All That's New...

I think it is time for an update!!! Our year is just flying by and it is making me a little sad to be honest. Kaze just began his 11th month on this earth and Tyce is dangerously close to 4 years old. I am beginning to realize just how fast their childhood is going to go and I am just trying to soak in the memories of them as my babies. The next few months are bound to be crazy busy with a 1 year old birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, a 4 year old birthday and Christmas...ALL in 3 months! I remember when Tyce turned a year old...I had been planning his party for months! Well...Kaze's has snuck up on me so fast that now I am scrambling! I have two very important things decided though...It will be dinosaur themed and it will be in our backyard!!! I am so excited to have a child with a birthday that will more than likely be outside every year! Poor Tyce...we are stuck inside for his until he has sledding parties! This year...he has decided Chucky Cheeze (smiling on the outside and saying PLEASE NOOOOOOO on the inside). That place is pure craziness. But it is HIS birthday.

Another bit of exciting news...Tyce started preschool a couple weeks ago and is doing so well. He loves it. He is making friends, learning how to write his name (he can already spell it). Yes...I am bragging. He has memorized two books. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss and Are You My Mother (can't remember the author)...but it is a very long book. He does really well. He has his first Primary Program for church coming up in a little over a week and already has his line memorized. I just hope he remembers it when he gets up there. No worries though...his teacher will be able to help him if need be. He is a good boy and makes me very proud! I love him to bits. I am so lucky to have him!







And Kaze! Well...he is still not walking. He is close but just won't get the nerve to really go for it. I am anxious for him to walk because he is still putting everything in his mouth. Now...I realize this may not be the case with Kaze but when Tyce started walking...the putting stuff in your mouth thing stopped because he wasn't right there on the floor anymore. So...here is hoping because I am pretty sure he ate a part of a dead grasshopper at the park yesterday. I try not to think of it but it is seriously grossing me out...even right now. Yuck! Kaze has 8 teeth and I am sure more are coming. He is starting to copy our sounds like HO HO HO!!! (santa of course) and HOO HOO HAA HAA (a monkey). He is quick to smile and loves the camera. He is just a joy and I love him very much!







Mark and I are really good! Mark is working, which is a blessing in this economy! I have been applying for a part time seasonal job to get us some extra Christmas money but so far...nothing much is happening. I have applied a few places but there are a lot of people out there needing jobs...anything! So...I will be patient. I have already decided that I want to have a "Homemade Christmas" this year. It will be fun! I want to re-do the boys' rooms in an outdoorsie theme and will make their comforters and re-paint their names that are hanging in there. New sheets (I will buy those...I am NOT making fitted sheets). I think it may be a good idea to also do something more geared to the true meaning of Christmas and bring into it the gifts the three wisemen presented to Jesus at his birth. The three gifts represented something needed, something spiritual and something wanted. And of course...Santa will also pay a visit and leave a stocking full of goodies and a gift. I think a stocking and 4 gifts for each child is plenty. They get so much from grandparents, etc. And with Tyce's birthday a couple days before Christmas...it can become a bit overkill as far as gifts are concerned. So...maybe it is time to tone it down on our part. We'll see!

We still LOVE where we live and have the most amazing neighbors who have been teaching me to be an expert Canner and we have put up peaches and spaghetti sauce with pears and grapes to come! We are in a routine that allows for a clean house and family dinners and plenty of time for everything else. I am just happy right now! Life is good and I am blessed!