Yes, we can

About a year ago, my sister-in-law told me about her new canning stuff. It was interesting, but I didn't really do anything about it (stupid me....thanks Kerry!) I finally watched the video clips she told me about and I finally caught the vision!

This is SO SUPER GREAT.
Easy.
Doable.

Today Kaden and I have been working on our food storage. He loves to help, and it was a good chance to talk about having food in an emergency.

The jars are sealed (just like in other canning), but the stuff inside is different than you're used to seeing. I've been buying stuff on sale and today we bottled it up. We did:
-fruit rollups
-fruit snacks
-chocolate (like leftover halloween candy)
-craisins
-hot cocoa mixes
-seasoning packets (taco, brown gravy, chili)
-powdered sugar
-brown sugar
-egg noodles
-marshmellows
-dried peaches

This stuff will last for YEARS and how great will it be to have stuff besides wheat, pinto beans, etc. That stuff is important too, but just not as exciting or fun. On my list of things to still do:

-more chicken
-hamburger
-butter
-dried fruit (gotta dehydrate it first)
-nuts
-chocolate chips
-crunchy chinese noodles
-pancake mix

Back in action

Ever since we unpacked Kaden's hockey gear, he's been DYING to go skating. He's been talking about it just about every day for weeks. Since we're just down the street from the rec. center, we thought we should go. Last night was the big event.

He did really good for not being on skates for two years. We've got him signed up for skating lessons (starting in January) and he couldn't be more excited!

What's up...

Saturday morning we had SNOW. Kaden was thrilled and was dying to get out and play.

All he wanted to do was shovel!

Bosten has decided that its a little fun (and a little scary) to stand up along the couch.

Both of the boys LOVE playing video games with Daddy at night before bed.

Details to remember

Since this is more my journal than not, I thought I should write down some of the details from Bosten's sealing.

-It was a beautiful fall day.

-The temple worker who verified all of our paperwork when we got there was the sister of one of my friends from Oregon. It was nice having her be the one to do it, even though we'd never met.

-My escort in the temple was an adoptive mom too. She said something that I've thought a lot about since. She said, "Isn't it interesting the sense of urgency you feel to get the adoption finalized and having the baby sealed to you?" It is so true. I felt that urgency on many occasions, but didn't realize that's what it was.

-Kyle and I both had all of our siblings in the temple with us (minus a couple of spouses), plus my parents and Kyle's mom. It doesn't happen very often when everyone is there together. Some came from great distances to be there and we're so appreciative that they were there.

-Our sealer was a talker....and I missed most of it.

-Kaden was overwhelmed as he was walking into the sealing room with Bosten and my mom. Kyle had to go out and get him from the hall. As we talked about it afterwards, he told us he was scared until he saw Daddy (even though Bosten and Mimi were right there.) We realized that the people he saw were people he wasn't very familiar with.

-The sealer held Kaden up to show him the mirrors and was talking to him about what an important day it was for our family...then he held him up and wanted him to touch the chandelier. I remember screaming in my mind, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!!?" I had visions of him pulling it down. Thankfully, he didn't. The sealer held Bosten up to touch it too.

-Once we were done, Bosten was totally done. He was so tired and so hungry and he wasn't very happy about taking pictures or having people talk to him. Poor kid.

-Kaden thought the youth center was great. It had toys and chocolate teddy grahams. He was a little disappointed though that there wasn't any of the yummy cookies like we had at the Draper Temple and Oquirrh Mountain Temple open houses.

-We were so grateful to have Kyle's boss, a couple of good friends, Bosten's birth mom's parents, and our Syracuse bishop there too.

-We blessed him right after at our new house. It was such a good day and such a long time coming! We're so grateful that Families Are Forever!

So thankful

I haven't been very good about writing something I'm thankful for every day this month. I've been thinking about it though. Here's to catch me up (in no particular order):

1. Our little family. Seriously, we are so lucky to have these two sweet little boys. It wasn't so many years ago that we were so anxious and desperate to have kids in our home.

2. Birth mothers. Of course our two birth moms, but not just ours. These women are amazing and courageous and beautiful.

3. Kyle's job.

They have been so great to Kyle and so supportive of our family! Plus, its allowed me to stay home with the boys.

4. We have great families and I'm so grateful for their love and support.

5. I know I swore I'd never have one, but I'm so glad I do!

6. Judges (especially those who terminate birth father's rights.)

7. Good Friends--I have the best friends. I hope you know who you are and that I love you. (and lame that we don't have any pictures together).

8. A working computer and Internet....especially after not having one for a few weeks.

9. Home--We just didn't feel good about anything we looked at to buy, so we decided to rent. Its different renting, but we're happy and so excited to be so close to Kyle's work.

10. Families Are Forever.

Bosten's birthday

Sorry for the delay in posting pictures of Bosten's birthday. We've had major computer issues, and finally got everything fixed last night.

We woke up to SNOW on Bosten's birthday. He loved looking at it and wanted to touch it.

We went out to Wendy's for lunch.

The birthday boy

We had homemade mac and cheese for dinner...one of his favorites!

He didn't get the whole unwrapping thing at first.

But as you can see, he got it figured out!

Mimi made him a new blanket!

What would a birthday be without chocolate cake?

November is National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month. Seemed like a good time to remember some of the lessons I've learned though our adoption journey.

-Adoption brings HOPE (for all those involved)

-Adoption is HARD (for all those involved)

-Adoption is a MIRACLE (for all those involved)

-It is really hard to give up control

-Open adoption is NOT scary. It is a blessing

-We LOVE adoption

I've been thinking about it a lot about adoption lately...maybe because of finalizing Bosten's adoption, maybe because of an opportunity that didn't work out, or maybe because we're gearing up for round three. I'm tired just thinking about the reference letters, mountains of paperwork, interviews, home visits, etc. that are coming our way in the next couple of months. But its worth it. It is hard, but we've seen true miracles and we're excited.