So far 2011 is shaping up to be a pretty good year. We still think about our little buddy Ayden all of the time, I don't expect that to ever change. We love that little superman so much and can't wait to see him again someday.

We have had a few changes around our house. I quit my job in February so I am now a housewife. The decision didn't come lightly and it won't be without some trial, as we are down to one income, but it was a necessary decision. My plan is to (finally) start teaching piano to beginner students to help supplement our income. It will be nice because I will be at home and when we welcome a baby into our home it won't require major adjustments.

Really, aside from quitting my job things have been pretty casual for us. We hang out with friends and family on the weekend. Asher is busy with school and work during the week and I try to find things to keep myself busy. Really there's plenty for me to do, its just getting into the groove of things. I'm sure I'll get there but part of me just wants to be really lazy for a little while.

Anyway, we will have some more changes coming over the next few months but I'll post about them as they come.

2010

What can I say? 2010 was filled with many ups and downs. A part of me whishes it would have never ended, and yet I'm glad to see it go. We spent the first half of the year focused on getting our approval for adoption. I spent a good portion of that time and into the second half of the year at the children's hospital here in town with my sister(-in-law), nephew and niece while my nephew went through chemo and radiation therapy. The majority of that time was filled with ups.

We were approved for adoption, our nephew was responding well to his treatments. In October we experienced some hardships and had to place our adoption profile on hold for a bit. In November we found out our sweet nephew's cancer had spread to his brain. At that time we were told there was no hope for recovery. He spent several weeks in a medically induced coma. When he awoke he could no longer speak or walk and had very little control over his arms but he could smile, and it was beautiful. We were witnesses to several miracles and knew that he would be taken care of. As a family we knew that he would not be with us much longer but didn't know how much time we would have with him. On December 29 he was taken home to his Heavenly Father, where he joined some of his great-grandparents and his aunt Sarah. While we have a void in our lives where he once filled, we know where he is, that he is not alone, and that we will see him again.

So, I wish I could go back to the first half of the year of 2010 so I could enjoy my time with that sweet little boy and I could continue with our approval to adopt, but I look forward to this new year when we will be able to re-activate our profile and continue on our journey to adoption and we will be able to start a new life without our sweet Ayden while honoring his memory.

I hope 2011 will live up to it's potential and that we will get to experience the joy life has to offer.

Weekends

This past weekend was a busy one. On Friday we didn't do much. Asher went to the doctor to have his shoulder looked at because its been bothering him since he fell a while back. We'll find out about it in the next couple of days when the doc gets his x-rays. The rest of the day we spent watching FRIENDS and playing Five Crowns, a game we have grown to love. I couldn't have asked for a better Friday night.

Saturday I spent at my nephew T's soccer game. He is normally the starting goalie for his high school JV team but he was injured at his last game so he played the second half of this game. He played great and they won in overtime. Did I mention he's just a Freshman who is normally starting goalie for the JV team? I'm so proud of him. After the soccer game my sister, T, and I met my mom and Grams at Chic-Fil-A for lunch. My mom and Grams had been at my nieces soccer game, where their team tied. After a quick lunch we all went to my nephew B's football game. Another great game. B played really well, he's such a natural. They also won their game. I'm so proud of my nieces and nephews! I had a fantastic time with some of my family. While I was out at the games Asher stayed home to change the oil in his car and do some studying for school. I think he enjoyed his time to work on the things he needed to. Saturday night was spent the same as Friday night, watching FRIENDS and playing Five Crowns.

Sunday we spent at church, where we had a great time teaching our respective classes. After church we did a simple dinner of cold cereal and snacked over the course of the evening. It was cool enough to warrant turning on our gas fireplace and snuggling up together under some blankets while we watched FRIENDS again. I only wish the weekends could last longer. Its only Monday and I can't wait until next weekend!

Birthday Party

Ayden's favorite part and the only thing he talked about all week, PRESENTS!!! Sampson and I.

Asher and I

The Birthday Boy! Such a cutie!

Me (Rachel), Grammy (Asher's mom), and Kaylee (our niece)

Today we went to our nephew's birthday party. He turned four this week and it was so fun to get to celebrate his birthday with the family. It was extra special due to the fact that he was diagnosed with cancer in December, and while we have always remained optimistic, every day is a miracle with him. It was perfect timing for his birthday. He happened to be out of the hospital, feeling good, and the weather was beautiful. Watching him have such a great time was wonderful. He got some great toys and can't wait to play with them. I can't wait to celebrate his next birthday. We love our sweet nephew and are so happy to have him in our lives.

More Pics....

Here are a few more pictures of Asher and I.

Below are a couple of pictures of Asher and I at The Children's Hospital in Denver visiting our nephew who is undergoing chemo for cancer. He is the toughest kid we know and is fighting like a champ.

Asher and I with our niece and nephew.

Asher with our oldest nephew, who really needed a haircut ;). This was Christmas a few years ago, our first as a married couple.

This was our first Christmas after we were married.

Our animals looking out in our backyard. I think there was a bird on the roof of our garage.

Asher and I in the mountains during a day trip.

Asher and I in Mexico during a cruise for our first anniversary.

Pics

Here are a few pictures over the past couple of years. We don't have any recent ones but I will add pictures here and there to fill in the spaces between posts. Enjoy.

Asher with his dad, three of his brothers, a very sweet nephew, and maternal grandparents in Oklahoma, last year, in front of Grammy and Grandpa's house.

Asher and Sampson. I love these boys. :)

I fell asleep after studying. Of course the animals joined me for a nap. I am glad to be done with school, although I often think about continuing on with my Master's Degree.

These are some pictures of me with my sisters kids at Disneyland. We got to go a couple of years ago and had a great time. It was fun to watch my niece and nephews experience Disneyland for the first time. I was so happy to be with them during their first experience with something I have so many fond memories of. Growing up we went to Disneyland often and I loved it.

Visitors

Last weekend I had the pleasure of having my friend stay with me when she came into town for her sisters wedding. It worked out beautifully. I was so happy to have her stay with us because I would not have seen her otherwise. I love that I have the space to have guests stay in my home. :) We had a great time going to lunch one day and breakfast another day. It was so fun.

Today my parents and my grandma came over to have dinner with us and to see the guest room/future nursery now that it is painted. After dinner my sister and two of her kids stopped by because my nephew is selling coupon books for his high school soccer team. We were able to share dessert with them while they were here, which was a good thing because I ended up with a ton of leftover peach cobbler, even after sending some home with my sister for my other nephew and my bro-in-law. My niece and nephew asked if I would make it again the next time they spend the night and I can't say no to such a request, haha. It was yummy though. And for dinner I made Asher's favorite, Chicken Tetrazzini, which is something neither of my parents nor my grandma had ever had. I am so glad my mom taught me how to cook and encouraged me to help her make dinners so that I can make meals that my husband enjoys and someday my future kids will enjoy.