One Year

A year ago today, we celebrated that we were officially approved to adopt. Today, we celebrated again. We went to Red Robin as a family and enjoyed dinner and a Rookie Magic. As we ate, we reflected on the past year of being approved for adoption and things we have accomplished.

Here is a list of things related to adoption that we have done:
-Held an adoption kick-off open house
-Realized just how incredible open adoption is, and how we wouldn't want it any other way
-Play group coordinators for the CO chapter of Families Supporting Adoption (FSA)
-Accepted the opportunity to serve as the co-chairs for the CO chapter of FSA
-Accepted the opportunity to serve as the chairs for the CO chapter of FSA
-Participated in the Wheatridge Parade as FSA
-Carried our adoption pass along cards to our local high school counselors
-Organized the 2nd annual all day FSA Area Conference
-Updated our adoption blog regularly
-Helped to carry out an adoption fireside (and attended another one)
-Helped with an FSA Christmas party
-Communicated with two adoption scammers from "Cameroon"

Here is a list of fun things we did as a family:
-Explored the Black Canyon of the Gunnison while camping
-Went to Elitch Gardens as a family with Kylee's sister and her husband
-Enjoyed having almost all of Russ' family together in Denver for about a week
-Planned a birthday party to celebrate Caden turning 4
-Went camping with friends at our annual Labor Day campout
-Celebrated our 5 year anniversary
-Russ went to Wood Badge training while Caden and Kylee camped in the family room
-Kylee went to Girl's Camp with the youth of our area
-We held our 6th annual Halloween Mystery Dinner
-For Christmas, Russ' parents surprised us with a trip to Disneyworld
-We drove to UT to surprise Kylee's parents when they got off their mission to South Africa
-We entertained Kylee's parents that came to stay with us for a week
-Attended the BYU v. Air Force Football game
-Kylee donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love
-Russ' brother started his 2 year mission for our church to Roseville, CA
-Had a very fun April Fool's Day

In the coming year, we are looking forward to:
-Running our first 5K as a family (in the FSA 5K)
-Going on our first family backpacking trip
-More contact with birth parents
-Open adoption and forming long-term relationships with birth parents and their families
-Going to Disney World with (almost) all of Russ' family
-Welcoming Russ' brother Mike back home from a 2 year mission for the church in the Dominican Republic
-Having a family reunion on the Oregon coast with all of Kylee's family
-Caden starting Kindergarten! We can't believe it!