daddy's helper

Chloe wanted to help daddy mow the lawn. How can you say no to such a cute girl? Chloe is such a special gift to us. She has this little giggle that just makes everyone smile. She is so adorable! Currently she is the leading contestant for the game of who can exhaust mom the fastest with 100 questions. Its a game the kids often play.

Brodie's birthday

This year we spent Brodie's birthday camping at woodland. We had planned for Grandpa Dave and Grandma Judy to be camping right along side of us, but their trailor broke the day they were loading it and getting ready to leave. So we stayed and they came for visits. We were lucky enough that Uncle Erik and Aunt Theresa were in town at the same time for a few days so we were able to play with cousins and enjoy being away. I can't say we had a lot of sunshine because it rained the whole weekend, but it was really nice to get away and we had a great time too!

We did get 1 sunny day at the pool which was very nice, the kids love the water.

Hurt finger

Caden smashed his finger between 2 rocks. He was afraid his finger was going to fall off. We're going to end up only losing his nail. It gets worse looking every day, he likes to show me each morning because he knows it grosses me out, and he thinks that its hilarious.

Summer Recital

The girls had so much fun at dance this year. Chloe especially enjoyed her tap/ballet class. Rhyen took a cheer class, she liked it but is going to try gymnastics instead. She wants to learn back flips and front flips.
The girls had a recital on June 18th, they both did a awesome job!
Chloe got an award for the spot light dancer. It goes to the child in the class that the teacher feels give it her all. Really listens and applies what they're taught. I'm really proud of her.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

What a joy Maddyn is to me! My baby is 2 and she is transitioning from baby to toddler. She is such a smart little girl. Every day its something new with her and usually just too funny. She now tells me that things are "nasty", it cracks me up. She loves to play babies and bratz/barbies with her big sister Chloe. She can't give you a high five without knuckles too. Her tiny little fist is so cute! We are slowly starting potty training, just introducing right now. She thinks its fun. We'll see.

New Year 2009

Rhyen is now in the 1st grade and she loves school. Her teacher says she quite the character. She loves reading and hates math. Her teacher told us that she takes care of her little brother, she makes it her responsibility that he gets to class. She cares about her siblings, even though at home its a different story. She has lots of friends and loves spending time with them. She is our social butterfly. She chose to take a cheer leading class at our local dance studio, she loves it! Right now her goal is to be a cheerleader.

Caden started Kindergarten, he doesn't like school as much as his sister. He just likes riding the bus. As our only boy, he is definitely doing his best to keep our home full of trucks and mud. Never a dull moment with him. The snow hasn't stopped him. He takes a break from his trucks to "push the snow", as he calls shoveling. Brodie doesn't mind the help, Caden is out there everyday pushing snow. He helps me out in the house too, he is quite the little cleaner when he wants to be.

Chloe is busy being BIG sister to Maddyn. She is constantly showing Maddyn new things, mostly the kind to get in trouble. She is taking a tap/ballet class and likes it very much. Her and Rhyen had a recital in December and we really enjoyed that!

Maddyn has been busy accomplishing milestones of her life by learning to walk, talk, and getting her teeth. She is surprising us everyday with something new. Its fun! She likes to sing, for all the birthdays this year she sang "Happy Birthday" and for Christmas she sang "Jingle Bells". She sings lots of nursery rhymes and every time she sings a new one I'm,surprised. She loves her siblings and enjoys being apart of whatever they are doing. She doesn't like to be left out, unless mom is doing something fun.

I changed roles at work this year a couple of times, I stepped down from my supervisor position at McDonalds to stay home more often with my kids. Its been quite the transition for me, but I think its been better for the kids. I'm working a lot less, I'm a part-time assistant manager, so not too much responsibility anymore at work. I'm very happily trying to accomplish being great at motherhood!

Brodie is busy being Brodie. He recently was laid off from Bolinder's, which I think was a blessing. He starts work on Monday at a new place working on firetrucks and equipment. He seems to like the idea of this new place and it sounds like the people he will be working for are better at taking care of their people, and appreciate the work they do. That will be a change for him.

We are working very hard at becoming a better family and moving our family forward. As the new year is now hear, I welcome it and look forward to accomplishing a great deal this year personally with my family.