Favorite or Favourite.. i can never decide because I like both.

If any of your kids has lost a favorite ANYTHING it is basically the end of the world and NOTHING will change the fact that whatever it is, is missing!  Tonight as we were getting ready for bed Michael informed us that he could not find his "blankie" and since it's his favorite thing of ALL TIME, he had to have it.  After many fallen tears and upside down smiles with a super sad heart we could not find his blankie.. (which is strange because he didn't go anywhere today). We enlisted everyone's help in looking for this dark blue, 5x5 blanket and we looked everywhere but the one place the blanket actually is; under beds, in closets, in sheets, in beds, shoes, cupboards, under couches, bathrooms, etc. We even all knelt down and prayed that we could find it!  Poor guy was very sad going to bed. I was finally able to convince him that he would have to look for it in the morning so i convinced him that the current blue-blanket-with-polar-bears-blanket that he has would suffice to keep him warm. Poor kiddo.

As for Braxton, I should have clarified last night. Braxton was kissed on the cheek (after a demonstration from Maliah :P). We asked him where he was kissed and she quickly blurted in that "it was like this!" and kissed him on the cheek again!  I can't believe that I forgot to clarify this small detail. forgive me.

Caden is currently BARELY too small to climb onto our somewhat (ok, they are terrifying) soiled and beaten couches and, like stated before, likes to vocalize his existence. So when he tries three or four times that he can't climb up onto them by himself he lets us know. Sometimes it sounds like someone is taking HIS favorite thing away from him.... He is still super cute and knows that he can play mommy and daddy like flutes if he plays just the right face and adds just the right amount of "voice" if needed...  We really shouldn't let him have that kind of control over us... but he's just so STINKIN cute!

  <<<<< PROOF!

User change-up

Katy and I have decided that we would take turns writing in the blog as much as possible and I am here to "steer the boat" tonight.

Things are going well for the most of our family. I am currently waiting my fate as I wait for the praxis scores to return. Once they return I will be able to start student teaching and get on with this last semester of school (well at least of me being the student part).

Braxton turned to me this evening in an almost dazed state and said, "Dad, she kissed me."
"What?"
"Maliah kissed me."
He's growing up A LOT faster than I expected.. or at least I didn't expect to "confront" (I "quote" because I'm not head on against it, I'm just stating I didn't think I would hear him say those words for at LEAST 5 more years... but... I guess i'm just old fashioned :P )

Braxton is growing up way too fast and Michael is following quickly in his footsteps. Michael wants to do everything that Braxton does; he wants to go swimming and we were able to get him into Braxton's swim class. He has also started to pick up on a few of Braxton's bad habits such as screaming and being negative when he doesn't get his way but at least it's short-"er" lived. He's still super sweet and wants to make sure that everyone gets their needs met before he worries about himself. He is definitely the giver of the family at this point in time. For example, we have these fantastic little cups from IKEA and the boys love all the different colors but for some reason they have created a hierarchy for them: Pink, blue, green, yellow, orange, light blue... Anyway, we have this rule that you "get what you get and you don't throw a fit." we like this rule because these cups seem to change your water into pure sprite if it's in the pink cup.. (kids eh?) well I pulled a blue and orange cup out and Braxton ended up getting the orange and he basically started to whine and pout about the kitchen because of this.. well Michael, the sweetie, turned to him and said, "Brax, you can have my blue cup."
Now, it's not the best thing to show positive reinforcement for Braxton whining, but I hope you got the point; Michael is so sweet to give up his wants to make sure everyone is happy.

Caden is still screaming when he wants something be he is starting to realize that if he finds a way to explain himself it's that much easier. He knows where to scream and whine when he's hungry or tired. Really I shouldn't say scream, i should say vocalize his existence.  He knows he's the younger brother of two very loud and rambunctious brothers and has to be louder to be the dominant for the moment.  He loves to play with his brothers and we are seeing him tackle Braxton and Michael more and more while they are unaware that he's coming up right behind them.  This morning he decided to body slam Michael with a pillow he brought up from downstairs during breakfast. Michael squealed and then realized that it was Caden and just laid there like he was down for the count; dazed sound and everything; it was pretty cute.

Life is good but I hate being in an unknown state right now as I wait for the praxis scores for a few more days.. even a week. bleh.  I feel like Aaron. He's stuck in Cali doing basically nothing (yes he is staying busy) as he waits this last week to finally get home to his family that he was so far away from while he finished up in Japan, came to the states and now has to wait again in Cali to go the rest of the way home.. at least it's only one time-zone now instead of 18 right?

Babies at six months

 Here are my three boys, all at about six months.  who is who?  I think they look very different, but I had a friend recently tell me they all look alike!?!

SICK, Covered in SICK. With a side of SICK. And extra sick to drink

My family is so sick! It is sad. Chad has been fighting a nasty fever cough thing since Friday. His temp has not gone below 100 since then, and that is with medicine. I have tried everything; sleep, oils, medicine, the doctor, and drugs. Poor guys is just miserable. It does not help that I am working extra hours lately.

Caden is also sick, the boy has had a double barrel snot shooter for a nose for the last week. I thought it was teeth, and then the fever set in. And now...a blown ear drum. He is so sad and just wants to be loved and snuggled. Again me working more hours makes this a difficult thing to accomplish and then I just feel guilty. My poor baby. I finally took him in and they gave my some antibiotic but...we will just see.

Braxton, Michael, and I are great. Knock on wood. We have felt fine. The older two boys are going through a weird sleeping issue as of late, but we are figuring it out. This mama is not a nice person with out sleep. ;)

I have recently taken over all the book keeping at work. I love it. It confirms to me that I really love dealing with budgets and even taxes. I am not handling their taxes. I am not far enough into my schooling, but I am doing all the reports and categorizing for the taxes and I LOVE IT. Money is fun, and it is really fun to play with when it is not yours. Is that weird that I say that? Although it is really fun it is a lot of work. They really did not have anything going on before so I am starting from scratch. A blank page. I was given a number that they would like their over head to stay under and then unlimited access to EVERYTHING else. How cool. My boss and his wife are great people and it makes me feel good to know that they trust me this much. Now I face the challenge of bringing the over head down...

Life is good. Life is stressful. Life is great

Our life in a few paragraphs!

Mickey sent me an email about jobs and things and I wrote her a small novel in reply. Then she suggested i post the response on the blog so the rest of you can get an update... :)

LOL we have not technically applied for any jobs, can't till March/April time. But we have looked and seriously considered Oregon, and Medford would get a pull because of family.

The grad school thing was a passing fad, THANK GOODNESS. As you may know because I bet you are the same type of wife, I would follow and support my sweet guy just about anywhere and into anything. Mind you I am not walking blindly, and there are a lot of discussions before things are decided on, but ultimately I do not want to work. I am doing it now as a means to an end. But in the long run we are planning on living a lifestyle that can be supported by his income and HIS alone. I will work for the "extra" stuff. so when it comes time for him to work, and his education I support because he is going to be doing it for the rest of his life. I need him to be happy :) So after a short look into it, he decided that 4 more years of school was not what he wanted, even if it meant he would have a P.H.D at the end. I am Happy. four more years of school meant four more years of me working!

So yes we are going to teach. Anything from seventh to twelfth is what he is qualified for. Biology, but he can teach Earth systems. We are looking all over, but I really want to go somewhere close to family. A lot or a little I don't care, just want to be close. WE have been away for seven years and now it is time to "come home".

As for the boys...well they are crazy! :)

Braxton is AWESOME. His little brain never ceases to amaze me, and I can see him figuring things out ALL the time. He still has an attitude but I am starting to believe that is just part of Brax, and we will learn to love him through it. He is obsessed with anything electronic. We have put passwords on everything, both cell phones and the ipod, and got rid of our gaming system, but he still figures out how to get into things. A good distraction is needed when his mind gets set on a game. He is at Head-start and is enjoying the social. We are excited to see him in school.

Michael is turing into such a little man. Always wants to help, always wants to be involved. He misses Brax when he is gone. And often asks when he gets to go to school. It has been hard for him to develop anything on his own with him and Brax so close in age, Michael has always just done what, gone along with, and supported what Brax did. But with Brax at school Michael is really growing. He loves to color and cut, and often asks to play with friends. It is really cool to see.

Caden is great. Growing like a weed. We just moved him into a room down stairs and it is so sad. TO BIG. But he is fun, he loves to dance. Even just my ring tone will send him into a spin. Just learned where his nose is, he picks it when you ask him to find his nose. He is CONSTANTLY talking, I can't figure out where that comes from ;) Although i can really only get about thee words.

A POST!!

I know that most of you are shocked that I am blogging but I think it has been long enough.

I know I should blog about my Caden, and that blog will come. But I want to blog about my trip to CA first.

This trip was planned for two reasons. Rachel and Teresa Kullick! These two wonderful women are AMAZING. Twins, full of energy and so in love with the gospel and our Savior. I was lucky enough to drive to CA to listen to them speak in church after returning home from full time missions in England and Scotland. It was so great.

These two ladies are my little sisters. I love them so much, and after seeing them, and spending so much time with them, I can not put into words how much I respect them. BOth girls have had their fair share of challenges (we all have right) but these ladies don't let things get them down. To me they are the example of perseverance.

Rachel and Teresa, You are my hero's I loved hearing your testimonies and spending so much time with you. A twin bond is an intense and sacred one and you girls have always made me feel like I can share that bond with you. even just for a bit while we talk. Thank you for letting me pass on my knowledge (lol, they listen to me babble) Thank you for being the examples you are. I love you both so mUCH.

I love this picture!

KATY

PS. HUGE shout out to Art, Steph, and Mom for making it possible for me to go.

To my Michael

I could not be more grateful for you in our family Michael! You are an amazing addition to our lives and make mommy so happy.

You are my sweet guy, so loving and hugging. You want to be with us, and want us with you ALL the time. You would take us to the potty with you if we would go. You love your big brother and I hear you playing with him constantly. You are also an AMAZING big brother Michael.

You love Caden and want to care for him, you are always wanting to help and play with him. You usually start singing "Baby Mine" when he is sad, or caressing his face saying, "I'm right here Caden, it's OK, I'm right here" I am so glad that your huge heart is not just for mom and dad, that it is something you are willing to share with your brothers (or anyone else).

You are such a character, always telling stories and dancing! You are a mover and a shaker. Even while eating dinner Michael your little booty is wagging behind you, or your little leg is bouncing to whatever tune you happen to have in your head.

YOU are smart. Always telling what letters you see, or helping my count the apples out when we go groceries shopping. Please stay that way, willing to help and willing to learn.

You love primary. You are such a good little listener, and are learning the scripture stories so well. Michael you are also very good at the primary songs. Love to sing and listen to them.

I love you Michael, I;m glad that your Amazing little spirit came to our family, I know it is where you belong.

MOM