Our Final Day

I don't even know how to describe this day. This one of the hardest days. This was our final day with the girls before they left our home. It has been the most wonderful, challenging, heart breaking, joyful 1 1/2 years that we have ever had. We have been so blessed to have these beautiful little girls with us. They have brought a joy to our home and they are going to be missed. Even as I write this it has been almost 2 months since they left but the emotions are still there. I can honestly say that the day that they left I managed to keep it together but I think that is only because I was emotionally spent by the time this day finally came. The boys did great.
The build up to this day with the anticipation was almost too much. There is such a huge sense of guilt, sadness, and relief. Guilt because just look at those cute little faces. Sadness because of the unknown future for them and relief because of all the unknown and frustration for them over the last year. We truly loved these little girls and even now have a hard time looking at their pictures.

Every day was so much work but seeing their smiling faces was so worth it. They were a great addition to our family and we have always felt that they were meant to be in our home but we just didn't know for how long.

We pray for them and their future each day and hope that they will grow up to be loved and happy girls.

We miss them terribly and the boys ask often when we will be able to see them again and we tell them hopefully for their birthday, but we have to give them time to adjust to their new family and really forget us, which is hard because we will never forget them.

Today was just a sense of feeling numb and a little lost. I am thankful for family and friends that helped support us through this. Hopefully, one day they will come to know us as Uncle Jamie and Auntie Tracy and we will be able to stay a part of their lives.

My final goodbye, how my arms felt so empty when they were gone but I can now look to the future with my own boys and all that lies ahead for us. As we told the boys it isn't goodbye only see you later. I had a hard time when we got home but we have enjoyed just being us and the freedom that we now have. This is the first time since having Darien 11 years ago that I don't have to worry about nap time, diapers and diaper bags. This is a whole new feeling for me and I know that it is going to take a little while to get used to but I know that I am going to enjoy my boys and my special time with Stefan before he grows up too fast. But they will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

Movie Night

This is such a tradition. Sometimes we light to try something different and so this time we got out a big air mattress and lots of blankets and settled in for a good movie.
The boys enjoy movie night so much that they don't want to miss it. Keagan is in basketball this year and the practice is on Fri. night and every Fri. he says don't get a good movie. LOL Just because he doesn't want to miss. So cute.

Legislature Fun

We had so much fun this day. We decided to take the kids to the legislature to play. I brought back a lot of memories. When we first moved to Edmonton we stayed in hotel for three weeks and it was just down the street from the legislature and Darien and I used to go and play there a lot. It is so neat to see the kids playing and having fun. It was such a beautiful day.
Daddy and the girls. This is one of the last days spent before the girls leave and it was great.

Stefan loves the water. Thank goodness for water shoes because the little rocks are a little hard on the feet but it doesn't stop them. LOL

Grandma Penni came out for a visit to see the girls before they left.

All lined up in front of the legislature. This is the big pool where you can swim instead of just wading. It comes up to just past my knees but for the kids it is perfect for swimming in.

This is the beautiful fountain.

We had so much fun but there were some very tired little ones when we got home. KL even fell asleep while she was eating dinner. It was so cute.

KR was still full of it. LOL Such cute faces it is hard to believe that they will not be with us for much longer. I try not to think about. :(

Great Show

Jamie chilling before our show starts. We were to go and see the production Peter Pan. It was so neat.
It is a show from England and they had it outside in a tent.

It was such a beautiful evening and it was a great way to spend our night in San Fran.

I wish that we could go to more Broadway type shows but it makes them that much more fun when you only do it every so often.

I am so thankful that Jamie and I had these couple of day so to recoup and be together. I love being with Jamie and remembering why we got married and having so much fun together. Sometimes the craziness of life, and kids is all that you can think about and forget what a wonderful blessing you have in being married. I know that I am blessed to have Jamie and I am looking forward to so many more years and wonderful adventures.

Scooter Fun

Jamie and I are always up for a little fun and today was no different. We got bright and early to so that we could rent a scooter. This was the most powerful scooter that we have ever been on and boy could it go. We spent the first two hours driving around SF trying to find a Denny's for breakfast. We finally got so frustrated that we got on the Bay Street Bridge and went over to the other side. It was a little intimidating being on a scooter going 70 mph but we held our own. LOL and were happy when we finally found what we were looking for. This is one of our little journeys down Lomard Street.
We decided that we would take the "scenic route" around San Francisco and it was great to see all the different sights. It was a lot of fun.

We were so happy to see a little bit of the sun as we worked our way through the rest of the day.

Our view of San Fran.

We had such a great day. One for the memory books.

Day 2 - Biking Adventure

This was such a fun day. As is tradition when we go to San Fran. we always rent bikes to ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. This time we decided that we would make it into a real day trip and do the 22 mile loop. It was so much fun, alot of work and very tiring but so worth it.

Our journey started in San. Fran. taking us over the bridge.

We then went to a small town called Sausalito were we stopped for lunch at the best bakery. Then we were on our way to Tiburon. Our ride was about 22 miles. It was so wonderful riding along the shore and see all the beautiful senery. It was an amazing day. We were glad that we crossed to the other side because the sun was shining over there but once we got back to San Fran it was cloudy. LOL Our way back was on the ferry.

The ferry took us right bask Alcatraz. We decided not to go this time, it is one of those places where you have been there done that. This was such a great day. I love riding bikes there is no better way to see the beauty. I am so thankful that Jamie and I have the same interests and so much in common, it make so our little trips and adventures so much fun.

Time For Mom & Dad San Fran Fun!!!

I know that I say this all the time but we have the best family ever. We are so blessed to have a family that loves to have our boys. This time it was Jamie's brother Tyler and wife Michelle that took the boys for a week. This tradition started when Darien was 5 and he went to their house for a week in the summer. This year they called and asked if they could have all 4 boys for a week in Aug. We were very shocked that they would want all the boys at once but trusted that they would be well taken care of and have a ton of fun so it was planned. Jamie and I then did our own planning. It was between going to Victoria, San Fransisco and San Diego. San Fran won out in the end, it is one of our favorite places to go. This is inside our very tiny room. LOL
I loved the fact that the sink was inside the closet. LOL

We got a three day pass for the trams and street cars. It was a great way to get around the city.

This was our first time going into China Town. Jamie loves to look in all the knicky knacky stores. There are so many things in there that we would never buy but it was fun looking at them all.

I wish that I could remember what the name of this building is but it has a very distinct look to it.

It is hard to see in this picture but this is the steepest street in San Fransisco. We had a great time for our first day. There was a lot of walking. Sadly while we were there it was really cold. I ended up having to buy an extra sweater just to stay warm. LOL At least it didn't rain while we were there.

Just Some Cute Ones

I had to add this picture of KL. I love that she loves to suck her thumb and it doesn't matter where her blankie is she is more than happy to just lay and snuggle with it. So very cute.
All dressed and ready to go. Just chilling before heading to chruch.

Don't Read If You Have a Weak Stomach

This was a very sad day for us. We were getting ready to have dinner with our wonderful friends enjoying the wonderful weather. It was beautiful outside so all the children were playing, Keagan was on the trampoline with a couple of other children and when all of a sudden he was screaming and running towards the deck yelling "it's so gross, it's so gross..." and we all thought that he had been stung by a bee but boy were we wrong. And boy was it gross. As the mom I must admit that I found it very upsetting watching my child be in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it. Thankfully we have wonderful friends that stepped up to take care of getting dinner served to all the kids and watched out brew while we took Keagan to the hospital. Keagan could not look at his arm. We were so lucky when we got the hospital they took him in right away. Keagan has not seen these pictures because it is all too fresh but I know that one day will want to see them.
I managed to get this picture while he was out right before they set it. The x-ray wasn't pretty either.

They had to put him out to reset his arm. They gave him what they call the "Micheal Jackson sleepy juice". It was amazing to see how quickly the medicine put him out. One min. he was talking to us the next he was out. They had us leave the room while they set it because apparently it is not pretty to watch.

It was a very long first night because of the pain that he was in but each day got better. The hardest part was that he couldn't move his arm and found that very frustrating. But he managed well. When things had finally settled down we found out what happend. Keagan and one our little friends were on the tramp. and the little girl wanted to do a trick so Keagan was stepping back to give her some room and stepped right out of the only opening on the enclosure and fell out backwards on his arm.

KR was getting in the snuggle action of trying to make sure that Keagan was feeling ok. LOL but he was so nervous that she would bump it.

Still looking good for Sunday. This is his air guitar. LOL In case you are wondering yes he choice the pink. He is a real man plus you have no idea how much attention you get when you have a pink cast on. (He is one smart cookie LOL)

I was so proud of how well Keagan did with his cast on. He was able to have it cut down to just below his elbow for the last 4 1/2 weeks because it was healing so well. I never once heard a complaint or words of frustration from him the whole time that he had it on. He even had a great time in Winnepeg with Uncle Tyler and Auntie Michelle. It was a very happy day when it finally came off now we just laugh at how much darker the air on that arm is but he is doing great.

Only Rylan LOL

This is our Rylan. What can I say this was the funniest thing ever. Rylan decided that he would climb down between the springs on the trampoline only to discover that he couldn't get out. LOL
He tried twisting different ways but it didn't work.

And being the good mom that I am I had to grab my camera to capture the moment for a life time. :) These are more moments that you just don't want to forget.

I "save" his life by lifting him back out but not before having a good laugh with him. Boy I love this kid.