Taiwan "Kidsave" Program

Each year the agency we adopted Faith from holds a "Kidsave" program where they have older kids, whom are in foster care, come to Utah and stay with families and experience life in America. There are activities for all of them through out the five weeks they are here and they also have fundraisers and program's to help educate people on adoption and have the chance to introduce the kid's to those who are interested. They hope to place the children in a forever family and home by doing this.

We have been trying to go and see all the kids this month when we can and be apart of it all. It's fun to take Faith and have her be with all the other children from Taiwan and St. Lucy's (her orphanage). It's an amazing and wonderful experience and we hope next year we might be able to host one of the children.

If any of you are ever interested in being a part of this program either by hosting a child, donations, helping with activities, etc. just let me know and I can get you more information for next year's program.

On July 26th we went to Thanksgiving Point to the Farm Yard to see all the fun animals. Faith just LOVES animals and we had a really good time. After we played with the animals and had a picnic we all went back to Laura's home (Program Founder and President) for some fun in the water. We had a blast seeing everyone.

Rice Cereal.....yum!

Owen has been eating rice cereal for about two weeks now. It's not his fav but he doesn't mind it. In another week or so we will be starting him on foods. He now has his second tooth pocking through. WHAT THE!!!!!!!!!!!! Slow down boy.

24th of July

On July 23rd we ventured down to Bountiful to see the parade. We sat with friends and family and it was a blast! Faith was clapping and waving to everyone. She really enjoyed it at her small age of 1. She will soon be 2 and it is SO hard to believe.

On the 24th we went to a BBQ at my sister's home and then went down to my brother in-laws home at 9:30 PM to watch the Lagoon fireworks from his front yard. He had a nice view. We got home very late and cuddled our two adorable kids into bed. It was a long day for them. Mom likes to ware them out so they sleep really well and way into the next morning, he-he!

1st tooth

My baby is growing up :(

Owen has broke his first tooth this week. I noticed it yesterday. It's crazy really. He is such a fun little boy and it makes me sad to think in 10 plus years he won't want any more kisses from mom. He will be to cool and to big to hang with me all day.

Any how...... I tried to take a picture but he won't sit still long enough and he tries to lick my finger every time I try and pull his bottom lip down. I'll keep trying and see what I can get.

Small little mile stones happen so often their first year of life it's amazing. They are so cute, so sweet, and so Innocent. It breaks my heart how quickly time does go bye but for now I am going to try my hardest to live in the moment and cherish every one of them.

Jackman Family Reunion

Well, this weekend we had yet another fun family reunion. This was my mom's side of the family, the Jackman's (yes I am related to Hugh Jackman, hubba-hubba, J/K!). We have at least three reunions a year but honestly I really do enjoy going to them and being with the fam!

Any how. Our cousin's (the Ashton's) own some property up Provo Canyon and they have a nice big red barn were we hold some of the events. They have some amazing property with a huge water slide, adult zip-line over the water, kid's zip-line on the grass, a big play ground (slide, swing's, climbing wall, you name it) for the kids to play on, paddle boats, tennis, etc. Everyone drives up for the weekend to play and camp out.

We had a fun time yet again! We are so lucky to have such wonderful family. Faith absolutely loved the big water slide. She is my little fish and loves water. When we got home from the reunion this weekend, Saturday at 5:30 PM, Lindsay then took Faith the our neighborhood family fun night at "Surf-n-Swim". He came home and said she loved the big waves and playing on the tube. She is such a QT!


Big Red Barn


From Left to Right: Sister Sonia, Sister Vicki, Dad Roger, Brother Joey and his wife Emilie holding little Owen and then their little girl Tessa and Lindsay walking up the side.

Lindsay loves to play and spend time with Faith, they are so cute!



From Left to Right: Joey, Tessa, Brother in-law Bryan, his daughter Ethney, and sister Vicki

Owen ready for bed at our Hotel in Heber (party pooper's this year, we didn't camp out).

Lindsay and Faith hanging in our hotel room.

Let's Slip-n-Slide

"Wheeeeeeee!"

Good Times!

Brother in-law Bryan and his daughter Ethney

Sister In-Law Emilie and her daughter Tessa

Nephiew Ryker (Belong's to Bryan and Vicki)

Nephew Jaxson (belong's to my older sister Sonia)

Faith and her cousin Tessa

My little beauty queen

The Bott Girls

For those of you who don't know my Madden name it is "Bott". Today at my sister's home (Vicki), we had a Bott Girls Party. It was a blast!

We had tons of delicious food, lots of laughs, and played a great gift exchange game (there was only a few heated moments with everyone taking each other's gifts but we all ended up happy and seriously scored).

Each year we have decided to have two "girls" parties just like this one. We eat lots of food and have one big therapy session. It was wonderful!

Thanks for all your hard work Vicki and to all those who came. I love you all and can't wait until the next one.

Little Man No More

Owen is growing SO FAST! He changes so much from month to month. And around our home Owen is no longer the "little brother", he is defiantly the "BIG" brother :). He rolled over for the first time on Sunday, June 22nd. I so so proud of him. They are always changing and growing. Some times I wish time could just stand still for a bit and they could forever be small.



I have loved seeing my little one's start to recognize and play with one another. Owen loves to watch Faith from his bouncer or when he is laying on the bed. He will see he running, jumping, or singing and he just watches her closely and smiles all the while. It really is so cute how he knows it is her. Every day when it's nap time for Faith she will always say "book" and "beankie" (meaning blanket), this means she wants to go lay down. Then she will say "Owie" because she loves to have him come and lay on her floor in her room next to us while we sit and read a book before nap. She loves having him come along for everything, it's cute (of course).