WOW...what a week!!!

Get ready for a picture overload, but we had a busy and exciting week so lots to document. Monday, April 5th
We headed to court to have Kyler's adoption finalized. I'm not sure why I was so nervous, but going to court is a scary thing. It ended up not being a big deal at all. It only lasted about 15 minutes. I think it probably took us longer to get through the security check than it did in the court room. The judge must have been nervous too, because at the end he got confused and said, "This divorce is finalized" instead of saying adoption. Getting our pictures with Judge Hadfield and our attorney.

I wanted to include a picture of us with our caseworker. She played a BIG part in Kyler's adoption. She is the one that felt inspired to show Michelle our profile and felt like we were a good match. The funny thing was she had only met me once for about 10 minutes when I dropped some paper work off at her office. We had originally been approved by another caseworker who decided to stay home and be a full time mom. That is when our profile was handed over to Keri. I'm just so thankful that Keri was in tune with the spirit and followed the promptings she got about us. If it weren't for her I don't think Michelle would have ever seen our profile.

Friday, April 9th

We had Kyler sealed to us in the Logan Temple for time and all eternity. Once again I was nervous, but really excited. We had been anticipating this day for the past 6 months and were so happy to finally be sealed together as a family. It was a beautiful spring day. I think Kyler knew somethings special was happening that day, because he was so happy and content. I was a bit worried that he would be upset when we left him in the child's center while we went and got dressed, but he was the only baby in there so he was spoiled with attention. Once all of our guests had arrived and we were ready and dressed in white, they brought Kyler into the sealing room. That moment will be a special memory in my mind. He looked so precious dressed all in white. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. He is one loved little boy!!!

Afterwards we celebrated as a family by having a nice dinner at The Coppermill. It was nice to just relax and visit with family. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful families who love and support us. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that families are eternal and that after this life we can still be together.

Sunday, April 11th

Sunday was another big day for us. We blessed Kyler at church and then had our families over for lunch. We were a little concerned how Kyler would do during the blessing since he is older and doesn't really like to be restricted to stay on his back. He only made a few noises and was pretty good through it. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful husband who is worthy to hold the priesthood. He gave Kyler a beautiful blessing.

After church we had everyone over to our house for lunch. I was a bit concerned because of the wind advisories that were issued for that day, but it ended up not being too windy. Thank goodness, I don't know where I would have put 60 people in my house.

Zach and Michelle holding Kyler.

Visiting with Zack and Michelle's families.

Kyler we love you so much and are glad that you are part of our family!!!

Last Easter Post...I promise

I promise this will be the last Easter post, it's just that we had so many fun activities going on and fun pictures I couldn't leave any out. I loved how Easter and general conference fell on the same Sunday. For me it really help stay focused on the meaning of Easter and the love that our Savior has for us. I couldn't help but reflect on what was happening in our lives 6 months ago during the last general conference. That was the same weekend that we brought home our sweet baby boy. Wow how time flies by!!! Now look at him. Sitting up with his own Easter basket.

We started the day off by going to my grandparents house for lunch and a Easter egg hunt. Here are Kyler and Annie posing for the 1st of many pictures. I love that they are so close in age. They are going to have so much fun growing up together. Annie is 10 months and Kyler is 6 months. I can't believe he is almost the same size as her.

It was a bit cold for Kyler so we put him in his winter snow suit. He looked like a bunny himself.

I love the many expressions that he makes for the camera.

After we left grandma's house we spent some time at my parents house and watched the afternoon session of conference. Kyler spent most of the time playing with grandpa Kelly. He loves his grandpa!!

We had our annual Easter egg roll. Kind of a weird tradition, but you have to get rid of the eggs some how. Jason and Joe always get a bit creative with activities like these.

We spent that evening with the Cook family for another yummy dinner and Easter egg hunt. I was too busy recording Kyler on the video camera and forgot to take any pictures. We had a great Easter and feel so blessed!!!

Dying Eggs...

I haven't dyed Easter Eggs since I was a kid. I am loving being a parent and being able to do traditions that I did as a kid and also starting some of our own new ones. Kyler is still a bit young to do a lot of these things, but that's okay it's still fun doing them anyways. He loves to grab anything he can get his hands on, so we kept him out of reach of the dye. He loved all of the bright colors and wanted to touch it.

Learning from the best. Jason is very artistic and creative. Hopefully that is something that Kyler will learn from him.

Kyler wasn't sure what to think of the eggs. Of course he had to try tasting everything. Good thing they were hard boiled, he ended up dropping it on the floor. His new favorite game.

The finished product. I love this picture and expression on Kyler's face. I wish I knew what he was thinking. He is probably thinking I take way too many pictures!! But hopefully he will love to look back on them one day. It's just that time is passing so quickly and he is growing and changing so much I want to try and capture it as much as I can. Being a parent is the BEST!!!

G.G's Easter Party

The weekend before Easter, Grandma Cook had her Easter egg hunt and get together. It turned out great and the weather was actually better on that Sunday than it was on Easter. It is always nice to get together with extended family. This was the first of many egg hunts that Kyler would get to experience on his first Easter. He wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but enjoyed sucking on the eggs once he had it in his hands.

Grandma Cook and all of her great grandkids.

A tradition that the Cook family does every year on Easter is a raw egg toss. The kids love it and the adults try not to get involved in it. It seems like every year someone ends up getting a broken egg over the head. Sometimes on accident and sometimes on purpose. Michael, our 5 year old nephew has a great aim. He threw one in the air and it came down on Callen's head. He thought that looked fun so he decided to break one on his own head. It's not very often that you get to play with eggs and break them on purpose. Fun Tradition!!!

April Fool's Day

Mother Nature played a mean trick on us!!!