There they go...

First day of School

Paige, my big beautiful girl.  Going into first grade this year with Mrs.Guenther as her teacher.  She seems incredibly nice.  Paige was EXCITED this morning.  Twice she got in the car thinking it was time to leave.  Funny.  I think she was most excited about her new clothes, shoes and haircut :)  Not that those things aren't something to get excited about...obviously they are!

And Caiden....sheesh he looks old!  3rd Grade this year with Mrs. Rosenow.  I have very good vibes about this teacher.  Last night at the school back-to-school social, she was literally the only teacher that got cheers from the crowd when introduced by the principal.  Awesome!  I think I saw a little bit more nerves in Caiden this year than usual.  Either that, or he really is just not ready for summer to end.  This kid loves his playtime :)

And so it's just me and Preston, home together all day.  I know he's gonna miss them tons.  I'm gonna have to become a better playmate I guess :)  And when he naps, I have almost 3 hours to myself! (Yeah, he's a great napper).  Just think...I might actually be able to get some stuff done - like blog posts, ha.

I can't wait to hear how their day went!

Summer 2012: Paige Conquers All

I just have to give a shout out to my Paige!  This summer she conquered so many of her fears - one after another.  They might not be fears for most kids, but for Paige (who takes after her mama) they are.

First, she completely taught herself how to ride her bike.  Casey and I tried and tried to help her, but she refused (and by refused I mean lept off her bike screaming and running from our very touch, of course).  She insisted on doing it herself, and one day...she did just that!

Second,...KNEEBOARDING!  What the?!?!  Out of the clear blue sky I tell ya, she just decided she wanted to kneeboard!  We were out on the boat while my parents and niece were visiting and Casey says "Who wants to kneeboard?"  Paige volunteered (first, might I add!).  We all kinda looked at each other...and she got out in the water and off we went.  For a LONG time too. Unbelieveable.

Next,...SWIMMING!  More specifically, head-under-the-water-no-floaty swimming!  I've been trying and trying to convince her to put her head under water for years it feels like.  Then one day at the pool...she just started doing it!  So excited was she!  Plus, while on our Seattle trip, she jumped - JUMPED - in the pool. She's even swimming (again, taught herself - Casey and I were not allowed to touch her) and has agreed, no make that she's EXCITED to take swim lessons this fall.

Love that once she decides to do something, not only does she do it, but insists on figuring it out all by herself :)

We also went to Silverwood this summer and she shocked me by going on big waterslides and even a big ferris wheel.

AND my favorite...guess who's not afraid of the ice maker and automatic flushing toilets anymore???  You guessed it - PAIGE!  I just knew this day would come :)

Such a proud mama :)

Pagosa Springs {4th of July}

We celebrated the 4th of July at my parents place in Pagosa Springs, CO once again.  And as usual lots of fun times and memories...

4th of July Day Parade

I also can't go without mentioning how amazingly talented my dad is.  Their outside deck is unbelievable!  Every stone, rock, brick, slab of wood, grain of sand - basically everything you see here - he and my mom built themselves.  (Except for that adorable baby there - that was my skills - hahaha).   And they've got physical proof of their hard work, consisting of the most serious ankle-tan you've ever seen and a suprisingly large bicep for a Grandma :)  Most impressive :)

It's always fun to watch the boys (and girl - go Maddie!) cruise on their dirt bikes. Not to mention the rides on the Ranger...  

I love the bottom 2 pictures of Paige and Jayton.  They were just chattin' it up :)

And a little river tubing action too...

Fun trips. Fun times.  More to come :)

Remember when....

Paige turned SIX...two months ago.  Her kindergarten graduation happened to fall right on her birthday as well.  So for me, it was a doubly special day.

Kindergarten Graduation consisted of both classes putting on a program - 2 songs, walking down the aisle as graduates, and receiving a graduation certificate.  Not a huge production, but for Paige who absolutely loathes being center of attention, (regardless if it's a group or solo), she's not really a fan.  Obvious?

She did not want to go at all, was actually a little stressed about it.  I finally told her that if she didn't go she wouldn't graduate.  Lies, I know, but I didn't know how else to get her there "willingly".

Anywho, back to the topic at hand.  SIX years old!  We celebrated with a party at AIM gymnastics with a bunch of her friends.  So much fun they had :)

Happy Birthday girlie!

Oh nuts.

Look at this boy.  He's adoreable.  And kinda bad. But so cute, it gets over looked.  And kinda fiesty.  But so cute, it also gets overlooked.

He's also allergic to EVERYTHING - and this can not be overlooked.  I wish it could.  The latest is a PEANUT ALLERGY.

When he turned a year old I gave him his first taste of peanut butter.  Minutes later, I notice his cheeks are really, really red and splotchy.  I suspected that it was the peanut butter but didn't know for sure.  (At this point his skin {particularly his cheeks} had finally begun to heal from chronic exczema that lasted nearly 10 months.  He continues even now to have exczema, but no where near as bad as the first year).

Anyway, I decide to avoid the peanut butter for the time being.  Then a few months later, I think "maybe it wasn't really the peanut butter" and I attempt it again.  I gave him the tiniest piece of a PB & J sandwich and instantly his neck and cheeks get red and then hives (big ones!) start appearing rapidly from the neck up.  He is furiously itching at his face too.  I give him Benadryl (oh yeah, and I freak out) and in a few minutes it starts to subside.  (phew).

So....his doc recommends a visit to the allergist.  And it is confirmed that he has a peanut allergy.  (Luckily no other nuts, but the allergist says it's likely he can become allergic to all nuts.  Awesome.)  I'm also instructed to carry an Epi-pen and Benadryl at all times.  He described it as a glass of water being filled each time he has a reaction - meaning each one gets worse.  He said that 80% of kids do not out grow this and have it forever.  (Which means 20% do, and I'm really holding out for that!)

Either way, this whole thing freaks me out a little.  Right now, it's not really a big deal because he's always in my care and I'm always the one preparing his food.  But come school/preschool age, what am I gonna do????  I'd like to tattoo on his head "I HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY!!!!" but I think I might get in trouble for that.  Of course there's always a permanent marker....haha.

I'm also sad that he'll never enjoy a PB & J sandwich.  What kind of a childhood is that?  And do you know how hard it is to make a PB & J sandwich and not use the same knife for the jelly jar.  Try it.  It's not easy to remember.  He now has his own jelly jar in the fridge so I can be certain no peanut butter has accidentally gotten into it.  It's the only peanut product I have in the house - how do I get rid of it when Caiden and Paige (and my husband) (and me) eat it all the time???

Ohhhhhhhh, it so stresses me.  My poor Preston.

Figures...

It figures that as soon as I post about our new kitty and it's miraculous wonders, that it RUNS AWAY.  I feel a little hurt that once it got it's eyesight it bolted.  We really were nice to it.  Honest. I don't know.  Maybe it found someone that actually let it inside their house.  Hmmm...

Either way, the kids are sad.  Caiden especially.  He really has such a giant heart.  Come back to us Buttercup!

On another note, I still have so many pictures to post!  When will I do it????

Buttercup

We have a new kitty.  I had a moment of weakness, and took in a kitten that a friend of mine found.  It is (was) tiny.  Couldn't even eat on it's own, I had to feed it with an eye dropper.  This got old real quick.  I started regretting taking in this kitty that was beginning to feel like a baby....hand feedings...cleaning up its poo.  I even started to think something I rarely EVER think....."I should have listened to my husband".

But we kept it.  I didn't really have a choice unless I was willing to emotionally scar my children.  They instantly gave it about 6 different names, (I think we've settled on Buttercup?) and Paige was drawing it pictures...daily.  "Look mom, this one says I LOVE YOU!"  Oh dear.  I think we have a cat.  Permanently.

Then, I start to notice that there's something odd about the way it follows you.  Like it can't see you, only hear or smell you.  We take it to vet for shots.  I ask the vet about it.  "The eyes look okay" (proceeds to throw something past it....and nothing.)  More examining.  "Well, it appears to be able to differentiate between light and darkness, but doesn't appear to see objects very well."  Awesome.

So...obviously it doesn't venture past the patio.  Which means it poops all.over.my.patio.  All over.  All freaking over.  I'm not having very loving thoughts towards this kitty.  I'm trying.  It's not going well.  I start to try to convince the kids that it would be better for the kitty to go to someone who can let it live indoors.  Caiden cries.  Cries.  So, again.  I think we have a cat.  A blind cat.  Permanently.

Then.......while I was serving on that jury a couple weeks ago, I was carpooling with a fellow juror, Ruby, who had no car.  She was an interesting lady, super nice, but interesting.  We get talking about our pets one day and I mention our blind kitty that poops on my patio.  She tells me she's gonna pray for it.  And I'm not kidding...the kitty miraculously got it's eyesight.  AND it discovered the nearby landscaping and poops in the dirt!!!!!!  (Thanks Ruby!)

So, we have a kitty.  A kitty that can SEE and POOP in the DIRT.  Permanently.  :)

Spring done sprung...

Continuing on...

Just as soon as the weather began to warm up, Caiden and Paige went through a serious rock-collecting phase.  Who knew the dirty old rocks in the landscaping were so fun..."Look!! This one has PURPLE in it!!!"

Preston also discovered how much he loved to be outside wandering around the driveway with random objects (like a Halloween bucket :) and going on tricycle rides with Caiden.

Meanwhile, Casey and I were busy painting the house...we're nearing completion...sorta.  Those pics are to come.

Oh, and I began work on my glorious garden.  Seriously, it's amazing.  That one for sure gets its very own post...soon :)

And just because these are cute....

Preston has a habit of laying on anyone cuddled up on the floor, particularly Paige.  She loves it.

...and this one...

...first, how funny it is that he can climb all over them and they barely take their eyes from the TV.  But I especially love how Paige is holding his little hand and then watches that he doesn't fall off...so sweet!

More to come....

As promised....

This is my catch-up post :)  (One of them, at least) Let's time-travel back to March.

Caiden played Spring Soccer and also played as goalie much more than he wanted.  It's not his favorite position, but really he did a great job.  Poor thing gets so discouraged if a ball gets through.  Doesn't everyone?  I, of course was a super proud mama.  I mean, just kicking the ball down the field without tripping and falling over it is skill INDEED in my book :)

Also, in March, we took our annual Peart Family Snowbird trip.  As always, we had fun on the slopes...

...and not only was the outside mountain scenery amazing, but the scenery inside as well. Take a look at these hotties - my husband, brothers, and brother-in-law thought it would be funny to shave off their beards/goatees and sport hideous Chester-Molester-Handle-Bar mustaches. (Hey, I write this, I get to name it whatever I want :)  

Jesse gets the top Chester award I think.  That pose is classic.  And scary.  If he hadn't have just fathered such a sweet precious little girl, I would maybe be having the don't-go-anywhere-or-take-anything-from-Uncle-Jesse talk with my kids. 

But, really Paige summed it up best when she crawled into my lap while fearfully looking at Casey, and said "Mommy....why is daddy different?"   Don't worry, sweet girl, he'll come back....if he wants a ride home, that is :)

More to come....

Passing time...

I'm excited as the next kid when summer comes along.  Simply the greatest.

Unfortunately, on the second day of summer I had to report for Jury Duty, where I was selected to be on a trial.  The estimated 2-3 days slowly turned into 4 days, the last day lasting into the late night hours.  My kids missed me.  The pool missed me.  And most of all I think my husband missed me since he was the one who mostly stayed home with them.

And to top it off, right in the middle of my absence Preston came down with the Plague, otherwise known as the dreaded Hand-Foot-Mouth virus that has rapidly spread through town, sentencing us to another 2 weeks of homebound-ness (I may be creating new words here).

I especially felt bad that Caiden and Paige, who are perfectly healthy have to suffer their first couple of weeks of summer...not being able to go anywhere.  So, I made a mental note that I'd make it up to them by pretty much saying "yes" (as much as I could) to everything they asked for for one whole day.  And hearing them say to each other repeatedly (in very surprised and excited tones)  "This is BEST.DAY.EVER!!!" leads me to believe it worked.  Maybe it was the popsicles, cheetos, and coke we had for dinner....or the huge mess they made that I simply turned a blind eye to....I don't know.

So this is how we are passing time - Slip N Slides and Popsicles!

Next week, we hope to finally get out of this house!