Chase is Tres!

Happy birthday Aiden! I love you more than words. I'm so glad that you got to have a fun day with your dad and brother and you have officially entered the big boy club. I am so proud to be your mom and so proud of you. You sure keep me on my toes...but I wouldn't have it any other way. I know you will be doing a lot of growing up this next year...I pray that it goes slow. I'm not ready for you to grow up. You are special...and thanks for making me special.

Love, Mom

Comfy Cam???

Yes, I realize that my baby is taking a nap somewhat naked. It was a busy morning around here...he got tired...didn't want to fight him...naked nap. I love how he fell asleep trying to pull himself up to the crib, but couldn't make it work so he sat down and fell asleep. Anyway, he is thinking that he is quite the big kid around here. My least favorite stage is right around the corner. Pulling himself up to everything. This kid is the early bird around here, and successfully got us to drop his mattress all the way down before he was a year old. That is a first in this family. And with that least favorite stage comes the even more dreaded walking stage. I get so nervous when they start to move and often wonder when the stitches are coming.

On another note, I learned today that time for myself still isn't everyone else's priority. I bought this stuff yesterday at the grocery store purely because it smelled awesome. I was giddy for my shower this morning, but that was cut short when I got out. Aiden (being the self sufficient kid that he is) decided that he needed a drink, got a cup out of the dishwasher, and proceeded to get a drink from the water dispenser in the fridge door. However, he didn't know when to make the water stop coming and decided to create a few puddles that stretched clear out to the carpet. I had a good laugh, he had a GREAT time, and I made a note to myself: induldge in yummy smelly stuff when he's sleeping early in the morning....

Hittin' the slopes with Dad!

Last Saturday, Scott and E joined the regular ski bums of the family for a day of learning. They had a great time, and I am so glad they got to go. E was so happy all week long, especially for the time he got to spend with his dad. He kept reminding me that in "___ sleeps I get to go skiing with Dad. It's gonna be so awesome!" Oh to be a kid again!

Can't quite figure out why my pictures are backwards...I've tried to put them in order, but I am sure you still get the same effect. There were crashes...

Lessons with the uncles...

Riding like a big kid...(does anyone else think he looks too big here? Why can't they stop growing!)

Good times with dad...

Good times with uncles...

successful trips down the hills...

and lots of "pizzas".

Good times with his cousins!
Again, with the looking big thing...seriously!

I have a great video of E doing what he loved the most...but I can't get it to upload. His uncle Corky took him in the terrain park and lifted him over the bumps (totally not a skiier, can you tell? I don't know what they were called.) so he felt like he was jumping too. He kept getting mad at Scott for telling him to slow down, "but Dad, I want to go faster!!" We knew that A was an adrenaline junkie, and now I am thinking E is as well. I guess I need to dust off the 1991 skiis down in the basement, gotta see my boys in action!

One for the record...

So, when we signed up for unemployment, the option was given to us to get a debit card account to have the money deposited into that we were eligible for. For some dumb reason (because it has been a pain in the butt) we thought that would be easier to keep track of our spending...ya, dumb. Anyway, when we were feeling down about our situation, we joked about this card being our "food stamps". I cannot express how much of a joke that is/was, and now I want to explain why we never should have called the card that.

Today, we went to Sam's club and the boys wanted pizza. I'm all about a $2 meal that I know they will eat, so I caved. As we were waiting in line, I had the card in my hand and E happened to see it. As loud as he could ( or it felt really loud) he asked me if that "was our food stamp card?" Yea, one for the record and a great lesson learned!

Happy Birthday Grandma Grimm!

Last Saturday, my Grandma turned 90 years old. This woman is amazing!!! She still insists on mowing her lawn, to our dismay, as well as walks on her treadmill every morning and volunteers at the Union Station in Ogden a couple of times a week. She has a bird named Paco that is her buddy, and she still drives herself to the store. I can't even begin to tell you all how much I love her. She is the best! I feel so lucky to have her as my grandma, and I am even more grateful for the love she has for me. She has taught me so much, (except how to make her chocolate cake--well, she has, I guess I am just a bad student!)
We had a big family party for her and most of my cousins came in from out of town to celebrate. It was so fun to see everyone and realize that it had been about 10 years since we had seen some of the cousins. My Grandma was as happy as could be and by the end of the night, worn out. We even got to feast at the Golden Corral. It doesn't get much better than that. (Can you sense a slight tone of sarcasm?) The finally kicked us out when my dad started a food fight. (Not joking about the food fight!) It was fun to be with family, especially since everyone is spread out all over the country and world. (My cousin lives in England) I hope that my Grandma has more years to stay with us, because it just won't be the same without her. Happy Belated Birthday, Grandma! I love you!

The whole family, minus a few.

Here is all the grandkids and spouses. Scott was sick that day, so he wasn't able to make it...

The latest on what's going on here...

Man, do the days of winter pass slow or what? On top of the pressure/stress/craziness going on at our house, it has been really hard to just be home. I wish I could talk about all the fun things we have been doing, but really, who wants to read about how I have had the chance to rearrange everything in my closet, get caught up on small chores around here that needed to have attention, and the ever growing laundry pile? Hence, the absence in my blog. We have done well as a family...everyone is adjusting to the fact that we are in a tough spot right now, and might not climb out for a while. But, not to shed a dark cloud. We are hoping for some good news this week. Scott has been waiting for weeks now for an answer from a firm in Layton. We are praying for good news! And, I have to be honest. Whenever that day comes that he actually has to go back to work, I think I will curl up in a ball and cry because he has been so helpful. I haven't taken Ethan to school for weeks. We have had the chance to stay in bed while the other one gets the boys going on breakfast, and I have some help in the middle of the night without guilt. If I think its hard now, boy am I going to get smacked upside the head!

Well, our boys are great. Beautiful, wonderful, and of course keep us on our toes.
There have been a few firsts around here for Camden. He is now sitting up rather well, but still needs a little support. He is now rolling around, but still gets stuck on his arm and screams for help. He also is doing a back crawl, which is hard to describe. But it gets him where he needs to go. His hair is turning so blonde it's almost white. He is loving big people food, and actually thinks that my plate of food is to share with him. He doesn't really love baby food, and really really doesn't like the vegetables. All he has to do is flash those big blue eyes at me, and I am suckered in. It's not hard, and he knows it. But the one that has me sad is the fact that he is cutting his two bottom teeth. I am following suit like I have done with the other two and have cried all day about it. I don't know why I hate the first two teeth so much. I guess it's a sign to me that they are getting big, and I better hold on because the fun is about to really begin. There is something about a baby's gummy smile that just has my heart, and I hate to see that go. Plus, I hate the fact that I am now a teething ring. Nonetheless, they have to grow up. I just don't have to like it!

Aiden is doing so well with speaking. His new thing is "Guess what?" "I love you!" For all the struggles we have had with him this past year and a half, it is so fun to hear a new word come out of his mouth. I love this little boy so much and am grateful to be his mom. He has taught me so much more than I ever thought I could know, and I am grateful for it. He is so smart too. He is recognizing the number 6 in books, and is good to point it out. He still loves Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks, but we have come to a manageable level with them. It is crazy to think that we are looking on to start preschool for him in the fall and that he will be 3 soon. I am glad that he is feeling like he can communicate with us better and not scream every time he needs something. There is nothing more frustrating that not being able to understand what your child needs or wants because he doesn't know how to tell you. We are still climbing the mountain with him, it's just not as steep anymore.

Ethan continues to be my great helper boy. We really lucked out with him. What a great kid. He is doing well at learning his ABC's and really has an interest in coloring a lot lately. And transformers. He still loves to be right by my side if he isn't with a friend. He loves to help me with Camden, and I am grateful for his help. Many times in a day he will say, "Mom, do you know how much I love you?" The only thing that I have noticed with him is that I can't keep food in him. I swear his leg is hollow. We just keep filling up the tank and go on. We are scheduled to get his kindergarten shots next week, followed by a trip to Baskin Robbins for our favorite pink bubble gum ice cream. (Yes, I have brainwashed him. It's my favorite!) I don't think that the whole kindergarten thing is sinking in, and I am pretty sure that he thinks teacher Jana is going to be his teacher forever.

Anyway, that is about all for us. If you made it this far, I guess I should have warned you that you would need a snack because it is so long. I am grateful for trials, whether it be children or no job. I know they make you stronger, because I feel a little stronger through all of this. Or maybe I just haven't even begun to understand this trial at all!

Mickey Mouse

Last Saturday, we had the opportunity to take the boys to see Playhouse Disney. I won't say it was my favorite thing to do, but the boys sure loved it. Ethan's face was priceless...too bad our camera didn't take any good pictures. Needless to say it was a nice distraction from the crap going on in our lives right now. For a few hours after the show, Ethan kept asking why we had to leave Mickey Mouse and when could we go to Disneyland??? I wonder the same thing! It was a lot of fun to see the magic on their faces as they saw their favorite characters. Hopefully one day soon we can take them to Disneyland! Oh, and just so you know, Scott has his fourth interview today with a firm in Layton. Good luck babe!