Catch up??

So now that I have the internet back, there is the question of playing catch-up with the blog. In a way, I would love to go back and talk about all the cute things my kids did and whatnot, but I can't. My problem is that all those cute and wonderful things that my kids did were overshadowed by emotional baggage the likes of which I had never before seen. I want to be able to remember exactly the way Raiden and Jaide were wrestling over one of Skyla's pumpkin cookies without being slightly upset. I will sometime (hopefully soon), but right now.... my emotions are getting the best of me..

FINALLY!!

Hear's to a lot of finallies!

First... I FINALLY have my internet back!! Yipee, YAY, yahoo!!!!!! I was very much missing my grown-up talk. The internet is my friend, it lets me keep in touch with my real-life friends. I have missed being able to chat with Steph on a daily basis (or as close to that as we could get..). And I missed blogging. Reading blogs and doing my own. There has been so much happening here I will never be able to catch it all up in a few posts a whole month later.

Second... Jaide is Finally walking! Ok, so not really finally, but I am so excited. She is my earliest walker. I think that is due to the fact that she wants to keep up with her brothers, which she does very well, by the way. I can't believe she will be 1 in a month. WOW, how time flies.

Third... We FINALLY have a kitchen sink upstairs. For those of you who haven't seen my house, it was a duplex so there is a kitchen downstairs with a sink. That is how we were doing our dishes. Anyway, it is done and I love it! So my kitchen is closer to FINALLY being done!

Fourth... We finally have all of our Christmas shopping done... and WRAPPED! I am super excited for Christmas this year. Our kids are so much fun, I can't wait to see their faces.

And last... Brock and I can FINALLY talk openly about what is going on. We are so relieved to be able to talk with the family. What a weight off our shoulders!

Another Awesome Kid!!

This time, Saige is AWESOME!! He came upstairs yesterday with some sunglasses (I don't know where he found them). He was being such a stud I had to get some pics!!

Happy Halloween!!

Jaide the Unicorn
Raiden is Buzz Lightyear of Star Command!

Raiden and Saige

Saige is a strong GI Joe.

(From that new movie... apparently.)

Another Jaide :)

I love Halloween! I love dressing up and trick-or-treating (good thing I have kids to take). We have been busy already today. We went to a trunk-or-treat in Salina at noon. The boys walked around with their dad while Jaide and I passed out candy. Everyone thought she was just adorable. After that we went to Gunnison to see my family. We went and saw Papa and the boys kept trying to get more and more candy. Brock took them around my dad's neighborhood while I visited for a bit. We went and saw Maama and Grandpa (they gave us granola bars and peanut butter ritz crackers.. yay, something not full of sugar!). Saige and Raiden also talked Maama out of some cookies (of course!). On our way home, we stopped and saw my friend, Stella. She let my boys fill their buckets clear up (with the good stuff... you know, snickers and milkyways).

Now everyone is napping but me. We will head out again around 6. Brock's sister Skyla is coming down, so we are going to take 2 of her kids with us. YAY!! I love trick-or-treating!!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I love these pics! Terra from Crazy Eye Photography did them. The kids had so much fun. I can't wait to see the rest! Thanks to Terra!

My BIG boy Saige. He is my handsome guy :)

Raiden wasn't too fond of actually looking at the camera.. so like him ;)

I love her eyes in this one :)

COOKIES!!

Yummy cookies! I have been on a baking kick. (I think it might possibly be because Brock doesn't want me to buy goodies anymore, but I like goodies too much.) Last week I made apple crisp 3 times. Although that was mostly because Julie sent us home a huge bag of apples. I also made my cornflake cookies (that was to entice my dad to come out and get my counters put in sooner... which worked by the way).

So Sunday was Brock and my 3 year anniversary. I asked him what he wanted and he told me homemadde oreo cookies. Well alright, I can do that! I didn't make them until yesterday though. But he LOVED them! He didn't want to share any so I had to make some more today for everyone else. Good thing they are super easy! Here is the recipe I used:

OREO COOKIES

CHOCOLATE COOKIE

1¼ cups flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cup sugar

½ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp

1 large egg

VANILLA CREME FILLING

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temp

¼ cup shortening

2 cups powder sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 375°
• Mix flour, cocoa, soda, powder, salt, and sugar.
• Mix on low speed. Add butter then egg.
• Mix until dough comes together in a mass.
• take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.
• Slightly flatten dough with hand.
• Bake 9 minutes.
• Cool completly on wire rack.

* I used a ziplock bag with the corner cut to put the cream on the cookie.

* You can also do this recipe in a food processor, but I don't have one so I just used my mixer :)

ENJOY!

Raiden ;)

Raiden is the funniest kid. He decided he was gonna "doh out to chill" (yes, he really said that) the other night. This is how I found him. He had on one of Saige's old snow boots and another of Saige's old tennis shoes. He had on one of Brock's work hats. He was seriously trying to leave the house too. In nothing but a pull-up, shoes, and a hat. How cool is that?!

Popsicles and Bouncing

Last week Brock got into a popsicle kick (and he got ALL the kids on it too). He is so cute to share his treats with Jaide. She follows him around when she sees that he went to the freezer. I think it is just sweet :) So here is a video of Jaide and her popsicle. She isn't sure which will be more fun: the popsicle or mom's camera ;)

Here is Jaide when her popsicle is all gone. She looks kind of sad.

This morning Brock went into work late so he could help me clean up the mud room. It was a disaster! We moved the chair that was in there out to the shop so we would have more room, but then we found this bouncing thing that Grandma Julie got the boys for their birthday. Brock decided to blow the HUGE thing up. I now have very little room in front of my washer. The kids loved it though! They both asked if they could take naps in there.. haha, right... I tried naptime there today, but not so much. They wouldn't stop jumping. Oh well, it's fun. I told Brock that I wanted to get in and play too. Too bad I'm too big :(

Happy Days!

Saige is having such a great time at school. He gets so excited when he wakes up in the morning. When the bus comes he is already waiting at the door. I am so glad my little bug likes school so much. He runs to the bus and gets almost to the end of our yard and turns around to 'throw' me a kiss and yells, "I lub you mommy!" (Oh, it melts my heart)... And when Saige gets home Raiden shoots out the door yelling, "Saige, Saaaiige, my Saige, mommy look, my Saige!" It it ADORABLE! I then get to hear all about his day at school. YAY!

Here is Saige with some of his school work.

This is a picture he drew at school.

Raiden has been pretty good for the most part when Saige is gone. The other morning when I went to put Saige on the bus he fell off of his chair in the kitchen and scraped his nose. The next morning this is what it looked like. Poor kid.

Jaide has been following Raiden around everywhere. They were looking at a board book and Raiden decided that he needed some space so he moved to the couch.... but look who followed :)

At that point Raiden just gave up and let his sister look at the book. Such funny kids :)

Today while Saige was at school Raiden and I decided to go to the store. He told me he would let "sisser come if her be good" (as he looks very seriously at Jaide).. haha... While we were there I decided we needed to make some cookies. We did exactly that... mmmm, chocolate chip cookies :) Raiden was trying to be sneaky and eat all the dough. To bad he hasn't learned to be quiet while sneaking (he snickers evilly when he is sneaking.. hehe). Jaide was falling asleep in her highchair so I took her down to her bed and when I got back Raiden was trying to get the mixing bowl off the counter. It was about that time that Brock called and said he'd be home for lunch. He met Saige getting off the bus (which he's never seen and didn't think of as a big deal until he actually watched it :D ). So we had some sandwhiches that I made while Brock heard all about school. Now it is naptime and Saige is still awake so here I sit on the computer ;)

Lately....

Lately... We have been BUSY! At the end of August I took Saige to do some testing to see if he would qualify for preschool. After the 1st day of testing we were told to bring him to Richfield the next week for some more tests... woohoo... At the end of that meeting we were told that we would know by Friday if he got in. I was super excited when we got the call the next day saying that he qualified. YAY! Saige was super duper happy (which is exactly the way he said it when I told him he would get to go.) We had to wait a whole week before we had the IEP meeting with his teachers. He started school the next day, Sept. 16. He was so cute. In this packet of papers I got was a little paper man with some instructions to let him decorate it to look like him and bring it back to school with him. He colored it really well (orange shirt and everything). We had already got him a Wall-E backpack (which he had to show to EVERYONE), so he was ready to go. I took him his first day and he didn't even care that I left (how sad, my little boy is growing up :( but exciting too, I know). He was so cute when he got home. He told me all about the bus and told me it was 'soooo cool, we got fishy snacks'.. Oh to be a kid :D He goes to school on Monday, Tuesday, Wednsday, and Friday. Yay! but also ..::SOB::.. I will be brave though!

Here is Saige on his first day of school.
When we stopped the car Saige was super excited

and when I opend the door he jumped out :)

Raiden has been a little off. He gets so cranky when his dad leaves for work. He got in quite a bit of trouble the other morning when he tried to chase Brock down the street. I was NOT happy! I had to run after him, literally run, the boy is short but he moves FAST. But on a happy note, yesterday when Saige got off the bus Raiden ran up to him yelling, "Me Saige camed home! Mommy see, me Saige!" Gave him a big old hug too. Oh, it made my day!

This is one of my purely "Raiden" shots. He is such a goof sometimes!

Jaide is getting more independent everyday. She pulls up to everything. This morning she even tried to take some steps. She is too cute. She loves to try to do anything her brothers do. Raiden even tries to show her how to do some of these things that get him in trouble. Jaide likes to help me fold clothes too (by completely UNfolding them).

Helping mom with the laundry is a tiring job!

This is her always face. She is such a happy girl :)

pictures... FINALLY!

SO.... I finally got all the pictures from my camera transferred to my computer... Here are some of the things we've been up to.

:) ...... ENJOY ...... (:

This is Saige playing his 'cow-man'. Brock made him a Tauren Death Knight (which starts at level 55... so he wouldn't die so much). Being able to play like Daddy has him really trying to be a big boy and he is doing so good at the whole potty thing now.













Ah.. Naptime. I love when they all sleep at the same time. It doesn't happen often, but I love it. Aren't they adorable ;)
















Saige sleeps in such random positions. Sometimes I just crack up when I check on him at night.















This is Saige about a week before his haircut. I miss his long hair, but I'm so glad his bangs aren't that long anymore.

Raiden loves pasta. He is getting so big, and he is a pro with a fork now.


Raiden likes to try to teach Jaide everything he does. He was trying to teach her how to jump like a frog here.... how cute!

Saige.. need I say more? HA!

Saige on the 24th of July. We were decorating the truck for Redmond Irrigation. He helped throw candy in the parade. I should have gotten pictures of that!

Raiden loved all the little flags. This was helping decorate for the 24th.

Raiden being.... Raiden?

4th of July... we were waiting for the parade to start and Saige and Raiden ran off. Raiden was playing with this little girl until she saw Saige... apparently she likes the older boys :)

Raiden during one of the many 'breaks' in the Gunnison parade.

Fireworks at Papa's house on the 3rd. Raiden started a small fire...

Raiden at the parade in Manti on the 3rd.




Saige with a sparkler at Papa's.

Jaide and Maama waiting for the parade in Manti to start. Jaide was being so cute and giggly.

The boys playing with at Aunt Nikki (also while waiting for the Manti parade)

My kids are AWESOME!

I've always known that my kids are cool. Saige and Raiden can always make me smile (even when they are getting in trouble). Today Saige asked if we could go rent a movie, so I said, "sure." I gave Saige and Raiden both a nickel and off they went. They picked out candies cause they had 'monies'. Raiden was trying to persuade someone to open his candy while Saige picked out his movie..... He picked 'Power Rangers'. He actually picked out a movie that me and Brock both used to watch ALOT! We are now watching the good power rangers (you know, the one with the Ooze guy). Saige is sitting watching the movie while Raiden is being his crazy self. Apparently Jaide just did something horribly wrong... Raiden is over there, "NO NO JAIDE.. That not yours, it MINE!" (He's shaking his finger at her and everything.. haha) What silly kids I have.

Big Kids

Jaide is now crawling. Okay, okay more like scooching. She can get anywhere now. She was trying to play with her brothers and they kept running past her, but pretty soon she was going after them. Raiden was more excited than I was. He was clapping and cheering her on "doh sisser doh". It was kind of cute ;) So now whenever I put her on the floor to play she is off after something.

Raiden is asking to use the potty and wants to wear "eggo" (which are the Diego pull-ups Saige has for bedtime). If I don't put one on him when he asks, he sneaks behind the couch and puts one on. He is so silly about it too. I can hear him snickering the whole time. He thinks I don't know what's really going on, but I usually guess when he disappears and his pants are on backwards when he comes back. He makes me laugh every day without fail.

Saige is working on his colors , letters, and numbers. He says he's gonna got to school. I think, "Oh wow, he is big enough to go to school ~sob~ What will I do without him?" Why do my babies have to grow up so fast? Saige says, "I'm BIG, see how strong I am?" as he flexes his muscles. Raiden says he is BIG too... Oh how I love these Big Kids :)

What a sweet hubby I have =D

Last Sunday we decided we wanted to go to Richfield for a bit, so we all piled in the van... we made it just past the Sigurd/Aurora exit and the van stalled. Oh fun times.. The radiator hose was blown to pieces. We had to call Julie to come pick us up (which I felt really bad about since she had just gotten home from her 2 week vacation and was pretty tired). We tried to fix the stupid van, but with no luck. We got it to Richfield and left it. I was freaking out about not having a car around with my accident prone monsters.

Brock went with Julie to Richfield on her weekly Tuesday trip. He called me and said that he took the van to a shop, but it wouldn't be ready until next week. I wasnot very happy about the whole thing. Then when he got home lastnight he threw me a key.... WOOT! He bought a 2001 Dodge Caravan! I am so glad to be done with that darn green thing. He then informed that I had to get the mud room cleaned up so our washer and drier could be delivered. Yup, he bought me a new washer and drier too! I was so excited I did a little dance =D

I am so so happy! I can now do my laundry here.. everyday so it doesn't pile up....

Family Pictures

YAY! We got our family pics back today. They look so good. I'm glad I talked Brock into doing them. YAY!!!!

Summer Fun

We have been having so much fun. My boys love to play play play all day long. They always want to get outside as soon as they can (which is really better because it is cooler). Baseball has been the game to play this week. They both got baseball stuff for their birthdays, so they don't fight over it. They are too cute. Today when we came in they built a huge tower out of all their blocks (we have TONS). I went to get my camera to take a picture, but as soon as I left the room Raiden crashed it to the ground. He was stomping around growling... He must have learned that from the Rugrats videos we found... It was kind of funny :D

The other night I noticed a bee in our living room and I asked Brock to do something about it. He didn't move fast enough because Saige picked up my one of my flip-flops and started to "get it". But Saige was hitting around it, making it angry. I hurried and grabbed my shoe and killed it (I am allergic to bees, don't know if my kids are too). Raiden then rushed over and starting screaming "NOOOO, my bzzzz, NOOOOO". He was really upset, I had no idea he liked the bugs so much. Brock says he likes to try to befriend ants too. He tries to pick them up (even the red ones.. ewwwwe!). What a strange kid.

On Sunday we went to Provo to visit some friends and family. We played at WalMart for a bit with Joe (Brock's friend who loves our kids). He wandered around with Raiden and Saige, taking them to see whatever they wanted while I shopped. It was kinda nice not to have them pulling things off the shelves. On the way home we stopped at a gas station and let the boys out to stretch for a bit. There was a lawn with some shade, but when we went over there there were SOOOO many grasshoppers. It was kind of entertaining to watch the kids (and Brock) chase them. Saige caught 6 I think. He wanted to bring them home, but we had no container. I guess I'm going to get them some bug catching equipment. I wish I would have had my camera. I'll try to get some pics up of baseball fun later.

Ugh! What to do when everyone but Brock is SICK?!?

This week has been so LONG! Monday I did laundry at Julie's because our dang drier broke again. Brock hurt his back at work, so he was pretty useless this week. On Tuesday I woke up with a horrible sore throat. I have been pretty ornery because of it. Well, now that it is Friday and the doctor's office is closed....... my kids are all sick. Saige and Jaide have fevers (not really high, thank goodness). Raiden is just lethargic, which is so so not like him. So what will we do this weekend... SLEEP! I hope anyway, since Brock has to work tomorrow. I am just too tired to take care of everyone, but I hate it when my kids are sick. I feel so bad for them :( Hopefully we all get better quick.

ZOO!!

We decided that it was about time to take the kids to the zoo. Saige and Raiden had never been so we figured it would be pretty fun for them. We took Grandma Julie with us, and it was so much fun. The kids love animals, though Raiden did have a scare when Brock put him right in front of this HUGE monkey that was right next to the window... it was too cute :)

This is Raiden's monkey... how cute is he?!

It was rainy, but not too bad. I was just happy it wasn't hot. We would NOT have made it through the day if it would've been hot. Raiden really loved the Meerkats. He was running back and forth chasing them... he would have LOVED to get in there with them. They also really liked the penguins. Saige asked me if he could give them a spoon (you know like in Madagascar). He is such a funny kid.

We went to the gift shop on the way out, and Saige wanted everything. He finally decided to get a stuffed snake, which he named Snake the snake. Raiden didn't want anything but this wooden penguin bank that he called a duck. Brock got it for him and showed him how to 'feed' the 'duckie'. Now Raiden asks everyday to 'feed his duckie'. It is so funny.

I will post more pics of our adventures later, when my kids are sleeping again :)