The stats are in....

Has it already been a year??? I swear just yesterday I was big and fat and miserably pregnant making myself a castor oil cocktail to get this guy here.  And now he's ONE?!  Wow.  I just took him in for his one year appointment and poor thing got himself 6 pokes!  4 shots and one blood draw (which turned into 2).  But here are his stats....

At one years old Preston.... 

 - weighs 20.5 lbs (25th percentile)

 - 29 inches tall (25th percentile)
 - head cirmcumference - can't remember, but in the 75th percentile :)

 - has 12 teeth (yes twelve! Paige actually beat him with 16 teeth at one years old)  

 - is almost walking!  I'm certain we'll get there in the next couple of weeks (fingers crossed!)

 - is still doing the funny one legged crawl (I like to call it The Hobble)

 - is pretty much into everything

 - has been sleeping all night for the past 7 months (duh. He's my baby.  My babies sleep...or else :) 

 - loves ALL food.  Seriously can't think of ONE thing he's ever refused.

 - has the most sensitive skin EVER

 - has the cutest smile and laugh EVER

 - can say "Mama" "Ni' Ni'" "Dada" and "Nana" (does he know what he's saying? Not as sure)

 - is really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really precious
 - oh, and one other thing that is so funny to watch is how delicate he is when he picks up things.  He uses his thumb and pointer finger and is so CAREFUL when he grabs it.  The other night we had peas with dinner and he picked up each and every pea individually without squishing one!  He's going to be a world renowned surgeon, I just know it!

I didn't exactly throw a big celebration (as in a party) for him.  BUT, I did sing "happy birthday" to him several times throughout the day.  Oh and I gave him a package of new onesies...AND a new sippy cup.  Exciting?  I think I made up for it by going ALL OUT with this most fabulous and beautiful CAR cake that I made all by myself, albeit a "clunker" and not so much Lightning McQueen which was the plan.  (And it's RED not PINK, got it??)  Either way, Caiden thinks I'm THE best cake maker ever and thinks I should go on the show Cake Boss.  Thanks bud. 

Grandma and Grandpa Gubler came over and gave him this GREAT present.  As you can see he was a happy camper!

Then it was time for cake, and I so was hoping that I'd have a baby that dives into the cake and makes a terrible mess.  Preston did a pretty good job. The thing with him is he really liked the cake so much he actually succeeded in getting most of it in his mouth with not as much left to make a mess with.  It really only took a few seconds for him to eat his entire piece.  This boy can eat!

Happy Birthday! We love you Preston (aka Booga Man, Boogie, Boogz, and Boogzie)!!

Hello?

The other day I was in the office and I heard a series of grunts and groans coming from Preston, which once translated, I know to mean "I could use a little help here!"  So I walked in the playroom and found this sweet little face peering up at me.

Apparently Caiden and Paige used the play kitchen to "corner" him in so he would stop getting into their stuff. They were at least kind enough to give him some toys back there.  But then they just left, and poor Preston was trying to figure out where the heck everyone went.  Just had to get a picture :)

As I've mentioned before, I'm doing quite a bit of "updating" in our house.  I had taken the door off to the office so I could paint it and this simple little door hinge has provided HOURS of entertainment for Preston.  He flaps it back and forth a million bajillion times and it never gets old.  Why again do I spend money on toys?

And speaking of the updating I have officially finished the family room!  I'm so excited!!  I totally plan to take a picture and post some before-and-afters.  Not that anyone out there probably cares too much but I feel it is important to my sanity to see these pictures from time-to-time so that 1.) I have motivation to continue throughout the house and 2.) I have motivation to continue throughout the house.  Next up....the kitchen!  (Oh my, as I am typing this Preston is literally back to flapping the door hinge.)

In other news, I turned 30.  Yep.  The big fat 3-0!  I am no longer in my twenties.  BUT, I must say, my sweet family really spoiled me.  So much that I've decided to turn 30 all over again next year!  First I woke up to a dozen pink flowers (that Paige picked out) a dozen donuts (that Caiden picked out.  I only ate one - can't turn thirty AND fat in the same day) and then my sweet hubs gave me a card (which I want to mention was a Twilight singing card - loved it) full of money!  Loved that too!  Then he and I went to the Tri-Cities alone and shopped to our hearts content :)  Casey's birthday was just a couple of weeks ago too, so he had some birthday money just beggin' to be spent.  And a pair of ski boots later, it was.  Oh and we went to P.F. Chang's and ate to our hearts content.  And we had so much leftover that we ate it again the next day and wouldn't share with the kids.  That's what OLD grumpy farts do right?


Now, before you see the next picture, let me explain.  I'm a good mom.  Really I am.  My kids are LOVED.  But.....accidents happen I tell ya!  (This was a while ago before Preston was even crawling, but I finally just got it transferred from my phone).  Now, because I love my child and he loves me ALOT and screams when we're not in the same room together, I tend to take him everywhere I go throughout the house...even when I'm cleaning.  He happens to really enjoy watching me do laundry.  So I was putting a load in the washer and he was sitting on top of the dryer watching me put the clothes in (like he's done a million times).  And I'm right there so he can't fall off.  I'm right there! Practically touching him! Well, I turned for just one second - ONE SECOND - to grab some clothes that fell on the floor.....and I swear the next thing I know I'm holding him by his ankle as he had FALLEN INTO THE WASHER!!  Now, I have a top loader (obviously) with the giant thing in the middle and so I'm trying to pull him out but he's freaking out, flailing limbs and all (except for the one ankle I had hold of), and I don't know if you've noticed, but he's got himself a nice-sized melon of head and I was seriously strugglin' to pull it out!  But finally I did.....and he wasn't happy.  I was almost in tears myself and spent the next several hours apologizing to him.  Unbelievable.  Who has memories of literally pulling their kids out of a washer?  Probably just me.  I still don't know how it happened. He would always just sit and watch the water run while I filled it with clothes.  And just to clarify, it hadn't filled up yet.  I guess he just wanted a closer look, and boy did he get one!  At least it was a soft landing on the clothes, just not as soft being pulled out.  Dang big head of his!

I'm so sorry baby.  I love you. 

A lot to be GRATEFUL for.....

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  We made sure to honor some of our favorite traditions....

Gingerbread houses, the reading of The Night Before Christmas (done by Caiden this year, who did a great job :) and of course we open one present, which is always Christmas jammies which the kids always wish is a toy.  Never gonna happen kids!

Preston was completely content with wrapping paper, boxes, a loose orange that fell out of someone's stocking and a plastic candy cane.  I totally took advantage of this easy-pleasing baby and bought him....nothing.  What more did he need????  But Grandma was nice and got him a walker....which I think it's safe to say he likes it.  

As for Paige, she fell in love with this doll.  It came with an armoire with several outfits and may I just say it is the most organized "dresser" in this house.  After we opened presents and were getting ready for Church, she was laying in my bed with her doll and Caiden was reading a book, and I heard Paige whisper "I just love you" (to her doll, not her brother).  It made me smile.  And chuckle a little too :)

And Mr. Caiden got himself a new pair of skis and boots.  Shhhh...nobody tell him they're actually used and not new at all.  Hey, come on.  Gotta save a buck somewhere.  He is SO SO excited to go skiing with his dad.  And no, he did not get a new phone.  He's eight, who does he need to talk to? Casey got a new phone for his birthday and gave Caiden his old one (except without the phone part).  It is solely for games and guess what?  I already want to throw it out the window after having smashed it into a thousand pieces with a hammer.  It's no secret I'm not a fan of video games, but alas, they have them.  However, they are strictly regulated by ME and it is my new favorite thing to take away when they are misbehaving.  In that sense, it works wonders :)

Speaking of skiing, the kids were so excited, they convinced Casey to run around the backyard pulling them on skis.  They had a blast.  Caiden even built a "jump" and was pushing Paige over it....who loved it :)

Sitting through church on Christmas Day, I couldn't help but feel how blessed my family is.  In every aspect of life.  I couldn't help but think of those out there who were NOT having a "special" Christmas Day with their families and maybe all alone and maybe this was, in fact, one of the worst days of their life.  Next year, I am determined to make a new tradition of having the kids buy or donate gifts or time or something to others.  I think it's an important experience they need in their life.  Yep. That's it. I'm gonna do it.  It's officially in writing!  A couple years ago when I was Primary Pres., we decided as a presidency to put together a box of items a family needed for Christmas and we left it on their doorstep.  We got in our dark clothes and I was the "get-away" driver and we snuck up to their doorstep and rang the doorbell...and RAN for our lives!  I was parked in a place where we could see them open the door and wonder who on earth left a box full of goodies on their doorstep.  It was seriously so fun!  Anyway....those are just my random thoughts this Christmas season.  Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas too!

Let's try this again....

This is going to be mine in a couple of months.  Yes, that's right.  I am going to be the winner of HGTV's Dream House this year. I'm just documenting now because I am a believer in exercising POSITIVE THINKING. You will see :)

Now, I know I said that last year, but in my defense I was big and fat and pregnant and not as on top of things when it came to daily entering and plus, it was in Vermont.  I mean, really, what business do I have in Vermont?  None.   But this year, it's in Utah.  What business do I have in Utah? ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!!  So, you see, it's all about timing.  Now is the time :)  Wish me luck! Wahoo!!  Yay me!!! Positive thinking everyone!

Scootin' and Dancin'!!

First off, sorry these are sideways.  It only took me 500 hours to get these dang videos from my phone to my blog.  Geeeeeeezzzzzzz.  Dang technology.

Anyway, Preston is so cute.  Have I mentioned that before?  He's starting crawling.  And by crawling I mean weird-one-legged-scoot-on-the-butt-thing type of crawl, of course.  That's the second video.  He's officially into EVERYTHING and has recently discovered the Christmas tree.  Ugh.

Then, tonight I looked over at him and he started doing this crazy shake-it-all-around dance just smiling away!  So I grabbed my phone and he did it again, except not as much smiling, but just as much shakin'.  So funny!!!!!  

Just Sayin......

Eight is GREAT!

On 11-11-11, Caiden celebrated his very special EIGHTH birthday!  He had a grand ole time with his friends at his birthday party, which was held in the arcade at Lake Bowl.  Fabulous entertainment for a bunch of crazy eight year old boys.  They had a blast :)

One of his favorite gifts was this bow and arrow from Papa.  We made sure to have the "this-is-not-a-regular-toy,-you-have-to-really-take-care-of-it" and "your-sister-is-not-target-practice" talk beforehand.  I think it went well.  No major mishaps so far.  And oh, how he loves it!  He also got 2 swiss army knives from his other Papa, to which the same pep-talk applied.  Apparently, this was the year for weapons :)

Another favorite was his kickball and bases.  So easy to please, this little boy.  We had a family game of kickball, (where I doubled as photographer - and excelled more at that than an actual player).

You know how some dads go easy on their kids and let them win and not kick the ball their VERY, VERY hardest?  Yeah, that didn't really happen :)

 "Am I supposed to kick this thing?"

 And look who thinks he's pretty awesome :)

Another reason Eight is GREAT is because he's now old enough to be baptized.  Yep, I officially have an accountable child.  I'm so very proud of Caiden for making this important decision.  And so thankful to all the family and friends who came for this event. 

 It was so awesome that several of Caiden's closest friends were able to make it.

Caiden with his cousins Keenen, Lauren, and baby Scarlett.  Lauren came up with my parents from Colorado.  I purposely didn't tell Caiden and once she was here, we went to pick him up from school.  Lauren was hiding in the back and on the way home, she leaned over and said "Hi".  Caiden was so surprised!!  It was awesome.

Later I asked Caiden how he felt on this day.  He thought about it for a minute and said, "I felt proud".  And then my heart melted and oozed right out my body.

Oh, and here's a funny little memory.  I'm not exactly sure the conversation said between he and Casey prior to this day.  But I know Casey took the time to explain to him just what being baptized means.  On the way home he apparently got one little fact a bit mixed up, as he said "But dad...you said I wouldn't remember my sins anymore.  And I remember them.  Like the time Paige was running to jump and land on the automon and I pushed it away so that she fell flat on her face.  I totally remember that."  Oh, he's a funny kid!

Family Pictures!

My sweet friend Michelle took our family pictures last weekend.  I love how they turned out.  Who knew I had such cute kids?  Oh wait, I did.