Those Big Baby Blues are Two!

My little man is two! (in April)
And not so little anymore.
I love his sweet, and calm disposition.
I love to watch him play, he plays hard never stopping.
I love how he throws everything and never misses a target. (usually someones head)
I love how he smiles like he knows something I don't, I honestly melt.
I love how he has always cuddled, and constantly gives hugs and kisses.
I love his blue eyes they are big and beautiful.
I love his little voice so low and raspy.
I love that I am his mother and that I get to have him as my son.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JED!

Easter 2009

I love Easter! I love the family time, I love the activities, I love the meaning, I love that it is a little less commercial. I think the pictures will show that we really love the chance we have to be with those we love.The fun started at Grandma and Grandpa Fellers where Margo does an Easter egg hunt for all the kids and adults. Only those who live in Utah were there this time. The kids always love to see cousins.

















Then we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at the Convelescent Center where Lisa(my dad's)wife for those of you who have never met her)works. The kids loved it they got tons of eggs and prizes. The residence who are able help out and you can tell they love having the kids there.
























Then it was home to color 5 dozen eggs of our own. Austyn loves this and was talking about it all year. She would randomly ask me, When can we color eggs? They had a ball, we always use to wear some of my dads old t-shirts and make a mess, so we put some on the kids they loved it. Jed was not very soft with the eggs and splashed the vinegar around like it was water. I got some in my eye and it burned the rest of the night. Worth It! Look at his tongue, he is hard at work.

In the morning looking at their baskets. Jed could care less he found candy!





















These are the cute dresses my dad got the girls he got Jed a cute outfit too.

So these are some cute summer outfits my Aunt Rochelle, Uncle Scott, & cousins Lindsey and Ian sent my kids in the mail. Austyn wants to wear hers everyday, she loves and prefers anything cotton and almost refuses to wear any other fabric. They made some faces for Ian in the last picture.

Outfits the Easter Bunny brought.

Josh was snapping some pictures and I thought these were cute I don't have very many pictures of my dad and siblings. My baby brother is getting so big he will be a senior next year and Ashlee is all grown up too!

No, No, Baby Jed!

A few weeks ago I put Jed down for a nap and got in the shower. He suprised me by sneaking up on me while I was getting dressed in my room. I had heard something but thought Austyn must be up already. (I am sure every mother knows this feeling) When I turned around and saw Jed standing there with a big smile there was a silent yet loud scream in my head NOOOOOOOOOO!

He is such a good sleeper in his crib at 7:00pm wakes up about 7:30am. I was not ready for that to change. Of course I was hoping that maybe it was by accident that he hopped out of his crib and opened his door. Not so. After three days of no naps and several appearances by our bedside in the night, it was time for action. I wanted to see how he was getting out. Was it graceful, or painful what exactly was he doing? In the vidoe I am hiding in the closet and Josh is putting him down for a nap. At first he is mad until he remembers that he can get out, and then his smug little face as he walks out. My camera died after this one taping of him getting out but we moved that chair and it didn't slow him down a bit.

The good news is we put him in a toddler bed and put the little knob things on the door so he couldn't get out. He cried for 3 nights by the door for 10 minutes and then would give up. He would crawl in bed, put his covers on, and go to sleep. He is such a good boy and learns fast, now he hops in bed and goes to sleep. I guess he is not much of a baby anymore.

What did you say?

So I wish I had the time to write down all the wonderful things my kids say but we are usually out or busy and I have a horrible memory. These are just a few random things my kids have said lately.

Jed
Let me first start by saying he doesn't talk much he can barely get a word in edge wise and when he does talk only the girls and I understand him. Until the last couple of weeks and all the sudden he says a few things. Here is a list of his new vocabulary.....
You're Rude Austyn, more like yooooo rooooood Austyn
Superman, more like uupermon
that's disgusting, more like tats disssustin
Watch Mom, more like otch mom otch
.......and he tries to repeat everything we say which is adorable.


Ausytn
Where to begin!
Mom: Oh shoot I need to make a U-turn.
Austyn in the very back seat: May Day, Watch out there is danger ahead.
Mom: How do you know that?

Austyn: Mom when are we going to have a baby?
Mom: I don't need a baby I already have three babies.
Austyn: Mom you don't have any babies.
Mom: What about Jed?
Austyn: He is not a baby he just can't talk good.

Austyn: Nobody likes me.
Mom: Honey everybody loves you.
Austyn: I know!

Austyn: McCaden don't do that or I will punch you in the face.
McCaden: It is my turn Austyn.(McCaden touches)
Austyn:(Punch)I told you not to touch it.
McCaden:(Insane Crying) Mom Austyn punched me in the face.
Mom:(Hugging McCaden and talking to Austyn) Austyn you know we don't hit it isn't nice blah blah blah.
Austyn: I told her not to touch or I would punch her in the face and she touched and I punched her in the face. (Like I didn't know what had happened, I love that Austyn doesn't know how to lie, YET)
Mom: (Austyn leaves and I look at McCaden) She did warn you!
McCaden: Laughs! Ya I guess.

For those of you who don't know, and I am sure most of you do Josh's mom was diagnosed with Lymphoma Stage 3 Cancer and is going through chemo right now. Feel free to click on Mom in my friends and family column and it will take you to her Blog and update you on her treatment and progress. Margo (Josh's mom) of course lost her hair and had planned to show the grandkids one Sunday so we talked to the kids and told them she would lose all her hair and her head would be bald like dads for awhile. When Margo showed the kids their were lots of cute innocent comments. She looks beautiful and it didn't bother any of the kids they rubbed her head and just stared. She explained to them that it would grow back after the medicine was gone. That night while putting Austyn to bed she asked, "Dad when Grandmas hair grows back will your hair grow back too?"
Josh: No my hair is gone.
Austyn: Why?
Josh: I wish I knew!

Happy Birthday Mom!

The things I think about every year on this day....
Has it really been five and a half years?
You would be 48, still very young!
I wish you could see my kids they are beautiful.
I wish I had your advice on how to raise them.
Your children miss you always.
You won't believe how big Jordan is.
You have the best daughter and son-in-laws.
What amazing work are you doing?
I don't even have a digital picture of you to put on my blog.
I look in the mirror lately and see a lot of your features looking back.
You were beautiful so I love that.
I love you!
There is so much more, but it hurts to reflect for long periods of time. Christ will comfort me until we meet again.

Family Pictures

So my cousin Tina took some family pictures for us. She is awesome! I wasn't sure how they would turn out because Jed was trying to run out of all the pictures, and the ones he isn't on his way out, his mouth was full of candy. So of course I was frustrated with him and hoped my smile wasn't forced in the pictures. Then there is Josh who rarely keeps his eyes open for any pictures, McCaden's fake smile, and Austyn's unpredictable moods. All you mothers know exactly how I was feeling, THE PRESSURE OF FAMILY PICTURES!

That is why I think Tina is so awesome, we have a lot more great pictures, but here are a few. You are quite the proffesional Tina, Thank you for giving us such beautiful reminders of our family at this time. Just click on the picture for a closer look. Check out some more of Tina and her awesome photograpphy at www.tinabeanphotography.blogspot.com you will love it.

We never take pictures of us as a couple they were long over due.

I love this picture of Josh and the girls, all their beautiful brown eyes. We also got one of Jed and I and our almost matching eyes.

These were two of my favorite pictures they were laughing and Tina caught their perfect little faces the way I see them when they are truly happy. The one where McCaden is kissing her just reminded me how nurturing McCaden is and Austyn's freckles are priceless!

Those smiles right there make it all worth it.

With all the fake smiles we actually got some really good ones of McCaden. When I look at these I can't believe how grown up she is looking.

She is actually quite the poser lately and did so good for Tina.

Oh this boy such a trouble maker but cute enough to get away with it.

Christmas Fun

Our family had a wonderful holiday season. I love Christmas but I have to admit it is a very emotional time for me, and has been since mom died. I blame a lot of it on stress and just being tired. Yet, I know this is not the only reason for my suppressed emotional issues to resurface. My mother made Christmas amazing at our house, the spirit, the love, the magic, the tradition, all of it. The holidays as sweet as they are bring back the reality of her absence, reminding me of what I am missing not having her here, and I struggle to enjoy it every year. Don't get me wrong I know I am blessed and I am thankful for all the Savior has given me. My favorite Christmas gift was watching these beautiful, happy, healthy children enjoy the season. Love you all and have a happy new year.

Christmas Morning! It was fun to see Jed playing with all these boy toys. We don't have many but our collection grew this Christmas. We could not get him to open any presents he was fine with whatever was out, so the girls opened everything for him. I love the picture on the left because he is so excited about his 2 dollar walmart candy cane that says meow. He still loves that thing.

McCaden wanted a guitar last year and got one that just made noise. She told us this year that she still wanted a guitar. A real one this time not a fake one! Oops! Austyn didn't ask for anything except a notepad and a pen. Adorable as this was I had no idea what to get her, she loved the guitar. The girls also got a barbie house from us, so Santa brought them Ken dolls in their stockings. McCaden opened hers and literally threw it across the room screaming "Gross it is a boy Barbie, that is disgusting" Austyn watching this all, opens her Ken and repeats the exact same thing. Josh and I could not stop laughing that was not the reaction I was going for, but the fact we have it on tape makes it so worth it. They now like their Ken Barbie once they realized that he could be Troy and the girls could be Gabrielle. (They love High School Musical)

Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Fellers. She always gives the kids matching PJ's and they love it. Here is a picture of the girls and boys. Jed refusing to have his picture taken again.

There are 24 grand kids and things can get a little crazy. This is a picture of all the grand kids listening to Grandpa read the Christmas Story. I love it because all these kids know the story of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. You wonder with all the chaos and excitement for presents if they really know what this season is all about.

These pictures are mostly for my sisters I remodeled our barbie doll house we had growing up for the girls. I was nervous to do this because it was still the way my mom had made it from the very beginning, but it was so dirty from being in a garage the last few years. Anyway I was really happy with how cute it turned out and my mom would love it too. I feel bad sometimes when I think of all the crafty things I try and do now days, my mother use to beg us to do crafts and scrap booking with her.

The kids with their PJ's from Mom and Dad. Jed refused to stand by them for a picture. He is letting me know here that he is furious with me, and I still think he is cute.