Saturday, May 16, 2009

Happy Spring!

Oh, this is my favorite time of the year! I love to hear the song of the birds, the smell of fresh cut grass, the smell of rain, and of course the time change! Well, this has been a whirlwind of excitement for our family this past year. It was about a year ago this time we decided to go through the adoption process, as well as Matt officially deciding he wanted to go back to school. We had no idea these two huge life changes would meet us at the same time! When reflecting back on this...we have had a lot of change... We were finalized for adoption in June 08 Matt was accepted into BYU's MBA program in July after being initially wait listed We received a call on July 31st from our social worker we had been selected as birth parents Matt resigned from his position at Casa de Amma and left for school August 18th while I stayed to wait for Seneca to be born Seneca was born August 26th Matt moved our belongings a few days later to Utah Seneca and I had to stay in California while Matt was at school in Utah We visited Matt a couple of times a month until December; when we were able to officially move to Utah Adoption was finalized in March Seneca was sealed to us in March Matt's first year of Business school was completed mid-April! We all travel to California for 10 days to visit family and friends end of April Go back to Utah to pack up for the summer since Matt was hired as an intern with McNeil Pharmaceuticals (J& J), in Fort Washington, PA Leave for our trek to Philly May 5th Our first stop was in Lincoln, Nebraska, then to Milwaukee to visit Matt's sister, Chicago to visit Matt's cousin, Kentucky to visit Matt's Aunt and Uncle, Pittsburgh and then Wyncote; which is 20 minutes Northwest of Philadelphia! Whew~! We made it on Thursday, May 14th Here are some fun pictures of our trip to California as well as pictures documenting our trip out East! Please enjoy!

Seni and I at North Beach at Pico

Andre & Pegah Joon
Seneca & Michaela
Flying Seni
Dad & Seni
Seneca is supposed to be feeding the rabbits, not herself...
Seneca's first beach experience
Seni & Grandpa Ray...she is wearing her Dodgers cheer leading outfit! Ray loves the Dodgers
This was Utah the day I left for Cali on April 14th
Jenn, Jen and Connor from Orem...our buddies!
Big sky....Wyoming!
Photo op in Iowa!
Seni & Mom
Milwaukee: Seni with Adam
Swinging in Milwaukee with Adam
The Leavitts
Shout out to Shlotzkey! You know who I am talking about!
Best pizza in Chicago!
Roll'in in the mini van in Chicago with the Bryan crew!
Louisville Slugger Museum and manufacturing facility
Matt and Seni holding Rod Carew and Mickey Mantle's bat...
Aunt C took us to a very cool hotel that had amazing art in the lobby...this is one example.
Churchill Downs, Kentucky
Jucy's BBQ with Uncle Bob & Aunt C....great food!
Seneca sleeping
Yeah! We made it!
Pittsburgh
Stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates
View of Philadelphia skyline from our apartment

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Court Date!! Yahoo!

We are so excited to finally have the opportunity to officially adopt Seneca into our family! Here are some fun pictures documenting this event. I really want to express my gratitude for her birth mother. I am so grateful for the choice she made to allow us to raise Seneca as our own! So, thank you!

The Temple

Matt and I are so excited and blessed to have Seneca sealed to us for time and for all eternity. Here are some fun pictures to document this memory.

More Temple Shots

US!
Grandma Sue and Seni
Grandma Joan and Seni
Papa, Grandma Joan and grandkids
Us and our niece and nephews
Kempton Family
Uncle Steve, Aunt Marilyn, US and my mom
Mascaro crew!
Mom & Dad with us

March Pics

Here are some fun pictures we took this month.
I was asking the girls to close their eyes while I pulled out little tutu's I made for them.
So cute, Elizabeth is closing her eyes...but not Ana...hA!
Painting Ana's nails...purple and Orange
Seni in her stylish Hawaiian outfit with a hat and sunglasses
Seni with Ana and Elizabeth
Papa's school with Kristin and Adam racing down the slide.
Adam showing us his big muscles!
Adam, Grandma Sue and Seni
Seni gazing off in the distance!
Papa, Seni and Adam...they were racing!
Mom and Seni....Adam and Kristin
Seni's best friend Connor
Seni and her cute tutu
Yes...so stylish! We got the onezie in Hawaii a year ago and had to wear it before she grew out of it...only problem is it's cold...so, I made her wear leggings.

The Zoo!

We had a great time at the Hogle Zoo one Saturday afternoon. We went with Papa, Grandma Joan, Uncle Rob & Aunt Ness, Aunt Kristin & Uncle Guy...and Uncle Adam and Seni
Seni wearing Papa's hat
Love her beautiful blue-gray eyes
Matt and grandma Joan with Mr. Giraffe
Dad and Seni
Seni checking out Papa's mouth
Uncle Rob, Adam and Uncle Guy...not sure what the animal is they are sitting on...can't tell.
Grandma and Papa
Dad, Mom, Seni and Grandma
Ness, Rob, Grandma, and Uncle Adam

Swimming Lessons

I signed Seni and I up for swimming lessons as the local recreation center. It has been a lot of fun! She really enjoys the water. She's still to young to understand blowing bubbles and such...but we just have a great time together!
Mom helping Seni learn how to kick
Grandma Sue & Seni...supposedly practicing the back stroke...
Mom & Seni practicing her kicks
Seni reaching for the toy...she's supposed to kick for it...ha!