Fall Fun!!

I didn't take any pictures of Thanksgiving since it was just our family but as Javin would say, I made a feast!! It was the day after Thanksgiving that I was proud of. This is a turkey pot pie using our leftovers. The thing that the kids loved were the initials of everyone in our family on top. I have to say, I'm getting pretty good at pies. We had a great day and are thankful that Ryan got to be here with us.

Recently we had Zadek's 6 month check up. His stats:

Height: 27 in

Weight:17 lbs

I've been thinking he's humongous and then while I was packing and going through our important documents I found all of the stats from Javin's well baby appointments. I always remember Javin being super tall and skinny (I guess compared to Caellum anything was) Javin's 6 month stats were height: 27 1/2 in and weight: 16.4 lbs So, I guess Zadek really isn't so huge. He's right on par to what Javin was. He's gone down on all of his percentages but he's so full of rolls. The Dr's aren't worried about the drop. He's sitting on his own, can roll both ways, and generally wants to be just like his brothers. Every night we have to dance with him and fight with dad, Javin and Cael

.

Also, Caellum turned 4. Can you believe it!! My kids just keep growing and I can't make them stop. He had a toy story cake and then pirate decorations. He chose to make pizza and then we had to get a ton of decorations. He was super excited that Papa was here the weekend after his birthday so he could go for his traditional birthday breakfast. I can't believe how big he is getting.

Don't you love all of my pirates?

WE'RE MOVING!!!

So, on December 2nd we found out that Ryan's request for an exemption from deployment with the army was officially denied. In other words, he's going to be leaving for Afghanistan on Jan 9. After much debate we decided to hurry and move over the holidays so that he could see his family one last time before leaving and I can get Javin started in school at the first of January. We're really sad that he has to leave us again after only being home for a few months from Qatar but we're grateful that at least he gets to spend Christmas with us and see his family first. His approximate date of return is March 9 2012. Everyone cross your fingers that they don't extend him past that. When he comes home he will still have his job here so we'll be moving back. In the meantime, I've had 15 days to get the entire house packed up, into storage, and moved back to Utah. Let the craziness commence. Somewhere in there I need to remember that it's Christmas too. The boys have been super helpful and it's been nice to have Keith here on the weekends to help out a little bit too. So, Utah here we come!!

Tunk or Treat and School Parades

JAVINS SCHOOL COSTUME PARADE AND BUG BALL

Javin's second grade class just finished a science unit on insects and to cap it off they all dressed as bugs and are having a bug ball this afternoon. He is obviously a praying mantis. Good thing we had a dad home to help put it all together.

This is Zadek trying to sit up in his car seat and look up the stairs in the school. He always wants to sit instead of lay back.

Caellum had to wear a costume today too since Javin was and this is what he did while we waited for the parade.

Pictures before school.

CAEL'S SCHOOL COSTUME PARADE

This was him coming off the stage. They had the kids parade into the room and then the classes took turns going up on stage to sing their songs about Halloween. I didn't really get a great picture because the baby was screaming and whilst holding screaming baby it's hard to take good pictures with left hand. Oh well..

Caellum's preschool had a Fall Festival that Zadek and I went to and helped. They had pumpkin bowling, an apple toss, balloon decorating, tattoos, and golf. He had tons of fun and I'm so glad he's in preschool this year to take part in festivities.

THE TRUNK OR TREAT

I love my little turtle and so does the cat.

Ryan decorated the car and then tortured the kids.

Can you tell which SpiderMan is mine?!? Cael and the other little one didn't leave each other's side almost the entire time. Isn't it amazing how wearing the same costume makes you instant friends!! (PS Cael doesn't have muscles)

Javin and Emma were both vampires. She's probably his best friend from church.

We love turtles but forgot to take his costume to the trunk or treat. Oh well at least we have pictures of him in it.

My Birthday

For my birthday this year I decided I wanted to go to Georgetown Cupcakes. It's the bakery that's on the show DC Cupcakes on TLC. Since I probably will never get to go to Ace of Cakes or Carlos Bakery I wanted to go get cupcakes. It's probably a little silly but nonetheless off we went. Ryan came home early and we went downtown, yes during rush hour, picked up the cupcakes and then went to an Indian restaurant for dinner. I thought it was super fun. Thanks guys for indulging me.

Cute package right!?

Yum we love cupcakes.

Good thing I have so many helpers to blow out the candle. Also a really good thing that once you hit 30 you go backwards in age. I love being 29 again!!

Aren't they cute. And, most of them tasted really good too.

Renaissance Fair and Blessing

The week after Conference we had our parents here to help us celebrate Zadek. We did his blessing at our house and on Saturday we went to the Renaissance Fair in Md. It is our second year going and it's super fun. The kids were knighted, we watched the jousting and we had chicken on a lance. All of the usual things you do at a Fair. It was a beautiful weekend and we were glad to go with the entire family.

The elephant ride. How many of us ever get a chance to do this?

Caellum is a knight for doing a goodly deed.

This ended up being a scary spider with sparkles and everything.

Javin took the knighting a little more serious this year

The awesome skull

Zadek 4 month chekcup

While yes he is actually 5 months old now I thought I'd give you his stats.

Weight, 16 pound 75%

height 26 in 70%

We always think he's huge but turns out Caellum has him beat on all accounts. He has found his toes and loves to get them whenever the occasion presents itself. He can sit for a few seconds by himself and he is such a GOOD baby.

Soccer

So, both boys have been doing soccer this year. They both have games on Saturday and then Javin has practice two times during the week. IT's been fun and crazy and they are both getting really good. Soccer seems to be the sport for Javin, always running and kicking and he never has to stop for the entire hour. Caellum is an excellent ball handler but insists every week that he doesn't want to play. Good thing he always manages to have fun. As for me... while I've loved every minute I'm super glad that it only goes for two more weeks.

He's such a good hustler

Look-a-likes

ZADEK

Caellum

Zadek 2 month check up

It was hard to get the kids to look at the camera and not the baby

isn't he cute

Just chillin

So, we just got back from Utah where Zadek turned two months old. I couldn't find my camera before we left so I took a bunch of pictures on my mom's camera an forgot to upload them. But, I did get some new kiddie kandid ones. Anyway, today we took Zadek in for his 2 month check. Here are the stats

Height: 24 in 80%

Weight: 13pounds 3 oz 84%

I think he was actually a little taller. We've had issues with different nurses and how they do things. I have had to go to putting him in 6 month jammies because he is so stinkin tall.

Javin's own pose

2 Week Checkup

So, Zadek had his 2 week checkup today. He is 8lbs 3 oz, 22 1/2 in. That puts him at 62% on weight and 99% on height. He hasn't quite gotten back up to his birth weight but is looking chunky nonetheless. He is such a good happy baby and I hardly ever hear him cry. The boys are being great older brothers and always want to hold him and give him kisses.

So, Ryan is officially getting back to Qatar tonight. He came home at 2 yesterday afternoon with the announcement that he was leaving on a 9pm flight. Luckily he was leaving from the airport that is 20 minutes away instead of the one in Baltimore. I was hoping he'd be here for his birthday tomorrow and since I didn't know he was leaving until a few hours before we didn't even celebrate or send a package. I know the people in Qatar are excited to have him back as they have been waiting for him to head up a new job.

The kids and I will be leaving for Utah on the 5th of July, since Javin doesn't get out of school until June 24th and will be there to visit/ have help until the 30th. We're excited to see everyone and hope the time flies so that we can have DAD back again.

SOME MORE PICS

Just a few new pictures!! Dad looks so happy to be in this picture. We are sure glad he is still here. I'll let you all know when we find out if he's going back to Qatar or not.

Look I have eyes. This is Zadek 10 days old.

My brothers love me!! Javin and Cael always want to hold him even when he isn't being the happiest camper around. Javin is always giving him kisses on the forehead and saying "He's so cute"

I think this is actually the day after we brought him home. Only two days old and a tiny jaundice. Glad it went away on it's own.