Family Pictures 2013

I feel like these pictures speak for themselves. We LOVE how they turned out and LOVE our photographers at Matchless Photography. They were beyond wonderful with Caleb and really captured our family at this point in our life (he LOVED the water fight at the end. The photographers loved that I was always shooting John) This has been our family for the last five years and it has been wonderful We are so grateful for these pictures to help us remember what life was like. We are so excited for the changes that await us as we move forward with adoption. 

Extended family

We are all about family. Our families mean the world to us, and we try to cultivate relationships and stay close even though we live far away. Despite distance we are fortunate enough to visit family a couple of times a year, and always love guests!

Lindsay comes from a large, loud and at times crazy family :) She has five sisters, four brothers-in-law and six nieces and nephews. Cousin time is one of our favorite things about visiting families. 

My mom has come to visit us a couple times for Thanksgiving. We love taking her along to cut our Christmas tree, and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same weekend.

Lindsay comes from a large family.She has six aunts and uncles and over two dozen couples. Last year they had a mini family reunion to celebrate her grandma's 90th birthday. 

Caleb's older cousins are so wonderful and helpful with him. They love when he comes to visit. They give him all their attention and are willing to do what he wants to do. 

Lindsay's family (minus one) at her sister's wedding.

 This last March we made a quick trip to see family. Caleb loved getting spoiled by his cousins and aunties. We also celebrated John's 30th birthday 

 

John's family is a little smaller, and a little calmer. His mother and step-father live in the house that John grew up in. John's only sibling is an identical twin brother who is married with two adorable little girls. Caleb loves to talking to his three year old cousin and playing with his grandparents.

 We have loved seeing how much Caleb looks like his Madsen cousins since their dads are twins after all. The picture on the left is his cousin holding the newest member of our family at age three, the one on the right is Caleb holding her as a newborn at 23 months.

 John loves doing anything active with his brother every chance they can get. This last fall they hiked 50 miles through Montana's wilderness. 

Our family has been supportive and loving with our decision to adopt. We know any child who joins our family will join the whole family. The child will be blessed with two parents and one brother who loves them more than anything in the world, as well as an extended family who will love and support them throughout their life. 

July 4th

For us life is all about enjoying the small moments and seizing every opportunity we can to have fun and experience no places and things. Over time July 4th has become the perfect opportunity to have fun, spend time with loved ones, and just enjoy summer. We have tried to make the most of every 4th, and over the years it has become one of our favorite holidays. 

Our first year we were living in Washington D.C. We decided to brave the crowds and spent all day down at the National Mall. We had a blast! The highlight was paddle boating on Jefferson Pond.

We rushed the Capitol Lawn to get the best seats in the house-the top step on the Capitol Stairs. We had an amazing view of the Mall and the fireworks.

 Our second year of marriage we were in the process of moving from Alabama to California. We were lucky enough to be able to stop and see family on the 4th. We had a BBQ and did some hiking. We love any chance that we get to be around family.

 Our third year we spend the evening with friends having a great BBQ and setting off fireworks. I will always remember this year because it snowed/hailed while we were doing fireworks. Our friend got in his car, lit the firework, and then throw it from the window. Definitely, not the smartest idea,but it is a firework show I will never forget.

 Our fourth year we spent at a family reunion for John's family at his uncle's lake house. Caleb loved the carousel, and playing with all the toys. It was great to see John's grandma who is well into her 80s. 

 Our fifth year we were in California for John's work. We went to a small beach town along the coastal highway. We had amazing BBQ brisket sandwiches that they topped with avocado and french fries (amazing combo!) and watched fireworks on the beach. 

 John was in a very kind mood and bought one of those glowing swords-it was broken by the time the fireworks started.

Our 6th year we spent in Whitefish, a little town outside of Glacier National Park. We played in the sand and enjoyed fresh mountain air and a slice of huckleberry pie. Montana doesn't get dark until very late in the summer so the fireworks didn't start till almost 11, Caleb slept through the whole thing. 

 This year we spent the 4th in Austin. We went to the parade, went swimming, and watched the POPS Concert and fireworks. We loved exploring Austin, and would love to live there one day.