Jaxon forever

Jaxon's adoption was finalized the day we moved to CT, but we waited until my parents were back from Guatemala to go to the temple.  (For more info on Mormons and temples click here)

We started the celebration with Mark's parents flying out a couple days ahead of time.  We took them to the Bronx Zoo.   The zoo is so big we saw all sorts of things that we hadn't seen before.

Addy wearing her African Queen crown she had made--thanks Heather for teaching Addy her roots.

When we were at the Zoo with Jenn and kids, Addy disappeared for a few mins-- she had run ahead to see the next animal and then came back to get me.  She told me the next animal was an 'old puppy'.  I asked her how she knew and she told me that some lady had told her.  After the lecture about disappearing and talking to strangers, I went with Addy, I was listening to her rambling without really listening until she said; "See, there is the old puppy!".  It was an Okapi--get it old puppy, O-ka-pi.  Anyway, when we went with Grammy and Grandpa, Addy remembered and dragged us to see the 'old puppy' again.

Early Sat morning we headed to the temple.  Poor Katie sat in the back between Marcus and Addy's car seats.  We met my parents there.

The temple was amazing and beautiful.  All the kids dressed in white.  Jaxon and his cuteness was a huge hit with everyone who worked there.  After the temple ceremony we went to the local chapel and had Jaxon's name and blessing.

After the temple we grabbed lunch at a local French deli and headed to central park to have a picnic.  It was the first warm day of Spring and the park was crowded.  After lunch we walked around the park and enjoyed the festivities.  The kids were intrigued by the bubble blower and kept jumping in front of all the other kids to pop the bubbles.

We also ran into my favorite street performers.  Mark and I have run into these guys the last 3 or 4 times we have been to NYC.  Marcus has been working on his dance moves so we stopped so the kids could watch for a while, and Marcus could learn some new steps.  At one point they asked for a child volunteer and Katie raised her hand--and was called up.  Before they did their stunt they asked her if her mommy or daddy was a lawyer and she answered 'yes'; but, they let her do the stunt anyway.  They did a front flip over her.  If I had had my camera on the right setting I would have caught it, oh well.

right before the flip

Central Park fountain with Grammy and Grandpa

There were a couple brides taking pictures and Addy got as close as she could to watch them have their picture taken.

Grammy and Grandpa staying in NYC that night and my parents came back to my house with us.

Sunday we went to church, after church I walked outside to find all my kids and their friends in a flower shower.  They were pulling on the branches and all the flowers were falling around them like snow.

Grandma and Grandpa wanted to go to the beach while they were here so, even though it was a little dreary we headed down to the beach to take a walk.

If there are rocks my kids will be on them.

I'm not sure where my dad is in the picture but at least we got one with Grandma.  My parents left Tues and my poor kids had to go back to life without grandparents here to spoil them.