It's happening...

...fall is here. Whether I like it or not. And let's be honest here. I do like. I just don't like what always follows it. SIGH.

Our evidence of fall includes:

The running of the Boulder Backroads Half Marathon.

No I am not in this picture. I was too dusty, hot, tired, beat up, and dehydrated to even THINK about getting my picture taken. It was 74 degrees when we started, 85 degrees when we finished, not a cloud in site, a 30 mile an hour wind, dusty roads, and not enough water to go around. Not my funnest race ever.

Jackets are making a more frequent (okay, every morning) appearance.


The colors are changing at RMNP. The elk are also bugling and amazingly beautiful.

Sprague Lake is a chillier walk and it gets dark so much earlier.

Soccer is in full swing.

(Can I just say that you want Milo on your team--not because he is a goal-scoring machine because he's not so much but because he is the loudest and most enthusiastic cheerer for all of his teammates!! Cutest thing ever.)

This gal on the other hand is *liking* soccer. She may have accused me of "picking soccer for her when I know that she's always wanted to be a ballerina!!!!!". Excuse me? No, cutie, you picked it yourself and most of the time you like it.

It's hat weather some of the time.

When you have a hat this cute, it's hat weather more often for you than for other people.

Finishing the Photos

Thanks to the ever-amazing Sage, we got some great pictures of our family and all of those who came to support us at the temple the day that Keeler was sealed to us.

The day was really beyond description. But, honestly, this entire adoption experience has been that way. It has definitely strengthed my belief that someone much greater than I (read: our Heavenly Father) orchestrated this adoption and the bringing together of our family and Keeler's birthfamily.

Outside the Salt Lake City Temple. It was so amazing to be in the temple as a family and to welcome Keeler (officially) into our family-forever! :)
Much of the fam that celebrated with us that day.

Cutie patooties.

Me and my boy. :)

Sweet boy. A wee bit tired after all the festivities.

New family picture.

Another of much of the fam (notice the switcharoo in the lower left corner--Loveridges for Pierces).

Cabin Catch Up

We were lucky enough to make it up for another weekend at the Pierce/Porter family cabin a few weeks ago. The cabin is adorable and amazing and the beauty of the mountains around it is almost undescribable.

This crazy--almost creepy Twilight-ish--fog had us all socked in the morning we left.
Mike and Beckett waiting for Edward.
All of the kids picked wildflowers. Sweet Porter wanted to take his home to his Nana. :)

Milo picking wild raspberries. (Spencer refers to that jacket as his EMO jacket. Spencer is not allowed to come clothes shopping with us because of just such comments.)

Issy and her wildflowers. Unlike in RMNP, if you pick flowers here your mom doesn't let out a loud HISSSS and stuff them in her jacket pocket so you don't get a ranger-talkin'-to (about saving the flowers for all of the other campers to enjoy...).

Going for a walk with the Pierces and the Davises.

Porter wearing his "scarf". AKA Keeler's blankie.

Um, cutest picture ever.

Sweet Laila. Also in contention for cutest picture ever.

Picture take 456 in this pose. Ahem, SPENCER.

Checking out the deer that were wandering around the property. Or are the deer checking out the kids wandering around THEIR property?

We're back. And we're FINAL.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.

That would be the sounds of us exhaling. In the last two weeks we have visited a cabin high in the mountains, finalized Keeler's adoption way out on the eastern plain side of Denver, had a celebration with some close friends and family, hosted friends and family for days, hours, and weekends, blessed (christened) Keeler, worked a bunch, run a 10K, traveled to Utah, had Keeler sealed to us (a very special ceremony that takes place inside an LDS Temple, making Keeler a part of our family forever--click HERE if you'd like to read more about LDS Temples...), returned to Colorado, biked a bit, put up a bunch of food in the freezer, and wondered how the last few weeks went by so quickly!

Commence pictures. Part 1 anyway.

Spencer, Kennedy (one of my BFF's oldest daughters) on the new tag-a-long and a few other nameless children in the bike trailer! Thank you garage sales.
The Loveridge girls and 2/3 of the Andersons showing off their face paint after the farmer's market. The Loveridges are some of our oldest friends and favorite people--they came to CO for Keeler's finalization and blessing.

Keeler's finalization! :) The judge let us sit on "the bench". Our attorney was completely weirded out by this. Apparently, it is not common courtroom practice. ;)

After the finalization with the judge--who was completely adorable and completely stoked for us.

Sweet baby boy after his blessing (very similar to a christening for those who are not Mormon). He was so good that day and so cute in his puffy cable knit! (Sure it was 80+ degrees but we all have to make sacrifices for fashion right?)

I love this picture! On momma's lap.

The whole fam after the blessing. As you can see, the oldest two are just THRILLED to be having their pictures taken for the 152658th time that weekend.

Testing the light for the family pictures--Isabel snuck in to the picture.

Part 2 pictures coming soon...

And, if you're wondering what happened to all of the recipe posts, they've found a new home! Check out our (me and a few friends who are much better cooks that I am) blog...wholeplate.wordpress.com. Wholesome/low cost/less meat recipes and menu planning.