Kadenisms

Kaden: What are we having for breakfast?
Mom: Worms and alligator tongues!
K: (the beginnings of a fit) I don't WANT that! I want YOGURT and alligator tongues!

"Mom, if some little Katelyn chewed on this and ruined it, I'd be sooooo sad." -Kaden

Kaden stopped dead in his tracks, looked around...then said "I just forgot myself.... MOM! what was I going to say?" (I think he meant "do")

Kaden: "I found a chocolate chip under the stove. ...sooooo I kinda ate it."

Just the basics of the last 2 months!

Kaden: "Daddy, when we get home can I have a bath?"
Silence as Daddy considers it (it is already bedtime).
Kaden: same question.
Daddy: "No Kaden, I don't think we're going to do baths tonight."
Kaden: "JUST because I ask you for something DOESN'T mean you always have to say NO!"
Poor kid got a short bath.

The last 2 months have been insanely busy. In November Kaden took 5 weeks of swim lessons with his friend Quincy. He thoroughly enjoyed every second of those lessons! The first day of lessons Kaden convinced his teacher to take him to the deep end afterwards. She didn't know what she was getting into...almost every lesson he begged, pleaded, and otherwise convinced her to spoil him for a few minutes after lessons. He also was the kid who was always in trouble and had to sit on the wall. He wasn't trying to be naughty, but he just loved to be underwater. Apparently going underwater while the teacher is working with other kids is a big no-no. Also, he didn't have the greatest attention span, and loved trying to make the other kids laugh. I was told before we started not to expect him to pass because "they never pass a kid the first time." Well, I'm proud to say he passed! (I do have to wonder if the teacher just wanted to be rid of him!) He was able to hold his breath under water for 3 seconds, push off the wall on both is front and back and glide 2 body lengths, pick up an object off the floor of the pool, and other things like that. He even jumped off the diving board twice! He was one of only 2 kids to pass.

Katelyn and I spent that time either sitting and watching (well, she ate suckers...) or we suited up and walked the "lazy river" together with a friend and her daughter. Walking against the current is harder than it first appears! Katelyn loved getting to be in the water too.

For Thanksgiving we headed to Montana to my parents house (and sadly, we forgot our camera.) We were able to spend Thanksgiving with 3 of my 4 brothers and my Grandparents. The last time I was able to be home for Thanksgiving I was pregnant with Kaden and sick, sick, sick. I don't even remember most of it. It was fun to do all of our traditions: the meal, graham cracker houses, games, and leftovers on already too full stomachs. Kaden still talks about the house he made (which had character! I wish I had a photo!) and has asked Gramma to save it for him at Christmas so he can eat the candy off of it. So fun to share traditions that I enjoyed at his age!

For my birthday my parents offered to keep our kids for the night the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We left around 9am and headed to Billings to shop. It was so weird to drive in silence, and the car felt so empty! We shopped alllll day, then had a nice hotel with heated pool and hot tub. We shopped a little more on Sunday and were able to get much of our Christmas shopping done. We met my parents with the kids at Sams around noon. Katelyn wouldn't even look at me when we met up. She held out, not looking at us, and refusing to come to us until Gramma threatened to put her in the car and take her back home. She practically leaped into my arms! What a stinker! It was a very fun weekend, but it always reminds me how much a part of my life my kids are. I sure do love them. (I just don't love shopping with them!!!!!!)

(I am so thankful for autosave as I accidentally just deleted this entire post. It had autosaved just a few seconds before!!!)

This month has been filled with Christmas Parties, (for MOPS, PCA, Church..), meetings for church, and other holiday fun. Yesterday Kaden and I were laying on the floor by the tree looking into the ornament's reflections and talking about Christmas. He has been asked several times by people what he wants from Santa, which has generated much talk. He is confused between the link between Santa and Baby Jesus. We are talking about how Santa is someone we pretend brings us presents, and Baby Jesus is real, and was born as the son of God. After we talked about that I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and his reply was, "Ummmmmm...some more trains, some more trucks, and something for Katelyn." It melted my heart. A while later, curious as to what he'd say, I asked again. He replied the same exact phrase. So we decided to take him out Christmas shopping for his sister. They each got each other a present and we are talking about how we get presents for each other at Christmas and why. It has been fun to see him question, and put together the pieces that everyone teaches him about Christmas.

This week Luke had an appointment to find out if the mole on his nose was something we needed to be worried about since it was changing in shape/size from year to year. Since he works in the sun many hours all summer long we wanted to make sure it was not going to be something to cause skin cancer, etc... The doctor said that he was fairly confident that it was nothing, but said that it might be best to have it removed just to make sure. It ended up being more than we bargained for. Apparently to make an inscision on the face they have to put you under anesthetic to ensure that you won't move and screw anything up. So 2 days later Luke went in for that surgery. It was not a very fun experience for either of us, but it's over now and we're glad to have it behind us!

In a week we are headed back to Montana to spend Christmas with Luke's family. It's hard to believe it's already that time of year! During that stay I'm hoping to write our Christmas letter (which is actually a new years letter and I don't know why I still call it our Christmas letter and send it in Christmasy envelopes!) We need to take a family picture- I wish I'd thought of that before Luke's surgery! (I bet he wishes that too!)

Dining Room...again

My inspiration more...2 years ago. I hated the little tiny mirrors though, wanted simpler crown molding, and to personalize it MY way. There are 2 things left undone...I'll give a prize to the first person to notice which 2 things still need done! (And if you find something that I hadn't noticed, I might have to hurt you!

before...

after...(i really wish I'd shown the crown molding in this picture! UGH!)

Here's one with the crown... the mirror (and in another pic you'll see 3 small orange canvasses) are from Kmart...(i hate Kmart!) the sconces are from ebay. It took me HOURS to find the right ones. The curtains don't match but I bet you'd never notice (and no, that isn't one of the 2 things), one set is from Amazon and one from JC Penny...

Here's another random pic...notice my 2 huge pans hanging between the windows. I was nervous about that idea...i LOVE it. So convenient.

kitchen...(notice my collection of utensils on my countertop has grown exponentially. While I don't like taking counterspace, I do love me some Pampered Chef!!!)


Notice the carpet in this one...

NO MORE CARPET!!!! (also, here are those 3 little canvasses...fake canvasses is what i mean)

anther random...

These last 2 are really hard to get good pictures of with a point and shoot camera...but you can see a big difference still.
before...


All in all, i think I kicked the original inspiration photo's BUTT. Better mirror(didn't know all along what i was gonna do, but since i did do a mirror..it is better...)Better crown. And personalized perfectly "A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen" (even if it does drive me completely nuts!!!) And to finish it off...my hubby used a ceiling pan rack so I could hang my pans in the cupboard. I LOVE it.

My kitchen might not be big, but I think I have the best one.

Before and Afters! (Finally!)

This first picture is just an example of how badly our house needed siding! (For those who think we just had an extra $15,000 sitting there ready to pay for sidding. LOL)

Before...this was literally taken the day before they started tearing the house apart.

after...we need some house numbers!

before...

after....this one shows the great need for shutters!

before...

after...

before...

after...

before...

after...

Now when I'm at the park with friends and they ask which house is mine I can say "The green one!" instead of... "well...it kinda looks like the others..it's the 3rd one in if count starting with the blue one...etc.."

Kate's Version of Jumping on the Bed

We find Kate doing this quite often. If you happen to find her, then she will be mad if you walk away and don't laugh and applaud her. She thinks she is sooo amazing and funny doing this...as you can tell!

More swimming videos

He had to be able to float unsupported for 3 seconds or 3 body lengths to pass the back float then recover to standing on his own. There were about 25 different abilities (like this, some easier) he had to demonstrate to pass the class. He passed the class after only one time through the class! Apparently that "never" happens. One Proud Momma.

He Loves To Swim!

Kaden's To-Do List

Today I decided to have Kaden help me plan our day. This was his plan (in his words):

"Eat breakfast (when it's not to early out anymore)Yogurt, banana and granola bars.

Play trains.

Watch a movie.

Play trains.

And that's all. Is that cool?" (yes, he really did ask that. I laughed inside.)

So I suggested lunch and he said no. Then decided maybe yes...if it meant we could have Macaroni and Cheese. And then he decided that we could have a snack of a cookie sometime too.

So, that is his version of the best day ever. So, we've had our breakfast (Mommy asked if it was ok to have coffee with hers...he supposed it was ok.) and now we are watching Curious George episodes (yes, he switched up the order) while I pay bills. Next we will play trains. Then he will have to entertain himself for a while so I can do some cleaning.

It sure was fun to plan our morning together. Even if I did know EXACTLY what he'd say. I am surprised he didn't think of the park...but I'm kind of glad too.

Kadenisms

"Mom, can Roslyn (the baby I babysit) not talk?"
"No, she is too little."
"Yah, But I can talk! And baby (Kate) can talk a DIFFERENT language, because I can hear what she is saying."

"Mom, do you eat fishes?" (as he's eating goldfish crackers.)
"Not very often, why?"
"No, Mom, I mean the fishes that swim in the water? Do you eat those?"
"I don't like fish but some people do."
"Yuck. I just eat fishes that DON'T swim, Mom."

Katelyn-handing me a flashlight that has dead batteries and yelling jibberish.
Mom to Kate, "The batteries are dead, we can't turn it on!"
More jibberish yelling from Kate.
Kaden, to Kate: "Kate, we're just going to have to retire it for now. I'm sorry."
(Where does he get these phrases?)

Kaden, sucking on a sucker at the table. "Mom, there's water on the table!" "It's sucker water!"
(Thank you Kaden for drooling on the table your blue "sucker water")

I don't know...

what's gotten into me.

I told my husband my goals for the afternoon were a clean bedroom and kitchen. (And before you judge me for the low goal, remember you haven't SEEN those 2 rooms...)

The kitchen is done. And as I stand here typing at my kitchen counter, I have ham frying, sausage defrosting, and not one, but TWO batches of dough raising. I also have an 18 month old sleeping downstairs, (she's due to wake up and be fussy and impossible any minute), and a 4 1/2 month old sleeping in my bedroom how is completely and totally unpredictable. And who also hasn't eaten since she got here almost 4 hours ago.

(interuption while I cook)

The plan was to find something easy for dinner. That's when I got my cookbook out. And somehow, remembered another cookbook, which somehow convinced me I should make ham/broccoli stromboli. Ok. That's fine. But when did I suddenly feel the need to make 2 strombolis? And when did 2 stromboli's turn into a LOT of little personal size strombolis? And when did those little personal size strombolis turn into two varieties?

I think it was while I was unloading the dishwasher. Have I ever told you how much I HATE unloading the dishwasher? It is (seriously) up there with giving birth on my list of "Things I hope I never have to go through again." But I digress...

When I unload the dishwasher I always think of crazy things to do. (I wonder if that's why I hate it so much?) So while I was unloading I vaguely remember thinking 2 things: 1) If I made a LOT of little personal size strombolis I could probably not have to cook for a while again. Followed by the thought: what if my kids won't eat the broccoli ones...I better make a sausage kind to. And 2)I really need to blog again. (WHY did I think this? My theory: Only because I was unloading the dishwasher.)

So here I am. With 2 more thoughts before I leave you.

1. When you fry ham, 4 cups turns into 3 cups. I'm glad I had extra.

2. Kaden just went in my room and woke up Roslyn. He's lucky to still be alive.

Busy Day- and Halloween!

Today was productive. I took care of a pukey sickie until he quit puking-then I turned movies on for him. At 10am I took Kate to her 18 month appointment... (She is 22lbs, 18th percentile, 32 inches 60th percentile). And after that I made LOTS of freezer meals.

Taco Soup
Tatertot Casserole
Lasagna
BBQ Meatballs
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Noodle soup Base
Chicken Pot Pie Base
Spaghetti
Pizza Crusts (3)
and 2 loaves of bread

I learned some things.

-start with an empty dishwasher
-Make sure you have lots of pans, and plenty of dishsoap
-start with an empty garbage can
-don't bother trying to keep the floor clean
-a mix 'n chop will save your sanity
-make sure your kids/hubby have easy lunches so you don't have to quit! YOu'll never get restarted!!!!

I also made Cheesy Mostaccioli for dinner and it was a hit. Nice and easy too. I also finished in time to go with the family to the Trunk or Treat at Westside Baptist and to a few drive-through places. It was a fun night, and I'm so glad Kaden was feeling well enough to go!

Here are some pictures from Halloween, and one from raking leaves this weekend. Enjoy!

The last few weeks

It's been a while. But I always say that. So I'll skip to the next part.

So the last blog I talked about how I had company coming THE NEXT DAY. Well, that went okay. I got the house cleaned, and everything ready. I got all the meals mostly prepared, and then I got sick. Yup. Some host. I had some kind of flu bug that turned into bronchitis-which is still blessing me with it's presence. My family, so far, has been spared. But, even though I was sick (I always get sick when they come. It's enough to wonder if they poisen me!) Anyway, it was good to visit with Bill and Nate again. I missed Rachel a lot though.

Also, about the siding. You guessed it. We did NOT get our siding yet. The update "We'll have it this Thursday." I will believe it when I see it. But this time I have enough hope to actually go out and take the "before" pictures. I'm so excited to see how much it will transform the look of this house!

Now for some Kadenisms:

Kaden- to Katelyn as she scratched his legs- "Katelyn no more scratching. STOP scratching" slight pause..."No scratching! I CAN SCRATCH MYSELF!" the kid cracks me up.

Backing out of the driveway, and Kaden says, "Mom, tomorrow I'm going to climb up the garage door and get up on the roof of the house." silent pause. "Okay?" Okay..i totally thought he was kidding. Nope, he REALLY is gonna.

(Out of the blue) "Mom, when I get a little bit bigger, and that tree gets a little bit smaller, THEN I'm going to climb up it!" -Kaden

On to Kate. She is still refusing to talk...but getting better and getting her point across through screams. She gets so mad when we try to get her to at least do some sign language. She is definitely a stubborn thing. She's had a fever lately from teething...so we're hoping for a 6th tooth soon. They sure do come slow for her.

Maybe the next time I update I'll have pictures of a green house???

It just hit me that I better blog about how good fall has been to us before the snow hits and I completely forget. I am just not looking forward to winter this year, for some reason.

Today it was still warm enough to get out the pool for the kids. Each time I've gotten out the pool I've thought "This is probably the last time..." only to get it out again. This time I think it might actually be the last time. I looked at the 10 day forcast and it isn't looking pretty. Ok so, that might be a little dramatic. It's looking like 50's and 60's...which isn't BAD, but I was REALLY enjoying these cool nights and 80s days...Anyway, I think fall is truly gonna hit now.

Which has me somewhat annoyed. Not that fall is getting cooler, or that winter is coming, or even that I might have to pay for heat sometime in the nearish future. Nope. It's annoying that we signed for new siding in the beginning of August and were told 4-6 weeks. So, that 6 weeks is over as of last week. And we've been told 2 more weeks. I'm NOT going to be impressed (ok so I'm already not impressed) if it snows or rains and they want to put siding over it. Not impressed at.all. Furthermore, if they can't do it this fall I will be... Oh, you don't even want to know.

I took a personality test this week. It said i was an organized lion basically. At frist I disagreed, but lately have come to embrace the lion in me. I mean, I can get things done. I can be bold. I can tell it like it is. I can seriously scare the pee out of some people. But I have learned to tame it a little. (A VERY little, if you ask Luke.)

Anyway, the point was, in cases like this when companies don't "come through" for me...I like the lion in me. Just sayin'.

But the baby is awake now, and I have company coming TOMORROW...and I haven't cleaned my house in...at least a week. Which, if you've seen what my kids can do to a dining room floor in a day, you'd be horrified that it's been a week!!! ANYWAY, gotta go!

Just some random thoughts...

I am to the point where I'd pay good money to know why I can't sleep so often.

I went back and was reading old blogs (this is why I blog. You think I do it for you, but really, I love the (rare) times when I go back and read.) It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since some of the blog posts I was reading. Wow, what a year we had last year. Between pregnancy, birth of Kate, Gallbladder surgery, MRI's, EKG's, Bladder testing, lumps removed, church/relationship hurts and frustrations, etc..it was a rough time. I am so happy to look back and remember how HARD it was, and yet see how I handled it. God really does give us the strenth to handle what we face. And today I am so thankful that all of it turned out ok. Maybe not how I wanted, but it turned out ok.

Lately, I've noticed how often I think "Wow, I'm blessed." And tonight I realized it's because this year has been so totally different. Yah, we've had some issues (tonsil surgery, and other small things) but, wow, it's been a good year. Nothing like hardship to help you know what GOOD is.

Also, I was reading about Kaden when he was Kate's age....and I was right, he did have a ton of words. It will never cease to amaze me how different Kaden and Katelyn are. I LOVE IT. God gave me such blessings when He gave me them.

This 'n That

Lately my sleep habits have been awful. Absolutely awful. I sleep REALLY good for one night, and then the next 3-5 nights I can't sleep til well after the morning has arrived. Guess which night tonight is???

For those of you who might not stalk me on facebook. Or who do stalk me on facebook and just aren't very good at stalking... I have a lot of big things going on in life right now!

Last week I agreed to be the Gillette MOPS Co-Coordinator. Yes. Me. I'm the one who (should I post this on internet for all to see?) has always said I'm not even that IN to MOPS. But, when it ended abrubtly last year it troubled me greatly. I had even considered stepping up to coordinate when I knew the position was open, but really thought someone else would step up. Then when no one did it was shut down, to my surprise. All I heard from all my MOPS friends was shock, dissapointment, and sadness. So then all summer I prayed hard about starting a Women's Bible study or a Mom's group that was not MOPS at my church. Something that could start out small so I could start my leadership skills on a smaller scale...but I never felt peace.

Part of that is because I am already the nursery directer. I coordinate the baby showers at church (and just recently have HELP, thank goodness!!!), have my Pampered Chef cooking clubs and babysit a 3 month old 14ish hours a week. But really, I think it was just that it wasn't God's timing. In fact, I know it wasn't.

A couple weeks ago at a Bible Study I almost didn't join, at a church I don't go to, on an evening I was supposed to have cooking club, I met Stacey. Stacey moved from Cheyanne and has coordinated MOPS before. To make a long story short- here we are getting MOPS restarted and it's awesome. I am so excited. No, really, I AM! I found out that coordinating is something I just enjoy. But only if it's right. And only if I can bounce ideas off someone else. So, all in all, this week's been a busy one trying to get MOPS started in a month instead of months and months which is normal.

Speaking of babysitting. Did you all know I was doing that? (Oh, yes, all you facebook stalkers did, how 'bout the rest of you?) Anyway, I've been babysitting a (then 2 month old, now 3 month old) for a month. It's.been.awesome. I was nervous at first. But so far Katelyn and Kaden totally love her. And she sleeps 90% of the time and even then half the time I wake her up to feed her. And when she is awake she just adores watching my kids play. So far, so good. And the extra money is nice too! It keeps me home Tues-Thurs afternoons, but I always have at least an hour of ME time still. Does it get better than that?

Let's see...what else is new? Kate has been a teething monster baby. But just tonight we felt one bottom right tooth. If that's the only tooth that comes from this teething disaster I'm gonna be depressed. But at least there's one, right? Katelyn is getting bigger and smarter and cuter and sneakier as the days go by. She loves nothing more than to scream at brother for touching HER STUFF. (Which is really his stuff.) Also, she thinks his trains are an awesome way to get his attention. Mommy is about to go crazy with it.

Kaden has had a cold/allergies/something problem since Labor Day. I keep saying "If he's not better by Friday..." but really I just don't want him on antibiotics! I don't know if he's ever gotten over something without them! We've been feeding him allergy meds but wondering if he's going to need some asthma treatments. But I don't want to talk about it anymore. This week I changed all his clothes to 4T. I expected them to all be huge. Um, nope. They look great on him and this mommy's in denial. He cannot be growing up so fast. Speaking of growing up, he started Cubbies last week. He's been there twice and loves, loves, loves, LOVES it. And it's a nice break for us too. He was given his book, vest and bag last night and first thing this morning he was asking to look at his book. He's so quick at memorizing the verses, but won't say them to anyone but me. And even then only if no one else is around, or listening, or COULD BE around or listening. He suddenly thinks he's shy. Weird. Also, he's been testing my patience lately. My prayer is that I will be a mom like God wants me to be. Not yelling, or going crazy on him. Boy oh boy...it's been hard. But I sure do love that kid.

This weekend I have a Craft Day all day Saturday and a Baby Shower on Sunday. Crazy me decided it would be "FUN" to make cake pops for this baby shower. Which-it would be- if I were confident that I could make them, have them turn out, AND be cute. I did practice once...and learned what not to do. Needless to say, after a busy week of MOPS planning, Cooking Clubs, Awana, babysitting, etc...I'm worn out going into a crazy busy weekend. And coming out next week isn't looking any calmer! But I'm not complaining- I feel so blessed in all I have and do. My friends. My appointments. My leadership (which I've grown so much in!) and my kids. I love it all. (Oh and you too, Luke!! Even if I haven't seen you lately! Date soon?)

Yes, I did just ask my hubby for a date on my blog. And I bet it works too.

Funny Girl

This morning Katelyn wanted to go outside with her big brother. So I told her she could go out but we had to get her dressed first. So she "helped" me get her pajamas off. Then when I held out her shirt she got "that look" and giggled and ran. Not being one to play that game, I just sat there. She went over to the back door and cried and cried to go out. So I told her she had to come get her clothes on. So she comes back to me and just when she's out of reach she got "that look" again, and giggled and ran...only to find herself at the back door, realize she wants to go outside, start crying and start the cycle over. I kid you not, it has been going on for 15 minutes. It's like she has an attention span of less than 2 seconds and forgets what she's going for... I wonder if we will get dressed today, or go outside???

Salesman

So, yesterday, I heard my doorbell. To me that means one of 3 things:

1) I have a delivery from Fedex (I didn't think I had anything coming so I was pretty sure this was not the reason for the doorbell.

2) My pastor was at the door (but since I was not in my pajamas I figured this couldn't be it either. He has the worst timing! And, I make this sound like it happens often, it doesn't..it was just a good way to point out that every time he happens to drop something off I look like a lazy bum.) Anyway..

3) Another Salesman.

And so it was, that when I answered the door I thought maybe it was option 3: the salesman. But this guy didn't look like a salesman. Let me elaborate. He looked like he may have just gotten out of prison...just long enough to have shaved and changed out of the jumpsuit into some ill-fitting shorts and tshirt. He was balding. And young. So the first thing he says is, "HI! Is your mom or dad home?"

....

Really? Ok, I do look young. But the first thing that popped in my head was, "What do I say? He looks like a rapist creep. If I say 'No' what if he's here to rape me?" Eventually, I just said "It's my house." At least then he couldn't know if someone else was home or not.

Enter Kaden. In his underwear. Keep in mind, I didn't know if this was a salesman (so far, no evidence) or a creepy monster. So I tell Kaden to go put shorts on. No answer. So this guy finds it convenient then, to ask me how old I was. Somehow, I don't know why, I told him 26. To which he replies "OH! I'm 27! I have a couple boys. Looks like you have a boy too. Aren't kids just...." Ok by this point I was like this is getting rediculous.

Finally he pulls from his back pocket a little spray bottle of "Cleaner"...before he could say a word I said, "We have lots of salesmen around here, and I've seen that product and I don't want it." (And by "seen that product" what i meant another salesman has gotten exactly this far into showing it to me.) Anyway, so he uses every sales technique in the book (I would know, I sell Pampered Chef...I've had training.) and I used every "get out of this sale" technique in the book. I tried telling him NO. I tried telling him I needed to leave to get my sons hair cut. I told him I had no money. I told him EVERYTHING. Nothing. He wouldn't even take a step backward on my front step for me to close the door. Nope. So finally I looked at him in the (scary) eyes and said "Listen, I don't CLEAN my house, and I don't want cleaner."

Yep. I told a salesman I don't clean my house. Normally I'd be mortified that someone would even THINK to believe that about me. But this time I was relieved that he did believe me. And he left. But only after asking if it was just me and my son around... I made sure he knew I was happily married. Thank you very much.

I laughed out loud to myself later. "I don't clean my house"...are you kidding me? Just that morning I scrubbed both bathroom and kitchen and had to constantly keep my OCD from rearing it's ugly head. I am perfectionist about my stupid floors, much less the other stuff.... "I don't clean my house!" I can't get over it. I crack myself up.

So, if you find yourself face to face with a scary looking cleaning salesman...now you have your weapon. Trust me...nothing else works.

More about the kids...

Facebook reminded me that this was Luke's "status update" from February 21, 2011.

"Good morning Mom! Time to get up?" ~ Kaden, 15 minutes after going to bed.

He is so hilarious. And I wanted to have it noted somewhere other than Facebook for him to see someday.

So while I'm at it...more Kadenisms:

"Nurdles" are noodles
"I'm a BOY" is what he thinks is the reason for everything. (Example: why can't I paint my toenails, Mom? Because you're a boy. Why can't I have long hair? Because you're a boy. Translated in his mind: Find your shoes Kaden. I can't! Why not? Because I'm a boy.) You see the trend. Sigh.

In other news, Katelyn has learned how to push Kaden's buttons in a matter of milliseconds. Threaten to come downstairs when he just finishes building a track out of his wood track set. Take said tracks. Run to the bathroom and get there before Kaden as soon as you realize he needs to go potty. (She loves this one, and does it often. I keep trying to tell Kaden not to announce his need to potty...She loooooves the hollar and screams that come from him until I make her leave.) Also, she mostly won't do what we want her to...unless we ask nicely. We can have a fit because Mom said "Give me my phone back." but if Mom says "Kate, can I please have my phone back" then it's all ok. RESPECT.... also, at her developmental checks she will not do what they ask. At the last one (about a week ago) they got out a HUGE stuffed bear to try to get her to come play with them. She smiled slightly (with a look that said, "I'd DIE to be playing with that bear right now, but I can't since you want me to") and walked the other way. There was NO getting her to play with that bear until the end, when she wasn't supposed to. I found it all very hilarious. And we wonder why she doesn't talk. Why would she, if we WANT her to?

When I write these things it sounds so cute and funny. But actually, in real life, I struggle to see the humor oftentimes. I'm working on that.

My funny Kaden-boy...part 154 (and counting I am sure)

Since Kaden turned 3 I've been more careful to be teaching him about privacy and what that means, and helping him learn to close the bathroom door when he potties...etc. Well, I HAD hoped it was sinking in..and today I learned otherwise.
Today I took a quick shower while Kate slept. After I got out Kate was awake so I had to go in my towel to calm her down (Kaden's attempts to calm her were almost fatal...lol). Anyway, so then I went to my room to dress and he followed. So I said to him, "Kaden how about you go into your room and let Mommy get dressed." No answer. So then I said, "Kaden, Momma needs her privacy, can you go out of here?" To which he promptly ran out. Pretty soon I heard, "Where is it, Mom??" I didn't know what he was talking about.... so he comes back in... "Mom, I can't find your privacy...where is it?"
Apparently our talks of privacy have fallen on deaf ears. Not that this really surprises me. More confirms in my mind that the blank stare he gives me really is just that. Blank.

I tried....

As I sit to write this Kate is sleeping peacefully and Kaden is playing with his trains while lacking clothing on the lower half of his body. It truly feels like it's gonna be a good day!

I'm hosting a baby shower at my church today. It's the first time I've ever hosted something like this without help. (cooking clubs certainly don't count). I am VERY excited because it's construction themed and I'm truly feeling inspired. I just hope we have a good turnout!!

and Luke just burst in and disturbed this peaceful household. grrrr. I guess I will try this blogging thing again later.

She WALKS! (finally!)

My baby girl is officially walking. And she's pretty darn cute at it too!

She's a stinker tho. She totally could have been walking 2 months ago. Instead she took a few steps now and then and absolutely REFUSED to practice in my sight. I would walk into a room where she was walking and she'd see me and sit down and cry. (How DARE I interupt her private practice times!) Eventually, when she did walk while I could see it was only....ONLY... in the wading pool, on a bed, or sometimes in the grass. Never somewhere easy to walk. Never somewhere normal.

But...over the last couple weeks she's started walking more and more and by mid-July she was walking "full-time." It's sooo nice that she isn't crawling on the hot cement anymore-wearing out here knees and/or clothing, etc. The other day she tried running. And again this morning I saw her running after Kaden.

Also, she FINALLY has a 3rd tooth! I was seriously beginning to wonder if her mouth forgot what it was there for. She eats any food she wants, but no one but Mom and Dad will give her those foods since they don't think she could possible chew it with no teeth!

Kaden's 3rd Birthday

I am finally getting around to posting pictures of Kaden's 3rd birthday. We had his party 2 days early- on Sunday the 10th- and were able to invite some of his friends that we met last year at the park. When I asked him what he wanted for his party he said only two things: pizza and a Thomas cake.

At age 3 they already know how to pick the more difficult things. That's ok, tho. I was able to precook some crusts (even personal size for the 3 kids old enough to care) and get all the ingredients prepared the day before (after spending the whole day at craft day!) and so putting the pizzas together was a breeze.

I baked the cake in a round cake pan, 11 cupcakes, and a small round pan. I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with it.. I was just glad I had talked Kaden out of his 3D Thomas idea. I convinced him it would be MUCH more fun ot have a toy on his cake to play with later. Luke jumped in on the fun too-which made decorating fun to. (Usually it's fun, but more stressful. Luke is more into detail so he helped with getting the frosting spread just right!)


I ended up experimenting a lot with this cake and was totally and completely pleased with how it turned out. I really outdid myself, and I'm wondering what he's going to expect in coming years??? Also, i just have to say- I didn't have to run to the store-or have Luke run to the store once in the whole process. THAT is a real accomplishment for me! (WHAT? I was prepared? SO WEIRD.)


He had such a fun time. First we ate pizza outside with his friends. Then they played in the pool for a long time-with his big slide into it. Then they played in the sandbox...then we had cake and ice cream and opened presents. He was truly spoiled. He got so much Thomas and Cars toys... he couldnt have been happier!

So here starts the tradition I plan to follow for birthdays. Pick your meal, pick your cake, pick your friend. It seemed to go over very well!

Also. he wants everyone to know that since he is THREE now, he no longer wears bibs. I think I'm just as happy to be done with them. At his 3 year check he was back down in the "normal" percentiles for other 3 year olds. High, but normal. At 36lbs 8oz he was at 89th percent of average. And at 39 inches tall he is at 83rd percent average.

Three soon?! OH MY!

(I know you thought this was a pregnancy announcement!)



My baby boy turns 3 in just 4 more days. I can't believe it! He is such a fun kid these days (haven't I always said that?) but really I mean it more than ever! There were times in the last 3 months I wondered if we would survive the 2s. I had heard that 3s were worse-and I was in dread. But then a few people told me that it was just a phase...an "almost 3" phase. I think (and pray) they were right! Or it could be that it's summer finally and we aren't stuck in the house? But I'm going with the 3s not so bad.

This year there won't be grandparents here for his party. We had thought Luke's parents were going to come over the 4th and we could celebrat then. However, Luke's dad had a slight heart attack and some stints put in and that plan was abandoned. Thankfully, Luke's dad is doing great after all the fuss...but Kaden's party was looking a little hopeless! I just couldn't get motivated! And on top of that he was INSISTING that he would have a 3D Thomas the Tank Engine cake. He told everyone. How do you break a heart so set on it? I wasn't sure I was up to the challenge, ESPECIALLY without a Gramma here to help! So I looked all over online and he just kept showing me just what he wanted. Then one day he said "Mom, my thomas cake will go fast!" (or something to that effect...) and then it hit me. He thought he'd be able to play with his Thomas cake. I told him that Thomas cakes don't move. They don't get played with. They just get cut and eaten. He was devastated. Absolutely devastated. So I suggested that maybe we could have a cake with a Thomas toy on top that he could play with. His eyes literally danced. We were saved! His devastation was gone, and my predicament wiped away...all in one little moment. Relief. I can't wait to make his cake now, and I can't wait to share it with you! But for now, it's a secret. :)

Next we went to the store...to look for presents. I was asked to buy presents for Luke's parents since they couldn't come. They wouldn't have time to mail anything and wanted him to have something from him. So we looked at Walmart and, of course, Kaden wanted everything but I just couldn't swallow the rediculous prices! So we headed over to Kmart. (I always wonder why I go to Kmart....) Anyway, if there's one thing about Kmart it's that it lets me down about 99 out of every 100 times I'm in there. You'd think I'd learn, but I don't. And then I hit the ONE time it has what I need and I'm s glad I haven't given up. (Trust me...if we had ANYTHING but Kmart and Walmart and the expensive Teacher's Corner I'd go...but we don't.) Anyway, I found the clearance toy aisle that I never knew existed. It was PERFECT! For $20 total I was able to get Kaden a Cars duplo gas station with 3 of the Cars characters, a Lightening McQeen matchbox car, and a Thomas the Train Memory game. He is gonnna LOVE them! How, you ask, did I buy it without his knowledge...well that was kinda a funny story.

So ...I had walked over from Walmart, WITH my groceries in the back of the cart, as well as Kaden next to them. I refused to go to the car which was at the opposite side of Walmart as Kmart...and I also refused to drive to Kmart when I could just go straight over. They didn't seem to mind the Walmart groceries, or the Walmart cart... Anyway so when I found the toys I distracted Kaden with another toy and put them on the bottom rack of the cart under where the groceries were sitting so Kaden couldn't look down and see them. Problem was, the darn McQueen car kept falling off. We LURCH as the wheel hit it and Kaden would frantically look for the problem. "What was that, MOM?" "Um, I think we just ran over a rock, Kaden....LOOOK AT THIS NEAT THING!" as I handed him some random thing to distract him and get the toy safely back on board. It didn't matter how i put it, it wouldn't stay very long. On top of that we had to go to the very back of the store because Kaden needed to go to the bathroom. REALLY, kid? The timing! So we managed to get back there without him seeing the toy...then i wondered how to get him down from there without seeing? Well i just carried him into the bathroom, came back out to get kate, and reversed it to get it back out. Then right as i started pushing to get back to the front of the store it fell of again. "MOM, you need to drive better!" as he frantically looked for my problem. "Kaden! Look at this!" to distract him....it was a camper trailer dish drainer. He was NOT impressed. By then, I think he thought I was crazy. 100% crazy. We did finally make it to the checkout aisle, where I wondered what to do. I took him out of the cart, stuck him right by the candy, and told him to look at the candy. It worked. He was too busy checking out the candy to see that i'd bought some toys. Then I tried to not buy any. MISTAKE. You do NOT plant your not-quite-3-year-old in front of the candy on purpose and then not buy something. We ended up with a package of mini M&M's...I couldn't bare to pay for anything that wasn't on sale. We made it out to the car without him noticing (remember it was all the way on the opposite side of Walmart...) and home. Then without thinking i got him out of the car and let him play in the yard while i unloaded the trunk. Yep. I opened it right in front of him. I thought he didn't see but now I'm not so sure. Two times now he's talked about the toys that are in the trunk for him! I asked if we bought him toys. He says no, mom didn't buy toys for him, but that he knew there were toys in the trunk. So I took him out to the car to have him show me (acted all confused.) He was so confused when I opened the trunk and they weren't there. "Where'd they go, Mom?" "Kaden, are you SURE there were toys in there?" "Yes...WHERE ARE THEY?" "Kaden, if momma didn't BUY toys, then we couldn' bring them home from Kmart. Did you see Momma buy toys?" "No...... but...." as he walked away. He is still wondering how he saw toys that must have never been there. I can imagine itwill all make sense on his birthday.

We're doing his party on Sunday. He has requested Pizza (how did he know he got to request???) So I think we will just do a family pizza for lunch after church and then have naptime and have a cake and ice cream party after his nap with some friends. It will be fun. I'm so glad it's all coming together. I was starting to feel bad for not being able to get in the groove with his birthday plan!

Everything in me wants to blog. I just don't have time! SOON! I hope!

As for now, i'm back to cleaning. (Hy-ho! Hy-ho, it' off to work I go. Hy-ho, Hy-ho, hy-ho.)

Bleh.

An Update.

I go through these phases where it's really hard to convince myself to post. I'm not sure if it's because i feel like everything I'm doing is unimportant to remember. Or if there's so much going on I just don't feel like trying to keep up. I feel like it's more the second one. I have so much going on, and when I have a few minutes what I really want is to go outside since it's so nice out!

Next week the kids and I leave for Denver for a week with my friend/roommate from college. I am really looking forward to that. I have so much to get done before then though, because VBS is just 1 week later.

I tried to go to the church today to copy the VBS inserts (this attempt was #3.) It did exactly 15 and then started being a pain. I figured out how to do 10 more...so then it started printing them off center. WHAT? Stupid stupid stupid. So.... that is still not done. I was going to put up the big huge sign with Luke on Sunday but then our car died, and that became priority. I also was going to put posters up around the church, but when I looked for them I realized I hadn't gotten them ordered in time. I'm determined this stuff WILL get done. I'm thinking a family trip to the church is in order tonight.

I do however, have cooking club done, and have 1 show ready to submit, the other I'm still waiting on. I have directions MOSTLY printed for Denver next week. Deposits made, cash gotten, Walmart shopped, and the kitchen is sparkly. Only 1 more Lia Sophia order to get dropped off and that will be checked off. So I feel like I should feel accomplshed today, btu i don't!

Today I ended up at the park for a while (a story in itself) and Kaden had to potty. So, he peed on a tree. At first he was not okay with it. Then he loved it. Then he thought he needed to pick the flowers he had also peed on. GROSS!

I have looked EVERYWHERE for sandals for Kate. In all of Gillette and Rapid City there is not a single pair of cute size 3's. How is it that my kids sizes are always out of stock??? Always!!?!?!

I think why I feel so behind on this blogging thing is that Luke had 2 four day weekends in a row. That's right, he worked only 2 days out of 10. That's a lot to keep up with! We were BUSY. but we have new windows, new gutters, an (expensive) trip to Rapid, and a dead/now revived car behind us. And that's just what Luke did.

Better get back to life now...I'll try to update-even if it is boring.

Right Here at Home

Nothing like watching some video coverage of a town torn apart by a tornado to put my problems in perspective!

Also seeing the pictures/videos of my hometown and the flood that is, and is coming.

It reminds me of that country song...I don't know the title. One of the main chorus lines is "I've got problems, right here at home." I think it fits. It seems that the weather is beating up all different areas and we all have our problems "right here at home."

I can't say Gillette has seen it's share yet, but I also wouldn't say I'm holding my breath against it!

But my problem "right here at home" is my sick baby girl. How many appointments, fevers, meds, etc...can this girl possibly have? It's certainly wearing on me. I'm praying for real answers...not just more meds.

But my perspective has changed. My problems are small compared to many.

Snakes and Worms

The other day Kaden got to go outside and play in the rain. When it's rained for 5 straight days and the forcast calls for at least 5 more we just go play in the rain. He found that our pond out back had filled with some water and proceeded to take his extra big dumptruck, some scoops of various sizes, a bucket and various other toys he happened to find in the garage and played happily for quite some time. However, this IS my Kaden-boy, and that means he cannot do anything without inviting me to join him at least every 5 minutes. (At LEAST.)

He had been coming up the deck and opening the slider and inviting baby (Katelyn) out. "Baby, do you wanna come play with me?" Baby would get all excited and mommy would have to break her heart. Eventually he realized he could tease her. That's when mommy locked the slider door. OH MY. I honestly didn't know if he was going to forgive me, but eventually he made his way back to his pond.

And figured out he could still come invite me by going through the backdoor of the garage and coming in through the garage door. About the 25th time he did this I decided enough is enough. I headed down to have a little talk with the boy. Right as I got to the door he said "LOOK MOM!" It was a worm. Now I'm not scared of worms, snakes, or anything else like that....but it startled me. I mean this thing was huge. And I just wasn't expecting it! I gasped and that was it.

Kaden saw my reaction, dropped the worm, and backed back out into the garage absolutely SHRIEKING! He was hysterical. I finally calmed him down (by calling Daddy to have daddy reassure him that it was ok)...and that he had just startled momma-no big deal. That's when he whimpered, "Mom, I was holding a snake, I think." I asked him why he thought that...he replied that "A snake startles mommy." I don't know how he got that but somehow that's what he thought. I told him it wasn't a snake and asked if he knew what it was. He happily replied that it was a WORM.

It took him a while to convince himself. I tried to get him to pick it up to put back outside (by this time, Kate was VERY willing to pick it up.) He would get *this* close, then startle and jump back. He finally did and was proud to show mommy his worm.

On the Mend?

Poor Katelyn

She got her MMR and chickenpox vaccines last Monday and has been sick ever since. Firt she got a fever-which I attributed to her shots. Then it got worse. So we took her in to the doctor (pause, while I tell this story.)

The appointment was at 3:10pm. I had to go early to do a UTI test for Kate, so it was 2pm. Naptime for both kids. Kate was sick and grouchy (read: screaming her head off). I walk in and they hand me the stuff for the urine sample. Surprise! I get to put it on this time, instead of them. They have no baby changing station (at a pediatrician's office!)So we head outside to put it on in the car. Kate is NOT impressed. We go back in and Kaden runs to play on the playground in the waiting room. Kaden got pushed off the playground (and landed straight down on his head). So I give Kaden Kate's sippy (only way to calm him down) Kate didn't like that. Kaden guzzled it so then he had to pee. He won't pee with his shoes on and I wouldn't take his shoes off. (we are now working on that problem) So by the time we leave the bathroom, Kaden has NOT peed. Both kids are screaming bloody murder (and I'm pretty sure I've been reported to someone for some kind of abuse by the sounds coming from that bathroom!) So i take them and go for a drive (we were trying to get a urine sample so i didn't have to be in the waiting room-just had thought, THOUGHT, it would be easiest). Drive doesn't help. Not at all. Kate is screaming so hard I thought she was going to throw up, so we come back to the office and I rock kate in he parking lot and leave Kaden in the carseat and call daddy in for backup. After daddy got there he was able to convince Kaden to potty with his shoes and pants around his ankles, and Kate was happy to be away from MOM. We go into the dr at teh scheduled time (Luke had been there maybe 5 minutes...thank goodness he came!) and come to find out she has an ear infection so getting the dumb urine sample is pointless because she'll get antibiotics either way. SIGH.

back to the original story. So that whole dr visit was because her fever was up at 104.2 all night-even with meds. So we started her on antibiotics-fever still doesn't break, and 3 days later (and 7 days after the shots)she gets a rash. We can't tell if it is hives (allergy to amoxiccillan?) or rash (reaction to live vaccine)...sooooooooo back to the dr we went. No answers. We changed antibiotic in case (and Dr told me to try amoxiccillan again sometime when I can "watch for a reaction" umm. No thanks, I'll do the blood test.) Anyway, we got a new antibiotic which seems to finally have kicked in and her fever is gone. She finally took some good naps yesterday (good thing, cuz this momma was low on patience!)

She still has the rash and is itchy, but we're hoping that will be gone in a day or 2. needless to say, we won't be hanging around other kids for a few days!!

On a side note. It is kinda cute to watch a one year old rub her head and back on things to "itch" them-once you get past the feeling super sorry for them!

Mother's Day

Luke took Kaden shopping for a Mother's Day gift this evening after dinner. I wondered how he was going to keep whatever it was from slipping out of Kaden's mouth. He's not the secret type. Or the quiet type. OR the forgetful type. I gave him 30 seconds to ruin the surprise...

Sure enough he walks in the door and announces, "Mommy, Daddy bought you a present!" (He was very excited.) Luke asks him to tell me what the present was for and, since we are just coming off Kate's birthday, he couldn't remember what they had rehearsed the whole way home and said "For your BIRTHDAY!" I asked him if it was a secret he wasn't supposed to tell. He said yes. Then promptly announced that he had gotten me a necklace. He was proud. And it had been about 30 seconds...

I laughed so hard. SO SO hard.

Also, after he got the secret off his chest, for the rest of the night he talked about Mother's Day. That secret just had his brain in knots.

Before and Afters

Here are some before pictures. They aren't the best...and I jumped into this project without knowing how much we were gonna end up doing so i didn't take before pics! (It all started as a tear off some wallpaper and paint project.) Notice the carpet in the dining room, and the ugly linoleum (which had lots of paint spilled on it) in the kichen! I wish I had up close of how BADLY done everything was. And I hope these pictures do justice to the absolute drab-ness of the whole room.




It turned into a tear off some wallpaper, fix some walls, paint, tear out some floor, tear out some more floor, tear out even more floor, put in a floor and replace the trim, and paint again project. Luke may never let me start something again! Here are the afters. (We still have some decor to find, some curtains and rods to hang, and a new chandelier to find...)



this last photo is to show off the bookshelf Luke made me, and the perfect baskets I found for it. Also, that wall is white to help offset so much orange :)

Kate is ONE!

For the next 2 1/2 months now I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old.

I was welcomed into this "Mom of a one and two year old" phase of my life by Kaden peeing all over the bathroom floor (accident?? I think so.) on the morning of Kate's birthday. Awesome.

Speaking of Kate's birthday. It was a fun party! We had it the day after her birthday so my parents could be here with us. We had a few other people over and had brats (the meat-we didn't eat the kids), polish dogs, hot dogs, potato, pasta and green salads, lemonade, and chips. Of course, it snowed.

I didn't get a lot of pictures, but managed to get a good one (or 2) of the cake. I was proud of it! Just cupcakes made to look like flowers. Then I made a little spot of mud where I wrote Happy Birthday Kate. For months I had looked at cake ideas and didn't like anything I saw...finally found just a picture of this one and knew it was perfect for Katelyn. It took a lot longer than I thought it would to frost and put together, but it was totally worth it!


She truly enjoyed every lick of frosting and can now be considered a frosting-aholic. SHe KNOWS what frosting is now!



She got lots of cool toys too! Ironically-everyone got her Melissa and Doug brand. Kitchen toys and sandbox toys. Kaden is pretty sure it was all for him.

I FAILED!

Love this video! Watch HERE My favorite part is about 3 minutes in probably, but it's all good!

I FAILED, I FAILED, I FAILED!

This is one of my favorite comedies ever!

And after I fail I often cheer myself up by thinking of this!

So...having said that. I failed to do "basic cleaning" and once again, found myself spring cleaning.

It went through my head, "I FAILED, I FAILED, I FAILED!"

If you don't get it, refer to previous post.

I Have Problems - Right Here at Home

Last year, today was my last day before having my beautiful baby girl, Katelyn Joy! You might think this post is gonna be about her...but it's really not. Really, what I mean by that is, I was doing the exact some things last April as I am this April-except everyone accused me of nesting. I really don't think I ever truly nested with either child BUT in April every year I get this crazy spring cleaning urge.

Urge, really, is not a strong enough word. I am absolutely overtaken by the forces of the spring cleaning bug and I cannot fight back.

So, here I am, once again spring cleaning (nesting if this was last year.)Problem is, I have company coming. So, here's what happens. I go downstairs to get the guest room clean (you know, the normal, vaccum, dust, make the bed, etc) and come back up having completely sorted every drawer, the closet, the scrapbooking stuff, etc..

Then I restart. I have lunch or something and re-focus. "Ok Bethany. The goal here is a clean house for company. They won't be going through your deepest drawers." You know the talk. So, geared up to just do the basics, I head down.

So far I have completely re-organized, de-cluttered, and re-drawered my files. I have gone through all the drawers and closets in the entire house; re-organized my Pampered Chef inventory/supplies; decluttered my travel bag(YES, PEOPLE, MY TRAVEL BAG); Kaden's AND Katelyn's clothes have been gone through and weeded out-including halloween costumes, and winter wear. I've repacked my Christmas decor into a nicer tub...people-I've done everything!

Or so I think. Until I go down to SIMPLY dust and vaccum...and then I find another thing!

So, all that to say. My house is not clean. it needs vaccumed in the worst way. It is extremely dusty (Except the ledge that leads to the file cabinet..which I was dusting and is what brought me to the wretched file cabinet which sucked me in)... yes, that ledge is dusted.

So..I'm headed down to attempt this "basic cleaning" again. I have mapped out areas to stay away from. The laundry room for one. It's basically clean, but I just know it could suck me in. The shelf has a FEW things that could be reorganized and...well..you know. The storage under the stairs is another. The DVD rack---yes...even that is not safe. The refridgerater is a definite stay away from item.

Maybe I should just let myself be sucked in and apologize to my sneezy guests and explain why I didn't get the place dusted? (You see, this is the argument that GETS me sucked in in the first place.)

It's an evil bug. I love to hate it, and hate to love it.

BUT-I am planning to have a garage sale SOON-and I won't be finding things I wish I'd remembered to put in! I've found them!!!!

Also. I am NOT (I repeat, NOT) for hire.

Kadenisms

"Awfuls" ---Waffles
"Kung-uhl"--Tunnel
"Nah-nuh"---Banana
"Katewin"---Katelyn
"Percy Juice"--anything in his Percy sippy cup
"Kick-up"---pickup
"Trabis and Lebi"--his cousins Travis and Levi
"tuit"--foot
"potato"---tomato or potato (good luck guessing!)
"gakkett"--jacket
"WHAAA WHICH"---(said in a horrible voice) Sandwhich
"yangya"--lasagna

For the most part his words are very clear. There are a few that he just kills us with!

Also, we are "chasing" whichever car we are following in our car.

His bed "kicks him out" at times.

And, if you ask, Katelyn is always "10 Months" while he is mostly "2 and a half" or "almost free, but i'm 2" while holding up 5 fingers.

Where's the Dog?

We've been working on teaching Kaden how to put on his shirts and coats all by himself. He's got underwear and pants mastered! Anyway, so he got his PJ shirt on but, unknown to him, it was backwards. He was sooo proud of his accomplishment so I praised him highly! After adequate praise, I urged him to go show Daddy then I asked, "Oh Kaden! Where's the dog?" (He has a dog on the front of his pajama shirt.) Without pause, he pointed to where the dog should be and said "RIGHT here!!!" But as he looked down he stopped short. He twisted it. Then he lifted it and looked at his belly. "Mom, WHERE is he?" He was truly amazed that the dog had just jumped off his shirt.
Then Luke told him it was on the back....He's a nice daddy. I was going to leave him hanging. ♥

The Joys of Motherhood

Maybe it was because I was too proud of my Kaden.

Maybe it was because I needed to clean my bathroom and it seemed that nothing would motivate me.

Or maybe it was all just one big oops.

It sure is funny now that it's done!

The story, you ask? Oh yes. I'll tell.

It starts like any other normal day. Kaden wakes up. Kaden asks for breakfast. I ask if he needs to go potty. Kaden says no. Kaden eats breakfast. Kaden tells me he needs to go potty. Kaden takes his pants and underwear off. (ALL the way off.) Kaden gets on his stool to get on the potty. Kaden goes potty. Kaden gets down. Kaden puts his underwear and pants back on. All with little or no help from me.

I'm proud of this. VERY proud that at 2 1/2 Kaden is so well pottytrained...(not that I could have forced him!) This is why I wonder if it was punishment for my pride.

Today we skip to the part where Kaden takes his pants off. He deviates from plan. He decided the door must be closed to avoid sister coming in to try to stick her hand in the toilet. (I appreciate this deviation). I hear massive, hysterical screaming. I run into the bathroom to find Kaden standing there---peeing. Now, I know you are picturing a puddle on the floor.

NO. this kid was PEEING. I mean, I have never seen these amounts of pee come out of a child before. And it was going straight out from him for about 2 feet. As I realize this I see that he is turning to me...screaming "It's on my leg! It WON'T stop! It just keeps going!" He's hysterical. Picture this. Hysterical Kaden. Me just trying to keep out of the line of fire! I pinched his "pee thing" (as he calls it) and sat him on the toilet, and stood there. As I assessed the damage it all hit me how hilarios that less than 5 second episode really probably was. And how not hilarious the clean up would be.

Enter Katelyn.

Let's just say I had a lot of clean-up of both kids and the bathroom. (It did get the deepest cleaning it's had in a while!) And, I was able to laugh about it. It was hilarious. I asked Kaden why he did it...why he didn't wait til he was on the toilet and he said "My pee-thing just wouldn't stop!" Later, he needed to go potty again and wouldn't take off his underwear. When I asked him why he said "My pee-thing might start before I'm on the toilet!"

He's nervous about the whole potty thing. But I think in a day or 2 two we'll be back to his normal, potty-trained schedule. Maybe a bit less pride.

I'm just so glad it was in my own house, with no one around. So so glad.

Oh So Excited!

Today is the day. THE DAY. It's been a loooooong time coming and I'm so very very excited!

Today is the day the dining room is declared DONE.

(With the exception of needing a new chandelier, one more wall decoration, and some curtains......ok...so maybe a project is never DONE.)

BUT, it will be painted and the hutches moved back in. I will have my bedroom back (read as- I will have my junk heap to turn back into a bedroom.) I will be able to find a place in said (buried) hutches for my new Pampered Chef glasses...so they don't have to sit on my counter anymore.

The other day someone made this comment: "I'm not really an orange person, but this is coming together and looking GREAT!!" I was thrilled. You don't have to love orange-but I hope it still looks good. Kind of like how I'm not really a pink or purple person, but I can still appreciate when it does look good!

I'll have before/during/after pictures up SOON!!!!

Now Luke can move on to fixing the 2 chairs sitting there unused. And getting the windows we're storing put in, and you know...more fixing up of the house.

But first maybe we'll enjoy a down weekend!

Home vs. Walmart

Today Kaden was playing downstairs and out of nowhere came upstairs and said to me, "Mom, I don't like this house." I said, "You don't?" and he said, "No. I like Walmart."

Weird.

So about an hour later Kaden says, "I like Walmart better than our house because it has food." I said, "Well, we have food here..." to which he replied, "Well, they don't have beds at Walmart."

I'm thinking that means he think if he lived at Walmart he could have food and no naps. He's such a funny kid :)

March Madness

As I sat here trying to figure out when Kaden could have his next dose of Tylenol (which also happens to be the last teaspoon of both "i b Broken" and Tylenol both) I realized something. This family may have singlehandedly supported the pain medicine industry this month.

We completely (started AND finished in just this month) used:
3 Children's Tylenol bottles
2 Infant Tylenol Bottles
1 1/2 Infant Ibuprofen
1 Children's Ibuprofen
at least 50 Adult extra strength Tylenols
and some amount of Adult Advil

AND I don't just feed my kids (or Luke) pain meds! Other than this surgery for Kaden-they ONLY got pain meds for fevers above 100*. Maybe I should look into getting a prescription for these meds? Then I could get a tax write off at least. LOL. Maybe April will be less painful month all around???

My Funny Boy

Yesterday I told Kaden to go look out the window to see if Daddy was home. He asked why and I told him that Daddy had texted to tell us he would be home soon. He ran over to the window-looked for about 20 seconds and then I heard a loud GASP. Then: "Cinders and Ashes! Daddy's NOT there!"

I knew it would come to this. He's officially watched too much Thomas the Train Engine.

Also, lately, at breakfast-when he doesn't want to eat what he has (and when calling it "bones" hasn't gotten him out of eating it)- he says to me "Mom, I'm too full. I've been eating ALLLLLL DAY." and will usually follow with several other comments about how long and tiresome it is to eat.

He's still my funny boy. Even if tonsil surgery did change the sound of his voice so much that I barely recognized it at first!

More Kaden-isms -I B Broken

Today Kaden had his tonsils and adnoids taken out. He was a real trooper. We went in at 9am, and he went back into surgery around 9:30am. (He was a little nervous-and the sedative just made him cranky...but he did fine.) At 10ish he was out of surgery, and at about 10:30am we could go back and see him. He was pretty laid back, and a little scared. He wanted OUT of the gown and back into his PJ's. He also wanted the bandage off his hand-which was bloody-which freaked him out. Then he wanted to sit on Daddy's lap- NOT in the bed. But they kept telling us he got the best waker-upper award for the day.

Anyway, so all day he's been in pretty good spirits. He's drinking and eating very well, and wanting to up and about running around playing. So much for keeping him down for 7-10 days. I'm shooting for 3!

Anyway...so tonight he's had a low temperature around 96*, so we've been watching him closely in case he goes any lower. He got tired of me taking his temperature, so the last time I had to bribe him. Now, Kaden loves his tylenol-but we can't give him any- and I usually say when he's done getting his temp taken he can have tylenol. So this time I told him he could have ibuprofen. Well-I forgot. (Bad Mom!) and pretty soon I hear him exclaiming, "Mom! I need my I B Broken!"

I think that's a pretty appropriate name. Next time Luke's sore from bball, I'm gonna ask him if he's taken his "I B Broken" medicine.

I never thought of Kaden as a city boy...

Well, we're in Lewistown visiting my parents...it's been a cranky day all around. So we went to Pamida and to visit Grandma and Grandpa at there offices. While in Pamida Kaden saw a guy walk by who had cowboy boots, a cowboy outfit, and a cowboy hat on. With every ounce of excitement with in him he exclaim "A cowboy! MOM! A REAL cowboy!"

It was so hilarious. He was beside himself with excitement. I guess he thought cowboys were only in the movies. (And here we live in Gillette...has he REALLY never seen a cowboy?) Also, I bet that cowboy was so proud to have been proclaimed a real cowboy (that's an honor in some parts, you know!)