Chase Turns 2

A nice quiet family party for Chase's 2nd birthday.

I thought it would be nice to get a picture of all 4 kiddos.  Now I know why I don't have many pictures of all of them together.  (It didn't help that my good camera was out of commission.)

We either have faces being covered up....

someone (or ones) not looking at the camera...

 or silly faces.

I love how our kids get so excited...even when its not their birthday.

Chase loves his matchbox cars from Grandma and Grandpa Bassett.  They are the perfect size to carry around in his little hands.

Chase would rip off little pieces and would insist on handing them to Ken.

Chase's birthday treats, brownies with a train on top.  He loves trains.

I love this kid.  He makes me laugh out loud.

Here he is teasing Jordan.  He loves to get people to interact with him.

A little about our 2 year old.

About a month ago Chase's language really took off.  We went from him being very stubborn about talking (he refused to copy anything we said and really just didn't speak) to now stringing words together and copying everything we say.  One thing that he does that makes me laugh every time he does it, is when he refers to others by Chase.  We will say "Bye Chase" and instead of saying, "Bye Mom," he replies, "Bye Chase."

He likes things in their place.  He is great about putting things away.  We have to be careful, though, because sometimes he throws things away that he thinks are garbage.  If I am missing something, I always check the trash.

He loves to take baths.  He will try to get into the tub any time someone is in there.  He will even strip down and try to get me to give him a bath.  After bathtime, we have to change his diaper like 4 times an hour--he won't stop drinking the bath water (gross!!).

He has definitely hit the terrible twos and gets frustrated when I don't understand him or when I tell him he can't have something.  He seems to be horrible in the morning and after his nap.  It makes me crazy sometimes, especially in the morning when I am trying to get the girls out the door.

When he's frustrated, he will push his plate of food or his drink away, usually resulting in quite a mess.   Other than these moments he is a happy kid!  He loves to laugh and loves to play and interact with his brother, sisters, mom and dad.  He likes his dad more than any of our other kids did at this age (it probably helps that Ken is around more).  He loves to go up to Ken and step on his foot, throw a balloon at him, tap his leg, etc and then he gets this smirk on his face as he waits for Ken's reaction.

He has always been very patient with Caden.  Caden loves to be hands on, and he is often squeezing Chase's hands.  Caden often smoothers him with hugs and kisses; Chase takes it more than most would.  Chase is also willing to trade toys with Caden (as long as Caden asks first and doesn't just take it).  I also love how Chase copies everything Caden does, even when he has no idea what Caden is doing.

I truly love my little guy and am so glad he is part of our family.  A day doesn't go by that he doesn't make me laugh.

Jordan's Birthday Party

This year Jordan got to have a birthday party.  She choose a princess theme.  We invited 10 girls from school and church.  I was a bit nervous the night before thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?"  The party was a huge success and things couldn't have gone more smoothly.

The invitation...

The princesses (and superheros) in attendance. 

1. We started out by decorating foam crowns with stickers and jewels.

2.  Then we played pin the kiss on the frog (they had a pair of lips that they tried to get on the frog's lips to turn him into a prince.)

3. Next we hit a pinata.  Jordan has been talking about having a pinata since she saw one at the store 6 months ago, so this was a VERY necessary part of the celebration.

4.  Then we read the princess and the pea.  After the story we played a little game.  One girl went out of the room and we hid a ball under one of three pillows.  The girl then came back in and laid on the pillows and tried to guess which pillow the ball, "pea", was under.

5. Then we played a version of Simon says, only we played Princess says.

6. After all of the games it was time for lunch.  Jordan's choice...pizza and chocolate milk.

7. Cupcakes and ice cream.  We were originally going to have the girls decorate the cupcakes, but ran out of time.

8.  Finally, we opened presents.  Jordan loved all of her gifts and I was amazed at how generous some of her friends were.

Jordan absolutely loved her party!  The happiness that was on her face was so worth all of the effort.  I love how overly joyed she gets by things.  I wish I could bottle it up so I could enjoy it over and over again.  What a wonderful birthday.

Jordan turns 6!

Jordan had a fun filled birthday.  She started out the night opening presents then per her request we had Fuddrucker's for dinner, ate cake and ice cream and then watched a movie.

Opening her new scooter from Mom and Dad.

Kailyn and Jordan waiting for our food to be ready, so they can feel the disc vibrate.

Make a wish.

A Little About Jordan at Age 6
(exactly how she said it)


Favorite color? Pink

Favorite food? Chicken Nuggets

What do you want to be when you grow up? a veterinarian...What's a veterinarian again?

Favorite thing to do? Play with my toys that I got for my birthday.

Favorite thing about school? Playing with my friends at recess and snack time.

Who are your friends? Emma, Taiya, Brogan, Liv, Sarah, Grace

What is your favorite toy? My puppy I got for my birthday.

Favorite Story/Book? Lucille Camps In

Where do you want to live when you are big? Montana

How many kids are you going to have? 6

Favorite song? Let Me See your Boogaloo

Favorite movie? Barbie and the Fashion Fairytale

What makes you happy? Reading books

What makes you sad? When someone makes fun of me

Kailyn Turns 7

We had to delay celebrating Kailyn's birthday a few days because of Ken's work schedule. Thank goodness for grandparents who sent presents so Kailyn had something to open on her actual birthday.

The kids making ice cream dippin dots (a present from grandparents). She also loved her paper dolls from her other grandparents.

Kailyn opening her present from her brothers and sister.

A fairy (she is so into fairies right now). She also got a scooter and backpack from her mom and dad.

A Little Bit About Kailyn

Favorite color? All of them except black, white and gray. I especially like royal blue and violet.

Favorite food? macaroni and cheese, German pancakes, pancakes

What do you want to be when you grow up? an artist and ballerina

Favorite thing to do? read

Who are your friends? Rilee, Cosette, Jacob, Jenessa

What is your favorite toy? Barbies and Pollies

Favorite Story/Book? The Bailey School Kids, Nancy Drew and Clue Crew, Rainbow Magic, Scooby-Doo

Where do you want to live when you get big? Toledo

How many kids are you going to have? I think I want 6 boys and 6 girls

Favorite song? The Armor of God

Favorite movie? Sleeping Beauty, Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus

What makes you happy? Reading and Science

What makes you sad? When I think about Jenessa, because I miss her

Least Favorite thing about school? DLA (It's a sheet you make corrections on, like periods, exclamations, etc)

Favorite thing about school? Science

Look Who's One!!

Chase turned one. Here is a little about him...

Has 6 teeth.

Is walking all over the place. Loves to walk just cause he can.

Likes his daddy more than the other kids at this age. If mom won't help him then he will go and find dad (if he is around).

Uses the sign drink anytime he wants a drink or wants something to eat.

Speaking of eating he is a big eater. Bottomless pit.

He loves crackers.

Can also sign down.

LOVES the stairs. He will go up them, just cause he can.

Loves to be around his brother and sisters.

Loves digging in the trash anytime he has the opportunity.

Likes to chew on mom's clothes when he is upset. Not so good now that he has teeth.

Walks around mom holding onto her legs when he wants up.

When he is done eating or drinking he throws his food/cup on the floor.

Finally sleeping through the night on a regular bases! Combination of teeth in and walking (being upright more during the day helps with his heartburn). He is also down to one nap a day.

Loves books that involve feeling things.

Likes to play in water.

Loves to take his blue ball (pictured in his hand below) and throw it across the kitchen. Walk and go get it and then throw it back the other way.

His cake was suppose to look like his blue ball (Seen in the upper right corner of the picture). It has a light in it that flashes when it is thrown.

Who cares about blowing out candles...Chase just digs in.

Chase loved his ice cream and cake. He actually stayed pretty clean and didn't seem too phased by the coldness of the ice cream. He is upset in this picture because he thought mom was taking away his treat.

I think he liked it!

Opening a present from Grandma and Grandpa Jones.

He likes it!

Presents from Grandma and Grandpa Jones

Due to a severe storm that come across the states Grandma and Grandpa Jones's present got delayed. Jordan was so excited when it came a couple of days later in the mail. She was even more excited when I gave her permission to open it even though Ken was not home (he was working a 24 hour shift).

She loved everything. She even loved how the wrapping paper left glitter all over her presents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Happy Birthday

As any five year old would be, Jordan was estatic for her birthday. She has been counting down for the whole month. We had a small family party. We started with Jordan opening presents and ended with dessert--brownies with pink frosting and purple sprinkles and of course ice cream. Then Ken took Jordan and Kailyn to dinner. Every Monday the residency program has dinner for prospective residents. Ken and I often go (its a free dinner). They were so excited to go out with their dad and get dinner and pop.

Licking the candles. One of Jordan's favorite things.

Jordan was so funny to watch blow out her candles. She couldn't blow them out no matter how hard she tried. Probably would help if she was blowing out instead of up toward her forehead.

A Little About Jordan

Favorite color? pink

Favorite food? apples and peanut butter (anytime I ask her what she would like to eat this is what she says she wants)

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

Favorite thing to do? play with Taiya (Phillips)

Who are your friends? Taiya, Kailyn, Jenessa, Caden, Chase, Kiersten, Hailey

What is your favorite toy? My American doll (it is actually a Madame Alexander doll)

Favorite Story/Book? Barbie magazine

Where do you want to live when you get big? Montana

How many kids are you going to have? 2

Favorite song? Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

Favorite movie? Barbie and the Island Princess

What makes you happy? if someone takes my toy and wants to show me something and then give it right back. It makes me happy when they give it right back to me.

What makes you sad? when somebody does mean stuff to me

How do you know mom and dad love you? By showing me they love me. They do nice things to me.