Life is Always an Adventure

Do you ever wish you could be super mom/ super women? I do all the time. I wish I was able to get everything done I ever had on a to do list. I wish I could keep up on my hobbies, while taking care of children and getting all those errands run. I wish I was so much better at keeping up on this blog and only had to have about 2 hours of sleep a night. That would be amazing! But here we are… I usually don’t have any time for my hobbies (at least I don’t always make time), there are days when even my one little kiddo is a handful for me especially while running errands. I need about 10 hours of sleep but usually only get about 4 or 5. Oh yeah… and I’m terrible at blogging. I’ve started this post about 546578516 times, only to start it all over again because multiple days have passed and I have gotten distracted by something else EVERY SINGLE TIME! I’m currently writing this while I wait for a student to show up to class, so we’ll see if I end up getting distracted.

Carter with his little buddy Bruno

Well… here’s all the happenings of the Osborns in the last month and a half. My little bundle of joy even turned 5 on Tuesday and I didn’t even make time to blog about it. Sad day.

March

We didn't have as exciting adventures in March, but we tried to make the most of being home together. We played in the snow, Jason finished another spartan race, we met incredible people, and we registered Carter for kindergarten! I have been teaching like a crazy person too, which I have absolutely LOVED. Yes it is at crazy hours in the morning, but I love getting my teaching fix and being able to stay home with Carter. The most incredible thing we did however, was talk to Carter about adoption. We are excited, scared, eager, and hopeful about having a possible birth mother place a baby with our little family. 

And they're off to do Spartan Race #1 of the Trifecta

Jason at the Spartan Race

Carter has been asking about "his baby" every day. We always imagined having a house full of sticky little hands. We imagined so many little siblings for Carter to love and play with. I know that our Heavenly Father has a great plan for our family. We have a strong feeling that our little family is not complete yet and would love help and support as we go through this roller coaster. We have an adoption profile on adoption.com. Here;es the link so you can take a look https://adoption.com/profiles/osbornfamily. If you know of a birth mother who may be looking for a family to place her baby with, please share our story. Share our name and our profile. Please help us in this great journey to find a baby we can care for and love as our very own. 

April

Getting ready for an Easter egg hunt

It was pretty eventful

Carter dying Easter eggs with his friends

Thus far, April has been an eventful month. It has been a crazy month of birthdays and reminders that we are all getting older. My birthday was on the 7^th, and I got spoiled by the 2 sweetest guys ever! I wasn’t allowed to lift a finger and help with chores. My boys took me to the best restaurant EVER, The Cheesecake Factory, and then they surprised me with Robin Hood the play. I got visits by lots of sweet friends, tons and tons of birthday wishes and messages, and I even got a few phone calls. It was a great day.

A couple days before my birthday we went to the Aquarium with some friends

Carter loved holding a butterfly

Selfie at The Cheesecake Factory

3 days later, my mommy heart hurt when my amazing 4-year-old boy turned 5. I can’t believe my baby Carter is already 5 years old. Every year my heart hurts a little more. He won’t be my little buddy for forever, and that makes me so sad. Next year he’ll be running off to kindergarten every day, leaving me with an empty house and memories of the time we had together at home. I don’t know if anyone would understand how much my little boy means to me. I mean yes, every mother loves each of her children dearly. When you’ve gone through as much as our family has with 1 little by your side through it all; that bond is even stronger and it’s a million times harder to let go.

My big 5 year old showing me his awesome 5 year old tricks

For his birthday I spoiled him. He got to bring treats for preschool, we went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch (his favorite place), and the rest of the day was his to do whatever he wanted. We ended up playing in the sand at the park for 3 hours and having macaroni and cheese for dinner! The rest of the night he spent playing with neighbor friends until it was time for bed. It was a pretty fun day.

He played in the sand for forever

Carter was so excited about his presents, he didn't know how to smile

His favorite gift was from his Grandma

April is always going to be a hard month for us. Not only is it when Carter turns another year older, but it’s also Shanna’s birthday. I thought her birthday would be a super hard day. It is, but the days leading up to it are just as hard. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. She’s everywhere in our home no matter how much we try to change it. My heart aches every day to hear the little sounds she used to make just one more time. I would give anything to have her little grunts keep me up all night. I would give anything for Carter to have his little sister back.

Well, it’s another day. Another day for second changes, and to make the best of my time with my little man.  We recently saw Jumanji for the first time, and a line from it has often popped in my head. We’re only given 1 life to live. With that life we get to chose how we want to live it. Make the best of the time you have here. For we never make it out alive. Happy reading! Have a great weekend!

Carter found some flowers at the cemetery to put on his sisters' graves

Another Adventure

Time is a funny thing. When you want it to go slower, it just races by. When you want it to go faster, it crawls by. I can not believe it is already March. I've been a terrible blogger...

Well, what's up with the Osborns?... we've been plenty busy with the everyday rush, but have had special moments and adventures in between. 

In January, we had great moments with family and even snow! In one weekend my cousin got married (I didn't take any pictures), and another cousin was blessed. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by extended family, and celebrate with them on each occasion.

Eden's baby blessing

Carter and his buddy

He was so excited for snow!

 He even helped daddy shovel the drive way

February was a great month! Carter has been growing up so fast. This stage with preschool and all the fun things we're able to do is great! It's so hard for me to think my little baby Carter will be in kindergarten next year!

Carter trying to be like grandpa with his sunglasses

Carter got to go on a field trip to the police station

He made a snow ball 

 On February 16th we attended a special event for Intermountain Healing Hearts. The BYU hockey team dedicated their last game to heart heros and heart angels. The best player of the team wore a jersey with Shanna's name on it. He even scored a goal for her during the 3rd period! Carter thought it was so awesome to be there. He loved spotting number 26 and yelling " There's Shanna!" Oh how we miss our little Shanna.

My boys at the hockey game!

 We loved watching the game together

Number 26! Thank you Tate!

 After our exciting hockey game, we got ready for a big adventure. Jason and I packed up for a week in Hawaii, while Carter's last sleep before going to grandma's house commenced. I was excited to spend a week in paradise with my best friend, but dreaded the time to leave Carter. I don't know why I was so worried, he was just fine and had a blast!

 This sums up Carter's stay with cousins lol

We had to get some sweet new shades 😎

 After saying goodbye to Carter (yes, I cried), we drove to Seattle. We had a few hours before having to go to the airport, so we took our time exploring. We had lunch, walked around Pike Place Market, and couldn't wait to be in 80 degree weather!

 Seattle, in the freezing cold

 Hawaii was incredible! I never imaged how beautiful and amazing it could be. It made it even better when we got pictures of our snow covered home. We loved our time there and didn't want to leave. I even told Jason, let's go get Carter and stay for another week or two. If only we didn't have something called work and obligations.

Our first 3 days were spent on Oahu. We mostly did tours and attend the temple there. Each day we were out and about by 8am at the latest. I didn't want to waste a second of our time there!

 We toured BYU Hawaii

This is us on a hike

Apple bananas we picked. They were yummy!

 Horse back riding on the beach

We even got to do a temple session

Pearl Harbor was an amazing place of history

Crazy colored trees at the Dole plantation

The Polynesian cultural center was amazing!

 We had to get a pic by the temple during the day

 Our time in Oahu seemed like a blink in time. We were sad to say goodbye, but we were off to Maui and had a blast there too! We loved whale watching, snorkeling, hiking, running, eating, exploring, and chilling on the beach. We will forever remember our first time in paradise.

 After whale watching and snorkeling

Walking on the beach in Hana

We got to see sea turtles!

 Twin falls hike

Jason holding a chameleon 

Walking down the path to the zip line

Jason zip lining

The banyon tree in Lahiana

Our trip could not have been more perfect. My favorite days were the days we hung out on the beach and went snorkeling. We made great friends with the people we stayed with, and enjoyed our time laughing and getting to know them. 

With a red eye flight back to Seattle, I found myself realizing how much I missed Carter. Life is just not the same with out children. Especially with out our third musketeer. He had such a blast with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, but I think we were all ready to be home again. 

Well, hopefully you hear more from us before too long. Have a happy March, and make it great! Every moment counts. 

Happy 2018!!!

I can't believe another year has passed by so quickly. 2017 was a hard year for our little family, but we also saw so many blessings and have seen how much we have all grown from the hardships we have faced. Looking forward to 2018, I sure hope it's not as eventful lol.

Carter's preschool Christmas program 

Our December was full of Christmas fun. I decided to incorporate some new traditions that included making an advent calendar filled with fun activities to do each day until Christmas. We did great with it for the first 4 days, but as you have probably found, life happens and some activities...though planned didn't happen. We still got to think of serving others, create memories, and remember the true meaning of Christmas. I might give it another shot next year 😊

Our first activity, festival of trees!

We enjoyed ourselves.

Gingerbread houses!

Carter's creation!

The final product.

We were thought of and blessed this season with wonderful people who thought of our little angels. There were many occasions when we found a treasure on our doorstep in the form of ornaments, letters, and little ways to remember our 5 sweet baby girls. An amazing group of wonderful neighbors even brought over vases of flowers to represent each one. They will never know how much that meant to me.

5 vases of beautiful flowers!

We spent Christmas with family in Washington state, and had a blast! Not only did Carter get to play with his cousins at all hours of the day and night, but went to a trampoline park, ate an incredible amount of sugar, got spoiled with lots of gifts, took family pictures, and was sad when it all had to end. I even got to visit some old friends who make going back to Washington for Christmas worth it (Danna and Alyson, we didn't take a picture!). Although we missed having 5 little stockings, 5 little baby girls to hold, and 5 little girls to dress and take care of, we had a pretty wonderful vacation.

The whole gang for Christmas! 

Fun day at the trampoline park!

Well, 2017 went out with a BANG! After enjoying a long week in Washington with my awesome family, we got to celebrate the birth of this crazy guy. My best friend and confidant through thick and thin. The man who makes me want to be better everyday and loves me unconditionally. I'm so glad he is mine forever! Although I think I would have picked a different day for his birthday lol. 6 days after Christmas makes gift giving hard. We had a fun evening to celebrate him with delicious German chocolate cake, ice cream, games, and amazing company. At midnight (EST) we celebrated the ending of one of the hardest years I have ever had in my life, and made a resolution to have a great 2018 no matter what!

Love him!

Jason's cake made from scratch!

Reflecting on all the things our little family went through in 2017, I have seen how much we've grown and how much I've learned. I've learned that God has a plan for each of us. I've learned that the experiences we have in this life are all about the way we see them. I've learned that there is so much good and so much love in the world and so many incredible people. I've learned that I am not alone in my trials and struggles. I've learned to be more loving and kind

I challenge all of you to have a great 2018! I challenge you to love a little deeper, talk at little nicer, be slower to judge, and always find ways to help each other through the challenges this life brings all of us. Make this year the best year yet!