A-singin' and a-posin'

We attended both Caiden and Paige's Christmas Programs....

Paige was awfully shy, but awfully cute...all pretty in her Christmas dress and curly hair....

Here she is with best bud, Adam...

And Caiden at his Program....not only did they sing this year but they did quite a bit of dancing too.  I got a video of him and at the end of one song, he did the cutest cha-cha-cha!  I died laughing a little....

And each year I'm usually really good at getting family pictures taken and sending them out with Christmas cards, but as my usual photographer has moved far away (Jami, come back!) and as I'm quite large and round right now, it just didn't happen.  So here is my lame attempt to get some cute pics of my little ones.  (Clearly, I need to stick to hiring a professional...)

 

Thanksgiving - and a move....

Unfortuately, I have no pictures of this year's Thanksgiving...but I have good reason.  We moved on Thanksgiving Day.

Let me back up....

For almost 2 years we had been trying to sell our home and things were...slow-going to say the least.  We had many viewings but never any offers.  In those 2 years we looked at several different homes that we would have been interested in, if only we could get an offer on our home.  But most of those homes seem to come and go and we still sat trying to sell ours.  Luckily, we weren't being forced to sell or anything; it was just something we wanted to do at this time in our life with our family growing, so there was no stress involved....just frustration.  Anyway, as I started to get further along in my pregnancy we were debating about giving up for the time being.  I was ready to call our realtor and cancel our listing, and that very day she called to say someone wanted to look at the house.  Ok, fine.  One more time I figured and then we're done.  Well, to our utter and complete surprise the people wanted it.  And not only that, but they had cash.  Cash!  AND they wanted to buy it as a rental investment, so they tell us we can rent for as long as we need until we find a house.  Um.....SOLD!  So we did some looking around at what houses were available and there were a couple we were interested in, but some for reason or other, it just didn't pan out and didn't feel right.  So we figured we'd just rent till the baby was born and then look more aggressively.  Then I spot another house, that hadn't been on the market for long.  Long story short, we looked at it and loved it.  Only problem - it was a little out of our price range.   But we offered them what we could....and they took it!  And wa-la....we were moving!  Finally!  We were utterly amazed and so incredibly thankful.  Things couldn't have fallen into place more perfectly.  It was a lesson to me that things just don't work when you try to force it.  It happens when it is right. 

Anyway, we moved the week of Thanksgiving, thanks to friends and family helping out.  It also happened to be record-breaking cold temperatures (the highs barely over 10 degrees) and tons of snow.  Come to think of it, when we moved almost 6 years ago into our first house it was also record-breaking cold temperatures.  Oops.  Maybe we brought that on.

So now....we are in and we are unpacked and we are so happy and relieved.  Mostly me, as I desperately wanted this to all be over with before the holidays and the baby coming.  The kids love it too.  It's a cute modest home that a little old grandma lived in.  Her favorite colors were teal and peach, also known as ugly and uglier.  Needless to say, there is some major de-grandmafication that will be going on once the baby is born :)  But as I said, she was a grandma and never did any children live here....so the home was in immaculate condition.  I couldn't have been more thankful for that.  I haven't taken any pictures yet of the home.  But it's on my to-do list.  Maybe I'll get some good before and after's once the baby is born :)

Caiden turns 7!!

My boy is 7.  Unbelievable. 

He had quite the party too.  He definitely scored with me being big and fat and tired and pregnant.  I originally did not plan on spending money to rent a place for a party....again.  And I was in no mood to entertain a bunch of kids in a house full of boxes.  (I was trying to implement the we-only-have-big-parties-on-even-years idea, but it was not working).  So I made a deal with Caiden - either we use the money I would normally spend on renting a place for a party or we use the money for actual gifts and have a celebration with just family.  He choose the party idea with no hesitation.

So, this year we had the party at AIM Gymnastic's Center.  It's a little more pricey than some other options, but they set-up, clean-up, chaperone, and it's private.  No one else was there but us and there was no where for the kids to escape to.  And they allow for 20 kids (and Caiden had 18 on his list).  So basically, I was able to sit my fat self down and not have to do a thing and they had a BLAST. 

The main attraction was the new foam pit....and I have to admit - I badly wanted to try it out.  It looked so fun as they launched themselves off the trampoline into the pit.  But I didn't think my unborn baby would have appreciated it....

There was so much for them to do and it really catered to all ages - as we had kids that ranged from 4 to 10.  They were entertained the whole time and I could barely get them to take a break for cupcakes and presents.....

Now, you may wonder what they are doing here.....

....I was a forgetful mom and forgot the candles for the cupcakes!  So one of Caiden's friends suggested they could be the candles and Caiden could blow them down.  I thought that was super creative and fun, so here they are - 7 human candles!

Then time for presents....

He was ecstatic as legos are the ONLY thing on the brain right now.

So here's to you Caiden:

Happy Birthday!

We love you so much and here are my 7 most favorite things about you:

1.  Your big HUGE smile that is almost always planted on your face.

2.  Your an awesome big brother - and it is my single favorite moment of the day to hear you exclaim "Bye Paige!" every morning when I drop you off for school.  I love it.

3.  You are so smart - you love school and you do SO good.

4.  You have been the best helper while mom has been pregnant.  What would I do at the store when I can't bend over and get the things on the bottom shelf?  I don't know.

5.  You are a great friend - you love to play with almost everyone of all ages and kids love to play with you.

6.  You're full of questions - (which sometimes drives me crazy) but better that the wheels are always turning than stuck in the mud.

7.  You're crazy - plain and simple.  And we love it.

Halloween

For Halloween....

I was able to help out in Caiden's classroom for his Halloween Party.  There were different stations set up where they learned different things about pumpkins.  Everyone thought it was real funny that my belly looked like a pumpkin...haha. 

I even got to eat lunch with Caiden and his friends.  Most of the kids chose bring their food back the classroom and eat with their moms.  But not my little social butterfly Caiden.  He insisted we eat in the cafeteria with all his friends.  I'm sure I looked real cute trying to get in and out of their little lunch tables and sitting amongst all the first graders....but I figure I ought to take advantage of my son actually wanting me to eat lunch with him and hang out with his friends.  It's awfully cute.  However, I was a bit shocked when suddenly they turned out the lights and told the kids they had to be quiet while they ate.  What?  Because they haven't been told that all morning while in class and now they can't take a break and chat with their friends?  Caiden told me they do that almost everyday.  So basically, I thought that was ABSURD and was a bad example and continued to chat with Caiden and his friends.  And I sweetly smiled as the lunch ladies passed by.  :)

Then we went back the classroom and split up in groups and carved pumpkins....

What cute kiddos....

Then for Paige's Halloween Party, she got to wear her Ariel costume to preschool....

THEN, I planned to take my kids out trick-or-treating on Halloween, the 31st of October, just like the rest of the world.  But apparently dumb Moses Lake decided to celebrate it on the 30th, since the 31st was a Sunday.  What's the big deal?  It's a family outing, people!  Yes, I had heard this around town, but figured there'd still be people out on Halloween night.  And as Casey and I had to spend Sat. the 30th at a ward Halloween party, I obviously couldn't take the kids out that night.  But figured no big deal.  There will be trick or treaters on Halloween.  WRONG!  I was so mad.  And I'm still mad at the city for this one.  Can you tell?  Anyway, luckily a few friends of mine were as perturbed as I was so our kids trick-or-treated at their house running from the front door to the back door over and over again until the candy bowl was emptied.  Ariel and Iron Man were happy at last.

from the front door...

to the back door.....

and back to the front.....times about 50.

Oh yeah, and somewhere in the midst of things, we managed to take time to carve pumpkins.  I got lucky this year as one of them is the one from Caiden's class; the little one Caiden actually did all by himself (nice job!); Paige painted one at school; so that only left one for me to carve.  Paige said she wanted a kitty.  And if I do say so myself, I did a freakin amazing job!  Check out that cat!  Meow!

New Orleans

Back in September, Casey and I took a trip to New Orleans!  I have been wanting to take him there for the past 8 years and show him where I grew up and the crazy and fun places New Orleans has to offer (and there are lots!)  So when one of my very best friends called me and told me she was getting married, I jumped at the opportunity to go.  And so we were off....

(Oh, and somehow in the months and weeks leading up to it, the rest of my family - parents and siblings - decided to go also.  So it sorta turned into another fun-filled Peart Family Vacation :)  And a big thanks to dear friends Carrie and Randy for their "suthern hospitality"  in letting the whole Peart clan crash at their place.

Anyway, in the small amount of time we were there, I was deteremined to show Casey everything.  First things first....SWAMP TOUR!  Yep!  This one was also for me.  In all the years I lived there, I never went on one of these.  So the whole family went....

Then we met our guide and loaded ourselves onto the airboat and we were off into the heart of the swamps.  I wish I had gotten a picture of the I-really-hope-this-boat-doesn't-break-down look on Casey's face :)

In no time, the alligators were swimming up to the boat.  The guide was feeding them marshmellows (aka "swamp crack") because they are attracted to the color white.  Note to self:  Never where white when falling into a swamp. 

Then the guide let us take turns holding a baby alligator that he had brought along for the ride.  This was quite a hilarious experience.  Mom was first, and she got real friendly with the alligator....

Then later, I did it....

"Hello, little alligator!"  And if you're wondering, they were not at all slimy or slippery as I was expecting them to be.  By the way, I should mention how jealous Caiden was when he heard we were going on a swamp tour.  He LOVES alligators.  And I have nothing to do with this one.  He just plain likes them.  He also happens to like the show "Swamp People" on the History Channel.  (If you've never seen it, you should watch it.  It's...amusing.)  Anyway, I convinced Casey he needed to hold this little alligator....for the children.

And for fun, we made Rebecca do it too, who was....a little apprehensive.

Oh, and Caiden was insistent that when we saw an alligator to stroke it between the eyes so it would fall asleep.  I think maybe they learned this one on Diego, of which is inaccurate.  Unless, our guide was wrong....and I'm not sure of his intelligence level.  But if he knows anything, I'm thinking it's alligators.  He demonstrated the correct way to make a baby alligator fall asleep - flip him upside down and stroke his belly.  Makes sense to me.

Then things got a little crazy when he tried to pull a larger alligator into the boat....

Moving along.....then we headed down into the heart of New Orleans - the French Quarter - and did some shopping and sight-seeing.

St. Louis Cathedral...

crazy, spray-painted Mime

the French Market....

Bourbon Street....I picked the most appropriate picture...ha!  Just kidding, we walked down Bourbon during the day, so it was totally calm....to us.  Casey said "Wow, people are crazy".  I said "Yeah, come back at 2 in the morning and you'll see what crazy really looks like."

and my all-time favorite place to get fat - Cafe Du Monde.  Yummy.  Yummy.  Beignets.

and then we walked along the Riverwalk and the Mighty Mississippi River...

(and I just want to clarify that I'm not a total fat cow, I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant here)

As I mentioned, it was my friend Whitney's wedding and it was so fun to catch up with a bunch of old friends too....

Then, of course, I had to give Casey the tour of good ole Mandeville and show him where I lived....our houses....

(yeah, I have no shame....I'm aware that someone lives there, but I lived there first!)

I was told that when Katrina happened a BIG tree went right through the roof of this home - and right through my old bedroom too (top left window)

We also went by my old schools, and went to church at my old ward and ate at EVERY place we loved.  By the end of the trip I was real glad to be able to blame my fatness on the baby.  Of all things, I think I miss the food the most.  Definitely not the humidity.  I forgot how freakin hot it is there and wondered how we did it when we were little....and I wondered how and why on Earth anyone would want to be pregnant and live in that heat.  Ugh!

We also toured the Oak Alley Plantation....

The oak trees were unbelievable.....

Then on the last day, we toured a cemetary near the French Quarter.  That was interesting.  If it hadn't have been so hot, it would've have been pretty creepy.  There's so much history in places like these.  And the amazing part is they still hold funerals and burials there today. 

You can tell which ones get visitors.....

and which ones don't.....

And that was our lovely trip to New Orleans.  Hopefully, not our last....