Slip Slidin Away

We have the perfect hill in our backyard for a slip n slide. Since in took us all summer to get our backyard finished the kids havent been able to play much outside, however, I bought a slip n slide at a "end of summer sale" for 10 dollars. There have been 2 days warm enough to use it since.
The kids LOVE it. I wasn't sure how well it would go over, they can be rather timid at times, but it was a huge hit! Can't wait til next summer when it can really get some good use.

Our cute neighbors came over to join the party. Their darling little girl Stella is about the same age as Taycee. We are so glad to have fun friends close. :D

Sad to see summer go... but a huge WELCOME to fall and the beautiful colors and crisp cool air. Anyone wanting a fall photo shoot?

Just do it

So a while back I was reading my cousins blog and came across what she calls "the green smoothie" To be quite honest I gagged a bit when I read what it was all about... HOWEVER, I am not one to make judgement on things before I try them... especially things that are SUPER SUPER healthy. So I ventured to the grocery store to pick up some spinach, and Kale, and Chard. I threw in some frozen fruit and a banana and WHALA.... this is what I got...

When I handed Chris his cup he said "SERIOUSLY? It looks like puke." But folks I am here to tell you, it's actually quite tasty :D Once you hear how healthy it is I think you might like to try it too.

Here is a blurb off Mckell's blog on the "healthiness" (is that a word) of the Green Smoothie

Kale helps to release toxins from the body and also helps with regular weight loss. Spinach has tons of healthy protein. All three have amazing amounts of vitamins minerals, fiber... they are a power house of everything a body needs. By blending the greens it helps to unlock all the nutrients so our bodies can easily digest and make use of all the good stuff.

And best of all.... my kids love it. Not many kids eat spinach and Kale and Chard, so the fact that I can get them to drink 16 oz of it in one sitting is fine by me.

So now you all need to go try it.

Here is the basics

Fill your blender up with a mixture of kale, chard and spinach, add some liquid in the bottom ( water is fine... my kids prefer V8 splash)

Blend it all up till its nice and runny

Add in a few more greens and whatever fruit you like to sweeten up the taste. (Fresh fruit has a stronger taste than frozen fruit but either works)

Fill to the top with ice and blend it all up....

there really is no strict recipe my cousin likes lime juice in hers and there is no set amount to the portions, just be creative.

There are about 15 servings of fruits and vegetables in ONE quart. Can't beat that.

SO GO TRY IT... just do it.

FIRST

Kadens FIRST first day of school was Tuesday Sept. 7th. I honestly CAN NOT believe that he is that old. Going shopping for school clothes and sending him to school seemed like something that was far in the future. It snuck up on me way too fast.

I took these pictures while we were in St George last weekend. Doesn't he look all grown up with not an ounce of baby left in him? He is obsessed with this backpack. We bought him a cars backpack for his birthday in May, and he liked it just fine. While I was shopping to find some jeans for him ( WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE the kid is too skinny for 5's and too tall for 4's) he came across this toy story backpack on wheels. Whoa Buddy, there was no going back. He carried it all around the store and begged grandma to buy it for him.... ok really he didn't even have to beg, grandma is such a softie :D. I was trying to convince him to put it back and said something like " Kaden remember your cars backpack at home? You like that one, is this one that much better?" and he said " YES MOM MUCH BETTER!"

Apparently that is true because he doesn't go anywhere without his backpack. He can't leave the house without it or even go downstairs without it. He loves to pull it behind him wherever he goes.

This was the real first day of school. Woah buddy was he excited. All morning he just kept saying "I am going to school today huh!" He walked straight in the door without even turning around to say bye. :'(

Chris also gave Kaden his first fathers blessing for the first day of school. As I thought of all the many blessings our kids will recieve from their dad I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to have a husband who is so faithful to his duties and is worthy to hold the preisthood in our home.

Hope your first day of school was great buddy... .but will you please stop getting so big? Thanks.

Love, Mom

More Kaden Funnies

Chris and I were having a discussion about the kids and what they are expected to learn. Chris made a comment that went something like this " Kaden might not know how to count to 30 but maybe he knows all his state capitols" ( this was very sarcastic) I smiled and said " yeah.... Hey Kaden what is the capitol of Utah?" He looked at me and without hesitating said "MOOOOO" -- oh yeah we have a genius on our hands.

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I heard Kaden rummaging downstairs when he came upstairs I said " what were you doing" he replied " I am cookin some Mac and Cheese" I went downstairs to find a packet of easy mac ( the costco packs in clear plastic) sitting in the microwave. He was pretty proud of himself... guess he doesn't understand that it requires water in a bowl and the microwave to actually be turned on.

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Me: "You are so goofy"

K: "What?"

Me: "You are goofy"

K: "No, mom.... I am Kaden"

Changing

This little boy starts preschool in about a week. ( insert tears and a few sobs) How did he get so big? Who said that was allowed? He is also getting quite the little personality... here are the newest Kaden-isms:He brought me his blanket all wrapped up in a ball.
K:"Here mom this is for you"
Me: " oh thanks buddy what is it"
K: "Its a present for you"
I open it and inside is his dirty underwear.... Gee thanks buddy

I went downstairs to find him putting cherrios in my automatic cheese grater attachment.
Me: "Kaden what are you doing"
K: "I am cooking mom"
Then he started shaking them and swirling them around. Then he put his finger in and said "mmm, almost there" Then he shook it some more and said "ok mom it's all done, I made you a shake."

It was WAY past his bedtime and he had come downstairs for the 5th time that night. I said "Kaden it is time for bed RIGHT NOW, go upstairs and go to bed" he got a very serious stern look on his face and said ( in a scolding tone). "Mom we don't say that... we don't say go to bed" Chris and I had a hard time keeping a straight face.

He has a very active imagination. Last night he was telling us he was a KING and he was walking around putting his crown on and fighting monsters.


We tried to get family pictures done a few nights ago. It was a nightmare the kids were horrible and I don't think we got any smiles. I came home and decided to snap a few shots to see if I could get anything better... I didn't. But this was a pretty cute candid shot.

The kids new favorite thing is the "train" aka frontrunner. Its free for us to ride since Chris and I are students so we have rode to meet Chris a few times when he is getting off work and coming home. It takes about 25 min from our stop in Clearfield to the Salt Lake stop. Not too bad.

This little princess thinks it is time for her to be a big girl. I was getting her ready for bed one night and she said "i wanna go potty" so I let her.. and she went! Now every time I take her diaper off she begs to go potty. Sometimes she even takes her diaper off herself to go potty. Yes I know, it is time to potty train her. But I think this time around I am going to try the 3 day potty training method and that requires them to be 22 months. It also requires 3 days of NOTHING but potty training. So I think we will have to shoot for conference weekend in October.

Kaden got his first ever real hair cut this week. We went to cookie cutters, he did pretty well. The kid just doesn't like getting his hair cut. But with the cars and sponge bob he did ok. Notice the look of joy on his face.

Chris loves long hair. I had long hair when we first met... really long hair. To tell you the truth I often wonder if Chris feels gypped that he fell in love with a girl with long hair and then had to marry me even when I chopped it all off. ( sort of like false advertising.) Anyway... I promised him I would grow it til he graduated ( 2.5 years and counting) however it is to the stage that I HATE its not short... its not long.... its just blah.... the solution... extensions. They are only clip ins, because I am cheap and to be honest long hair is hard work.

HITCHED!!

It's over. The wedding we all spent so long thinking and planning for. And it was beautiful.

Here is a collection of pictures from the bridals, engagements, wedding, and reception. There were so many fun pictures that these don't really scratch the surface. This was my first FULL wedding with all 4 sessions. It was a lot of fun. Thanks Lisa and Doug for letting me be such a fun part of the wedding.

The Darndest Things

I laugh a lot during the day. 90% of the time I am laughing because of my kids. When Kaden was born I kept a very detailed journal of what he did and said. I am horrible at that now. I decided if I write down a few things here it will atleast be recorded SOMEWHERE.

Kaden says almost daily now

" Bye mom, I am goin on a mission to see Ben (sometimes it is Jenny)."
"Mom I can't I have to go to work."

When he eats a lot or drinks a lot he groans and holds his belly and says " oh mom, my tummy aches"

Today I asked if he wanted Mac and Cheese for lunch and he said " yes mama but I want it WARM" -- guess I haven't been doing to good on the temperature thing lately.

We were at the zoo the other day and he wanted me to hold him, I told him he was big enough to walk ( the kid is almost 45 lbs now... who wants to carry that around the zoo on a hot day.) he started panting and slumping his shoulders. He looked at me and said " but mom, I so heavy!"

I took him shopping with me the other day and we walked into a department store with some bras hanging up he looked and them and said " hey mom, those are cute"

A few days back I told him it was time for his nap and he said " but mom the sunshine is awake."

Taycee was crying today and I said "Taycee what's wrong" Kaden replied with "She misses daddy."

Taycee's new funny thing is...

Usually when she is being naughty I say 'Taycee you be good or I will spank your bum." She gets a big smile on her face and starts hitting her bum saying "spankin spakin spakin" -- apparently we play spank WAY more than we have ever punishment spanked.