We Believe in Miracles

Miracles do happen
to those who believe in them.
-Anonymous

Miracle #1


Miracle #2
5/1/2011


Did you catch that?

Yes. After six years of multiple failed infertility treatments,

one failed adoption, one successful adoption (YAY!),
millions of prayers, thousands of fasts,
and one more IVF treatment. . .
We got a plus sign!

Due Date: January 5, 2012


Did I mention that we believe in miracles?

One year ago today. . .

. . . Sawyer's adoption was finalized!!!

Last year we celebrated by saying a billion prayers of gratitude
and eating lunch at the Hershey Pantry.

This year we did those same two things.
Lance's family took us to the Pantry for the celebration.
Thanks to the Woods for a great celebratory dinner.


Thanks to Judge Hoover
for making Sawyer legally ours.

Thanks to our family and friends
who helped us through that tough year.

And most importantly, thanks to our Heavenly Father
for answering our prayers and granting us the most amazing miracle
of Sawyer's adoption. We can't imagine life without him.

Boston

Harvard University Rotation
Boston, Massachusetts

August 7-12

We flew home from Kansas City on Friday.
Unfortunately, we got stuck on planes and airports
and didn't get home until after midnight.
The next day we did laundry, repacked our suitcases,
and drove about 5 hours to New Haven, CT to stay that night with
Lance's sister Kristen and her hubby Weston.

The next morning, we had a great breakfast and headed to Boston.
We got to stay with the Ulicny Family, our friends from Med School.
It was so wonderful to see them and their family.
They have twins that turned 2 during our visit, so we got to party!


Sawyer and I had so much fun during the day with Ginny and the twins!
We played in parks, and even went to the Museum of Science.



One day, Lance, Sawyer and I went for a walk.



It really is a beautiful city!


On our way home, we took Sawyer on one of the Boston Duck Tours.
We had a great time and Sawyer really liked it.


After the duck tour, we left the city and drove to New Haven again
to stay with Kristen and Weston. Kristen had to work that night though.
The next morning, Weston took us to a pretty spot to see the city.
Then we drove the rest of the way home.


Thanks to the Ulicny Family and the Henrie Family
for making our "vacation" so much fun!

Everything's Up To Date in Kansas City!

Kansas City
July 30-August 5

Lance is applying to Mohs surgery fellowships.
Because of this, he is spending the month doing away
rotations to better his chances and find a place that he likes.

In Kansas City we stayed with the Walker Family.
Lance and Matt were close companions on their mission
so it was a fun reunion for them and so fun for our families
to get to to know one another so much better.

Lance only worked full days on Monday and Wednesday.
He worked half days on Tuesday and Thursday and had Friday off.
This meant we had a lot of time to play with Dad!
And when dad wasn't home, we played with Aunt Chelsy, Alden and Ella.
We had so much fun while we were there!

We swam.


We went to Union Station and looked at an amazing train display.
They even had toys for the kiddos to play with there.


We went to some Church history sites.







We ate amazing food made by Chelsy and
ate amazing food at fun Kansas City Restaurants.


Sawyer was sure liking the food!


One night after dinner we took some pictures on these gorgeous
blue steps outside of the restaurant. Sawyer's eyes were out of control!


But the gorgeous steps were nothing compared to our gorgeous children!


And this is just for a laugh.
(Sawyer telling Ben that he loves his haircut)


We made some lasting friendships on that trip.
Thanks so much for everything Walker Family!
This next picture captures how much fun we had.


P.S. Sawyer has been asking constantly for Alden and Ella.
He actually pretends to talk to Ella on the phone pretty much everyday.
As a matter of fact, one day after we were talking about the temple,
Sawyer matter of factly said, "Mom, Sawyer get married in the temple."
Stunned, I said "That's great dear. Who are you going to marry?"
He responded quickly with, "Ella."
This was an entire week after we had left Kansas City.
So just in case he ends up marrying her, here's one more picture.

"Momma Looks Beautiful!"

That's what my angel of a son said to me the moment I walked in the door last night after getting a "wow this is short" (2 in. shorter than I asked for) haircut. No doubt his darling daddy had put him up to it, but he said it about 20 times before he went to bed (in one hour) as he'd touch my face and hair. He has done it many times today too without Daddy around. So many times in fact, that I think he means it. I have managed to brainwash the two most adorable boys I've ever met into thinking I am quite something. Props to me and my new short, spiky, cut. At least while I wait for it to grow, I have an admirer!

In case you're wondering. . .


p.s. Lance loves it! Thank goodness! He's been begging me to get it cut for years now. How I married the only man in the world who likes short hair, I do not know. Seriously, he's giddy! It might have something to do with the fact that I had a similar cut when we dated. Ah, good times!

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach, DE

Dad and Deb Family
July 9-16, 2011

What a fun time! Unfortunately I hardly took any pictures to prove it. Our little camera that we take to the beach wasn't working so I have no pictures of Sawyer playing in the sand. He sure had fun playing--as long as we didn't get too close to the ocean. He was quite terrified of that this year. But he loved seeing his Grandpa and Grandma Wertz. And he sure loved playing with all of his awesome cousins.

Aidan

Siena

Sophia

and Mia.

All Five


They played in the sand and the pool!



Sawyer LOVES the pool!


Sawyer even got to take a tubby with his favorite cousin Aidan!


We took all five kiddos on a fun pirate boat adventure.
Sawyer was the cutest/toughest little pirate ever!



He was one of the youngest ones on board, so I don't think that he
understood a lot, but he sure liked being on a boat and seeing the water.




He liked sticking close to his cousins too.



Here's Aidan looking cute, I mean, tough as can be!


Sawyer even played limbo near the end.


We all had a fun time!


My handsome pirates!


Our last evening there, we put Sawyer to bed, and Dad and Deb listened to the monitor for us while we went on a double date with Kris and Brent to go to the 10:45pm (yawn!) Harry Potter movie. It was extremely good and well worth the exhaustion that Lance and I felt the following day. What a fun beach trip. Thanks so much Dad and Deb! We all had a great time!


Didn't we Sawyer?