Happy Re-Adoption Day Maya!

May 21st, 2007 will forever be known as Maya's Re-adoption day! She is officially Maya and we are recognized legally as her parents in the eyes of the USA. Now we just wait for that golden birth certificate and we are done! No more paper work!!!! YAHOOO!!!!

The whole re-adoption process was pretty easy, we sat in front of a judge for about seven minutes while he reviewed all of our post adoption paperwork and then he signed off. The judge seemed more interested in our digital camera than he was anything else, but I am so glad we are done and that the boys were with us so that they could be a part of it. My favorite part was when the judge (who was quite taken back by the number of children we have) asked the boys if they liked having her around and they all told him how much they love her and how fun she can be. I guess all in all it seemed a bit anti-climatic for me I think that with all adoptive families have been through to bring these special kids into their lives there should be banners and balloons and confetti and cake...instead it was kind of like "oh, that's it? We did all that paperwork and worried for this?" After it was over we rushed right back to our crazy lives getting the boys back to school, preparing for a family trip to the beach this weekend, and homework...it was not until much later that night when I saw Maya all snuggled up with her daddy and he said to me "Come give YOUR daughter a kiss goodnight" that I realized what had happened for what it was, she is ours legally in every way now and that is huge! We are done with every single piece of paper that has to do with adoption or re-adoption and that is huge! I guess I didn't need the balloons and banners after all, but hey... a cake would have been nice!!!

Mother's Day, Birthdays, and more!

Well, it is official--I am the mom of TWO TEENAGERS!! Boy I am getting old! Tanner celebrated his big 13th on Mother's Day. Just need to talk about this kid for a minute...first off, I am happy to say that we both survived thirteen years in the same house together! There were times when he was little that I really did not think we would. This young man has been a handful since the day he was born on Friday the 13th by C-section and ended up in the NICU for a few days, he had a really rough beginning but he sailed through that and has been running ever since. We never know what will come out of his mouth...like the time he was 3 and called a woman with a patch over her eye a "Huge Pirate" and I agreed with him several times as I was not really listening to him and writing my check just trying to get out of the store because it had been one of THOSE shopping trips..um how do you apologize for that? He is constant motion, he is tough, and he is one smart kid. He is headstrong and won't do anything he does not want to do no matter how hard you plead, beg, or bribe. He is our resident comedian and comes up with the most hysterical stories when he is trying desperately to get out of what ever trouble he has gotten himself into. He is simply Tanner. Lately, I look at him and can't see that mischievous little boy anymore, instead I see a boy who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, tries really hard in school and is trying even harder at home to get along with his pesky little brothers who idolize the kid. I also see a young man who really has not been gentle with anything since the day he was born being so sweet and gentle with his new little sister. He is growing up and somewhere along the way between all of the times he had me pulling my hair out he turned out to be quite a great young man. But, we are after all talking about my Tanner, so I am gearing up for what his teenage years may bring...Heaven help me, I just might not have any hair left to pull out if we both make it through! Love you Tanner Man!

Mother's Day found me in Utah with Maya. We flew out to help my dad celebrate his 65th birthday and had a great time playing with the cousins and catching up with old friends. We are now again in full fledged "Grandma Detox" as Maya loves all of the attention she gets when we go to Grandma's house. I got this picture in an email from my boys at home.

And I of course had to share some of Maya's recent dress up photos...her cousin Bekka gave her the grass skirt and it has quickly become a Maya favorite. I am loving all this girly stuff!

The baseball hat makes the outfit don't ya think?

Maya's multi colored dreadlocks mon!

Cute smile

Pretty in Pink...

Not that she really has any other choice, I think atleast 90% of her wardobe is PINK of one shade or another or has PINK in it! Oh well, after 14 years of buying only boy clothes it just might take me a couple years to get the PINK out of my system!

Happy news: May 21st is our Family Court Date to wrap up all of the loose ends and complete Maya's re-adoption! Stay tuned for pictures.