If I break 80...

I love tripping up to Utah because I get to see Matt's fam, my sister, and Andrea too. I ditched the boys one night to hang out with my favorite girls.

I haven't bowled in years, so I was thrilled when Michaela suggested it. I told her, "if I break 80, you owe me some kind of prize..." She said, "yeah, well if I break 80 you have to buy me a house, because it will be a miracle."

Don't let our stance fool you, we stink.

My shoes were the ugliest of all time.

We ended up bowling 3 games and she broke 80 twice! I even ended up breaking 100. We are the worst but we had fun laughing at each other and cheering when we knocked anything over. I love hanging with my sis. She always makes me laugh.

A little too late

But I had to post a few Halloween pictures that my silly (cutest) friend Tiff sent me, finally. I had actually totally forgotten about them, but they made me smile. I am sad I don't have one that shows Kaden's awesome BAM BAM costume. He had a leopard print outfit and looked too cute for words.

The Rubbles: BamBam, Betty, and Barney.

Matt making his way around the trunk-or-treat. He got a big bag of candy again this year. Only Matt can get away with things like that. I reaped the benefits, as I am the one with the sweet tooth. I think I ate 95% of it.

Maybe Matt should have been Betty and I Barney. Apparently, she is like a foot taller.

Game on-

Our cousin Graham came to visit for Thanksgiving. He lives in Arizona right now, and hasn't seen snow in ages. So, when it snowed on Thanksgiving day he was geared up and ready to go play. He wanted to make a snowman, and Michaela and I thought we'd make a competition out of it. Girls against boys. The problem came when we couldn't lift our snowballs even an inch. They wouldn't budge. So, we decided just to make him dead..."DOC" dead on creation. After a LOT of laughs, and trash-talking Michaela and I declared ourselves the winners. You be the judge...


The process...

The finished products--- Oh, and you've GOT to click on these to super-size them....it's all in the details people.

Ours

Theirs

Ours

Theirs

My favorite part was definitely his twig legs and boots.

***WINNERS***WINNERS***WINNERS***

Thoughts on a wonderful man

Today is the funeral of Matt's dear grandpa Dahl. I absolutely LOVE this man. He has such a goodness about him. He is gentle and kind. I have adored him since the first time we met. I loved sitting and talking with him. He literally twinkled; he just had a special sparkle about him. He was such a smart man, a true man of God, and a loving husband, father, and grandpa.

He and Bethe paid for countless reunions and trips so the family could get together and enjoy each other. They truly got joy from the company of family and the shrill noises of little children running around. They have 5 children and many grand and great-grandchildren, but yet when I talked with them, I felt like I was the only one, like I was loved just as everyone else was. They have helped Matt and I out in times when we needed it most and I am forever grateful for that.

Dahl has been struggling with illness in his lungs for quite some time, and this release was a blessing for him. Although it was expected and even hoped for, his passing is still sad for those he left behind. I mourn for the heartache of his wife Bethe, and for his 5 children. I know they are hurting right now and I pray for their peace and comfort.

I am grateful for the belief and knowledge we have that we will all be together again. I wholeheartedly believe in eternity, and know that our families will all rejoice and embrace together again. Until then, Dahl will be greatly missed here on earth.

The worst ever...

That's the kind of mom I felt like I was yesterday. My boy has been sick for over a week, with fevers and coughing like crazy. One night it was so bad I stayed up with him to make sure I didn't need to take him to the ER or something. He was using those accessory muscles to breathe which is never good. He got over that pretty quick, so we decided to wait it out. Usually these things resolve on their own, right?

I have been toting him all over the county as I go to work and try to help my parents out with finishing up our house. He is such an easy-going little guy. Other than being extra snuggly and a little droopy he's been such a good sport and didn't seem to be that sick. I felt bad for him not feeling well, but I have loved snuggling up with him and taking it easy. We stayed home from church Sunday, and it was such a fun morning. (I can see myself in the future letting my kids stay home from school so I have someone to play with, hah).

I had to work yesterday so I loaded him up in the car, mere moment after he had woken up. I could tell he didn't feel good and he was mad at me. To top it all off, he looked down right as I clipped his car seat and I totally pinched his lip. Driving to my mom's house I was wrestling with myself...do I cancel my appointments and take care of my child, or do I earn the money we need right now? I hate that feeling. HATE IT. I love my new job, LOVE it, but still find myself torn between too much, too often.

I got Kaden a Dr.'s appointment in the afternoon. So, I drove back up to my parent's house and carted the little man to town. The Dr. got a good listen to his lungs and said, "wow, I really dont' like that sound." She proceeded to inform me that he was developing pneumonia....PNEUMONIA!!!! I felt AWFUL that I had waited so long to get it checked out.

We headed to get the prescription and I proceeded to give him suckers, buy him 2 awesome monster trucks and choo choo pajamas, because that is what moms do when their baby is sick. I will continue to spoil him rotten until he feels better. I might just let him sleep in my bed until we head to Utah next week. Matt is already there, so I need the extra company anyway. Yes, I will let him sleep with me and I will give him everything he wants until he feels better.

Funny Faces

On Thursday Matt and I watched our friend's kids. Susan and Kirk will be our neighbors and they have helped us out in so many ways. We are thrilled to be able to lend a hand when they need something. We had the best time with Michael, Olivia, and Emily. I just wanted a picture with all of us, because I really love these kids, but they thought it would be fun to goof off, dress up, and play with the camera....so, we did.




I love, LOVE their funny faces!

Michael looks like his eyes might just fall right out.

This is an awful picture, but Emily let me braid her hair. In fact, I think she loved it. She just kept climbing back into my lap and cried when I left her room. She is such a sweet, SWEET, little girl. I loved cuddling her and talking to her the other night.

By this time we totally had the giggles. I was running back and forth with the timer on the camera and the kiddos were so hyper. Matt and I were laughing so hard. I think we might have even been having a better time than they were.
*

After our dress-up extravaganza we laid out a blanket and ate dinner in the living room. Susan might never want us to come back after the complete wreck we made of her house. (I didn't even get it cleaned up in time when they got home, tisk tisk!)

Matt and I had such a fabulous time with these kids. Susan, can we come back?

Just the two of us

I have been missing my little man lately (well, and my big man too). I started a new job about a month ago. The spa has been nice, but is only seasonal. I found something that I love. Really, I love it. It is bitter sweet though. I have a really hard time finding balance between working, keeping an organized house, online studying, and family time, and all the other stuff calling to me. I feel like something is always getting neglected. I wonder if this is something I can gradually master, or if it is a lost cause and I will always feel this way. Regardless, I would rather be behind in housework (although a messy house comletely makes me crazy) and spend extra time with my loves.


Yesterday I didn't have to work so Kaden and I had a date. First we went to the church where I sewed pajama pants with the ladies. It was a blast; I just LOVE my girlfriends from church. Then we got cheesy breadsticks and headed to the park. I was in Heaven watching Kaden play, and basking in the warm (70 degrees!!!) sun, munching on my oh-s0-delicious cheesesticks. I crave those things; they call to me. Seriously, they are the best I've ever had and I can easily chomp down a whole order BY MYSELF...but I digress.


We had a fun time. Kaden went down the slide a bazillion times, we made tracks in the sand with trucks, I got loads of sand in my face and eyes, and Kaden even made a new friend. I had such a fun day with the little mister. I really, really miss him when we are apart all day. Am I pathetic? I seem to remember someone calling me a "mush-mobile" at one time...whatever that means...

I know I probably bore people with my schmorgaspord of silly posts about my baby. I just cannot say loudly enough, often enough, or emphatically enough, HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM.