Overload!!!!!

I guess I will start with the cruise since that is where I left off. Wow that seems so long ago. I am trying to find some pictures but I must not have taken as many as I thought. That's okay. You don't want to see me in a swimming suit anyways. Good times, although I think I would have to trade off. Cruise one trip then land another. It was very relaxing and I am still trying to get the weight off, one hazard I don't remember them disclosing.

I am going to try and get caught up. So please stay awake! I know I can't touch on everything or else you would be here forever. October if the busiest month for our family so I will do my best. Enjoy!

First day of school! Carter missed the cut off by 6 days so another year of pre-school for him. He loves learning. He tells me all the time that he has homework that he needs to do. I can't count how many notebooks he has gone through.
Jaelynn is in Ms. Beth's class and loves every minute. She is sad that she only goes twice a week. It amazes me how much she retains. It can get a little frustrating that after hearing a Hanna Montana song once she can sing most of it back to you but if you ask her where her shoes are, she has no idea. I am so grateful for my daughter. She is teaching me patience!

Carter is trying out soccer this year. Jaelynn is his little cheerleader.

He does pretty good. This is him making a goal!

Who cares that it was for the other team, right.

Jaelynn started gymnastics and I do have to say she is a natural. I know I'm her mom but she really enjoys it and has no fear. Fear is what held me back so I am excited for her. I don't have any pics because we have to sit behind glass and I can't get a good picture of her.

Brandon turned 30 this month and after last years disappointing birthday, well lets just say the last 6 disappointing birthdays I decided that I needed to do something fun. I never thought I could do it but it worked. I through him a surprise party and he was speechless. For all of you that know Brandon knows that never happens. I am so bummed. I thought it would be fun to have a bunch of disposable cameras for the guests to use but none of them turned out. So sorry for not having any pics. But we had a ton of fun!

October 4 was suppose to be a very relaxing day. It was our 7 year Anniversary. I woke up at 8 o'clock so excited that my kids let me sleep in. Thinking that I couldn't have asked for a better gift. I go down stairs and the kids are sitting on the couch all wrapped up in their blankets. As I noticed that Jae had bangs she told me that "Carter cut my hair". My mouth drops to the floor and as I look to Carter for an explanation he adds, "With dads clippers". I won't go into much detail since I pretty much don't remember it all. I know the tears started flowing and I told Brandon he better come get his son.

Later Carter told me he was just trying to make it look like mine. After all said and done, meaning he chopped a good 6 inches off and managed to stay alive, he did a pretty good job with those clippers. I am just glad he wanted her to have my hair cut and not Brandon's!

My baby turned 5 on October 6th!!!I can't believe he is 5. Time goes by so fast. Please slow down!!

Carter loves anything to do with the army. So when he said that he wanted an Army party that is what Brandon gave him. He had a perma grin all day long.
My little soldier. Yes, he is walking and getting into everything.
He is such a sweet boy.

Can't forget the cowboy boots.

Seattle

I have to say this is a beautiful place to go!! Brandon had to go for work so I tagged along. We had so much fun thanks to our great friends that watched our kids. I can now say that I like seafood. As long as they are pulling it straight out of the ocean while I am ordering. I believe I can honestly tell you that we will retire there. Check out some of our pics. The picture above is in Poulsbo. The cutest little town I have ever seen.

What a Guy!

When Brandon asked me what I wanted for my birthday I told him a day off and a carrot cake or spice cake. Either one as long as it had cream cheese frosting! He told me that he didn't think he would be able to stay home but he would try. He wasn't sure about the cake either since he had never made one. To be honest I was a bit frustrated. Lets just say every time I try and call him at work his assistant tells me he is out and transfers me to his cell. That is why Brandon loves his job, because of the freedom. So I didn't understand why he wouldn't make my birthday wish come true ;) The plan was he was going to come home from work, pick me and the kids up, go out to dinner, then have some friends over for cake and ice cream. Which I thought I was going to have to make. Anyways long story shorter, he came home from work and had the kids give me their presents. First Cashton gave me a plastic boat and some rubber fish. I thought that was cute. He could play with them in the pool. Jaelynn gave me a pair of sunglasses that are her size and an underwater camera. Brandon told me that they had picked out their own present so hers didn't surprise me. Carter also got me an underwater camera and some sunscreen. I couldn't stop laughing. How random! Then it was Brandons turn. He brought in this sand pail. I opened up the bottle to read the message. Now my kids gifts make more sense. I am going on a cruise! Now I get 5 days off!! Oh ya and I didn't have to make my own birthday cake either. He got a carrot cake and a spice cake. I have to say he covered all his bases. I love you babe! Thanks

4th of July

The 4th was a ton of fun. We had some friends come over for BBQ. We laughed and ate until about 8:30 then it was off to Powell Park for the fireworks. We got there just in time to sit behind a huge tree. We thought the fireworks would come from a different direction. No, we were wrong. We all had to get up and move. Luckily they had a road closed off right by us so we just moved into the street.Carter was obsessed with the motorcycles. He loved them!
Of coarse something always has to go wrong for Jae. Brandon parked so far away that by the time we walked to the park Jaelynn had two huge blisters on her feet. She was cranky the rest of the night.

Cashton didn't mind the noise at all. He did great.
(As long as he had his puffs.)

Jaelynn learned something new over the weekend. We were watching some tv when Jae came around from the kitchen with her tongue hanging out. She wasn't crying and there hadn't been any loud noise so Brandon and I were very confused. We kept asking her what happened but we couldn't understand her due to the tongue hanging out of her mouth. Then it clicked with me. Our friend had made homemade ice cream and it was in a metal container. I went to the freezer to find this.

It looked to me that she tried it more than once. So my three year old now knows ice cream can be dangerous ;)

Teeth!

I am not sure if you are able to see his teeth from this picture but Cashton sure let us know that they were coming. He finally has two little teeth. He is so over this baby food and wants some real food.
He just doesn't understand how nervous solids make me. So far so good on the "puffs". In a few weeks when he hits 9 months I will try some meat. Then I am sure the smile will come back!

We made it!!!!

So I know that I gained 5 pounds the week my family was here. That is all we did was eat. Or should I say that is all I did. Everyday for lunch they tried something new. Thanks to the food network channel and their episode on wings, the boys had a craving for them. And Mr. P's did not disappoint. We had those for an evening snack 3 or 4 times. Of course you have to have you some BBQ when you come to Memphis. It took Cashton a little time to love the ribs
Oh yes, and then we swam. So we did two things while my family was here!This is Garen my B-I-L trying to do some cool moves.

I was really bummed. I realized Thursday that I hadn't taken any pictures. So I don't have as many as I would like.

It was a lot of fun having my family here. Once the kids went to bed the adults had some pretty good times. Brandon and I lost the not so newly wed game. My little sister had us play a game that no one wanted to play. But after 15 minutes no one wanted to stop. It was a blast and I am missing everyone terribly. Thanks everyone for coming all the way out here!

And here we go...

My family is coming tomorrow and I am so excited!! Everyone will be here except for one family. Let's count...that is 24 people. This should be fun! It has been nice because it has given me a reason to get my house put together. I am sure I will bombard you with the pictures in a couple of weeks.

Here is Jae and her "best friend" that lives down the street. They are so cute! I love listening to their conversations. They make me laugh so hard.

Carter has been a very busy kid lately. He graduated from Ms. Becky's 4yrs class on Wednesday. He loved her as his teacher. He has learned so much this year it is crazy. He also finished swimming lessons Wednesday. He can swim!! The first month he cried, the second he was getting the hang of it, and the third month he passed up Jae. I am so proud of him. Brandon signed him up for T-ball again this year. Games are Tuesdays and Fridays with practice on Saturdays. Sorry, I thought this was just T-ball. I guess they are pretty serious about their sports in the South


About 3 weeks ago Carter decided he wanted his training wheels off. I was a bit nervous but after a day he was all over the place. His new trick now is to ride by you and give you high five. I don't know if you can tell in the picture but it was pouring down outside and I couldn't get him off.

We all went on a walk and Carter found a dandelion that had gone to seed. He picked it then gave it to me to make a wish. I told him I didn't know what to wish for. So he says, "I know mom, you can wish for another baby". WHAT! The next day he told me that if we get a girl he is going to name her Sofia. But if it is a boy he is going to name him Dodge, like Grandpa's truck.

I just had to put a picture of him. Now if someone can guarantee another one like him. I would make that wish.

HALLEUJAH!!!!!!!!!

My big girl is not afraid of the toilet!!! My wish came true. After swimming lessons I put panties on her for the ride home. When we got home I was getting the bath ready and she told me that she needed to go. So instead of putting a diaper on her I just grabbed her and put her on the toilet. That was 8 days ago and the last accident she had was Saturday. I am in Heaven.

Here are some updated pics of the kids. I have been really lucky in that Carter and Jae have welcomed Cashton with open arms since the beginning. They are so good to him. Carter "babysat" for me the other day while I got in the shower. He loves to be in charge. I told him to make sure he entertained Cashton and he would get paid. I love it when kids get excited over 4 quarters. I know that time is short.

Happy Birthday Jae!!

Oh my little princess! She turned 3 on March 28th and I am so behind on sharing her big day with everyone. When I asked her what kind of party she wanted all she said was a purple one. I never realized how hard it is to find purple things. All her friends came dressed up in their favorite purple outfits. We had purple cake with purple frosting on purple plates. She had purple punch to go with their not so purple pizza. She had a blast.

We had a little family birthday party and Jaelynn's aunt Aly had the best candles she has ever had on a cake. She loved it. As she was blowing out her candles all I could think of was, please wish that you won't be scared that the toilet will eat you. When is this child going to give me a break?! Nothing comes easy with this little diva. I have bribed her with everything you can think of. Ever since she was about 14 months old she will stand in front of the toilet, lift up her shirt, and hold her belly button. She stands there waiting for the pee to come out. She won't give up. She promises me that she has a "girl penis" and one day it will work. I have no idea where to go with that information. Oh, how I love her!

Carter decided that he wanted his hair to look like dads. So I got the clippers out and shaved the top off. It is hard to tell in the picture but it looked pretty close. Carter wasn't happy about it. He said that he could still feel hair on the top. He wanted it smooth like dads.

This month has been crazy but fun!

A pretty full weekend.

Yesterday the kids started swimming lessons. We were pretty nervous to see how Carter would handle things. Again, I was still not feeling well so Brandon took them. Carter started to cry as soon as he walked into the building, which of course means Jaelynn needed to start too. Me being there would've only made things worse. Brandon said by the end of their lesson, they didn't want to leave. This coach Rob is pretty tricky. He knows what he is doing and the kids seem to like him. Thanks Lyndie for the referral.

We got snow again!!! This time there was enough to make a decent size snowman. Jae really liked this guy. I was sick in bed so I was watching them from out of my window and Jae was patting his back with her hand while she laid on his shoulder. Carter destroyed him 10 minutes after he was built. Two very different personalities.

So...I have been told Cashton isn't the only Cashton. I thought that it was pretty unique. (a city in Wisconsin) I was at Kinko's the other night getting this picture printed and the lady helping us said that one of her relatives has a Cashton. Someone else told me that there is one in our stake. And again my mother in law found a website of up and coming names and it was on that. I am a little sad but I will get over it.

I have to brag just a little

I never have pictures with me and the kids since I am the one always taking the pictures. But this time Jae decided that she would be the photographer. The exposure is a little much but at least she didn't cut my head off. Cashton will be 4 months old next week and it has me in tears. Time goes by way too fast. He is a very happy baby. He smiles with his whole face. I believe he is going to be the odd ball with brown hair and brown eyes but he is a twin to Brandon. Have you ever had someone look at you and you get the sense that they know more about you than you do? Or know exactly what you are thinking. That is Cashton with me. He knows when I need a smile. And his smiles will change your whole day. Oh how I wish I could read his mind. The love that a mother has for her children or any child for that matter is indescribable. I am so very grateful to be allowed to have them in my life. The only way I have been able to comprehend the love my parents have for me is having the opportunity to feel that love that comes with each child I have received. My life is wonderful. I have a loving Husband that is my best friend and would do anything for me, and three great kids that love me, even with all of my faults.

The Unit!!

Okay so my life has been consumed with this show. Some good friends of ours got us hooked on it. He had season one that we borrowed and finished pretty quick. Then it was a race to Blockbuster to get season 2. I am not sure if I should tell Jay and Mary thank you or not since now I am staying up until midnight watching these knowing that my beautiful little boy could decide to wake up at anytime. :) If you haven't seen it you should definitely give it a try. I love it. It is worth staying up for so thanks guys!

School Closed!?

So this is ALL it takes to close down schools out here! Yes I know you can still see the grass through the snow. This is the second time this year we have had snow. The first time it melted so fast that I didn't even have time to take a picture of it. This is another reason why I love where I live. Every so often you get a few moments to play in the snow but never have to shovel it . My first experience here with snow what sooo funny to me. It was our first Sunday and we went outside to get in the car and noticed that it had snowed about an inch or 2 over night and by this time it had turned to slush on the roads. We turned onto a busier street and noticed that we were pretty much the only people on the road except for a car that had run off the road and a police officer that looked like his head was going to pop off as he was throwing his arms in the air telling us we need to slow down. Well we couldn't find the ward building so Brandon called his uncle who lived 5 min from us to ask for directions. This was his response " What are you doing outside? We are snowed in over here at our place. You need to get home and off these roads, church has been canceled." All we could do was laugh. Coming from Utah when it took what 5 feet of snow to cancel anything was very funny to us. I guess what they are scared of most is when it freezes it because they are not set up with trucks to salt the roads. You just have to wait for the sun to melt it.