Orange State Here We Come!

Well...that is kind of a maybe-but more yes than no. We made the decision last night that next summer we will be venturing to Jacksonville, Florida. I feel it is a much needed change for my family. Last night we went to Olive Garden for our date night.  We talked and we wound up talking about which Florida University team we would support.  Our waitor just happened to over hear us and asked why we were talking about Florida.  We explained and he piped up and said he just moved here from Orlando! He didnt want to move here and he loves Florida! So we talked up a storm with him...but what a sign huh?

There were a lot of factors towards moving and very little towards not. However the factors that weighed against not moving were HUGE factors. So, as long as we can work those kinks out (which I don't feel will be a problem, just some work) we will be Florida bound!

We chose Jacksonville for a lot of reasons as well.  Work there is easy to find (for me at least).  Shon might be a chore, but I am blessed with a sister who works in HR and works with recruiters to help people find jobs...oh and she lives in Florida! See it adding up? Jacksonville is a city about oh just minutes from the beach and totally affordable (eh hem...meaning MUCH cheaper than Utah!).  We will be living about 30 minutes from my parents who just bought a house in St. Augustine. 

I am so excited and SO ready for a change.  I am ready to be closer to my side of the family and to be able to spend more time with my sister!  Too many years being apart!

So let's hope everything works out and in about a year or more we are packing up and heading out of the Beehive State!

Reflections of Ashton...

So for some reason I was blessed to have 3 boys with birthdays within a 2 week span.  I know, lucky me right? 

Ashton has taught me a lot about motherhood.  He was just about 2 when Shon and I got married.  He has a really hard time coming around.  I was the stranger that was with daddy for a very long time.  It wasn't until he was about 4 when he really started to get comfortable. 
I still have the evil step-mother mole on my face with him sometimes.  He definitely tests all of our parental skills when he tries to work both sides against each other. 

He has turned out to be the best big brother to David and Jordan that I could have asked for.  He is very protective of them and is always wanting to teach them something new that he knows. 

So now Ashton is the big 1-0! I told him he is SO old cause now he has a double digit age! He just laughs and told me at least he isn't tappin on the door for 30 (like me).  What a smarty pants!

8 years with my little Ashton who sparked the reason why I wanted to be a mom after all.   Thank you Ashton for being my son.  I love you and I am excited for many more birthdays with you and your brothers!

P.a.R.t.Y? Because we gotta!

I know I know...thank you for the applause....y'all think I am doing SO wonderful and keeping up with my blog.  Well...let's just say winter season is about over at work and I am ALMOST back to my normal self/routine again! Wahoo!  Anyways, here are some pics from the boys birthdays.  Not all of them are on here because the boys had their sisters come and the girl's mom had some respite care kids (aka can't be in pictures online--which I totally agree with!) So here is what I CAN post. :-)

 The birthday cake--Mom failed at making one...so THANK YOU WALMART!

 Singing "Happy Birthday"

 YAY! For blowing out your candles! Well, Jordan blew out David's and David blew out Jordan's (long story)

 One Word...PRESENTS!

 And then the most exciting part was the tissue paper...of all things!

The boys with their sisters...they were SO happy to see each other! It was a good day for them!

Reflections of Jordan...

I fell in love with Jordan fast.  And the only reason I think as to why is because he was as close I was ever going to get to a baby age as possible.  He snuggles with me, I was able to potty train him myself, he was still in diapers (so as sick as that is, I was excited to experience a child in diapers), he still used a high chair, etc.  Jordan plays the "I'm a baby role" which hits my soft spot more than it does Shon.

Jordan took some time to come around when we first got him.  Although he doesn't remember his history or past, it was something new and all of a sudden he was in a completely new living situation.  He was a typical toddler who just didn't like strangers.  Now, he will talk, hug and give anyone a kiss on the cheek. 

I think he is going to be our wild child.  He will be the one to fail school, just cause he can, break his arm, get a huge cut and need stitches...he is the daredevil who will risk it all.  He is too smart for his own britches.  I have lost count on how many times I ask him a question about something and he just stands there but he has the (I know the answer, but I just don't want to tell you) face. 

And now he turns 3...THREE.  I mean his is practically in pre-school now.  And so as much as I am happy he has a birthday I don't want my baby boy to get any older! 

I love you Jordan.  Happy Birthday (tomorrow) !

Reflections of David

David, who has become the middle child in our little family, has been the one whom has both tested and challenged my physical and emotional states.  He comes from a very bad situation from his past prior to being placed and adopted by us.  I think about his past and what he has been through each and every day.  And each and every day my heart breaks for him.  I have said this once and I will said it all the time, when we got these boys I was so scared I wouldn't love them as my own.  I mean I was worried sick.  But David has changed that for me.  It took a lot of time with him.  I wasn't sure I could handle him with the horrible past he had.  I was and still am truly challenged by every aspect of him. 

But I love him.  I love him as my son, as my middle child, as my kindergertener, as my child who wants to do well, as my child who cares about everyone around him, as my child who just.wants.to.be.loved.unconditionally.  And I promise David no matter where you came from, who are are and who you become-I will love unconditionally.

Happy 6th Birthday (yesterday) David.

I love you,
Mom

Boys Boys BOYS!

So I (this is Cristina writing of course) need to add something...it SHOULD be something easy enough to add.  Something that will pretty much always be on my side.  Something that is fairly similar to me, not necessarily by age.  Something that will throw off the extremely lack of ESTROGEN in this household! I am surrounded by mud, boogers, the toilet seat is always UP because there is more of them than me, it's always blues instead of pinks, it's always wrestle instead of snuggle.  I.AM.SURROUNDED.BY.BOYS! Everything is a boy...my husband (not that I am complaining), my kids, my cat and this just in...my dog! I need a girl...SOMETHING needs to be a female...soon! HELP!

Winter family pic!

So I am a loser mom and kinda force my family for family pics...more than once a year.  I just can't get enough of pictures of my cute kids!

2010

This year has been...interesting to say the least.  It seemed like whenever there was an up there was a down.  Here is our quick year of review:

Boys came, had our first birthdays together, petitioned for adoption, bio parents were stocking us, boys were adopted, Cristina's dad visited, Shon lost his job, Shon got a job, Shon is still on unemployment, Cristina's mom visited, first round of infertility meds were a huge dud, Jordan's visit to the cardiologist showed no surgery (this year anyways), David started kindergarten, we bought a van to fit our whole family.

Hey, I said it was quick, right?

Here's to 2011! Happy New Year!

Our Christmas...

I know this is a little late, but here are some of our videos and pictures from our Christmas at home.

 

MeRrY cHrIsTmAs!

Whoa, whatta year! This year instead of the Salt Lake Temple Lights we went to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi and enjoyed some holiday lights, some of Santa's reindeer and of course (my fav) old fashioned holiday candy.  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!