Crazy October.......

We have had a fun filled - very busy- October. We all celebrated our birthdays this month. Kaden turned the big 5! He had his birthday at the Lawrence Gymnastic Academy, and then we spent the rest of the weekend at the Pumpkin Patch and the Chiefs game. We finished out the month with our annual trick-or-treating in Grantville, followed by Kaden falling asleep on the way to Grandma Nazaree's and then getting back out to trick-or-treat one last time.

Kenyon is negative 2.5 months old - or I am about 6.5 months along - however you want to look at it. He is definitely a mover when he wants to be.

We have also been able to make it up to a couple of Jarvis' football games in Tennessee the past couple of months. Go Sky Hawks!

Everything is going great. Just wanted to update!!

First Day of School for Kaden and Mommy

Friday was the first day of Kaden's second year of preschool. He won't be 5 until October, so he'll start Kindergarten next year. It was also my first day of the school year. Kaden and I go to the middle school together and then he gets picked up by the preschool van and heads to school. This is a picture of Kaden before he realized that I wasn't getting on the van and going to preschool with him!! Yes he is a mommy's boy! I don't have a picture of me stuffing him into the van, but believe me, it wasn't pretty. He told me after school that he had fun - but we'll see what happens on Monday.

This is my first day of school picture (Kaden took it because daddy was already at work). I am 4 months pregnant. I thought that I was showing until not one single kid said anything...... which means that they were just being polite and not mentioning the extra weight that they think I gained over the summer! :)

LONGS PEAK OR BUST!

This past weekend Darrick and I stuffed in the Kia with Megan, David and Valerie and headed for Estes Park, Colorado! We were heading for the summit of Longs Peak! At 1am on Saturday morning, we packed our bags and put on our headlights and headed up the mountain! It was crazy and unbelievable! By the time the sun came out we could see over the mountain (not from the top yet) and it was a little daunting. This is where I said goodbye to Darrick. The view was a little too much for him. The rest of the way was bitter sweet without him - but I just couldn't turn back. We met back up with Darrick about half way down the mountain. Thirteen hours from when we started - we were back down to our campsite! It was tough - but I can't wait to go again! The first picture is of Longs Peak in the background. It is the peak in the middle. The second picture is of me (3.5 months pregnant) at the very top of that peak!!

4 YEARS!

Four years ago today Darrick and I (and Kaden) were married! Happy Anniversary Babies!!

Daddy is AWESOME!!

Yes, we already knew this.... but in May (and then again in June) Daddy added to his awesomeness! In May Darrick graduated from Nursing school as an RN, and then was finally finished in June when he took AND passed his state boards! Congratulations Nurse Daddy! We Love You!

I know... it's been a while

ok, this blogging was a little more time consuming than I had realized. There has been a lot going on, but I just haven't been back to blog about it. In the time that has passed we have been pregnant, not been pregnant, and then pregnant again - all within about 5 months. Let me explain. Back in February I had a positive test, and soon after I found out that it was an ectopic pregnancy (miscarriage due to the egg getting stuck in the fallopian tube on the way to the uterus). We were waiting "patiently" - which isn't usually a word in my vocabulary - to try again (supposed to be about 3 months after everything was back to normal) and sooner than later (April 27) we became expecting parents again!! I am currently 11 weeks and everything is going great!

No more peppermints for Kaden.... EVER

I don't think that I ever really wanted to know if I could master the Heimlich maneuver. Unfortunately Kaden gave me that chance......... fortunately, I passed the test :) It was during the Star Spangled Banner at a friend's fitness show. I had just given Kaden a red and white striped peppermint (the colors don't really matter because he is now banned from any hard candy - not just the kind he choked on), and we were standing as the anthem began. Kaden started coughing. I asked him if he was ok and he didn't respond. I thought for a brief second about how hard I was actually supposed to squeeze MY four year old to unlodge a piece of candy without breaking something else. Then I just wrapped my arms around him and gave one quick pump under the rib cage and out came a red and white striped candy (minus the stripes) and a pile of throw up. I was never before so relieved that Kaden had thrown up in public (and on the lady in front of us). I'm not for sure how many people in the auditorium knew what had just happened while they were placing their hands over their hearts - but if the first pump hadn't worked - believe me - everyone would have known! This is why Kaden will no longer be allowed to be a candy sucker (like his daddy), but instead a candy chewer ( like his mommy). On second thought, since I have now mastered this maneuver - Kaden will probably not be allowed to eat anything with out me being present!

National Champions!!!!

Wow! What an exciting time for Lawrence! Twenty years ago (Summer of 1988) I moved to Kansas and heard people talking about KU and a National Championship, but as a soon-to-be-7th-grade-girl from Colorado, I don't even think I knew what a Jayhawk was upon entering this great state! That soon changed. And with the sometimes psychotic enthusiasm and support from Darrick, Jayhawk from birth (ok- very early on in life), I have become a loyal fan. Ok, back to Darrick's psychotic enthusiasm.... there were times during the game when Kaden and I feared for our lives! There were cushions thrown, chairs tipped over, and obscene language flying all over the place. Luckily Kaden lives by the game day code, "do as daddy says, not as daddy does". Although, there are many times that daddy lets Kaden become obnoxious with him. That's always fun for mommy!

As the game drew to a close with KU down by 3 (yes, you thought it was over too), Darrick was sitting on the stairs with his head in his lap. Kaden was asleep on the couch and I, being a true KU fan, was feeling more sorry for Darrick - knowing that this meant more to him then it did to me. These feelings were quickly washed away when Mario put up the shot................WOW.... Did that just happen!!!!! The rest is truly history, that we all (ok Kaden missed the best part) witnessed together from our home for three reasons: 1. It was a school night for me and Kaden, 2. We had a 4 year old with us, and 3. Which actually cancels out reasons 1 and 2, Darrick is a psychotic fan that doesn't allow us to watch the game outside of the house for fear that it might jinx KU. We did however get to venture out for the parade, and even without the best seats, we still had a great time! Rock Chalk!

From the mouth of a 4 year old.......

"Mommy, I think we should get one of those signs that has the gun crossed out to put on our house. That way a robber will know that he can't bring a gun here"

"I'm just going to keep telling myself that it is just pretend"..... while watching Jaws

"I'm gonna get that booty!!"........don't worry- we're just hunting for treasures matey!

First time blogger...........

I am hopefully starting something that I will take advantage of without becoming addicted to. My main goal is to keep a record of our life to let our kids see in the future.