American Fork Steel Days parade

We had so much fun last Saturday at the American Fork Steel Days parade.  We helped build a balloon arch and decorate the float for the American Fork Families Supporting Adoption chapter and walked in the parade and handed out otter pops.    Our float won the Blue Ribbon Award for Theme and Message- how cool is that??!!  Adoption really does rock!

We met a couple of other families that came to walk in the parade that we hadn't met before and they were so much fun.  The Hartman's dressed up in true rock style and they danced all the way down the parade route.

ADOPTION ROCKS!!

Here are a few pictures from our day at the parade...

Our family

It was so HOT the day of the parade we took some time to enjoy the shade before the parade started.

These kids had such a good time rocking out on the float!

The set up and parade was right in the middle of nap time for Gavin.  He was such a trooper!

Finished float

Handsome boys and their rock style mohawks!

Gavin rocking it out on the parade route!

After finishing the balloon arch we took a break for a picture.

Celebrate Adoption tees

I never knew when JD and I got married that adoption would be a part of our lives.  I always imagined I would get pregnant, have morning sickness and we would build our family in the "traditional" way.  Boy oh boy was I wrong!  We are so grateful for adoption and how it has changed our lives and perspective of what a family is.  I was never opposed to adoption in a general sense I always thought it was a good thing but I never knew it would come so close to home...our home!

We celebrate adoption everyday in our house and are so grateful that we were selected by Gavin's birth parents to be his parents.  We tell Gavin his story everyday and we have pictures of his birth family not only in his room but on our family picture wall.  They are after all forever connected to us because of adoption.

JD and I volunteered to be part of the American Fork Families Supporting Adoption board just after Gavin's placement.  We wanted to give back to others because we have been so blessed.  This weekend all of the Utah County chapters of Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) is hosting a Celebrate Adoption Walk.  We are so excited to participate this year.  We planned to go last year and some unexpected things cam up and we weren't able to attend.  We are so excited that Tiff, Ryan and their boys will be there with us along with Gavin's birth parents and Karlee's daughter.  What a better group to celebrate our adoption!!  We decided to make shirts to wear for the adoption walk this weekend and I think they turned out great!

Fun Day with our Birth Parents

We invited Karlee & Devrey over for a BBQ yesterday.  We hadn't seen them in several months so it was definitely time to get together.  G was of course showered with hugs and kisses.  Here are a few pictures from last night.

J.D. was trying to make Gavin giggle since he had been so quiet all night.  He has the magic touch because he did finally giggle for us.

Saying Good night.  Gavin got to have a tubby while Karlee and Devrey were here.  It wasn't planned by definitely necessary after graham crackers and a MESSY diaper. 

J.D and I are on the Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) board for American Fork and now part of United for Adoption (UFA) board.  Next Saturday, May 11 is Birth Mother's Day and the Utah County FSA hosts a Celebrate Adoption Walk each year.  We are so glad that Kand D (hopefully depending on his work schedule) will be there with us as we celebrate adoption! 

We are having shirts printed for all of us and our parents and my sister and her family that will be with us at the walk.  I can't wait to see how they turn out!!  I will definitely post pictures when we get them done and from the walk on Saturday.