dinner, running, and finally more sleep....that is a good weekend!

Friday we got to hang out with our good friends The McPhie's. Kristin and I went to high school together and have been lucky enough to stay great friends after all these years. She is one awesome chick, and also helps me out with the kids ALL the time. It was nice for our familes to all get to hang out together:)

@ CPK:

I don't know why half of the picture is cut off, but atleast we are all still in it!

Then, on Sunday Kris and I made our way down to Phoenix for the Rock n roll 1/2 marathon. This is us before the race:

We had a great time, and Kristin finished her first 1/2 marathon like pro, and this was the longest she had ever run before! Great job Kris:) It felt soooo good to get to race again and motivated me to get my butt back into some decent running again:)

This is us at the finish line:

And to end off an already great weekend, Kade didn't wake us up in the middle night. It was wonderful! I guess that sticker/bribery (I am not ashamed!) system I started is really working.

Wooo hooooo

basketball star

So I have been teaching almost every night at the gym and have been having to take the boys with me a lot because Joel is at wrestling practice. I figured Kade was getting by so I decided to let him try a basketball class while I teach my class.

He was the youngest one so I was a little worried he might not be ready for it, or that he would run over to me and interrupt my class, but he was so Awesome! He LOVED the class and really took well to "Coach."

He was doing drills with the other kids and even made a few baskets. He told me that he really like "coach," it was so cute hearing him talk about Coach Tim that way. I am glad I let him try it, now he will be taking basketball every Monday!

Kade is to the left of Coach in this pic.

Going up for a shot

Look at him catch air!
Gavin wanted in on the action so he found his own ball!

Heeeeelllllp.

Ok, so I need to know how many other moms of toddlers still get up because of whining kids in the middle of the night. And I am NOT talking about Gavin. No, he sleeps 11 hours, no issues accept for the occasional cold or blow out diaper. No, I am speaking of my 3 year old who gets up 2-3 time in the middle of the night like a new born. I thought he would grow out of it, but the growing is going verrrrry slooooowly.

Mind you, this kid used to sleep his 11-12 hours just like Gavin. That is until he graduated out of the crib and into the big boy bed. At first it was only once in a while. And then he would just get up once and ask for a drink so I got smart enough to start leaving one by his bed. That was fine for a while but now that he is potty trained, he gets up to go to go to the bathroom, and it seems like he is up atleast twice after that, wanting to sleep with us, or another drink, or wanting me to lay with him, telling me he's scared. It is always something. And sometimes I hear him at night and when I go to check on him his eyes are completely closed but he is freaking out, having a dream or something.
Needless to say, I am exhausted! I can always fall back asleep, but just getting woken up, or having to get up really screws up my sleep pattern and I don't think I am getting the proper rest that I need and it is starting to wear on me.
So please, tell me am I alone in this? Did anyone else go through this. Tell me what to do, pleeeaase! I need all the help I can get and I am ready for some sleepful not sleepless nights.

ahhhhhhhh!

Kade-ism

Kade: "Where is Thunder?" (the dog)
Me: "Inside
Kade: "Why"
Me: "because she wanted to be with me"
Kade: "What?"
Me: "Because she wanted to be with me"
Kade:"She wanted to eat a Bee???"
Me: siggghhhhh "No"
Kade: "Why does Thunder want to eat a bee mom? Was the bee mean?"



Only Kaden!:)

happy 2009

We were lucky enough to have a babysitter on New Year's Eve (2 years in a row, thanks mom and dad!) so we went out for a night on the town. This fine lady and her hubby joined us:

we were like 4 Newlyweds, no kids, nothing but time to kill and good fun to have!

Joel already looks like he's up to no good!


Yes my friends, the alcohol has set in...

happy Justin!

Shortly after this we all began to yawn and talk about how late it was, then looked at our watch to discover it was a whopping 10:30! We are so wild and crazy!

We went back to Kristi's for the count down, and New Year kisses:

and in summation of the night (by about 12:10 mind you!) :

happy new year everyone!

Three Christmases

Joel was able to get home before the boys woke up. I found Gavin like this in his crib. He must have been really excited for Christmas!

Then they came out to see what "Santa" had left!

Gavin got his very own little quad so he can practice until he is big enough to ride Kaden's.
Kade has graduated from a 3 wheel scooter to a two wheel scooter and a ramp.

The boys liked opening their presents and Santa left some stuff for mom and Dad too!

Then Daddy went to go change Gavin's diaper and this is how he came back:

everything is different when Dad is in charge:)

When we were done we told the boys we thought somebody left something for them outside - this is what they found:

Kade calls it the "jumparine" :)

After the trampoline we went out to try our new toys. Kaden really wanted to play on Gavin's quad, even though we told him it was too small for him

That's better

Time for Christmas number TWO:

After nap we went over to my Sister and Brother in law's to celebrate with them and my parents. This is what we walked in to:

Needless to say they went a little over board! Kids were spoiled, and so were the adults. We had a lot of fun spending time together. I also got a chance to see what it would have been like if Gavin had been a girl:Isn't he pretty (Joel wasn't too hapy that I did that!)

We also got to take a few family pics:

Me and my sis

Don't you love how all the kids are so happy in these next one's:

Lastly, Christmas number THREE followed three days later on Sunday where we celebrated with Joel's family:

Kade and cousins Jamie and Cole (Gavin was sleeping)

Grandpa Dave and Kaden

Jamie likes to read to Kaden, it is very sweet.

All in all it was a wonderful Christmas, but I am happy to sit back and enjoy the new year!!!