Kadie's Baptism weekend

Lots and lots of pictures from Kadie's baptism weekend.

Family, friends, babies, crazy kidlets, aunts, uncles, grandma's, grandpa's, GREAT- grandma's, food eating, hog-tying, story reading, silly laughing, picture taking...

Great times!

Baptized

Kadie was Baptized this last Saturday. Last year she wanted to wait until she was 9, and Josh actually wanted to let her because he thought maybe we could count it as a convert baptism. Once 8 years old hit she didn't want to wait one second, but she waited a whole 6 weeks so others could attend.

It was so great to see her make the decision and feel sooooo excited about it. Kadie had family and friends all around to support her. She was glowing all day.

Look at how grown up my first baby girl has become...

"I declare"! - She really said that.

Getting a little sick of posing below. ;)

I couldn't keep the silly out of her little photo session. She's just a goofball.

Okay Kadie I get it.

Glasses on, glasses off...

I think they are darling, but she thinks more boys will chase her if she gets contacts.

Maybe when she's 12...

Congrats Kadie!

We are so proud of the little girl you are and the person you are becoming.

CTR!

Crew likes to eat

We try to limit his eating abilities to only food, but occasionally he eats something he shouldn't.

Below is evidence of a red marker.

He likes to feed himself now too!

Most of it ends up in his lap.

I think that his favorite are the foods he can easily eat himself AND taste good. :)

Reminds me of the younger days of Laney!

Oh no! You know what that means...

There will most likely be many messes and lots of funny stories.

Prayer

On the way to preschool this morning, there was a car accident. The accident was bad enough that I said, "I hope no one got hurt" out loud. Wall-E was on in the background, and Laney asked me to turn down the 'noise'. I asked her why and she responded, "I want to say a prayer".

Laney said the sweetest little prayer that we would all have a good day and that the people's cars would get clean and they would be healthy and better. I will admit I got a few happy tears.

I think it is probably my most favorite thing Laney has ever done. :)

The Old Days...

Living in the bay area, I realize that it is just a hard place to live because it is so expensive. I spend so much time thinking about what I could have if I lived somewhere else. But in the last year or two so much has changed for us. Although I long for the house and extra money to spend, I have really been humbled and become more grateful for the wonderful things that Josh and I share together right now. I never really spend the time to write the things I feel or what has been going on in our lives without pictures to tell the story for me. So I thought it was about time to do so!

The most monumental change was Josh's new job last year. I have been remembering the days when the kids would go an entire week without seeing Josh at all even though he was actually here at night. He has been home more this last year than any other time in our marriage, and with 3 kids at home we knew it was really a critical time. The kids have enjoyed it so much and I feel like Josh has developed a priceless relationship with each one of them. Along with that came the fun and silly memories we have all made together as well.

Josh and I are in our 10th year of marriage, yes 10th! I feel like just yesterday we were dating and getting to know each other and we have just jumped forward to this time in our lives with 3 kids and everything goes by too fast. I never could have imagined all of the things we have been through together. 'They' are right when they say life is like a roller coaster.

It really is crazy that Kadie is getting baptized this Saturday! She is probably the most creative and sensitive 8 year old I know. Kadie is one of those kids who notices the lonely caterpillar in the yard. She cries in movies when two friends are mean to each other, she writes notes to any one that she may have hurt their feelings, and she can make just about anything out of a box, scissors and some tape. She is also a bit of an entrepreneur and is always thinking of ways to make money so that she can buy more toys. She is just a true kid...I don't know if she will ever get sick of "playing". She is my mini-me.

I also have been reminiscing of the old days of Laney, when she would dump out cartons of orange juice or whatever on the floor, and we had to bungee cord the fridge shut so that she wouldn't get into anything. The floor constantly had things spilled and spread around, and I had no idea it would take 2 full years of climbing the potty training mountain with her. She would RUN everywhere and I even had to chase her a few times with an 8 month baby belly on me. Suddenly she seems so grown up and I sort of miss her little messes. She draws letters and pictures on anything she can (and some things she shouldn't), and loves to pretend to be a "mystery girl" a.k.a. - spy. She makes me yell and laugh everyday, and I know her fiery personality will turn her into a leader. Laney is my little buddy.

Luckily, I have Crew now to fill in that spot of mess-maker, and although he seemed to become a trouble maker over night, I know that it will soon seem like this stage is never going to end. Then suddenly it will be over and I will miss it. He is already so goofy at almost 17 months. He climbs on everything and says "hi" to people he doesn't know. He dances to ring tones. He has one of the cheesiest smiles any kid could own. He loves food almost as much as Laney, and is drawn to electronics, cars and balls like a true boy. I was definitely missing out on the boy thing before he came along. I adore him. I love his little snuggles and that he is a bit of a mama's boy.

Life certainly got full for Josh and I fast, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I am so thankful for the most simple things we have together and I wanted to write it down for those days I have that I feel like a loser. God has given us so much and I truly love all of it. The biggest thing I find myself wishing for is more time. :)

Promotion

I just opened a fortune cookie that said:

"You will soon be singled out for a promotion! Congrats!"

At first I rolled my eyes and threw it in the garbage. Then I thought...this must mean that I am now VP of Waldron corp or something? But actually I already thought of myself as the co-CEO so I don't really know if I can go up to the next position from that.

Then I thought...if I receive a promotion more than likely it means I will get a pay increase. If I make more money, it generally means Josh will. So this is good news!

Curiously I opened another cookie that read:

"When one door closes, another will open."

Not completely satisfied I opened another:

"An interesting sports opportunity is in your near future."

I see great potential in our future! Promotion, new door opening and sports opportunity.

Yes!