We are family

This past year there have been a few occasions we have been able to take some family pictures. I just never got around to posting any of them. Last month I won a free session with a great photographer Heather McDonald last week we had our session at Wheeler Farm. She did a good job and we got some fun shots. Unfortunately still not a family one with both kids smiling.... someday.
Girls camp was also this week. We were at a cabin in Bear Lake, ( a lot different than when I went to Girls Camp) It went really well and I think I might have learned more than the girls. One of the things the YW president talked about was "stepping out of your box" or really focusing on what other people need. For some reason that really hit home. We seem to live in such a selfish world, its all about what can be done to make life better for us. She used a German word Schadenfreude which means finding joy in others pain. It made me so sad to realize how fitting that word is for the society today. I can't even count how many TV shows are centered around the pain of others. How much better would life be for everyone if we all just took the time to step out of our box and help someone else.... just something to think about.
Kids are doing well. Getting big and learning fast. Taycee is up on hands and knees now. She also had her first 2 teeth break through yesterday. Kaden has started talking more clearly and now repeats words that he hears on TV. It is amazing how much of a difference those tubes have made in his speech in just a week. He is also becoming quite a character. When he gets bonked on the head or "whackeed" as he calls it, he sticks his tongue out and walks around like he is dizzy then falls to the ground. He has also recently taken to yelling "mama,mama, mama" each time getting louder until I say what. Most of the time he rambles off something indiscernible then says "mama, mama, mama" again. It is such a fun game. He also has a new discovered love of coloring. He does it all day everyday. The good things is so far it has stayed on the paper.
Taycee and Kaden have a love hate relationship. As in Taycee loves him and most of the time he hates her. There are a few tender moments when he gives her random loves and kisses. Sometimes when he hears her crying he comes to get me and says with a very concerned look "Tayzees cry... hurry" meaning Taycee is crying hurry and go get her. However most of the time he sits on her takes things away and hits her with things. Just this morning I looked over to see him laying on her with his blankies covering her head... then about 15 minutes later he walked up and kicked her in the head. I might have over reacted.... a little.
A few weeks ago I had a talent agency ask me if I would bring them both in so they could try and put them in ads or commercials. I was a little leery and still haven't gone in.
10 things I know
1. I love being a mom, it is the most rewarding, under appreciated, stressful, loving, and fulfilling job ever.
2. There is a reason they call it the terrible 2's
3. I am starting school again next semester
4.Water fights at 11 o'clock at night with your husband are not immature...sometimes they are necessary.
5. Chris and I have a new obsession with Pinochle
6. There are a lot of areas I can be better in. I will start working on those...now.
7. I just looked down to see Taycee asleep on her back with her bottle in her hands and her mouth still sucking, Kaden just stuck his finger up his nose and and then blew with his mouth (that's how he says shh) he said Tayzee sleepy.... did I mention I love my kids?
8. I have an extremely selfless, loving, and hardworking husband. I marvel every day at the man he is. I am extremely luck to have him for eternity.
9. It has taken me almost 2 hours to write this post because every 2 second I play the "mama" game and have to get something for Kaden.
10. We really need a new blender so I can make peach shakes again.

Kilies Wedding

What we've been up to

Kadens crazy hair... he woke up like this

The Clayton family came up to go through the Oquirrah Temple Open House. Unfortunately we had the ticket time wrong and by the time we realized it we had missed it. So we went out to eat at Cheesecake factory instead.

Kaden finally got his surgery done! We took him in Monday morning at 7 am. He was a little grumpy that morning, probably a mixture between the tension he could feel in us and the fact that he had been running a fever the past 2 days. We checked in and waited for a few minutes til they called us back. They put Kaden in a hospital gown and socks and then checked all of his vitals. I was so nervous for when they would take him away. I thought for sure he would cry and scream for us. Luckily he went with the anesthesiologist without crying. He even blew me a kiss bye bye. I was a quick surgery and about 15 minutes later the doctor came to tell us that everything had gone well. We are hoping this starts a new life for our little buddy with no ear infections. His speech is already improved just in the last 2 days. He is a such a smart kid and we are so happy he can hear normal now.

He was a disaster coming out of the anesthesia and I felt so bad. You could tell he had no idea what was going on or what had happened. He was just crying and looking around. Every time he saw a nurse he would start screaming. It was sad.

Here is his cute little gown and socks

Getting ready for surgery.

We went home and let him sleep it off for a few hours. When he woke up he was as happy as can be! So we went to visit great grandpa Asay. We really enjoyed our visit.

What a cheeser... (the baby of course)

Daddy and Kaden with their feet in grandpas pool

Happy Kids


We took this picture as proof that Taycee does have hair. Its just really blonde and fine. So usually it just sticks straight up.


















This is Taycee's new dolly. When she saw it in the store she screamed (a happy scream) and reached for it. She has been attached ever since. When we tried to take it out of her hands to pay for it she cried. When we took it away to get her in her car seat she cried. Whenever she sees it she gets so excited and reaches for it.

Aunt Jenny came to stay with us after she got her wisdom teeth out. We love having her come to visit, even when she looks like this...

Kaden went #2 in the potty for the first time. Haha we had to take a photo to remember the momentous occasion.

We also spent a weekend in Park City with the Clayton family. It was a ton of fun. We spent Saturday at the Mountain Resort on the Alpine slide, Coaster, and zipline. It was a bit chili but we had a lot of fun. Thanks so much Claudia and Kelly for the fun weekend.

Taycee is pulling herself up on to furniture now. It is so cute. She is really getting big fast. She also recently is saying "da da" which Chris thinks is the best thing ever.

This week is family pictures and girls camp. fun fun fun.

Callings, Vacations, Sickness, and Trauma

Our first announcement is that Chris was put in as Elders Quorum 1st counselor. We have been gone every week in July so even though he was called like a month ago, he just barely was sustained yesterday. He is such a good man and I am so grateful he lives such a good life and always strives to be better. We love him so much!

We have had so much fun this past few weeks. It seems like there is always somewhere to go and something to do. The weekend of the 18th we had a big family reunion with my moms cousins up at Sunrise P River Ranch. It was a lot of fun and Kaden really enjoyed being able to run around and play outside all day long. Unfortunately he liked it so much he never wanted to go to sleep. And between him and his sister we were up all night long on a slow leaking air mattress. Not exactly ideal, so we called it quits a little bit early and headed back to my parents Saturday night instead of staying til Sunday.

Kaden had an ENT appointment last Tuesday and the surgery day is set for Aug. 10th to get his tubes put in. The same day we took him to the ENT he came down with a fever and threw up a few times. I figured it must be the flu and gave him some Tylenol and tried to keep him hydrated. The next day he seemed a little better but still had a low grade fever. Wednesday night was horrid. He was up all night crying and didn't fall asleep til 5 am. Thursday I called the dr and set up an appt to come in. And the results were.... tonsillitis.... WHAT?!?! don't you think the ENT should have caught that? After all they are ear nose and THROAT doctors. Sheesh. Anyway, he is feeling better and all seems to be well.

Wednesday Cody came home from his mission in Argentina. It was fun to be able to see him at the airport. Sunday was his farewell, Chris had to be home to be set apart and teach 2 lessons so I braved sacrament by myself with both kids. Taycee's newest trick is blowing raspberries and she demonstrated her skill throughout the entire meeting. Heather, Jenny and I sang. As we got up to the pulpit to sing and mom started the introduction I looked down to see Kaden running up the isle with Hunter on his tail. Apparently he wanted to join us. I wasn't quit sure what to do because at this point Jenny had already started singing. I thought maybe he would be quite if I held him so I picked him up and crossed my fingers.... no such luck. He saw Hunter sitting back down and yelled "hunter" . I tried to set him down and told him to go get Hunter and he started screaming. It was at this point I saw my dad coming up to get him. He wasn't super happy about that and threw a mild tantrum as my dad escorted him out of the chapel. I am sure there were people wondering why we even came. :D lovely

Good New, the kids are finally playing together!! And it is so cute. I love it! Kaden tries to make Taycee laugh and Taycee watches every move he makes. When Kaden finds anything pink he says "Tecee" and give it to her. Every once in awhile he sits my here and says "hod ju" (hold you) and tries to pick her up. I never thought it would happen but they actually are getting along. Taycee is also very very mobile now. she scoots forwards and backwards. She rolls everywhere and even is getting up on her hands and knees occasionally. It makes me really sad, I just want her to stay a little baby. He favorite way to get around is to roll onto her back and then scoot backwards by lifting up her bum and scooting with her feet. It is pretty funny to watch. I will try to catch it on video sometime.

We had a really close call with Taycee last week. We were at my parents house and it was getting late. Taycee was really tired so Chris took her downstairs and laid her on our bed. He laid her up against the wall and then left with my dad to go buy some things at the grocery store. When they returned he asked if I had checked on her. I told him I hadn't because I hadn't heard any crying. He went down to check on her only to find a horrible situation. She had scooted herself up to the head of the bed where there is about a 6 inch gap. Somehow she has pushed herself into that gap backwards and was stuck upside down, bent in half, with her face pushed up against the wall. she wasn't making any noise and Chris said she wasn't breathing. He grabbed her and held her close. As soon as she felt him she started screaming, and we couldn't consul her. It was the worst feeling of my life. I just held her and cried long after she had calmed down. I couldn't get over the fact that we could have lost her so easily. I am so grateful she was ok. I think Heavenly Father must have sent a special angel to help her.

Well that is the very long update from us.

The first night at the Ranch was Karaoke night. Chris and I sang summer nights... haha... it was hilarious. Kaden was the life of the party he ran around and danced all night long.

The kids finger painted. They had quite a bit of fun. Kaden decided it was a lot funner to paint his belly.

Grandpa and Kaden sitting on the dock on the Snake River

This is Chris coming down the slide... he was a crazy man.

Teeter Totter.

Me Jenny and Heather climbing the spider web

The Log Roll

Grandpas Hat

This is how Taycee sleeps now, snuggled with her teddy bear.

The kids watching a show together

Our Monkey Boy

Sunset at my parents house. This was taken off their deck in back.

haha, Chris thought the doily looked cute on Taycee's head.

San Diego 2009

We are alive! I have just not had the time nor desire to blog lately. We have been enjoying our summer and spent the last week in San Diego with Chris's family. It was a lot of fun. We took enough pictures to fill my memory card twice. I will only share a few of my favorites. It was great weather and good times. The kids are growing up fast. It makes me sad. I want to freeze time where it is and just keep them little... Okay maybe it wouldn't hurt for Kaden to grow out of the naught throwing fits stage. We have a few more vacations coming up and then it is off to girls camp for me. It has been so much fun to have Chris with us the last week. Sometimes I feel like I am a single mom with a boyfriend who stops by every now and then from his sabbaticals at school. But I am so grateful that he is such a hard worker. The countdown has started til he is done with his PHD.. too bad that countdown is in years! We owe A HUGE thanks to Claudia and Kelly. They always us such a good time and don't let us pay for anything. We have such great families. anyway, here are some of the favorite pictures from the last week in San Diego.

This is the Hearst Michael Jackson was in. We passes his procession on the freeway.