1yr ago we were in Russian Court

I cannot get over the fact it has been a year already. I read through the blog I entered last April & it brought back so many memories. I remember Marty & I in the hotel room the night before court going over the questions and answers with our interpretor Aleks and couldn't stop my nervous laugh. Aleks would insist on me answering his questions for practice and I am so glad I finally was able to get over the fear and take him seriously because it help us out so much. We had to know the Russian medical termonology and it was so confusing and thankfully they asked Marty all the hard questions. I was mainly asked about the house, pets, girls and how I was going to be able to raise our son with my arthritis. We could understand their concern and I just told them that I have been raising Tori & Madison for the past 13 & 11 years (back then) with out a problem and with the help of Marty and the girls I would do it again. It must have worked (along with all the other answers we gave to many other questions) because after 45 minutes of questioning and only a few for deciding they came back and told us we were parents of Mason James Paul Peck. We just beamed!!!

I can't forget to mention that Tori turned 14yrs old yesterday. The idea that she can drive scares me to death.

Love to all,

Tammy & family

1yr ago today we were on our way to Russia

I can't believe what one little guy can do to a group of 4 people (Marty, myself, Tori & Madison). The girls and I were talking about how different our life has been with having Mason in it and how, this coming from the girls "they wouldn't trade him for the world". We were a very happy family before Mason with lots of laughs, love, hugs & kisses and having Mason here today has multiplied all that. Just when you least expect it he runs up and asks for a "squeeze & kiss". The girls and Mason have their little routine of goodbyes every morning when we drop them off at school & they are still excited about walking up to the car after school with the hope of Mason being in there full of hi's & kisses for all.
I've got a lot of "1yr ago today"'s coming up these next couple of weeks so check back.
Also I will be taking Tori to get her driver's permit on Tuesday so say a prayer for me. Today I let her pull the van into the driveway and instead of hitting the break when I had her back up to straighten it out she hit the gas and we went flying. It's funny now but I thought I was going to go through the dash.
To all you other "Krasy American's" (families we met in Russia) you are thought of also through these days of our firsts.
Much love to all,
Tammy

Easter in Denver w/Chad & Megan

My mom got a new puppy when we were in Denver for Easter. We entered a pet store in a mall and the grandkids all talked grandma into getting the puppy "Molly (dog she already has) needs a playmate". Ironically we named him "Denver".
Not the best picture but as you can see Mason and the puppy are playing tug-of-war with his pillow. Mason was acting like a puppy all weekend, he even tried drinking out of the dog dish.
Mason's 1st Easter. He didn't quite understand the concept and was more occupied with his firetruck basket then anything. That is untill he realized there was candy in the plastic eggs.
Here he found his Veggie Tales movie the Easter Bunny left him.
Bunny also left Mason a set of his own headphones and music player. This made the ride home easier because the older girls had ipods of their own to listen to and he didn't like that.

Hope you all had a great Easter. We have been blessed with so much this past year with Mason coming into our lives and meeting amazing people on our journey. I can't believe it is almost a year already.

(Thank you Chad & Megan for putting up with us)