A Legality...an exciting one...

Sometimes I think to myself that our family situation isn't exactly...normal. We didn't date. We hardly had an engagement. By the time we got married, we had one baby already and another one on the way. Yet, our lives were in order, our choices were made with the guidance of the spirit, and we knew that the means by which we became a family was nothing other than perfect. Us? Imperfect. Heavenly Father's plan for us? Perfect.
By the time we had been married for two years we had three children. We still had yet to date very much, we still had yet to really understand very much, and the crazy winds of life hadn't let us breathe very much.
BUT...
we were happy.
None of that has changed very much now.
Well, we probably breathe more now. And maybe understand the tiniest bit more.
And we are more happy. Because that is what happens, at the core of yourself, when you and your sweetheart are somewhere mid-life doing your best.
And we still have three kids. Though, a couple of months ago, if you were to have asked the state of Arizona about that they would have said that I had three kids and JC had one, being a step-parent to the other two.
We never liked that much. It's not the real truth, it never was and never will be. Just a different last name. We always intended to change it. But remember what I said about those winds of life? Sometimes we forgot. Sometimes we would start the process and then forget. But, finally, it all came together, it all happened and now, legally...we are all Ballards.

A word about this - - We have always felt it was important for JC to legally adopt Bethany and James. This was in no way out of dismissal for the fact that Mason is also their father. We know he is. They know he is. He knows he is. (Really, he knows most everything at this point in time so he beats us all...) He has left for them, and us, a very important heritage...stories to tell, pictures to show, lessons to learn, more family to love. A guardian angel. As I have said before, our kids are lucky beyond measure because they have Heavenly Parents, they have JC and I as earthly parents, and they have a third earthly parent who is no longer on this earth but has moved on to the next step in his progression. So many parents able to love, teach, and guide them in so many different ways. I don't know why it all is exactly the way it is, but I do know they are very loved, we are all very happy (I wholeheartedly include Mason in this as well. I know he is very happy.), and I would not change a thing. Since JC and I are the parents on this earth who will be with them through this life, and also since Ben who is every bit a whole sibling to them as they are to each other, all have the last name Ballard, we felt it was just right that they would as well. So, we have been planning on doing the adoption all along, we have talked to the kids about it on a level they could understand somewhat, and are very happy to finally be all official. :)

The whole bunch of us with the judge that officiated our hearing.
He, and his staff, were so darn sweet to us and the kids. It was a great experience.
(Even so, Bethany gets nervous in situations where people are dressed strangely and she doesn't understand everything that is happening.)

The Ballard Family.

After our hearing, we took Bethany to the last half of preschool (she insisted she not miss all of it), and the boys to a park nearby.
So they could play.

And climb.

After school was out and Bethany approved moving on to the rest of our day, we took them to Peter Piper Pizza and let them eat pizza with cheese. (Never happens...see previous posts for notes about how they were sick in following weeks. Yep.)
We also tried to play games with them there...which ended up being JC and Bethany playing games, James hiding in the climbing center so he could poo in his diaper and refuse to come out (other children and mothers really appreciated this), and Ben clinging to me like the plagues of Egypt were coming at him all at once and from all angles since he is deathly afraid of all the flashing lights and loud noises of the game area.
Note to self - no family vacations in Vegas.
(or future visits to Peter Piper if you ask me)

But I don't think we mind so much.
It's also fun to just stay home.
And be a family.
(legally even)