Masterpieces

I LOVE seeing Caden's creations, whether it's something he made from playdough, something he painted (sometimes even on his tummy...), but especially something he's drawn. It is so fun to see the things he comes up with and I just love watching him grow and learn. He spends so much time drawing, trying to get things just right (he's like his daddy!). Here are some of my favourites:

Darth Vader and his many lightsabers

My artists... and another Star Wars character holding a lightsaber

Moustache man (plus a little moustache artist)

Someone fighting "the force". Note the detail of a belly button.. haha!

Finger-painted dragon (the one from Paper Bag Princess!)

Dancing man. This one makes me smile!

This is the Cinderella picture he drew for Maya. Note the dress :)

I'm sad I couldn't rotate this one. Rotate your head, because it's probably my very favourite of all. It's our family.

Note me.. I'm the one with the "really big mouth"... haha, thanks Caden!!

Aren't those priceless?!!

♥

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!

We just celebrated our FIVE year anniversary! In honor of Mom and Dad's fifth anniversary, we headed out with the kids to Dairy Queen for blizzards (although we didn't just get one!)

Then the next day, Mom and Dad watched the kids (thank you SO much!!) so that Ben and I could take off to Banff overnight. We'd never left the kids overnight anywhere before- but they did great! And we had such a fun time. It was so much fun to just hang out together and explore Banff sans kids.

This was the view from our hotel room. Banff is so beautiful!

I love my man!

Speaking of love, my kids never cease to make me smile with their cute little words and actions. The other day, Caden found a box of his old clothing. He immediately ran to Maya and gave her all of his clothes, because they are too small for him now. He said to me, "Why do I just LOVE Maya SO much?" (awww!)

Caden insisted that Maya wear his old "Lightning McQueen" shirt, and because it made him so happy to see her wear something that he used to love so much, I allowed it. Maya was pretty excited about it, too. She carried one of Caden's red cars around all day with it.

I hope that everyone has a

wonderful Valentine's Day!

We'll be celebrating all day with crafts and cookies.

Caden's Recap

We started a new years goal to write in a "family journal" every week. Each week one of us will take a turn recapping what has been going on in our family. We started with Caden "writing" the first entry. He was really excited about it. Here's what he had to say....

"We write in a family journal.

We saw "Tangled" today. A bad guy pulled her hair. I liked it.

I went to primary and there wasn't much kids. My teachers weren't boys, they were just girls. Well, Brooklyn wasn't giving me her bracelet. It was like twenty minutes that we held hands. She said "wacelet" not bracelet. Well, Malachi dropped his warm fuzzy and I got it for him.

Christmas is about Jesus. I got a Big Buzz that pops out wings and a car with wings. Mom's Cricut machine makes cupcakes and sharks.

Maya takes off balls and decorations from the Christmas tree. She gave me a Buzz car.

Baby Scott is a lot closing his eyes, not opening his eyes. He was born on Christmas day! I love you, Baby Scott. I don't want baby Scott to go back to Heaven.

Jesus made me but I didn't have any bodies.

I love to play Grandma's Pixar game.

Thank you everything you've given to us, Heavenly Father."

This picture is of Caden before church...

his FIRST day of PRIMARY!! I can't believe how old he is!

And look how handsome he is in his new tie!

What a sweet boy. I just love hearing him talk. He is so entertaining. Tonight we were playing before bedtime and I was just laughing and laughing at him for like 5 straight minutes. He is so full of energy and life!

This is another picture from before church. I was so proud of myself for getting such a cute picture of Caden and Maya both sitting and cuddling.... that was until I took a closer look at the picture and realized that Maya was struggling for her life! She sure loves Caden, but she has had to learn to be a tough little girl to deal with his "tough love".

Maya wouldn't let me put her down today. I vacuumed, made dinner, cleaned up, went grocery shopping, did the dishes, all with her in my arms. It's a good thing she is so dang cute!!

Look at those stunning eyes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

Christmas Baby

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Look what I got this year....

An adorable nephew!!!

Isn't he perfect? Newborns are amazing... their soft, soft skin,

hairy backs, warm snuggles.

But I do not want one.

I have to keep reminding myself of that ;)

Feel free to make me as many nieces and nephews as possible. I promise to cuddle them whenever possible.

Welcome, baby Scott!

We sure love you and are soooo excited that you decided to be

a Canadian baby!

A few little gems

I've been trying to write my kids letters every few months to record their growth, development and the funny little things that happen. I was going through some notes I'd made and found some quotes from Caden. Enjoy!

-“Maya, it’s past your bedtime. Maya, our friendship will never die!”

-Dad was wrestling with Caden and pretending to eat him. Caden screamed "Jesus, help me!" When Ben put Caden down, Caden said to him "Dad, you should tell Jana I say Jesus help me!

-Dad said “Caden, do you want to get baptized?” Caden answered "All my wrongs might get washed away!”

-“Maya, I’m gonna pay you TWO BUCKS to put your hand in the toilet with my poo!”

-In the middle of the night, he came into my room, looked me straight in the face and said “You are a great Mom!”

-When Maya was putting her fingers in his mouth, he said “Maya, I’m not suppose to eat fingers, I’m suppose to eat food!”

-“Mom, do you get to heaven on an airplane or a ladder?”

-“Spencer just thinks he’s a PEZ dis-spencer!”

-“Jesus was going to make me a bad robber, but then he just sewed my arm like this and my leg like this, and made me Caden instead”

-After being told not to do something he said to me “I don’t like you on Earth anymore, Mom. Go back to heaven!”

-“Hey Dad, when I was a baby, when we were in Heaven, me and you went on a sea-turtle. Remember that?

-“How do you be like Jesus?" Dad answered that you be nice and you share. Caden quickly told him, “You should tell that to Maya cus’ she broke a Christmas tree ornament, so that’s why she’s not like Jesus!”

Do you remember any funny or cute things that he's said? If you do, write it in the comments so I can record and remember as many moments from his childhood as possible!

From Santa

Caden wrote Santa a letter this year (well, actually he drew Santa a picture of Buzz Lightyear as a wish list). In return, Santa sent him a little video. Check it out!

Baby Girl!

Meet Maya Lee. Girly girl.

She loves to dress up.

Hats, shoes, fur coats, necklaces and bracelets.

She will bring the girliest things she can find, sit on your lap and giggle while getting dressed.

If fussy in the grocery store, just give her a pair of shoes to hold and she'll calm right down.

If she see's a picture of herself, she cuddles it.

She talks on the phone (or calculator, or TV remote) for hours, while walking around in circles.

It's serious business.

When you tell her she is beautiful, she smiles, lifts her shoulders, tilts her head to the side and listens intently for more praises.

Oh dear.