New and Improved Santa

Santa and "mini-me" Santa.
Cade patiently waiting for Santa to call his name.
Santa with his daddy.
Cade and his cousin, Avery
Merry Christmas to all and to all....
a GOODNIGHT!

I don't mean to continue posting about the same thing...but I have to put this somewhere so I don't forget. So, Cade's grandma and aunt Paula put together a new and improved Santa suit. He has been so fun to watch this Christmas season. He truly thinks that people believe he is Santa. Here are just a couple of things that happened today, that I don't ever want to forget.

Cade insisted on wearing his suit to preschool. Of course, I let him. He was so upset that he had run out of candy canes to put in his bag to share with people. So, while he was at preschool I ran to Target and picked up a box...when I went to pick him up, I took the box in and filled his bag so he could hand them out to his friends and teachers. One of his teachers came up to me and said that she had said to Cade, "Well thank you Cade, you have a Merry Christmas." He turned to her and said, "Hey, I am supposed to say that to you."

After preschool we dropped off his friends and had to run a few errands. As we were leaving the neighborhood, the mailman was at the mailbox. Cade insisted I stop the van, he jumped out and ran over to the mailman to hand him a candy and wish him a Merry Christmas.

Next it was off to the bank. As I completed my transaction at the drive-up, the teller said "Is that Santa in the back seat?" I said, "Why yes it is." Before I could say anything else, Cade had unrolled the back window and was giving a big wave with his black glove covered hand. I was getting ready to put the canister back in the holder, and Cade said, "Wait mom, put one of these candy canes in there for that lady."

Last but not least, everywhere we go there are statues of Santa, pictures of Santa, cards with Santa, etc. Anytime Cade sees a Santa, he tells us all, "Look, there I am!"

I tell you...it has been a Christmas memory that I don't want to forget for a very long time. He has had many strangers come up wanting to take his picture, little kids giving him hugs everywhere we go, and I have had so much fun watching Cade spread some Christmas cheer wherever he goes. What a fabulous kid!!!

ThErE'S A New SaNTa in ToWn!

Doing a little tummy pat with a "HO-HO-HO"!

I'm glad the shirt fits. :) Why is that still in his closet???

Serious business Santa!

Santa's helper...doesn't she look like a giant?
So the kids decided tonight that they needed Santa hats. Sure...not a problem. So, we load up the fam and head to the dollar store. We come home and Cade keeps asking me for weird stuff. His black belt, his red shorts, his black shoes...he wanted it all! I had no idea why. All of the sudden he comes out of his room and was dead serious. NO laughs folks, he was not trying to be funny...just seriously wanted to be Santa. So, introducing Santa and his li'l helper!!!

ShE's 7 - DiVa ParTY!!!

WoW! Our little princess has turned 7! Her birthday was on Friday the 25th, but we had her "friend party" on Saturday. She invited 10 of her best friends to go to a local beauty college for a little party. It was great!!! They all got their nails painted, hair done, and a little make-up on. It was so fun, and I think the girls all had a great time! After the salon time, we came back to our house to open presents and have cake and ice cream. Of course, little Cade, had to ruin the Diva moment for Ry. As she was opening her gifts, he politely told her she looked evil. Apparently Cade has never seen Rylee with dark blue eye shadow on!



Strike a Pose! Rylee had such a great day...and I am so grateful she has so many cute and fun friends!

Conversations With A 1st Grader

Conversation #1

Mom: So, how was school today Ry? Who did you play with?

Rylee: I played ball with some boys.

Mom: Oh, why didn't you play with Anabelle?

Rylee: She likes to get chased by Bodee...and I am so done with that Bodee business.


Conversation #2 - while looking online at a little girl in the cutest witch costume for Halloween

Mom: Oh Ry, look how cute this costume is...we could make this.

Rylee: Umm Mom, that girl looks like she is in Kindergarten. I am in 1st grade, and I think that costume is way to fluffy. No thanks!


Oh I am sad she is growing up too fast! No more princess stuff, no more fluffy stuff, and the way she talks is soo adult-like.

WhAt Do cHeaP mOmS Do ON wEdnESDaYs?

Paigey loved this rock. It had a little fountain in it...she could have played with the fountain for hours.


The kiddies...Rachel, Sarah, Sydney, Cade, Paige and Kyler. We are missing Sydney's li'l sister, Paige, not sure where she was at this moment. Good times! :)
I found this new little fun spot in Highland...I guess it is called the Highland fountains. Super fun and it is free! Again, me and a few ladies from the neighborhood gathered the kids, and away we went. Good times were had by all. As a side note...this morning as Rylee was walking out the door for school she said, "Have a great day mom....and please wait to do fun things until I get home!" I feel bad but what are we to do with these poor bored children?

WhAt Do CraZy CheAp UtaH Moms Do oN TuEsdaYs in AuGusT?

Today we did what every other crazy cheap mom in Utah and Salt Lake County do on Tuesdays in August...we went to Thanksgiving Point! On Tuesdays, through the month of August, every venue is $2. So, me and a few of my neighbors decided to go. We got there right at 10:00 and the line to the dinosaur museum was already wrapped clear around the museum. So, we opted for the farm. The kids still had a blast!!
Cade, Kyler, Rachel and Sarah hanging out!
The cutest baby animals...we kept trying to get pictures of all of the kids, but they didn't want to turn their backs for fear of what the animals might do. Cade turned around for a minute, and the horse started sniffing his backside. Hee Hee.
Feeding the ducks!
Feeding the goats corn. Cade didn't really love them licking his hand...so he opted to throw it in! What a fun day for the little ones who get so bored during school hours!

1st Day of 1st Grade

1st day of 1st grade. I am sooo sad! She thought she wanted Bart to take her to school...and then she saw all the kids out at the bus stop and said, "Umm, I think I will ride the bus." We were really sad! So, I grabbed the camera and her hand, which she quickly said "No thanks" to both of those things, I guess she is already too cool to hold my hand :(, and we headed to the bus stop.
Cade and Rylee on the steps...she made me hurry before anybody saw.
Rylee and some of her girlfriends, waiting in line for the bus.
Sweet! Loading on the bus. I know she wanted to kill me...but I don't care!
Coming home...it was a long day for all of us! I loaded Cade and Paige in the van to go run an errand, and looked back to see Rylee's empty car seat, and Cade sitting solo in the back...I had a tear come. So, Cade and I decided to drive by the school to see if kids were out playing...to no avail! Oh we missed our Ry Ry, but she had a great day!

Miss Paigey is One!!!

Paigey turned one on Saturday. I can't believe she is already that old! We had a pretty low key day on Saturday, but on Sunday we had Grandpa and Grandma Peterson, Hallee, and Steve, Shauna and family over for cake and ice cream. Here is Paige...kickin back eating some cupcake, which she ate the whole thing!
Grandpa and Grandma Peterson gave her a shopping cart...she was fine with the disassembled gift. She was so mad at Bart when he took this yellow part away to attach stuff to it.
Oh, and did I mention she is walking? So cute...still so little but loves to walk, hence the bruise on her cheek.
Didn't quite get the gift opening...but Cade was sure to help her out.

My Li'L Hill Billy

Oh my! So on Friday night we were eating dinner and Rylee was eating some french bread. She all of the sudden freaked out. Well we looked over and she was pulling a bloody tooth out of her bread. Well then the middle tooth right next to that one was really loose as well. She looks up and I start laughing so hard. It was just hanging there in the middle of that space...one tooth. We tried all night Friday, and part of Saturday to get that tooth out but to no avail! Finally Saturday afternoon we decided to go to Grandma Barbara's aka "Professional Tooth Puller-Outer" and had her pull it out! She seriously looked like a hill billy, and I couldn't take her anywhere looking like that! Thanks Grandma~

Southern Cali

We had a great time in California! We stayed at a beach house in Carlsbad that had a pool and hot tub in the back yard...perfect place for a party! We partied as much as we could with as much as we had going on.
I took a little pool for the babies to hang out in...Paigey loved it!
Rylee and her medal from swim relays.
Cade and dad being...RETARDS!
-LEGOLAND-
Splashpark at Legoland

TORREY PINES=Lots of money, lots of fun, do again!

-DISNEYLAND-




-BEACH-
Rylee loved the beach! She actually got really good at boogie-boarding. She knew when the wave would be good or not.


Paige and I just hangin out. That girl ate more sand in the few hours we were there. I am surprised she didn't poop sand!
Cade and the boys mostly loved playing in the sand. They didn't get in the water much...and they didn't even care. They could have dug in the sand all day. Building stuff, digging for sand crabs, burying stuff, it didn't matter!
The Balloon Guy
Last but not least, Friday night we went to Seaport Village. It was so much fun!