Happy Birthday Kaden and beyond!

What a whirlwind of a week it has been for the Nutt House.  This week has kept us busy with everything from the school book fair, teacher appreciation week, spirit week at school, a couple birthday parties, Moms and Muffins, a school assembly a dance competition, and oh yeah… Kaden’s birthday!

Kicking off the week brought us Kaden’s birthday.  Our sweet and lively lil’ man is now 6 years old.  Kaden is such a light in this world; he brings happiness to all that he interacts with.  Kaden is caring and wants to be friends with everyone.  Yet, he is perfectly happy to go off by himself and play Legos for hours on end.  Kaden gets stubborn and has been going through a spell where he’s been throwing fits or pouting if he doesn’t like the way something is going.  At the same time, Kaden gives the world’s best hugs and has a smile that warms the soul.  Kaden excels at anything analytical at school and learns everything else at his own pace.  He floored me earlier this year with his ability to read a book all by himself and continues to grow with his reading skills.  Almost nightly I am impressed at the amount of scripture reading Kaden can do without assistance anymore.  Kaden loves watching sports – any and all of them, especially if he’s there watching the action happen.  He screams, shouts and cheers on his team as well as any die-hard fan could.  Kaden isn’t afraid to be himself and to be unique; he’ll talk to anyone and doesn’t mind being a goofy boy.  However, he is a sensitive boy and if he gets the sense someone is making fun of him he’s quick to tear up which shreds my heart while he does so.  Kaden is a light to all those that know him and he completes our family so well.  It is my deep honor to be Kaden’s mom and to observe first hand his growth and development in this life. Kaden opens my eyes continually to ways I can be a better person, it is one of my greatest hopes that as him mom I am preparing him well enough for the life he will lead.  As his parents, we wish him all the best and are honored to celebrate his 6^th birthday with him!!!

We started Kaden’s birthday with a blue pancake breakfast before it was time to rush off to school.  At school, Kaden was chosen to help with the morning announcements where he read the lunch menu and led the school in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  A few hours later Kaden was joined for lunch by both parents where he was treated to a special Chick-Fil-A lunch and was sung to by the entire lunchroom to celebrate his birthday.  After school, the birthday pampering didn’t end as we went to Jiu Jitsu and Kaden was selected to be helper for every possible exercise – everything from leading the warm up, to helping Professor with every demonstration and even getting to spar with Professor himself. This is a huge treat as Professor rarely spars with the students, instead he helps the sparing buddies out and if an extra sparring partner is needed, he’ll have one of the coaches do this, not himself. At the end of Jiu Jitsu the class once again sang Kaden Happy Birthday, this time, he was king of the world, on top of the shoulders of Coach Lucas.  Once we arrived back home, Kaden was treated to the birthday dinner he requested… a fondue dinner.  We had a delicious dinner of fondue steak and veggies followed by a dessert of chocolate fondue with cake, berries, and pineapple dippers.  Once dinner was over Kaden proceeded to open his presents.  He didn’t have too many to open as his gifts from mom and dad he had previously received – his new bike and magnetic clipping helmet.  Kaden was thrilled to receive the Lego activity book from Grammy and Papa that he had wanted Friday night at the book fair, but was denied.  He also received the bathrobe he wanted and new dragon slippers from his sister.  Other birthday presents have since trickled in with a new rock collection and Ninjago Lego set coming from Aunt Allison and Grandpa and Grandma sending him TONS of Lego minifigures.  Thankfully, a quick rearrangement of a few things in his bedroom has led to space for all of his new items. 

Our lil' man starting the Pledge

My two favorite guys!

Helping Professor with showing techniques

Sparring time with Professor

Loved how Professor really pushed Kaden
Yet still made it super fun for him too!

Happy Birthday Kaden!

Fondue is FUNdue!

Ready, set...

BLOW OUT THE CANDLES!

Pretty sure the whole reason he wanted fondue was
for the dessert course

Everyone smile for chocolate

Chocolate!

So excited for his present!

My favorite 6 year old in the entire world!

Spirit week kept the Nutt House on our creative toes all week long.  Monday was either sports fan or nerd day.  Kara chose to go as a nerd while Kaden opted for a sports fan.  Tuesday was twin day where Kara matched up almost perfectly with a friend while Kaden and some friends from his class all wore the same shirt to accomplish twin day.  Wednesday brought us crazy hair day, to work with Kaden’s short hair, we colored his to look like a baseball, while Kara’s was done up to look like her hair was pouring out of a soda bottle.  Favorite book character was the theme for Thursday, to accomplish this, Kara went as Violet from Boxcar Children and Kaden tested my creative abilities choosing to go as Fly Guy.  Friday was superhero or villain t-shirt day and thank heavens as by Friday I was creatively tapped out!  For this day, Kara borrowed a Star Wars shirt from Kaden while he wore a Batman shirt.

Cutest nerd and best sports fan ever!

Too cute for words

Ready, set... go to school!

Totally adorable twins!

Crazy Hair Day

Love these two

Fly Guy and Violet

T-shirt hero day

As I mentioned in the opening, this week had a lot going on. At school in addition to spirit week, we had the book fair where Kara and Kaden were to buy up every book there!  Our pocketbook was grateful that we didn’t buy up the fair, instead getting a handful of books each.  These books should last us throughout the summer, hopefully.  With school seeming to mimic our ever-busy lives we also had teacher appreciation week where the kiddos took small gifts daily to show their gratitude for everything their teachers do for them.  While it is a lot of work getting the gifts together, the kids have a good time giving them to the teachers and having those small moments to express their gratitude and that makes the momentary chaos worthwhile.  Thursday the school also had an assembly for the students, as a perk to being on the PTO Board I was able to be there to assist if any help was needed.  This allowed me the opportunity to watch the assembly with Kaden.  A group of BMX stunt riders who not only performed for the students but also talked about bike safety as well put on the assembly.  Kara enjoyed the assembly, but Kaden… he was entranced the entire time.  He did not take his eyes off the riders for even a second.  It was as if I could see the gears turning in his head as he tried to figure out how the tricks were performed, the risk level involved and determine if they were worth attempting himself or not.  Thankfully, as of the writing of this entry, neither little Nutt has attempted no such tricks!

Kaden was amazed the entire time

As a mom, this completely freaked me out

Friday brought my most favorite event of the entire Kindergarten school year… Moms and Muffins.  During this hour, the moms are invited into the classroom to be treated to a song presented by the students and then a group of activities we can work through with our kinder kid.  Kaden carefully flipping his book and singing “What a Wonderful World” brought tears to my eyes.  After which, we shared a plate of breakfast treats while he read me a card he had carefully made me, then we worked to assemble a jewelry box together that I got to take home and we finished off our hour with a getting to know each other better activity.  Oh!  How I loved this special, tender time! 

Oh, what a wonderful world

Special card made just for me by my favorite lil' man

Jewelry box making time

This kiddo brings me such joy.
I am so lucky and so blessed to be his mom!

With a dance competition bringing a way too early Saturday morning for Kara and myself she and I opted for an early evening Friday night once she was done at a friend’s birthday party.  While we were calling it a night, Brent took Kaden to an advanced training Jiu-Jitsu class before they went out to Gilbert to help celebrate Uncle Joe’s birthday.  A too tired Kaden came back hours later and said he had fun and got to play with Legos, which of course, makes any event successful in his eyes. 

Sparring fun with one of his
favorite sparring buddies, Omar

Hanging out at Rachel's for Uncle Joe's party

Lego's and cousin time

My alarm went off at 4:30 am Saturday morning.  That is right, no typo there… 4:30 in the morning!  All this so I could be ready to wake Kara at 5:15 so we could have her ready to leave the house for a dance competition by 6 am.  Ugh!  It was a start WAY too early in the morning.  The day was a success though.  Kara and the rest of the Innerlight Dance team performed amazingly against some very tough competition, which resulted a 3^rd place finish for Kara’s trio.  (Honestly, I didn’t think this was the best they’ve ever performed the dance so the 3^rd place was a very pleasant surprise to me).  The girls earned a 9^th place finish on their small group dance (which I thought they were amazing at and performed this dance THE best I’ve ever seen it).  The competition timing led the girls to have to skip part of awards to practice and warm up their large group number.  The hard work paid off though as the girls earned an Elite Score (highest available) and 2^nd place.  The production number earned Elite as well (which surprised me, as it just didn’t seem to have the energy behind it that I normally feel with this upbeat number) and came in 4^th for Production numbers.  The day was busy and in between dances Kara and crew exchanged gifts and played around a bit, which was good and needed!  If the girls can’t have fun dancing, they shouldn’t be doing it I believe.  I was floored when during their large group number not only did Kara nail her aerial but also there was a good amount of distance between her and the ground.  When she and I had been warming them up earlier, the height just wasn’t there and I was afraid she wouldn’t land it.  So when she did, I finally exhaled (having held my breath), started crying and screaming and even shaking as I frantically sent Brent a message letting him know of Kara’s success.  The day was long but it was a rewarding and fulfilling day.  Also a great final regional dance competition of the year.  Now, in the world of dance, we are free until nationals in July!

Arriving way too early in the morning at
6:30, ready to start the dance day

Warmed up and ready for their trio to go on

How I love these three dancing friends!

Small Group ready to go!

All changed for their large group and waiting for
practice time to start

A little goofy fun

Time for some Simon Says action

Receiving their 3rd place award for their trio!

Erin is becoming one of
my favorite dancers!  She is always
smiling, always there for the younger
minis, such an amazing dancer and
crazy amazing young lady!

Production

Large Group awards

Dancing friends in matching dance shirts 

She was not going to leave until her picture was taken 

Sugar and spice and everything nice

While Kara and I were busy at dance all day Brent and Kaden hit the pool for some swim time followed by a swim lesson.  After which Kaden went to a birthday party before the boys went shopping to prepare for Mother’s Day.

Kaden took advantage of a rare moment when Pixie would let him pet her

Speaking of Mother’s Day… today has been a delight.  Brent really stepped up his game in how today went!  The kiddos helped him make cinnamon bread French toast for breakfast, presented me with 5 different Mother’s Day cards, Brent fixed dinner and did most of the cleanup.  Kara pampered me with a manicure and pedicure; I received a beautiful coaster Kara made at school, a new LSU t-shirt, and an air fryer that I have been wanting for some time!  Our day was topped off with a final visit to the Mesa Temple to walk the grounds once more and soak in the visitors center, which we found out will be torn down and rebuilt in a new location as part of the Mesa Temple renovation that closes the Temple down for two years starting next week.  I am so grateful to have been sealed to the crazy and amazing and very Nutt-y Brent in a Temple for all of eternity and that our family is sealed together for all of eternity as well.  I am grateful to have so many temples so close to us and that as a family we enjoy visiting the temple regularly.  The kiddos love the visitors’ center and I love that they love it.  I am especially thankful for the Spirit that I felt tonight in particular at the Visitor’s Center while we sat looking at the statue of Christ listening to the brief message in Cambodian.  It may be silly, but we had listened to the message in English and I enjoyed it, but when the message was replayed in a language I do not understand my heart was opened more to not just hear the message but feel it as well.  I felt the love of our Savior so strongly, as this gentle, caring voice spoke… I just know that is how our Savior and our Heavenly Father will and do speak to us… with nothing but love and caring and this testimony tonight was a perfect ending to a perfectly fabulous Mother’s Day!

A view of the kiddos on the other side of
the reflection pond.  Last time they'll see the
reflection pond this size as it appears it will be larger
when the visitors' center is torn down.

Closer view of my favorite little Nutts

Best Mother's Day activity...
Temple Time with the family

Kaden was so disappointed when he couldn't do this last week
we made certain the coloring the temple station was the first
thing on our list for this trip

Kara colored the Idaho Falls temple.
Her number one request for this visit was to make
sure the baby ducks were taken care of.  She felt
better knowing they were moved by professional animal
care givers to a new home.

FINALLY!  On our last visit in this Visitors Center I beat
him at the temple geography quiz!

Such a beautiful peace of heaven on earth

Nothing as magical as a child blowing a dandelion

I am so blessed with my life and I know it.  I have been blessed beyond measure to be who I am, where I am and doing all that I am at this time in my life and I thank the Lord for these many blessings and all that he continues to bless me with!  *The greatest of these blessings are those that I affectionately call the Nutt House.  My family.