My Simple Joys

I really don't keep everything that the kids make.  I cherish all their creations and wish I could keep them all.  I take pics of our favorites so I feel a little less guilty when I get rid of them.

The kids participated in the amazing Primary Program at church.  I took these pics in the car because it was so windy outside we would have blown away!

The program was extra special this year. The leaders asked the kids how they personally felt about Jesus or what they were thankful for that Jesus has given to them.  Tanner said, “I'm proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Brookie said, “ I am thankful for deers and my hair”. It was such a great experience having the kids practice all the new songs from this year.  It has brought such joy to our home.

Brookie has it all planned out.  She will dress baby Colby just so and he will sleep right next to her.  She still stands by her statement from months ago, that she will be waking up in the middle of the night with him and feeding him a bottle for me.  I'm a little more motivated in getting him to take a bottle if I get to sleep more at night!

Tanner surprised us by making our huge bed. He did such a great job!

And he left this sweet heart for us to find.  Since then Brookie has made our bed several times too.

Kaden loves taking baths and showers. If I don't shower early before he awakes, he begs and cry's to come in and then opens the shower door the whole time I'm attempting to shower.  So during one of the most recent showers together, I was holding him on my side above my growing tummy. He smiled real big at me and then smiled as he looked at my big tummy and said,
"Colby next to me!!!" Kaden understands so much and can't wait to see his new baby.

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Brooklyn has found a new love, broccoli's cousin.  Last year I was trying to get the kids to like asparagus, so I would call it broccoli's cousin.  Brookie recently asked that I buy some and that it's her new favorite vegetable.  Tanner will eat it because he has to and Kaden will bite the heads off and waste the rest.

Every time we drive to church we pass cows and talk about how they look hungry.  Brookie asked,"Mom do cows eat carrots too?" I'm not sure.  I think they might like them. Then she said,"When we get home we should check the internet."

While Tanner was off track, I attempted to teach him how to play some more songs on the piano.  He has really learned to love playing.  He is very stubborn about learning to read the music.  He can play by ear so why read music?   I'm not to serious about lessons at this point, I am just thrilled that he loves playing. He has learned to play the melody of, "I am a Child of God", Old McDonald, Mary had a little lamb, a couple non-namers, he made me a special I love you song and he can play most of "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home", he plays it more often than not when he hears Sean come home. Tanner is so thoughtful.

Brookie has this one pair of jeans that are very comfortable.  Most of her jeans I have to cinch the waste adjustments and they bug her.  So this one fav pair has developed huge holes in both knees.  I usually just have her wear them at home.  Recently she explained why she loved them so much.  She said that Uncle William has jeans with holes all over and that that is why she likes them so much!  William is serving a mission and she misses him dearly!  In a recent prayer she asked Heavenly Father if Uncle Will-Woo (aka William) would come back from Heaven soon.  Apparently she thought New York was in Heaven.  I did a little more explaining after.

Daddy's sister, Auntie Heather Ann is getting married soon to an awesome young man Paul DiMaggio. Paul and Heather babysat the kids recently. The kids got to know Paul a little better and they all played together. I explain to the kids that soon Paul will become their Uncle Paul.  After Paul visited Brookie said, "I love my new Uncle Paul!" I think Paul might have a new favorite niece.

When Kaden is in time out or just cranky and tired, he desperately cries for "his Tanner". "Mommy, where Tanner? No school, no sleeping Mommy!" When Tanner is around he loves coming to brothers rescue.

My sister Holly and her family moved far far away to Texas. Our kids have been missing each other a lot. It's sad to see them so far away from each other. We are now Skyper's. We are so thankful for Skype video software (it's free), our computers and the internet. We Skype with them a couple times each week. It really is the second best thing to seeing each other in person. They show each other school work, dress up, sing and dance and have a great time visiting. Miss you dearly Sis.

Kaden has a new interest in potty training. I prefer to wait till after I'm recovered from my c-section delivery next year. We aren't taking it too serious but he does get rewarded each time he goes.  A couple times a day he asks to go and he gets a tiny piece of chocolate for #1. We told him that he'd get a sucker for going #2. After a couple suckers had been earned.  It wasn't too exciting anymore.  He is in love with cutie oranges so Sean offered him one for his #2 reward and he was so happy about it!  I don't know of any other toddler on earth that would be motivated by an orange. Only our Kaden Joe.

Tanner's reading skills have tremendously improved.  He can read so much faster and he shocks me daily at the complex words he pronounces. With a little motivation, he enjoys reading to Brookie, he even reads the princess books.  He loves reading to Kaden.  He uses such an animated voice and makes the books that much more entertaining.  Kaden eats up the attention.  Brookie wants to be just like Tan so she pretends that she can read and she's really into learning her kinder sight words. If Tanner comments about her reading something wrong she gets very upset!

xoxo I love my simple joys! xoxo