Thank You

I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who reads my blog.  Sometimes I wonder why I go to all the work of doing this and then someone will make a comment or I will notice that someone read my entry and it just makes me feel good that you all are thinking about us enough to read about us.  (Wow that was a long sentence.)  So anyway thanks to all of you for making all the work worth it!!!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving it was just the four of us.  We had decided to go ahead and make all the favorites of Thanksgiving.  The day before I made the rolls and pies (with the kids' help.)  Then the day of Ben was in charge of the turkey and stuffing and I did the mashed potatoes, gravy, and yams.  Finally around 1:00pm (an hour later than planned) we sat down to a great meal!  Everything was perfect.  

What all of us were waiting for... the pies!!!  Poor Kyle was so tired that he wouldn't even eat the pie.  He just wanted to sleep.  But he did get a piece later and loved it!

Makayla's favorite pie... the chocolate pudding pie.  That night at midnight Ben took a trip to Walmart to get a few black Friday deals.  Then on Friday Makayla and I woke up early and went shopping up in Reno.  We also saw the new movie Tangled which we both LOVED!!!  Daddy and Kyle stayed home and got to watch football all day.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great weekend!!!

Another Announcement

Please feel free to visit our adoption profile on the LDS Family Service website.  

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/25002387/ourMessage.jsf

Forward to anyone and everyone!!!

Announcement

Ben and I have been approved for adoption!!!  Now the hard part begins...

Stories Of The Kiddos

Makayla is getting so big.  It seems like just yesterday she was a little baby and now she is in Kindergarten telling me all the things that all the other children have taught her.  So far it has all been good thank goodness.  I am just waiting for the day she comes home with some choice word she heard someone say.  Now for what happened this week.  I arrived at the school to pick her up and as she was walking across the playground I noticed she was holding a little boy's hand.  When she got to me I asked her who the boy was.  She said, "That was Brent."  I asked her if she was holding his hand and she said, "Yes, we are going to get married when we get older."  "Oh really," I said, "Did he ask you to marry him?"  "No," she replied.  "I asked him to marry me and he said yes!"  Don't you just love a girl that takes charge!!!  I have to admit I thought this was pretty cute but Ben didn't have the same reaction.  He wants to interview the boy and see if he is worthy for his daughter.   Has it already started?!?!?!

Everyday Kyle either makes me laugh or makes me want to pull my hair out!  We like to call him the little monster around our house.  Since this is his nickname we taught him to growl whenever someone asks what does a monster say.  It is pretty cute if I do say so myself.  Kyle also loves to jump (see previous entry's video.)  He actually gets about a centimeter off the ground now.  Amazing!!!  As I have mentioned before I am teaching Kyle sign language.  Not a ton of words just the basics so he can actually ask me what he wants instead of just cry.  It has come in very handy.  Recently I taught him to sign thank you.  You put your hand by your mouth and then pull your hand straight out.  Well Kyle has decided that the sign he is going to use for thank you is to blow kisses.  Adorable!!!

Lake Tahoe

As a family we love to go hiking.  One of our favorite spots to go is Lake Tahoe.  It is so beautiful no matter what time of year.  A few weeks ago we went to check out the salmon run and then went on a hike.  It was so much fun and the kids loved it!

The salmon run was so cool.  I have never seen so many fish in my life.  The most memorable part of that outing was when we arrived at the fish Kyle got so excited that he headed straight for the river.  There were so many people that we couldn't get through.  Luckily the water was only a couple inches deep so Kyle only got his feet wet.  He sure was the entertainment with that one.  

After that it was time for our hike.  It was getting a little late so we had to hurry before it got dark.  Makayla did awesome and walked the whole way.  It is a pretty steep hike but totally worth it in the end.

Kyle refused to take a nap the whole hour and a half drive up there so after the hike he fell fast asleep.

On the way home we went to a little restaurant in South Lake Tahoe.  We were all staving and tired but it was a wonderful day.  We can't wait until spring when we can go again!!! 

Our Adoption Video

This is a little video that we made to prospective birth mothers and birth fathers to tell them a little more about our family.  What do you think???

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What a little cutie!

I have been meaning to get a video of Kyle for a long time but we just got a new camera and I had to figure out how it worked.  Finally here it is.  I have to say Kyle was awesome.  He showed off all his tricks in one taping.  What a little cutie!!!

More Halloween

This year I when I got the kids pictures taken I decided to do Halloween pictures together.  I have never done professional Halloween pictures and I thought it would be cute.  I like to call these A Princess and Her Duck...

Our Halloween

It was another great Halloween for the Shawcroft's.  It started on Thursday night when we carved pumpkins.  Makayla drew faces on all the pumpkins and then Ben and I cut them out.  Kyle just watched and messed.  We had seven pumpkins all together but we only carved four.  They turned out so cute.  

Fallon celebrated Halloween Saturday night which we were very excited about.  I really didn't want to break it to the kids that we couldn't trick-or-treat since it was Sunday so thank you Mayor.  

Makayla wanted to be a princess for the third year in a row.  I really don't mind because I have a lot of fun every year making her costume.  She loved her dress which made me feel good.  She looked beautiful as usual.  

While we were walking I saw a girl dressed up as a princess with a long wig.  I told Makayla that everyone probably thought she was wearing a wig since her hair is so long and pretty.  The very next house we went to after getting her candy Makayla informed the people that her hair was real and not a wig.  It was so cute.

Kyle was the cutest little duck ever!!!  For the whole day Kyle cried and cried.  He had a really bad cold and didn't take good naps and was just really cranky.  Luckily when we actually started trick-or-treating he calmed down and loved it.  Man, free candy for looking cute?  Who can beat that?  Every house we went to the people told the kids how cute they were.  I love it when people tell me how adorable my kids are.  

This is the only picture we got this year of Kyle not crying.  You can't get much cuter than this!!!

This was their stash.  Pretty good for our little neighborhood.  It is pretty nice around here because most people give you a handful of candy not just one piece.  It was funny because we went to a church member's home and after Makayla got her candy she yelled to me, "Mom, Pat only gave us one piece!!!"  Overall it was a wonderful day and evening.  The kids went to bed great that night and weren't even full of sugar!

5 years old and 18 months old...

Wow life has been pretty busy around here and therefore my blog has suffered.  But hopefully things are slowing down and I can get back to updating it more often.  We recently had pictures taken of the kids.  I was so happy with how they turned out.  Enjoy!!!

Makayla is loving Kindergarten and getting so smart.  I can't believe all that she has learned in such a short period of time.  She loves her teacher and her friends and everything about school.  She still has such a sweet personality.  She always wants to make everyone feel happy and included.  She has made a good little friend at school named Kaylee.  Makayla loves calling Kaylee her best friend.  I love seeing her so happy.  We love you Makayla and are so proud of you!
  

Makayla 5 years old..

Makayla just finished her first season of soccer.  She did amazing.  She ran and ran in 90+ degree weather and never complained once.  She loved it and it was so much fun watching her!

Now for the little monster.  Yes that is what we call him around here.  Kyle is the sweetest, cutest little guy but he loves to cause trouble.  It is hard to get upset with the little guy when he looks like this though!!!  Kyle loves playing with all his toys and anything else he can get his hands on.  He is learning new words every day and still uses a little sign language.  He loves reading books and taking every last book off the shelves that he can reach.  He loves giving hugs and kisses which just about melt my heart.  We love our little boy so much and can't believe that he is already 18 months old!

Thank you again to our wonderful birth mothers and birth fathers.  We love you so much and are so blessed to have you both in our lives 

My Little Star

You can imagine our surprise when Ben was looking in the newspaper and saw Makayla!!!   She is in the back-middle in the blue and white shirt.  (Her birthday shirt from Grandma Harward!)  Read the article to see all the juicy details...

The Difference Between Boys and Girls

I have always heard from people with both boys and girls that they are so different.  I've always wondered if it is because of us (that's the way we make them) or if it really is just the way they are.  Now that I have both a boy and a girl I am realizing that they are so different and it is NOT the way we make them.  They really just come differently.  If you don't believe me look at this example.  The other day Makayla was pushing her baby in the stroller.  She dressed the baby all up in a cute little dress and a matching headband in her hair.  She placed her gently in the stroller with a blanket covering the baby so she wouldn't be disturbed.  Then she proceeded to stroll the baby throughout the house trying to get her to sleep.  When she was done with that she left and went on to something else.  Before I know it Kyle is at the stroller.  He took the baby out of the stroller, threw it on the floor, and then started pushing the stroller as fast as he could around the house laughing and screaming.  Now you tell me... is there a difference between boys and girls???  

She's In Kindergarten!!!

It all started with a fun trip to Reno for school clothes.  This is a tradition that Makayla and I have every year.  Just the two of us drive to Reno for the day and shop till we drop.  We both have so much fun.  Then that night she put on a fashion show to show daddy and Kyle all her new clothes.

Then yesterday was the day.  It had finally arrived.  The day that Makayla has been waiting for all year long... the first day of Kindergarten.  She was so excited.  We all woke up extra early since Makayla starts school at 7:30am.  Makayla picked out her own outfit and how she wanted me to do her hair.  She looked beautiful.

Then it was off to school.  We walked in and went straight to the playground to wait for the bell to ring.  Makayla enjoyed the slide very much.

When the bell rang we all lined up and headed to the classroom.  Originally Makayla wanted us to leave as soon as we got to the classroom but when it all came down to it she was a little nervous and wanted us to stay longer.  There wasn't one familiar face in her classroom so she was a little scared.  

As you can see by the face she was really nervous.  Finally I asked the little girl next to her what her name was.  She said Kaylee.  Makayla was so excited because she had another friend named that.  They started talking a little bit.

Next they all went to the carpet for singing time.  This was when Makayla started to get a little more comfortable.  She sat by her new friend Kaylee and they all sang the ABC's with their teacher Mrs. Moyle.  Next they sang Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.  This was when we could really tell that Makayla was comfortable.  She started "rocking out" and she says to the song.  Ben and I went over to her and asked if it was okay if we left and she said yes.  We gave her a kiss and then were off.  

  

I am so proud of my little girl.  I can't believe that she is in Kindergarten.  She is the sweetest most precious little girl in the whole world and I thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing me to be her mom.  I love her with all my heart.  I can't wait to see what her future holds.  I know that she will do amazing things.  

Well after school was over Ben and I went to pick her up.  We got there a little early so we just waited.  All of sudden all these sweet little kids in backpacks came out the door and across the lawn.  It was so adorable.  Then we spotted our little girl.  She was the cutest one of all and she was holding hands with Kaylee as they came out.  I have to admit I started tearing up it was so cute.  She was so happy and so excited to tell us all about her day.  She is the most amazing little girl.  I can't believe that she is in Kindergarten!!! 

Going Private

Well the time has come that I am going to make my blog private.  I really really didn't want to because I am so afraid that there might be people related to our birth families that read this blog and catch up on the kids.  Please know that if you are someone that knows us through the kids adoptions I would love for you to continue to have access to our blog.  Don't be afraid to just send me your email and I will add you on.  I don't ever want the kid's birthfamilies to feel like I am excluding you.  I just feel like the time has come that I don't want information about the kids getting into the wrong hands.  As we start looking for a new child to add to our family I will be starting a new adoption blog that will be public for all to see.  I just want this one to be private.  So if you enjoy seeing what the Shawcroft family is doing please send me your email and I will add you to my blog.  Thanks everyone!!!  

 

Our Wonderful Birthmothers and Birthfather

Ben and I are so blessed to have such beautiful and wonderful children.  We thank our Heavenly Father every day for such sweet little spirits.  We have very special birthparents in our lives that gave us our Makayla and Kyle.  We love that we are able to keep in touch with them and see what is going on in their lives.  We were able to see both Kyle's birthmother and birthfather and Makayla's birthmother while we were in Utah.  We love showing off our beautiful children to their special birthparents.  What a wonderful experience that is. 

This is Kyle's birthmother and birthfather.  We love you guys so much.  Thanks so much for such a smart, beautiful, sweet and amazing little boy.  

This is Makayla's birthmother.  We love you so much.  Thank you so much for such a precious, sweet, smart, and amazing little girl.

Our Summer Trip

We started off our trip with a plane ride to Boise, ID to see my grandma.  Ben stayed home to work and then he was going to join us later.  Makayla was so excited to see her great grandma Shirley.  I was so excited to see her too because she had never seen Kyle and hadn't seen Makayla since she was two.  My mom met us there at grandma's house to join in the festivities. 

Makayla and Grandma Shirley got along great.  They had such a fun time teasing each other.  Now everyone knows where I get my great height from...  After a few days we drove to Utah to my parent's house. Makayla was so excited to meet her new cousin Brighton and see her cousins Addy and Zoee all who live with my parents.  She also got to see her cousin Brooklyn since my brother recently graduated from dental school and had moved back to Utah.  It was so fun seeing everyone and just hanging out. 

I took Makayla and Kyle to "their temple" (the temple they were both sealed to us in.)  It was so much fun seeing it and brought back many wonderful memories.

One day my sister and I took the kids to a fun little water park.  This was Kyle's first time in water besides the bathtub and he loved it.  He loved the fact he could spash as much as he wanted and not get into trouble. 

We had a fun one-day Harward family reunion.  It started out that morning with all you can eat breakfast from Kneaders.  It was so good!!!  Oh how I wish there was a Kneaders in Fallon.  Then we went swimming.  That night we had a yummy bbq and the kids went on a treasure hunt.  This is all the loot they found.  Kyle was mad because he wanted all of it not just his!!!

Here we are playing with some Snaps (thanks to Jennie) and bubbles (thanks to Megan) waiting for it to get dark for fireworks.

When it got dark we started the fireworks.  We decided that we'd just do street fireworks instead of going to a big show.  We aren't allowed to do fireworks in Fallon so this was really fun for Makayla.  Kyle absolutely loved them.  Everytime the firework would stop he would clap and then say, "more, more, more."

Next it was time for the Shawcroft family renunion.  This reunion actually lasted for four days.  We had so much fun.  We started it off with a Shawcroft family talent show.  Makayla sang the song Believe and did a beautiful job.  Ben surprised us all (including me) with a little cowboy poetry.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did.  He even memorized most of it.  His only mishap was when his Colorado cowboy cousins informed him his cowboy hat was on backwards.  Such an attorney!!!

Kyle's talent was looking absolutely adorable in grandpa's cowboy hat and walking around everywhere while stealing everyone's leftover food.  For my talent I was going to do an amazing gymnastic routine but too bad we ran out of time!

 

That night all the cousins stayed at grandma and grandpa Shawcroft's house for a camp out.  Lucky Ben and his brother Tyler got to be the chaperones. 

On our last day of the reunion we went to Ben's sister's house and went swimming in their pool.  The water was the temperature of a bathtub and was wonderful.  The kids has so much fun.  Makayla's favorite thing was to take the water gun and pretend it was a hair dryer.  Both mommy and daddy got a hair makeover from her.  What a girl!!!

Kyle's favorite thing was having daddy throw him up in the air as high as he could and then catch him.  Again after each throw we'd here, "more, more, more, more."  After swimming each of the children told fun stories about their childhood.  It was a lot of fun to hear all their memories.  When it got dark it was time for fireworks.  Kyle again clapped after each one chanting, "more, more, more, more."

We had such a great time.  Thanks to all the family for making our stay so great.  A special thanks to the Shawcroft family for giving Kyle and me the flu.  How can we ever thank you for that special gift???  One of the best things we were able to do while we were there was visit Kyle's birthmother and birthfather and Makayla's birthmother.  I will tell more about this special experience later.