It was a busy and fun summer in 2015. We went to Redding at the end of June for Stephanie and Teague's wedding. We were able to finalize Elsie's adoption in court during that trip, and it was such a relief to be done with the long, drawn-out legal process of her adoption.
Left: Us with our Red Bluff lawyer Laura Clark and our California Social Worker Charity
Right: Us with the judge for our case
We were all so excited to have it all made official. None of us could imagine our family without little Elsie. Her birth mother Jenna and birth siblings Lucy and Nate were all there for the finalization and we were so grateful to have their love and support through the whole process. Elsie is so blessed to have so many people who love her!
That weekend, my 2nd little sister Steph got married. The day before her wedding, we all had fun trying on our own wedding dresses and Julia put on my mom's dress. It's a shame you only get to wear it once or twice and then hang it in a closet forever after.
Then, on June 27th 2015, my little Stephy walked down the aisle and was married to Teague Wolfley right in our parent's front yard. I love this picture (below, left) of her with my dad. Their smiles say it all. It was a beautiful ceremony and a perfect day!
Our little flower girls were adorable. I need to find a whole group/family picture and post it because the whole group was looking pretty sharp.
The rest of the trip was filled with some pretty fun activities including swimming in the pool, wake-boarding at Lake Shasta, riding in Grandma's convertible, bike-riding and baby stroller rides in the driveway, Jamba Juice trips, and quite a bit of yard work/wedding prep.
All in all a pretty fun trip!
So glad these two found each other - they are perfect together! Welcome to the family Teague!
Elsie is growing so quickly and developing such a cute, smart, and fun personality. She loves to be silly and learns things so fast, it's amazing. She spends every Monday and Friday (while Mommy works) with Grandma and Grandpa Parker, and she absolutely loves it there! We are so blessed to have them living so close by. They are such great parents/grandparents/people!
Elsie loves to play the piano, and gets so excited when her efforts are applauded by an adoring audience. She signs "stars" to me when she sits down to the piano - meaning "I want you to help me play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," her favorite song...so smart...so cute!
Just chillin in Gma and Gpa Parkers' new motor home on a family camping trip. It is spacious and a lot of fun for the whole family.
Fourth of July - couldn't get her to sit still for a good picture - stinker!
We met up with some of my college roommates for dinner one day. Ellyn and Mindy + Damian (Mindy's son). We are always able to pick right back up where we left off no matter how much time has gone by - I love these girls!
Mike has been so diligent about beautifying our yard, and Elsie and I decided to help out one Saturday by planting a bunch of mums. She loves being outside - whatever the weather. I love that about her. She makes it impossible for me to be lazy. Everything is so magical in her eyes.
Stopping to smell the flowers...so cute!
The finished product: it'll be even bigger and prettier as the years go by. I love flowers!
Pictures from a summer Parker over-night camp out up Payson Canyon. Elsie is adored by her cousins, and she just loves them!
Aunt Karen took Elsie for her first visit to the Aquarium. She loves fish, and I'm sure her cousins made it so fun!
The highlight of our Summer, and actually all of 2015, was July 11th when we were sealed as a family for time and all eternity in the Mt. Timpanogos temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We blessed her in church the very next day. That's when it all felt real and final and all the stress of completing her adoption went away. This is what it's all about. I know Elsie was meant to come to our family; she chose us up in heaven, and we chose her. We are so grateful to our Father in Heaven that our family can be together forever through the power of Christ's atonement! Nothing I've experienced in my life (besides our wedding day) has felt more like Heaven on Earth.
One of our social workers, Charity (from California), wanted to see us sealed. We were her toughest, longest and last adoption case. She was a great help and support.
Families are Forever
Outside our church building after Elsie's blessing:
Here's the letter I wrote to Elsie recounting the experience so that she'll be able to read it when she's older and know how special it all was:
Dear Elsie,
On July 11, 2015, we woke up early to your little cry, fed you
milk and ate breakfast with you. Dad and I went in the yard to clean up a bit
and pull weeds in preparation for when all of our family and friends would come
later in the day. You stayed inside with Grandma and Grandpa Madsen and Aunties
Julia and Stephy, and Uncles Steven and Teague (you love playing with all of
them and getting so much attention which they are always willing to pay you).
We finished up and you were taking your morning nap. We hurried to dress for
the temple and I put you sleeping in your carseat and we headed to the Mt
Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, Utah. When we arrived, the temple workers
took us to a little nursery where 3 temple worker women dressed in all white
took you and cared for you and dressed you in the white temple dress that I
sewed for you. While they did that, we showed the temple office your adoption
finalization paperwork form the CA court, and we got dressed in our temple
whites and were escorted to the Celestial Room. There, Dad and I waited until
all of the family/friends we’d invited were filing into the sealing room. Once
everyone was seated, our escort lady talked to them about the reverence and
beauty of the occasion. I’m told that she was very tearful and stated that the
Spirit in that room was very strong. She then came to the Celestial Room to
fetch us and bring us into the sealing room. The Sealer met us and talked with
us and the whole group about the importance of the temple, temple work and
being sealed for time and all eternity. After about 10 minutes, a temple worker
brought you in to us. You looked like a little angel all dressed in white with
a little white head band and white socks to match. I held you for a moment and
we all just stared at your cuteness. You were just quiet and observant and
wiggly, wondering what was going on, but reverent still. Grandma Sara held you
and Dad and I knelt across the alter from each other while you sat on the alter
and Grandma held you still and placed your little hand on ours. The Sealer
performed the sealing and it was so beautiful and powerful, and I felt the
Spirit so strong that I could not contain my tears. Daddy was crying too. You
sat still with Grandma and looked at us with your perfect little face, and you
were quiet and reverent the whole time. After the ordinance was complete, Daddy
and I hugged you and kissed you and looked into the mirrors on the wall that
made it appear as though we had been and always would be together – symbolizing
our eternal family. He counseled us and bore testimony of the family and our
roles and the blessing you are in our family. Then we all hugged and kissed and
cried some more, and Daddy held you while everyone there came up to
congratulate us. Here’s a list of everyone there in the sealing room (as best
as I can remember):
Cayly Crawford Bascom and her husband Shane (She took pictures
for us afterward on the temple grounds), Summer and Eldis, Oakley, Amy and
Marc, Sherry and Mike Louden, Kristina Peterson (a nurse friend I work with),
Emmy Barker (a friend), Madison and Cody Irwin (our friends), Bishop Troy
Casper and his wife Cember, Uncle Mike and Aunt Christina, Aunt Lana and Uncle
Steve, Aunt Karen, Grandma MarJean and Grandpa Jim (Witness), Grandma Sara and
Grandpa Steve (Witness). (Cherringtons and Snows couldn’t come because they
were on family vacations at that time).
We took pictures outside in front of the temple, all dressed in
our white temple clothes. It was perfect, and you were just so content and
happy (though you never really do like to smile for a bunch of pictures- but
what 1 year old does?). After pictures, we changed and headed home for a
luncheon with a bunch of family and friends. Some brought you gifts and we all
ate lunch (Kalua pork, rice, salads, dessert- Texas cake and cookies) and
played. You had so much fun with all your cousins and the other babies that my
friends brought. It was a happy and fun-filled day that ended later with a trip
to G&G Parker’s pool with my siblings and parents. The next day in
Sacrament meeting (2:50pm – it’s last in our ward that starts at 1pm), Daddy
carried you up to the front of the congregation to give you a name and a
blessing. In the circle were your Uncles Mike, Adam, and Steve, and your
Grandpa’s Jim and Steve.
In your blessing, Daddy blessed you with the name Elsie Rae
Parker. He mentioned that we’d waited a long time for you to join our family
and we want you to know how much you are loved. He blessed you to grow healthy
and strong. He blessed you to grow a love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a
love for your family, and a desire to be baptized when the time comes; that you
will gain a testimony of this work (the work of the Gospel). He blessed you
with a keen mind, that you will love to study and learn. He blessed you to one
day find a worthy companion to marry in the temple for time and eternity. Know
that you are always loved! “It is not how a family is formed hat matters, but
the love that exists in that family.” And we are a now a forever family sealed
together. Heavenly Father loves you so much!
It was a beautiful blessing and Daddy was very teary as he gave
it to you while holding you in his arms. You were very still and quiet and
reverent the whole time. Afterward, we took pictures outside with the Parker
family (The Madsen family was there for the blessing, but had to cut out right
after that Sacrament in order to get on the road back to CA). We then had
dinner over at the Parkers and you played with cousins. It’s been a fun-filled
summer with lots of opportunity to play with cousins and you’ve loved every
minute of it. This weekend being the height of all the excitement. It was
definitely the best weekend in our life thus far, for sure! We love you so
much! Our little miracle!
Love,
Mom and Dad
We watched Cousin Kali play Cinderella in a local production and afterward celebrated at Arctic Circle. Elsie got her first mini ice cream cone all to herself...she loved it!
At the end of July, we had to say "goodbye" to Steph and Teague (they stayed with us for a month after getting married). They moved to Las Vegas for new jobs. Elsie had them around her whole life and it was hard to see them go.
Elsie gets to wear these when she mows the lawn with Dad. Sometimes she just wants to keep them on. She's so funny - loves wearing head bands, hats, glasses, scarves, any accessories/dress ups.
Just playing around the house.
Cousins reunited after a lot of years apart. Christopher and Megan. Good looking bunch!
I don't know why the front steps are so fun, but she seems to always go straight for them. And sometimes you just need to rest even if you are standing up. So funny.
It got pretty hot one summer afternoon, so we got our sprinkler mat out for the first time, and it was a hit!
One day after playing in the garage/outside, I couldn't find my iphone anywhere. We got in the car and retraced all out steps form our walk that morning. Nothing. When we got home, I asked Elsie where mommy's phone was and she went to this toy and opened it up and there was my phone. Little stinker...hiding stuff already. Guess I should've just asked her in the first place.
Though not always the most helpful, she IS the cutest little shopping partner. Everyone we interact with has to ooo and aww over her...who can blame them!
BEAUTIFUL, INNOCENT LITTLE ANGEL
My mom came out to visit for BYU Education Week and I went with her for one day. I always learn so much and feel so uplifted after taking classes at Education Week. Sometimes mom over does it on the BYU mint brownies.... crash!
Playing at the Cherrington's house with Aunt Janet and cousins. This is where she first walked with a stroller assisting her balance. They are so good with her and just love dressing her up and spoiling her with constant attention.
She loves pushing her shopping cart and baby strollers because it's the only way she can walk on her own. She'll be walking on her own soon though.
Mike received a new position in his company (DOMO), and he has been traveling more. He's doing well in his new role and enjoying it a lot, but we miss being together when he has to travel.
So we went with him on one of his quick trips to Southern California. It was a much-needed beach trip, and we had so much fun!
What's better than hanging on Newport Beach?!....not much.
While there, we met up for dinner one night with Mike's friend Jason and his family. They are Disneyland fanatics and we met up at the Rain Forest Cafe. Elsie loved the huge fish tank!
Ok, I guess we'll go back home. Elsie was a pretty good plane traveler. She slept a lot of the flight back to Utah.
My mom and dad came back out to Utah to take Julia to BYU for fall semester at the end of August. She is staying in the same dorm that I stayed in my freshman year at BYU. Oh the memories! I'm so excited for her to experience college! She's gonna love it! And we love that she is going to live close.
Grandpa got out his nice camera and took a bunch of super cute pictures of Elsie. This is my favorite! Elsie loves drinking through a straw. I had it made into a T-shirt for him for his birthday. 
Elsie loves climbing up on things, playing silly games with me (like, "get your tongue"), and playing with trains and cars. She is so curious and smart.
Elsie loves playing at her cousin Abby and Ivy's house. Her and Ivy have the same cute, curly hair. They are so cute together! Elsie lets her hold her hands and help her to walk around.
Playing in the basement:
Trains
Piano practice:
Another summer wedding (family friend Zack Owens) with the family while they were in town. This is the cutest picture of Aunt Julia and Elsie - taken at that wedding somewhere in Utah.
It's no fun to be sick. Throwing up. Work sick day. Watched TV and snuggled all day.
Elsie loves the neighbor kids, espeially little Baby Fiona. Here, she's trying to share the cherry tomatoes she picked form our garden. She eats them like crazy when were out there. Strawberries too.
Ok, so that was the summer of 2015 - a blur of activity and fun, and as always it was too short!
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