My little lady

Where has the time gone? How am I making preprations for Kindergarten? Just amazing! My headstrong, sometimes difficult little girl has been replaced with a sweet, happy, smilie, cooperative big girl and I just want to keep her at this age forever! Every age has had it's ups and downs... but I think every age I've said "no, this is my favorite age" but really, I do think this is my favorite age. :) Kaid wears 5 very well. That is, until we take her to get shots. Oh, I'm not going to even go into how AWFUL her 5 year appointment was - I can't re-live that. But you've all been at the doctors office and heard "that kid" screaming their head off in the room next to you... well, yes, that WAS MY KID. Picture me and a nurse about my size struggleing to hold down a very STRONG, determied, madder than a hornet kid after the Doctor just told her she had to get shots. Wow. I was in a hot sweat, but at least we got those 4 shots in her.... finally. Yeah, that's all I'm going to discuss about that day. Not fun. Funny though how the past week being grounded from the TV has really made her not ask for it much today... I guess she realized that not everything fun revolved around the tv!

Anyway - at 5 my baby girl weighs 42lbs (60th percetile) and is 46 inches tall (90th) (she cooperated PERFECTLY for this part of the visit. Thank GOD!)

Yesterday she had her Kindergarten screaning and I could not have been prouder of her. She did amazing and was able to do many things that the teacher said most of the kids wern't able to do at this age. They had to stop her when she was counting because she was going way beyond where they stop screening for and they said they usually know about 10 letters, upper and lowercase and she knew 22 of each. Scored 100% on her rhyming words and most kids score about 50%. She even... get this.... was asked to have her picture taken by someone she didn't know (so the bus driver will know her face) and she went up there and SMILED for the picture! WOW - I about fell over! For those of you who don't know her too well, this is a huge step for my kid who does not like strangers! So yes, I was a proud proud momma yesterday and I can't wait to see how well she does next year. She's going to love it.

Way to go Kaid!

New Beginings with old friends

Wow - the memories! One of my roomies from college is about to have her first baby, so we all got to see each other for her shower. What a fun time. I don't know if she anticipated us staying as long as we did, but I think she was secretly glad when I broke up the party because I had to get a little nap in before working that night! :) So fun catching up and getting to see her new house for the first time!

Ashley (she's also expecting her first), Tia, Kristin, me, Niki and LeeAnne

Kristin at about 36 weeks with baby Liam! Can't wait to meet the little guy!

Since I was going straight from the March for babies to the shower Kaid got to go with me and LeeAnne also brought her little cutie, Jenna. She's getting so big - I can't believe she's already 6 months old!

I told LeeAnne Thanks for bringing her baby to entertain my daughter and she was thankful I brought Kaid to entertain her baby! They played great together!

Congrats Kristin and Andy - can't wait to meet him!

Marching for babies

This past Sunday morning a bunch of us work galls got together for a great cause. March of Dimes, if you don't know about it, is all about finding a "cure" for prematurity. Whether it's because of an Incompetent Cervix like me, or Pre-eclampsia like my friend Krista, or Preterm labor like many we know. Whatever the reason - they want to find the fix so no babies have to struggle and be born early and parents don't have to go through the heartbreak when their baby dies because of prematurity. What a great cause! The rainy weather held off for us!

Just a few of the girls...

Most of the girls did the 5K walk, but those of us who had kids along did the 1K for obvious reasons! It didn't seem long enough though! Next year I think I will leave the kids at home and do the 5 mile!

What an amazing site. So many people there for one cause. How cool.

Mommy and sis after the walk getting some free food!

Then we went to play in the Kids Zone! Kaid and Sam had a blast!

Bouncing to a Birthday Party!

What a busy weekend we had (followed by a busy week so far!) It started off with a Birthday Party Saturday morning for Dylan and Ayden's 2nd Birthday party. Oh what fun!

We weren't even in the door before they were off and running to play! I didn't even see them much the entire time - SO BUSY! But was able to catch a couple of pictures in between runs.

Kaid helping Kason up the big slide for the first time.

yeah, it's a big one! Can you see Kason up at the top?

He looks terrified in this picture, but wanted to do it again and again!

Kaid's turn

Found a ball! Yay!

Bouncing!

The crew

Logan, Kaid, Luke

Olivia, Kason, Jacob

Ayden, Dylan, Ryan

Happy little cutie

I've never thought the twins looked much alike, but this picture you can definitely see some resemblance!

Dylan and Ayden

Kaid getting ready to chow

Kason and Ryan sitting and eating like big boys!

Kaid had no clue what her mouth looked like! haha Note to self, do not get a cake with black frosting!

I think the boys had a fun party and I know my kids had a blast! What a fun place to go!

Retail therapy

My threats worked! :) Here are the pictures from our girls weekend shopping getaway a few weeks back.

This was when we met up at the outlets before we took off on our spree!

Lu, Me, Lisa and Lisa T

and a gracious bystander offered to take our picture so Kimmy and her belly could jump in the picture

Our tour guide, Floyd

This is what you have to go through to earn your way into the family. Lisa T was going to take our bags out to the car while we did some more shopping but we ended up walking the same direction and it looked so funny POOR Lisa carrying all the bags. So glad we took her along! :)

Then we went to get our hotel. There must have been some kind of sporting event in the area because the nice hotels we were planning on going to were BOOKED! Who would have thought! So, we found a Super 8 and that was our home that night. We (or maybe it was just me?) thought it was hilarious that there were ground hogs outside our open hotel window.

Hi there little guy

Eating dinner

That night as we were heading back to the hotel after eating and some more shopping, Lu was just "dehydrated" and had to stop and get some water. So, we ran into Walmart to grab some bottled water. As we walked in there were the most awful looking "pleather" pants and just awesome t-shirts that went with it. We were standing there making fun of them and saying "who in the world would ever buy and wear this?!?!" Then we looked at the CLEARANCE $1 price at the top. We all started looking at each other and busted out laughing. Yep, I think we successfully embarrassed Lu!

So, this is ALL any of you get to see of these pictures... My shirt says "Call me" under the telephone booth, Lisa T's says "Cheers," Lisa's "I fall in love at least 2 times a day" and Kim's... well, lets just say looked great on that big belly. Great times, great girls.

Ahhh love this girl. She just cracks me up. Someday (soon?) she might just be Sister-in-law #6. :)

What a much needed get-away for all of us. Although being mommy is the most important, best thing in my life - it is wonderful to get away for a little while. And even better to know that they are having so much fun being with mimi, pop, Josh, Jody and Avery while I was gone. I hope it's not too long before we get to do this again!

I'm 22 months old!

tomorrow...

How is it that this little man is going to be 2 in TWO months!?  What a little blessing he is.  His smile is infectious, LOVES anyone and everyone who is willing to play, has such a sweet cuddly personality, yet is ALL boy and shows it!  What was life like before he came into our lives?

He is an ornery little guy.  Enough said there.  He is talking so much more now, but still isn't doing understandable sentances much yet.  I just love watching him work so hard to form those new words.  He's back to being his sweet pleasant self after his bottom 2 year molars are finally in.  Poor guy was a MESS last month with the pain from those darn teeth!  Glad he only has 2 more to go then they are all in!

Other fun things, he calls fish "bubble" and LOVES "nemo" and "cars" and any show with wheels... Cracks up when he's watchin the race with daddy and a car crashes... yep, he's all boy!  He can jump off the ground with both feet and makes the cutest basketball jump shot!  As you've seen, he's great at giving the "evil eye."  He does NOT like it when daddy tackles mommy or Kaid and we laugh and scream - the poor guy starts crying and yelling at daddy because he thinks he's hurting us - my little protector!  :)

He is very easy to get out of a bad mood, but yesterday morning he was sporting one for a little while...

"what are you lookin at?"

Why won't these things go on right?

Thanks for the help mom, that's better!

Found another pair of sunglasses... which ones fit me best?

Oh little man, you make our hearts smile.  Only 2 more months of being in a baby crib and *hopefully* of wearing diapers!  We will see how that goes!  (Doesn't he look like such a big boy with his new haircut?!)

Some fun

I've been a slacker in the picture taking area lately... but that's good for my scrapbooking since I won't have much to crop for April!  Here are a few pics from the past couple of weeks that I did take...

The women in Randy's family and I all went on a shopping weekend 2 weeks ago.  We had 2 days of shopping and even spent the night in a hotel and had a grand old time!  The kids had a blast too - they got to stay with Mimi and Pop and play and play and play with Avery!  So fun!

Being goof balls before leaving the last night.

Lazy bums watching TV.  If this was Kason's choice in movies it definately would be "Nemo" or "Cars" his favs. 

Last night our friends Lori and Josh came over to cook out.  (SO excited, Lori just got a job on my floor - so she's my co-worker once again!!  Yay!  and on an even better floor!)  Usually when we get together Kason just picks on Zoey... but as you can see here... only because he likes her!  SO SWEET!

haha  LOVE his expression here.  Trying to be SO cool, with his arm around his girl.

Yea, we're getting the pictures stocked up for their wedding slide show.  :)

Three buds saying CHEESE

Warning: you know who you are....

I'm STILL patiently waiting.... when will I get my pictures??  You have 3 days.  If I do not have pictures in my in-box in 3 days, you know what wil happen...

hehe

He is Risen!

Easter means new life and at our house means new toys too!  The kids got some great loot from that Easter Bunny, or as Kaid would say, "he's a tricky guy" (on in years past as she called him, the "rooster-bunny")  He always makes such a mess when he comes and Easter grass and eggs are everywhere!

Kaid checking out her goods.  Her favorite - a Leapster 2!  Yay!

Kason got lots of potty things and his favorite - trains!

After driving back to HC, then going to chuch we went to grandma and pa's to celebrate Easter and baby McKenzie's first birthday!

She has grown so fast!  We haven't gotten to see her as often as we did the other nieces and nephews when they were babies, so they grow even faster when you don't see them often!

Kason started crying out of the blue - only thing we could figure was that she was getting cake and he didn't have any.

So we gave the boy a cupcake!  Crisis over!

Getting ready for their 3rd Easter egg hunt of the weekend.  What a beautiful Easter day it was!

Kason, Kaid, AJ, McKenzie, Isaiah and Evanne

Who needs a basket?!

And I do believe I cought Kason giving Isaiah the "evil eye"  hehe

Kevin's girlfriend and the newest to the group, Lisa and McKenzie.

It's been a while since a picture like this was taken!  The family, minus the inlaws and grandkids.  They were all supposed to look "tough."  Evidently not everyone got the memo.

Kevin, Lu, Kirby, Randy, Paul, Kim

Mykeila, Missy

Now everyone is smiling.

Tough guys

They couldn't act for long... but now they all have their shades

Little birthday girl

And soon to be the newest addition to the clan.  My guess is another boy, but we will see in about 10 weeks!  (Aunt Kimmy thinks she's huge, but I still think she looks tiny and great for being 30 weeks!)

Heading to the woods for a walk with grandma... notice my kids keeping a very close eye on Ryot (Missy's new puppy)

Yep, then Kason freaks out!

Making sure that puppy is going away!

Daddy to the rescue

Uncle Chad went down to the creek and found some tiny Salamanders!  Kason wants to see.

Then wants to hold it!  What's wrong with this kid?

Kaid wants to see, then when asked if she wanted to hold it said, "uh no!  That's ok"  Aunt Lisa takes a peek also.

After a fun afternoon outside we headed to Mimi and Pop's for some more food and fun.

Kason didn't eat much other than a cupcake for lunch, so he was hungry and grabbed a bun.  hmmm... what is that in his nose?  Bread of course, what else would be inside a nose?  Ewwww

Our family

Then onto the kids 4th Easter egg hung.  Mimi hid 112 eggs and the kids had a blast trying to find them all.  Kason cracked me up - he was going around getting all of the ball colored easter eggs and solid easter eggs.  I pointed 3 more out to him.  He picked up the soccer ball and put it in his basket, then picked up the cupcake one, looked at it for a while, then threw it back down.  Then picked up the flower one, looked at it a bit, then thew it back down and walked away to find some others.  He's such a boy!

Finding some more!

Uncle Josh found some in the tree

I'm the King of the Mountain!

Play time before driving back home.