Four Month Round-Up

Four Months. It has been a busy four months since I’ve last shared our adventures, so get ready for a long recap and a few pictures. I think a post or ten of just pictures will be in order after this as well. Caden’s birthday came and went-it was fun and memorable. We were blessed to be surrounded by such great family and friends to celebrate him turning one. We had a fun carnival theme with hot dogs, sides, popcorn, cotton candy and games-can't get better than that, right?!

Caden is all over the place. So curious, so energetic and definitely knows what he wants-a blessing and a curse really. He’s ornery, yes, but just so determined and with communication being there, but not totally being there, it causes for some minor breakdowns here and there. I think we’re working well with trying to be patient in his communications. Caden knows what he wants, that’s not the problem, it’s if we can figure it out sometimes that is the hard part. Luckily for you, there's nothing a good thumb sucking while holding your foot (with sock only) can't solve.

We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary this year. I’m actually trying to remember what we even did now, maybe dinner and a movie? We had that, my birthday and Gary’s 10 year reunion all in one month so it went pretty fast. Mom brought me lunch for my birthday and Erin sent me some pretty flowers-both super nice:) We were able to tour the school for his reunion which was pretty school. Talk about ‘north side tour’.

Our anniversary actually fell on a Tuesday, and just so happened to be the first day of a 10 week bible study that I did with Amber and Katie. It was a study on the tabernacle by Beth Moore. I really like her and the way she teaches, but had no clue how in-depth the study would be. There were plenty of moments that I think were a bit over my head, maybe just deeper for the older women there that have been on their spiritual journey (for a lack of better words) longer than I have, but despite it being that in-depth I continued to walk away every Tuesday night feeling so moved. Even throughout the weekly study part I was constantly feeling God really speak to me and be able to point out areas I can grow in or areas that have been a struggle. To say it was a positive journey doesn’t even start to cover it. I am so glad that Amber and I got to really grow closer as friends together through it all-she is an awesome person and I love that I can really relate to her despite our different walks in life; such a good friend and so glad God placed her in my life and to be able to experience that together.

 We ventured out to Applejacks Pumpkin Patch this year. We met Toby, Denai and kiddos out there and had a good time. I think next year will be a bit better because Caden will be able to be that much more independent. Probably the story of all one year olds? Just at that age where he can and does want to do it all, but you have to help him...even when it means climbing up a ridiculously sleep hill and down a jankity slide multiple times or trying to hold on tight while on a big bouncy inflatable. Not really bucket list adventures, but I know that one day I'll look back and miss him and other future babes needing my help and wanting me there for that matter. Yikes, that's a sad thought-let's skip to the pictures and just look forward to next years jankity slide.

We also painted pumpkins instead of carving them. You and your buddy Caysen are only a week apart-and both ended up with paint all over. It was fun for you guys and fun for us to get your guys together-need to do it more often!

Halloween fell into the last minute category. Per usual for these last four months it seems. My mom got this donkey type costume for Caden last year, and it fit well enough, but he did not like the hood part being up, which was the whole costume. So that wasn’t going to work. We didn’t really want to spend money on a five minute ordeal, and ended up not even going trick-or-treating. We will next year, I promise, but this was during a stage where I would get home close to 5:30 and he would be ready for bed 6/6:30. So time was limited and trick-or-treating just didn’t fit in this year. We did dress up shortly, and lamely, for Grandma Wendy and Grumpo’s house…it was an attempt at doing something at least…Caden was our coach. Such a sad realization at how much a toddler really does call the shots sometimes. But not as sad as the last minute sharpy to shirt. But hey, he loved the whistle that he got out of the deal!

We threw Katie and Caleb a friends baby shower/cookout a few weeks before Calvin was due. It was so much fun-we haven't been able to get all our good friends together for a long time. It was a great turnout. Great friends, food and yummy sangria-can't go wrong! The camera went off more than planned and caught us all off guard-couldn't stop laughing at the reactions! Katie did wonderful throughout the whole delivery-she’s one tough cookie! I didn’t expect to feel this strong of a love for a child that was not mine, I’m sure I felt that way for my nieces and nephews, but the youngest of those is four so it’s been a few years. I knew I would love the little guy, but I think the bond that I have with Katie just amplified it. I can’t wait to see him grow up, Calvin and Caden develop a friendship (there is no choice in this by the way, boys-you both will be besties) and hope that God truly does bless him and his parents. They are such great friends to us-I never want to lose that.

We got in some family pictures for the Lee’s this year. It was great to be able to get some good pictures of everyone together. Serena really has an awesome talent and pulled it all together so well. It’s always stressful trying to arrange pictures. Who will wear what, where to take them, who will be happy/tired, how will the weather be…all those silly things we dwell on. In reality, I think we should focus more on the fact that we have all our family nearby, healthy and that we’re even able to do this. Hard to do that when you want your 15 month old to be super happy and smile perfect at just the right moment. Yeah-totally realistic goals there, huh?! I think after our 6 month pictures (my fault of really wanting it outside on a cold and super windy day) my sister told me that family pictures are almost doomed to fail-compared to the picture perfect idea we have in our heads. Luckily-Serena is a magician at this and has always somehow pulled out some good ones. Mind over matter on this one—more family pictures will be happening in the future I’m sure, hopefully I can relax more and we can remember to have fun in the ones to come. 

Thanksgiving was good-Yaya and Bubba spent Thanksgiving in Arizona with family this year so we just stuck to the Lee’s side for the day of. Lots of yummy food and family-just can’t beat that. Started to share a chest cold around then between the three of us, which is always fun-but not bad, could be worse. We camped out at Erin and Ben’s the Friday-Saturday after Thanksgiving with Wesley, Bethany and Shepherd while they were on a trip. Fun was had by all-lots of Garfield and games, everyone did great and it’s always nice to have that bonus time with them. 

I was able to get out, despite feeling cruddy, the following Saturday night for a bachelorette party with some good friends. It was fun to get away and have a care-free night with the girls. Much needed and always good to get that time away and in with these fun gals!

I took on the task to make quilts for Robyn, Gracey and Huck for their Christmas presents. The first one I made was for Calvin-it turned out cute; I couldn’t have done it without the help of Erin. She’s a good and patient teacher, and funny-that’s always a bonus when you’re frustrated because the sewing machine has decided to hate you. She also gave me guidance to making a huge, extra-soft blanket for awesome Laura. All the love and care she provides to Caden during the times that we work means more than I can say. He loves it there and it provides a lot of comfort that he does. Each day is a struggle having to leave him-not sure if that will ever get easier, but at least we are blessed to have such a great place to take him to. Her and her kiddos show him love and kindness-and she’s a pro with ‘strong-willed’ boys which is awesome!

We ventured out to the Lights at Botanica this year. It was beautiful. I couldn’t believe how many lights there were. We went with my parents and it went well-unfortunately went later than we had initially planned so that didn’t really play in our favor, but oh well-live and learn.

 

I was able to have off most of Christmas week. It was priceless. Christmas Eve we went to church and to my sisters and spent that evening with my family. Caden took on sleeping in ever since he stayed up later Christmas Eve, so that was an added bonus of the vacation time. Christmas Day was so nice. Just the three of us at home, nothing to do, nowhere to go, and some new toys to play with-that time with Caden and Gary was great. We never get that on the weekends-always have family to see or something to do, which is fine, but just to be able to stop and enjoy our time together was nice. We always say we need to slow done, say sorry to folks and just be more selfish-hopefully we can do this more this next year and years to come. Time flies by way to fast and I don’t want to ever look back wishing we had slowed down more. …anywho…the day after Christmas was spent at Gary’s parents with his side of the family. It was a fun day-we got there late morning and stayed until late afternoon. Caden napped, but not long so he was a tired boy once we got home. 

The rest of our break was simple-days home which were nice. Got house cleaned, carpets cleaned (never thought I would enjoy cleaning the carpet but man it’s good to have that done!) and we were able to have a double date night with Toby and Denai Friday night. First time for me to try Wichita Brewing Company out west-yummy pizza, drinks and good company is always a win. Saturday night we got some good mother/sister time in at Erin’s while working out our Thai quilt. After a lot of struggle trying to do math-we figured that we had 280 squares made, so sewed 560 annoying triangles together-maybe about 50 of those previously done. Whewie. Good thing they are such good company and there was snacks to go with!

Okay-this is enough of a round up for now. This week and NYE post can wait since it’s only Tuesday. Note to self: keeping up with the blog will be much easier than recapping four months. Happy 2013 to us-we’re thankful for all God has given us, struggles and triumphs alike-he.is.GOOD.