Happy Holidays!

Yes, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The judge did grant our appeal to adopt Moses and Matt and I both cried. I don't know what to say about the sealing. It seems to kind of trivialize it when I try to describe what it was like. They took me into the bride's room to get ready and to get changed after. When I was in there with my escort after the sealing I told her that it was much better than being a bride. I am so overjoyed to be the mother of Ava and Moses and that was an incredibly happy day.

We are glad to be back home, although it was great to see our families. And we are so excited for Christmas and Matt getting out of school! I decorated the house with the kids and Ava and I made fudge (it didn't turn out very well, it was my first time making it without my Mama). Now if Matt lives through his finals (he had taken 3 when I asked if he was halfway done and he said, "No, I have 11 more."), we'll be able to enjoy this Christmas season.

I will share pictures when I get them. Until then, here are a few Fall pictures my lovely friend Carissa took.

Tagged

Here are the rules:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then go to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.


1. In the almost 5 years Matt and I have been married we have lived in 6 states and moved 10 times (I think). Many thanks to the very professional Stephenson Moving Company.

2. I get very talkative as soon as I go to bed. Perhaps it is because that is the only time I have a moment to myself to think. Well, probably not because I've been that way since I was little--my dad used to make me sleep on the couch so I would stop talking to my sisters. But don't worry, Matt just falls asleep and I talk to myself.

3. I only like flat soda. So I undo the lid and leave it in the fridge for a couple days, then it's good.

4. I used to be up there with the top 'high endurance shoppers', but then I had children and my skills have been seriously depleted.

5. I once dated a boy who became a professional surfer.

6. When I was little I wanted to be a judge. Now someday I would like to interpret again or else open a shampoo store. Oh, how I love shampoo.

Blessed November

It is finally November! It seems like I have been waiting forever for this very month. This is the month we are going to Utah to visit our families, have Thanksgiving, and get a break from dental school life. AND, most importantly, this is the month we are finalizing our adoption and Moses is being sealed to us. I can't tell you what it feels like to even think about it. I even get teary eyed when I read the letter from our lawyer about our court date. I am really so grateful that eveything has gone perfectly and we have no fears that we will finalize and be sealed without any problems.

I am thankful to our agency, to our families and friends, and mostly to Moses' birthmom. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her. I hope that I am, and can continue to be, the mother she wanted for her son. I hope that she is finding peace through her grief. I hope that the pictures and letters I send to her convey some of the love and respect I have for her. I think she knows how loved Moses is--because she loves him too.

Halloween

Halloween was fun. Ava was much better at trick-or-treating this year than last. She would knock on the door, say "trick-or-treat" and then she would say, "I a witch! Thanks. Bye. See you tomorrow!" Moses just likes to chew on wrappers. I'm glad it is over and I don't have to dress those kids up anymore. After the dental school party, the dental school parade, and trick-or-treating I am done.

Still Alive...

I know it's been a while since I put anything new up. Just so you know, I didn't drop off the face of the earth. I have two kids is all. We've all been taking turns being sick and whatnot. But before the sickness gods rained down on us, we had fun last week when Matt had 3 days off for fall break. We went to a "pumpkin patch" that was really more like a fair, we rearranged our back room and bought a futon (hint hint--I have somewhere to sleep for anyone that wants to come visit now), and Ava and Matt went on a daddy/daughter date to the zoo. So here's a whole mess of pictures of the darlings.

Little Miss Thing

Average Height for Age

Well Above Average Height (what a stud)

Hey Good Lookin'

With My Sidekicks

Daddy Daughter Date

Serious Shopping Potential

The Darlings

Little Black Buddha

The boy can eat!
And eat.And that is why he looks like this. Fat and happy.

The Making of a Dentist

Here he is, folks, your soon-to-be Dr. Stephenson.