Friend Through Adoption

I have met a friend named Brenley through adoption. Her son is close to Landon's age. Brenley takes the most amazing photos. Today on her blog she had this short clip from You Tube posted and I thought I would share this with you. The great thing about it is that these folks on this message go against what a majority of you first think about those who are adopted. Remember no two people are alike, especially because a mom tried to give them more.

A Rematch With More At Stake

vs.

We were listening to the radio version of the hockey game tonight. I had been tuning in and out of it while doing other things. Right in the nick of time I turned it back up when the Wings scored the winning goal in over time. Wah hoo! It didn't hurt that one of their scorers tonight is from Newfoundland. Oh those Canadians have a place in my heart. This year the the final games between the Red Wings and the Penguins have a bigger stake in my family. Last year I didn't care so much who won (these two teams played each other last year) because my favorite team was still the Dallas Stars. Now that my favorite team is the Wings we are going to have lots of positivity coming from this part of the country, my brother Riley wants the Penguins to win. I want to show him that Detroit can do it two years in a row and pray that the Red Wings can help bring a rally to a sagging city.

Always Going

Landon wakes up from the night and most of his naps as though he were the Energizer Bunny. He tries to talk and we have no idea what he is saying. He points to all of the things on his wall thinking we know exactly what he is talking about. On Monday we found him the perfect T-Shirt. (No, this kid does not need for Hallie to buy him more clothes) but we couldn't resist the Red Wings. Hallie has looked everywhere for a shirt  but to no avail or it cost more than Landon may be worth. It fits him pretty darn good. His hair was sticking straight up right before we got this picture so I hope it does some justice to the crazy boy who dominates our house.

GO RED WINGS!

Could Not Have Been Better

This Memorial Day could not have been better. The fact that Landon is not waking up til almost 7:00 am is a plus in itself. We decided to skip nap time today and get to Greenfield Village as soon as they opened so we could beat the crowds. We did just that and spent about 90 min there. We had a great time seeing all of the Civil War reenactors. One of the women said they actually spent the whole weekend there in their tents that you will see below. Landon LOVED the drummers and seeing all of the horse drawn carriages around the streets. A lady was passing out flags and Hallie made a rosette to wear for the rest of the day. The weather was a little chilly this morning but other than that it was ideal. While Landon slept after we got home Mike and Hallie made faux BYU Mint Brownies. They turned out to be pretty darn yummy. Yeah! We took our brownies to a Memorial Day cookout. We enjoyed a FHE lesson and some dang good steaks. Of course the talk was great. Laughing is amazing and we surely did that. Thanks to our Veterans and those currently serving for making sure we had a great day today and that we will have more to come.

Civil War Confederate Soldiers.

The Union Soldiers were on their way.

We were in a perfect spot to see the two troops change and play their drums. Landon was fascinated.

We did our part after getting our zoo membership on Hallie's birthday and bought Landon a cute hat. He loves wearing a hat like his Papi.

Landon found his spot and he is ready.

A woman preparing the garden. At Greenfield Village they really have gardens they harvest and animals they raise.

Landon with Union Soldiers. We are not sure what he was thinking about this whole idea. But he is always a good sport. We even enlisted him in the Army.

Mike and Landon are in front of the Wright Brothers home. We loved the way the house was decorated. Our little abode will have bunting up soon.

Landon believed he was such a big kid. Yet, he thought he could steal food off of other kids plates. They were not so fond of that idea. He was so well behaved the whole day. Okay, except for him thinking that Ann's garden was a sandbox. That, not so good.

A Few of my Favorite Things, Today

I thought about getting all crafty and posting pictures with each of my favorite things but in the end you just get a list. Really the list boiled to the simplicity of life to me so if I were to add pictures that would not be simple. 

• Landon's attempt at blowing kisses
• Hearing the church bells down the street
• Driving by Lake St. Clair
• A beautiful day in Michigan
• Lily and Carly singing Happy Birthday 
• Unconditional love of strangers toward Landon
• My soon to be installed new dishwasher
• Flowers, flowers, flowers
• Blueberries
• Free breakfast at Mack Ave Diner
• Chasing Landon around while he squeals with laughter
• Awesome folks who invite us over for dinner on Memorial Day
• Flags, Veterans, and a brother serving in the Army
• Greenfield Village, I think the pass is really for us not Landon but I tell everyone the other way around
• Watching Landon learn ASL it sure makes life easier to know what he wants (p.s. anyone want to buy him the whole set of signing time?)
• Landon loving going to Nursery and his great Primary Leaders
• Good talks in church and good lessons during the other two hours
• Detroit Red Wings

The biggest difference

I was reading some old posts on a blog we follow, the r house, and I ran across an entry that reminded me of how important it is that women who find themselves pregnant out of wedlock get a complete understanding of the options available to them. In her entry (here), Mrs. R. reflected on then-candidate Barack Obama's views on sex education. There's plenty in that entry that I could rant about, but I won't. Instead I wanted to share a beautifully simple statement that Mrs. R's birthmom made: 

"The biggest difference between adoption and abortion is that the baby gets to live."
Would that all women who face an unplanned pregnancy saw things so clearly. Would that more people took adoption as an option meriting real consideration. Would that they understood how adoption heals a childless couple, a selfless birthmom, and a precious baby all in one miraculous act of life affirming love.

Fun At The Park

This last Saturday we went to a farewell/adoption picnic. Every year there is a Families Supporting Adoption Picnic. This year we moved it up to give Kathie our former Adoptive Director a fond farewell. LOTS of people came, and Michelle and I are so glad it was a success. We had yummy pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs, and everyone contributed a side dish. Being that I was helping Michelle with the extravaganza, we got there about an hour early. I found it really hard to keep Landon away from anything that looks like water. You will see at the bottom of the page that Landon proceed to get into the "Lake Michigan" at the park. One minute he was fully clothed, and the next minute he was in up to his waist. It was quite funny to be honest, but at that point I realized we had no more diapers and we weren't going to be home for another 4 hours or so. He dried out and all was well, thank goodness. The best thing was that Landon did not stop the whole time and had an absolute blast playing at the park. Landon is the consumate go getter, and we love that about him. He continues to amaze us.

Oh we just love this face!

A Great Birthday

The pictures below are a bit out of order and I guess for now they will stay that way as my eyes are getting heavier by the minute. I had a great birthday this year. We had box lunches that we took to the zoo with us from the Lunchbox Deli. We then went home and had pizza from Pizza Papali's which is always good. Mike, Landon, and Diamond sang Happy Birthday to me while we ate chocolate cake and had vanilla ice cream, thank heavens for Costco. I will put a few captions under the photos below so you have a bit of an idea about me, the zoo, and my new love the Detroit RedWings. 

One of my favorite sights in Detroit lately is the Blue Cross/Blue Shield billboard. If you are driving on Jefferson from Detroit to Grosse Pointe you pass this amazing billboard. The Detroit RedWings are in the playoffs again and the spirit for the red is out in full force. Today when I got my nails done the guy asked if I wanted some airbrushing of the Wings. Next time I said. I hope they last that long, the Wings that is.

The four of us in front of the Polar Bear exhibit. 

Can we say daredevil? Landon was climbing on anything he could. He even found higher bars to climb but we thought not to worry the grandmas and did not post those photos.

Here is me and my stylish new shades.

Diamond almost died with the thought of a butterfly landing on her in the exhibit so this was a picture just after we got out of the exhibit.

My first pair of prescription sunglasses. I am so excited to have them. We are outside a lot more than we have ever been and my eyes were beginning to bug me. Happy Mother's Day and Birthday to me. Thanks to Scott at Costco who was an awesome help. Diamond did not do too badly either.

Lest We Forget

Today is a tender day for us. One that we almost let pass by. We looked at a blog we love and were gently reminded of why today is so important.

Nealry two years ago when we met our dear Natalie we told her we had a blog. We don't know if she has, if she is, or will she ever look at it but one day if she does I hope she will see what we have posted below. Most importantly the love we have for Landon would never have happened if it wasn't for her. 

1 Nephi 21: 15-16

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.