Christmas program

 Yes Kaydens hand rested right there for the first part of the program.  Boys will be boys right?

Kayden and Riley had their Christmas Program last week.  They did The Littlest Christmas tree.  Riley was the littlest Christmas tree and Kayden played a kid.  I wasn't expecting much just a cute little show.  I have to say I have never laughed so hard!  Kayden was so funny.  For a few days prior to the show they were both practicing and Kayden kept saying his teacher told them they had to belt it out so everyone could hear and they had to bow after.  He took that very literal.  He sang so loud you couldn't hear anyone else and he knew ALL the words, even when everyone forgot he sang loud and clear.  And after every song he bowed like a little prince.  It was so cute I was so proud.  Everyone loved it.  Riley actually did really well.  She is so shy I was expecting her to run off crying.  But she stood there and sang.  Toward the end she did get her normal Riley scowl but hung in until the end.  When I get the video I will post it. 

Christmas

I can't believe it is almost Christmas.  Kayden and Riley are so excited!  They have seen Santa a few times.  We went to the lighting ceremony they have here and Santa came.  The kid sat on his lap and after we were walking away Kayden started crying saying he wasn't getting his toy.  I thought the was thinking Santa gave him his toy there but he was crying because he didn't actually tell Santa what he wanted so now he wouldn't get his present.  It was pretty cute.  Since then we saw Santa again and it's all squared away! 

 A little ( a lot) of rain doesn't stop people in Washington from going out!

Pictures

One Year Old

It is really hard for me to believe an entire year has gone by since Luke was born! November 14 of last year I remember how hard it was with my c section dilemma and him being in the NICU.  It seems like forever ago but then again I still remember it like yesterday.  We had a little party with just us.  He played with balloons and loved his cake.  Of course the trash was so much funner to play with than his presents!

 

Luke is doing really well.  We met with a geneticist and they said he has nothing genetically wrong with him, just something got mixed up really early in pregnancy and the bone didn't grow.  He is still pretty small even for adjusted age.  He is only 16 pounds and was 15 pound at his 9 mo check up.  We are not so worried because he is developing just fine, but his Pediatrician wants us to meet with a feeding specialist to make sure everything is good.  He meets with an Occupational Therapist every other week to help him learn to use his arm with everyday things.  We found out his ankles turn in so we had some orthodics made for him to wear to help him stand better and learn to walk.  He is starting to cruise the furniture.  He is so funny because he gets so frustrated at things so easily.  If there is anything in his way he will scream a scream that pretty much says," get that thing out of my way!!"  He also gets so mad at Kayden and Riley for getting to do and eat things he can't.  It's pretty cute.  We meet with his Orthopedic Doc this month to see what to do about his arm.

4 Years old!

 

I cannot believe my "babies" are 4!  We didn't do a party since we are still pretty new to the area and we don't know many people.  So we went out to a really fun dinner and came home and had cupcakes and opened presents.  Of course no celebration would be complete without some disaster.  About an hour before we were going to go to dinner Riley was playing with a balloon and jumped to grab it, slipped and landed chin first on the edge of a stool.  At first I though she was find until she looked up and moved her hand from her mouth, blood was coming out like crazy.  It freaked me out because she looked really creepy.  I looked in her mouth and her 2 front teeth were loose and the 2 side ones next to it were chipped.  She is fine now and her teeth are almost completely secure. 

Kayden couldn't be more of a boy.  He loves super hero's, action figures, video games ad trains.  He loves to read, he will make up his own story if I can't read it to him. 

Riley is all girl!  She loves anything pink or sparkly.  She loves barbies and babies.  She loves to pretend play.  She is very independent, she does not want help with ANYTHING, she can do it all herself. 

New Computer...

A little over 2 years ago our lap top died, well the kids actually broke it in half, either way it was done with.  We have our main computer hooked to our T.V. and it was always a pain to get on to do anything other than watch movies.  We got a little net book, but that was nearing it end too, so for the last 8 months we have just been using our iPad, that is why I have not updated this blog, not because I am lazy :)  Since I have started school and do it online I really needed a new laptop.  It finally arrived so I can now blog and upload pictures much easier.

First day of Preschool

On rainy days they like to build an obstacle course.  It's all fun and games until Luke gets in the way!

Things in Washington have been good.  The rain really doesn't bother me, the facts it is dark by 4:30 kills me.  In September Kayden and Riley started pre school.  I was lucky to find a good one that was 3 days a week and Fridays are swimming lessons.  They love swimming days, Riley more than Kayden.  They are getting good, I am lucky it is included with the school payment.  It has been nice to have a 2 1/2 break to spend time with Luke or clean the house, like it really stays clean, or do homework. 

Long overdue post...

A lot has happened in the last five months.  I have really been slacking on my blog updates. 

Luke has been growing like crazy.  He is 9 months old now and almost wieghs 15 pounds.  He is finally sitting up.  He is also cutting more teeth so he has been in such an wonderful mood. (sarcasm)

Kayden and Riley start preschoool on September 5th.  They will be going M W F.  Fridays are swimming days which I am excited for.  They had swimming lessons the first of August and were sad when it was over so having it be a part of school will be nice.

This past April Zach got into SMTP (store manager training program) for Lowes.  I was so proud of him he worked hard for it.  It took him to NC for 2 weeks home for a few weeks then back to NC.  When he got done with it we new there was the possibility of relocating.  At first I was not happy with that.  I did not enjoy New Mexico and really didn't want to leave Utah.  I felt like we worked so hard to get back to Utah and the kids had their cousins and we had our family so close.  But I was willing to move if it was right.  We ended up having the option of Colorado.  I thought that was going to be the place to go until he had an offer for Washington (state)  At first I said NO!!  My first thought was Twilight and how the sun NEVER shined. After thinking about it though it felt like the right thing to do.  We excepted the position and were off the Longview, Wa.  Even though Lowes moved us it was still stressful to get everything ready to go.  Then there was the long 14 hour drive with 3 kids.  Luckily my Mom helped me get there!

After I have been here a month....I LOVE it!  Best decision we could have made.  The summers here are so wonderful!  The most perfect weather.  I know the rain is coming and I am enjoying every minute of the sun!  Kayden and Riley also seem to be happy here.  We found a great place that had swimming lessons.  10 days in a row.  Kayden and Riley loved it and can't wait for more!  Luke had a hard time in a new place but has finally settled into a routine.

There are so many things to do here and we are so close to Portland.  There are parks EVERYWHERE!  We never get sick of going to a new park (well the kids don't)  The beach is only an hour and a half away.  We have gone three times and loved it.  It's so green!  I cannot wait for the leaves to turn this fall.  our entire street is lined with huge old trees!

at the squirrel festival ( yes i said squirrel festival)

swimming lessons

parade at the squirrel festival

cannon beach

Zach is working really hard settling into being the boss.  Some days are better but he is happy we made move. 

cute kids

Luke and cousin Madison

Surgery date

We met with the Orthopedic Doctor. He gave us a surgery date of Sept. 19th. That will be his first one. Luckily he said his wrist was not as stiff as he thought so we can skip the first surgery of expanding the tissue. So on Sept 19th they will go in and attach his wrist to the ulna bone (normally our wrist is connected to the radius) then they will rearrange his muscle and tendons to try to straighten out the wrist. Then 1-3 months late they will move the pointer finder over to make a thumb so he can learn to pick things up. The wrist won't stay straight forever, it will eventually start to turn back in but he of course won't know the difference! Luckily this surgery is an out patient surgery and he will be home the same day, but still really really not looking forward to it. He is doing great with it though, he has discovered can get his fingers in his mouth. Although he prefers his thumb on his right hand. He had a brace made for him to wear at night to stretch the tissue a little more. But by morning it is off and lost in bed. He had an x ray while at the Doctors. It looks so odd to have that bone missing!

4 Months

Luke is 4 months already! Time really does fly by. He had his check up and he is 8 pounds 12 ounces. Some of you may say "he is so tiny" but until you have seen and held a 2 pound 8 ounce baby, you have no idea what small is. We had someone ask " how many weeks is he?" Zach was like " uh, 16" :) My very cute niece was born at 8lbs 8 oz. Luke is doing great. His head control is awesome and he is so smiley all the time. That really throws people off. We can start solids in 2 1/2 weeks! Kayden is so so about Luke but Riley loves him. She always wants to sit by him and she puts her baby next to him and always tell him stuff like " when you get bigger and bigger you can share my toys"