Alex's birthfamily!

Alex's birth mom and biological brother and sister came and visited him last week. The pictures are all mixed up. For some reason they are not being loaded in the same order that I uploaded them.

We went to K-mart so they could get him a present. . . he got a tool kit set. He LOVES it! He has played with every day since he got it.

Here is his safety goggles They called him scuba Steve! LOL

Helping dad put the tool set together.

Posing with the box before we put it together. He was so excited to put it together.

Hanging on the trampoline

Miss Kayla being cute as always!

Stacey is behind Kayla. She is Alex's birth mom!

This is Regan and Christian. . . Alex's biological brother and sister. Regan is only 12 and Christian is about 14 or 15. It gives me an idea of how big Alex is going to be. He is going to be one big boy!. Christian is already 6' 2" and Regan is like 5'7" ish.

The stroller was meant for Kayla but Alex LOVED it and plays with it all the time. Good practice for being a good dad I guess. We put a stuffed animal in it for him to push around and care for.

I know some people find it strange that we have them come visit but it isn't strange to us. It is very comfortable and we figure how can a child be loved tooo much? They can't. They adore him and I love that. I also love that they adore our new addition Kayla! When they come I feel like our good friends are coming to see the kids. They don't step on any toes and they let us be mom and dad. The adoption world isn't what it was years ago. It is more common to have open adoptions. It is up to the birth family and the adoptive family to decide how open they want to be. I love Stacey! I met her long before she was pregnant with Alex. The way things worked out was not by mistake. . . the Lord played a big role in making it happen. I think about my life and the different things that have happened. When Erik said we were moving to Minnesota I was not happy! I was very irritated and angry! I went because it was what we needed to do to make a living. I was miserable for awhile because I didn't embrace the situation and jump in with a good attitude. As I adjusted I was learning to love it. Now if given the opportunity to move back I don't thing I would. I really have changed my attitude. Okay. . . so I have a point! Had we not moved to MN, I never would have met Stacey. . . .are you seeing where I am going with this! If I didn't meet Stacey she wound not have place Alex with us! Secondly if we were not in MN when Kayla's birth mom was looking to place she would not have selected us. She wanted someone from Minnesota. Looking back, I now know it wasn't by mistake that we moved here. It was inspiration. . . I am just glad Erik was open to listen to the inspiration while I was dragging my feet all the way to Minnesota. So if you want to think it is weird that we have visits from Alex's birth family that is your prerogative. What matters is how we feel and how Alex feels! I write this to try and help people understand that it is okay. I hear more and more about adoptions that are as open as ours. It is the new NORM!

KIDS!

It is so hard to get a picture of Kayla smiling! I think her eyes are pretty sensitive to the light. Whether it is the flash of the camera or the natural light I get squinting or her eyes closed.
Alex on the Jumper! He calls the trampoline "the jumper"

Look mom, I found grass. (she eats it too) We were at the beach last week and she was eating sand. This girl puts EVERYTHING in her mouth.

So cool!

Lola was napping by the door so Alex went and layed down by her.

Just because!

Erik brought home these flowers a couple of weeks ago just because. I love getting flowers when I dont expect them. Not that I ever have a day that I expect flowers. Normally guys pick a day such as mothers day or valentines day. . . my guy picks tues day, wednes day, or thurs day!

I posted my food, just because too! Actually for those of you who dont know I am not that keen on eating vegetables. Well last summer my girlfriend introduced me to this little meal and I am hooked it is so good. I know some people post recipes for desserts and things so here is my reciped for my favorite vegetable dish.

1st you put in a little olive oil in the bottom of a pan. Then you add some minced garlic and diced onions. While those are sauteing you cut up the other vegys of your choice. In this one I have asparagus, yellow squash, zuccinni, and spinach. After it is cooked to your liking you add a little cheese. I have used both cheddar and Feta. I prefer the Feta. Then after you are done you add some freshly diced tomatos. It is easy to make and very good! I hope you all get a chance to enjoy some thing that I have learned to LOVE!

Grandpa and Grandma P

If you ever come to our house when Grandpa and Grandma are visiting, dont be surprised to see Grandma holding Kayla. When Kayla had learned to crawl Grandma hadn't seen it because she never put her down. I think she loves having a grand daughter. . .or a girl period for that matter. Her kids are all boys and her grand kids are all boys too. . . . until Kayla came along!

Grandma is getting a work out from Alex.

If Alex likes something he will say "again , again!" So Grandma was doing this over and over again. She is holding him and twisting from side to side.

Alex adores Grandpa. He adores both actually. He gets so excited to see them. His face lights up and he yells their names. Then he runs and gives them big hugs.

Alex was so excited to see Grandpa on this day that he just sat and chilled with him.

A big hug for Grandpa!

The Angry Indian!

Alex got this cute outfit in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Kasper. They are on a mission in India right now. So we got him already for church today and this is how he looked.

He wasnt too happy!

He didnt care much for the new outfit!

Okay, he hated it!


Sorry if this hurts your feelings grandma!

Trying to take it off!

Please MOM!

Get this thing off of me!

Needless to say we changed him after we were all ready for church. I think it scratched him a bit and he was irritated. So mom here are the pictures. . .this was the first time he wore and probably the last. I dont know if we will be able to convince him to put it on again. I told Erik before we change him we better get pictures. He did look cute but the yelling and crying was not fun.

Happy Mothers Day!

Kayla is a mover and a grover! She is crawling in, and on everything and going anywhere and everywhere. She is so amazing and fun. Her smiles and giggles is what makes everything worth it. She learned to say mama this week. What a great mothers day present. Her first word was "mama" Kayla I love you!

Alex cracks me up every single day! This picture is a little of taste of why he cracks me up. We have been potty training and he is doing fabulous. I caught him using the toilet just like this. I dont have any idea where he learned it but I think he is hilarious! When he is not being a monkey then he sits on the toilet backwards. Silly boy!

I found some cute pictures on line for Mothers Day! Enjoy them all you mothers!

I have so many mothers in my life to be thankful for. I am thankful for both of my grandmothers, for without them my father and mother would not exist. Both women were great in there own way. I loved my grandma Fran for her spunkyness and crazy character. She was always fun to be around, so full of life. I loved my grandma Fay for every possible reason. She was the grandma we lived the closest to so we were able to see her more often. She could sing, act, and dance amazingly. I loved to watch her in the plays she did and I loved to visit her. I don't know why but lately I have been remembering her making me cheesers. (a slice of cheese on a piece of bread and then microwaved for about 20 seconds) as a kid I loved these. I miss both of my grandmothers a ton!

My mom has been such a blessing in my life. She has been a great supporter in everything I have done in my life. I remember her coming to all of our ball games and cheering us on. I also remember looking for her to make sure she was there and watching. I didn't realized how much I counted on her until she left for her mission to India. I didn't think it would affect me as much as the other kids because we live so far away and I don't see her that often anyway. I failed to remember that I use to talk to her on the phone nearly every day. I think I have been going through withdrawals not having her at my beckon call. She is the one I want to call when things are great and when things are not so great. I want to tell her first that we might be getting a baby, or that it didn't work out. I want to tell her what new things the kids are doing. I want to tell her when life is unfair. She always knew how to make me feel okay about things. Mom I miss you and wish I could still call you everyday. You are a mother to so many more now. The people in India love you and probably wont give you back.

Erik's mother Audrey has also been a great blessing in my life. She lives so close and has been very helpful to us. She loves our children so much and we love her too. It is nice to have a mother so close to talk to once in awhile. It really has helped fill the void of not having my own mother around. Erik and I love to get together with his parents to do things. Even if we are just hanging out at one of our homes and talking it is still nice just to be together. I don't think I would survive with out her. She is always willing to help us in any way. We love to go to dinner and road trips too. It is nice that they are willing to join us in our little adventures. Audrey thank you for all the help you give us. Thank you for the treatments and for loving our kids so much! They are lucky to have you as a grandma.

Now this is for 2 very important mothers in my life, for without them I would not be a mother. Alex and Kayla's birth mothers are both amazing women. I don't know how I got soooo lucky twice. (okay, maybe I do) The Lord knew what he was doing! To have the strength and courage to do what these 2 ladies did is amazing. They are both selfless to have given us these beautiful children. I feel like I am so lucky to have the children I do. They are both beautiful and amazing in their own ways. I use to be sad on mothers day, wondering if I would ever be a mother myself. That changed 3 years ago, and now I am a mother of 2. This will be my first Mothers day with 2 kids. I want to wish both of you a Happy Mothers Day! Know that these two babies are loved soooo much! I will always have a special place in my heart for both of you!

I feel so blessed to have so many mothers that have really made a difference in my life. My grandmothers were amazing and very much needed. Because of my wonderful mother I am here today, and because of Erik's mother he is here. You get the picture right. Our children's birth mothers have made the biggest difference in my life. I love my kids more then anything in the world and cant imagine our lives without them.

I want to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Mothers Day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

Alex turned 3 on the 5th of May. Yes he is my Cinco day Mayo baby. We had other things going on so we celebrated on the 6th. Actually we started celebrating the 5th and it is still a party over here. LOL

He is learning the best techniques to opening birthday presents. I think he has it mastered!

Notice there is still 1 candle lit. He hasn't figured out that making the "f" sound doesn't blow out candles. I was trying to teach him to make an "o" shape and blow. Needless to say we had A LOT of spit hit the cake. We all got a good laugh!

The kids jumped on the trampoline before we went in and opened presents and had cake.

This is as creative as I got this year. I did not make the cake this year. I am a slacker I know. But it was so easy to buy this delicious chocolate cake and then decorate it with sprinkles and cars. Alex LOVED it. . . . and that is all that matters!

This year we got Alex a sandbox with sand toys. He helped dad put the sand in (1 bag and then he was playing in it) and then he was there until everyone else showed up. The party was last night and this morning the first thing he wanted to do was play in the sand. It has been almost 2 hours and he is still playing. It is the best investment yet.

So people that came to see Alex were. . . Grandpa and Grandma Peterson. They came earlier and gave him a present. 3 cookies for his 3 years and a cool t-shirt. He is wearing his new shirt at the party. Grandma helped me with Kayla while I got things ready for the party. Thanks grandma for all the help and the advice. . .even if I didn't use your advice it was fun to talk to you. (you know me. . . I am determined to do it my way, although I did do the cake a little different then I thought I would) HA HA HA!!!! Thanks a million!

Nate and Darlene came with their two boys and Dean and Christy came with their 2 girls. Dan came with his daughter Alayna. Dan's wife Christy had to work. Alex is always asking to play with Jackson or Olivia! He asks for Max on occassion and even Ava who is younger then Kayla. Thank you so much for the gifts everyone.

So overall it was a great day. Christy gave us a DVD of Alex when he was 1 day old. I haven't seen it since we filmed it. We used their video camera before we got our own. It was amazing to watch that first day. We have footage of us driving to the hospital with my mom, and the of Stacey in the hospital room. Then a little bit of his first few weeks. It is amazing that he is 3 years old now. Where has the time gone.

Alex. . . we love you so much and we are grateful you are a part of our family! You are a perfect fit for us. You are the best little boy in the whole world and we wouldn't survive without you. You have a fun loving spirit, and a personality that draws everyone to you. Thanks you for being you. Happy birthday big guy!