Kevin

We love our Aunt Sandy. Thanks for taking care of us. :)

Jeff's karate moves....I think?

Micheal Jordan look out.

That smile always melts my heart!!!!

McCall and Jeff doing flips

Family and St. George hiking

Glow sticks at night (near the pool)

Cousin Lianna here to play with us. :)

Old roommate Todd from college stopped by for breakfast and nice to catch up.

Callie helping repaint the upstairs bathroom.

Getting on sunscreen.

Riley and Carla

More boating fun....

Last week we took the boat out three times. Here are just a few photos we took.

Lester-McCall-Taylor-Izzy
Cooling off with dad.

Callie-Erin-Carrisa

Erin-Jay-Carissa

Hold on Jay.

Callie and Chloe

Bindi's second favorite spot.

Callie and Chloe

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.”

This weekend is always extra special time for our family. We have been involved with so many great families that have also adopted from RMI (Republic of the Marshall Islands). This year was The 8th Annual RMI Adoption Reunion. I have headed to committee for the last 4 years and was asked to do it again next year. We have the reunion the same weekend every year and really look forward to it. Families from all over the city as well as out of state also join and celebrate too. Here are just a few photos I took.

Friday night is our “free night”. We bring our own dinner, enjoy the kids talent show, play on the grass (soccer, Frisbee, baseball, volleyball) and the parents visit and catch up. It is awesome to see how the kids have grown and the new children/families that have also joined our group. At dark Jeff brings out the glow-sticks and the kids go crazy.

Saturday is so much fun. We design our yearly t-shirts, tote-bags, pillowcases and let the kids decorate them. It is a great souvenir for them to share. There are water bounce houses, a huge slip n’ slide and a 4 ft. dunking machine. Lunch is always good with such yummy food and lots of ice cream to keep us cool. Watching all our “island babies” bond with each other is extra special.

I feel so fortunate for having these awesome families in our lives. Adoption has opened my heart even more and allowed me to enjoy something that otherwise I would have not.


Thank you Callie for being in my life!!

I am thankful every day for being your mom!!

Gracie and Callie
"Our island princess"

Gracie, Taya, Callie

Maddie and Callie

Taya was AWESOME on her violin

Sara played great on her clarinet

Gracie on the piano

Just some of the RMI kids. WOW!

One lucky mom and her girl. :)