Eating Kitties

Paycen loves those kitties! And seriously, all he does is squeeze them and try to eat them. Yum!

Kitty Story,

Our cute cat Sierra had 6 kitties this fall. Slowly, one by one they just disappeared. Maybe they wandered too far and got lost I don't know. I finally got a cat bed for our two remaining cats to help them stay warm this winter and low and behold, the kitties came back. Dangit! Now I have 5 cats again. The worst part is the kitties are wild and it's hard to catch them. And the cat bed is too small for all of them. It's so funny to come home from work and see all these cats piled high on this cat bed made for 2.

Ponytails

So,

When is too long...too long?

• Is it when Paycen's hair gets in his eyes?
• or maybe when I can't see his ears anymore.
• How about when he is constantly called "the cutest little girl ever"
• I know, it's when I have to put his hair in a ponytail when he eats!

That's right. A whole bowl full of sticky, gooey oatmeal all for you babe!

And of course, Kaden had to have his hair done to if I was fixing Paycen's.

Quick Funny Story

I worked Thursday night and ended up having a busy night. But all was well, I had a funny patient that kept me going. She was the nicest foley induction I've ever had. Every time I would leave she would say to me "Thank you sooo much". It wasn't just a thanks or thank you. It was a thank you sooo much. Wonderful! She was great. I gave her an ambien around midnight and ten minutes later she was loopy. The quickest ambien ever. I tucked her in and told her to call me if she needed anything. She touched my wrist and looked at me with these half opened eyes and said,

"Thank you lady in purple.."

She closed her eyes and fell asleep. I looked at her husband and he looked at me. We both started laughing. What a great night.

Knights Dragons and a Damsel in Distress

We had such a fun Halloween this year. I think our costumes turned out really cute, and Kaden loved Trick or Treating. We started the festivities by going to my parents house to Trick or Treat around 5:00. My mom gave Paycen some little graham crackers. What a cute idea. We then went to the Salem trunk or treat. Tyrel stayed to pass out the candy and I took the kids around. Near the end, I was holding the Halloween candy bucket because Kaden was complaining that is was "too heavy".

Kaden assuming the knightly pose. Tip of the sword down and chest out.


Kaden loved his sword...Paycen didn't {too many bumps on the head}

The full costume. What a handsome knight.

A knight, a dragon and of course the damsel in distress.

Everyone asked me about my hat so here are the answers... Yes it hurt to wear, Yes I ran into things {everything} and Yes it was easy to make {poster board, tissue paper and a lot of tape}

We ended the trunk or treat at like 7:00. It was perfect because we came home ate dinner/candy then put the boys to bed at a decent time. Halloween is like a love/hate relationship at our house. Dressing up is fun and getting candy is fun, but fighting with your 3 year old about the candy is not so much fun. In fact I can't wait for it to be gone so there will be no more tantrums over "one more" or "just a little one mommy". October went way too fast. I caught myself singing Jingle Bells while doing dishes one afternoon. Where did the time go?

Waiting is so hard

I can't believe I did it. I told myself I wouldn't and that I would wait. It was just one piece. A harmless little piece. It's not like I ate the whole bag. I had to get a chair to get to it. We put it on the highest top shelf we have. That's not the worst part. I plotted and planned for the exact moment Kaden was asleep to do it.

Yes.

I secretly ate the Halloween Candy.

Last of the nice weather

Enjoy it! We are getting the last of the nice weather. I had to take some snap shots of the boys.

Paycen is really cruising along the furniture now. He has even started to let go and stand there on his own for a couple seconds. WoW! I love his squishy cheeks and Yes! I kiss them all day long!

I have been blessed with two buddies. They thrive off each other and play really good together. Sometimes they are in each other's space too much, but for the most part best friends!


I found an old hat of Kaden's and it fits Paycen really well. He is so cute in it because his hair is still so long and crazy that it flips out under the hat. I can't get enough of these two guys!

Kaden was never one to snuggle or want rocked as a baby, completely independent. But don't let him fool you. The other morning while snoozing on the couch, I woke up with a blanket on me. Seriously, Kaden saw me without one and tucked me in. I gave him a big squeeze and told him he was the sweetest boy in the whole world.

Oh Paycen, please stop waking me up at 4 AM. I love rocking you back to sleep but Mommy is tired, very tired and would love a couple more hours of sleep. How can I resist though? He is really going to be a heart breaker with those big eyes and irresistible smile.

Look who turned 3

I can't believe Kaden's THREE!! I really can't. What a crazy trip this has been. Anyway, my big kid is 3. This last year with Kaden has been pretty eventful. For example, he has endured...

• a tonsillectomy
• new brother
• potty training
• learning how to construct sentences
• a big boy bed
• learning how to ride a tricycle
• sharing

I could go on, but those are a few of what happens during year 2. So the Birthday Party was awesome!! Kaden loves tractors and got lots for his birthday!! Paycen doesn't mind. There is plenty for him to play with to.

This is the morning of. I gave Kaden the movie BOLT so he could watch it that morning (I worked the night before) He was so excited and we have probably watched it 10+ times since.


This was Kaden's reaction with each Tractor he opened. I love it!!


Eating cake. I only know how to make one cake. Good thing it's our favorite...Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting!!


Sitting next to all his tractors. Look at that Cheeser!! I love it!! The tractor to the left is his remote control tractor. What a hit. Kaden gets Paycen to chase it around all day. But if Paycen actually gets it, Kaden freaks. At least they try to play together.

Cute Paycen. He's getting rammed with the tractor and fortunately loves it!!

Thank you to all our family that was able to make it to our little party, and for all the gifts Kaden received. It was such a special day for my big, little guy!!

Welcome Fall

Today is the first day of Autumn!! We welcome it with cold arms this morning but a warm heart all together. Celebrating fall means a couple changes for us: Ty works more hours in the fall getting all the lawns ready for winter, I get to wear skinny jeans and jackets now because it was too hot to wear them before and now pack an ice scraper in my car , Kaden celebrates his third birthday next week, and Paycen is now putting leaves in his mouth vs. grass. This morning we were all sporting the rosy-nose look after our morning jog and then cuddled together in front of our living room heater for breakfast. We love Fall!!

We camped in Tetonia last weekend to celebrate our last camping trip of the year and had a blast. Kaden is a pro fire stirrer with his fire stick and loves to pee on trees. He is pure boy, through and through. Paycen enjoyed being snuggled in the sleeping bag all night and loves his new stocking cap. For Ty and I, it was just nice to get away for the weekend, even though it wasn't too far away.

Tyrel taking the boys to see the creek.


Paycen and Kaden. The two cutest boys ever!!


Little Paycen hangin' on to Daddy


Kaden giving me his cheeser

Family shot

{Paycen, Tyrel, Kaden and Stephanie}

the still small voice

Divine intervention is a must when raising boys. For example...

A: Paycen and Kaden are playing in the kitchen and I am doing dishes. I get this strong feeling to check on Paycen. So I stroll over to the boys and they both smile at me. Bad sign. Then I notice Paycen is chewing on something. I do a quick finger sweep and feel nothing. The feeling persisted. I do another finger sweep and recover a dime. That could've been disastrous. I asked Kaden, "Did you give Paycen the dime?" Kaden answered, "Yah. Paycee my piggy bank! Just pretend mom." Great! that makes it all better because you were only pretending. Kaden spent the next 3 minutes in time out.

B: I am at Corinne's getting my hair done. Corinne gets done with the color and I am under the dryer with a ton of foils in my hair. I get the feeling to check on Kaden. Which was weird because I just checked on him and he was in the garage playing on the wiggle cars with Conner (Corinne's little boy Kaden's age) So I walked over to the garage and see the two boys playing in the back of the pickup. It looked like Conner had a stick and was swinging it around. No big deal. Once again the feeling persisted and I walked closer. I noticed the stick was connected to a hose. My heart started to pound and I ran to the truck. Low and behold the stick was a sprayer and the hose was connected to a bucket of pesticide. I yank it from Conner. I look at Kaden and he is soaked. Sprayed right in the face. Not like a sprinkle, but completely saturated and the pesticide is dripping off his chin. I yell to Corinne and the next thing the boys are stripped and in the sink. I used the sink sprayer and forced Kaden's eyes open to rinse them out. Scary!

So to those of you who have two-year-olds and say the phrase "terrible twos" FYI: I would take a two-year-old over a three-year-old any day.

Boys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls are coming to Blackfoot on Oct 21. Doors open at 5:30 and the show starts at 6:30. I am totally going!! Goodbye kids for the night and hello crowded concert hall. Sounds like a blast!! If anyone wants to go with me then let me know. The more the merrier.

Getting out of Bed

It's morning time!! I will give you a quick glimpse in my head as I try to get out of bed.

whine. whine. whine. whimper. sniffle. "Where my dad go? Daaaaaaaad!!! Mommmmmm!!! are you?"

great. Kaden's awake. Does he really not know where I am? What time is it? Only 7:30. Why can't he just give me 5 more minutes.

Kaden shakes me. I fake sleep.

"Mom. I hungry. Mom. I Tirsty. Wake up. Open your eyes. Sun awake. Look mom."

I open my eyes and with them plead for 5 more minutes. Kaden is immovable. He wants me up now. I lay in bed to stretch and hear the second son start to cry.

great. Okay Steph. Think happy thoughts. Today will be a good day. You will open your eyes and get out of bed. Not a big deal. You will not be tired. You will get up and make everyone waffles. You will smile at Kaden.

I hear a big thunk followed by a loud painful scream.

Okay. I'm up. What was that?

I run to Paycen's room and find him sprawled on the floor. What the? How did you get down here? Did you seriously just climb out of your crib? I pick up the boy. I cuddle and wipe some drippy droppy tears. All better. But seriously. How did you fall?

I am out of bed. The crib bed is now lowered. I made some yummy waffles.

Boating

Tyrel's parents own a boat and we were able to take it out last Saturday to Palisades. It was a gorgeous day and the water was picture perfect. Kaden loved every minute of boating. Every day he asks me "Mom, we go boating today?"

This is me landing my huge 360 board grab...(jk) I wish.

Smile Steph!

Kaden and cousin Reawynn watching Uncle Kris get beat up on the tube. Those two were so cute together on the boat. What good boating buddies.

Tyrel and Kade on the tube. Kaden was so cute. He would let go with one hand and yell "Wa-hoo!"

Tyrel and Paycen. It was so much fun watching him try to crawl in his muscle man life suit.

Okay, so intro on the movie. This was my last run. I was very tired. Thus the bending down to get some relief for my legs.

Did you see it? The huge crash!! If you didn't watch it again. I can't believe Ty got it on film. I was laughing so hard when I saw it. I have the coolest bruise on my foot to show for it. I lost a contact and then 5 min. later it came back. I guess it got pushed behind my eye. Ouch!

Twilight

This is for all my Twilight loving friends out there...

Go Team Edward!!

Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake for the Lee Reunion (my Dad's side of the family) and it was great! We stayed at this old little hotel place with a great grassy area to play on and close beach access. It was walking distance to the famous raspberry shake place to, a plus! We had wave runners there, and my Aunt brought her boat. The beach was a lot of fun. Unfortunately most of my pictures are of Kaden crying so I don't have any good ones of him. He had fun but I think he got too much sun and was delirious by the end of the day.

Any way, here is a bunch of pictures of our fun weekend!

Kaden fell asleep on our way there with a sandwich in hand

Playing a little football

Cute cousins (Kaden and cousin Jacob)

My mom and my little Paycee

"Duck Duck Goose" with the kids

At the beach, Kaden and Jake in the raft.

We had to keep them from pretending the oars were swords. Too many smacks in the face.

Paycen!!

Kaden in the water. He is such a water loving boy!!

Kaden making sand castles with cousin Catherine

Paycen showing off the doo

More sand castles with cousin Treston

Me and Ty

Happy 24!!

This year was my one and only year to turn 24 on the 24th!! Way cool...I know!! I love having my birthday in the summer. Because all your birthday parties end up being swimming parties!! Ty and I went up to Bear Lake for a family reunion this year and celebrated my birthday with everyone. The best part of the trip was the new phone Ty got for me. Big whoopdee-doo for all those out there that have had a cell phone for years, but this is my first one EVER!! I have wanted one for 7 years and now I have one!! Wahoo!!

So as we were driving to the lake I kept hearing this sound and Ty kept asking me "What is that noise?" I was like "um the radio..." I fidgeted with the volume and it wasn't the radio. Then the noise came again. I searched the car and found the phone hidden in the console. Ty had been calling my phone with his phone for the last 5 minutes trying to get me to find it. I was so surprised!! I didn't know I was getting a phone. I am sooo Happy!!

I got the cutest Happy Birthdays from my little boys!

Me taking a self portrait of me on my new phone!

This is it! The new phone. I call it the "Shawney Communicator". It slides open and there's a keyboard inside. Super cool!

Happy Half-Birthday

Paycen celebrated his half birthday on the 8th of July. My baby is growing up so fast. I can't believe he's 6 months old and half way to being ONE! Our celebration included a trip to the peds office and 3 shots in the legs. Great. Actually, Paycen did really good. He weighs 14 lbs 9 oz and is in the 5%. Poor little guy. I think Dr. Lofgran was going to say something about his weight when Paycen started showing off. He showed him how he coos and babbles non-stop, he scoots, squirms and army crawls to any toy of interest. In this case the crinkly paper and stethoscope. No more worries about my light weight, he is growing up just fine.

I didn't know that stranger anxiety started now. The look of panic on Paycen's face as the nurses and doctors came in was surprising. He clung to me for a little bit and then was okay. How do they know? I don't remember Kaden being stranger anxious. I think it's because he got sent to many sitter's homes while I taught gymnastics.

Any way. I just thought I would post a few pictures of what Paycen is doing now. What a crazy...I told him to stop but he wouldn't listen. He wiggles and moves so much. His objective is to get to Kaden wherever he is. As soon as he does Kaden yells "Mom! Paycen touching me." and then moves his little party to the other side of the room. Paycen then slowly makes his way over to Kaden again. I have two really cute boys!!!

Bed Time

What a lovely thing...Bed Time! When 8:30 comes around I am euphoric. Routine...brush teeth, jammies, Kaden screams, scriptures, prayers, Paycen screams, songs, I love you's...lights out. Phew!!

Paycen and Kaden in their jammies. Kaden saw that I was taking pictures of Paycen's cute tummy and had to join in by pulling up his shirt to. Kaden says, "We're matching Mommy".

Paycen's leg was touching Kaden. After the laughing Kaden looks at Paycen and says "Stop touching me, Pacey" Of course Paycen does it again and Kaden yells to me "Mom, Pacey's touching me!". I have a little tease on my hands {and a tattle tell}.

Just Paycen

I was just sitting here at the computer eating ritz crackers with easy cheese thinking of my two beautiful sleeping baby boys. Then I thought, I haven't posted any pictures of my Paycen for awhile. So here is my little Pacey...

Sleeping just like Kaden, with his hand over his eyes.

Paycen and Daddy

He always has those big wide eyes...

...and of course the Wild Hair

First time eating rice cereal.

Trying to eat the play gym.

Watching Kaden.

Learning to sit up. Still a little wobbly.

I love his kissable cheeks!

Mommy and Paycen!

*This little guy is so much fun. He doesn't take a bink which is really nice because we won't have to do the whole weaning thing when he's one.

*He loves to snuggle and to be held, but also loves to play on the floor with his toys (if Kaden lets him).

*He is really easy to get a smile out of.

*He falls asleep in my arms which I love especially at church, but still sleeps like an angel in his own crib.

*Paycen loves the bath...I mean absolutely LOVES the bath. He flips and kicks and splashes the whole time.

*He is such a light weight. A plus while totting him along and chasing Kaden at the same time.

*Paycen calms down almost instantly when I hold him, pulling at my little heart strings the whole time.