After Thanksgiving Meal Walk

We had a great Thanksgiving this year and we hope you all did as well. After dinner Grammie and I took Caden for a walk and he got bored with that and decided to push his stroller himself!

Thanksgiving

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

My Mom's Grilled Cheese

Here are some pictures of Caden and GiGi. GiGi made Caden a grilled cheese for lunch yesterday. Check out that child's expressions!

More Fun with GiGi and Poppa

Today GiGi and I took Caden for a spin in the wagon. Caden and GiGi picked up leaves and Caden tried to eat one, although it was pretty and red!

Mommy and Caden

GiGi and Caden

After our walk around the neighborhood, Caden played in the swing and then would walk to the front door and down the step and then down the walkway and then start all over.

Here he is pausing while we took a picture of him.

Time for snacks!Then it was time for bedtime and to say Bye Bye to GiGi and Poppa. We had so much fun playing and shopping and running around with you both! We love you and can't wait to see you again!

Visit With GiGi & Poppa

GiGi and Poppa came up for a visit and we are having so much fun already! They brought Caden a frog camera so he can be a blogger like Mommy!

Here is Poppa showing Caden how it works.

We ate lunch at Friday's and here is my lovely son pushing my face out of the way.

Tonight we took Mom and Dad to see ICE at Gaylord and had a great time.

Click here to view ICE.

Here is a great picture of Mom and Dad.Here we all are (minus Mom) in our parkas before braving the 9 degree weather to view ICE.

Here's Daddy putting on Caden's parka.Here we are in front of one of the ice sculptures.Stay tuned for more pics since GiGi and Poppa are not leaving until Wednesday!

Sopapilla Cheesecake & Happy 15 Month B-day Caden

This morning Caden helped me make Sopapilla Cheesecake. By 'help' I mean, he banged around the measuring spoons and the measuring cups! When my sister and I were growing up and Mom would be cooking a dessert that required a mixer, she would always let us lick the beaters clean when she was finished. Today I let Caden do the same and he LOVED it!

In case you guys want the recipe:

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 8oz pkgs of cream cheese (softened)

2 8z pkgs of crescent rolls

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c of butter (melted)

cinnamon sugar

Using a 9x13 pan (spray with non-stick spray), open 1 pkg of crescent rolls and roll flat into bottom of pan. Combine cream cheese, vanilla and sugar. Pour this mixture over the top of the bottom layer. Then roll the 2nd pkg of crescent rolls over the top of the mixture. Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 30 minutes on 350. ENJOY!

Bella and Caden

Bella and Caden had so much fun playing last night. Bella is lightning fast when it comes to crawling...she can motor! When she and Caden play together, Caden has to copy everything she does so when she took of crawling, he followed suit. In the picture below, you have to look closely to see Bella up ahead of Caden crawling off.

'Wait a minute, I just remembered, I can walk...I can catch her much faster if I run after her!'

Here is Bella giving the snowmen kisses...If you look closely, she is actually eating the carrot nose! Hey, whatever works!

Here is Caden on his Mickey toy watching every move Bella made!Here are some pictures of Caden from a few days ago. All 4 of these little singing snowmen deals came from Hallmark. Tim's Mom Pat buys me one each year. Caden loves them and gets them all going at the same time. He's very smart too and when one stops singing (as all the rest are still going), he has to push the button to start it up again!

In this picture he's pushing the button with his little pointer finger. (I scratched him accidenally on the side of his face with my ring while putting his jacket on!)Here he is working them all at the same time!

Bella was not feeling well this morning so we took her to the Dr. and Kari had to take her back home. We miss you guys already and are so sorry the trip was cut short. We can't wait until next time.

**Inside note: Avery's name is Avery Ella and we all call her Bella. Just so you all know!

Inside note #2: Yes, I have all the Christmas stuff out. Super early, but I'm off work and we thought what the heck!?

Bella Breakthrough

Tonight Bella did something she has never done! I am so glad she did it at our house! Check out the video! Bella walked while pushing Caden's Mickey toy! Yea Bella!!!

15 Month Check Up

I took Caden for his 15 month appointment today. We had a 9:30 appointment and were not seen until 10:15 because Dr. Berry had to admit a 2 month old baby who was currently below her birth weight! So scary.

Anyway, I had to entertain Mr. Cade Man by pointing out all the fish on the wall. He got bored really quickly. He wanted to push Dr. Berry's stool all over the exam floor, then he wanted to step on the pedal to open the trash can, play with the blinds and grab the door handle OVER and OVER again!

His stats are:

Weight: 26 lbs 9.5 oz (80%)

Length: 32.5 inches (80 %)

He also got his DtaP, IPV and the 2nd half of his flu shot. He was suppose to have his HiB as well but Dr. Berry said there was a national shortage so it will probably be given at his 18 month or 2 year appointment. It is funny how he knows something is about to happen now at his age. Jennifer the nurse walked in with the evil tray of shots and he lost his mind! I can remember being so worked up when he was 1 week old or when he had his shots earlier on and now I am much more calm. Funny how that just comes to you as they get older. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not calm enough to say, 'Hey Jennifer, give me his shots rather than him....'

Visit with MiMi and Granny

Last night Caden and I went to visit Cheryl and her Mom. We had such a great time! Thank you for the sandwiches and the yummy brownies!Once Caden's bed time started approaching, he just made himself comfy on the rug in the kitchen.He did however manage to rest and play ball with MiMi at the same time though!

Then it was off to the back porch to rock.

He then moved to the other chair and we left shortly thereafter!

Keep Your Shoe On!

Caden's new thing is to kick his shoe off, particularly the right one. It does not matter if we are in the car or out shopping or at a restaurant, it is going to come off. Tonight I stopped by Kroger to pick up a few things and had Caden in the shopping cart. Sure enough somewhere over by the yogurt, off came the right shoe. I picked it up and said 'No, No, Caden. LEAVE YOUR SHOE ON!' Once again off it came over on the cereal aisle. There was a lady looking at some cereal a few feet from us and I picked up the shoe and once again said, 'No! No! Caden. LEAVE YOUR SHOE ON!' As soon as I put it back on him, off it came before I even pushed the cart. I said, 'CADEN!? DO YOU WANT A SPANKING???' -as if any kid really WANTS one-which leads me on a tangent. MY PARENTS USED TO SAY THIS TO US AS KIDS, SO ONCE AGAIN I JUST SPOUTED IT OUT OF MY MOUTH. I mean what kid is going to say 'Why Yes Mother, I'd love one, thank you.' To that I tell you...Caden Cole Ivey did. He said, 'Yap!' I see the woman in my peripheral vision cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. I thought, Oh how cute...Caden doesn't know what he's really saying... To test him I said really condescendingly, 'You want a spanking' as if to confirm. He said, 'YAP!' The kid completely used reverse psychology on me. At this point I had a decision to make...3 Options actually, 1) Keep my word and spank him and hope the woman on the cereal aisle doesn't call C.P.S. (you really never know these days), 2) Ignore him and assume he doesn't really know what he's saying, or 3) PICK UP THE SHOE AND BEAT HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. I chose Option 1 and swatted him on the hand. The lady as we passed by said 'That was so funny, it was all I could do to keep a straight face.' I just smiled like, 'Oh good...glad you were entertained.' As I turned the corner I paused just to make sure she wasn't pulling out her cell phone to call C.P.S. She didn't...she continued looking at cereal and I forgot to buy cereal WHICH WAS WHY I WAS ON THE AISLE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Happy Veterans Day

To all those (including those in my family) that have served and are continuing to serve: We love you all and thank you for keeping us all safe.

Hockey Player With a New Haircut

Daddy took Caden for his 2nd haircut while Mommy went to have her nails done. When they got back, Caden started playing with his hockey stick that Aunt Kay got him (at his baby shower!). I think perhaps we have a future hockey player on our hands. Let's hope we still have great dental insurance by that time!!

Is this not the stance of a true NHL player or WHAT?! He even has the stone cold serious face on.

'I know I'm suppose to hit the puck with this stick, but I just want to try it on a ball first.'Such a serious face. 'What time is the game Daddy? I'm ready.' 'I can play it like a guitar too...so cool.' 'Okay Mommy, here is a profile shot of my new haircut.'
'Here is the back.'

'Now leave me alone so I can play.'

Mickey Mouse & Jumperoo

Tim found a cool Mickey Mouse site online so he and Caden will go to it and watch all the movies and listen to all the characters. Here they are doing that tonight.

'Okay Daddy, let me show you where I want to go. I'll control the mouse.''Actually, let me just type it in, it's much easier.'

My high school typing teacher would be horrified to know that Caden was not on the 'home keys'.

Although Caden is too big for this Jumperoo, he does not realize it. I apologize for the dark video, but watch toward the end when you can see his hair bouncing as he bounces!

Regarding the Election

'From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.'

Luke 12:48 NIV

Let's hope he is up to the task...I know I'll be praying MUCH HARDER for our country now.

Craft Fair & Pei Wei

Saturday Caden, Grammie and I went to a craft fair at West Plano High School. We had a good time and got some great goodies. Caden discovered that he liked drinking water out of a Deja Blue bottle with the snap top lid. He would drink it as Grammie squeezed the bottle, then he would just giggle.

"Here I go, drinking some water."

"This is way more fun than using a sippy cup!"

"What Mommy? Haven't you ever seen someone drink water?"

Saturday evening Tim, Caden and I went to Pei Wei. Caden was distracted by the birds.My T!

Halloween 2008

Click here to see Caden's 2nd Halloween slide show.