Stocking #2 = DONE!!!

Isn't he CUTE??? I think so! Carson's is next.

(Interesting sidenote: Did you know that these finished stockings go for $100 on Ebay? Who knew?!?)

You Know It's Bad When...

Your little one year old (Cade) comes up to you, pokes your belly fat rolls, looks you in the eye & gets the giggles. What's even worse, when he won't stop doing it.

Sending Love & Cuteness...in LOTS of Pictures!

The Daddy is away on business for two weeks, so I'm flyin' solo for awhile. Just wanted to let Shane know how much we are missing him. I'm torturing the boys with too many pictures...just trying to fill the time! Your boys and I are anxiously awaiting your return!

Mmm...nice belly!

Carson on the run. Cade showin' his buck-teeth. Classic.

For some reason, this picture of Cade is reminding me of my brother Luke. Not sure why!

Love the drool!

Classic Carson face!

One Down, Three To Go!

I'm getting started on my Christmas projects early this year! My Mom, as a young mother, made stockings for me & my siblings. I've always thought it cool that she took the time to make such cute, personalized stockings for each of us, but I never thought I would do it myself...seeing how I barely know how to thread a needle. So, my sister and I started feeling really ambitious after Christmas and convinced ourselves that we were totally capable of making the stockings. We proceeded to buy them...HALF price, of course, since it was right after Christmas. I think that's what sealed the deal right there. Anyway, I competely panicked when I got the kits for FOUR intricate stockings. I was honestly considering sending them right back. There was no way I was going to be able to do it. Well, here I am showing off my first COMPLETED, hand-stitched Christmas stocking! I'll admit it. I'm SUPER proud of myself! I started mine first. It is by far the easiest & least complicated of the four. And, if I ruined it, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I had a few bumps along the way but I'm still pleased with the end result. I've now started on Shane's. Hopefully by the time I get to the boys' stockings, I'll be a pro. I think it's safe to say that it has completely consumed me. It's been fun and I'm learning a lot! I'll post the others as I get them done.

Love My Love

This is what I woke up to this morning as my pre-Valentine surprise! Is there much more that I need to say??? Alright, well I'm going to say it anyway! I love my hubby! I am such a lucky girl. Shane is my best friend and my most favorite person. Our relationship & marriage has always been, well easy, which he gets all the credit for. He understands me and loves me in the most perfect way. He remembers the small things, not only on Valentine's Day, but all year round. I am so grateful to call this man MINE!!!
I'm so excited for tomorrow. We get to start the day out to breakfast with friends, followed by a much needed visit to the Temple TOGETHER! I'm not even going to say how long it has been...way too long. I'm excited for the time I get to spend with my special valentine.

Sending you lots of love this Valentine's weekend...

Carson In The Bloglight!

Carson is a little man exploding with personality. If you've spent any time with him you know that just watching this boy can entertain for hours on end! Here are a few updates on Carson.

• Carson is all about facial expressions. He loves to copy & mimick any expression you throw his way. Along with expressions, he loves to copy sounds & noises. This is hilarious. He's not a man of many words (yet) but he has his signature sounds that put a smile on anyone's face.
• Watching Carson entertain himself is so funny. He hits everything. Not joking...everything! If it doesn't do something cool when he hits it, it's not worth his time or energy. His favorites are balls. He wacks 'em, they roll, he chases them, he wacks 'em...you get the idea. He does this every day, all day.
• Carson gives loves by hugging your knees & legs...and slobbers all over them while he's at it!
• Carson is obsessed with ME (which always makes my day).
• This boy is always busy, busy, busy. I'm not sure what his rush is, but he's on a tight schedule and has lots to do. He's recently been given the nickname of "Happy Feet" by a family in our ward because he doesn't ever stop moving. I think it's a perfect name for him.
• He is full of so much energy and enthusiasm that sometimes he can't contain himself. He ends up just collasping on the floor because he is overcome with excitement. This, too, is hilarious.
• Carson loves to be chased, by anyone. This works out well with Cade. Cade will follow Carson, Carson thinks he's being chased, they both giggle. I love it!

Carson adds so much fun & excitement to our little family. He makes us all laugh everyday. Our lives would be so dull without him to liven it up! So, here's to Carson. We love you!

Let's Talk About Cade

As shown above, Cade is very chatty. He has been for awhile now. He'll hold a full blown conversation with you and I'm sure in his mind, his words and thoughts are completely clear. However, there are a few things that are becoming clear to the rest of us...okay maybe just to me & his Dad.

For the record:

• He has said "Hi" for a long time. Now he holds up the phone to his ear and says "Hi."
• On Wednesdays, our Garbage Man comes. This is the highlight of our day! The boys stand on the couch & look out the window every week, completely taken by the garbage truck. This last week, Cade pointed to it & said "guck" (truck). He has said it multiple times since then, when he plays with his trucks.
• He now is saying "cwack" (cracker) every time you hand him any kind of cracker.
• If you mention "bye, bye" at all, he walks himself to the door and gets super upset if you don't get him outside quick!
• Cade is a little terror around my house. He takes everything off on the end tables, but now he brings them all over to me. As much as I hate that my house always feels like a disaster, I love this part of it. Makes my heart melt.
• Whenever he's done eating, he lets you know by throwing everything left on his try to the ground. He has also started doing this in his bed. In the mornings & when he gets up from his naps, you find everything that was once in his bed on the floor...blanket, binkie, his soft plushy, milk.
• He is very observant. He watches Carson very closely & copies everything he does. This is SO cute, and I might add that it doesn't happen very often the other way around.
• He is such a Daddy's Boy. Shane loves this!
• He has some mad dance skills! Whenever music is on, he is quick to turn on his charm with his dancing.
  

If you could bottle-up the sweetness found in candy, this is what it would look like. Mr. Cade cuddles with any stuffed animal & most women. He has so much love in his little body with such a calm, sweet disposition. We love this boy!!!

Kisses For Mom

Carson gives some pretty mean open-mouth kisses. He gets in these silly moods & seriously won't stop giving kisses. You better believe that I'm not stoppin' that!!!

Just Jivin'

A couple weekends ago we were able to take a quick day trip to Twin to see Lauren's debut on the JIVE stage! It was their Winter Showcase & Lauren has been pretty pumped for it. She did not disappoint. Lauren is overflowing with personality, with all the talent you can imagine to back her up & it defintely showed. She shined on stage. I was so proud! It took me back to my Jiving days...except she pretty much puts me to shame!

This was during her trio. They sang "You Don't Own Me" from the First Wives Club.

This was after the concert. The final number was a medely from the broadway show "Wicked." I wish you could see her entire outfit. It was awesome!

Showing our true colors.

Bottled Up Apologies

My friend recently did a post that I haven't stopped thinking about. She made me think about all of the apologies that I should probably make. As embarrassing as they might be, I don't think I'll be able to sleep until I finally get them out!

Mom: I'm sorry that during my piano lessons, I would purposefully do the exact opposite of what you were asking me to do, just to bug you. I'm sorry that I tortured you to the point of you breaking down and sending me to another teacher, which happened to be the BEST thing you could have ever done for me!

Shane: I'm sorry that during our hospital stay, I made you go ask the nurses for more blueberry muffins almost every single night, making them think that you were the one consuming hundreds of muffins rather than me. Although, as sneaky as I thought I was, those nurses are smarter than you think and knew the truth!

Shane, again: I'm sorry that every night when it comes time to say our family prayers, I think of every excuse possible & act like a complete child so that I don't have to say the prayer.

Shane....again: I'm sorry that I could write hundreds of "bottled up apologies" just for you.

Lindsay (sister #1): I'm sorry that while we shared a room & bed, I would cross our imagionary line and then tell Mom & Dad that you were the one doing it rather than me.

Lindsay & Lauren (sister #1 & #2): I'm sorry that I'm the overbearing big sister that I vowed I'd never be. You know, the one who gives you advice & lectures without you ever asking for it? I'm sorry that even though I'm apologizing for it, I will likely do it again, as in, the next time I talk to you!

Katy (friend): I'm sorry that you always had to ask me to come over to your house to play, just so I could fulfill my fantasy of riding the bus home from school.

Natalie (sis-in-law): I'm sorry that I was immature in high school & held a child-like grudge against you for your ridiculously good looks & angel-like voice. Oh how I wanted to be you as a sophomore in Madrigals. I hope you know how much I absolutely LOVE you!

Amanda (friend & college roomie): I'm sorry I made you sleep on the top bunk in our second apartment. I don't know why you let me get away with that!

Amanda, again: I'm sorry I made you circle the library with me over & over again, pretending to be doing something really important just so that I could see my crush.

Marie (friend & college roomie): I'm sorry that I copied your recent post. You'd think I could be a little more origional.

Cade: I'm sorry that I put make-up on you (just a little powder) for your professional pictures.

Carson: I'm sorry that I made you sleep in a pack & play 90% of your first year. I'm happy to report that he's back in his comfy crib. Your mother really does love you!

For Grandma T.

This boy LOVES his Teddy! The boys got these for Christmas from Grandma T. Carson loves his too but just isn't as cuddly as Mr. Cade. You can find Cade like this multiple times a day. Love it.

It's Official

This one year old...

And this one year old...

Are BOTH walking (okay, maybe not walking per se but taking multiple steps at a time). Life as we know it, is changing...rapidly changing!

Buddies

Here are a few recent clips of our boys.

Edward, Is That You???

Lovely picture right? What are we looking at? Carson's mouth/gums. Notice the new tooth that has just cut through on his top gums & the one to follow close behind. What the??? His new teeth aren't his top FRONT teeth, rather the two next to the front two. Is this normal? He's my little "half-vamp" baby! All I can say is, if those front two don't come in soon, I won't be able to look at him without cracking up.

I know, pretty much the most flattering picture of Carson you've ever seen!

Long Lost Friend

Over the Christmas holiday, I had my long lost friend come visit. Jessica was my best bud during my BSU days. For my last two years, I think we had 90% of our classes together and did every major paper or project together (communication majors do EVERY assignment in groups...to learn to work together &...uh...communicate??). She's been in Korea for the last year teaching English to the children there. She's having amazing experiences & we've stayed in touch through our blogs. The last time I saw her I was in the hospital on bedrest. It was so fun to see her. Thanks for making the effort to come see us!!!

Jess & Carson

Jess & Cade