Brothers

Rarely in life have I seen a person look at another as Caden looks at his big brother Cody.  To say he loves his big brother is an understatement.  He is only 7 1/2 months old and he thinks his brother is the world. Caden loves watching Cody no matter what he is doing. Watching TV, playing, eating it doesn't matter. But his whole sweet baby face and little countenance lights up when lil Cody looks back at him. His smile seems so big it could reach to the moon and back. What joy and happiness this brings me as a mother!!  It should also be noted Cody loves Caden so very much, too, but Caden adores him so much. Cody has a number one fan. I hope and pray my little boys alway love each other like this.

Dallas & The Capitol of Texas

No, Dallas is not the capitol nor is Houston as some are quick to guess. 

I have a lot I want to blog about and I am behind, but with little ones around all the time it can get hard as many of you know. 

Any how. Starting with the most recent with pictures. This past weekend we helped our friends move to Dallas. Cody drove the moving truck. I drove Butters and they each drove their own cars. It is about 6 hours away. On the way there we stopped in Waco to go to the Dr. Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute.  Cody has been wanting to take me there for years. (That is so sweet. and funny.) He knows I love the DP, so we finally got to go there. 

Before leaving we got a Groupon for a fun activity in Dallas. We went ice skating. Our friend Amol was a natural. Big Cody made it around the rink almost one whole time before hanging up his skates.  Little Cody was way more into this than roller skating. He loved it! He kept wanting to get back out there. Stephanie liked the wall but she really enjoyed her self.And out natural born skater of our family turned out to be Mariana. It was a lot of fun. 

We also toured down town Dallas a bit. We found this cool park with gourmet food trucks. It had art pieces made into playground equipment. Lil Cody had a blast. We also went to a Asian Silk road museum. 

On the way home we stopped in Austin and visited the capitol building. It was a great family vacation. We loved seeing the capitol and learning a little, too. 

Oh! and Dallas has In-N-Out!!! Yum! 

Christmas is about Jesus

When I asked lil Cody yesterday why we have Christmas he told me it is because of Jesus.

Daycare visit to see Santa 

 He knows this he loves it. He loves the crafts we have done for the holiday and the Christ / Christmas family home evenings. And I must tell you, I love this Christ centered Christmas, too.  Ever since Stephanie moved in we have been doing a lot more family scripture reading and consistent FHE's. I am really diggin it. I am a great mom! So humble and awesome.

6 Month Check Up

6 Month Check up

My little baby is 6 months and 10 days old.  He seems to want to be at least 3. I have never met a baby who wanted to do so much.  It is as though he wants to do things but he doesn't know how to make his body do what he wants. He tries to stand before he can sit. He wants to drink out of a glass glass before he's ever even held a cup or bottle.  He is so cute and funny and stubborn and strong.

They say the second kid is different from the first. I was told don't worry, they will be opposite. This is true and it yielded in 2 very hyper and active kids at one time. Lil Cody was a calm baby. As calm as they come. Content to sit and watch the world. It was as if as an infant up until about 3 he was just observing and learning; holding it all in until he couldn't be calm any more.  Not so much with Caden. This little man came out the gate running. He held his head up the day he was born.

He may still be developmentally behind due to being a preemie, but his mind seems to want to do so much more. It is going to be fun and exciting to see how he learns, grows, and develops.

Developmental milestones achieved:

Smiles & laughs

Rolls from tummy to back and vice versa

Has started eating baby cereal and veggies

reaches for toys

drags toys towards himself

plays with toys

very vocal, just testing his voice out for now

likes playing with people

There are probably more but we've got to get going to the doctor from that check up. Enjoy these photos of my little angel.

Happy holiday!

P.S. These boys being opposites hopefully means when this one is 4 he will be calm, right? 

Crazy Cat Lady, P-shaw, as if!

So yesterday was my middle sons birthday. He turned 3. Since he was adopted and his birth mother wasn't forth coming we didn't know his actual birthday. But we put his birthday in the Wii Fit about as best as we could figure based on what the doctors told me and all. So November 26th he turned 3 years old. He joined our family when he was only a few months old in February 2010. He was pretty much abandoned and covered in oil and grime. He was as small as a mouse. He needed us. He picked us. Me.  Yesterday we had a party for him. I think he was a little surprised. He was a bit too cool for it. After all if you do the conversion he is really 21. But what ever, I know he liked the attention!  It was a great party!

We hung balloons.

 I made a game.

 The kids and I made him some presents and even made our own wrapping paper.

I made themed snacks. 

Edible Kitty Liter, Catnip Balls, Goldfishes Squared , Swedish fish with Rainbow baby fish egg balls

Cody lil' would not touch the "kitty liter" pudding with tootsie rolls. Ha! 

The birthday boy, Mouse with his sister Stephanie and brother Caden

Mouses older brother Cody & B

Giving Mouse his toy Cody made him

We wore party hats and took some photos!  Happy birthday Mousey my boy!

A lot to be thankful for

Here is a summary/list of our thankful tree thankful leaves in no particular order. I hope your November was as full of gratitude and love as ours was.

Mine (Mom)

Second Chances

Stephanie & Mariana

music

My Minivan Butters

Sleep

Water

Changing Weather

Cats

My Husband

My Sons Cody & Caden

Funny Stuff lil Cody Says

Prayer

My Talents

My Grandparents

My phone

Movies

Lists

Laughter

My mom & dad & siblings

Pictures

Amusement Parks

Thanksgiving

Dad

My home

The Love of Heavenly Father

My phone & technology

the church

my God Given talents

my Children

Lil Cody

The Gospel

Jesus

Cookie Dough

Mickey Mouse

Play-doh

Teddy

Hercules

Caden

My Cats

My Sunbeam Teacher

T-O-Y Toys

Learning to Pee in the Potty

Me

My Mom

my Friends

Hot Chocolate

Candy

My dad

Bad Duck aka twinney

Stephanie

Exercise

Living here

The Rain

trees

having a place to live

pajamas

my parents

the internet

Grandparents

flowers

You

fireplaces

family

Fairy Tales

Caden's Face

Earth

Books

Caden

My brothers & Sisters

Mommy's Milk

Daddy

There is so much more I could add, too. My health, my house, my husbands job, popcorn, the gospel as my family members put, there is so very much. Be thankful! Muah!!