A Very Special Visit...

This past weekend we got to spend some time with an incredible woman.

Isabella's birth mother...our sweet Michon!

Oh how we love her!

We hadn't seen her in almost a year, and my heart was to the point of overflowing with happiness when I watched Michon and Bella together.

How grateful my little family is for such a miracle as this.

I stand in awe and wonder when I think of the selfless sacrifice that she made for our little girl.

It amazes me...still.

We love adoption...

We love open adoption...

It's hard to believe that somewhere out there is another birth mother as incredible as Michon, who is willing to put her trust in us...it seems almost impossible that we could be blessed beyond measure twice..

...but we have to believe we will..

Roughing it...

On Thursday July third, our family ventured out on a last minute camping trip. Thankfully the thunder and lightening storms subsided before we arrived. There, we met up with some friends from our ward.

It was a lot of fun just being able to hang out and relax. Isabella did great! She slept better than any of the other kids...which in itself is a miracle!!

Isabella's favorite part was being able to spend countless hours on the swing set and digging in the dirt. By the time we left to go home Bella was so dirty her tear streaked face left a trail of mud on her cheeks. She was quite the sight.

Jared enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee with the guys and then jumping in the freezing cold river to cool off. Personally, I thought they were crazy for doing it...but boys will be boys I guess.

I told Jared that we needed to start planning another one of these little camping trips...so... hopefully we'll have more adventures to report in the near future.

... Jared and the kiddos doing morning stretches...

...and then playing follow the leader...he is such a good daddy!