Catching up....again!!!

I don't know why I'm having a hard time blogging lately. It's almost Christmas and I still haven't posted about Halloween!! I think it's because uploading pictures on here is kind of a pain. So...instead of doing a picture post, I'm just going to write some thoughts on here to try to get myself back into it!!

Mr. Aiden has been so fun!! His personality is just adorable. He truly is growing into a sweet little boy. He gives these looks that always cracks us up and he is so sensitive. If you give him a stern voice, he sticks his lips out and gets all watery eyed and even puts himself in timeout. There is nothing more adorable than a one year old with his nose in the corner. What's even funnier is that I haven't even put him there before. He just started putting himself there. I guess he must have seen someone else have to go to timeout:) He loves his sisters and wants to play with them all the time.....especially outside! Aiden is always getting into things and half of our ornaments are off the tree or now broken:) He loves looking at the lights and decorations that people have outside of their houses. When he sees a house decorated, he will get all excited and point to it. He won't sit in his high chair anymore which truly bugs me especially when there is something really messy for dinner. I would really like to fix that but don't know how. Aiden does this adorable little dance that is kind of like a skip. He will do that whenever any music comes on...even commercials:) He also loves to watch his Daddy when he is working on something. He gets his head in there to check it all out like he is figuring out how to do it and loves playing with his little drill. He only has a little bit of hair still but I don't mind because he still looks like a baby and other kids his age look so much older. So I don't mind keeping my baby a baby a little longer:) About a month ago, we put him in the other nursery class so he can have that experience without his Mommy (since his Mommy is in nursery) and I can't believe how well he did!! He is a great sleeper and I love how he just cuddles up to me when I sing him his songs before I put him down. I truly enjoy those few minutes before bed. I just rub his cute little head as we rock and sing. Aiden is such a joy and so fun!!

Ms. Jordyn is just an adorable little girl. She is getting older but still has that cute baby face with the double chin. She has eyes that you can just stare into and melt and has beautiful curly hair. It's actually getting longer but doesn't look like it with her curls. She is my dark haired beauty. She was always dark from birth and never lightened up at all!! I love it. She is my shy girl. She tends to stay pretty close to her Mommy unless she really knows the person. Jor also gets that "I won't look up and won't talk" look. She will even do that to some family:) She loves to play with figurines and plays by herself so well. She does really well with her preschool and I love how well she is doing with her letters and numbers. I think listening to Makenna sing her school songs helps ALOT!!! She can count to 100 by 5's because Makenna kept singing it. She can write her name and her siblings names and loves to do her "homework". She makes me copy pages with her letters so she can practice. She is going to start Kindergarten this next school year and I was concerned that she wouldn't be ready (especially since she is going to still be 4 when she starts) but I'm not concerned at all now. She is ready to go now and is probably going to be better than the older kids! Jordyn loves to play with her big sister (even though they fight over the same toys constantly) and loves to play with all of her friends. I adore this sweet girl!!

Ms. Makenna is my big girl!! I can't believe how much she has grown. She was a blonde but is gradually getting darker and darker. Her curls are also getting a lot looser as she gets older. I'm trying to find new fun ways to fix her hair. She is such a big helper and loves being the second Mommy. She likes to be in charge and usually tells her siblings and friends what they should do or play with. I'm trying to get her to let other kids pick what they want to play but they don't usually mind. I think she will just be a great leader. She is more like her Daddy in that way and also with how outgoing she is. Makenna is about a head taller than all of her classmates and has HUGE feet!! She is a very sensitive little girl. She can get her feelings hurt very easily and gets upset if someone else is upset. The other day she was crying because her teacher was upset. She also cries at some shows even though I tell her it's not real. She is one smart cookie and does really well in school! She has almost all A's except one B in math and it's almost an A.....one percentage point off! She was having a hard time with subtraction but has figured that out now! Makenna is definitely a lover. She loves to cuddle and always wants me to do "feel good" (rubbing her arms or legs) and loves to be sung to. I love this loving girl!!

Sneaking treats:)

I made these treats with pretzels and kisses and M&M's and Mr. Dude loved them!! He even pushed a chair up to the counter to sneak some more:)

He's so cute!!!!!!!!!!

Random Photos

Little man wanted to play sleepover with his sisters!! They were nice and obliged!! :)

I found this cute blog that shows how to do cute hairstyles on girls! I have been trying a few on Makenna! This is a cute twist.

This is the waterfall braid.

A cute twisty braid:)

Aiden wanted to put Jordyn's shorts on one day and wouldn't take them off:)

The girls have been watching Nightmare Before Christmas constantly for the past couple of weeks and this is what Makenna wrote out:)

I think Aiden is wanting to go to Disneyland to get his own Mickey hat!! I wish we were going soon:)

Jordyn's birthday

So, the farthest back I think I haven't blogged about was Jordyn's birthday. I did a post for her but not what we did. So, here is my beautiful 4 year old!! I still can't believe she is FOUR!!

I didn't have friend parties for anyone until Makenna's 6th birthday this year. It was always just family and then we would go to the movies and tons of fun things. But since Jordyn isn't really a movie going fan yet, I decided to let her have a "mini" friend party. She only had three people over and we kinda did the same thing that we did for Makenna's....pretend sleepover. They all came over in the jammies and we started off with the movie Strawberry Shortcake. They started dancing to the song right away and then ended going outside to play:) Aiden had to dance too!!

Of course Jordyn had to have a Strawberry Shortcake cake!!

Birthday Girl!!

Blowing out the candles!!

Opening presents!

My attempt at a group shot!

Finally chilling out again to watch the movie:)

Her party was Friday and Saturday we took her to go bowling with both sets of grandparents (will have to post those pics later). Then we got McDonalds on the way home and opened presents with Trav's parents.

Aiden liked her Strawberry Shortcake car! :)

And Aiden figured out he LOVES ketchup:)

We had dinner and presents with my parents on Sunday (I guess I didn't bring my camera:). She got to have macaroni and cheese! I think she had a great birthday!! :)

Updates Galore

I am sooo behind and I needed to write that so I will get busy and actually blog:) I need to go back as far as Jordyn's birthday. I wrote about her on her birthday but not what we did! It will get done!! I had a good day at church. I got to go to Relief Society which I haven't been able to do in three months since I was called to nursery. I love those babies in nursery but I didn't realize how much I depended on getting that spiritual lesson every week. And since my kids are crazy and Trav leads the music sometimes, I don't get too much from Sacrament meeting either. I think if I make sure I get spiritually fed every now and then when I need it, I will be much happier and do very well in my calling! Since Aiden turned 18 months, I put him in the other nursery class and he is really doing well. I thought he was going to freak out and cry but I guess I have transitioned him well since he has been in with me for the past three months. He was being so naughty with me so this keeps me sane as well as being good for him to be independent from me! Little man has also got a few teeth that I need to document. He got his lower left one around Halloween and I just noticed both of his top two are coming in as well!! The girls are doing very well in their classes. Jordyn has adjusted well to being a sunbeam and I am glad that I decided to not be in there because I know she wouldn't be as independent. She is the type that clings to me and she really needed to have that opportunity to be by herself. Makenna is always awesome at church. I just wish I could get them to whisper!! Anyway, more updates to come. I'm hoping to get caught up this week!

4 year and 18 month checkups

A week ago, I took Jordyn and Aiden for their 4 year and 18 month check ups. Jordyn was a little nervous but she was a good girl.....except for the fact that she didn't even want to step on the scale:) Jordyn is 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 36 pounds 6 ounces! She is in the 40th percentile for height and if she stays at this pace will be about 5'3 or 5'4 and is in the 60th percentile for weight. She ended up getting her Kindergarten shots since she is going to start school before she actually turns five. That way I wouldn't have to take her in for an extra appointment to get those taken care of. She is all set. She fussed a little but was a brave girl.

My 4 year old Jordyn is such a sweet thing. She is super shy except around her family and close friends. She loves playing with her figurines (especially her strawberry shortcakes) and plays very well by herself. She loves to play with her sister and sometimes with her little brother. He tends to ruin her little play time than plays with her:) She hates wearing shoes and would much rather go barefoot. She gets her shoes on and then kicks them off as soon as she gets in the van. I've learned to just bring whatever shoes she is going to wear and put them on her when we get there. Jordyn always says "uh huh" when you ask her to do something. It's hard to translate into words but the way she says it is adorable!! She is such a precious little girl and so loving!!

Aiden was such a good boy and so brave. He was having a great time just running around the room and screaming at the top of his lungs (his favorite pasttime:) Aiden is 33.5 inches and 24 pounds. He is in the 26% for his weight and 84% for his height and 70% for his hat. Doc said he was as tall as a 2 year old. Aiden also got two shots He usually just cries for a second and then he's done. I didn't watch the nurse do it. I just looked at his face and he was all happy go lucky one second and then big lips come out the next. He is so cute.

Aiden is definitely through and through a boy!!! He runs circles around me and exhausts me. He climbs and climbs and climbs. He climbs on the chairs, table, couches, patio furniture, beds, my tub so he can stand on it to watch me get ready and the slide!! That one is the scariest because he can get to the top now and there is a big opening with a drop on one side. I'm going to have to put up a board or something so he can play on the slide without me worrying. He loves to be outside and loves playing with his sisters. He's got this cute little smirk he always does and I love to watch him run because it looks like he twists his hips back and forth to do so. It's adorable. He loves to be barefoot as well. I can't keep shoes on him. He's a great sleeper and napper and an all around cute funny little boy!!

First Indy Car Race.....didn't go as planned!!

We got to go to our first Indy Car race!! And we even got to meet Tony Stewart of all people!! He looks alot like our Makenna:)

It was general admission seating so we were able to sit right by the start/finish line:)

Makenna kept asking when the "Tony Pledge of Allegiance" song was going to start!! She is so dang cute!! She had her hand on her heart way before it started! What a good girl! :)

Flyover!!

Makenna even got to sit in Danica's car!! She almost disappeared:)

We were all settled in for a fun race but craziness happened with only 11 laps in. About a dozen cars started crashing with some going airborne!! The first part of the crash was bad enough but then more crashed and then even more crashed. All you could see were big fireballs all over the place. It was crazy. I was very thankful that it didn't happen right in front of us. They had blocked the first rows but we weren't too high up and that had to have debris flying everywhere. Makenna was also worried and said that they were going to have to go to the hospital because they didn't have tops on their cars:) Unfortunately, a young driver, Dan Wheldon, did had to get airlifted to the hospital and ended up dying from that crash and the rest of the race was cancelled. It was all very sad. I felt bad for complaining because we had to sit out in the heat forever waiting when someone was losing their husband and father. It also makes you think about your family and how fragile life is. I'm so thankful for my husband and kids and extended family!!

Aiden in nursery

Aiden won't turn 18 months for two more days but he's been in nursery for a couple of months. I was called as a nursery worker at the end of July and the ONLY perk to that is that I get to take him in with me:) This past Sunday, he was CRAZY!!! He kept climbing up on the table, scooching the chair to the light and proceeding to turn it on and off over and over and over again. Or dragging the chair to the other door to play with the knob!! This picture was like the only time he was sitting down. But to be honest, he is usually better:) I can't believe my little man is growing up so fast!!!

4 year old questionaire

I did a questionaire for Makenna on her last birthday so I thought I would do one for Jordyn as well.....:)

~What do you want to do now that you are four?
Have my friends over
~What is your favorite color?
Bue and Purple
~What is your favorite book?
Ariel
~What is your favorite thing to do?
Homework....(she loves to practice her letters:)
~What is your favorite food?
M&M's
~What is your favorite thing to play with?
Figurines.....strawberry shortcakes, princesses, etc.
~What is your favorite thing to learn about?
Writing letters
~What is something you are good at?
Coloring
~What do you want to be when you grow up?
Doctor
~What is your favorite place to go?
Movie theater
~What is your favorite show?
Ariel/ Strawberry shortcake
~What is your favorite song?
Book of Mormon stories

Big Kids

It's my turn to teach Jorydn's preschool this week and Aiden just thought he was part of it all. He was a big kid just like the others!! We send them with lunches this year like their older siblings and while they were eating lunch today, Aiden wanted to eat at the picnic table too!! I made him a little sandwich and he thought it was so cool!! It was too cute but then he also tried to eat the other kids' food too:)

 And of course with all the rain.....comes puddles!!! And what kid doesn't want to play in puddles:)



Baby book

This year I planned to make my girls' their first year books and give it to them for their birthdays. Obviously Makenna's came first since her birthday was in March but almost on cue, Jordyn has been asking for one. She wanted a book just like her sister had. I kinda started later than I planned to so I had to work on it late at night to get it done in time for her birthday but I did!! She was thrilled. And today she asked to see her book and it was so cute watching her look through it. She just sat there for the longest time looking at all the pics. I'm not a scrapper but this worked for me and I know my girls love it....and that is all that matters!! Who needs glue and stickers....etc. :)

I will get to Aiden's when he is a little older to appreciate it:)

Jordyn is FOUR!!!

My gorgeous FOUR year old!!!

Happy happy birthday to my sweet little Jordi!! I can't believe she is four!!! She just grew up on me all of a sudden. It seems like she went from recognizing about half of her letters, etc to knowing all of them and tons more. It's like a light bulb lit and it all clicked super quickly. She loves to practice writing her letters and does very well in her preschool. Jordyn is super shy but super sweet. She won't talk much around other people but is a huge talker at home. We love this little princess so much and are so thankful that she is in our family!!

The signs you know your kiddos are getting older....

Makenna is one smart cookie. She is very aware of everything that is said and done by us and on tv. She is always asking me if things on movies are real....especially Harry Potter:) Since I am usually saying things aren't real since I can't get things done with the flick of my wand (unfortunately:), I don't think she was expecting me to say that what was on tv today was real. I was watching the memorial services for 9/11 and they kept showing the planes going into the buildings and the fires. Makenna was mesmerized by it (the first year that it has held her interest at all). I kept telling her to go play because I wanted to watch it but didn't want her to watch it but it was like she was rooted to the ground. She then asked me if it was real. Not wanting to lie, I told her that it was but it was a long time ago. That seemed to make her feel better but then she started worrying that we wouldn't ever be able to go back to New York because she loves New York. I reassured her that it was ok and that there was no problem in going back but then she got all excited thinking we were going to New York!! Love that girl! :)

Bunch of random

I was looking through my pictures that I have taken recently and found these. They are all different but cute:)

Travis thought Aiden looked like Shroder playing his little 'piano'. :)

I took a pic of Makenna's first lunch for school!! I can't believe I have a kid old enough to be in school all day!! She also has a sandwich under there;) She has done really well and likes her "lunch class" as she calls it. They even have 'cookers'!!! She also likes E.P....(P.E.:)

My friend Amy showed me how to do homemade cinnamon rolls a couple of weeks ago and so I tried some dinner rolls to go with chili a few nights ago! They were pretty good. I just let them stay out too long after I did this before I baked them but I will no better for next time!! I just wanted them nice and warm right when dinner started:)

Miss Jordyn had her first day of preschool this week and she wanted me to take her picture just like I did on her sister's first day!! She is such a cutie and is excited because she gets to take her lunch like a big girl too!!

Aiden decided to practice his planking pose!!

And he loves practicing getting messy!!!

Newborns are so tiring to take care of....especially if you have THREE!! :)

Makenna drew this picture of Harry Potter and friends. Harry is on the left with Hermoine in the middle and Ron on the right. Harry seems to have crazy, curly hair and Ron looks unhappy. She said that is how he looks in the movies:)

And finally....this is what Travis found as he was fixing our sprinkler system!! Fun!!! I'm very thankful that I have a handy hubby that can do things around the house!! It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks but all I have to do is look at these cute pics and it makes everything ok:) Well, except this nasty last one, that is....lol!!