Family Photo Shoot

Our dear friend Lesley took these amazing pictures for us. She's so, so talented. Brace yourself for LOTS of pictures because I just can't decide which ones to put on canvas. Plus there are still like 20 others I love equally as much. I've never had this problem before.

Happy Birthday Kyle.

This is Kyle: Bryan's BFF, home boy, compadre from J. Reuben Clark's institution of higher education. We wanted to wish him a happy birthday because he is always trying to build other's self-esteem by playing video games with them, and because the Sprite has always been so free flowing at his house, and because he's the only person we know who can play hand and foot without going into his foot, and because his home has that old fashion feeling, aka no DVR, and because he is the only paleontology loving, sweater sporting, backward hat wearing, Idaho gangster we know. Happy Birthday Kyle; Thanks for being such a wonderful friend. We'll miss you this summer.

Today I am feeling grateful for being a mother. Well, really never a day goes by that I am not filled with gratitude for this blessing, but today I'm swelling. I've heard that some women feel that when they became mom's they lost themselves in the job, but I feel like I've found myself this last year. I love and am thankful for each moment of motherhood. I feel like I've found my purpose. Even those days that Caden decides to get up at 5 AM, I see that smile and instead of being upset I feel so lucky. I'd give anything for this blessing again.

Welcome to the jungle we call a backyard:

Caden has been working on a new trick these last few weeks. Standing alone.

I'm not too sure about this mom, but I really want to rip off those flowers.

Slowly letting go of the fence.Whoa!Caden's been standing a little here and a little there but today he stood for about 5 minutes straight. He was quite proud of himself, and so was I!

(I realize these pictures are totally shadowed but I'm over only putting up "good" pictures.)

In My Eyes.

I'm driving home from California through Nevada, going on what felt like at least 23.47 hours, reflecting on the past day. In my eyes life is made up of very small victories. I judge whether a day went well by if I was able to: go to the bathroom just once by myself, get Caden to eat lunch without cramming his hands in his mashed carrots, and end my day with a clean floor. Huge victories for me now consist of using the elliptical, finishing a book, or reorganizing a closet. Anyway, as I'm starring into the dark highway I'm thinking, "I rock; I seriously am amazing; I can take on anything." If only Queen's, We are the Champions, had been playing on the ipod....

Let me explain, the night before Bry and I had gone down to visit his grandparents. Somehow along this extremely rugged terrain, aka driveway, Bryan managed to fall off the edge of the pavement and ruin his ankle. I heard it pop twice. I knew this wouldn't be good. I will give him credit though, before Mr. Injury-Prone fell to the ground he handed Caden off, saving his little baby life. After some screaming, Hop-Along-Sally continued the trek down to see his grandparents and by the end of the visit his ankle was the size of a black and blue softball. I suggested we go to the ER, but Bryan decides his night would be better spent debating his sister over whether the Karate Kid's Daniel son kicked off his broken ankle or healthy ankle in his winning victory. Unreal. At this point Bryan is completely incapacitated. He crawls the long hallway to bed. The next day it is no better; Big surprise. This is where my amazingness comes in. Keep in mind in my eyes very small accomplishments equal huge victories. Alone, I took care of Caden (fed, changed, clothed, entertained), packed our 5 bags, loaded the car, packed our snacks, helped Skippy out to the car, drove the entire way 8.5 hours (to this point of the story), filled the car up at each gas station (normally I never do this, not sure why, it's just Bryan's job), changed Caden at every gas station, fed Caden, kept Bryan's Diet Coke IV going at each stop, and--here's the biggie--I was even patient in waiting for the cripple to return from the bathroom with a screaming baby in the back ground. In my eyes this day has made me Superwoman. My mother would be proud. So, I'm driving along, basking in my glory, and it starts to snow. I think, bring it on snow; I can take you; Did you not just hear my list of accomplishments today?!? I continue on. Then we hit Windover and it's stinking white-out blizzard, my triumphant atmosphere disappears. Humbled, I pull the car over, help Skip To My Lou to the driver's seat, and ride the rest of the way home grateful that I don't always have to be that amazing. Even though I had to turn the car over, in my eyes, I still pretty much rocked this day. :)

Nothing Better.

There is nothing better than dropping Bryan off at school and listening to Caden bawl as he sees his daddy get out of the car, then driving away and seeing Bryan in the rearview mirrow with a huge grin on his face because he knows his little boy loves him.

I LOVE my life.

26 FABULOUS YEARS

And Bryan's surprise party theme... Diet Pepsi! We surprised Bryan--as much is possible--with a little Pepsi Party with fam and Colvins. Caden looks more surprised than him. :) Caden has developed a new "cheeser" smile. He squints, shows his two teeth, and growls. It makes him look like The Brain, from Pinky and The Brain. He's awesome.Bry's special stash...lots and lots of Pepsi from his mommy and Megan.Les with the Kiddies. Megan was awesome and helped me with the cake. Well, basically, she did most of it and I just helped decorate it. Thank you Megan!On Bry's actual birthday we were able to go out just the two of us before Bry had to get a presentation ready. We had a great night on the town. Hopefully Bry had a wonderful, Pespi- filled birthday because we love him and he deserves nothing but the best. :)

Really?!?

Just some stories that have made us laugh:
Number One:
We were out the other day and a girl, about 12, came up to us and asked, "does your baby have cancer?"
I can't help but laugh, "No, no he is just bald."
"Bald? Really? He doesn't have cancer? He just doesn't have hair?"
"Yes."
"Weird."

Number Two:
I'm getting Caden's immunizations and a hispanic lady who doesn't speak very good English falls in love with Caden. She was very nice, but I'm not a huge fan of strangers touching my kid. She kept trying to take him, and kiss his little hands. Luckily, Megan was with me and is much better at ignoring it. So Caden starts screaming (pretty typical) because he's excited over something and I say, "Oh Heaven."
The hispanic lady says, "Heaven? Awwwwh, you named your baby Heaven!"
At this exact moment as he's yelling at the top of his lungs I'm thinking...YEAH RIGHT! "Ohhh no, no I didn't. He is just Caden."
Dejected, "Oh, that's too bad."