Kamden's Blessing Day

Table Centerpieces
Bob and Kamden
The lot of us (except aunt Kristie who is taking the picture)
Our Family
Kamden on his Big Day
What a beautiful day! Sunday we blessed Kamden. It was a pretty fall day outside but a little chilly. We had church at 1pm, and the time change was a blessing to have an extra hour to get stuff prepared. Bob gave him a beautiful blessing inspired by the Spirit, and family and friends were there to help us celebrate the birth of our son. I am so thankful for a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder and can perform these special blessings for us. For those of you who missed it and wanted to be there. Heavenly Father blessed him to be a strong worthy son of Faith, to search, read, and understand the scriptures. He blessed him with a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel, that he would be a good example and have a kind heart. He also blessed him to have compassion for others, and prepare to serve a mission and go to the temple with a worthy companion. Those standing in the circle were Dad, Grandpa Hone, Mark Tims, Grin Pearce, and Brett Hone. Kamden is a little older than the other kids when we blessed him. (We thought Grandpa and Grandma Astle would be able to join us so we waited, but then that didn't work out, and I was doing sharing time in the month of October and didn't want to ask someone to cover for me since I had already missed a lot of church for the baby.) So, during the blessing we could hear him "talking". It was very cute. Bob said that he kept trying to sit up during the blessing as well and then the men would compensate by bringing his legs higher and as this went on by the time the blessing was over, Kamden was about laying in front of their noses. He was very cute when Bob "showed" him to the audience as well. I say "showed" because Bob does not like to lift the kids up and show them off, he gets embarrassed by this, so Kam was just sitting forward and looking at all of us with those raised eyebrows and craning neck. So cute.
Those in attendance were, Grandpa and Grandma Hone, Angie, Damien, Mar'cus, (Holmes), Kristie, Grin, Jaxon, Gavin, Ella (Pearce), Camille Hone, Debbie, Mark, Paislee (Tims), Brett, Paige, Aidyn (Hone), Becky, Eli, Isaac (Anderson), Sara, Brandon, Ethan (Fry) Hollie MaKuakane, Caralee Child, and Kristen Welker. Kamden looked so cute in his silk blessing outfit, complete with silk shoes, white socks, hat (which Bob wouldn't let him wear) and a boutonniere (from Grandma). It was so wonderful to have everyone there, and also see a few friends and some of my young women from several years ago. I am so thankful for family and friends. It is so important to our earthly and eternal happiness. I of course bore my testimony in sacrament meeting (I feel I must thank my Father in Heaven for this beautiful healthy baby boy), however Edyn accompanied me to the podium this time. True to her nature she ran around, kicked the wall in front, and showed the whole audience the artwork she had done. Would have been real cute if it were someone else's kid. Mostly just embarrassing for her parents. She is the cutest thing, but wow she has spirit!
After Sacrament we came back to the house to have dinner, and enjoy each other’s company. We were so grateful for everyone who brought a salad, they were all so yummy. We also had smoked turkey (amazing by Bob), baked carrots (my mom's recipe that I have always loved), rolls, and pumpkin cheesecake (my new found "fun" thing to make).
It was such a wonderful day and we are so glad we have Kamden.

Zach's progect for images of greatness

Zach's class for images of greatness. Zach's project on JRR Tolkien. He did a fabulous job on is board and on his bioriddle. He is dressed as Gandalf!

pictures of Halloween and Edyn's Birthday

Doofinschmirtz and Agent P
Ali as Candace, Mindy as Major Monagram, Kam as Agent P, Edyn as Isabella, Dallin as Phineas, Zach as Ferb, Bob as Dr. Doofinschmirtz
Edyn the fancy Explorer Extraordinaire
The Explorers clubhouse

The fancy cupcakes

Birthday's and Halloween

We celebrated Edyn's Birthday on Friday the 22nd with a Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinare party. It was very fun. We are all in love with the Fancy Nancy Books, but needed a party that boys would enjoy too, since some of her best friends are boys. We had a clubhouse with lots of fancy decorations we borrowed from my mom, and we made binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and read the story to the kids before leaving to go "exploring". I made the kids all a fancy pencil and book that had everything they needed to know to "join the club" with a page on what to look for. We went to the hollow and went exploring. The kids had a ball. I just wish I would have planned more time, they could have stayed there forever. We got back to the house when the parents were supposed to be picking up the kids. Luckily no one cared that they stayed longer for presents and ice cream. Edyn openened her presents with Pizzazz (a fancy word for ripping into them one after another in a crazy fashion). We were going to play a bingo game to settle in for presents but ran out of time. (should have done it anyway). Then we sang Happy Birthday and had cupcakes (made by my friend Becky and were absolutely beautiful) and ice cream where they could sprinkle all sorts of treats on top with whip cream and cherries for a nice effect. We had a ball!
Grandma Astle was able to visit and see our new baby as well as enjoying the birthday festivities. It was fun to play with her for a couple of days and she got to halloween it up with us too. We watched scary movies, carved pumpkins, made lots of treats, watched Zach perform thriller with the sixth grade and sang Halloween songs with the school. We helped out in Ali's class for a party, and trick or treated at Dad's work. We have been canning grape juice, grape jelly, and Applesauce (still more applesauce to do, which I love because it smells so good) We also had breakfast with a witch at my sisters house (I was too busy this year to do it).
Friday we trunk or treated with our ward, and then went trick or treating in the rain for a minute on Saturday. Then we had yummy soups and of course carmel apples dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar that Kristie makes and we all love. The kids went out trick or treating later by themselves after the rain stopped and got way too much candy, and they each got a small flashlight at one house. They were thrilled. They love them to read at night in their beds. Great Halloween and everyone looked so cute, even if we had to explain to a lot of people who Phineas and Ferb were!
I have been doing sharing time this month and did my last one yesterday. We have also been trying to watch the Harry Potter movies, gearing up for the new one, and cause they are fun to watch at Halloween. Needles to say the kids have watched 1 and 2 while Mom and Dad slept. Dallin has started his first year in Basketball. Dallin's coach probably thinks I am a brainless twit. The first practice I got the time and location wrong and by the time we got there, he practiced for 5 minutes. Then I left my purse there and the coach had to call and meet us somewhere to pick it up. The next week (saturday) I forgot the treats and had to go and get some at the store. I also had a very fat lip and jaw from the hives, and by the time I got back my eye had nearly swollen shut and my ear was swollen. He probably thinks someone is beating me up too. What can I say? I make good first impressions for sure. Zach has started indoor soccer. The Weather is really being so nice that they are still practicing twice a week outside as well. Ali got the Dance Solo for their "Showstoppers" performance and is excited about that. Kamden chuckled really cute for me and Grandma Astle last week, but we haven't been able to get him to do it since. He is now 3 months old. I can't believe it! We are ready for him to sleep through the night but still no luck and my neck is killing me from holding him all night, but at least we get a little sleep. He just refuses to stay asleep in his bed (he lasts at most 5 minutes). He "talks" a lot now which is fun. The kids in Ali's class at school just loved seeing him there and Edyn embarrassed Ali when her friends asked her who her boyfriend was and Edyn told them McKay. Kamden has taken to sucking on everything (fist, blankets, burp rags), and between that and the spit up and drool he is "wet" most of the time.
I was suppossed to go get allergy tested this tuesday and next to see what is causing the hives, but you have to stay off the medicine for a week in order to do it, and after the WORST breakout Saturday morning it is determined that I will have to have blood drawn instead of the scratch test. I had to take my pill, but am now doing much better. (tired, but at least they don't have to committ me to the insane asylum).
We have been partying for two weeks and gained back any weight I may have lost but hopefully we can get back on track now. We are looking forward to blessing the baby on Sunday, and then maybe we can take a break for a bit from the craziness. ;) At least until the Christmas Craze begins.

October

Ok, so I can only get around to this blog thing once a month lately. You would think we just had a baby or something. Here is the worst part, I can't even remember what we have done this last month. So, here is little update on all of us.
Me- So, So happy with the weather, it just has to hold beautiful until Edyn's Birthday and Halloween. Edyn is having a Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire birthday so we need to explore outside, and we are going as Phineas and Ferb for halloween (think t-shirts and shorts). BTW just finished sewing our "easy" costumes yesterday. Been way to busy lately and am hoping to get back to the holding, rocking days real soon. Made Halloween aprons with my mom and sisters this week, so fun. Been to Grandma and Grandpa Hone's pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins and the fall decorations are finally up. I love fall.
Kam- Smiling all the time now!! Trying to laugh and roll over. 2 month check he is 11 lb 6 oz, and 24 1/2" long. Long and skinny like the rest of them (except Edyn who at 7 months was only 25 and quarter inches long). Finally on an every three hours feeding schedule Love it but is causing severe pain in my shoulders and neck. Love, love playing with him and getting him to smle. Still a red-head believe it or not, but he now has blue, blue eyes,so cute, and happy they aren't yellow anymore. He loves his swing and will sit in the bouncer for a while, trying to reach the toys in front of him. We all have so much fun with him and he is getting used to the crazy bunch of people he lives with.
Edyn- Loves preschool and her teacher, who is amazing. She has had two field trips, one to Black Island Farms, picking pumpkins and just recently to the Donut shop, fire station, and park. She told me she had four field trips that day, the last being to leave, (as she ticks all four off on her fingers). She tried out for a solo in her theatre group singing "I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause". She is so dramatic and had all the actions and singing real loud and everything for the "judges". She was very excited about it but then (Ali got to watch her tryout) she sang so quiet and hardly moved. I know hard to believe huh?
Dallin- Just finished Soccer. He did awesome this year and quite a stellar player (last year we wondered as he picked grass on the field and fell down cause he thought it was cool). He starts basketball next week. He did his oral book report on "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" and did a great job, then sharing cookies with the class. He loves to touch/hold and talk to the baby and comments on his growth all the time.
Ali- Just finished soccer. She did awesome! My girl who used to be unable to walk through the grocery store without getting in the cart can now run a huge field of soccer and likes it. We are so proud. She is loving ballet trying to get her splits down so she can get a candy bar at class. The other day she found a hair flower at dance. At first she thought herself so lucky and I told her to give it to her teacher to see if they could find out who it belonged to. She did and they found the girl. Her teacher gave her a ballet coin purst for being honest. She thought that was awesome and I am thankful for the reinforcement!! She also tried out at her theatre class but only wanted to try out for the dance solo, no singing. You can she where she is most comfortable.
Zach-Fall soccer is over, and did great. Indoor soccer starts on Saturday. He has also been playing basketball with the ward boys once a week. Zach wanted to do orchestra at school and is learning to play the violin. He is getting ready for his show of is research project on Tolkien.
Bob- Who after editing my Blog felt all upset that he was not on here and is "apparently not part of the family". Bob has been very busy latley doing. . . . . . . .? LOL J/K. He keeps busy with work and helping me with the kids. And I try to keep him from going over the top at the kids sporting events. He really enjoys them. We love him very very much and are so happy he is a part of our lives. We are all looking forward to the upcoming events of birthdays and halloween, and blessing the baby on the 7th of November.

kam video with bob's phone -smile-

September 2010, growing up

Wow, I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged anything. It is amazing how much time a baby (+4 kids)can take. But we love, love it of course. Here is what we have been up to.

Kamden- Oh so sweet and cute. Bob and I both just smell his little head all the time(new babies smell so good) and we all love to watch every little move he makes. He holds his little arms straight out in front of him a lot. Ali says he must be like daddy and loves driving cars. The kids laugh and think it is funny, and now we always talk about him driving his cars and shifting and braking and such. He had his first smile at Dad on August 25th and since then has gotten better and better smiling all the time now. The other night on the 17th he even sort of giggled. We all love to hear him talk, making those oh so sweet baby sounds. In the last month he had his first real road trip to Fort Bridger for the Rendevoux over Labor Day weekend. Surprisingly to us all he did quite well, maybe he will learn to like driving in the car after all. We did not stay the night this year, but had a great time walking around the fort. The night before we went he had his first injury. Bob was holding him and taking some chicken nuggets out of the oven. He was holding him away from the pan but just as he turned little Kam kicked his foot and burned the bottom of his little left toe. It is healing nicely though, but we sure felt bad about it. Kam had his first sickness. He got a cold this last week, that of course turned into two ear infections. We have never had a baby get sick this little and we were quite worried about him. We hope this isn't a premonition of the future. Kamden still refuses to sleep in the bassinet. I put him in there every night when he is sound asleep, within 5 minutes he is crying and spends the rest of the night in our bed. He has had some nights where he has slept for a 4 or 5 hour stretch, but not lately. Probably because of the sickness but he is back to waking up every 2 hours. We went to church with Kam for the first time last week, and have sat through a couple of soccer games this week. We absolutely love having Kam in our house and watching him grow. We just wish he would grow a little slower.

Edyn- Edyn has been busy the last month as well. She started preschool, and his super happy to be back with Ms. Mary and Eli. She continues to beg for someone to play with every day, but now has something to keep her entertained as well. She was really sad when she was sick on Wednesday and couldn't go. Becky has been taking them and I have been picking them up this year. It is so cute when everyday they see the van and they both hold up their 3 fingers, telling me that they got 3 treats and can play together now. (a reward we set up last year for good behavior) They have been so good this year though and always get three treats. She loves going there and sharing with us what she has learned. Edyn also stated a dance/singing/acting class, and loves that she now gets to go to "ballet" like her big sister. She shares her little routines she is learning with anyone who will pay attention. She also continues to "perform" for applause every chance she gets. She plugs the wii microphone into the bookcase and then sings her made up songs with a curtsy at the end. It is really adorable. She is still such a tease and thinks it is so funny to "get" anyone, laughing and laughing. If it wasn't so cute it might be annoying. Recent funny Edyn blurbs include, to Becky, "My mom has a witch in her tummy that comes out when we don't do our jobs, but I don't believe her" This comes from me telling them that if they don't go to bed, the witch comes out after 9:00pm and you don't want to see her. Super funny! Then the other day we were driving home and she said, "Mom, look the Dr. fixed the moon." I had no idea what she was talking about so after questioning her I understood. When we were coming home in the dark from Grandma's last Sunday the moon was beautiful, a perfect crescent and was so yellow. We talked about it, and she must have decided that it was sick (remember Kamden's yellow eyes and skin from the jaundice)and when we saw the moon the other day it was white again and bigger and therefore the Dr. must have fixed it.

Dallin- Dallin is loving 2nd grade and his teacher Mrs. Williams. He also loves looking at his baby book, and commenting on how cute our baby is all the time. Soccer started back up and he is doing really well. He scored 6 goals at the last game and was very proud of himself. They were the only goals his team made. Dallin has also been sick with a cold and yesterday threw up so he is trying to get better as well. He played his soccer game yesterday sick (we didn't know until we got home that he was sick), but still trying hard and again scored the only goal his team got.

Ali- Ali is trying to enjoy 5th grade. She doesn't love her teacher, but is learning a good lesson of getting along with all sorts of different people. She trades bracelets at recess a lot at school (the shaped rubber band kind). She is really enjoying Ballet this year and practicing her splits so she can get a treat. She talks a lot about a new boy at school that sits behind her and talks about and stares at her. Can't believe how we hear about boys already. She also got her first bra this summer, tank top kind, and is wearing deodorant. The other day she asked me what "diapers" for bigger girls was all about. So we had that discussion as well. I can't believe how my kids are growing up. Ali also is taking a dance/singing/acting class and is really enjoying it. She can't wait to perform Mary Poppins in December. Ali decided to play soccer again this year. She is on a fun team with several of her friends and is playing really well. She hasn't even once complained about the running to much and she is tired. She really must be growing up. She also enjoys playing with her friends and wants to play all the time. It works as a good incentive to get her piano practiced so I don't mind. Almost every day she wants to make cookies, and has been helping make dinner lately. She is turning into a good cook as well.

Zach- Zach is very busy with his 6th grade school work in the Spectrum program at Mt. View. He really enjoys it and his friends at school. They are learning things to help prepare them for the SAT's. Crazy! The only thing he doesn't like is the car pool with 4 girls. He just sits and reads his book and ignores all the girly chit chatter that goes on. I think it is funny. He is playing soccer and doing really well, especially at Goalie, but it keeps him pretty busy. He either has practice or a game 5 days a week. They have an orchestra program at school and he wants to be in it and play the violin so we are letting him, since we have a violin, but we had to explain to him that it doesn't mean he gets to quit piano. I think he was a little disappointed. Zach is also enjoying scouts and just earned his tenderfoot, and is almost ready to get his first class. They just went last weekend on a scout trip, and about froze to death. There was ice on the windshield of the car when they got up the next day. They have another one in October. Bob's says he taking the trailer on that one. HAHA

Mindy- Between feeding the baby every two hours, (really trying to get him to go longer without much success)and carting the kids all over to their various activities and getting the fall canning done there isn't much time left. I love holding the baby every day and watching his every move. I have also been busy with trying to put together Halloween costumes, and Edyn's upcoming birthday, and Christmas. I know crazy, but I only get a few minutes each day to do anything else so I figure I better get started if we are going to do any of these holidays. The best part about baby number 5 is that I am so relaxed about everything. I guess by this time you really get how fast they grow and how fast time goes by, so If all I did today was hold the baby, good. It doesn't matter right now that my list of things to do is not getting done, because there will be plenty of time for that latter but he will only be a baby right now. I am also starting to feel like myself again, which is good. It has been a longgggggg time. :) I made cheesecakes this weekend. Random, I know. I have been wanting to try one for a long time. Bob's mom and I went to a RS class in SD a few years back, and I have just never gotten around to doing it. We will see if they taste any good when we have them for dinner tonight.

Bob- Bob is enjoying the little baby, and helping the other kids with soccer and school. He is busy taking care of all of us while mom holds the baby. He is making progress on the Jeep and enjoying working on it. He is still going to the gym and has now been going regularly for a year. He is very "buff" too. He still loves his job but is trying to look for other "jobs" as well to get us through the Christmas season, since Mom is not making any money anymore. She loves it, but it is making finances very tight. We have just had a lot of unexpected and some expected big expenses this year.

As you can see we are busy, but very happy and so thankful for all our bounteous blessings. If we could just freeze time right now, I think we would. We enjoy so much each of the stages are kids are in, and want them to slow down on the getting bigger.