Dumb and Dumber

Dylan got into an accident at our family Ranch in Park City. He was driving across the upper pasture on the Ranger (aka limo) and hit into a 3-4 foot deep irrigation ditch. He got knocked out and has a concussion. The cat scan tech at the hospital said that he was really lucky. We feel the same way. And no he was not wearing a seat belt or a helmet. The dumb is Dylan. The dumber are his parents!

Gotcha Day!

Gotcha day! This is the day we "gotcha", Clara!

Five years ago today......

Here we were in China waiting in a conference type room at the Lottery Hotel for someone to bring us our daughter. It is a surreal feeling to have bonded 3 months before to 3 photos and a name. We waited patiently that morning for them to come in and bring the girls to us. I have never in my life felt so nervous and excited and scared all at the same time. Rong Fu Pei was the youngest and smallest of all the 9 girls. She was the last of the girls to be brought in (of course). The beautiful chinese women dressed in green & grey handed me the most beautiful little girl. Unlike most of the other little girls that day, Clara did not cry when she was placed in my arms. At one year old I held her like a baby. She did not look or feel like a one year old. Her hair was in two pig tails pulled tight on either side of the top of her head. She wore a red tank top with a gold Egyptian emblem on it. She had on black cotton short and plastic pink "jellies".

With her in my arms I felt so much joy. I also could not help but feel sadness for another mother. The mother that was unable to keep this precious gift.

On the bus ride back to the hotel I stuffed a bottle in her mouth. I gave her cheerios. I still had not let Jason hold her. She looked around at us both. She had no expression on her tiny little face. She did not seem sad or happy. Her face was covered in bug bites.

Back at the Hotel in Nanning China we sat her on the bed. She fell right over. I realized then that this little peanut could not sit up by herself. We propped her up with a pillow and looked at her. She looked at us. She was absolutely wonderful! She ate when I gave her cheerios and she held a toy if we gave it too her. Still expressionless. I was amazed at how much love I could feel for her. She was just perfect.

We played peekaboo and I tickled her and I kissed her little hand. We brought way more toys than she needed. Her favorite thing to play with was a plastic water bottle.

That night Jason gave her a bath. I took out her tight pig tales. As I took all her clothes off I began my motherly search..... checking every single inch of her. I rubbed my hands over her small back, her legs, arms and bottom. I kissed her face and head. I held her naked body. She was perfect. I was in love! As Jason put her in the bath she screamed. That was her 1st time in a bath tub.

The next morning we woke up not knowing if she was awake or still sleeping. She had taken her bottle before bed and not made a sound as we laid her in a crib she had never seen before. In a hotel with air conditioning (something she probably did not have in the orphanage). We sneaked up to the crib & she lay just where we left her on her back looking up at us.

Days went by with no smiles or cries. We played with the other girls in the hotel lobby and took field trips as a group. Then one night as Jason laid on the bed with her.... kissing and tickling her...she smiled. She smiled a bight warm amazing smile. He tickled under her chin again and again. She laughed and laughed.

For 5 years Clara has been a bright warm amazing smiling girl. She has the most incredible laugh. She is purely & deeply loved by everyone in our family. We each hold a special place in our heart for her. She is such a part of our family. We just love this girl!

Gottcha day is like no other day!

1st photo we got of Clara

2 more photo's we were sent from the orphanage.
Clara's American passport photo
In the lobby of the Lottery Hotel, Nanning China
All 9 girls with their nannies!
When she was handed over to us!




1st night sleep!

1st day with mom and dad
The director of the orphanage and his wife. Clara won over the heart of the directors wife.

Clara smiles!

Clara and her Chinese friends that she spent her 1st year with: Sam, Eden, Gigi, Clara, Kristen, Hope, Faye, Rebekah and Emme (and her older sister Katie)
Our dear friends who we will always be bonded with Travel Group 780!

ROCK ON!

The School of Rock had it's 1st show concert this May! It was Pink Floyd the Wall.

School of Rock is doing great. We are growing and growing. It is fun to see Boise kids so excited to play and be apart of this amazing organization. The best thing about School of Rock is watching the kids perform. It is one of the main reasons kids sign up is because it is so important to play to an audience.

The show was to be held in a courtyard outside a dinner in downtown Boise. Who would have thought that at the end of May we would get a snow storm? It was awful! Seriously the worst rain/snow/hail storm that Boise has seen in May for years and years! We could hardly believe it!

BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

So our Music director Derek and Jason quickly made as many phone calls as they could to find another venue last minute. It turned out to be such an amazing night the kids were so excited to put on the concert for their friends and family that it really did not matter where they played.

So in wet clothes the School of Rock, Boise played Pink Floyd the Wall in a Jewish synagogue. We sat on the floor and enjoyed an amazing show!

I looked around and saw all these parents that have been supporting School of Rock, it was a great feeling. We have been working on making a change with our family for the past few years. Moving to a new location, stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something different, it had now all come together! I felt so proud of Jason, the kids and even myself for going for it! We have worked hard this past year to get where we are. We have a tough road a head of ourselves, but after seeing the talent that these awesome School of Rock kids have, I know it will be a positive one!

Unfortunately because of the rain and complete chaos I did not take one photo. UGH, I'll be a better roadie next time!

ROCK ON!

Clara Pei is 6 TODAY!

It is hard to believe that my little baby girl is 6! She is so excited to finally be 6. She has been waiting for so long to turn 6!

Clara has the most amazing laugh. Everyone in the family loves to make her giggle. If Clara laughs then everyone laughs. Sometimes when I am brushing her hair she will giggle when I touch her neck. She has been doing this everyday for years. I love that my day starts out with a smile.

Clara loves to look pretty, dress pretty and play with pretty things. She told me last month that I was the most beautiful mommy in the whole world. I just love this girl.

Clara can ride a bike, empty all the trash cans in the house, clean a bathroom, roller skate, sing, dance and do a lot of cartwheels! All of which she taught herself to do.

She is a beautiful, smart addition to our family! Everyone loves Clara!

Sweet Treats!

One thing not lacking in our family is sweets! I love making homemade treats! Camilla is catching on and the kids now put in orders for what they want her to make. Here are her delicious Cowboy Cookies!

Sports Sports Sports

Lots and lots of sports going on at our house! It has been a fun spring. The kids have had a great time playing on their new teams!!
Camilla is so AWESOME at soccer! Her all girls team is undefeated!
Isaac is loving his first season of soccer. He asked me if he made 3 goals at the game if I would take him to Krispy Kreme Donuts! The donuts were fabulous!!!

Zach has been willing to try any new sport to come his way. He loves that all these great sports are offered at school! He tried out for the 7th grade basketball team. He did great!

Dylan made the JV team for Centennial High School! The team is ranked 4th! They have only lost 2 games, so it is very competitive with he top teams! Dylan has really stepped it up! He is having a great season!

Pinewood Derby

Isaac participated in his 1st Pinewood Derby, just a few days after his 8th birthday! He was so excited to make his car! We have had the last 2 years off making Pinewood Derby cars so Jason was a bit rusty...but they car came out in style. It was only fitting that Isaac choose a rock-n-roll guitar for his car style this year!

Isaac did not remove the smile off his face for the entire night. He was so happy.





What a great happy kid!

Zion Camping

We have been anxious to take the trailer out this season. We had our 1 year anniversary over Spring Break. Last year we took the trailer to Hershey PA for our 1st camping trip. This year we opened the season with a trip to Zion Canyon. It was so beautiful! The kids were excited to get out and camp!
When we entered Zion all of us we so surprised by how beautiful it was. We did some amazing hikes, ate some great dutch oven cooking and had fun biking!


Jason took the older kids to hike Angles Landing. I was happy to stay down at the bottom with the little ones!




Jason was so proud of them. The hike is hard to do and the kids were great!




Dylan is taking a photo class at school so he got some amazing pictures of our trip!















Where will we explore next.........