The best birthday present....

.....was given to me from Cassidee!

NO MORE DIAPERS!

Woo Hoo---I thought this day would never come.
It's been almost a week of only panties, and so far we are completely accident free and she hasn't asked for a diaper one time!
How come something like this is making me a little bit sad? You'd think I'd be thrilled to have one less diaper to change......it's just that she is growing up too fast. She'll be three soon, and I feel like I haven't soaked up every single moment that I have needed to up to this point. Okay, I think I'm rambling because I'm getting sappy.
No diapers---AWESOME!
Congrats Cassidee!
I'm sure this post will completely embarrass you someday!

I finally stopped sneezing!

Last week we went with the Way's to a Christmas tree farm. It was so fun, but in reference to the title of this post, I'm very allergic to cedar trees and sneezed the whole time we were there! Anyway....back to the fun-ness of the post. I didn't get a good picture of Cass and Charlie at all....they were either blurry or not looking at me! I did, however, get some good family shots, which is what I was needing!!!

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Cassidee was singing like the Charlie Brown characters!

I love her pose!

Mommy and Cass

Daddy and Cason

Mommy and Cason

The four of us!

And I'll leave you with a goofy picture of Cason. He sleeps in his swing ALOT. He always seems to prop his arms up on the sides. I tried a hat on him to see if it was one he could wear yet. I went to tell Jeremy that it looked good on him. I got side-tracked and came back later to find him like this. Good grief he is chunky!!! (and he kinda looks like a train conductor!)


3 days till Christmas!

(more importantly.....5 days until my birthday!!!)

A day late, but she'll understand....

I wish I'd had my act together enough to get this out yesterday, but I didn't.....who's surprised!?

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I just couldn't let Jodi's birthday go by this year without saying something. I know her birthday was less than normal yesterday considering she spent a lot of it at the hospital with sweet Brooklyn. I know her mind was on that baby and not on herself and her day. I love Jodi more than I can put into words. I treasure our friendship. I'm grateful for the advice she gives me and that she'll just let me call and talk and ramble. I love that she loves my kids like they are her own kids and I love that Cassidee knows Jodi, even though we hardly ever get to spend lots of time together. I like that I can call and she knows what kind of day I've had just by the sound of my voice. I LOVE that she knows how important it is to me to be a "big girl" and completely understands when I call her and tell her that I did another "big girl" thing on my list. (Turning 30 next week will almost complete my list! :) I love that we've gone on trips together, skiing and to the beach, that we shop together, and that we try so dang hard every year to get together with us and Rach for our annual girls time....even if we have to drag our kids around with us. I love that our kids will grow up being best friends---even though they didn't have a choice---and that they love each other so much, even though they hardly get to play together. It's so funny that I used to have lots of pictures of Jodi and I, but I can't find a single one right now. I guess that since we have had kids we just take pictures of them together.

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So, I'll leave with this picture of Cass and Reagan. We rode the train together one day when they were in town this summer.

Jodi, I'm so grateful to have you and your friendship in my life. I am so glad you had a good 31st birthday! I can't wait to hug you!
Love, Kendra

I hate how time flies....

5 MONTHS!

Seriously, time flew by with Cassidee, but with Cason I blink and it is gone. Wow!

Here's my little man with his monkey. Not the best smile, but he was being sweet with his arm around Mr. Monkey!

His personality has really started showing itself. He "talks" all the time, just like Cassidee did. He wakes up in the morning doing that, which is pretty cute, and gives me an extra 5 or 10 minutes to wake up! He started eating rice cereal at about 4 months. He didn't like it at first, but caught on pretty fast. We have also started veggies.....green beans were first.....and so far green beans and green peas are a hit!
We put him in his jumper for the first time the other day. I think he was ready for a nap by the time we did it because he didn't seem too thrilled, but he did smile a lot when Cassidee was helping him bounce. I do have to say.....Cassidee took this picture of him--pretty good for a 2 year old!
He has -finally- started to try to roll over. He is very content wherever he is, usually, so when you lay him down he really doesn't care about rolling onto his tummy. He's rolled from his tummy to his back, but this is as far as we get going the other way.



And now for the Christmas card out-takes. I may do our card next year that is just out-takes. They are pretty funny.....

Weirdo!

Oh my word!

Did anyone else happen to notice that the problem with the picture was because of my 2 year old. Hello.....she understands "sit and smile." My 5 month old was fine.....Cassidee must have a mind of her own! :)

The next two are the cute ones! I LOVE matching p.j.'s!

And while we are on the subject of " I can't believe how fast time flies...." , let me just say that I can't believe how big Cassidee is getting. She knows how to use my cell phone. I'm not kidding. She knows what speed dial number Jeremy is, so she calls him at work. I was on the phone with him the other day and asked him if he wanted to say goodnight to Cass. He said that he had already talked to her. I asked him when and he said that she had called him a few minutes before. OKAY!?!? I don't think she's called anyone else.....but, she knows how to scroll down the phone book and can recognize Amie's name. I don't know if she's called her by herself yet or not, so Amie, here is your warning!

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My big girl got to ride in her very first parade last weekend. We were in the Parade of Lights on the fire department float. Kids of the firemen got to ride, and Cassidee wanted to, so we signed up. It was so stinkin' cold! She did a good job waving to the first few people, then we just snuggled to stay warm. The picture isn't great, but my mom was trying to video and take pictures all at the same time. I'm the dorky person in the red jacket that is pointing!

Now, I'm off to wrap some Christmas presents. Yes, for those of you that know how behind I was in shopping, I actually braved the stores yesterday and got some presents. I'm not done, but I have made a dent in my list finally!

Happy Holidays!

And, keep praying for baby Brooklyn.....she's so cute I just want to kiss her!

Brooklyn Hope is here!

I haven't gotten a hold of Rachel yet to post on Jodi's blog, but I figured some of you were checking google reader and would see this. Brooklyn is here! She was born at 8:20 something this morning. Grandaddy Larry wasn't sure of her height and weight yet since they were doing that in the NICU, but he said she was pink, plump, and perfect!
Keep checking back as I'm sure Rachel, David, or someone will post more information on her blog!
And, keep praying for Brooklyn.....she will be having surgery in the next 24 hours.

We love you Brooklyn, Love, Cassidee and Cason

Wow--it's scary how well they can imitate you....

Our First Family (of 4) Vacation!!!

We packed up the kids and headed to Denver for Thanksgiving this year. A little crazy considering the 15 hours in the car with 2 year old and a 4 month old, but it went GREAT!!! We were shocked at how well they did. We drove through the night both there and back, which was hard on Jeremy, but the kids were awesome! Here are some pictures of our fun week.....

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Cassidee and some reading material on the ride up!

Our first sight of snow.....not in Denver since it was in the 50's all week.....we went up in the mountains and went sledding one day!
Family photo, minus a sleeping Cason in the car!

We went to the Denver Butterfly Pavilion.....so cool!

They had lots of other animals besides butterflies.....like a tarantula, that I actually held, because my daughter chickened out.....brave momma!

Cassidee was talking to Dory!

Cassidee and her new best friend Ashley....(Ash is my cousin's daughter)

She was Cassidee's "babysitter" all week and poor Cass is missing her!!!

Cute Daddy and Dee Dee

Another day we went to the Children's Museum of Denver. It has rooms full of all different things for you to do....art rooms, drama rooms, sports rooms, animal rooms, etc.

Cass loved the clay.....too messy for me!

Doing a little painting....luckily she doesn't remember that we forgot to go pick it up after it had dried!

A room where you could build things out of recycled materials.....Jeremy helped Cassidee build a tractor from an empty cardboard box, butter tub lids, an egg carton, and some brads!

Cass sliding down a slide in an animal habitat room.

Helping plant a garden...

This is what poor Cason did the whole time....he was dragged from one place to the next. Luckily he was pretty easy to deal with!

Having a picnic outside the museum.....it was COLD that day!

Playing on the rings before we left! MONKEY!

My cousins had a trampoline (or "pramp-o-ween" as Cass called it)

It was a hit with Cassidee!

Good aunt and uncle for playing with her!

We went to Dinosaur Ridge one day!

Climbing some rocks with Grandaddy!

She wanted to read the sign to Daddy!

Kayla, Camron, Jeremy, and I went skiing on Thanksgiving Day. Copper Mountain was the best place with the most snow and still only had 10 of 130 runs open. We had lots of fun doing the same thing over and over!

Jeremy and I

The last day everyone was there we went sledding again....Jeremy and I tried together.....it didn't work!

And, it snowed in Denver at my family's house. That made the trampoline extra fun!

A cute pic of Jeremy and Cass!

And a very tired Cassidee on the ride home!

Thanks to my cousins who let us stay at their house for over a week!

We had a blast and can't wait to see you again!

We're Outta Here!

This will be my last post for a week and a half!

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We are leaving in about 2 1/2 hours for Colorado!!!!

We will be spending Cassidee's 3rd and Cason's 1st Thanksgiving at my cousin's house.
We'll enjoy some food, fun, family, and SKIING!
I haven't gotten to ski at all since before I had Cassidee, so you know it's been a while!

Pray for a "quick" trip for us tonight. I have absolutely no idea how the kids will do in the car.....although we are prepared for the worst, so it can't be as bad as we think, right?!
I'm actually not worried about Cassidee, she is a great car rider.....she has been all her life. But, Cason, well, who knows!
Pray for safe driving for us, and for the rest of my family coming up at all different times next week, and pray that no one gets hurt skiing!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!

Oh my goodness.....

The title goes for both pictures in this post.

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Oh my goodness.....Cason is 4 months old.

I love, love, love this picture that I caught of him last night when I took his 4 month picture with his monkey. Cutie boy and his funny faces! I love this outfit he is wearing and you may see it again.....I have these pants in the next size up as well! :)

And for the next Oh my goodness......

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Um, does something not look right about this picture. I swear, she is a complete and total dare-devil. I was sitting at the computer and I looked up and realized that she was on the stairs, although there were no bars in between she and I. It completely scared me to death, but I totally played it cool.....I thought if I freaked out and yelled at her that she might let go or something. Yes, I grabbed my camera, only because it was sitting right beside me. By the time I got it on she had taken a couple of steps down. Oh man.....I'm just hoping she doesn't ever try to bungee jump off the top balcony or something like that! Crazy, CRAZY girl!

And yes, I do watch her like a hawk now when she is playing upstairs or downstairs......

just when I thought I could trust her.....

4 months old!

I never even posted our Halloween pictures.....and I don't see a time in the near future that it is going to happen. For now, here is a picture of our little man that is getting bigger and more fun each and every day. This isn't his "official" 4 month picture, but it's one I took the other day. He is just getting so big, I can't stand it!

Wish I could get him to smile.....hmmm, he must take after his dad when it comes to smiling for pictures....

Funival and other fun stuff!

Happy Halloween!!!

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Just to throw everyone off I'll start with an OLD picture of Cassidee.....(old being 2 1/2 years ago!) People have asked if Cass and Cason look alike. My answer is always "yes and no." Probably not much of an answer for those who ask. But, I have always loved that both of them smile with their entire face. If they are happy, you know it. Big, wide open mouth smile, bright eyes, and some squealing most of the time. So, here are a couple of similar pictures of the two of them. I think she totally looks like a girl and he totally looks like a boy, but I think they favor each other pretty well....

Cassidee at 2 1/2 months....

Cason at 3 months....
Saturday night was our church Funival. We were bummed that Jeremy was working that night and he is also working tonight---Halloween----so he isn't going to get to play the game with Cassidee. He asked her to save him some candy.....we'll see!

Ring toss

Tic-Tac-Toe

Cookie decorating....her favorite!

Look at her studying the lollipop tree. I had to let 2 kids go in front of her. That's a big decision for such a little girl!

After we came home from the Funival Cassidee got to carve a pumpkin with Grandaddy.

(Her first time to do this!)

It took a good bit of convincing on our parts to get her to stick her hand inside....

I don't blame her!

Checking out the finished product

All lit up on the front porch!

Then we told her to blow out the candle inside. She had to sing Happy Birthday to the Jack-O-Lantern. Duh, you always sing before you blow out the candles! :) Silly girl!

The men in my life! Cason's already perfected the serious stare!

Little pouty puppy!
She is loving braids these days! Just wait till I get a picture of her pig tail braids! Why do they get so big so fast????
Thursday morning in my house yesterday......
Thursday night in my house.......
Micky Mouse Clubhouse and the Mavericks.....we are making sure Cason is well-rounded!