I spy with my little eyes....

A BIG ROCK!!

We drove to Utah for a quick weekend trip, and this is the game we played all through the Grand Junction area (which is surrounded with big rock canyons on both sides)! Caden kept saying it almost every time and we all laughed so hard, because there were huge rocks all around. How were we supposed to know which one? We played it on the way there and on the way back. What a funny kid and fun memories!

I will post about the trip (with pics) a little later. We only had a few hours and we squeezed a lot in!

When we went grocery shopping this week, we went down the Halloween aisle. Caden said "Hellloooo candy!" He says the funniest things. Russ and I love to just talk about all the funny and cute things Caden says every day. We love being parents!

Bread, Banana Bread, Blankets and Puzzles

We had the great privilege of listening to General Conference (where the prophet and other leaders of our church talk to the world) last weekend. As always, we learned about many things we want to improve in our lives. Caden loved hearing the names of the prophets, apostles and other gospel words. He would shout out the words or names he recognized. We played LDS Bingo and did LOTS of puzzles. He loves puzzles and we loved that he was being reverent. :) After doing the 12 pictured below, we did a 500 piece Monsters, Inc puzzle.
Also, in Kylee's family, they have the tradition of making homemade bread and cinnamon rolls for General Conference. It is a very tasty and fun tradition. We also had banana bread as a snack while we watched the conference.
Kylee is also a blanket fanatic, so anytime she sits down to read a book, cuddle or watch TV (or General Conference), there is always a blanket involved.

After the conference, we drove to the mountains again to see the fall leaves. We also got to see a beautiful sunset. Russ and Caden were climbing on the rocks when Kylee snapped this pic of them watching it.

Fun weekends

Russ got the opportunity to go to Wood Badge this past weekend. He learned a lot about scouting and a lot about being a leader. He also loved being in the forest with the changing leaves. He came home singing a few weird songs and teaching Caden how to make a "woggle". We are proud of all he does to learn and improve in all aspects of life! I love my handsome scout! :)

While he was gone, Caden and I had a camp out in the family room. We ate ice cream sandwiches and watched Caden's favorite movie (Cars) from the tent. Then we slept in there. Caden was so excited about the whole night.

After church on Sunday, we drove to the mountains to see the fall colors. I love this tender moment I captured of Caden (who just woke up) cuddling with Russ. So sweet!

This was right after we told Caden he could get some ice cream if he smiled. :)

Loving on our sweet angel. You can never give enough hugs and kisses!

I am a mother

This video really touches me. I have always wanted to be a mother and it is something that I honor and am proud of. I love the fact that I can be a stay-at-home mom and be there for all the big and small moments. I love taking my son to the park and seeing him learn how to do the monkey bars and going to the library and watching the joy on his face as he gets a new Cars book. Life really is about the little things: the little moments, the little giggles under a fort, the little grins on a child's face.

I am a story reader, a 'bonk' fixer, a tickle monster, a macaroni and cheese maker, a ball thrower, a coloring partner, a bubble blower, a pool splasher, and a board game playing mother. There really is nothing greater in the world! I am excited to be a mother again through the selfless acts and great love of a courageous woman when we adopt.

By the way, Jane Clayson Johnson has written an incredible book called "I am a mother". I LOVE it!!

Go cougs!

We had the opportunity to go cheer for the BYU Cougars at the Air Force v. BYU game this past Saturday. It wasn't much of a game (BYU lost 35-14), but at least we were with good friends and family. We were able to bring a young man from our ward (congregation), and he told us thank you at least a hundred times. Also, we sat by Russ' parents and had other friends there as well. Caden especially loved seeing the jets fly over and sitting in the planes.

I was excited when I learned that I could sit in the planes too....can you tell? :)

Russ chilling with the young man from our ward

Not a great picture, but it shows the great seats we had!

They did a special half time show for 9-11. It is great to live in such an amazing free country, and to have brave service men that protect us here in the US and through their work overseas.

Spotlight

Our awesome Colorado Chapter of FSA (Families Supporting Adoption) spotlight an adoptive couple each week. We have the privilege of being spotlighted today! Check it out here: http://coloradofsa.blogspot.com/2010/09/spotlight-wednesday-russ-kylee.html

Thanks Colorado FSA!

Labor Day weekend

We had a great Labor Day weekend! We have a tradition of camping with Russ' LDS co-workers (there are a lot of them). We camped Thursday and Friday nights in a beautiful place with good friends. This year there were 8 families and lots of cute kids. It was so much fun!

We love Caden's dirty face in the pic below.

We played in the stream by the campsite. Caden loved throwing rocks and sticks in the water.

We brought the hammock that Russ brought home from his mission in Venezuela. It is HUGE and the kids LOVED it! They were constantly all crammed in there swinging and laughing. So fun!

We went on a hike to find a geocache (or as we call it, hidden treasure). Caden was holding the GPS and kept telling us how far we were away from it. He LOVES going geocaching with us.

We got home on Saturday afternoon to call Kylee's parents that are serving a mission in South Africa because it was her Mom's birthday.

On Monday, we went swimming as a family and then we went to a park with two families that are friends of ours. We had a picnic and let the kids play. It was a great weekend!Russ and Caden climbed to the top of this structure. They were so happy.

I love the close up because it shows the great pride they had in their accomplishment, especially Caden! He sure loves his Daddy!