It's Halloween time!!

So this is our first real Halloween with our kids. You see, Kade was born in October, so he was only two weeks old for his first halloween. Then last year, Joel was gone filming Survivor and I was trying to figure out how single moms do it, totally frazzled with a toddler and a newborn. Needless to say, they did not dress up or go trick or treating last year!

But this year was going to be different... I started getting my fall decorations out as soon as we got toward the end of September. I planned lots of fall and Halloween crafts and cookie decorating, and after everything we have done this month Kade is going to think that Halloween is a month long holiday!

Last Saturday we went to the Halloween festival @ freestone park. we dressed the boys up, and Joel decided to dress up too. I told him he might be the only adult dressed up, he said he didn't care. So this is what we came up with, a Dinosaur, a pumpkin, and a, well, a crazy husband whose inner dork came out :)

you may not be able to see it, but those are water shoes he's got on, and a donkey on his hat. Stylish!

The boys had lots of fun. Kade went on almost every bounce house they had , and Gavin just loved that he could walk everywhere!
this is Kade being a "scary dinosaur"

Gavin was content just playing with cars :)

The next day, my in-laws took us and the kids to the "pumpkin patch" Robyn blogged about. They had a really goodtime, and got to spend time with their cousins too.

Kaden loved playing in the hay

Gavin just wanted to check everything out

mean goat, innocent little sheep. I love this pic

Gavin pointed to all of the little pumkins and said "ball." Then he proceeded to try to throw them one by one. That's my boy :)

Then, on Wenesday, Kaden had a Halloween party for his last day of preschool.

they filled gloves with popcorn

they ate cookies
They discussed important business
Gavin played with dad
We said goodbye to Mrs. Miller. Kaden really liked her but he will doing a different class next time. :(

All this and I still have Halloween night to post.......

catch up time...

So, my posts have been few and far between lately for several reasons, listed below:

1. camera broke, using old one that doesn't work very well

2. Laptop crashed, lost hundreds of pics :(

3. Working more at the gym, and now a Starbuck's Barista :)

4. Gorgeous weather, staying outside a lot

5. Thoroughly enjoying time with my boys, keeping me very busy

6. Spending more time with hubby

7. So Much Going On! Two bdays, two births, Halloween, baby christening, and more I can't even think of all in the last 3 months.

So I am going to start posting pics in no organizational order whatsoever (which is really unlike me but deal with it!) and you can enjoy the disorder of it all. Hopefully it will bring me all up to speed and I can start being organized again. Oh yeah, and here is a short list of occurrances that have no pics (due to broken camera and other things) that have happened over past month or so:

*Gavin is FINALLY walking! he looks like frankenstein, so stiff, but I will take it:)

*Kaden is 3, sassy as ever, and we are gearing up for preschool

*Joel is now the head wrestling coach at Williams Field High School

*Joel just bought a Total Gym off craigslist and he is so happy with it he should do an infomercial

Now, for pics:

Joel picked a tire for Kade so they could do their workouts together


flipping tires

pulling tires....those strong boyslook at that ab strength
Gavin got tired just watching!

Our lil conductor at his train bday party

birthday cakes

mom and her big 3 year old
look what dad got for his big big boy!!

He is a pro already :)

My superman!

Joel has also been taking him to the skate park

look at him go!!!
Gavin has discovered Kade's motorcycle

look at those cuties

My baby is 3!!!!!!!

So, I am not quite sure how it happened because just yesterday Joel and I were preparing from going to our happy little family of two, to a family of three. Now we are a family of four, trying to make it a family of five and my "baby" is gone. He is three going on fifteen and so brave and smart and independant, I just can't believe it.

Kaden was born on October 12th, two days before his due date at 6:58 pm. He weighed in at 7lbs. 6 oz and 20 inches long. He was the most perfect baby I had ever seen and he was mine!!! The delivery was harmless and he was such a good baby. He was so predictable, and such a good sleeper and eater I thought I could have a hundred more just like him!

Kaden, you were ahead of the game from the beginnning. You rolled over at 3 months old, crawled at 7 months and started walking and then soon running at 10 months old and you have never slowed down since. You amaze me everyday with how smart you are and how inventive you can be. You see something once and you want to try it. Sometimes it gives me a heart attack, but most of the time it just makes me proud. You are your Daddy's pride and joy and you want to be big and strong just like he is, and when you get older you want to drink coffee like mom (but for right now you call your milk "coffee" just to pretend)!

You are incredibly stubborn, and HAVE to do things on your own terms, I have no idea where you got that from ;) And when you aren't tackling your brother or jumping off the couch, you are incredibly caring and loving and thoughtful. I love it when you share with me without even being asked. I love that you save some of your special treats to share with Gavin. I love that you love to dance when you think nobody is paying attention. I love that you like to paint and read and learn new things. I love your infectious smile and your belly laughs when I tickle you. I love that you are all boy but you love your mama :)

You changed mommy and daddy's life and started our family. I can't wait to see what the years will bring and the man you will grow into.

I love you buddy, buster, crazy, kiddo, machine, honey bunches, bud, Kade, Kaden!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!

Our recent happenings.....

Let's see, where to start.
My sister had her baby (hence last two posts) and I have a beautiful new niece named Hannah. I have been busy painting cabinets (which I am so sick of now) and have most of the top ones done and need to start on the bottom ones, arggggh. But, the kitchen does look sooooo much better, so I guess it is worth it.
Gavin has had a reoccuring ear infection for the last 2 1/2 months and we just saw the ENT and the verdict is in: TUBES. I am actually happy because I just want him to have some relief and be OFF antibotics. So he will have them put in next month. Kaden and Gavin both came down with the flu on Wed. and Thursday of last week and then I got the joy in partaking in on the fun on Saturday. Thankfully, that is done!!!
Kaden has decided he is really in to dinosaurs and so we will be looking for a dinosaur costume for him for Halloween. Let's see... oh yeah, Gavin is starting talk! Uh Oh, Thank you, and Dog are his favorites right now. And no, he is still not walking...maybe by Christmas!!
And finally, my 10 year reunion is coming up in 3 weeks and I cannot believe it. I am excited to se so many people but so wish I knew what to wear!
ok, I'm done now :)

Welcome to our Blog world!

Please make my sister Robyn feel welcome as she joins our blog world. She was a little hesitant and told me she didn't think she was computer savvy enough to do it, but I assured her it was not that complicated. Now you can check in on her as she deciphers her way through being a new mom and sleepless days and nights, all the while watching my beautiful niece grow!

Welcome!!!

It's a Girl!!!!!

After much of anticipation of wondering whether it was a he or a she, Hannah Patricia Lavin was born 9-16 at 4:22 am. She weighed in at 8 lbs 8oz and measured 19 inches long.





My sister is such a trooper and went through a loooooooong labor to get this little girl out. She first went to the hospital Sunday morning, then again Sunday night, when they finally admitted her it was early Monday morning and they didn't give the poor thing an epidural until about 7:30 am. Even then, little Hannah was stubborn. She was on a Pitosin drip for almost 24 hours before she was born! Apparently my sister and I have issues with dilating (I was on pitosin with both boys!). Regardless, she is here now and looks just like Daddy, and has a full head of beautiful dark hair. I can't wait to spoil her with lots and lots of pink and purple!!





Congratulations Jim and Robyn, we are so happy for you!

taking a rest, waiting for baby to arrive
still resting, these dad's have it so easy!

(Jim was really so great, and never left my sister's side, but I have to give him a hard time!)

I brought my sister a well deserved treat after a very long labor:)

Isn't Hannah adorable! Look at those cheeks :) Jim has a lot of sisters, but I told Hannah that I am going to be her FAVORITE Aunt. And since I don't have a little girl, there will be lots of spoiling going on!

Gavin's new trick....

So he can't walk yet. Most days he doesn't even want to attempt it. But he loves to pull himself up to things, cruise a little bit, and most of all try to climb on top of things. He loves to climb on the couch, but even more than that he loves to climb from the couch to the side table and give me a heart attack. He's crazy, and I love it.


Lately when we go to the park I have been letting him crawl around. Gross, I know but I am so sick of holding him. He loves to climb up the steps or the bottom of the slide. The other day I left him at the bottom of the slide and turned around to give Kaden a push on the swing and when I turned back I found that little monkey half way up the slide!! I couldn't believe it! So he has been practicing and here is proof of his new trick:

Can you believe it! He made it all the way up. He may not walk yet but he sure is a climbing monkey :)

He was so proud of himself

Kade was excited too :)

I just love this pic of Kade getting a drink. Do you think he got any in his mouth?

Don't worry all you germ-a-phobes out there, I gave them a bath wehn we got home! :)