Caden

As I was cleaning up the kitchen tonight -- a thought came to me and I decided I better act upon it...I don't want to have regrets about it. I am realizing how fast daily life is slipping away and how at the end of the day after getting the kiddos tucked into bed and retucked and tucked in again, I'm off to the races to do dishes, sort through papers, and find my countertops again. It occurred to me that I need to write down all the cute and funny things the kids are doing before I forget (which isn't too hard).

Caden is just growing up. Sometimes I look at him and can't believe how tall he is! Only a few more inches and he'll be at my shoulders! Am I that old to have a boy this old/tall?? One thing that has been reconfirmed to me about him this last month is that boy has rhythm!! I so need to get him into something musical........like piano lessons?!! I am going to put him in summer lessons and see how it goes. He really catches on quickly to music and I know if he puts that to practice he could go far musically! We were at McDonalds on Christmas Eve for lunch and they had piano keys on the wall (like BIG but smaller) and he just walked up to it and played Jingle Bells! Tonight we were playing the Wii - the Just Dance game and that boy won me at songs he hadn't even heard of or seen the moves to! Seriously....he is way coordinated. No wonder he can dribble a soccer ball and not thing twice about it. Next week he is going to start playing basketball (first season ever)and we are excited to see how that turns out. This spring he will be playing on a competitive soccer league with his Dad as assistant coach - it will be fun to watch him. Of course he is way into "winning" all kinds of games and we are trying to help him learn that winning isn't everything. He really has taken on the initiative to be responsible in getting ready and off for school on time along with helping Tanner do the same. I have seen a night/day difference with the way our mornings go since I have given him the responsibility and he does NOT want to be tardy for school. I love it! No more hassling/nagging. Caden and Tanner have a hard time being in the same room together, but really -- when it's just Caden and I hanging out, he is great and I really enjoy being with him!

Tanner

Oh Tanner... He's had a rough go around - or shall I say his parents have had a rough go around lately!! He really tried hard to change his behavior so Santa would bring him some kind of Christmas present this year! And surprisingly he did well! The funny thing we like about Tanner is his creativity that never ends! I love to see how he and Gabe play together and how Gabo is just along for the ride and is willing to play whatever with Tanner because they're good playmates! And TAnner always has some great idea/invention/creation going. It's nice to have Tanner around for Gabe to play with - I think Gabe will be pretty lonely next year when Tanner is in 1st grade all day. The other funny thing about Tanner is that he is SOLID muscle. That kid is like a wirey monkey! He is built like a gymnist. He is ALWAYS climbing, repelling, jumping off of everything - (including my countertops, scaling my pantry, and closet which got him into lots of trouble this month). Not only does he look like Adam, he has Adam's build as well. We love watching Tanner with Kennedy. That boy LOVES his sister! When we have to wake him up in the morning (so he doesn't sleep in until 9 a.m) we bring Kennedy in and put her on his bed and he just snuggles with her. It's a lot better than us nagging and yelling at him to wake up. This is a much more pleasant experience and it works! He is always the first to go get her from her crib, bring her down, or just want to hold her on the couch in the mornings. I have a feeling this boys has her back and I am so excited/grateful about that!

Gabe

Gabe is such a great 3 yr old! He is so patient, content, and OBEDIENT!! We LOVE that about Gabe! He is growing taller every day and has really turned into a big boy lately. (No wonder he is still taking naps with all the growing he is doing)! He is sooo different than the other boys were at this age. He's just always happy! He has NEVER had any major accidents since he was potty trained this summer and that always surprises me about him! AND the fact that he is still taking naps! Seriously...a dream! He LOVES the movie Cars and all the cars that go with it! He loves Woody and Buzz Light Year and loves watching t.v. And yes he does his fair share of that! He's quick to apologize if he spills or breaks something and I think that is so sweet! He can read his "David" book really well and we always chuckle at how cute he reads it! We have to get it on video before it's too late!

Update on kiddos

Kennedy - 9 1/2 months - just learned how to crawl last week!! It took her about 3-4days of army crawling/scooting to realize it was easier crawling! She is our little vacuum right now - As careful as I try to be about getting all the small things off the floor I always find her with something in her mouth and say a silent prayer of thanks every time I find her that she didn't choke on something! She is a little beam of sunshine! She is soooo happy and content! She is the perfect little baby. She sleeps through the night and wakes around 7-7:30. Goes to bed btw 7-8:30 and takes 2 naps during the day. When she's tired, 99% of the time she'll suck her thumb and let you know she wants to lay down! It's extremely cute, but I've never had a thumb sucker, so I hope it's not a problem in the future!!

In the last few weeks she has started to bobble her head from side to side and it's way funny to watch. Tonight I said, "Look at Mommy" and I would do it and then she'd copy me! We all laugh when she does it. Today she has been clapping her hands a lot too and we all laugh and then she laughs. A few weeks ago she was constantly snorting loudly just to get noticed! It was hillarious, but almost embarassing because she'd do this at church (of course when it was quiet) and everyone around us would laugh! She'll scrunch up her nose and sees that she is pretty funny so she'll do it again. We can't help but laugh! Needless to say she is so fun to have around and her brothers just adore her! It was fun to take some pictures of her in her Christmas dress - totally new and fun for me!

Christmas 2010

We had a really fun Christmas this year! The kids were just at some fun ages to be able to enjoy the festivities and traditions. We've never had a 9 mo old at Christmas so that was fun to experience as well! Funny thing is the boys slept in until 7:30. Gabe woke up first and then the rest followed! I think I woke up about 5 times during the night trying to figure out what time it was and what day it was!

Tanner was on "naughty watch" according to Santa (via an email/video he sent him). So I think Tanner was pretty interested to see if Santa had left him any presents! After taking a traditional picture on the stairs, they walked into the front room and walked right by the present Santa had left them! They went straight for the stockings and Adam and I were almost laughing because they missed it! Finally Adam said "It looks like Santa's present is right behind you!" They read the note that Santa had left telling them that he was impressed with their improved behavior for the last 2 weeks, then they peeked in the bag and found out he left a Wii for them. Caden fell to the ground in hysteria saying Yes, yes, yes -- it was quite comical. Of course I got it all on video! They were estatic! Gabe was just trying to figure out which stocking was his! He was thrilled to open a Mac truck, DJ, and Wingo from the movie Cars. He also loved some small Woody and Buzz Light Year toys. That's all he wanted for Christmas! And of course they all had to come with us to church yesterday. He's been carrying them all around the house. He's so funny and content!

Kennedy was just happy to be there! She enjoyed crinkling up the wrapping paper and playing with it! Adam had his first this year of wrapping up some gifts for me (with real wrapping paper and not just a store bag) and surprising me with some gifts he bought! I was so proud of him!

We lounged around all day watching the boys play and play as we snacked and snacked and didn't really do any "meals". It was a great day to relax and enjoy being together as a family of 6 and enjoying Kennedy's first Christmas!

November Recap

Before 2011 rolls in, I wanted to write about our Thanksgiving and hopefully post pictures later once I get it figured out. We had a great Thanksgiving with family this year! My brother Jared and his wife Camille and their kiddos came over to spend a pre-Thanksgiving weekend with us! It was so fun having cousins/family around! We enjoyed some great laughs and fun play time. Of course the girls had fun girl time together! Camille, Cambrie, Kinley, Kennedy & I (whew that was a lot of K names) went to a holiday boutique together while Jared, Gabe, and Teags went shoe shopping for Jared! (C & T were at a b-day party) Adam had to spend part of the weekend at an owner's summit mtg in Sun Valley but joined us Sunday afternoon. He made it just in time for our turkey dinner. The kids just played and played and the girls adored the little babe. Jared made us laugh with his funny noises/whistles, and immitations. Then they had to leave before the storm rolled through. :(

Halloween recap in December

It's been a long while that I've updated this blog - too long. Even though I can't upload pictures (well I can but it takes a ridiculous amount of time because I forgot how to do it from Adam's laptop) I should still journal about life before I soon forget. So I was thinking I should pick up from October (Halloween). I found on my camera ONE picture of Halloween night. It was of Gabe at the ward trunk or treat. Why only one child you might ask? Well, that's because a certain 6 yr old was being naughty and lost the privelage of going trunk or treating. And to this kid, CANDY is his world!! So we wanted to drive home a good lesson -- that we mean what we say and say what we mean. Then there's Caden who didn't want to go because he didn't care too much for his costume!! So that left Gabe to go with me. I purposely wanted him to bring a sweet big bucket of candy home to show the boys what they missed out on! Of course he was quick to share with his brothers! Afterwards we went to a friend's house for scones - Tanner thought that was a good makeup! Kenzo stayed home with Adam and enjoyed her nap! Hopefully we'll have a pictures of all 4 kids dressed up!

The Real Reason.....

I think this is the sweetest little video clip. I love it and hope you enjoy it as well!