This blog is an ongoing love letter to our children, their birthmothers, their grandparents on both sides of the continent, and our extended family and friends.
We had the opportunity to attend two of the happiest places
on earth this week when at the beginning of the week we went to Disneyland and at
the end of the week we had Eliza sealed to us in the Los Angeles LDS temple.
Like dominos falling, family members continued to succumb to
the stomach virus early in the week. Eliza got sick on Sunday, and we actually hoped
Hallie would get sick too just so she could be done with it. No luck.
The kids went to visit their cousins in Simi on Monday, and Landon, Lucas, and Haydn went hiking in the hills behind Grandma and Grandpa O.'s house.
We headed to the Disneyland Resort on Tuesday, going first to Disney’s California Adventure. Here are some details from our hotel room. Little Disney and Mickey ear touches everywhere:
The mural lit up with fiber optic fireworks, and the accent pillows read, "When you wish upon a star. . . your dreams come true."
Lamps,
bathroom tiles,
faucets,
wall sconces,
and event the carpet all had mouse ears.
Of course, we had to make a stop at the LEGO Store in Downtown Disney on our way to the parks.
We started at California Adventure with a few rides, shows, and visits with animated characters.
Landon took off like a rocket on all the roller coaster rides whose height requirements met, including the Tower of Terror. In fact, he rode it twice, and the second time he rode, a guy in the same row as us seemed more interested in seeing how the boy would handle the drops than in his own thrills! Landon never ceases to amaze.
Dad hamming it up while the guy to his left looks to see what Landon will do, which is be awesome, of course.
Getting ready to ride the ladybugs
Cars Land (coming in 2012, dang it!!)
Alas, Hallie finally got sick late Tuesday night, and Eliza was
still a little under the weather. However, iron lady that she is, Hallie
grinned and bore it through the nausea. Bummer for her that we had a character breakfast!
She couldn’t eat, and Landon didn’t eat because he was too excited/distracted
by the characters. Mike was not about to eat for three because he didn’t want
to puke on the roller coasters. Joy, joy. In spite of it all, we took in the
whole Disneyland experience, and Landon continued to show a love for fast rides
in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toon Town, and New Orleans Square (he’s
not so fond of the “scary” Haunted Mansion, however).
Morning play time
Eliza liked Pluto.
Er, maybe.
Pluto really liked Landon (nom, nom, nom).
Eliza was really not sure about Dale, so Dale kept his distance.
On the other hand, Chip got right into the action.
Princesses are more what Eliza seems to like.
Poor baby had a diaper blow-out, so Mom had to buy her something to wear.
We bought little hats for the kiddos.
Landon chose to use some of his birthday money to purchase an upgrade.
About the talent of these steadfast tin soldiers, all we can say is, "Wow!"
It's a Small World decked out for Christmas, inside and out
Landon's strong, but it's almost as if those weights were stuck to the ground or something!
We watched the Christmas parade and fireworks and saw the soap (er, I mean, snow) fall over a magical Main Street all decked out in holiday cheer.
Mike and Landon went to Disneyland by themselves on Thursday
morning, going to the parts they’d missed the day before. They started the
morning in Adventureland. After riding the Jungle Cruise twice and climbing
around Tarzan’s Treehouse, Landon led Mike on his own little adventure when the
child wandered off. Thank you, thank you to the wonderful Disneyland cast
members and security staff who quickly and calmly found the boy and reunited
father and son. We’re putting Landon on a leash next time. ;) Hallie and Eliza
joined us a little while later, and after some more exploring of Main Street, New
Orleans Square, and Frontierland, we decided to pack it in before traffic hit
between Anaheim and Thousand Oaks and so we could get ready to go to the temple.
So long, Disneyland! See you in a few years!
On Friday we finally were able to have some family members and
friends join us for Eliza’s sealing. Of course, we had just a few last minute
dramatic elements to sear the event into our memories. First, Hallie woke up in
the middle of the night with an upset stomach (not illness, just popcorn that
disagreed with her). Then, Eliza had a bit of a relapse with her illness, only
this time her problems had migrated downstairs. Mike and the kids headed to the
temple first, with Hallie and Carly following a few minutes later and Dwight
and Marilyn following a bit after that. Mike and the kids managed to get
through traffic and to the temple on time, with his parents next in line.
However, we were not yet in the clear.
We had been all prepared the week prior with changes of
clothing, photographer, adoption decree, and so on, but a lot of that
preparation went by the wayside when we went to Disneyland. Mike washed the
shirt he was going to wear for family pictures . . . and then left it hanging
rather than bringing it. We had the adoption decree in Mike’s computer bag all
ready to bring, . . . and then we left the computer bag at home. Mike realized
this part way into the trip, but when he tried to reach Hallie, she did not
respond (she had misplaced her phone). Getting no response from Hallie, he
tried Carly a few minutes later. She and Hallie were too far along to turn
back, so they contacted Dwight and Marilyn, who drove back another hour in LA
traffic to pick it up. In order to be sealed, we had to confirm with the temple
that Eliza was in fact our legal child, hence the need for the adoption decree.
No decree would have meant that the whole trip had been for naught.
When Mike and the kids arrived at the temple, he let the
workers know that Hallie and the decree were on their way, but the workers let
us know that we would have to wait to get the decree before we could really do
anything. However, the workers let Mike put the kids in the youth center to get
ready while the grown-ups sorted things out. Eventually everyone and everything required arrived
and we were able to be sealed to Eliza. Seeing our babies dressed in white and
knowing that we are now really and truly a forever family made all the drama
disappear.
We have just a couple of candids here. Eliza kept running away from the camera. More pics to follow.
All too soon it was Saturday and time to return to Detroit. We
only had slight delays getting to and leaving our layover in Denver, but after a
day’s worth of flying, we finally arrived home safe and sound with piles of mail and
packages and laundry to sort through. But that’s all work for another day. In
the mean time, we’re trying to get the kids acclimated back to Eastern time and
old home routines. As of this writing, Eliza does not seem interested in
settling down and getting some needed rest (four hours trying and counting). She’s still trying to get over the
bug, which has settled in to her guts and doesn’t want to go away. Poor baby!
We’re spending a couple of weeks in California in part to
celebrate Thanksgiving with family and in part to be sealed to Eliza in the Los
Angeles Temple. It is a vacation for Hallie and the kids, but poor Mike has to
work (or at least make a worthy effort). We are staying at Hallie’s parents’ house, and two of Hallie’s siblings and their
families have also been here. In addition to Carly and her family who live here, Riley and his family drove down from Utah. As an extra surprise, they
brought with them a stomach bug that made its way through the household. Starting with little Porter, it
seemed like one night after another someone came down with the pukes. We were
due to go to the temple on Saturday, but Mike and Landon woke up in the middle
of the night before with upset stomachs and continued that way throughout
Saturday morning. It would not have been quite so bad, except that the boys had eaten Tommy's chili cheeseburgers. Needless to say, we had to reschedule our appointment. So
disappointing! We’ll try again next Friday.
Illness and delay aside, we enjoyed spending time with
extended relations from Hallie’s and Mike’s sides of the family, who both live in the area. The kids
really benefited from their time with family. Landon, Cru, and Porter played
(and fought) at full throttle. We took advantage of the sunny and warm weather
to walk down to the playground at the local park.
Porter getting ready to slide
Uncle Shad building sand piles with the boys
Eliza giggling as she swings on the swing set
Eliza made real progress with her walking this week. She
moved from taking a few steps to taking long walks all on her own. She also has
become quite a chatterbox:
That summer Saturday when the Chrysler people came to film
on our block has continued to have ripples in Landon’s life. Last week we received
word from an ad agency that Landon would be in a print ad in USA Today’s
weekend print edition, and on Wednesday we found out from our neighbor that he and
the neighbors’ kids would be in a spot during the Lions-Packers football game. In case you missed it, here it is. He's a blip about 18 seconds in:
Ad Week's Ad of the Day for November 22.
Here are the words to the poem "See It Through" by Edgar A. Guest that was recited in the ad:
When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
We spent Thanksgiving morning and afternoon with Mike’s family and the
evening at Hallie’s enjoying football and food and all the trappings of the
day. We feel very grateful especially this year for our children and our
family. We are blessed to have our extended family and to have the ability to
share our lives with them.
A little worn out there, Grandpa?
Hallie and the ladies stayed up until midnight on Thanksgiving to shop and then took to the mall again on Black Friday. Mike and the kids spent Friday with Mike’s parents, sister, and nephews. At Grandma and Grandpa O.’s, Landon and his cousins Haydn and Lucas climbed and swing on the new rope swing and played catch with Shep, Grandpa’s Malinois, in the back yard while Eliza practiced her walking skills.
While we did not get to go to the temple on Saturday, we did get to celebrate Riley’s birthday with his favorite trifle. Eliza learned how to ride a hobby horse, and her Aunt Carly painted her toenails for the first time.
They headed back up on Sunday, but not before we got some photos of the cousins, including Eliza in her Sunday best.
