The TREE!

The first weekend of December we packed up the family (even Molly) and headed to Idaho to cut down the perfect Christmas tree. Yes, we went all the way to Idaho to get a tree. Which sounds very funny I know. It's my sister Amie's family tradition and I thought we would join this year. She lives in Twin Falls, Idaho. That's the reason for the long travel for a silly old Christmas tree. The nice thing was Adaline slept the whole way there. Saturday after a nice ward breakfast we started on our adventure for the perfect tree. After a hour drive to the hiking spot. We started hiking and looking at every tree, We only had a permit for up to 10 feet. After about an hour we both found our trees. We cut them down and pulled them back to the trucks. It's very hard to judge a 10 foot tree out in the wilderness. So as you can imagine Cal got the biggest tree. When we got it home we found out that the tree was bigger than the area (like always). He cut off about 3feet to make it fit. This year my tree is ALL RED. We tried to do white/red but didn't have enough and all the stores were out. Well it is always hard when you need about 20 boxes of lights. Yes, our tree has over 2000 lights on it. That's what you get when your husband is a Christmas light installer. The tree!

Cutting it down

Back at the truck

Halloween!

This year for Halloween we were bikers!

That evening our col-d-sac ended up being a crime scene for a fatal car wreck. We had some crazy kids come speeding into the col-d-sac running over a trick-or-treater and killing him, recking into Cal on his motorcycle and hitting into another car.

Okay! That's not true it was all set up by the Cal and Golden. This is what they have done the last 2 years on Halloween. We made everyone go through the crime scene to get to the other house. They had some boys from the neighborhood scaring the kids as they walked through. They are already making plans for next years.

Getting Bigger!

I can't believe it has been a month since I have posted. If it wasn't for Stacey getting on my case it probably would be longer. This month has flown by. Christmas lights, being a mother and a wife have taken up my time. I not complaining. But, Christmas lights usually don't start the first week of October even if we try every year. But, with our luck it did this year. Cal has been slammed since that first week. So I feel like a single mother. But, I have been enjoying every minute I get to spend with little Addie. I'm sad that I have to go back to work next Tuesday. Addie has gotten so big over the last month and is more active. Over the last week or so Addie has started to smile!What she wore to her first day at church

No we haven't blessed her. Our sweet birthmom gave us her blessing dress and I knew that she wouldn't be able to really ever wear it so I put her in it and took some pictures.

Enjoying laying on her back and talking to the toys.

Swinging in her swing. This picture also shows her lack of hair on the top of her head. Addie lost all the hair on the TOP of her head about 3-4weeks after she was born. I say she wanted to be like her daddy and have a reseeding hair line.

Cousins!

Last week my sister Amie came down from Idaho. I was finally able to see my new nephew Emmett born July 25, 2009. I'm so excited that Adaline will have a cousin her age even if he is a boy and lives 3 hours away. Adaline and Emmett My little nephew Calab just loves his new cousins and was so excited to hold both of them.

Vin Diesel look a like from "The Pacifier"

Our cute little girl being so big holding her head up.

I can't believe Adaline has been in our family for a week now. Cal and I have been trying to enjoy every little minute we have with her since we know she wont be this small very long. Her grandparents and cousins couldn't wait to see and hold her. Somethings she is trying to do are having A LITTLE control of her head, trying to grabbing onto everything near her hands, or if she is mad pushing everything away; I swear she has arms and legs of steel. Grandma D excited to have another granddaughter after 14 years.Grandpa D enjoying his new granddaughter.Grandpa and Grandma T enjoing their 27th grandchild.Watching her first BYU game with her daddy! Doing what Daddy and Adaline do best!Adaline had her first doctor visit (9/11/09) since the hospital. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

Welcome Home!

Saturday, was one of the greatest day of my life. It was the day that Amber placed Adaline into my arms says "She is yours now". I know that is was probably the hardest thing for Amber to do. Especially after 9 months of being pregnant and also after the time of enjoying Adaline at the hospital and over night at her house. But Amber knew what was better for her. After 3 years of praying and fasting we are finally a family of THREE.

Our new Family of THREE!Molly welcoming our newest family member.Our Newest Employee!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

A Blessing From Heaven

Adaline Emily was born today September 2, 2009 at 4:15 in the afternoon. She was delivered with ease and no complications. Her birthmother did everything the doctor asked and she was only in pain until the meds kicked in. Addie weighed in at 7 pounds 1 ounce, so we put her in the light weights and is 19.5 inches long. For being a week late, Addie is perfect!

Cal and I are so grateful for the wonderful gifts that our Heavenly Father blesses us with, especially Adaline. It may seem like it has taken us a long time to add to our family, but we wouldn't have it any other way. She was worth the wait!

Our thoughts and prayers still go out to our Birthmother Amber and her family as they still have a tough decision ahead of them later this week, when they sign over their rights to us. I always thought I could comprehend what it would be like to be able to place a baby if it wasn't planned. But when that time comes and you hold that little one in your arms, its a whole different ball game. Cal did a great job taking care of everyone and making sure all needs were met. I was glad to see that he was taking notes while the nurse was changing her and wrapping her like a burrito.

And just like Cal does, he makes people laugh and forget for just a moment the circumstances they are in.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. This is a testament that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

Gena & Cal

Baby Update!

I know that you are all patiently waiting to know when the baby is here. Yes, the baby's due date was yesterday August 25. Last week when we went to the doctor he said that he would probably start her at her next appointment which was yesterday. But the doctor is making her go one more week because the baby isn't ready yet. He said that they could be off a week or two on her due date. The poor thing was heart broken that she had to wait another week before he might start her. She is hoping that she has her sooner then later. But I don't think anything will happen before her next appointment, Monday August 31. We will keep you posted. Thanks for all your love and support through this adoption process.

THE ROOM!

Well after a lot of time and patience the room is finally ready for our princess! Cal cut out all the flowers, which I painted. I made the curtains, chair cushion, and crib skirt.

Girls Camp

This year I had the opportunity to go to Girls Camp. It was the week of the 10-14 of August. Camp was at The Heber Valley Camp and it was on a Stake level. Our theme was "Now is the Time". I was a little nervous to go since the doctor told Amber that with her Gestational Diabetes she would probably deliver early. The stake camp director was willing to work with me since I was unsure when the baby was coming. They let me drive up myself so I could leave at any time. The areas that the Stake had were Snow and Abish. They were cabined by year of camp. I was one of the leaders over the 4th years girls which were in Yurts in Abish. My sister Anette was one of the other leaders in my yurt. Abish was 1/4 mile away from Snow. So for each activity we had to walk up to Snow. You just hoped you didn't forget anything. Since I was with the 4th years Tuesday we went on an over night hike that helped them with their certification. We hiked about 4miles each way. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but with a 25lb packed on your back it becomes a lot of work. Since we were all tired after the long hike they let us drive up and down to Snow the rest of the week. So we would see how many people we could fit in my tiny car. While at camp we went cannoning, did a challenge course,and had a lot spiritual experiences.
All the 4th years and leaders ready for the overnighter.
We hit the record of the most people that I have ever had in my Honda Civic. We had 9 people at one time.
Our Yurt! "Keepers of Truth"

Fit for a girl!

Over the last week or two Cal has been very busy painting the babies room. He had this great idea that he wanted pink, green and brown stripes. But after starting this project he realized how much work it was going to be. After painting the room entirely green, He taped how far the stripes needed to go up.Then Cal went around the entire room and marked the spacing for each stripe. Then it took both of us to tape the spacing for each pink stripe. I lined up a laser level to each mark then Cal lined up the tape. This is the point Cal realized how work he created for himself. Painting the pink.After painting the pink and removing the tape we had to go back over and tape for the brown leaving a 1/2 space for the green, then painting the brown.
All the painting is done we just need to put up the chair-rail, organize the furniture, and put things on the walls.

Mr. New Dad!

Adoption Due Date: August 25

Where: Utah

Who: Baby Girl

On June 4th Cal and I went in to talk to our social worker at LDS family services, who handed us a bag full of gifts, which included: baby things, books, toys for Molly and Jersey, the best chocolate chip cookies ever and a letter announcing that we had been picked by a selfless birthmother named Amber. This came during an already busy summer, and along with it some hard choices to make in less then 2 hours. Our appointment to see our social worker was at 2pm and our trip to Moab for the weekend was to begin at 4pm, should have been plenty of time for a regular office visit, but to our enlightenment Amber was making one the most difficult yet respected decisions of her life and ours; she had chosen us for the adoption of her baby girl. Needless to say our appointment went long, we didn't leave until after 7pm.

We rolled into Moab that night a little after midnight and rumbled through quite a few campsites in my father-in-laws diesel camper before we found an overflow parking lot. that trip was amazing, but most of our thoughts reverted back to our Birthmother Amber, we were so excited, yet we didn't know what to get her for our face to face meeting with her as soon as we got home. It was the little things that made it so wonderful. Cal keep thinking, "this will be so much fun to bring our little girl down here and show her all of this wonderful land, and to teach her how to ride a bike, and to take her camping and boating and..." I think he rambled on and on for what seemed like forever about all the things we could do with her. Our anticipation kept us wired until Monday evening when, for the first time, we met Amber. She is somewhat shy, more like me, not Cal. She has long, brown hair and somewhat of an olive complication. She is about my height and has the same body build. The birthfather is mostly unknown to us and has a heavy build and he is about 6'2" tall. We got along great, including our social workers. Cal made sure to be himself, which drove me up the wall at times, he thinks he's so funny when he makes comments that make us laugh. I love him and his goofiness and I think Amber could see it.

That following Saturday we had the true test we met Amber's mother, Debbie. We also met Lexie her dog. Which is the one that helped Amber pick us, well Molly. When Amber was looking at profiles she showed Lexie our family photos and she liked us over all the other profiles. I think it is because Lexie and Molly look like twins they are both black, part Lab, and they both have a white patch on their chest. Over the last few weeks have gotten know this amazing birthmother Amber, Debbie, and Lexie through phone calls, weekly play dates at the park with our dogs, weekly activities together like: swimming, watching the fire works, and shopping. Amber has invited us to Ultrasound/doctor visits which has been a neat experience for both Cal and I.

Molly & Lexie

A month of fun filled adventures!

I can't believe a another month has gone by. I know I'm a slacker at up dating my blog, so here is what we have been doing the last month.

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day Cal and I went for a hike up Waterfall Canyon in Ogden. That was our first time there. So as any normal person that doesn't know their way you follow the signs. We just followed the sign that said Waterfall Canyon. While we were hiking we kept having a lot of Mountain bikers pass us. We later found out we took the bike route to the waterfall which was the LONG WAY. We did eventually found the Waterfall which was beautiful.

Moab and Aches

The first weekend of June we went with some neighbors to Moab. They planned it all and forgot to tell me one thing; we weren't going to relax. That Thursday we planed on leaving around 4:30 but we don't know how to tell time so we didn't even get on the road until 6:30 and arrived in Moab around mid-night. Friday day we road our bikes about 14 miles (it was just on pavement). Later that day we went to Arches and hiked to Landscape Arch and Double O.

Saturday the boys biked Porcupine Rim. Cal didn't tell the boys that this trail was for the advanced. (Cal did this trail a lot in his younger years) The first 4 miles are straight up and after that its all down hill for 12 miles. The boys were sooooo tired when they got back.While the boys were gone us girls hiked Negro Bill Bridge. Later that night around 9:45 we went back to Arches and hiked Delicate Arch. It was a full moon, but right after we started hiking the clouds covered the moon and it never came out again. That whole weekend was so windy. Sunday after we packed up and before we left we hiked Potato Salad Falls. It's a locals swimming hole. (I don't have all the pictures of our adventures.)

Lake Powell
We just got back from a fun filled week at Lake Powell with my uncle and his family(plus my niece Jessie and two other families totaling 22 people). Each year Cal and I get invited to entertain the kids. But this year we moved up from the kid table to the adult table. I think that is a sign of old age.
Our houseboat was at Wahweap, marina in Arizona this time so all new scenery that usual.

Gena & Cal at Rainbow Bridge
Dinosaur print
Gena wakeboardingCal wakeboarding
Glen Canyon Dam
Chelsey, Jessie, Elise tubing
The view from the houseboat