Happy 5th Birthday Caleb

Caleb is already 5 years old!! 

Casey & I did the fun parent thing & we had a little birthday party for him.  It was actually a success!  Caleb has really been into all kinds of animals & insects lately so that is what we based the party events around.  (Now - by WE I assume you all know that I mean ME....Casey was a trooper & helped throughout the party, but I was the fabulous planner :) ) 

• We hid lizards, snakes & some whales in the back yard  & the kids had to find as many as they could. 
• I read them The Very Hungry Caterpillar book & then we wrapped them up in cocoons (toilet paper) & they busted out of them just like a butterfly.
• We helped each kid make 3 different puppets.  A lion, an elephant & a monkey.
• They all enjoyed some cupcakes & ice cream.
• All of the kids were so excited to have Caleb open his gifts.  They all wanted Caleb to open their present first!

 This year was the first year I didn't make his cake.  The silly boy wanted an ANGRY gorilla....it was out of my league.  I couldn't find a shape cake pan for that & all of the ones that I saw on the Internet stressed me out.  With the twins being all over & the day care kids & the challenge of a cake I didn't know how to make, I had it made.  It was AWESOME & DELICIOUS & Caleb LOVED it.  Hopefully next year I can make his cake again.

 He chose cheese pizza for his birthday dinner.  Y U M.  He opened a whole lot of presents!  He got a TON of jumbo toy animals from Casey & I - some stencils & Captain America on a motorcycle from the Jensen's - and some clothes (which he called AWESOME) and a semi truck from Casey's parents.  My parents are going to take him out to dinner later this week.  He was so excited to eat his cake.  He kept telling me, "Mom, I really want to eat the gorilla's face"  Wish granted.

Even Eddie was excited for the festivities!

How does this happen???

How do they grow from this.....

to this.....

 to this so quickly??

A new family member...& Christmas Village!

On Saturday, December 1st there were presents on our kitchen table!  Caleb opened them up & we have a new family member.

 Eddie the Elf!  Eddie will visit us every December & make sure that we are all being good boys & girls so that we can have a GREAT Christmas.  He flies back to the North Pole every night & reports to Santa on our behavior for the day.  Caleb wants to hold Eddie so badly - but he isn't to be played with or touched or he will lose his magic.  Eddie brought us The Polar Express DVD & a new Chrstmas book.

 When Caleb woke up on Sunday - Eddie had decided to read some of our stuffed animals a story.  How nice!!  Caleb thought it was pretty cute.

On Monday Taylor had an appointment in Layton at the Rocky Mountain Allergy clinic.  She has a weird rash around her mouth that sometimes gets worse when she eats.  So - probably an allergy or food irritation of some kind, right?  NOPE.  She was allergic to nothing.  The prick test was heart breaking!  They poked her back 4 different times & I couldn't even hug her because her back couldn't touch anything for 15 minutes after the pricking.  A Dum Dum sucker helped - it was a freaking mess, but she wasn't sobbing as hard.  She would start to cry all over again when the nurse would come into check though - that was kind of funny.

 

Since we were already down that way, we met my friend MaLynda & her family at Christmas Village in Ogden.

 Caleb told Santa that he wanted a big truck.  I hope that he is a good boy & can get one this year!  He also told Santa all about Eddie & Santa said that he had talked to Eddie & that he had told Santa that Caleb was being very good.

 One word comes to mind on this one.

Classic.

We ended the evening with dinner at the pizza factory.  Breadsticks, alfredo dipping sauce as thick as frosting, & a vanilla coke.  A fabulous way to end the night.

Crafty Cathy

Here are a few of the latest projects I busted out.

WICKED!!!  I love this piece of Halloween decor.  I hope it lasts me F O R E V E R.  My mom, Angela & I got together at Ashley's house & we all made one.  It was fun - and slightly stressful!

This next project was kind of a failure.  I can't decide how much I love them....or not.  My mom & Aunt Julia collected a ton of leaves at Tony's Grove and pressed them out & then they came over, along with Ashley & Eva, and we mod podged the dry leaves over the  jars.  I really like them when they are lit up.  They probably like being lit up also - who doesn't??? j/k...j/k :)

A cute table for my kids!  I got the yellow/orange table from someone on KSL for $10...bought some fabric, some vinyl & some spray paint & made it to match my kitchen!  There is no longer 2 high chairs in there!  My babies have grown up way to quickly.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was on November 22nd this year - so here are 22 things that I am thankful for.

1. My home. It isn't huge & it isn't top of the line...but memories have been made here & I wouldn't change them at all..
2. My kids. They are adorable, exhausting, hilarious, trying, loving, & fun.
3. Running water. 'Nuff said.
4. Casey.  He is a great dad.  We butt heads on occasion, but we also seem to get along with each other.
5. My Mom.  She is helpful, kind, & freaking funny.
6. My Dad.  He is helpful, kind, & freaking funny.  I have awesome parents.
7. My siblings.  They are all so different & so easy to love.
8. The gospel.  I'm not the churchiest person out there, but I know what is true & it gives me comfort knowing the things I do.
9. Music.  I love music.  All kinds - but country & jazz tie for last place.  I think my life would be complete if it was a musical.
10. My health.  I don't have many ailments & I hope that I take care of myself for a long, long time so I can continue to feel good.
11. Veterans.  For all who so selflessly and courageously served and protected our country - and for those who continue to do so.
12. The opportunity I have to stay home with my kids.  We may not have all of the money we want at the moment - but by my staying home I get to enjoy my children. 
13. The seasons.  I am grateful that I get to live where seasons are present.
14. Babysitters!!!!
15. Casey's job.  I am thankful that it is close to home & that he has the opportunity to advance in the company - let's hope that happens soon :)
16. My mother & father-in-law.  They are always there to help for whatever, whenever. 
17. My senses.  They sure get taken for granted.
18. My SMALL English knowledge.  I'm glad I know the difference between your & you're...their, there, they're...granted & granite...I'm not a scholar by any means - but I do know a smidge.
19. Pictures.  I love taking them & looking back at them. Time goes by so fast & having the memories to look back on is priceless.
20. Our vehicles.  They are paid for and the haven't had any major issues (don't worry - I knocked on wood)
21. Our (my) dishwasher.  I have only been using it for 21 months & I don't know how I survived without it.  I love that thing.
22. Technology.  As I am writing this I thought I would check my email.  I had the opportunity to have a mini chat with Dylan!!!  AWESOME!

Casey had to work on Thanksgiving this year.  What a total bummer!  He did get to enjoy it with his family though.  It was my family's turn to enjoy our company this year and we ended up going to my Aunt Sandra's house.  It was a delicious meal!  I recommend trying a smidge of my mom's cranberry sauce on your turkey.  I'm growing quite fond of the stuff.  We stuffed our faces, danced like fools to an XBOX Kinect game, played Apples to Apples & Mad Gab.  GOOOOOOD TIMES.

  One highlight of my day was watching Taylor play with Monte (Amber's dog). 

 

Caleb's plethora of November crafts!  His hand turkey above his head says that he his thankful for his kitty.  Ahhhhhhh :)

 

Happy Halloween!

Casey had to work on Halloween night so I decided that I would take the kids out to Tremonton on the 30th so that I wouldn't have to try to fit all of the visiting in AND the trick or treating in  one night.  We stopped at Casey's parents house first & visited for a while.  Mona had treats for the kids & a fun Mickey Mouse Halloween movie.  Bothwell park had put together a little Halloween celebration and I thought my kids might have fun.  Caleb stated getting sick so he wasn't having any fun at all.  He ended up going to Grammy & Papa Don's and watching Thomas.  I ran into one of my friends Megan Call...we didn't really have a minute to talk, but I wasn't going to get away without a picture of us!

Oh Halloween night.  We had plans to go trick-or-treating with all of the kids that I baby sit & their families at 6.  Caleb fell asleep on the couch at 4:30.....I woke him up at 5:30 & gave him some Ibuprofen.  I had the girls all ready to go & asked Caleb if he wanted to get ready & he was not interested in going.  He said that he wasn't feeling good.  As you can see from the picture - he wasn't lying.  He was watching his Halloween movie from Mona & Brad & holding his sweet helicopter toy from my mom & dad.  I am glad he has such fabulous grandparents!

Around 6:30 Caleb changed his mind.  He said, "Let's get my costume on & go get some candy."  I guess the medicine took about an hour to kick in.  Should I be concerned that he wore this vampire costume 2 years ago & it still fits?????

2012

2010

The weather was perfect for trick-or-treating.  Taylor & Rylee were good sports in their stroller.  They got  a little bored, but some M&M's fixed that!

After we went to 4 houses Caleb said, "Okay mom.  I'm done."  I told him that we should go to 10 more.  He sighed & said ok.  The one thing he had to eat as soon as he got it was a vanilla tootsie roll.  Y U M.  I wasn't counting houses after my comment....but I guess he was!  After a little while he said, "Okay mom.  That's 10.  Let's go home."  We did...and the sweet little thing didn't even eat any candy when we got home - he just wanted a banana.

He got some awesome vampire teeth - so we modeled of course!

Caleb & Allie went to a Halloween party earlier this month.  They were so excited!  Caleb's mask was a little bit to big & when I took the picture Allie decided to start flying like a bumble bee!

 At Halloween time crafts area  must!  A cute witch that Caleb made at preschool.

 Caleb made the jack-o-lantern at pre-school & the ghost & witch with me.

.........Until next year my spooks.