Cha Cha Cha Changes

I don't even know how to describe how I feel about this post. I have been loving every minute with these two amazing kiddos. Lately, we have been loving the leaves. We have made the biggest leaf piles I have ever seen and it has been more fun than I can describe. Today the maintenance guys came with leaf blowers and vacuums to get rid of the leaves. They piled them so high and there were about 7 or 8 huge piles. We had to take advantage of the piles and jump in. It was so sad though because our leaves are now gone. I don't think the kids understood that those men were taking away their weeks of fun. However, we are ready for changes and it is snowing outside and we say, "bring on a new fun"! 

I keep telling myself to not post every picture I take, but it is hard because I want every small memory to be in my blog book. I want to flip through the pages and remember every detail of what the kids have done. And then my lack of money screams back stop blogging so much about the little things. I just can't help myself.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow she will be 20 months. Tomorrow she will be a little bigger. Tomorrow I will love her a little more.

I'm obsessed with this girl. I obsessed with who she is and who she is becoming. I love her. 

 She is obsessed with her jewelry lately. I love it. She is MY girl!

Dearest Eden,

You have brought me so much joy in the last 20 months, a lot less sleep, and a whole lot more love. You are putting several words together. You can do as you are told when you choose to. You love being outside as much as Kael. You are so busy and creative. You love to color. You love to sit in the corner and play quietly by yourself. You love playing with other people more though. Early this morning around 5:30 after calling for me to come get you I put you back to bed. About 15 minutes later you started calling for Dad. Obviously we know you have him wrapped around your finger. I haven't heard you call out for him much, so it was quite a surprise. I felt so bad that it wasn't me you were calling for I had to come rescue you from your bed. We decided to have Kael read the scriptures with us at night and repeat the words. Well, you just decided that you needed to do it as well. Whatever Kael can do, so can you! You try to read. You try to do everything that Kael does. You are so stubborn and independent still just like the day you were born. You make me so happy. I'm so lucky to be your Mom. You are a joy Eden. Mom, Dad, and Kael, we all love you!

So, even though tomorrow you get a little older and wiser, just know you will always be my baby girl.

I love you kiddo!

Love,

Mom

Just Because

They wear backpacks. Just because. They love it. I love it. I think they are cute as can be! We still love outside even though our hands freeze and we now have to wear mittens most of the time. I just love them!

 One of my favorite memories growing up as a kid was licking the beaters when my Mom was baking something. I don't know why. Maybe because it was Mom time. Maybe I just loved the sugar. Or maybe a little of both... I hope my kids love it too.

Snow Snow Snow: Sung to the tune of your choice.

 I will never cease to be amazed by how much fun snow can be. I kept dreading it the last month, but once it has come I am loving it. Kael has been begging for months to make a snow man and I am so happy that he is finally able to. We decided right before dinner to let the kids play even though bedtime was close because the last time it snowed we missed it because everyone got sick. The kids loved playing on the playground in the snow! It was so funny to watch. Eden loved the big slide because she went so so fast. I was nervous for her because her eyes got really big, but once she flew to the bottom she started laughing and couldn't stop! My kids are thrill seekers! She had to do it again and again. I'm so grateful for my little family. I have so much joy in my life because of them. I am reminded of so much good and happiness every day when I wake up to these smiling crazy little faces.
I LOVE YOU KAEL AND EDEN!

He's 39 Months

Sometimes I really have a hard time writing a monthly letter. I think I need some funny story that the kids do, or really something incredible to tell them, so they can look back and remember/love their childhood. However, I realize that the most important part of these letters is to just tell my children that I love them.

 Kael, I LOVE YOU!

In pictures here is what Kael is loving lately.

 Paper airplanes. He is getting so good at throwing them. He can hit Derek in the head almost every time. :)
He loves playing with play-dough. He always wants me to create something for him, and let's face it, I'm terrible at this sort of thing. Just try and figure out what animals I created.

Rooster, Elephant, and a turtle.

Kael, you are the funnest! And funnest is a word to me. I love playing with you and seeing your imagination and the things you create. You are so much fun to be around and I love seeing you grow every day!

Halloween 2011

I can never choose one picture to post. Here they are though. I sewed my costume first. I just kind of guessed. I held the material up and tried pinning it. Then I sewed Derek's. Once again I held it up to him and then pinned. I figured it wasn't a big deal to be a bit off. I was going to sew the triangles on, and after one I realized it was a pain and didn't look too good. I ended up using a glue gun. Kael's shorts I found a blog that showed you how to make shorts and create your own pattern from shorts you already have. They turned out pretty good, but were a little big. I made his bat out of extra pillow stuffing I had. It was pretty floppy so I broke a hanger and put it in there for support. Then Eden's shirt was the easiest part I made. I had shirt in her closet that was made practically the same and I just copied it exactly. Then I glued the triangles on. Her shorts were another matter. I tried doing the same as Kael's but Eden only had skirts so I had a harder time. It ended with no waist to do a waist band. I added about 4 inches and it still didn't go over her bottom... It was really funny. I ended up putting on some black leggings underneath and it covered everything pretty good. I had fun making the costumes, but even more fun wearing them as a family and taking the kids trick-or-treating. Both kids had it down pretty good this year. Kael ran door to door with his cousins and held Garek's hand practically the whole time. I'm only upset that in the confusion I forgot their buckets for candy and they had to use plastic bags. Poor Kael struggled to get the bag open while saying, Trick-or-treat, thank you and checking out the candy and holding his bat. Even Eden said trick-or-treat and thank you and bye bye. We got lots of comments on the costumes and I think it was a hit. I think I'm starting to like Halloween again. It was so worth it to see the kids so happy and yelling "Candy candy candy candy candy candy" in between each house. I have no idea what is in store for next year, but I'm already excited.

 I wish I could pick a favorite so I don't flood my blog book with copies of similar pictures. Oh well.

Some Halloween Festivities

I took the kids to a Mom's club party and I didn't want to take them in their Flintstones costumes for fear of the cold. It was warm and I should have, but this is what I came up with on the spot. They did crafts and did a candy walk. We didn't stay long, but they had a lot of fun.

 The Pumpkins. 

The kids painted them first, and then I carved them. Kael wanted a smiling one and a scary one. This is what we got.

Long Hair

I love her long hair. Now if only the top would grow as fast as the back. Love the natural curls too! Love this girl!

Autumn is Upon Us

So I wanted to write about our Halloween festivities tonight, but I'm that lame Mom that didn't take any pictures. I forgot my camera the first party we went to and then last night I brought it, but in the midst of all the crazy chili eating, dressing up, trick-or-treating, candy eating madness I didn't snap one picture with my camera. We did get a photo of us in our Flintstones costumes, so hopefully I can snag it in the next couple of days. Let me just say The Flintstones were a hit! Derek and the kids were awesome sports for going along with my crazy idea. I can't wait to post a picture.

Anyway, this post is about the change in season! I have been loving autumn! The leaves are magical and I am so glad we got our family pictures done at this time of year. They leaves here in Salt Lake City are amazing! There is so much beauty. Last night it was warm and perfect weather for our costumes, which I was terrified of since I spent a lot of time working on them. Today however it showed how fast the weather can change. We got our first snow today. It was awesome. Kael looked out the window and yelled "Snow mom snow!" He then proceeded to run to his room and grab his coat, hat, gloves, snow boots and run back out completely dressed and yell "Snow Man Mom"! The kid is ready for winter. I'm not quite ready yet.

Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying our beautiful Fall here in Salt Lake.