Winter Blahs

Well, nothing brings out the worst in me like tax season and a never-ending winter. I swear I've been the grouchiest mom ever! Seriously ask my kids. Turns out that over-extended parenting hours + stir craziness isn't the best combo for me.

Needless to say, we've all needed a break.
The sun was actually out one winter day, so we decided to bundle up and go for a winter walk. It actually felt rather refreshing.

Here are a few scenes from our winter walk.

Buried mailboxes.

Sunken trampolines.

Iced rain gutters.

Giant snowman.

Of course, I threw in a little slave-labor to assure nap tiredness. We were trying to break all of the frozen snow off our driveway.

Jaden couldn't have been happier. He was made for the outdoors and could enjoy it for hours. He kept carrying this rake a shovel around like he was there for hire. He busies himself carrying them in and out of the garage, to the end of the driveway and back, up the stairs, down the walk way, etc.

He's going to LOVE spring and summer this year. I can't wait. Go away dreaded winter!

Jaden's One!

He's one! Couldn't tell you where that year went, but here we are a year later. It's been a dramatic year and this little guy has certainly contributed to the drama. He's a ball of energy, which adds a lot of excitement (and exhaustion), but he's also brought lots of joy and love to our family. He has kept us on our toes and brought life to a year that we probably would have rather crawled in a hole. He's is adored by his bro and sis and keeps us laughing (or sometimes crying if he tackles you, bites you or scratches you-little stinker!) He's intense!!

For Jaden's 1st Birthday, we decided to go swimming at Green Canyon with some of our family. With all of his energy, he gets stir crazy and needed to get out. Felt like a good break from the long, cold winter we experience for way too long here in Rexburg.

He loves the water and was perfectly content splashing and kicking around.

After our swim, the cousins gathered around for some cupcakes.

And we sang Happy Birthday to Jaden. I had to help him with the candle.

And he had no problem devouring the cupcake. He loves chocolate.

(I may or may not have eaten quite a bit during my pregnancy with him.)

Of course, he opened a few presents. It's mostly comes down to necessities when you're the 3rd child.

But..we splurged a little on this little 4-wheeler. Perfect for a wild man.

Of course, even before we could get the wrapping off, he climbed straight up on the seat. Evil Knievel in training. I should have known.

Happy First Birthday Bubby!

Never a Dull Moment...

Life moves at a rapid pace around here.

Saturday night, Jace & I were enjoying ourselves at the Peking Acrobat show at BYU-I. Like any good audience member, I turned my phone off- not worried, knowing that Jaden & Rylee were home safe & sound with Justin. I'd be home in a short two hours.

Well....my heart got pounding just a bit when I turned back on my phone to see a couple missed calls from Jus, with a text message that said, Call me. NOW! You never know what that might mean in our world.

Well...turns out after I had been gone for less than a half hour, the master or disaster (a.k.a. Jaden) decided to tip the sofa table over on top of himself and get a big gash in his eyebrow, requiring 5 stitches. You'd think that I'd be shocked, distraught and a bit shaken when I found out, but since we frequent the ER as much as most people go to the grocery store, "trauma" hardly phases me anymore. Poor bubby- 5 stitches & a black eye.

There is never a dull moment with this kid around. Just last week he had a bloody, fat lip from running too fast on our cement floor in the basement. And..I found out that he can scale shelves at the store. Here's more proof of his rascally ways. I have a feeling this won't be his only trip to the E.R.

Still cute, even with a fat lip- hardly phased him.

"Hum...a stroller meant for dolls that rocks back & forth? Might as well give it a try. Oh, and in my mouth? A wet wipe stuffed as far in as I can get it. What?"

"Ahh! A mirror that attaches at the top, but not the bottom? Give it a good pull and off the wall it comes. I've tried this one a few times."

"Open drawer, climb inside. Stand up, open drawer above me. Get stuck. Then mad that I can't get myself out."

"What's this? A car with a door that opens? Well, I'll go around and jump in the side without the door."

" I knew this wagon would be good for something."

"My sister uses fingers for picking, I use them for chew toys- and it hurts!"

"I see a laundry pile. I will toss it to & fro and roll around in it, even though it's dirty."

"Toys should not be in a basket. Dump."

Already using the toilet.

"One puddle in the whole yard, I'm there!"

"Who said toys are for playing with? I can dance up here too."

"You've got glasses? They're mine!"

And he's not even one yet! He's got a lot of curiosity and hardly any fear. That sounds like trouble to me. Oh boy, we're in for it.

Tooth Fairy

Where has the time gone? Jace lost his first tooth this past Friday.

A few weeks ago, the dentist discovered that it was rather loose. I hadn't even thought about him being old enough to loose a tooth yet. It seems like he just got his teeth. The one right next to it is pretty wiggly too, so I'm sure that it won't be long until the bottoms are out.

When he left for school on Friday morning, his tooth was basically hanging by a limb, but he didn't want me to pull it.

He said that when he was eating his snack at school, it fell out. He lost it at first, but then his friend told his teacher and she found it on his chair. He brought it home from school in a little plastic sack. It didn't even bleed.

He's been having fun putting his tongue through the hole and feeling all the different foods through it. It makes him seem so much older.

The tooth fairy made her first appearance at our house that night and was a little nervous. I think she scrambled for what to do. What's a fun tradition? How much do you pay for a tooth? Well, she decided to create a little fairy dust in the sack, along with a dollar. We're in recession- how much can a kid expect? I'd love to hear what the tooth fairy does at your house - we've got another one coming soon!