What a busy Saturday!

Saturday was so busy that we required Daddy all day as well as a babysitter. I started off walking with a friend at 7am. Cheeto had had a rough night so I took Analise with me, left the boys reading books in their rooms and Cheeto asleep. Pushing Analise sure adds to those big hills we walk, which was good now but awful at the time.
Cade had a picture appointment at Portrait Innovations (which is the best picture place in my opinion!)at 10am so we had to hurry to get everyone ready and out the door. It's so much easier getting boys ready for pictures- especially an 8 year old! I have never had to go on a Saturday before and I vow never to do it again. It was a zoo. I was glad Cade was in a good mood and was very patient and cooperative. We have been looking for a mattress so Cheeto took the other two and looked and priced them out while I was with Cade. Cheeto was there for the picture decision process. He vows to never do that again! :)

This is so Cade! It was one of my favorites but now my absolute favorite. I try really hard to capture who they are at this stage in their life. Cade is really into football and that is my Cade's smile. I had no other choice but to pick this one! He was thrilled that I chose the football pose.

We went to Costco while waiting for the pictures for our weekly restocking of milk, bread and cheese. We decided that Costco had the best deal on a mattress so we bought one there. It was originally going to go in Analise's room but then we decided that Kelson was older and had the crappiest bed so he should get the new one- my frustration will come with this decision later! We got home when I got a phone call asking for an impression appointment at 2pm. We all ate fast, rushed to get the mattresses situated, the house picked up, and all the kids in quiet time. Analise was so excited about her new bed at first that she required us to put her pj's on for nap. However, that excitement only lasted 2 minutes. She never did take a nap. Cheeto took the kids to see Papa and G'ma while I had my appointment. Of course, my client was over 30 minutes late! I hate that! I got to mom's with only about 20 minutes to say hi, make a sandwich for the little kids and get them to a friends house. Cheeto and I were taking Cade out for his birthday dinner and shopping with his birthday money. Cade was so wired. We ate dinner at IHOP- I know- big deal. We took him to Barnes and Noble to get some new chapter books for him. He also got himself a nice Spiderman bookmark. He has been reading non-stop since we got home last night. I'm so proud of him and how he loves to read. Thanks G'ma and Papa for the gift card!


After Barnes and Noble we had to run to Target real fast for last minute school supplies and a mattress cover. I decided not to buy the expensive waterproof ones since Kelson has pretty much outgrown wetting the bed- or so I thought.
Bedtime was quite exciting for everyone. Cade was even excited for his brother and sister! Cheeto was pretty jealous of Kelson's new bed. He told Kelson to come and tell me that he was sleeping in Kelson's bed. Analise went right to sleep- no qualms or questions!
I woke up at 3am with Kelson in bed with us. I went to carry him back and found that he had wet his bed. I had put a wet mattress crib mat under his sheets where he sleeps so just in case he had an accident it was catch it all. Of course, he was on his pillow when it happened so he soaked his pillow and the new mattress. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!?!?! Is what I was silently screaming at 3am this morning. The whole thing woke up Cheeto and neither one of us got back to sleep for quite awhile. Cheeto was up much longer than I was though. Poor guy is exhausted! I'm just very grumpy from a lack of sleep and looking at a brand new, NICE wet mattress. Why couldn't Cheeto and I have the new one! :)

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
I hope this doesn't gross anyone out... but I it's seriously the funniest thing I have heard from Analise in a long time! This morning I was going to the bathroom. All you mother's out there- can you remember the last time you got to go by yourself! The occassions are rare for me too! Analise has been potty trained for quiet awhile now but I still praise her for going and not having accidents. I didn't realize I did it until this morning but I must say, "Great job sweetheart" and then kiss her cheek. Well, when I went this morning, Analise yelled, "Great job sweetheart" and kissed my cheek. She then went on to say, "Good job, Mommy- that was a good girl!" It still makes me laugh!

Cheeto moves in...

Friday was a busy, exhausting day. It all really started Thursday after school. I took the boys down to the new office just about as soon as they got off the bus. After snack of course! Cheeto was able to start moving a few things. He had bought some furniture carts to make the move easier. We would load them up and push them one way and then the kids got to take turns riding the cart back. This was the highlight of moving day! At one point we had all three kids on the cart. We got a lot of smiles and laughs as we walked the "what seems like a mile" walk back and forth. We also got lots of compliments about how nice it must be to have so much help. It's good for the kids to learn how to work and help each other as a family! I loved watching them. This was good time to spend with daddy too!

Friday, Analise and I spent all but the 30 minutes to come and get the boys helping daddy. We got down there about 8:30am and left at 6pm. We made a few trips before anyone else got there. Analise would ride inside the desks holding the drawers shut and such. She was aon cloud 9 being the only one there and getting A LOT of attention. Cheeto knows how much I love to assemble/build things. He put me in charge of putting together a massive desk. It took until after 2pm to put it together. I did have to help with other things in between. Their assistant was very grateful for my handy work. Mom and Dad also came down for the morning.
The office is looking really good! It has such character. I LOVE IT! Couple of more days of moving and he should be up and working again. I pray they don't move again anytime in the next 40 years! :)

Sassy Toes

A little over a week ago, I got a much needed pedicure. Grandma was watching Analise and dropped by just as my toes were getting polish. Analise came to sit on my lap and was just memorized by this process. Ever since, she wanted an "official" pedicure. So the second day of school as the boys left she had all of the stuff pulled out. If I have ever panted her toes in the past it has been a very pale color. This time time she wanted BOLD! She was so proud of her purple toes. Hey, whatever makes her happy- right! :)

Rain, moving, and much needed sleep!

Yesterday did not greet the morning happily for the boys. They woke up to rolling thunder and flashes of lightening. Kelson immediately stated that he wasn't going to ride the bus in this weather. I assured him he would be fine. He still wanted me to ask Cheeto to take them to school. I may be a bad mother but I didn't want to start taking them in the morning or giving them an excuse for us to take them. Cheeto did stand out in the rain covering them with an umbrella until the bus came; of course, it was 10 minutes late. Cheeto's suit pants were soaked! What a good daddy he is! It pretty much rained, no I mean, POURED, all day. It was part of the tropical storm Faye that went through Florida a week ago. About 2:25pm our neighbor knocked on the door to drop of some coupons. I'm so glad he did because he said I needed to check the news and see what was up with the schools. Evidently some counties were holding all students until the national weather gave the ok to dismiss them because of flooding and tornado's. Our schools were holding all buses but we were still allowed, for the time being, to go pick up our kids. Mom and Dad live less than a mile from the school. I called Mom and she went as fast as she could to go get the boys. I can't remember what happened but there was a time last year that Cade had to sit at the school for 2 extra hours. This did not make him happy- so I was hoping that Mom could still get them. Analise was still napping and I knew it would take me 15 to 20 minutes to get there. Mom, bless her heart, got them in no time and took them back to her house. Phew! Cade was bummed because they put the kids in the halls for the tornado warning right after his lunch. He had his lunch box but was not allowed back in the class room to get his backpack. He was worried about it. Kelson was fine. He has lunch really early so he came home with all of his belongings. The county did have some tornado's touch down with minimal damage. Thankfully we were all kept safe! It was after 4pm when I got the call stating that the buses were allowed to take students home. I'm so thankful for great grandma's and papas that are willing to run and get them fast.
Today Cheeto got the ok to move into his new office. The day has come. He is excited. I'm sure he wishes it was a new home rather than a new office but we take what we get. I'm excited for him. It's a great stepping stone in his career. After school, I packed up the kids and went down to start helping him move some things. I know it probably takes him a bit longer having us help but its a great teaching tool for the boys. They worked hard. We are really going to start moving tomorrow. I'll take some more pictures. You know me! :)
We are all exhausted. Cheeto isn't use to the 6am wake up. The boys usually get up around 6:15 so the 15 minutes isn't too hard on them. Analise has been more than willing to take her naps this week. I've been grateful for this one. We both took a great 2 hour nap today. I love it when this happens. She is a great little helper during the day. I've been really able to see her personality come out now that it's just the two of us. She still really misses her brothers though. I told her it would only be a few short months and she would have a baby all to her self to play with. This brought a sassy little grin to her face. What busy lives we live... but I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's been exciting to see the boys getting ready together, leaving together, and walking together off the bus. I'm a proud mommy and wife right now!

PS... I was so excited when my sister-in-law informed me today that we are in the double digits until our due date. Why hadn't I been counting down better? I hope the next 99 days just fly by. I'm starting to feel really pregnant and really disliking it! I try to stay positive and keep telling myself... this is the last one! It has to be!!!!

First Day of School

The day had finally arrived. Kelson couldn't stand the wait. He has been counting down days, hours and minutes. Last night was just about unbearable for him. As you can see in one of the pictures... he was up way past his bedtime. The excitement was just too much for him. Cade, on the other hand, was mad that school was starting. My parents had to leave about the same we had to get kids up for school. Good byes usually turn into a day of tears. However, today with school starting and knowing they are going to be back in just a few short months to see the new baby it made it easier. Cheeto gave Kelson a blessing and of course Cade refused! We knoew this is the way it would be. Cade said it was because mom always cries during blessings. We tried to explain that that wasn't a bad thing. What can I say- we all feel the spirit differently! I cry- it's that simple! Cheeto and I took the boys to their classrooms this morning. We wanted Cade to be able to take Kelson to his classroom for the first few days. He did a great job helping him. Some parents let their kids ride the bus and then met them at the school. I was glad that we weren't one of those. :) Kelson did great! He walked right in, put his backpack away, signed his name and sat at his desk. I gave him a love and said good bye and he was fine. Nothing more! Cade pouted all the way to his class. He does this every year. I told Cheeto that again it was harder to leave Cade than it was to leave Kelson. And I'm use to Cade being gone all day. The fact that I have to leave my son so unhappy just makes me sad. Of course he comes home fine, but it still bothers me every year. I got through the entire day without crying. Analise was not the same. Poor little girl was so sad without her brothers. She cried all the way home from the school. At lunch, she was expecting her brothers as well. She woke from her nap thinking they would be home. Finally, when it was time to wait outside for the bus she was right there waiting.
They made it off the bus just fine. Kelson was all smiles until I asked how his day was. It was a rainy day so he was bummed about not being able to go on the playground. He said they were so busy they had no time for play. He also was mad because his teacher just gave him a hot lunch, not even asking him if he had a lunch box. She also didn't give them a snack. Poor kid was starving!
Cade didn't have much to say. He was excited to be the big brother and show Kelson the ropes. He likes his teacher, which is nice. We shall see how the next few days go.

Cade's Birthday Weekend

Wednesday started with cleaning the house before my parents flew. We made a mad dash to cut hair and get it cleaned before leaving for the airport. We literally picked up my parents and drove to the Outer Banks. We seemed like it took forever to get there. We stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner. We got to the hotel just after 9pm. It made a late night for the kids. They did great in the car though. Thursday we woke up and got on the road to Cape Hatteras early, which was good because it was really getting busy by the time we left. It was here that I realized that I had left my camera's memory card in my computer at home. I was so mad! Thankfully we brought our digital video camera. We just got it for Christmas and still haven't learned all it's features. I had to learn real quick how to make it take still pictures. The picture quality isn't near as good but it's better than no pictures at all! Cade, Kelson, G'ma and I climbed the lighthouse. Papa's foot was hurt and Analise was too short to go so they patiently waited at the bottom. Kelson climbed up so fast. He beat us all. However, he wasn't so excited to make the trek down. G'ma was paranoid once she got to the top. She walked around it once and only paused long enough to have someone take our picture. She wouldn't let go of the inside wall even for that though. We didn't have any idea how bad our legs would hurt the next few days.
We got some lunch and ventured to Kitty Hawk. It wasn't the most fun for the kids. They were more focused on getting their time on the beach. Once on the beach, they were tickled pink. It was so windy though. I don't think I'm a beach person. I'm perfectly content to live inland away from the musty smell, salty water, and sand. Analise got sand in her swim suit and wanted to go back to the room. I thought it was going to be hard to get the kids off the beach. I had no idea it was going to take convincing my mother to leave. We got showered, went to dinner and miniture golfing. The wind started to really pick up by this time. We had ordered ice cream cones and WOW it was a mess. The wind was causing them to melt so fast that none of us could keep up. We got some cups but Cade refused to use it. I was getting so frustrated with him. This is when the frustration for the entire weekend would start with Cade.

Cade's 8th birthday was Friday. I had planned a special day for him even though we wouldn't be having the traditional cake and ice cream with presents that night with the family. We took the kids to the NC Aquarium (which was a disappointment- BTW). We got him a Star Wars happy meal at McDonalds (something he had been asking for). We got home and waited for Cheeto to get home from Philadelphia (he had been there on a business trip). It was friday night fireworks at the Hoppers game. I thought Cade would enjoy doing this for his birthday. I called ahead and had them announce and put his name on the big screen during the 5th inning. Cade was not impressed with this either. It didn't matter what I did he was not going to be happy. We had to change his baptism to Saturday morning instead of Sunday. He started pitching fits about this Friday night.

Saturday morning he woke up and refused to get dressed or go to the church. I woke up Cheeto and said he needed to talk to him. After 15 minutes or so, Cade came out and said he was ready to be baptized. So many friends and family came for his special day. I would like to thank those who took the time and money to make the trip to participate in such a milestone in Cade's life. Cheeto did a great job. I had never been more proud to be married to such a man. Such a worthy man, that made this day more special. Nothing touches my heart more than to see my husband acting with the priesthood. I was emotional of course. I always do this however, pregnancy hormones weren't helping I'm sure! Things went smoothly until we started taking pictures afterwards. Then the Cade grumpies set in! He wasn't happy with us then. It semi-spiraled down from there. I decorated his cake finally that night and that perked him up a bit but not enough.

Sunday was a different day. We had two wards get divided up to make 3 so we had a joined meeting at 1pm. It was nice to have my parents in town so we didn't have to haul kids to a 2 hour sacrament meeting. We are in the same ward so no changes for us other than some new leaders. We had Cade's "party" right after. A friend has a helium balloon maker and gave me some great balloons to hang everywhere. Cade requested a Steelers/Panthers birthday. This was very convenient- made decorating very easy. Cade wanted us all to wear our shirts. I wasn't sure if mine would still fit. It was close but it worked fine for today anyway. I have started a tradition to make the kids videos of their last year. I spent hours getting his together, tried burning it 3 times and it still didn't work. What a waste of time! Some friends and family came to share the afternoon with us. I thought Cade would like this as well. NOPE! After presents his exact words were, "Was that it?" I wanted to scream in his face, "IS THAT IT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!" I was so mad. I'm still fuming a bit. Can you tell? I have bent over backwards for 3 days to make the child have a great 8th birthday. 3 days! And this is how he acts? If I remember right this is exactly what he did last year. I'm sure I'm threatening... but I refuse to do anything at all next year.
It's been a crazy 5 days. I drove the entire time at the beach, which I never do. I don't mind driving. It's just being married to Cheeto it doesn't require me to drive. He refuses to allow anyone else to drive. After driving, late nights, stress of the baptism and birthday party- I'm exhausted. Tomorrow the boys have their open house at school and Tuesday is the first day of school as well as having to have my parents at the airport by 7am. It's going to be exhausting for a couple of more days if I can just make it that long.

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
When we leaving the hotel to drive to Cape Hatteras, Cade noticed that the gas was getting low. It wasn't even close to the "E" yet but he kept saying, "Mom we need to get gas." I said we would but later. Another 15 minutes goes by, "Mom- We need to get gas now!" I asked why he was concerned about the gas. He said, "Mom, I really don't want to push Millie when she runs our of gas." (Millie is what we named the van) Where do they get these ideas?

Last Summer Bash with Papa A

Yesterday morning Papa A came to take the boys golfing at 9am. The last words out of his mouth were, "We have nothing to be back for, right?" I really didn't think he meant it. They were gone all day and still stayed the night over there last night. WOW! An entire 24 hours without my boys. I thought Analise would go through brother withdrawal at some point. It wasn't until about 4:30pm that she was asking for "her" Kelson. It was Monday night bean night so we were headed that way anyway. When we got there Cade and Kelson showed us what they had done all afternoon. They were busy little boys. They had built this 'fort' with a little bit of help from Papa. I was impressed with their dedicated efforts. They were stinky, sweaty, tired little boys when I saw them.

Analise was helping G'ma again with rolling out tortillas. It almost looks like she had a fight with the flour this time. We couldn't resist taking some pictures.

We got through dinner and started FHE. We did a special lesson for Cade's baptism, which is Saturday. It turned out perfect. I had placed objects in a bag to discuss that related to baptism. The last object was a CTR ring that we gave to Cade to wear. It was perfect. We all shared stories of our baptism day and some when the Holy Ghost has protected us or guided us in making the right decisions. It was one of those lessons that I had walked away feeling very happy with what I had prepared. I think the kids enjoyed it as well.

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
During FHE, Cade had chose an eraser out of the bag. We discussed how when you are baptized all our sins are "erased" per say. However, after we are baptized we can just erase them we have to do something else that Heavenly Father and our Savior gave us something wonderful to help us. I was trying to get them to say repentance. So I started saying... "Re.... " to help them. Kelson said, "I know.... REFRESHMENTS!"

24 weeks 3 days

Yep... my stomach is growing at the speed of light. At least this is how I feel lately. I really should be grateful. So many friends say it's not fair how I look at almost 25 weeks. I can't complain. However, I'm really starting to count down the next 3 months.

Soccer Fun!

Grandpa got home last weekend. Monday night at family home evening he brought out a big bag of goodies he had brought back for the kids. Part of what he brought back were these jersey's. Cade and Kelson have had a few of them in the past but they were excited to get some new ones. This time he had a little one and wasn't sure if Analise would like it or not. "Like it" doesn't describe how she feels about this jersey. I have washed it 3 times in a 5 day period. I think she loves to be like her brothers and feels like she's part of the group with it on. Both Cheeto and Cade's jersey's said "BIMBO" on them (FYI-this is like "Wonder" bread in Mexico) so they made a team and of course you can tell that Analise and Kelson were team Mexico. Papa A had a twinkle in his eye when they ran in his house to display there new favorite attire. Thanks Papa! You are the best!


Funny Kid Quote of the Day
Analise seemed to be a target during their game. She got everything from tripped to knocked in the head by her Father to getting kicked in the tummy from her brother. We kept telling her when you play with the big boys this is what might happen. When her tummy got hit she yelled with her sassy attitude, "Tareful Cade! You hurt my baby in dere!" She got mad and ran away from the game.

Mama Mia

Last night all the girls went to see the movie "Mama Mia." Mom and Lettie are really huge Abba fans so they love this play. Melissa has seen the play in SLC and in Vegas so I knew she knew the story as well. I knew parts of it just by listening to them. As I was getting ready to leave, Analise came up to me and asked where I was going. I told her I was going out with the girls and that Daddy was going to be with her tonight. She said, "I go with you mommy. I a girl too!" So sad! Then she went to find shoes. The sweet little thing sat there for more than 10 minutes trying to get her own shoes on. Once she did she thought she could go. I told her again that she would get some time with Daddy, which only comes around every now and then. She then says, "I no like Daddy tonight. I go with da girls. I a girl, Mommy!" Wow! She was breaking my heart. I suspect in a few more years she will be going with us more but a movie this late in the day was not the day to try it.
Cheeto got held up at work so Mom, Lettie and I were late getting to the theater. Haley drove from Raleigh to spend the evening with us. Thankfully the movie started late. It was great because we were seriously the only 6 people in the theater. Mom embarrassed us when she let out a loud moan/sigh when this little old lady walked in. Turns out she lost a ring earlier and had come back to look for it. So in the end... we were still the only ones there. At one point Haley advised us not to put our feet on the floor. She said something much larger than a bug ran across her foot. Granted we never saw the thing but we are suspecting a mouse maybe. I don't know. I don't take Haley as one to joke about such things, however, she has been hanging around Marcos for quite some time so who knows. I had no idea that Lettie and Melissa would break out in dance and song after the movie. I caught them on camera but because they were down dancing in front of the screen it's hard to see them in the pictures.

23 weeks 3 days

So... you know what it is... I don't have to say much. I'm still holding my boycott against maternity clothes. Thank goodness that babydoll shirts are so in fashion right now.

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
We were all sitting on the couch late (for the kids) last night. Kelson said out of the blue... "Daddy, I know where you have to live when people don't have a house." Cheeto... "Where is that?" "In an RV!" Where do kids get such ideas?

Kelson and his first Pina Colada

This is just confirmation that Kelson is my child. I love Pina Coladas, especially at Mexico. We went last night since Marcos, Haley, and Melissa were all in town. They are huge so I was trying to get Cheeto to share with me. He wasn't interested but Kelson said he was. In the end, Cheeto traded seats with him to make it easier for him to share with me. Uncle Kyle and Kelson would be great friends.

Twilight Dinner Party

Friday night was the Twilight Series Dinner party that has been in the making for months. Lettie was mostly in charge of it. However, I, of course, got involved in some decorating and gift ideas. I was in charge of setting the table and decided at the last minute to make everyone bookmarks. Thanks to my awesome husband and his great office printer the book marks looked great. I wish I had done more with graphic design. I love to do such things. A few friends thought I had bought them and just laminated them afterwards. There were suppose to be 11 guests but at the last minute only 8 came for dinner and only 6 stayed for games and such. We had a great time discussing our theories and opinions. Melissa and Lil' Lettie even flew in from Utah. What a party! Now I can't wait for the movie. Breaking Dawn was a great book. It all turned out great in the end. Stephanie Meyers has a gift for writing! If you haven't read them.... READ THEM!!!

Final Soccer Game

Thursday night was a busy one. I had to be at enrichment at 7pm and Cheeto had his final soccer game at 6pm. I was able to see most of it. However, I did miss a guy deliberately taking him out. His knee is still pretty sore 4 days later. Cheeto said he wasn't very nice to him afterwards. In my opinion... this is recreation soccer. RECREATION- being the key word. Most of these players are mothers and fathers and have full time jobs. There is no reason players should be playing like that. I don't know the score... but I know they didn't win so they didn't advance in the tournament. I took a bunch of pictures that night for most of the team.

My little creative one...

Kelson has been really into making himself his own costumes. It started Wednesday night when I went out with the girls. Cheeto was with the kids and said Kelson came out with a construction paper Batman belt and mask. You should see this mask. It looks amazing for what a 5 year old could do with a pair of scissors, tape and one sheet of paper. Thursday morning I started finding all these little pieces of paper with dots on them all over my counters. I couldn't figure out what they were but I knew if I threw them away I was going to be in trouble with someone. It wasn't 5 minutes later Kelson comes running out of the office with the dots taped all over his arms and shirt. He was Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger. He even cut a piece and wrote his name on it and taped it to the bottom of his foot. Wow! I was so surprised at the time and effort he had put into this that I had to take some pictures. Friday he got Cade involved. However, Cade would get frustrated rolling the tape so he would draw the stuff and cut it out and Kelson would sit and roll the tape for both of them. What a team they make!

Hoppers Game

Tia Lettie's office has box seats for the Grasshoppers. She had 4 tickets and shared with us. We really like to take the boys to the games. It's usually Analise we end up fighting the entire night but not lost night. Kelson was just grumpy. Cade just had to whine for no reason. Guilford came around to each box suite to visit everyone. Analise started panicking when he was more than 5 boxes away. She jumped on my lap when he walked in our suite. It was funny. After he left she moved to Cheeto's lap and started telling him story after story. We watched as much as we could before taking them to run off some energy at the playground. Analise was talking about how she didn't have anything to wear Grasshoppers like the boys on the way to the game. I decided to just look at what they had for her. I found they had a sale on all kids appearal. So I put some stuff on hold for Nola to give the kids for Christmas. It was a great deal and they finally had all the sizes we needed. So that was one thing that turned out good from the game. Just as I walked out of the store and got to Cheeto outside the playground he caught a ball. We having been going to these games since Cade was less than a year old and never came close. This ball bounced off the netting right above where he was standing and right into his hands. He didn't even have to chase it. There were a bunch of kids running up the hill with their hands out waiting for Cheeto to give it to one of them. Cheeto and I just started yelling for the boys to come and get it so people wouldn't think that Cheeto was being rude to other kids. He caught for HIS own kids! Guilford, the team mascot, was standing right there behind us so I took the boys to get the ball signed. Kelson was being shy but Cade did great asking him to sign it. Kelson sure wanted to see the ball after he was done. Daddy giving them the ball sure made them cheer up! Way to go DADDY!

Grandma A's tortillas

Of course last night was Monday night beans at Grandma A's. Cheeto had to work late so we went over early. When this happens it always ends up with one child helping her rolls them. She has bought them all tiny rolling pins for this purpose. The boys were upstairs on the computer so Analise got to help all by herself. She actually does pretty well. They all know exactly how to do it. At one point, Analise asked for Grandma's rolling pin but after one roll she decided that the small one was best for her. She was so cute and this time I actually had my camera. Usually all these pictures get taken on G'ma's camera and then I never get them to post. What a helper!

Analise was talking to G'pa A in Mexico. She was telling him she was rolling him out some tortillas for dinner. They are all so ready for Grandpa to get home. Only one more week!

Taste Testing!

Carolina Panthers Dress

Ever since Analise got her Steelers dress a few months ago she has been asking now and then for a panther's dress. She's like the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." If you make her one dress she will ask for another. I finally got the coordinating fabric I had been searching for to finish it. I was so thrilled that I got the same reaction when it was finished. She loved it! She really does know how to get to her daddy's heart. He loves that she likes to be girly yet part of his team spirit as well. I wish I had taken a picture of her in it but this is all I have so far.

22 weeks 3 days

So if I thought last weeks picture was bad. It just got worse! Cade was wanting to take some pictures so I let him to take it this explains the blurriness. We were all in bad moods leaving for church so this explains the fake smiles. Oh well... a friend of ours was over Saturday and said, "It's about time you started showing. However, it still just looks like you ate a lot today and not pregnant!" Like that made me feel better. I think I would rather look obviously pregnant rather than looking like I have some relationship to food! I'm holding off on any maternity clothes as long as possible. So far so good. It's going to happen in the next few weeks for sure. I have felt him/her kick the last couple of days. Last night while lying in bed Cheeto had his hand on my stomach and he felt them as well. This is when he can start to be involved some. How exciting!

Smokeybones!

Once a year some friends of ours come into town for a few weeks in the summer to see family. We always get together for an evening to catch up. They really liked where we took them a few years ago so we decided to go there again. Smokeybones is one our favorites too so we really didn't mind. We had a great dinner and then went to Maxie B's for ice cream. I'm telling ya... I love this little ice cream shop! Afterwards we drove them around Old Irving park to look at houses. They loved this and I love that part of town. I never get tired of driving around there! We took them to see Cheeto's new office which the loved as well. They like good character just like us! We had so many good laughs and stories to tell. We wish they lived closer so we wouldn't have to wait another year to get together!

Can we please go running?

Cheeto said that Cade was asking if he would take him running sometime. Cheeto told the boys to wake him up when they got up Saturday morning. That's exactly what they did. I don't think Cheeto was ready to get up so early. But they were up and excited to get out the door. Sassy wasn't pleased that her dad was leaving her behind. She did jump in on the cool down. The night before Cheeto planned on staying home but he had to put gas in his car so he left after we put them in bed. Analise heard him leaving and got pretty upset. Great big alligator tears! So when he left her again the next morning she wasn't pleased. Cheeto took Kelson with him to run some work errands all day yesterday. This again made Analise mad. When he got home I told him that he really needed to have a daddy daughter trip soon! I was reading my book and the boys were playing playstation so Cheeto decided to sneak Analise out and run to the library and Costco real quick. She was on cloud 9! That made her day!

Funny Kid quote of the Day
So I posted earlier that I would be reading Breaking Dawn. I hadn't started reading for more than 15 minutes when Analise came in and said, "Mommy... not again!" Back in April when I started the series I seriously read all 3 books in less than a week. I was reading every spare moment. One night when Cheeto came home she met him at the door and said, "Daddy- Mommy read all day! ALL DAY!" I don't think she liked that my time was used not entertaining her. Analise must have had some flashbacks!

Baptism Review

This is mostly for my little brother. One of Cade's school/church friends was baptized yesterday. The family knew my little brother from his mission when serving in Alabama. The Sunday we were driving to Atlanta to meet my parents and little brother this family moved into our ward. When we got to Atlanta he was talking about bummed he was that this family had moved before he got to go back and introduce my parents and say goodbye. Turns out it was the same family. It's been a good story! Cade and Hayden have been friends for a couple of years now. He wanted to go support his baptism decision and to see what it's going to be like in a few weeks. I'm so nervous and excited for Cade's baptism. I know I'm going to be emotional especially with all the extra baby hormones. We took these pictures for Ryan.

BREAKING DAWN!!!!

Mom and Lettie left for St. Louis Friday morning so they weren't around to go to the Barnes and Noble party that night. I hadn't planned on buying a book and just borrowing one of theirs once they got home. Last weekend at the baby shower some good friends of ours were talking about going and I kind of invited myself. I was so glad I had someone to go with. We left around 10:30pm just to go checkout all the crazy teenagers before the release at midnight. We hadn't even walked inside when we ran into a bunch of sisters from the stake. I, of course, brought my and started taking pictures immediately. Once inside it didn't take long to realize how crazy in love some people are with these books. I would say I REALLY like them but this one girl stopped me to ask where we got our t-shirts. She then started to tell me that she HAS to listen to Bella's Lullaby at least 10 times before she leaves in the morning, has it as her ringtone, watches the movie to the trailer at least everyday. WOW! That's borderline possessed. There were so many weird Gothic looking kids running around as well. A very strange variety of people. We found some more church friends. We took so more pictures and soon it was time to get our books. It really didn't take very long. We were home by 12:30pm. Can you believe I stayed up so late! Cheeto really thought I was going to stay up and start reading. No way! I had to function the next day! I read some before we went to a baptism and some in the afternoon but that was it. I really would have loved to have a full day of reading but I think it'll be nice to just enjoy it as well. It's such a great series. Don't know how it's ending-- but I still love EDWARD!!!

School Shopping Complete

North Carolina has a tax free weekend once a year. I wasn't really going to do it this year but decided to just go ahead and get the remainder school supplies and be finished. There were so many bags full of different supplies all over the house that I had finally had it and decided to get it divided, labeled and in backpacks. Kelson was getting pretty excited. Analise on the other hand was feeling a little left out. We took an extra folder and wrote her name on it. She then went to get herself a backpack and pack with toys and such. I think Analise is going to miss her Kelson when school starts. It's going to be a real adjustment period for the girls in this family. Mommy is already dreading the first day of school.