Too Much Fun!!!

This past month has been quite exciting for Jeremiah:


~We had friends from Texas visit for a week: Aunt Mary and Uncle Garrett



~We had cousins Tanner and Peyton, along with Aunt Sarah and Grandma Nancy DRIVE to Boise to play for a week. . .it was truly amazing!!!
~We had Grandma Lyons finally get to meet her grandson (check out the video on FB)
~We took our first plane trip to Home Sweet Home California and Jer was exceptional on both legs of the ride!!!
~We had Jeremiah greet Grandpa Lyons at the SD airport and give him a soccer ball!!!
~We got to go to the beach-ENOUGH SAID.
~We went to the happiest place on earth-DISNEYLAND!!!
All in all. . .a pretty good month!!!

10 days of BLISS

So, what have we learned as parents these last 10 days with Jeremiah. . .
~He takes at least 1 two-hour nap; sometimes 2.
~He LOVES Hurley.
~He sleeps through the night at about 12 hours a pop.
~He now knows how to give "high fives" and "knuckles"
~He tries to beep-box w/ dad while he's getting his diaper changed.
~He LOVES baths.
~He really enjoys vegetables and fruit
~He's super cuddley in the morning after he wakes up and before he goes to bed at night.
~He enjoys shopping with mom and Target and Costco.
~He LOVES going to the park and swinging on the swings.
~He brings us joy every single second of every single day. . .even when he's sleeping.

Baby Jeremiah

So for all of you who have seen the FB pictures, but don't know the background story on Jeremiah, I thought I'd share a quick re-cap of what has happened in our lives the past three weeks. For the last few years, Aaron (and many of our high school students) have helped volunteer at a women's shelter downtown. For a few hours on Saturdays, we would watch and play with the children of the mothers who live there. One of the moms had a 14 month old little boy named Jeremiah and a few months ago, she came to the conclusion that she simply was not capable of taking care of him. We got a phone call on Wednesday, May 19 from the director of the shelter asking us if we would be willing to possibly adopt Jeremiah. On Sunday, May 30 we met with the birth mother to see if we would be a good match for her son. On Tuesday morning, June 1, (as I was setting up the gym for our junior and senior high volleyball camps!!!) I got a call from Aaron saying that she had chosen us and wanted to sign the power of attorney later on that week. Two days later, on June 3, we were given legal guardianship of Jeremiah and a few hours later, began our lives with our beautiful son!!!

Today we met with the birth mother and the lawyer to begin the logistical process of adoption. The father is still in the area and may contest so we would sincerely ask for your prayers these next few days, weeks and months. These last 8 days with Jeremiah have been absolutely incredible and the support we have received from our families, our church, our school and our friends has been overwhelming. We love our little boy and our prayer is that the adoption process would be finalized quickly and efficiently. God is so very good and to have Jeremiah in our home is a blessing that is beyond description. Thank you for your prayers and your love!!!!

For you. . .Laner

To our friend Kevin Lane. . .this is for you.
Sincere apologies for seriously taking a year off from our blog. Unfortunately, I have devoted many of my pictures and details to FB while leaving our blog spot quite sparse and empty. So much has happened in a year, but to sum it up:
~Last summer, I decided to leave my job as a BSU assistant coach and return to the classroom. At the moment, I teach 9th graders both English and Bible and coach the varsity volleyball team at Cole Valley Christian. . .GO CHARGERS.
~Aaron works at the same school and teaches a variety of Bible classes to mostly upper-classmen.
~We now have 4 nieces/nephews: Michael (17); Tanner (3); Ruby (2) and Peyton (1)
~Hurley is still the best black lab EVER.
~There is still no ocean in Boise, but we definitely love living here and are thoroughly looking forward to the summer months.

BTW, Kevin Lane. . .you need to come visit!!!

Napoleon Dynamite meets Michael Jackson. . .

Hurley. . .

I don't exactly know when I became a dog lover, but Hurley is seriously the most amazing lab ever. . .and she worships the ground Aaron walks on!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Unfortunately, the New Year's Resolution of Aaron keeping his eyes OPEN during the complicated concept of flash photography has simply not lasted. . .oh well, the food was delicious and the company. . .even BETTER!!!!!

New Year's at the Lyons

Grandpa and Maggie

The coolest Aunt ever!!!!

Kipp and his lil' buddy
Being able to hang out with my family in Southern Cal was a wonderful start to the New Year!!!! It was good to be able to wear flip flops again (in the middle of winter) and I so appreciated the days of pure sunshine!

A Very Bond Christmas

Family Pictures in the Park!!!!

Boys will be boys!!!!!

New Year's Resolution is for Aaron to keep his

eyes open for pictures. . .so far so good!!!

We spent this past Christmas in Kansas and had a wonderful time with the entire family. . .it was the first time all the brothers had been together (for Christmas) in 7 years!!!! It was such a blessing to have everyone there and our gift giving was extremely special this year: we each gave a gift card to someone else in the family AND THEN contributed money to a charity of our choice. It was so incredible to go around the room and hear what organization each individual had given to. . .just amazing!!!!