Going Skating

Getting ready for their first time skating

Holding hands, skating. Seriously, so cute!

For family night, a couple of weeks back, we decided to go skating. Our kids were so excited. I didn't realize how hard it would be to keep them from falling. I thought as long as we were holding their hands, it would be pretty easy. It took us forever to go around the rink. Someone told us we could ask for some more kid friendly skates, the kind they wear their shoes inside. IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER! Kaden decided he was able to do the regular kind of skates, and full on took me down to the ground with him. I had a bruise and a sore knee for a week. Needless to say, I fell hard. Kind of funny. They loved it. Can't wait to do it again.

Let It Snow!

Lets just state the obvious, Southern California doesn't get snow. Atleast not where we live. We went to Flagstaff, AZ, for literally 24 hours. There and back. A little crazy. We went there to spend time with Jason's family, and support his brother's football team. We didn't think it would be this cold, and we weren't expecting it to snow. We were not prepared with warm clothes at all. Our kids and had a blast, and had snowball fights outside the hotel, until after midnight.



I had to strip them down, and put them in hot baths to warm them up. They have definetly become little California babies.

Bedtime

When my family came out for Thanksgiving, we put Kaden in Tessa's room with her. They thought it was so cool to share a room. Bedtime at our house is most nights a bit of a challenge. Once they are asleep, they are seriously past out. It's the getting to sleep that seems to take FOREVER. Once my family left, we decided to try it and see if they could share a room and actually go to sleep. The first couple of nights took forever. I would come in there, and they were playing doctor or house together. I went in to their room like I do every night, check on them and put covers on them. I had talked to them that night a couple of times about staying in their own beds, and to go to sleep. How could this be any cuter? They wanted to sleep together.

Thanksgiving

Grandma with Tessa and Kaden

Such a sweet smile

Cute little hat she made at preschool

Eating out, and the yummiest hamburgers

Me, Tessa, and Em

Quite the bike. The four of us all had pedals. Jason and I took turns driving. I will say that I wasn't the one that hit someone's fence!

My Mom and I

Thanksgiving was so great! I hadn't seen my Mom since last Thanksgiving, so I was so excited to have her here. Also, my sister, Emily, I don't see much more than that, so I was so happy to have them both with us for Thanksgiving. We played lots of games, watched movies, and did lots of talking. The Thanksgiving meal was delicious. I made my Grandmother's Sweet Potato Casserole, which tastes more like dessert. I also made a raspberry jello pretzel salad, and a pumpkin cheescake. My Mom made her homemade rolls, homemade stuffing, ambrosia, and Jason cooked the turkey, played in a turkey bowl, and took care of the kids while we cooked. As I get older I definetly appreciate all the my parents did at the holidays. Living away from everyone, cooking everything is a ton of work. My sister and I also hit the Black Friday sales bright and early. Got lots of good deals, and spent some quality time with her. I miss you guys so much! I am so thankful for my own little family, and what a joy they all are to me!

Halloween 2009

Loving her little Rosetta shoes

Super Hero Batman, and Pretty Ballerina

Batman and Rosetta

Off to trick or treat

SO Precious

All their candy. Their faces say it all....

Halloween was so fun this year! I love our kids ages right now. Everything is so fun, and they are so excited. We went to a few different Halloween parties where the kids could dress up, and they loved it. Tessa loved her Rosetta costume, and the best part about it, was I found it last minute at the Disney store for like$25-30. The shoes, dress, and the wings.

Tessa's First Field Trip

She was slightly grouchy and soooo hot.

Some of Tessa's preschool

She wasn't loving the animals, and kept telling me that they were stinky.

On the tractor ride

Tessa's first field trip with her preschool was to Tanaka Farms. I did this last year, with Kaden's preschool. It's a great place. We got to ride the school bus to the farm, ride in a wagon pulled by a tractor, pet different animals, pick a pumpkin and different vegetables. She loved riding the bus. It was TOO hot for the field trip. Being in the 90's and almost Halloween is so wierd to me.

One Tough Little Dude

So a couple of months ago, we went for a family bike ride, which we do most days. Kaden is absolutely obsessed with bike riding. He has been riding a two wheeler for over a year, since he was barely four. It's so cute, he isn't always trying to do wheelies, and other tricks. We were going down a pretty big hill, which he goes down all the time. He got going pretty fast, and was trying to get back on the sidewalk, and lost control of his bike. He went head first over his handle bars, and smacked his chin and lips on the sidewalk. Thank heavens for his helmet! His helmet got pretty scraped up, but the thought of what could have happened without it. His chin was bleeding everywhere, and we were about a mile away from our house. I'm next to him freaking out, and some nice lady brings me antiseptic and a clean towel. Jason rides his bike home, while steadying my bike, pulling my bike home. We took him to the emergency room, and he had to get 5 or 6 stitches. What a tough guy. He didn't even cry, the whole time in the hospital. He got pretty beat up from the crash. I'm so glad that the stitches were under his chin and not visible. I guess this is how it goes with boys. I survived the first stitches.

A Fun Visit

No idea why these pictures are so small. Bummer.

I love this little "cheese" face

We had the best time having my brother, Kevin, and his family come into town. I wish I had more pictures, but my camera was broken at the time. We went to Disneyland a bunch of times, out to dinner a bunch, went to an aquariam, and just had fun talking and being together. We don't see them very often, since we are far away so it really meant a lot for us to spend time with them. The kids all got along soooo well! They just loved being together. Kaden and Ryan would wrestle each other to the ground, and Mia and Tessa were the best of friends. Kevin got Kaden to go on Space Mountain! He kept saying how much he wanted to go on it, because his cousins wanted to. Mind you, I have never gotten Kaden to go on any "big rides", so I wasn't sure how it would go. Kevin said he just really grabbed onto him as they got going. What a great brother I have to do that for him. I know he will remember that for a long time.

First Day Of School

Outside our house, all geared up and excited.


Kaden

Tessa

An emotional Mommy

Outside her school, after her first day. She loved it!

I didn't really know what to expect with this first day of school. I had Kaden and Tessa so close together, that it was craziness, especially at first. But I have loved it! I had never planned on having Kaden go to kindergarten this year, as he didn't turn 5 until September 22. But, the cutoff for enrollment in California is December 2. Can you believe that???? We had him in this great preschool program last year, through the school district, and wasn't able to have him go there this year, because he is eligible for kinder. I was so torn on what to do. As well as California being expensive in general, it isn't any different in preschool. It just worked better for us to do Kindergarten. He is doing really well so far, but we are planning on having him repeat, for the fact of being older, and of course Jason is all about him being older for sports. I just think it makes a big difference in everything - confidence, etc.

So that morning I was rather emotional, but I held it together until I walked away from Kaden. Not only having both of my babies starting school, but finding out I was pregnant, and then shortly after miscarrying for the second time in nine months! Aughhh! I know it will happen; I'm just explaining all the emotions. I think sending Kaden off to school was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a long time. As I was tearing up, I kind-of started laughing, looking around me there were a ton of parents and children crying all around me. Thankfully, Kaden didn't start crying, or I would have lost it. He looked a little nervous, but was smiling, and it made it much easier. But, all went well. They both loved their first day, and have continued to really enjoy school. I help volunteer in Kaden's class every Tuesday, for a couple of hours and love it. I love that he will come up to me and hug me, and blow me kisses when he sees me in his class. Oh, I love my kids!

Kaden Turns 5!!!!

I can't believe he is already five! He is getting so big. I wish I could freeze time, and have him stay small forever. He is such a fun, loving, energetic (enough energy to keep a few people going), determined, sensitive, funny, bike riding maniac, soccer player, kindergartener, honest, sweet boy ever. We love him so much!

Kaden had more like a "birthday week" celebration. His birthday was on Tuesday, September 22. My kids love doughnuts, and we never buy them. They always want them on their birthday. So we started the morning off with a candle in his doughnut before he went to school. We celebrated in his class at school, then went to Disneyland for the rest of the day. Came home open a bunch of presents, and had cake. He also had a friend party later in the week. It seemed like so much planning that week, and a lot of work, but it was so fun to see him loving it all.



Talking on the phone to family, and eating a cupcake ball.

I made these cute little cupcake balls for his class. They are delicious. And they were so easy.

The bunch I took to his kindergarten class.

At Disneyland. Don't they look a like? My boys......

Breakfast for the birthday boy

Love that sweet face

Jason and I

Ready for Disneyland

Jason and Tessa messing around with the camera while Kaden and I went on a ride that Tessa wasn't tall enough to go on.

I like kinda beat up from the day, but I had to get a picture with my big 5 year old. He's still my baby though. :)

What!? What a boy, downing orange juice before bed. I looked over and grabbed the camera. Had to get a picture of that.

My Birthday

Kaden took this picture. He did pretty good.

In August, on my birthday we went to Disneyland. On your birthday, you can get into the park for free. But, if you already have a pass, they give you a gift card that you can spend in the park. So I gave the kids the money and let them go and pick out a couple of things. It was fun to let them just go in and search the walls for something special.

This cake doesn't look all that beautiful, but it is my absolute favorite. It's called Texas Sheet Cake. Rich and all chocolate. Yummmm....


Chillin with my girlie

The next day, Jason took me overnight to Palm Springs. We had such a blast. We stayed in a really fun hotel, and without the kids. Thanks to Tammy, we had a night to ourselves. It was seriously so much fun, but so nasty hot. I don't know why people ever live in places like this. Seriously!! At nine that night, we went out to Outback for dinner, and I thought I was going to pass out when we got out of the car to go into the restaurant. It was windy, and oh so hot, I felt like I had just opened up the oven. Nasty. We walked around the town, went swimming and down the water slides, and did lots of shopping at all the outlets. We had so much fun being alone, and having quality time. We were so spoiled with the last job Jason had, and they took us on 2 trips a year paid for. We don't leave our kids really anymore, so it was so nice.

I just thought this was really pretty at the hotel.

Finally.....

Ughhh, just the thought of getting caught up on this blog makes me tired. Long story short, we have had a million things going on, and I ruined my camera, then found an old one we still had, and then misplaced the memory card with a bunch of pictures. I didn't want to start blogging out of order. I just found the card today. I was so happy! Here I go................

Looks like I am trying to make a sign, and
I'm not!

Love this cheese smile

Jason's brother, Randy and family

Incredible sunset

Going down the steps, to 1000 Steps Beach

Some more of our fun vacation. We went to this cool beach, that we had never been to, call 1000 Steps. Which, literally, there is some serious steps to get down to the beach. It's kind of a secluded beach. Absolutely beautiful. We went down there at night, so we didn't swim. Jason's brother and family were visiting from Arizona. We loved having them here. We played a couple games of volleyball, and played in the sand.

A Little Getaway

Sea World - awaiting our favorite, SHAMU

Kaden, so excited. Whales are his favorite

Jas, caught in action, doing a little
work

Shamu

Priceless - Kaden letting us know that the
flamingos STINK

Tess passed out. I love that she will fall asleep
anywhere.

Nice picture... Kaden and I went on a ride and
got soaked. He LOVED it, and went on it again
with Jason.

Tessa, and I all geared up to watch the Rock
and Roll Shamu.


We were hoping to get out to Florida to see my family this summer, but instead things worked out for us to have a little vacation close to home. We stayed in a hotel, that we got off Priceline, for an amazing deal. We stayed there 5 nights. We went to Sea World one day, and then just enjoyed our hotel, swam all day, went out to dinners at night. Sea World was the best. We stayed from opening to closing. We all loved it better than Disney. I loved seeing our kids faces, light up, when we told them where we were going. It was worth every penny.

Our Little Surfer Boy

Kaden loves the water, especially the ocean. He loves to try to surf the waves with his boogie board, and ride the waves in on his tummy. The last time we went to the beach he was boogie boarding so much, he left with a rash on his stomach. For some reason he is less afraid of the ocean than he is the pool. Atleast he was until he started swimming lessons three weeks ago. Now he's a champ in both. He can swim all the way across the deep end by himself. Way to go Kaden!