Hawaii adventure

We are off on our Hawaiian adventure this time to Maui. It's our first time to this island and we are having lots of fun exploring. Many more pictures to come but I thought I would post a couple off of my phone. Kai got to sit in the pilot's seat when we were boarding the plane! There are a bunch of cool tide pools right by where we are staying. We are having fun and soaking up the amazing scenery. Aloha!

TK Post Office Field Trip

 Yesterday Kai and his TK class walked from their school to the post office for a tour. Jenna went with them and said the class was awesome walking together and listening to their teacher and the post office workers explain how the post office works. So cool!! :)  

Happy Birthday Cruz!!

More pictures from Cruz's 1st birthday! We are so grateful for our little love beam :)

Kai was super excited to help decorate Cruz's room after he went to sleep.

... and help to bake his little brother's cake.

Kai's card to Cruz

Some pictures of Mr. One Year Old :)

Kai & Cruz love playing little songs on the piano

Walking soon?!! 

The Love Beam! 

Happy Birthday cake and a Happy Big Brother cake! 

Rare family shot! 

MMM! Frosting! 

 nom nom nom!

 Best big brother ever!

"Um Mom, this is a lot of cake for a one year old!"

 

Cruz trying to climb up the slide... someday.

Cruz loving Ruby's ball! haha 

So proud of this little guy!

((((And we have to add a video of the moment Cruz dug into his 1st birthday cake!))))

 HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY CRUZ!!!

What is art?

Kai and I had an awesome conversation this morning about what is art. Super fun for me considering it was my major in college and something I love. As we were going through the house looking at all the things that are art (almost everything) Kai asked "are we art?" I said "I think so, what do you think?" He said "the promise that's inside us and lives on after we die, that's art" I couldn't help but get teary eyed. What a beautiful thought from an amazing little boy. This picture is his super excited smile - ha ha! Love it!

Numero Uno

Cruz giving a shout out to all his fellow one year olds :) more b-day updates coming soon!

Cruz is 1!!!

One year ago today this amazing little beam of love entered the world. He has brought so much joy and light to our family. I will never forget his birth mother's strength and courage as she brought him into the world. I think about her everyday and hope she knows how thankful we are to have this amazing little boy in our lives. He shares her joy-filled spirit and reminds me everyday of all I have to be thankful for. 

As Cruz enters this next year of life he still loves to smile. He loves being held. His favorite foods are sweet potatoes, blueberries and cheese. He adores his big brother and lights up every time his daddy walks in the room. He rounded out our family in ways we didn't even know we needed. He has taken a single step here and there and we are sure he will be walking any day. His laugh is one of the best sounds I've ever heard and his curiosity is boundless. He is a go getter and as I like to say, "this kid has gusto!" He goes for it, whatever he is doing, he doesn't hold back. Just today he dove off a step in our backyard, thankfully escaping with only a few scrapes on his nose and near heart attacks for both mom and dad. (The picture above was taken this morning before the fateful spill - stay tuned for birthday celebration photos which will reveal his bruised up little nose). 

We love you so much Cruz, thank you for choosing us. We are so happy you are here. Life wouldn't be the same without you. 

Cruz's First Birthday Video :)

Yesterday we were all in the living room lounging around and I was playing around on the ukulele looking at all the toys laying on the floor and thinking about Cruz and his first year and Kai and our family and came up with this melody... so I recorded it and decided to make a video collage of Cruz's first year with his little birthday song in the background :) We love you Cruz!