San Diego Zoo Photo Extravaganza

Vacation was really fabulous....we needed it. Family time was awesome!!! The San Diego Zoo was one of the first things that we did...it was a gorgeous day and we all enjoyed it. Lots of pictures to share....

Papa and Maddie posing

Bella loved the petting area

Waiting for the "big bus" to tour the zoo

Loved all the time with daddy....

Grammie and Bella hanging out while eating our lunch

Lunch break

Giraffes were my favorite...they are so graceful (so unlike me)

Riding on papa's shoulders

Maddie up close and personal with the Orangutan

Mama and first born baby

She fell asleep right before we were getting ready to leave...she had so much fun but was tuckered out!

Adoption Celebration....We are So Blessed

Our first night in San Diego was spent celebrating our adoption.... It is almost 100% official now and we couldn't be happier. We have one last step to take...the final signing with the judge. We had planned a special dinner for a special girl with a special gift from her dad....

A big thank you to my dad and my step mom Barb who helped us prepare our first adoption celebration(another one will happen after the final signing)...it was a sweet and memorable night that none of us will ever forget.

Dad and Maddie getting ready to eat...the weather was perfect ..as was the setting....poolside in San Diego!

Father and Daughter....they adore each other. I love it....

A surprise gift for our girl to celebrate her adoption.....When she opened her necklace from dad...she was really really excited and surprised!!!

Putting it on her......

Proud....

Our family is so blessed and we are so lucky to have found each other....

Baking Project

Maddie and I set out to bake some Colorful Rainbow Cupcakes tonight! They didn't turn out quite as vibrant as we wanted...because we used food coloring instead of the food coloring gel from the craft store.. ...However still really cute, fun, and tasty!

The first couple of layers.....

Maddie putting the last layer of blue on

The got really really huge after they baked...we filled the cup up way too full!!

The finished product....

Roxaboxen

One of my favorite all time books to read to my students is Roxaboxen! It is about these kids that create this whole imaginary city....using stones, broken glass, sticks...anything they can find! Love this book! Maddie totally reminded me of this book yesterday when she and her neighbor friends built a fort outside the house......

This is the side of their fort.....they used logs and stones for the perimeter...they covered the inside with dry grass, and they found big long sticks to create the actually fort structure.


This is the front of their fort...I love the little pathway made of stones and the two tall "trees" on either side of their entrance....

Even Bella got to go inside their special fort!

I just love when children use their imaginations....this whole project warmed my heart and they were so proud of it!!!

Summer Bucket List

For the first time we sat down and created a family Summer Bucket List! We sat and wrote down all the things we wanted to do this summer. Some are really simple...some are bigger ideas we had...but we are excited! IWe pinned it up on the fridge and we get to check off each thing as we do them. I LOVE lists...and I LOVE checking things off lists, so this is just fun!!! Here is our Summer Bucket List (in no paticular order).... we actually keep adding things...so this is subject to change of course!!

Eastern Washington Trip

Moms/Daughter Mexican Lunch and Margaritas(Maddie is inviting 3 of her best friends and moms over to do this on a sunny day in the backyard)

A few new Science Experiments (out of Maddie's new book)

A Ferry Ride

San Diego Trip

Ice Cream at the Beach (Check)

Bake a new cake, cupcakes, or cake pops

Nailpolish Art

Regular Library Trips (storytime for Bella)

Homemade Play Dough

Make Smores

See Harry Potter

Bake a new cookies

Pacific Science Center

Homemade Popsicles

Sidewalk Chalk

Movie in the Park

Family Game Night

Run in the Sprinklers (Check)

Pikes Place

Trophy Cupcakes at U Village

Take Walks

New Bike for Maddie

Tot Lot in Fircrest

Swim Lessons

Roach Gymnastics for Bella

Orting Trail

Find a new Park/Playground

Homemade Bubbles

Chocolate Factory

Looking forward to a busy and fun summer!!!

Shoe Shopping

Today Daddy took the girls shoe shopping.....

Bella is getting her foot measured...she thought it was cool!

She REALLY liked the balloon and the fish tank at Nordstrom though...

Bouncing the balloon up and down...up and down....over and over

So excited with her choice of shoes...she was giving me her "cheesy" smile

Big sissy picked these ones out.....

Bella's new Pumas.... they look so huge here!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to both my husband and my own father! I am so blessed to have both men in our lives and they are both so full of love...we love them so much!

I love watching the relationship between my children and my husband.... I love how they look at each other..... I never thought I could be this happy, grateful, and have such bountiful blessings as we all have in each other..... This Father's Day....I am just so thankful!