Seriously???

I am so done with illness in our family! Kaden had the swine flu about 4 weeks ago. Danny had the swine flu about 3 weeks ago. We had about 4 days of health and then Danny got really sick again with a really terrible cold. Last night Ellie acted like she wasn't feeling well and woke up a couple of times. Now this morning Kaden woke up with a 100 degree fever and a sore throat. Apparently, Preston and I have gotten by so far; but I'm not feeling optimistic for us and the next few days. All I can say is I better not get sick for Thanksgiving! I have to be healthy for Black Friday shopping. :)

I just want health to restore itself in our house!

Cutest Comment Award!

Danny and I don't quite know what to get Kaden for Christmas this year. So this evening I asked him.

Mom: "So, Kaden, what do you want for Christmas this year?"

Kaden: "I don't know. I don't really care what I get. I won't complain. Oh, and mom, I already wrote my letter to Santa at school. So I don't need to write another one."

Mom (Still dubious as to what to get him): "What did you write in your letter?"

Kaden: "It was a long letter. I wrote lots of stuff like 'is it cold in the North Pole' and 'how are the elves'. Stuff like that."

Mom (Let's try this one more time): "But what did you tell him you wanted for Christmas?"

Kaden: "Just what I told you. I told him that I don't care what he brings me. I won't complain. I just want a couple of presents, that's all."

What kind of a 7 year-old says that? What a sweetheart!!!

Recessionista

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Things To Remember - Kaden

Kaden has grown up a lot. I can't believe he is going to be baptized in a few short months.

He likes to ask questions, especially when we are reading the scriptures. And we are now in Isaiah, so there are a lot of questions to be asked!

He also tries so hard to please us. He works really hard to make sure we are proud of him, even though it's hard to not be proud of such a good little boy. That's not to say he doesn't get in trouble sometimes though. :)

His favorite phrase is, "huh, mom..." or "huh, dad..." He says it over and over until we acknowledge that he is correct.

He talks a lot during movies. Whether it's questions about what's going on or making sure that he is correct about what's going on, you can count on him to ask the questions in the middle of a really important part of a movie.

Kaden is a little shy and very sensitive. He gets his feelings hurt rather easily, which is sometimes frustrating, but also heartbreaking. Most of the time he is very mellow, unless he is playing xbox. :) He is very caring and is always making sure that others are doing ok. He prays for things like his aunt Jill's feet - that they will be healthy - as well as little things like that Preston and Ellie will be good for me while he is at school. :) He is constantly seeking for approval and that is sometimes frustrating, but also very heartwarming. I love him so much and am so proud to be his mom. He teaches me more things than I can count and wish he knew how much I appreciate him.

Things To Remember - Preston

Preston has a certain look that he gives me to get what he wants. He looks at me and says, "Please, mom?" with an adorable look in his eyes. Whenever he does this, it melts my heart and I usually say yes. In fact, the other day he wanted to take a cup of water up to his room while he was watching a movie. I told him that he would spill it. He looked at me with that unbelievably sincere look and said, "Please, mom... I promise I won't spill it. I'll be super careful." Of course, I let him - and in fifteen minutes he came down crying and heartbroken, exclaiming, "I spilled it, mom!" :)

He also has a GREAT imagination. He loves to play imaginary games and he has to ask my permission every time. "Mom, can I play my new batman game - outside of the xbox?" He has to specify that he is not asking to play the xbox but is asking to pretend that he is batman. :)

He likes to just have my attention. He will stand there for five minutes saying, "Mom, mom, mom, mom..." if that's what it takes for me to say "what". And most of the time his reply is just, "I love you."

He adores his big brother but will stand up for himself when needed. He throws a lot of fits, but is getting so much better at refraining from his fit-throwing. For the past few months he has really figured out the word please, and he uses it to his advantage. The majority of the time he will accept my answer of no as long as an explanation of why is accompanied with the word. He is very sweet to Ellie, and also very overpowering to her at the same time. He will give her a kiss, but nock her down while doing so. He's loving, and sweet, and he tells me I'm so pretty.

I love the little guy so much!

Things To Remember - Ellie

One thing I never want to forget about Ellie is her "going to sleep" routine. Every time I lay her down to sleep, I have to give her the binkie and a corner of her blanket. She then proceeds to tickle her face (nose and eyes) with the corner of the blanket. It is so cute! And the other day, I went in to get her after a nap. She had the corner again, and when I held out my arms to pick her up she bent down for one last tickle on her nose. She does that every once in a while and I love it.

Another thing I don't want to ever forget is the way Ellie says "MOM!" Sometimes she yells it, sometimes she just says it quietly, and sometimes it's even annoying cause she says it over and over and over and over. But I still love it. It's not mommy, or mama, or ma... it's "mom" pronounced very accurately. :)

She has also begun to copy other words. This morning, for instance, she waved and said "bye" to Kaden when he was leaving for school.

Oh, and the way she nods or shakes her head whenever she is asked a question. This morning I asked her, "You want to get up and have some breakfast?" She replied with an emphatic nod of her head. I don't think she quite realizes the difference between a nod and shake, but I do think she understands that it is an answer. It's adorable!

She has almost figured out how to come back down the stairs by herself and is so proud when she does accomplish it. She started trying over the weekend to stand up by herself in the middle of the room. She will take 1 step but then get scared and fall down. She is so close to walking, which I am nervous about cause she already gets into everything. She is more grabby than either of our boys and will get into anything - especially the things we tell her not to. She hits the tv just to see a reaction from us and she will even turn the tv off, just to make us pick her up. She is such a joy in our lives and I love her so much!

Popinjayz Blog

Just wanted to put the word out there about the new blog for Popinjayz.

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Halloween 2009

This year our kids had the "Batman" theme for Halloween. Preston was Batman, Kaden was Joker, and Ellie was Batgirl. I have to say that I made Ellie's costume and was SO excited with how it turned out. Plus she even kept the mask on.

The boys, of course, had been looking forward to the festivities for a while. They were so anxious to get dressed up and go get candy. They loved wearing their costumes - they wore them almost all day long.

I've decided I have become a lot more lenient as a parent. I remember rationing Kaden's candy and letting him eat a couple pieces each day until it was gone. Now, having 3, I let them go for it as soon as we got in the door. They were allowed to eat as much candy they could until bedtime (which was only 15-20 minutes, but still.) I even gave Ellie some candy to eat. She LOVED it! And I really enjoyed watching them. I've learned to just enjoy the moment just a little more. :)

Pictures