Christmas Parade

Saturday Dec 13
We took the kids to the Denham Springs Parade and had a wonderful time. It's so fun to reminisce about when I was a little girl going to this exact same parade! It also makes me feel a little old too. But we had a great time and Kaiden was so excited to go to another parade. He still talks about the one we went to for Mardi Gras (at the beginning of the year!) We did have plans to attend Kaiden and Kalli's little friend's, Kailey, birthday party but I swore last year (after missing the Christmas parade) I was not going to miss it this year. Holly thanks for being so understanding and we were glad we got to the party just as Kailey was unwrapping her last present. Kadien being so sweet gave Kailey our present for her and he was so excited he told her what it was! Kids are so funny!

Back to the parade the kids were able to get really pumped up as we were walking to get our spot b/c we passed by Santa Clause in the fire truck. We packed sandwiches for the kids to eat while we waited and the kids had a fun time just playing in the street waiting for the parade to start. Kalli had us laughing while she was making herself dizzy and Kaiden walking all weird with his hands in his pockets. We caught so much candy, beads, cups, stuffed animals, straws and even a stocking! The kids loved every minute of it and although we now have even more junk it's hard not to want to pick up every bead they throw...even if you have bags full of the same ones at home!

Kaiden and Kalli waiting for the parade to start

Kalli entertaining us with her 'spinning' skills.

Kaiden goofing off in the middle of the street.

Watching all the Police motorbikes driving by to start the parade off

Racing to get the 1st bit of candy

Kaiden pointing out candy in the middle of the road that we wouldn't let him go get b/c the band would trample over him!

Kalli just watching the float go by and then she decided it was time to get her grove on!

work it girl! (I know it's the wrong way but still cute!)

Santa Clause is coming to town!

Getting the last treats to stuff in our already overflowing bags!

Silly Kiddos

After washing all of our hats and gloves from the snowstorm the kids saw me folding them and just 'had' to put them back on. So they bundled up and enjoyed being all cozy while dad read them "The 12 Days of Christmas" New Zealand style. Thanks Uncle Mark and Auntie Sharon the kids love it! I had to take a picture b/c they looked so cute. I just wish Joe would let me get a video of him reading the story. Joe lived in NZ for a few years and served his mission in Australia so he had a bit of an accent back in the day and it comes out a little while he reads the story...which is very sexy! ;0

Louisiana Snow!

Since its been over a week I decided I better blog about our fun filled day of snow! I woke up early Thursday morning to our heater and small fan turning off b/c the power went out. I knew it was suppose to snow so I looked at the window and was surprised to see how much had fallen. I nudged Joe and he looked out and with a grunt nestled back underneath the covers. I wasn't sure how long the snow would stay and I was just too excited to go back to sleep so I bundled up to go out and take a few pictures. As I'm just about to walk out the door Kaiden comes out of his room a little confused. I had him look out the window and he was so excited to see the white blanket of snow. We quickly bundled him up and went outside to play. He had a great time just walking around, letting snow flakes fall in his mouth and eating handfuls of snow. But it didn't take long before his feet and hands started to get really cold so his little squeals of joy turned into screams of coldness. We went inside to warm up and luckily the power came back on shortly after. Once Kalli woke up we ate some breakfast watched Joe sweep the snow off his car and we were back outside again. Kalli was so cute int eh snow. Kaiden is old enough to understand the snow but Kalli didn't have a clue as to why it was all white outside. Once we got in the field behind our house she picked some up and the first place it went was to her mouth. After that she continued to stuff her face with snow almost the entire time! We had lots of fun running around throwing snowballs and making a snowman. No snow angels b/c it was pretty wet due to the constant rain for 2 days. After we built our snowman and Kalli gave him hugs and kisses both kids started to get fussy b/c of their cold hands and feet. I just wish I would have thought to put plastic bags over their shoes to keep some of the wetness out...there's always next time!So I have a ton of pictures and videos but we just had so much fun I couldn't not post ALL of them!

Catching snowflakes and ready to throw his first snowball.

Look at that smile!

A shout out to grandma and grandpa

Pretty scenery shots from the field behind our back yard.

Can you believe how hard it was snowing...the most in 20 years!

Kalli just woke up and is all excited about the white stuff outside.This girl likes to eat and the snow was no different!

More yummy snow!

Our little snowman (the kids only helped for 30 seconds or so, so I wasn't building a big one all by myself!) He still turned out cute but none of us were willing to give up our hats for him/her!

Kalli was so cute and kept saying "Hewo noman, hewo noman" and then she decided to give him a hug and a kiss. Of course I didn't have the camera on when she decided to do that so the video is more of a reactment but still cute none-the-less!

Merry Christmas Grandma and Grandpa...and everyone else of course!

What's going on with Kaiden...

So lately Kadien has been really giving me a run for my money but then other times he totally surprises me with how sweet he is. He is a typical big brother and does things just to make Kalli mad (which doesn't take much these days!) He likes to tell Kalli what he's doing, such as "I'm going to play with the stroller!" Knowing that once Kalli hears he's playing with her stroller she's going to freak out and scream but he had it first so he won't get in trouble. Little stinker! But after running around with it and Kalli screaming and me trying to tell Kalli she'll get a turn later Kaiden will just stop and say its okay Kalli you can have it. So sweet but why did he have to start her crying in the first place??

Another thing that Kaiden has been up to is talking in his sleep. The other night after I got home from work Joe and i hear Kadien grunting in his room rather loudly. We both go in there and Kaiden is laying on his back squeezing his blanket yelling "Ugh I can't get it!" As he's rolling over I ask him what he can't get it and he yells the same thing again "I can't get it" while he reaching his arms out trying to catch something! He was totally out of it! When I ask again what he was trying get he said, "I don't know! Help me get it!" Joe and I were just cracking up. I finally got him to settle down and he slept fine the rest of the night. But it was so funny b/c he didn't have a clue and never really woke up.

Also a few things he has said that make me laugh:

"Uncle Mark, get set, go!" meaning 'On your mark, get set, go!'

"I'm so proud of you Kalli, good girl!"

"It's so pruddy"

One last thing the other night, while I was at work, Joe sent Kaiden to time out. Apparently the whole time Kaiden was in time out he decided to rub his forehead on the rug. Which resulted in a nice carpet burn. It looks so bad! He said it's sore so I know it must have hurt while he was doing it but why he kept doing it, I guess we'll never know!

I took this picture to show his big carpet burn. They were watching Dora so I was annoying him wanting to take a picture in the middle of his show.

Little Grey and Big Kal

As many of you know I watch my cute little nephew on Wednesdays since Lisa had to go back to work. :( Greyson is soooo cute and I love seeing how cute my kids are with him. Kalli is always wants to help with his bottle even though she's practically shoving it down his throat. What can I say he's going to grow up tough thanks to her! Also whenever I'm trying to get his bottle ready or I can't hold him Kaiden is right there talking to Greyson while he's in his carseat. He uses the sweetest voice and is always telling him how cute he is. It's so sweet. For the most part Greyson does really great and loves watching all the activity while my kids are running around. I realized I have hardly taken any pictures while he's here, probably b/c I'm a little busy with 3 kids! But I took a few pictures last week of him and Kalli in my bed while Kalli was reading him a story (notice the book is upside down). Kaiden was at school so I'll have to get some next week of the 3 of them together. Greyson is such a little porker, at his 3 month appointment he gained weight but didn't grow any...fatty!

Ahoy Matey!

On Tuesday Lisa and I took the kids to go and see the Pirate ship, Bounty. The kids enjoyed running around on the ship and I just loved having to chase after them! *note sarcasm* :) The ship was docked by the USS Kidd for a couple of weeks. It's a replica of the HSM Bounty made for the movie "Mutiny On the Bounty" starring Humphrey Bogart. The ship was recently restored for the filming of "Pirates Of the Carribean" and is in pristine condition. The Saturday and Sunday before we went they had a Jack Sparrow impersonator and all sorts of Pirate themed activities but it was rainy and cold Saturday so we didn't make it out. We still had a good time and the kids didn't' know the difference. The ship looked great and since we were out we decided to walk down the levy a little and let the kids see the old train at the station. We thought of you, Grandpa! Besides Kaiden not listening ALL day (I sometimes wonder if he has a hearing problem like his Grandpa hehe) and tormenting his sister on the way home it was a great day but it was even better once we got home for nap time!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

*For Grandpa* On Sunday while talking to Grandma and Grandpa Kaiden kept telling them we had a Christmas tree and we were going to decorate it with ornaments the next day. So Grandpa told him he wanted Kaiden to take a picture of our Christmas tree and here it is. I thought he did a pretty good job taking the picture all by himself!

It's a miracle, we actually have Christmas decorations out as well as our tree and its even decorated! I have NEVER had our tree out this early before and decorated (not even when I was growing up). I felt like I might have a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit this year but with some pretty Christmas songs on my IPod and our decorations not anymore! Now there is NO laughing at our sad little tree. We bought this tree during our 2nd year of marriage and it shows! And as much as I'd love to get a real tree it's not going to happen this year. And after decorating it with my cute little family I think its beautiful! But once Joe is done with school and we'll all be calling him Dr. Joe I'll have an even more beautiful tree!! :)

Christmas is going to be so much fun this year because Kaiden is already so excited and Kalli just feeds off of his energy. They were thrilled when I got the tree out Sunday night but then Kaiden was disappointed that it wasn't as tall as the roof and that the lights were only one color. But he eventually got over it and now says "its sooo beautiful!". Joe had to work pretty late on Monday night so after dinner the kids and I watched "Joy to the World" and I was so overcome with emotion hearing the beautiful music sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and hearing athe accounts of our Savour's birth into this world, as well as seeing different stages of his life. I was so grateful to be there with my babies watching the birth/life of Jesus and helping to teach them about how blessed we are because of Him. As excited as I am to see the kids open all of their fun presents I'm even more excited to help them learn more about our Savior's life and why we celebrate Christmas. I have also committed myself to share this great video with a few friends. I hope to put together a cute basket with some Christmas goodies and a copy of the DVD. Anyone want to join me and make a goal for yourself to do the same? I think it'll be a great way for others to see the Church in a good light and put a better focus on Jesus Christ this year.

After watching the video the kids and I bundled up and enjoyed going outside to see the moon and Jupiter and Venus! Last night the two planets were visible near the moon and its the closest Venus will be until 2052! It was another 'awe' moment for the night. Shortly after Joe came home and it was finally time to decorate the tree. Kaiden asked me all day long if it was time to decorate. The kids were so much fun decorating and we had a great evening. Kalli was the first one to put an ornament on and she picked out a Santa Claus and when we told her to hang it on the tree she walked right over and put it on the floor under the tree. It was so funny. Awwww I love this time of year!

Kalli next to her ornament on the floor!

Mom showing Kalli how to 'hang' the ornamentsKaiden's turn putting the 'first' ornament on the tree Hmmm where should I hang this one??It looks perfect next to this other red one...
This was the kids favorite spot to be, in dad's arms hanging the ornaments 'high'

Dad putting the finishing touch