Spring 2014

Please forgive me. So many pictures. So much catch-up happening.

Photo dump in 3, 2, 1....

 

I got a City Mini GT double stroller for those times when I needed to haul both kiddos. It definitely is not as comfy for Chloe as her wheelchair, but considering it isn't meant for special needs and not necessarily for older children, it does work pretty well. And they look pretty dang cute in it, which is most important.

 

Chloe in front of the butterfly statue at Primary Children's Hospital

Chloe in a smiley mood one day after school

Chloe getting ready to go swimming in our hot tub!

Chloe just before her bilateral exotropia surgery.

Getting Taylor/Bennett family pictures taken at City Creek.

Chloe's last day of 1st grade!

Chloe with NO front teeth and her tooth fairy pillow!

Twinning is winning!

Random cuteness with Sam.

On a walk at Layton Park

We remodeled our bathroom and I loved how it turned out!

Just holding hands and stealing my heart!

Enjoying spring weather with cousins

Sam's first time in the swing!

Sam's first outing! At Hogle Zoo with cousins!

Easter!

 

 

 

Trip to Vegas to celebrate Nick graduate from DO school!

Chloe had a scary seizure the night we got home from Vegas. She turned blue so we called 911. They took her to Primary Children's and it was found she had a UTI. So it was "just" a febrile seizure. Well, it was sure scary!

 

We had an epic weekend in May! Chloe's 7th birthday, a surprise party for Travis's 40th birthday, Aaron (my biological brother that I just found last year) came to visit from Virginia and meet everyone for the first time, and then Sam got blessed! Oh, and it was Mother's Day too! No, I wasn't exaggerating, it was truly epic and absolutely wonderful!!!

We pulled off a giant surprise party for Travis at the building at Jensen Nature Park.
It was lots of fun!

What can I say, I love Aaron! He is the best! We absolutely loved having him!
He and I just hung out a bit, then he got to meet the kids and Oby.
We drove out to Antelope Island.

This picture is hilarious because Aaron forgot his jacket for the trip.
I suggested he borrowed Oby's jacket.
So he put it on to show me why that wouldn't work.
LOL that dude is huge!

Me and my bro. SO glad I found him and that he is in my life!

 

It was a crazy day so I never got a picture of just Sam in his blessing outfit.
But this will do. What a sweet boy.

Yes this is a cute pic of Sam with his Aunt Tay.
And a hilarious pic of Nana photo bombing.
Yep, look close. There she is!

Cute cousins at the blessing.

Uncle Jamie sure loves Sam.

At the end of May, Sam and I went to Montana to see Jake receive the priesthood and Aspen baptized. Oby and Chloe stayed home because she had such a hard time traveling a few weeks before that when we went to Vegas. It was hard being away, but a fun trip for just Sam and I and a special weekend with family!

Wyatt and Jake at Aspen's baptism

Dad, Cruz, Mom, & Sam at Hibernation Station

Jake and Aspen

Jake and Sam on the road trip!

It was a lovely spring! Makes my heart happy to look back and enjoy it once more.

Viet Virginia Vacation

Well, I haven't mentioned it yet, but one of the biggest events of my life and certainly of 2013 was finding out about and then meeting the Viet family, which is my biological father's family. I'd known about them for 3-4 years (ever since a few months before Chloe's genetic appointment). But I'd never reached out to any of them other than a few short emails with an uncle. John, my biological father, committed suicide in 2006. He had two sons, Aaron and Adam. To make a super long story short, a million little things and feelings came up in January of this year, and ultimately I felt compelled to reach out to Aaron and Adam and develop a relationship. I didn't expect more than a Facebook relationship, and actually didn't even expect that if they didn't want it. They had never known about me and once they really knew everything and believed that I was who I was saying I was, they embraced me fully as their sister. I was honored and grateful and have just enjoyed it! After LOTS of messages and phone calls, it felt like it was time we really meet each other. I flew out to Roanoke, Virginia the end of June and stayed with Aaron's cute family. We also went to Dublin where they grew up and where Adam and his wife now live. I really need to do a journal about all the feelings and experiences I've had related to getting to know this part of my life. I had put it off for so long to try not to hurt my mom in any way, but ultimately, it was the right thing. It has been hard for my mom, but she's been as supportive as she is able. Anyway, here are some pictures from my very special trip.

Aaron's son, Aaden, with a build a bear he made for Chloe. Aww!

Aaron, Adam, and I took Aaden to see Monster's University

Aaden is my little buddy! He calls me Miss Tara with the cutest southern accent you EVER will hear and he is my little Ute! Isn't he the cutest, though?!

This is John (my biological father)'s brother's family, sons, wife, and me all together for the first time at a BBQ in Aaron's backyard. Talk about southern hospitality, I think these people invented it! Pretty dang awesome.

This was a fun night in Dublin, Virginia, where Aaron and Adam grew up. It was so beautiful there, I could have sat on the front porch of that restaurant for just about forever.