Post 100!!! It's only taken me 1.5 years to get here!

Today we took another step toward being ready to adopt. We've completed almost all of our paper work! We had our fire inspection and our individual interviews with the adoption agency. Now all we have to do it have our couple interview and finish our training! I'm very happy to have most of the hard work behind us. Now we just need to find our child! In other words we're getting settled in to wait for the long haul.

Also, Bryan and I were called into the Nursery! I'm actually really excited. It's so much fun to get to play with all the little kids but not be in charge of diapers or discipline. (in other words it's just like being an aunt...)

And last but not least, it has been brought to my attention that I haven't been receiving all of my emails! So if you've tried to email me in the past couple of months and I haven't replied, know that I'm not snubbing you! Try me again and hopefully this time it'll work!

Gotta run,

Happy belated Easter!

We have had a wonderful Easter Season. I love all of the bright colors I see everywhere. (well at least in the stores, they're no where to be found outdoors yet) I had a lot of fun dying the eggs. I had originally wanted to dye them with Daniel, but then looked at the box and it said "for ages 5 and up." When all was said and done I was REALLY glad I hadn't had him "helping" me. Just by myself I had dyed the whole counter. Thank goodness for bleach.

About 5 mins after we pulled the eggs out for easter Daniel had mutilated them.

Why even bother?
Daniel has really been missing his cousins and "Mima." I thought it was funny how in this picture the level of cooperation we received was directly related to their age!

We ran over to the farmer's market on the day before Easter. I was hoping they'd have some fun stuff for Easter dinner, etc. But it was business as usual. We had lunch there at a Chinese place that boasted the "best Pad Thai in town" so Bryan tried it. It was by far the worst we've had. Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read! I had the sweet and sour chicken which was wonderful. (I guess I'm not very adventurous)
We stopped at a little bakery "booth" and got some great desserts for Easter Sunday. I just thought they were all too pretty to eat.

They have a great flower market that tempts me everytime I'm in that area of town. If only I were rich!

I have lots to update you all with, so I'll write again soon!

The rest of our visit in Utah:

We spent a girls day out at the home and garden expo. It was a lot of fun to see all of the booths with the new materials they offer. (and the gardens were so pretty!) The home depot booth had the cutest little aprons, so we brought some home and the little kids loved them. I think they look so cute! Grandma finally herded them all together for a photo. The two little boys had a blast playing together when they weren't fighting with each other! I think in a couple of months they will play together beautifully.

One afternoon we met up with one of Bryan's uncles and tried out a new kids Cafe called Max's and Cheese in Orem. I really liked the concept of the place, all of the tables were situated around a little play area for the children. They also had sippy cups and bibs you could use. It was very kid friendly.

Daniel's mac and cheese came with a hot dog "Octopus." It was so cute.

Jane and I had a lot of fun all week. She's just figured out how to say my name, (shoo-shan) and says it all the time. Seriously adorable. Anyways, I started making fishy faces at her and she thought it was so funny! She tried for the longest time to do it back.

Whenever we all went out together we'd pile into the same car and I got to sit next to the two most beautiful girls.

Uncle Tim found a swimming cap and let all of the little kids try it on. Daniel thought it was fun.
Caleb was clearly not amused!

Bryan and I got the opportunity to go down to St. George while Daniel stayed with Meema and Grandpa. St. George was absolutely beautiful!!! The trees were all blooming and it was so warm. I honestly felt like I was defrosting while we were there. I definitely suggest it to anyone stuck in the deep freeze of northern Utah!

Bryan was VERY patient with me as we went through Zion's National Park. We did my version of a drive by shooting, Bryan drives and I shoot my photos out the window while we're moving. It definitely requires some coordination and lots of trial and error. But when you're short on time, you gotta do what you gotta do!

It was absolutely gorgeous! There was still snow everywhere but it wasn't the least bit cold. We drove through Kolob Canyon, Kolob Terrace and the main area in Zions. Sometime we'll have to go back when we've got some time to hike. The views are incredible. Last time we were here I was 5 months pregnant with Daniel and I hiked the Narrows, where you hike through a large stream the whole time. It was so refreshing to be in the water while it was so hot outside! Any the cliffs on either side were covered in greenery. It was picturesque.

(I'm sure as I make my way through all the photos I took I'll be showing you many more, I just can't get enough of the red rock!)

One of the last days we were there we headed over to the Living Planet Aquarium. All of the cousins had been sick during the week, so we kept it short and sweet and some couldn't come. But we still managed to have a really good time.

(The only way I could get Daniel to smile for me was to sick his Daddy on him, it worked)



At the end of the aquarium Daniel found one of his favorite fishes! Bruce from finding Nemo. This is when having a very tall Daddy really pays off!I loved all week how Jane would take care of her doll. Daniel started copying her and was so soft with the "babies." He's definitely getting ready to be a big brother. It is amazing to me how intrinsic these tendencies are in children. I still remember vividly when Daniel started making car sounds as he drove anything he could find around the lines in the rug. We'd never shown him how to do that, that's what he was interested in and he just picked it up himself. I just love how children can surprise us!

I really need to get back on the blogging band wagon! First off, thanks so much for all of your emails of love and support, it really means a lot to us. We're excited to be in the process and are already realizing just how long it takes!

We're in Utah for our Spring Break. It seems like we timed it perfectly as our little house in Ohio just got covered in 20 inches of snow. I got to spend some time with my parents before they left on their mission and Daniel got to play with Grandpa one more time. They seem really happy to be serving a mission. The day they left my Aunt and Uncle took us out to lunch at a wonderful sandwich place. (Paradise Bakery.... highly recommend it!) and then I dropped them off at the airport.

I've heard from them once and so far I think it's safe to say that they're having an adventure!

At the beginning of our vacation Daniel and I were staying at my sister Shannon's house (Bryan came out later) and this was the beautiful scene we woke up to on Sunday. Isn't it gorgeous? I keep telling them they need to put a balcony off of this bedroom! (you can also see the valley and the temple out of this window!)

Since I've been here I've also been to Ikea twice, and I've spent hardly any money. I'm so proud of myself! But it's definitely been fun to look around and see cool ideas that are somewhat in my price range. When the Cinncinati Ikea gets built I am so there. (I just looked it up and it's opening on the 12th! Woohoo!) Anyways, the second time I went we all stopped at the restaurant and got lunch, the kids were a hoot. They would not rest until they got their food. Silly little guys. So while these pictures may look serene, it was quite the contrary!