Yay!! The Election Is Over! ~ Happy Birthday John!

I am so glad that the election is finally over. Don't get me wrong ~ It was a monumental election that John and I were both glad to take part in. What we were so sick and tired of was the endless advertisements, phone calls, and people standing on our front porch encouraging us to vote for their candidates.

Yesterday was John's birthday so the kids picked a special restaurant that they thought daddy would love and held the secret all day in order to surprise him that evening. That evening off we went to Applebee's (John endured for the kids sake! :) Definitely wouldn't have been his first pick....or his 100th for that matter.) They had this crazy magician that came to our table and spent about 10 min. with us. He was awesome. He had all of us in awe at his mad skills. Each kid was able to participate in magic tricks and they were loving it!

Once we got home the kids got jammied up and laid down to watch some of the election coverage with us. Jasmine was required to watch at least half an hour with us for homework. It was very difficult to explain to the older ones what the tickers at the bottom were telling us, or why the states were different colors (blue, red, or grey) the meaning of electoral votes, and why this election was so amazing anyways. It was kindof neat though seeing them so interested!

As the end neared and our new president elect was announced we all sighed a sigh of relief that the end had finally come! John and I had each kept our votes to our selves, but both had agreed to congratulate and support whichever candidate wins the election. Ultimately both McCain and Obama are going to have a crazy time pulling our country out of this mess that we have found our economy in.

Congratulations President Elect Obama ~ Good Luck with the mess you have walked into and we pray that you have what it takes to pull us out of it!

And Congratulations to John for making it another year ~ how does it feel to be 31? Everyday you never cease to amaze me with the kindness you show our family and friends. Your life is so centered around service towards me, the kids, our family and even people you have never met before. You are an amazing father that is completely adored by our children and 95% of the time set a good example for them :). I am thankful everyday that our Father in Heaven saw fit to bless me with you as my other half. Happy Birthday!

Family Pictures

About a month ago we went with our family and my sister Amy to Hendricks Park to get our family pictures taken. John and I had been wanting to do this for quite some time, but I didn't want to be stuck in a studio. Amy had gotten a really nice camera for her birthday and offered to do a photo shoot for us. We had a great time. The weather was nice, the kids were in pretty good spirits and the park wasn't busy at all. Amy did an amazing job! Thanks Amy!!

One of the kids set up this first shot. The idea was to have our hands in our pockets but Trin was struggling.

"Hey Jaz, I think I finally got it..."

There we go....say cheese!

Dad and his minnions

Aren't they handsome!

3 little monkeys sitting in a tree...

One of my favorite pics of the girls ~ I found the most awesome frame for this to go in.

I loved this shot! We also turned the shot B&W except for Trins pink shoes.

Yay...we're done taking pictures!

Dance Class

At the beginning of summer we signed Trin up for dance class. My sister signed Morgan up as well. All summer long Trin would ask when dance was starting. Last week it finally did. Trin was so excited!!

I am so glad that Morgan and Trin are so close in age. They are the best of friends!

Adventures in the Great Outdoors

Last weekend Hunter wanted to have a sleepover with Tristen. For those of you who don't know, Tristen and his sister Tess have been hanging out with our family on Mondays and Fridays for the last three years. Tristen and Hunter are the same age and are the best of friends. They refer to each other as "the brother from another mother." So they are always staying the night either here or at Tristen's. This particular night they talked us into tenting it in the back yard ~ on the trampoline. John informed them of how cold it would be, but there was really no talking them out of it.

John getting the tent all set up. I think the boys pulled out every blanket and every extra set of sheets that we owned.

Armed with flashlights, sweats and long sleeved shirts.

Getting tucked in for the evening ~ Sweet Dreams!

I took this picture the third time I went outside to tell them to be quiet. They were so loud out there!

When we woke up the next morning I walked out to see the boys crashed out in the front room. Guess it got too cold for them out there! Hunter asked me at breakfast if the next time they decided to sleep in a tent, could they put it up in his bedroom...

Trin's First Day Of Pretty School

Last week Trin started "Pretty School" aka pre-school. She was so excited that she barely slept the night before. I tried to get a few pictures, but she didn't want to hold still long enough for more than one picture.

She was all smiles until she saw John put one of her blankets and a small pillow into the car. She immediately teared up and asked what they were for. I told her that she had a rest time after lunch and she started sobbing. The whole way to school she cried that she wanted to stay home. Once we got to school she didn't want to stay. We were pretty early and so she was able to do a little exploring in her new classroom. As soon as she found the "housekeeping" area she was good to go. "Look Mom!!! Babies!!!"

Our little mother hen!

Trinity's Special Day!!

The morning of the hearing was very stressful! Everyone needed showered and dressed nicely (Hunter's idea of nice is wearing a pair of basketball shorts that he has only wore one other time...nice try dude!). Because it was only the second day of school we didn't want the big kids to miss the whole day so we were trying to get them off to school. Once they were gone John went to get a haircut while Trin and I got ready. Trinity comes into my room as I am getting dressed and hands me my cell phone "Momma, I need to call grandma Lynn." So I dial my mom's number and this is what I hear "guess what grandma, it is my special day today! You are going to be there right??" This was the first of many times of tears. We went to get the big kids around 10:45 and then we were off. By this time my nerves were off the charts. I was nervous, anxious, excited, etc. We had been waiting for this day for so long that it was all kind of surreal. I kept thinking to myself "Is this really happening?"

Side note: John and I have known for a very long time that our family is not complete. We know that we are meant to have more than two kiddo's. When we started fostering we hoped that the experiences we gained would help prepare us for adoption, should an opportunity every arise. Well, 11 months ago when we got Trin we had a glimpse into the possibility of adopting her. The whole process is an emotional roller coaster, but we are so blessed to have the opportunity of having her in our lives forever!

We got to the courthouse and was joined by family to share in this amazing day! As we entered the courtroom our atty told us that Trin needed to go in first. She bent down and asked Trin if she would go into this big dark room and turn on the lights for her. As Trin walked in the lights automatically turned on. Trin whips around to us with this huge grin on her face and tells me "Look mama, I'm a princess. I made the lights turn on with magic!"

Judge Leonard was the judge to preside over the hearing and he really made it special for us. He spoke mostly to Trin and the big kids.

John and Trin waiting for things to start.

Judge Leonard told Trin that in order to make it official she needed to get hugs and kisses from everyone in the room. She started with me and made her way slowly around the room.


Showin' Pa a little love


Here you can see Trin placed between my Mom and Roger. She was done giving out hugs and hopped up on the bench and got cozy. The Judge asked her if she wanted to come back up to the front and her response was "um, no! I am just going to visit with my grandma Lynn and papa." We all got a good laugh, forever my social butterfly!

The fam with Judge Leonard

Just outside the courthouse ~ giving Morgan a little love

All the family

Kelly, Grams, Papa Rick and Pa (Kelly is an officer for the city of Eugene and was able to take some time off work to be there with us ~ hence her cool clothes!)

Grandma Joyce, Grandma Lynn and Papa Roger

All of the grandkids ~ I love this picture!

Me, Mindy & Trin

So after the hearing some of us went to Red Robin for lunch. We had this amazing server named Stu. As he came to take our drink order Trin looks at him and says "Guess what ~ its my special day today." He asks her if it is her birthday and she tells him "Nope, today I am a Sepulveda!" Seeing his confused look my mom explains what today was all about. As we finished our meal Stu comes up to the table with desserts ~ on the house he tells us, for the special day. About five min. after that the entire Red Robin staff comes out to the table shouts "Congratulations, Welcome to the Family!!" and hands Trin a huge bouquet of flowers and a card that was signed by all of the staff. Trin was on cloud nine and John and I were getting some watery eyes. It really was incredible. Trin carried her flowers everywhere with her when we got home. It wasn't until about four hours later that I convinced her to let me put them in water. "The flowers are thirsty honey, they need a drink."

The cherry was the most important part
Notice the cherry stem in her hand....The cherry was the first thing she ate and she refused to put down the stem. She held on to it until we got home :)
Little Miss Morgan

This was a great shot ~ the element of surprise!
Daddy and Jazzy


Mom and Rog ~ True love under the neon burger sign!

Trin with her flowers

Trin and her flowers watching the Care Bears because "Mom, it's my special day and I don't think I should take a nap...."

Thank you to all of our family and friends that have given their support through this looooong process. Trinity was immediately welcomed into everyone's lives with such loving arms, it was almost as if she was born part of the family. I know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for each and everyone of us. He knew that Trinity was meant to be with our family and he knew that with us she would have a loving home and be surrounded by family on all sides. So many of our family members have not had the opportunity to meet Trin face to face, but she knows who you are and she talks of you all with absolute love. We have talked about trying to get down there in the near future and she always gets a huge smile on her face and starts giggling. When you ask her whats up she will say with a smile ~ I will get to meet more of my family. She is very aware and we couldn't have asked for a more amazing kiddo. Thanks for making it to the end of this post and in a way sharing our special day with us! Much love to all! ~ The Sepulvedas