Park it!

We have been enjoying our close proximity to two different park recently and having a wonderful time just being together and being outside. The kids love it and we love playing with them and getting to see them discover new things about their world and about themselves.

Celebration!!

Jordan is ready to party.

Amaya and her good friend, Madison.




Sweet Sadie trying to eat her hand.



Daddy and Jordy!

Nana blowing a wierd kiss?? and Caden with his hot dog.

Blowing out the candles on his Lightning McQueen cake.

Amaya blowing out the candles on her Hannah Montana cupcakes.

Amaya and Aunt Amy.

Duke feeds Jordan some yummy cake.

Being so patient and very ready to start opening gifts.

Emma watching Amaya.

Caden opens his Buzz Lightyear toy. He just stood there staring at it. I don't think he could believe he actually got one. Thanks Aunt Karen!

Love that yellow bow!

Chrissa, Amaya's American Girl doll. A definite favorite.
Thanks to Duke and Nana!

Boys playing the keyboard.

We partied at the park and started early. The pavillion is first come, first serve and we didn't want to miss out on a covered area with picnic tables for the party. Chase and I got the kids and all the stuff to the park by 9:51 that morning. No problems, no one was there but some cross-country runners. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to be outside! We started partying around 11:00 and had a big ol' blast! Dad made his very popular and rapidly becoming famous chili and we had hot dogs and Frito pie. Mom and Dad did so much to help us with this party and we are so thankful! What a fam have we!
Friends and family just had a good time being together, eating and enjoying the wonderful weather.

Thanks to all who made it. We love sharing these special times with you all.

They Just Keep Growing!

This past Sunday, October 11, my boy turned three years old. There are times when it seems like time was dragging by S-L-owly (i.e. when I was 8 months pregnant and chasing my two year old) but, of course, now it all seems like it's gone by so fast. Caden is hilarious, intelligent, gorgeous, FUN, sweet and loving. He still likes to sit in my lap and give sweet kisses and hugs. He likes to give all variety of kisses: eskimo, forehead, mouth and his favorite BUTTERFLY. Chase likes to ask him what time it is because the answer is always, "84." Caden is a music-lover. He loves to dance to it, listen to it and play it. He got a keyboard for his birthday and it has been among his favorite gifts. He loves his family and he loves his friends. His question at bedtime every night is, "What are we getting up for tomorrow?" He wants to know the plan and he wants it to be a fun one. He loves to go go go!! Visiting family and friends, going to the park or just going for a walk in the stroller are some of his favorite times. OH! and of course he's always up for a Wal-Mart trip.

Caden is our precious, strong-willed, often difficult blessing from God and we just wouldn't be the same without him. We love you sweet Cadey-Tatey!!

Amaya Grace is SEVEN years old. Yesterday (Sunday) was her official birthday and she woke up happy and ready for her special day. Amaya is fabulous, gifted, funny, thoughtful, kind, smart, gracious and beautiful. She loves school and reading. Her reading improves weekly and we are so happy and excited to have another avid reader in the family. She loves to go to the library and heads straight for the non-fiction section to find as many books as she can about as many different animals as she can. She is constantly surprising us with her wit and intelligence. She loves her family and spending time together. She also loves playing with her friends. She is an artist who most often uses her talents to make cards and other gifts for those she loves. One of her favorite pasttimes is spending time on the computer playing with her Webkinz or just playing games. She loves with all that she has and is and sometimes just doesn't have the means to sufficiently express that love.
Amaya is our gorgeous, sensitive and precious first baby. We've learned so much from Amaya and are truly, truly blessed to call her our daughter.

First days, teeth and frowns.

Amaya and Mrs. Alexander on "Meet the Teacher" night. I did take pictures of the first day of school but they were with my phone and I'm pretty sure that my dad would yell at me if he know how many pictures have actually been taken with the phone and not the camera. So all these are CAMERA pictures!

Caden on HIS first day of school! He was all set with his "Lightning A-keen" backpack. His teacher, Ms. Katie, is so sweet and Caden LOVES her and wants her to come to "Taden's house to play".

Sweet Jordy boy! It took forever to get a picture that wasn't blurry from his constant moving but we did it and he's gorgeously adorable, I think!

Amaya lost her first top tooth. She's so proud of her hole and kind of sad that we lost the tooth just hours after having pulled it.

I had to stick this pic in because it cracks me up. Caden and Grace frowning at each other. I don't know why they were frowning but it's pretty funny.

So, I've got two in school for at least two days a week and little Jordy at home with me. I should probably stop calling him Jordy but I just can't. I should definitely have stopped calling Caden "Cadey" long before I did.

Amaya is loving school and reading like C-razy. I'm so proud of her and I hope she will always have a love for books like she does now.

Not a lot of storytelling this post, but pictures are worth more than words sometimes, right?