Category Archives: adventure

Regan’s 1st field trip

Leave a reply

Regan was SO excited that I was able to go with him on his first field trip. First time being on a bus, first time going to the Rock Art Museum, first time seeing petroglyphs.
IMG_1567 IMG_1568

There were 18 kiddos and 5 adults. The bus was pretty much empty. Regan chose a set clear in the back. And I apparently have anxiety about being in a moving vehicle without a seat belt. I don’t love that. I am newly grateful that our kids don’t ride the bus to school. IMG_1569

He of course LOVED riding the bus. IMG_1570 IMG_1571

We had a girls group and a boys group. I was with the boys because, well Regan is a boy. This was pretty much my view as I brought up the rear.IMG_1573 IMG_1577

Regan guzzled his water about five minutes into the hike. And then later he took over mine. It was freaking 80 degrees. It’s NOVEMBER. Were were all over dressed. I was wishing for shorts by the end.IMG_1579

He grabbed the camera from around my neck to take a selfie.

IMG_1581 IMG_1582 IMG_1583 IMG_1585

They did a scavenger hunt for different pectroglyphs on the trail.IMG_1586 IMG_1588 IMG_1592

And they learned how to grind mesquite beans into flour.IMG_1594 IMG_1595 IMG_1596 IMG_1597

Regan was SO hot and sweaty that he was itching and scratching like crazy. I had him put his hand on his head. He starts allergy shots on Tuesday. Poor kid.IMG_1605

When we were done with the hike we got to go inside. The boys all needed more water and a cool place to sit for a minute.IMG_1606

Stick a fork in him. He was SO done.IMG_1608

So done.  HAhaha! IMG_1609

They got to peck on a rock to see how the pectroglyphs were made. That was awesome.IMG_1610 IMG_1611

And then we all got to make our own pectrogylph on a clay disc to take home.IMG_1612 IMG_1613

Regan really wanted to take my picture. He looked at it and called it perfect. 🙂IMG_1615Aside from being hot, it was a great field trip. I’m so happy he’s not to cool for me yet. 🙂

Healing

Leave a reply

Sally said I should go on an Adoptive/Birth Mom retreat. I said sure, why not. It sounded like a good idea at the time. Until it got closer to the event.

I’m not either an adoptive or birth mom. So I started feeling SUPER awkward about going on the retreat. Super awkward. But it was done. No turning back. So I put on my “I’m not an introvert” pants and went.

On Thursday night I hosted some amazing women who I crammed into my girl room. They were good sports about it. And then Friday morning I drove to the airport to pick up some other awesome ladies.

I had five brave women who tolerated my total lack of navigation skills while I drove us all up to Prescott. I didn’t get too lost and mostly followed the GPS’ directions accurately. We got there and back okay so…
DSCN8261 IMG_1334 IMG_1335On Saturday we had a few workshops/presentations that were really great. Above are all the adoptive moms (and me) with our two birth moms who were leading the class. Sally and another adoptive mom were inside with all the birth moms leading that class.

IMG_3504IMG_1365 IMG_1412I can’t even tell you how much I love these two amazing strong women. They are just so so so wonderful. Plus how cute are they?!IMG_1436 IMG_1440Sally and I have been trying to plank every day. So this was just us being silly.IMG_1444 IMG_1445 IMG_3427Meeting FB people in real life was really great. Really really great.IMG_3536 IMG_3543 IMG_3549

We had an amazing presenter come and share his adoption story. He was adopted and adopted.IMG_3568Spending a weekend with these women was life changing. And so healing. I had been living in emotion denial since the siblings left. I mean, I knew I missed them but I was “fine.” Like right back to normal life, no tears fine. And I knew (hoped) I was in denial, but I was starting to think maybe I really was just fine and that maybe I was kinda emotionally broken…

This weekend and these women tore my emotional bandaid of denial right off. And I’ve been a hot mess of tears ever since. Which is hard, but so good. Because I’m not broken and now I can start to heal.IMG_3571

Someone took this picture of me getting loved on by some beautiful souls. This was right after I had pulled out my “old” family photo. I was taking a small copy of the last family photo of the seven of us to the burning and letting go ceremony. Sally asked me about it and I just melted. Stupid symbolism of letting them really go broke me. I can hardly type for crying. And breathing… it just hurts.IMG_3596 IMG_3597If we wanted to say what we were letting go and share with the group we could, but we didn’t have to. Which was good because I couldn’t even. Breathing was hard. Everything hurt.

And it still does. But this is good, because healing and crap right?! I was their Mom for almost 13 months. Monkey girl was only 4 weeks old! They were my kids. I love them and I miss them so much that sometimes it’s hard to breath. I don’t now if I’ll ever get to see them in person again and that really really sucks.

So for the last week I’ve been a hot weepy mess. I’m crying over every little thing. Things that wouldn’t normally phase me have me in a puddle of tears. And occasionally the pain is breathtaking. Real life is hard and messy.

I will FOREVER be grateful for the beautiful women who were warm and welcoming and sharing of their pain, joy, and strength. They were just what I needed when I didn’t know what I needed.

Also sometimes putting your introvert self in a box is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Camping Sedona

Leave a reply

We decided it would be fun to go camping at the end of October. Because we are brilliant…. Holy frozen everything Batman! And then we had our friend Ryan walking around wearing shorts and sandals!!! I didn’t get a picture. I was too cold to get more than these few.
IMG_0724These two were so cold that they just shared a chair and blankets. I later tossed a sleeping bag on them.IMG_0725 IMG_0728Jon was reminiscing about the days when he could zip Regan up into his coat to keep him warm. Also when your wife does ALL the packing while you are at work you just don’t complain about the ONE thing that was forgotten. I really did feel bad about not packing his beanie. He really didn’t even mention it. “I’ll just use my scarf.” Reasons I love Jon.IMG_0731Quick flashback to November 2009.

IMG_2566No one else blink. EVER. My little snuggle bug is getting so big! 🙁

IMG_0732Regan is our sleeper. He passed out warm and snug in his Daddy’s arms wrapped up in his sleeping bag in front of the fire. I was not at all jealous. 😉 IMG_0735It really was fun. And I was very happy that I took the time to pull out and pack our winter gear (not counting the missing hat) for this camp out. Our snow shoes saved our feet. My extra gloves saved Cami’s hands. No more fall camping for this dessert rat. I’m a wuss pants when it comes to being cold.

Although YES to more camping in Sedona. I love that place.