Giddy-Up

Cade doing "cowboy poses" before we left.
Tipping his hat, with a "HOWDY".
Now he wanted to throw in a leg crossing, cowboy stand.
Kiddies at the Ro-Day-o, with bue sno-cone mouths...which is also the color of Bart's shorts now.

So, I feel like the Preston family is now official true "Lehians". This week has been Lehi Round-up Days. If you have been born and raised in Lehi, there are some pretty strong traditions to uphold each year during Round-Up Days. Last night we hit a milestone as far as being true Lehians. We went to the RODEO. Rylee and Cade have asked us for years to take them to the rodeo...we never have! So, this year I told Bart if he wanted to stay home that was fine, but I was taking Rylee and Cade to the Ro-Day-O (that's what me and Cade like to call it). Well, Bart decided to come as well. It started out a little shakey, taking Paigey anywhere these days is a little shakey. I didn't realize when I bought the tickets that you sit on bleachers, which are totally open underneath, so basically I was a nervous wreck letting Paige get down...what if she fell through? Anyway, we had been their for 2 minutes and Paige is freaking out bawling, wanting to get down (I won't let her), sweating in the 94 degree heat, and wanting to eat a whole bag of sour patch kids (I let her). Bart took the kids to get sno-cones, sat Paige on his lap to eat her's, and within 30 seconds Bart has blue sno-cone all over his "favorite" light khaki shorts. He was pissed, I could tell he wasn't loving the rodeo. I looked down on the ground level row, and their were open seats. I went down and asked the girl sitting there, if anyone else was sitting in those seats, she said they were all her seats, but she was by herself. Needless to say, we all moved to the bottom, and then the rodeo became fun. What is more fun than Paige dropping popcorn in the dirt, and then eating it again, sitting in the dirt and making piles, eating more and more sour patch kids, etc. The kids had a blast! When it was almost over, Cade turned to me and said, "Mom, thanks for bringing us here, I can't wait for next year." And so there you have it...we are starting a new tradition at our house.

Blanket Overload

A while ago, Paige decided she likes blankets. I've never had a child really care about their "blankee". She doesn't really care about them throughout the day, but when she naps or wakes up in the morning she likes about 10 blankees, and her babies. When one of us goes to get her out of her crib, she hands us one by one, her 8-10 blankees, and her babies. And then she caries them ALL around for about an hour. Once she walks away from them for a minute, I grab them and go throw them back in her crib...until the next nap. WOW!

I'm BACK!!!

This week is Spirit Week at school. Today was pajama day and Crazy Hair Day. Rylee loves to participate in this kind of stuff. Here is some of the neighbor kids at the bus stop this morning.
Back view of the hair.
Side view.
Front view. She gets so embarrassed that I like to take her picture...silly girl!
Here is Paigey and Cade being gangsta. Paigey loves to say "SUP!" and fold her arms. She's way too funny!!!

WoW! It has been 6 months since my last post...that's pathetic! My only excuse is that life has gotten very crazy around here. Between school, after school activities, friends, church callings, and just keeping up with a family, time has gotten away from me! But here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure, and a quick update on the family.

Bart is getting excited for summer/golf season. He has received a new calling at church, he is the financial clerk. It keeps him busy, but he really enjoys it! He works really hard, and I am so thankful for him.

I have received a new calling at church too...Primary PReSidEnT! YUCK! It actually has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I have some fabulous counselors that I love, and they make it very doable (Is that a word?). Our primary used to be pretty big, but it has shrunk quite a bit lately, which makes my calling a little bit easier. Let's just say, my used to be laid back lifestyle of playing outside with the kids, watching Oprah, and baking cookies, has taken a turn for the crazy!

Rylee is finishing up 1st grade. She absolutely loves school, and I credit her teacher for that. It has been a fun year for her. She is taking piano lessons (which she loves, and I never have to remind her to practice), she is finishing up her soccer season and getting ready for swim lessons and some good summer fun! I love having her home.

Cade is getting ready to start kindergarten. He doesn't love school and learning as much as Rylee, so this could be very interesting! I am hoping once he starts, he will change his mind. He is very social and loves to play with friends. He is a social butterfly, and Rylee depends on him a lot to do those things that are "embarrassing" to her. He will take swim lessons in the summer too, and hopefully we can get him on a t-ball team. I was a week late for registration, so we will cross our fingers.

Paigey is getting way too big, way too fast. She is now 21 months! I can't believe how the time has flown by. We just love her in our family, she talks soo well and is constantly cracking us up. Last night I put her to bed, and I could hear her in the monitor saying, "Get me outta here." Bart and I just got back from a cruise, and grandpa and grandma Preston babysat the kids for a week. Well, grandpa taught Paigey some naughty words, which everyone thinks is sooo funny. She tells us to "Zip it", and "Shove it". NICE! One last funny, I took her bottle away when we got home from our cruise, and one night as she was getting ready for bed, she said, "Mommy, I have a ba-ba?" I told her no, and she asked a couple of more times for it, finally, she said, "You're rude!". Anyway, she is great fun and the neighborhood doll. All the neighbor kids love Paige and she loves them. They all fight over who gets to play with her. In fact, the other day, one of the neighbor kids who is 5, called and asked if Paige could play. FUnnY!

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.