GSA & National Fossil Day 2012

Taylor and some Girl Scout friends went to Dinosaur Ridge for a day of fossils and dinosaurs. Me, I met a new friend!

Kendy's Pre-school OCT 2012

 Kendy's 1st field trip was to the Urban Farm in Denver. She learned all about the many farm animals.She especially loved the goat's beard! Ms. Hagen is a wonderful teacher and Kendy loves her.

Kendy's Pre-School SEPT 2012

Family Photos 2012

Our good friend Dianne captured my beautiful girls one windy day in August. Taylor is almost 9 and Kendy is just 3. Kip and I are over the hill. www.studionoda.com

Kendy's 1st Pre-School Aug 2012

It's Okay...for 3rd Grade

Today was the first day of 3rd grade at GVA.  I had a fun day moving a level up in school and seeing all my friends I missed over the summer.

our family vacation to washington

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With the Summer Olympics coming up soon, we thought we would enter Kendy in the Backward Somersault competition!

Tays Red Belt

Taylor received her red belt in taekwondo recently and is now 3 levels from a black belt. Time to slow down and appreciate what she has learned! She is excited to participate with the Demo team and has two performances under her belt. One was at a cultural food fest and the other at the Colorado Outlaws game. She is excellent in forms and her kicks are amazing. She can still show off her scorpion kick and break a board over her head.  Taylor you are amazing! I love you, mommy

Taylor's 2nd Grade

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Tay's Poms Recital

Singing Girls

This was taken one year ago and Kendy has come so far! She loves to sing and dance and do whatever Taylor does. What a sweet joyful little girl.
Taylor follows singing  a Selena Gomez song "Who Says". My little star in the making!

Good Night Moon

and good-night sister too!

Swinging at the Park

Kendy loves to swing! We have a good time at the park and most days we have Taylor with us too.

Taylor's 1st Grade GVA

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Mother's Day

I am truly blessed to have two sweet and loving girls as my daughters. Mother's Day is special for me because of my own mom.  For 7 years I have been celebrating for myself and my daughter's birth mothers. I will never be able to express to these women just how much I owe them;  how thankful and grateful I am to them for their difficult, I am sure, but ultimately unselfish decision to place their children up for adoption. I will always tell my girls how much they were loved by their birth mothers, and how much I love them and am honored to be their mom.

We have discovered a really fun place where the kids can learn and experience ART  and all that comes with it....it is called DAVA and it is free. Kendy has been twice now with friends and she seems to really enjoy herself. Today she made a clay snake and then turned it into a beautiful piece of art. She coiled it up, gave it texture, painted it, added jewels and now it is ready for the kiln. The piece will be added to a hanging sculpture for an Art show May 11th, then we get it back. I love that her little piece will be part of something bigger.  I can't wait to see it after it is baked and hanging!

Award to Taylor

We are so proud and happy for Taylor. She was chosen by her teachers as the outstanding 2nd grader for GVA, and she received the Aurora Scholars Award from the Mayor of Aurora. Last night all the schools in the city of Aurora came together to honor their top all-around student leaders. GVA honored one student from each grade. The ceremony was entertaining and well thought out. The kids enjoyed meeting the panel of dignitaries present to witness the ceremony.  The kids all received a key to the city! We met our Mayor! He was very gracious and excited to share this evening with the kids.

Taylor you are a bright star and we can not wait to experience your future! But stay our little girl for a while still. I love you!

Taekwondo White Tiger

Taylor recently participated in the White Tiger Championships put on by her dojang KAT. She took gold in her red belt forms and silver in pairs with her partner Anthony. She also tried board breaking for the first time: cartwheel into a scorpion kick to break a board, then an ax kick to break a board followed up with a ridge hand to break a board. She didn't medal but she sure looked good doing it. She takes her red belt test next month and is really enjoying taekwondo. As long as it brings a smile to her face and she feels good, then we will keep up with taekwondo.

Easter 2012

 Daddy set up the Easter egg hunt for all the kiddos.

 Egg decorating at DAVA

 We colored eggs at home with friends Michelle, Sydney and Miah.

 The Easter Bunny is a little too big for Kendy! But she loved her Easter basket full of goodies!

Tay and Kendy making the Peeps centerpiece!

COLORADO STATE TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Taylor participated in the Colorado State championship this year. She performed her individual poomsae (form) and took 2nd place. Taylor and her partner Anthony took 1st place in the team poomsae and they were so excited. They were in sync with their moves and looked really cool. They practiced and worked on their forms, together with Mitch, for several weeks beforehand so it was very gratifying for them to realize their hard work paid off. They qualified for Nationals with the 1st place ranking. We are so proud of Taylor!

Disney on Ice

 My favorite...a chorus line of genies!

 Chandra and Jaida

Taylor and I took her BFF Jaida and her mom to see Disney on Ice. We had fun just hanging with the girls!