Kade turns 4!!

Bittersweet I tell ya!  My baby is 4.  Although he's acted 4 for a year, it actually happened!  What a fun party to plan.  Of course it had to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  This boy goes all out in the obsession category.  But I loved searching for ideas and he was so, so, so excited for weeks.  Since it was a week later than his real birthday, he was oh so patient.  Until about Saturday.  Sunday we decorated, Monday by 11 he had seriously talked non-stop for a day and was hoarse from all the talking and excitement.  This kid....if you know this kid, he is such a joy.  He continually kept telling us all day how this was his best party ever!!  Our friend said "I've never met a kid that has so much excitement in life".  That about sums it up.  Don't get me wrong, he can definitely be a toddler...and have a bad attitude, and throw a fit, and not play well with others....but, he is such a sweetie with a zest for life.  He enjoys everything.  It's always a "yes!" and "best day ever".  Love him so much.  And love that this day, that I went to all the work for, was totally appreciated by a FOUR year old!  That night, while putting him down he thanked me 3 times.  The next day on his way to preschool, he thanked me....love it.  He's smart, funny, loves his friends, loves his family, and lives each day fully!

PARTY IN THE SEWER!!









 We started the party with making nun chucks.  Safe ones of course :)  Then, the kids entered into the sewer to an awesome obstacle course Mike created and used their ninja skills to fight the foot clan and shredder.

Then we went upstairs to enjoy some lunch. We had Toxic Juice to drink (and they got some ooze to play with in their goodie bags), and made Pizza of course!!

Look at the excitement in those eyes!

Cake and present time

 Turtle Twins...it seriously seems like EVERYWHERE we go someone has a 4 or 5 year old that is obsessed with TMNT as well :)  This is his little buddy Ian who loves them too!

  Resting on his body pillow with his new stuffed Leo and soft blanket :)

What a fun day.  We were all exhausted, but we love to celebrate and create memories :)

January 2014

Here is it another year.  A few hundred more grey hairs, another adventure to live.  We spent a few days the first week at Grandma and Grandpa's.  Nice to have no obligations and just be around to visit.  Bathing in Grandma's big tub with bubbles is always an entertainment!

The first big snowfall always brings extra fun and excitement.  Kade won't stop asking when Christmas is.  To him, it's all associated, right?!  The kids have the best dad.  He always spends time lugging snow to a big snow hill that will keep them busy for weeks.  He built one in the back and front yard this year, complete with a little side wall twisty thing to add to the fun of sledding.  With another snowfall this week, we finally ventured to the park with awesome hills for the kids to get a little faster action!  Rea got a small snowboard this year for Christmas.  While she was scared and shrieking most of the tries, Kade was brave and fearless.  They both made it down the hills on it, but obviously enjoy the wild abandonment of a sled.  It's hard to stay out long though, because even if the sun is shining, it's still only 20 degrees!
Any resemblance?

The kids also got their very first package ALL the way from SOUTH AFRICA!!  They were so excited and loved their gifts.  Thanks Nana and Papa.  Sure do miss you!

A favorite family time is playing games.  I LOVE that my kids are old enough to play games with us.  Kade gets a little bored if he's not winning, and EVERYONE is a sore loser...but it's fun right :)

And this kid is just "awthome"

2013 - Wrapping up another fantastic year!

The end of 2013 is peaking in the door.  So hard to believe.  So hard to imagine! We just spent out 3rd Christmas here in Idaho Falls.  It seems like eternities since we once vacated another home.  Another life!
The past few months have been a hustle and a bustle.  Always your life the last 2 months of the year, when your life revolves around retail.  It brought our first 2 major holidays without my parents!  It was odd, but lowkey.  We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Mike's extended family.  It was a quick trip for the two of us, and fortunately, we have help with the kiddos afterward, so Mike and I can display our first of many blood shot eyes. I can't believe I went the entire day without photos:(

December comes in like a freight train. It's hard to believe all the preparation that Mike does for months and months come in so quickly and leaves just the same. We have experienced the freezing cold Eastern Idaho winters with little moisture.  No matter how hard you brace yourself, there is little preparation to the mind.  It's. Just. COLD. Christmas was a lot of fun this year.  I love that my kids are older and enjoy it and the anticipation and all that surrounds it.  Heidi was here this year and we loved having her company.  She's always a big help with the kids and they love to have her around.  They spent Christmas Eve in her room and awoke quite early as well!  The day was filled with gifts, relaxing, and more gifts.  The kids wishes were granted. Always food of course.  The rush of the storm has a calm aftermath which we embrace:)

Here's a little bit of what the crazy Ernie was up to the month of December....
taking "selfies"

 Enjoying some junk

 Took a ride in Rusty Dusty Crophopper (kade's nickname)

With the dawn of a new year approaching, we are always grateful for the year we lived.  What an awesome, blessed, fun-filled year it was.  We went so many places, discovered so many new things, relived old fun haunts, and loved spending time together as a family.  It's who we are, it's how we try to live.  One day, when we have slowed and aged, I hope that my kids can think about all the years growing up, and mostly remember how present their parents and loved ones were.  We feel so blessed with the ability to do this, with the health that we have, security we enjoy.  What a wonderful year!!

The Dancer and the Piano Player

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Halloween 2013

So many memories growing up involving fall.  Arizona isn't necessarily the mecca for seasonal changes, but we had huge trees that dropped leaves every fall.  We would spend hours outside.  It's one thing I miss about our house in Utah.  The big trees! I'm sure if we had them I would curse them, but I feel sad that my kids had to get excited about the leaves in our weekly journey to the public library! Collecting leaves in their McD's happy meal buckets to bring home and crunch around.

 Crazy Hair Day at school:)

 Carving pumpkins.  The annual tradition I probably dislike the most.  Maybe.  Getting dressed up and hopped up on sugar might come in a close second:)  Kade isn't about to touch anything about the inside of a pumpkin.  My little OCD clean boy.  It displays in his face right?!

 Reagan picked out her face and cut it primarily on her own this year.  Getting so grown up! (Kade's was a Ninja Turtle face.  Not sure why I was so lame and didn't get a picture after Mike worked so hard)

 Halloween Skate Party night for Reagan's school.  We had borrowed costumes this year.  It was the only night we agreed to dress up with the kids.  By then, the kids had worn their costumes to so many events they were almost tiring of them. But....I couldn't imagine a cuter Dorothy..or a more fearsome Lion!! Love these guys.

Halloween night.  Of course, kids are exhausted after a day of partying in school and being so excited for days on end.  It was freezing (of course) and sprinkling rain off and on.  We spent 30 minutes at the same place as last year and they kids had a full bucket, happy, and ready to be in a warm house.  It is a retirement development and the people are excited to see the kids and give out good candy.  Pretty sure this will be our annual Trick-or-Treat street.

Of course the Schwan's man needed to make an appearance this night.  My kids think he's like their long lost friend.  They just love him.

 Here's his pumpkin in the daylight I guess.  He's graduated from Woody to Donatello

 Ok, my pictures stunk this year.  But I had to post this one.  My kids ran from house to house. Reagan found a friend to move with, and left Kade in the dust.  Buckets kept dropping and this time he bit it.  I hurried and snapped a picture and then the cute little lady at the house said "Oh my gosh, did you really just take a picture of that" as he's sobbing...uh, yeah, I sorta did.

Welcome November!!