Our trip to Oklahoma - a stop at Grant's Farm

We decided to break up the drive home from Oklahoma and stay in St.Louis, Missouri for a night. We thought that would make it easier on A-man and it allowed us to see something new also. We decided to go to Grant's Farm while in St. Louis and it was so much fun. Grant's Farm is the home/farm of President Ulysses S. Grant and then the Annheuser-Busch family purchased it. They have turned the farm into a zoo and historical site. It is free so we definitely decided to try it out.

Our family at Grant's Farm

The first thing we did was take a tram around the area and saw a ton of animals. A-man is learning sign-language in order to help him communicate early and he has learned the sign for bird and dog. Those are the only animals that he knows the sign for so everything in the park was a dog or a bird according to A-man. It was super cute.

Dad and A-man meeting a donkey


Mom and A-man cuddling on the ride

After the tram ride A-man and dad decided to take a ride on the carousel. He had a blast. Everytime he came around and saw me he would start giggling. It was so adorable. Although after 3 times around he was done and ready to move on to something else.


Around and around we go


Look ma I'm riding a dog - right

After a turn on the carousel we then went over to feed the baby goats. That was hilarous. I was a little nervous because these goats really like their bottles. But A-man and Jason braved the little goats and it was a hoot. Once again A-man wasn't phazed by anything. Even when one of the goats tried to take a bite of his hair he just gave it a look and pushed it away. He tried to pet them and would laugh as they climbed all over them. Jason had a bit more of a difficult time since he was the one holding the bottle and trying to protect his baby boy. At one point the goats were trying to eat Jason's clothes. I'm amazed I got any photos I was laughing so hard at the fun my two boys were having.


Hey dad - the goat's eating your shorts


You don't mind if I pet you, right?


Weird looking feet if you ask me...

We continued on through the park, A-man had a snow-cone, we saw lots of birds, camels, elephants and finally horses! Grant's Farm is the home of the famous Budwieser Clydsdale Horses - they are beautiful and huge. We had to let the little guy pet one of them before we left.

A true Clydsdale horse


A-man trying to climb on board for a ride

Although it was a short trip to St. Louis & Oklahoma we all had a wonderful time!

Our trip to Oklahoma - more water fun

Our second day in Okey we decided that we wanted to have some more water fun for the little kiddies. Tiff pulled out their blow-up rubber duck for the bath and we filled it up with water and started the fun outside. A-man jumped right in and was ready to go swimming in that little pool.


Let the fun begin

Baby C wasn't quite as excited as A-man at the beginning but he soon convinced her that this water thing was going to be fun. He wouldn't move more than a foot away from the duck pool. He was not going to let anything stop him from his water fun. He splashed the water out so many times that we had to keep filling the duck up.





Baby C got a little tired of just splashing around the duck but not A-man. While baby C occupied her time cleaning up the deck with A-man's shirt he stayed focused on his goal - the water. Can I just say that boy LOVES water!





As the day went on we had a visit from a frog - A-man tried to pick him up. I guess he's not afraid of frogs...Jason and Rob got in a concentrated water fight with the hose (ouch) and Tiff and I enjoyed the beautiful day and our beautiful kids.





We sure love Rob & Tiff and wish they lived closer to us. As soon as we were together again it was as if we hadn't ever been apart. That is what true friendship is all about!

Our trip to Oklahoma - boating fun

My two favorite men out on the lake

Over memorial day weekend we took a trip down to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit with our favorite friends Rob & Tiff and their baby C. A-man and baby C are only one month apart in age and so it was a blast to finally see them together. We are all holding our breaths that they because become best friends like their parents are :) - probably wishful thinking but we can try.


Rob, Tiff's dad, and baby C

One of the days we were out there we went boating in Rob's new boat and with Tiffany's parents. It was great! The weather was perfect for a day out on the lake and the little ones especially loved it. There was water-skiing, knee-boarding and A-man's favorite thing swimming!

playing in the lake

A-man absolutely loved the water! Once we put him in the lake for the first time he was trying to get back in the rest of the time. He had a blast. He especially loved when we would go fast and the water would splash up on him.

Tiff kicking everyone's butt on one of their fun water toys!

After an awesome time on the boat - thanks Rob and Tiff - we went back to their house for a great barbeque and birthday party for baby C.



Can they get any cuter?

Birthday Party - part 2 & 3

Even though we know that A-man won't remember his first birthday we still wanted to do something special to celebrate his first birthday. So we combined it with our Easter dinner (it was only a few days before his birthday) and had some friends over for dinner and then a party. A-man LOVED having some of his friends over to play - although they were older than him he was in heaven following them around and playing.





Then it was the big moment - the cake. I was so excited to see how he would react to have a cake all to himself. I made a small cake and then put a cupcake on top of it so it looks like a tiered cake. Then I made some cute chocolate sea-creatures and put them on top of that. The guests all got cupcakes with their own chocolate sea-creatures. It was fun - although don't look too closely at his cake - I couldn't find the smoother for the frosting so it isn't the smoothest.







When it came time to sing Happy Birthday and give A-man his cake he was a little confused to be at the center of attention. But he was very anxious to get a hold of the red chocolate 1 that was on the cake.






When it came time to dig in - he wasn't very interested. Jason had to help him out a little and then he finally got into it. His favorite part was the chocolate one and the chocolate shark. I think he was too distracted by all the people around having a party for him.










For birthday presents we gave him some of them at his party and then saved the rest for his actual birthday. He got lots of cars, a fun ramp for the cars to go down, a train, sprinkler, clothes, and of course - BOOKS! On his actual birthday we went out to dinner to celebrate the day. he got special cupcakes in honor of his birthday and mom made him wear a birthday crown ( I loved it but unfortunately he only would wear it for a few minutes. Over all it was a wonderful day to celebrate a wonderful boy! We love him so much and are so thankful that he is with us to share his 1st birthday.
Happy Birthday Little Man!!

Birthday party - part 1 - the DQ party with his birth family

So since we were in Utah shortly before A-man's first birthday we wanted to celebrate with his birth family as well. A couple of days after the blessing we met up with his birth mom and her family for a pre-birthday party at Dairy Queen. They had brought presents for him and wanted to have a little more time with him before they went home. It was also nice to visit with them without all the crowds that were there at the blessing. I was a little sad that A-man was a little grouchy that day - I wanted them to be able to see him when he was super happy but him on a grouchy day is still amazingly cute! Here's the party crew...




His birth family spoiled him and gave him so many gifts - actually I don't know if you can spoil a baby. They need all the love they can get and they don't understand spoiling so I had no problem with all the love they were sharing with him! They gave him so many awesome presents. We had a blast opening them all up - A-man still doesn't understand opening up presents so we helped him out a little.

Opening - or not opening - his gifts

Here is a run down of all the great gifts they gave him...(hopefully I can remember them all). He got tons of adorable clothes and they were all the perfect size for him to grow into it.


A-man with his birthmom, Stormie, and a shirt she gave him.


Trying out his cool hat & awesome bibs

He got some great videos that he has already started to watch... and a fun Easter book and a Hop coloring book (we are still working on coloring not eating the crayons).




Then he got some sweet stuffed animals - a stuffed pengiun that makes noise and a snoopy puppet. Both of which he loves!


And now for his favorite toy (for this month) - they gave him stackable trucks that make noise. He loves cars, trains, trucks, and buses - if it has wheels then he thinks it is the best thing ever. He is pushing these trucks/buses everywhere around the house - you can even see in the pictures how he is eyeing those wheels.





His birth family was super sweet to me - they gave me the sweetest gift - some lotion, bath stuff and then a beautiful Willow Tree Statue. I already have it set up in my room and always remember the sacrifice Stormie made to help us become a forever family.


Happy Pre-Birthday Aiden!

The greatest blessing!

So after the temple sealing we were able to give A-man his name and blessing. It's a religious ceremony in which the father (or another priesthood holder) gives the baby a special blessing. It is a special experience and one that we have been waiting for. I had made the cute little all white outfit that A-man wore for the special day - both the temple and the blessing. It's hard to see the outfit but he had a matching little vest, tie, and belt. We did buy his white shirt but I made the matching white pants for him. We were definitely a happy family.



This was another especially special day because not only both of our families would be there at the church but A-man's birth mother and her family were coming also. It would be the first time we saw her since the placement. She had come all the way from Oregon to be there on this day and she was just as excited to see A-man as we were to see her. Her mother and grandmother also came with her from Oregon to see A-man. It was great to see all 4 generations together. In addition her Aunt Robyn was also there - we had met her at the placement and could tell that all 4 of them really loved our favorite little guy.







A-man's birth mother's father (so his birth grandfather) passed away last year but his parent's were able to come to the temple sealing and share the day with us. They also came to the baby blessing and A-man's great-grandfather stood in the priesthood circle. Another super neat experience - tieing our families together - both birth family and adoptive family.





It was amazing to see how many people came to share this special day with us. We orginally were going to do his blessing in the Relief Society room, but had too many people so we switched to a larger room, we again had too many people and they moved us into the chapel! I couldn't believe it but we filled up the chapel too. It was so wonderful to know how loved we are and especially how loved A-man is.

We had a short program, my friend Anne generously played the piano so we could sing "Families Can Be Together" and then we had an opening prayer. Jason gave A-man his blessing and I think it scared him a little to be in front of all those people. After the blessing I had the opportunity to share my testimony. We ended with my father giving the closing prayer. All together it was a super special day and one that I will never forget.