Where have we been?

So my life has been flipped upside down these past 5 months that I have not been online. My mother past away on April 22nd in Tonga from an accident. Due to the news, I started contracting and subsequently had Kole James Taylor on April 26th. He was 6 lbs. 1 oz. He is now 13 lbs. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known this elect lady for 28 and 3/4 years. She was one of my best friends. I still have to catch myself from dialing her cell phone when one of my children says something funny. She was an extraordinary teacher and mother. I try to pattern my teaching after her. We are still receiving phone calls from former students stating that Sister Lee was their favorite teacher and they learned all that they needed to know to become a nurse from her. She instilled in us the importance of education, music, how to show love to each other and to other people, and how to serve one another just to name a few. She loved being grandma and my children still ask when grandma will be coming back home. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that I will see her again and be able to give her a big hug and a kiss. What a blessing it is to have the comfort of that. I am also grateful for the love and help that my ward and friends have shown us. I don't think I could have pulled it together without them. But life has to go on. Children demand it! So I am taking 1 day at a time. Some days are better than others. And hopefully be able to keep up on my blog-

Spring has sprung, well maybe?!!

Valentine's Day was quite fun. Aaron surprised me with flowers and a singing balloon at work. And I tried to do the homemaking thing, thanks to Janica, with making a tie for Aaron and creating a candy-gram. The tie was a bit short, but he still wore it:) I guess he loves me still!! Easter was a bit confusing. I do not recall ever having to wear snow suits for the Easter egg hunts? Have you? It was very cold, but the kids survived. Katelynn only had one meltdown while picking up eggs in Blackfoot. I have a ever-expanding waistline. I only have 5 more weeks to go!!! Yeah! But then I think of all the work having a new baby is... It is just easier to be prego!! I wonder if there is a plan that you can carry the kid until it is 18 years old?:) Here are some pics of the last few months.

Dyeing Easter eggs

Gathering eggs

First time I put Katelynn's hair in rollers. She woke up the next day looking like Shirley Temple. Her Hair takes a great cure:)

The candy-gram. Aaron said that it was a you-for-me gift. It kind of was:)

The fun flowers. They delivered them on the 4th floor and my students called me to help them give a medication. I went up to the floor and my students were behind me and started the balloon. It was so fun! Thanks honey!!!

I have NOT dropped off the face of the earth!

It has been so long since my last post- But I have a great excuse- I am pregnant! I am 22 weeks and still sick!:( And no we don't know what we are having. I love the surprise of not knowing. But for the first 3 1/2 months I was bed-ridden, IVs in and lost 10 lbs. Not fun for me or for the family. Now I have to take Zofran and Reglan daily to keep the food down. Aaron was a trooper. He kept the house clean and made me broth for dinner. Anyways, here is a recap of this fall: Kaden is a kindergartner now. He loves school. He is so cute, walking to the bus. He just had a school recital for Christmas. Katelynn turned three and we had a flower theme for her b-day. Kaden turned six and we had a transformer b-day. I guess I was more excited to take cup cakes to his class than he was ( I never had a party in school b/c of my July b-day; I guess you can say that I am living through my son:) Katelynn is in dance now. She is so cute in her leotard and tights. Kaden is in tumbling. And for Halloween Kaden was Bumblebee the Transformer and Katelynn was a ladybug.

So what are we doing now? I am ever expanding, but still exercising every day. I can tell that I am not 22 and pregnant. Aaron is still working in the sub-zero temps, Katelynn is a sunbeam now and Kaden, because of the size of the Junior Primary, is in Senior Primary (he is in CTR 6). Christmas was fun. Both of the kids where so fun this year. We made cookies for Santa and we had to make sure that the reindeer were fed. The snow is on the ground and the sun is shining. To bad it is -11 right now. And I NEED some chocolate- Does anyone have some?

Kaden and Katelynn's first Sunday in January

Kaden and the Christmas program

Katelynn's 3rd birthday

Halloween

Kaden's 6th birthday

Katelynn's first day of dance

Kaden's 1st day of school. I can't believe it!

Oh how time flies by...

This summer has gone by so fast!! Here is a recap of all of the different activities we have done in the last little bit. Aaron turned 30 this year, and we celebrated his b-day with a big surprise!!! He always says that he is not turning 30, just 29 (but if you do the math...). So we celebrated his 29th birthday on the last day of his 29th year (does this make sense?) He also had a midlife crisis (hopefully this is not his true midlife or else turning 60 will not be a fun year for him:)), because we bought a boat. I could say that I was infuriated and that I could not believe how insane he is b/c of where we live etc. But to tell you the truth, I LOVE it!!! And the best part about it is that we can have picnics on it:) I also turned another year older. It sure is crazy how time just disappears. I finished with the students in the middle of July and now I am on summer vaca until Sept. My high school reunion was so much fun. I loved seeing old friends again and to get reacquainted. We have been to drive-in movies (you can tell that you are getting older when you actually go to the drive-in to WATCH the movies:)), water parks, and I was able to get myself a bike this year. Kaden rides his bike, and Katelynn is on the back of mine. Every time I start to really pedal, she says, "Slow down mommy," even up hills. Kaden has taken 6 weeks of swim lessons this year. He is a different kid, I swear. He, who was once afraid of water on his face, now has no fear. He will put is face in a body of water even if it is only a couple of inches!! We were on the water last weekend with the boat and Kaden stated, "I am going to get that booty." Looking at Aaron, and thinking- What are you teaching our son- He kept saying it and I finally went to him and said, "Where's the booty" He proceeded to point to the buoy... Crazy Kid!!

Aaron's b-day cake

Which way are the sprays going? Look closely. That is why it was only $9.99

I guess my kids can be cute at times:)

Where Waldo, I mean Where's Kaden?

Our maiden voyage:)

Kaden and Aunt Gena

Katelynn has no fear she went by herself

Memorial weekend-

Memorial week was packed full of Indiana Jones and Thomas the Train. First, Kaden had his tumbling recital. All of the boys were Indiana Jones- He was so cute up on stage. He remember all of the moves. And the best part about it is that we have this years Halloween costume:) The following day, we took a trip to Utah to visit Thomas. We spent the weekend relaxing in the pool at the hotel; visiting Aaron's sister and her family; going to temple square; and seeing my really good friend Cami, who lives in Heber. The kids had a great time and it was nice to spend the weekend not working.

Kaden and I in Thomas (As always, it was raining)

Katelynn and Aaron in the train

The Kids were able to get balloon animals, Kaden has a dog hat and Katelynn chose a monkey holding a banana

Temple Square

My Muscle Man, Kaden Jones:)

Easter- Yes I am a little Late:)

Here is Easter in a nut shell-We had a wonderful Easter, spent with family. It is so great to have family so close- the Easter Bunny did not come to our house until after church. The reason we told the kids:"..because you two woke up to early (Kaden did wake up at 6:15)." The REAL reason: The Easter Bunny slept in, oop!! I figured at least it wasn't Christmas morning, right? We had a ton of egg hunts, dyed eggs and just had fun with the cousins- Here are a few pics-

"Monster Trucks are way cool, Can I have one !?!"

Monster Truck Fun!!!

The tires are huge on these things- Katelynn thought she was going to fall- Please note that she would only go in her snow boots!!

Do you notice what the car and Katelynn have in common? They both miss behave:)

Kaden loves Bigfoot b/c it has skeletons on it. He is big into skeletons now. He has already informed me that he wants to be a skeleton for Halloween

So the Monster trucks have come, but they have not gone. I have two of them walking around my house as we speak! It was my big idea to take the kids to the Monster truck rally at the Holt area in Pocatello. They were captivated from the time that we got there (6:00 pm) until we went home (11:00 pm). It was fun and all, but I think that I will stay at home the next time they come rolling into town!!! And to answer the question, Kaden, no we cannot get one!