Almost 1 year...

So, about this time last year, I was really sick. Physically--with a terrible sinus cold, and mentally--preparing myself for Calder's first cleft repair surgery. Thankfully, this year I am just physically sick again...this time with strep throat. :( Much better mentally--no pending surgery, no extra stress, no sleepless nights of worrying if it will all be ok. It is a mommy's job to worry. If we don't, who will, right? But, I wish that I knew then, what I know now...that it would be hard, but we could handle it...that Calder would heal quickly, and without any complications...that life would be sweeter, and we'd be stronger for having "been there; done that".

I remember being so sad, even scared in thinking about how Calder was going to "change"--I didn't want him to be any different. I didn't want him to have a new smile, and I certainly didn't want him to remember anything he'd been through. He is not different, still the fearless BOY he has always been. His smile changes constantly...I think I see a new one every day, as he learns new things and discovers life. There are times when I desperately miss those wide smiles from our monkey. But I am so grateful for the 5 1/2 months of wide smiles we had, and if thousands of pictures aren't enough, then my memories will have to do. If HE remembers anything about his experience, he doesn't hold it against us...Calder is truly the most "happy-go-lucky" little guy I've ever met, and that is part of who he is, that is what I hope never changes.

So, in this, one of my many "crystal ball moments" I feel very blessed. Our journey isn't over, and Calder's road will have its bumps. We have learned, we have grown...and met some truly amazing people along the way. So much can happen in a year, and we will take it as it comes, one moment at a time.

Here's to you, little man...we LOVE you more than you'll ever know!!

Christmas #1

This will probably be the first of a couple of holiday posts...I've not uploaded any of my other Christmas pictures yet, though I need to!

Little Man in his "fake tie" shirt! ;)

Love this pic, just captures the curiosity and mischief in him...

Grandma and Grandpa came on the 23rd, we couldn't wait, and it's been fun and busy since they've been here!

They do more than I could ever ask, and make life so much more fun for the kids, and easier for me...words can't really express how much we love them, and how sad we will be to see them go later this week. I will try to get more pictures up and spend a little more time writing later on, but I'm going to bed before midnight for once this week!

Making a list...

Or not, is it really almost Christmas? Am I already out of school? Do I still really have shopping to do? I desperately need to make a list! It's time to prioritize...

Big news first:
~Calder's hand healed up perfectly from the 2nd degree burns, hardly even any noticeable scars...SO grateful that he is beyond that injury!

~Since then, he has fallen down the stairs and bumped his head a few times...this kid never quits?! I'll be the one in the hospital, he will probably give me heart failure one of these times.

~Had a great Thanksgiving

~Managed to decorate most of the house...now if we could just get the rest of it cleaned up? :)

~Somewhat successfully visited Santa (pictures to follow)

~Getting ready for our favorite out of town visitors to come for Christmas: Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Aaron, Stephanie and Caleb!

I hate that I haven't been on here as often as I'd like. My goal was to post once a week...maybe that can still happen. For now, some new pictures to enjoy!

Calder showing Wally the love...and sharing Sophie the Giraffe!

Thanksgiving at Mamma and Pappa's house.

Looking for trouble...

How could this little cutie be naughty? ;)
Grandma sent these pajamas, they pretty much say it all!

FINALLY, the Santa pictures:
Calder didn't really enjoy this, but it made for a few keepsake photos!

Good...

Better...

BEST!

I don't know who I feel worse for...Santa, or Calder?! My poor little monkey, hopefully these pictures will be his only memory! Before we went up to Santa, he was a total ham...waving, laughing, arching to get down and get closer...GO FIGURE!

If I don't get on here before this weekend,
Merry Christmas!
Remember the real reason we celebrate...God's blessings to all!!

More October...

These are in order from earliest to most recent!

Here are Caydree and Nicelle at our school's Fall Festival!

Mommy and Calder at the festival...my little skeleton!

Took little man to get his first "real" haircut, because Mommy and Mamma are not really the "professionals" we'd like to believe we are. I pretty much gave him a "Dumb and Dumber" chop job...poor thing! As luck would have it, he played the typical 1 year old and wouldn't sit still, cried, threw a big fit...and got NO haircut. Mommy got some advice, that's about it. ;) Maybe next time. Doesn't he look SATISFIED in this next shot? Turkey.

So, after the haircut, we went to our favorite "beach park" instead! Much better time there, I must say.

Waving to the kids...

laying in the sand...

The following week we carved our pumpkin! Daddy did most of the hard work.

She thought it was "SO spooky"...

I haven't uploaded much of Caydree lately, this is a new video of her singing! This is pretty funny, and she normally CAN count, but I love her confusion in the 2nd song...ahhh, my little funny girl...don't grow up anymore, I'll keep you just like this forever!

We went to a Harvest Festival at Tom's Farm in Corona...that was really fun. Caydree loved the ferris wheel! Here we are at the very top! Mommy got to hear some of her favorite Christian bands play, Calder got to dance, we had a good time!

On Halloween I took Calder for some good old Sears pictures today too...wanted to get some of him with the "1". He did alright...and I know I just need to call on all of my amazing photographer friends when I get the picture itch...so from now on, that's probably what I'll be doing. Such a hassle at Sears. :/

Halloween...the night was rushed, and we didn't get to do all we wanted to, but on the whole had a good time.

Caydree dressed up like a "black kitty cat ballerina", and the little while Calder
was dressed, he was a monkey.

I want to go trick-or-treating too!

End of the evening...we'd call it a success!
Happy Halloween!

pumpkin pickin'

We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend, to pick out some pumpkins. So, what happened to the good "old fashioned" patch that basically consisted of pumpkins? Thankfully, the one we went to only had a petting zoo, pony rides, a train, a big corn maze, pig races and an ice cream truck...and yes, pumpkins. Holy moly, all we really wanted was a pumpkin! ;)

We were happy and the kids had a good time! Caydree found the perfect pumpkin...shared a cold treat with baby brother...

Calder found the perfect pumpkin...

I've gotta say, I can't get over how quickly he has healed up and gotten back to his normal, stubborn, little feisty self. He is a handful, and I love EVERY bit of it!

4th of July...vacation in Washington

So, apparently, I'm not very good about staying on top of this. :( I'm posting some 4th of July pics from our trip to Washington to visit Uncle Aaron, Aunt Stephanie and cousin Caleb. We had a great time, despite the lack of schedule and being out of our "element"!

I love my family!

Here we are with Uncle Aaron, Aunt Stephanie, and cousin Caleb!

Mommy and Caydree at Lake Cushman...self-taken. ;)

Calder in the water, trying to eat the rocks...yum!

Caydree on the boat with her noodle!

Sister at the playground...

Little man and mommy after a wet afternoon in the fountain!

Trying on mommy's sunglasses on the ferry ride to Seattle!

With daddy on the deck riding to Seattle...

Mommy and Caydree at the Seattle Center, riding the carousel.

The group...at Pike's Place Market...watch for flying fish!

Great view of the fireworks from Port Orchard at Aunt Stephanie's parents...thanks!!

Getting ready for the fireworks, but tuckered himself out and missed them all!

It wouldn't be the 4th of July without some sparkler action!

Some new pictures...

This was our first "get in the sand" beach trip...and maybe mommy's last. What a pain!

Don't really know how much sand we left at the beach, lots in the mouth and lots in the diaper, but he had a great time.

We went to San Diego to watch the Rock and Roll Marathon, waiting to see Nikki, Jessica and Stacy...it was windy and kept lifting the comb-over up!

Caydree on her first pony ride at the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival. She will also tell you she got to pet a llama (her favorite) and that we bought some of her favorite dip for bread (balsamic vinegar flavored with fig)...she is our interesting girl.

Here is little man watching the band Vertical Horizon at his first real concert! The Gin Blossoms also played that night, and he loved it. (Balloon and Wine Festival)

Mommy finally couldn't stand the comb-over anymore and cut it off. It was about an inch and a half that I actually trimmed...yes, I admit to using "product" on him now!

POOL TIME!

1st time at the pool for the summer! Caydree, Nicelle and Calder going for a swim!

Even got a smile from the girl...love her!

This was the only picture he actually looked at me for...all the others he is just having a blast in his swim float. ;) He loved the water!!

The video clip is from Father's Day, but sorry daddy, has nothing to do with you. This happens daily in our house, Calder can't get enough of Caydree, and she is becoming quite the entertainer! All I can say is that I LOVE my kids...