Halloween

We had a fantastic Halloween! The fun started with a ward Halloween party the week before Halloween. We had a chili cook off, games for the kids, a costume parade and trunk or treating. The kids had so much fun! We were also able to carve a pumpkin this year. The kids picked out a fun pattern to carve from a book Grandma Jones sent the kids this year.

Chase was a cute little pumpkin.

Kailyn-witch, Caden-fireman, Jordan-fairy, Chase-pumpkin

Kailyn coloring at the church activity.

Jordan on the left helping Mia, Robyn, and Jared make a skeleton.

Chase checking out the pumpkin from the cake walk.

PUMPKIN CARVING

Chase normally touches and eats everything!...apparently pumpkin is where he draws the line.

The finished pumpkin. Left to right: Caden, Jordan, Kailyn, Chase

Can you see the resemblance?

So, just for the fun of it, we decided to compare our kids' looks at key ages.  We made collages of each of our kids at ages newborn, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months.  We'll do more, as Chase gets older.  Kinda fun to see which kids resemble each other.

The Newborns

The 1-Month Olds

The 3-Month Olds

The 6-Month Olds

The 9-Month Olds

Yeah, some day we'll add pictures of the parents for comparison--those pictures are back in Montana.

We did it!

We survived Ken's grueling month rotation. It of course had to end with a bang. Lets just say the kids have not seen their Dad at all since Monday (I was lucky and got to see him last night for 15 minutes before he crashed in bed) that is 4 1/2 days! I am so glad this rotation is over. This month looks to be better. We are all so happy to have Ken around a little more.

Jordan's preschool

This is the second time I have taught Jordan's preschool. We meet on Tuesday and Thursday. This week was a bit easier cause we were short one kid, who was out of town. I thought I would talk a little bit about what we did today.

Jordan's class. This picture was actually taken Tuesday when Kailyn had no school because of teacher training.

We learned about the letter G, the number 7 and stars. I also added gardens cause I just couldn't do enough with stars.

We talked about things that grow. It is hard to see but the flowers have letters on them and it spells Jordan's name. I had the top of the flowers all mixed up and the kids had to put them in order (spell out their name), trace over the letters in their name then glue the top of the flowers to sticks and then glue sticks to paper.

The white paper was originally all together. The kids had to cut them apart (practicing cutting on a line) and then glue them to the paper in the order of how they happen.

I gave them a white paper with a star drawn on it and they had to take 5 triangles and 1 circle and make a star with them. Then they traced the letters to the word star and then write 'star' on their own.

This started as a blank tree. Then we would say, "Green tree, green tree. What do you see? I see a yellow star looking at me. Yellow star, yellow star. What do you see? I see a red star looking at me. etc" Each kid was holding a star and when his color was said he came and put his star on the tree and then picked the next color he saw. We of course talked about the color of all of the stars and how many there were.

We also reviewed the letters and numbers they have learned.

-We reviewed the letter by playing memory. They had to match the uppercase and lowercase letters.

-I gave the kids seven pieces of paper with the numbers 1-7 written on them. Then I had brown bags filled with different number of foam halloween stickers (ie 5 pumpkins, 3 ghosts). One by one the kids came up and picked a bag and counted what was inside. Then they all had to find the number in their cards and hold it up. We also talked about what letter each item started with and what color they were.

We also did other little things like sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and all of the kids brought an object that started with the letter G. We read stories that went with growing, and the letter g. Both Tuesday and Thursday were very busy we were going from the time they walked in the door to the time they left. I have actually enjoyed doing this more than I thought I would, although I am glad I don't have to teach every week.

Caden Turns 3

Happy Birthday Caden! Caden had a great birthday. He started out the day at preschool (which he loves), then after Kailyn got out of school we all went to the zoo. That's right all of us, Ken was actually able to join us. After the zoo we ate at McDonald's, per Caden's request, and then went home for cake, ice cream and presents.

ZOO

Jordan

Kailyn jumping to Dad.

Caden jumping to Dad.

Daddy being tricky with Chase.

We were able to see the elephants up close as they went outside to eat after their bath.

OPENING PRESENTS

New train set.

I don't know do think he is excited about the car he got from Grandma and Grandpa Jones?

Playing with the car with Dad.

You can't tell but Caden is actually jumping up and down in this picture. He loves his new car!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jones, Caden loves his new car!

Caden's cake. He originally wanted a car cake so he could keep the cars but I found this little army set and decided to us it instead.

Caden is always the first to lick the icing off of the candles so he was so excited that he had more things to lick today.

A LITTLE ABOUT CADEN

Things in parenthesis are things I added

Favorite color? green

Favorite food? yogurt, salad, granola bars

What do you want to be when you grow up? fireman

Favorite thing to do? play with cars (ride bike, play at play ground)

Who are your friends? Sam, Zeb, Ellie, Andrew, Matthew, Zachery,

What is your favorite toy? Just my big car (refer to pictures above if you don't know what he is talking about)

Favorite Story/Book? The Caterpillar one (I think he means the Hungry Caterpillar)

Where do you want to live when you get big? Home, I mean at school

How many kids are you going to have? 3

Favorite song? I Am a Child of God

Favorite movie? Bob the Builder

What makes you happy? Chase

What makes you sad? because I don't want oatmeal

How do you know mom and dad love you? because I love them

Chase: Well Child Check

Chase had his 9 month well child check. He passed with flying colors when it comes to developmental milestones. He can sit by himself, eat finger food, eat mashed up table food, roll over, pass toy from one hand to another, pull self to stand, walk with assistance, make baby babble, respond to name, etc. We saw a medical student before the doctor came in. He kept commenting on the amount of drool Chase has. Yes, he is a drooler but that is way better than spit up, which has gotten so much better in the last month.

Here are his stats:

weight: 18 lbs 10 oz (25th percentile)

length: 28 inches (50th percentile)

head circumference: 50th precentile

He failed horrible when it comes to sleep. Chase is a horrible sleeper. He wakes up at least 2 times a night and normally more and at least one of those wakings involves crying for 1 to 2 hours! Even naps are bad. He will often wake up crying and quite upset. I just don't know what to do with him. I have tried everything. Seriously, everything. He just gets so upset and nothing soothes him. The doctor suggested upping his reflux medicine to see if that helps. I sure hope so cause I just dread bedtime cause I know it means a long restless night.

Some other things about Chase:

-Wants to eat whatever we are eating, even if he has already eaten

-Hates his car seat. He always throws a fit when you try to strap him in but once in the car he normally calms down

-Hates getting his diaper change. He will cry and try to roll away.

-Loves to play peek-a-boo

-loves to swing

-loves to push the stool around the kitchen

-Loves to put everything in is mouth. He has only choked on something once. He is like a little squirrel. He just takes all the little things he finds and stores them in his cheeks.

-Loves to be held

-Loves to dig in the trash if it is accessible

-Doesn't give any clues of being tired. He will crawl around all happy and suddenly he will break down crying and is obviously overly tired. He shows he is tired by burying his face in my shoulder, crying, trying to climb up the front of me like I a rock wall and claws at my face. Not sure why his does this.

-Decided about a month ago that he didn't like his pacifier anymore. Really he is my only kid that I actually wished he liked and used a pacifier. I would love to be able to pop one into his mouth in the middle of the night.

-I love his laugh. I just can't get enough of it.

-LOVES taking baths!

Here is a picture of Chase at the zoo. You can see his first and only tooth on the bottom. He got his first tooth at 8 months old.

Our Week

Here are some of the things we were up to this week. (Sorry the pictures are in reverse order)

We got a Halloween package from Grandma and Grandpa Jones.

Chase, Kailyn, and Caden putting up decorations they got.

Jordan

Caden of course found and claimed the marshmallows. He loves them!

Kailyn

Getting ready to open the box. Poor Jordan was sick. I love the forced smile.

We watched Kailyn at her walk-a-thon at school. It is a fundraiser they do for their school. If anyone wants to sponsor her she would be thrilled.

Jordan cheering. I should have gotten a picture of her dancing to the music, she went crazy. She loves to dance.

Kailyn walking. She got 36 laps! Way to go.

We checked out the new kids area at the zoo. Lots of fun!

Here is crazy Jordan who doesn't believe in winter and protests it by not wearing long sleeves or coats. I will make her bring her coat but somehow it always comes off. She never complains of being cold, even when here lips are purple and arms are covered in goosebumps.

Climbing on the beehive. Chase is in the light blue starting to climb up. Caden is next to him in an orange/blue shirt. The rest of the kids are friends.

Caden with his painted face.

Chase playing with friend Ike. They are only 2 weeks apart in age.

Kailyn taking a little nap.

Chase playing in the kiddie pool.

Jordan playing in a tree.

We got a package from Aunt Brenda and cousin Kyla.

The girls were SO excited to get new flowers for their hair. Kailyn has worn one everyday since we got them.