Catch up Post

So I know, I'm way behind on blogging as usual so this is just going to be a catch up one.

Elena came to visit in March for a weekend and Stella wasn't shy at all. She's never really gone through the attachment/stranger phase which has been great. She LOVES attention and smiles at everyone.

We went skiing with our good friends, the Horton's, in April at Snowbird in Sandy, Utah (BEAUTIFUL). It was mine and Owen's first time (unless you count Hidden Valley - our fake ski hill with fake snow in Missouri, which I did when I was like 13). We both took classes and had an awesome time. Owen is way better than I am.

Owen falling down and laughing hysterically.

Little miss Stella stayed in the room pretty much the whole time but we had to at least get a picture of her in the snow.

While we were there I got to take pictures of Alana and Davis. Davis wasn't really into it but Alana was great. They're so cute.

Then there was Easter. Unfortunately, Shaun was in Denver but Grandma Jenny got to come for a visit.

Best picture I could get of the kids. The were not very cooperative.

And Owen just had his last T-ball game this past Saturday. He had an awesome time and did a great job. He's a really good little hitter. It's funny watching all the kids go after the ball. They look like a herd of cattle or a swarm of bees that can't leave each others side. I had to keep telling Owen to not fight over the ball.

Owen's team was the White Sox but there's no way I was going to buy him a White Sox hat so I bought him a black Cardinals hat and Stella cheered for him in her little Cardinal dress.

Stella

Here's some video of Stella - crawling, climbing, clapping, cruising, etc. It set to music by Mindy Gledhill. She my new obsession (and Owens). We can't get enough of her "Whole Wide World" video. I discovered it on another blog (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). She has an amazing story and is actually in the video. Anyway, here's the video of Stella

Mindy's for "Whole Wide World"

Finalization and Baptism

So once again I am behind on my posts but here are some updates. Stella is official a Brown. Whoohoo!!!! We finalized the adoption Jan. 21 in St. Louis. We're so excited, it was such a big moment in our lives.

We also had her baptized while in town in the same church Shaun and I were married in and Owen was baptized in. It almost didn't happen though. We get to the church and there's no one around. We finally found one of the priests who said it was an oversight on the churches part but he was gracious enough to perform the service on a whim. We then headed over to my dads to celebrate afterwards. It was so nice to be able to have the ceremony held in St. Louis so Elena and her family could celebrate with us.

It's hard to see her dress but Elena made it. I thought that was so special and it was beautiful.

Stella's Godparents (Nicole - Shaun's cousin - and her husband Phil)

Elena and her friend Chelsea

While we were in town we had a surprise party for Shaun's 30th even though his birthday is in December but I wanted him to be able to celebrate with the family. And boy was he surprised. He had now idea about it or that I was behind it. Thanks to his aunt Angel it all came together great.

Taking a shot of course.

Terrorizing his son.

Before Shaun's party we visited with Elena and her family. Owen absolutely loves Gabby, Elena's sister, who I think is 15. He's so girl crazy. I was glad they got to have time with her and can't wait for them to see her again. She's changing so much. Since January she started crawling, pulling herself up on everything (even climbing on Owen's art table), and she's cruising along the couch now. She's only 8 months - I'm not ready for her to be a walker yet but I think it's going to be here sooner than later.

Just a pic to show what my sweet little girl was doing today -

Yes, that would be dirt all over her mouth because she was eating it out of the house plant.

Christmas & Polar Express

We stayed in El Paso this year for Christmas since we were going home to St. Louis in January. It was sad not seeing family but so nice to just relax at home, especially since all of us except Stella had some sort of cold/sickness that week. We just hung out at home and Owen got to play with all his new toys.

Since we were staying in El Paso everyone sent their gifts. After we set all the presents out the night before I told Shaun this was ridiculous. We have such a generous family and it doesn't help that Owen and Stella are the only grandkids on all sides except for my mom's (I have 2 nephews so Stella is the only girl). I just hope the kids don't expect this every year.

This is how we found Stella Christmas morning.

Owen helping his sis open her first present.

One of the presents Owen asked from Santa was a jack-in-the-box. I asked him if he got everything he wanted:

Owen - "Yeah, well, not everything"

Me - "What didn't you get?"

Owen - "A computer and phone."

Me - "You have a computer and phone."

Owen - "No, one like daddy."

4 1/2 years old and he already wants a real laptop and a real cell phone. I told him not before he's 5.

She was more interested in eating the wrapping paper than the presents.

Gift from her aunty Rach and she has on the "Baby's First Christmas" hat that Owen wore for his first Christmas.

The week of Christmas we took a trip up to Durango, CO to take a ride on the Polar Express. We kept it a secret from Owen until we got there - not that Shaun didn't slip up quite a few times. He was so excited but I think we were just as excited.

Waiting for the train.

Here it comes.

Yummy hot chocolate. Owen didn't want his so I drank his too.

Stella's "hot chocolate"

Santa giving Owen the first gift of Christmas . . .

A bell

This was such a fun trip, I think we'll have to do it every year.

3rd Colorado Trip

So I have some major catching up to do. I'll post about Colorado first then I'll post soon about Christmas.

This will be short but sweet. Back to Colorado it was for Thanksgiving. Our last trip until April. The kids and I are soooo done with the long trips in the car but we definitely had a blast. Some friends of ours were up there too visiting their husband/dad like us so it was fun to hang out with them. Here are the highlights:

At the Butterfly Pavilion. Owen was so excited to hold the tarantula (I don't do spiders).

I can't believe how still he was when the butterfly landed on him and I can't believe I got the shot before it flew away. It hung out for a while on his shirt.

Just before leaving to go to a friends house for Thanksgiving.

Getting ready to do some snowshoeing. Stella in her little sled that was attached to Shaun. She ended up falling a sleep for a while. I think I would too if I was rocking back and forth and all bundled up.

Owen did great with the snowshoes. I was a little nervous but he had no problems. He just got tired after a while and got in the sled with Stella. She loved that.

Here's my little snow bunny on our way home to El Paso from Denver. And we had Shaun with us so it was really nice not to travel by myself with the kids.

2nd Colorado Trip & Elena's visit

This is way late since we've already been on our 3rd Colorado trip but I'll post about that later. Owen, Stella and I headed back to Denver at the end of October but before we did that Elena, Stella's birthmom, and Elena's mom, Mary Jo, came for a weekend visit. I'm so glad they got to come down and I was super excited for her to see Stella and see how much she's changed. Of course Owen thought they were there just to play with him.

We took the kids to a pumpkin patch on Saturday and went to church and out to dinner on Sunday.

I can't wait to see them again in January when we finalize the adoption and have Stella baptized. I'm so excited because Elena is making Stella's baptismal dress. Can't wait to see it.

We left for Denver the following Wednesday. Another 12 hr drive but it went pretty good. My mom and brother met us there too so we had a lot of fun. We went to the Aquarium and the Zoo.

Owen feeding the string rays.

Owen thought the flamingos were stinky.

We were there for Halloween too. Owen was a scary little vampire and Stella was a cute little kitten. When we went trick-or-treating I put on cat ears to match my little kitten. It was really cold but Owen lasted for quite a while. Stella just sat in her stroller all bundled up and watched all the kids running around.

The ride home to El Paso was not fun. I think we were all done with this long trip but we had one more to go.