"Mom, Can I help you?"

No matter what I'm doing in the kitchen lately, Aryn always comes in and askes if she can help. Most days I am happy to have her help, and share that precious time with her. While other times I don't really want to deal with it, or I'm in a hurry. I have to remind myself to enjoy and take advantage of the time I can share with her in the kitchen while she is so willing to be there with me.

It all started when mom came and stayed with us after Kellen was born. Aryn was her shadow and such a big helper. Even if there was nothing for Aryn to do, mom found something. Thank you so much Mom, for taking the time to allow Aryn to help you in the kitchen, and with everything else. You have helped me remember what is important! Even now months later she still talks about helping grandma with this or that. I'm so thankful she had that time to spend with you. I'm also so thankful for the relationship it has opened up with us.

She especially loves to make sugar cookies. Usually I use a spoon and drop mounds of dough onto the cookie sheet. Making the cute shaped ones takes more time and energy than I want to put in most days. Aryn has a Strawberry cookie cutter she had gotten with a Strawberry Shortcake toy. She kept asking if we could make sugar cookies and use the cookie cutter, and I kept putting her off. I finally agreed to make cookies, but no shapes. While mixing the dough with her I remembered I only have right here and now to develop those memories. So we made cute strawberry cookies. I so enjoyed our afternoon in the kitchen together!!!!

Student of the Week!

This week Tayten was Student of the Week in his class. So I went to lunch with him, and we got to sit at the Honor Tables in the lunch room. I thought since it was his special treat he could choose what he wanted for lunch and of course he chose a Happy Meal. His certificate said he is exemplary in the area of Compassion. It also said "Tayten is a good citizen and is always willing to help other students. Tayten is kind, thoughtful, and has a tremendous spirit of cooperation in the classroom and on the playground. Tayten's kind heart and caring attitude are wonderful character traits that provide a great example to his peers. We are so proud of you Tayten!!!!

Gotta love her style!

Gotta love her style! I can't wait to see what she comes up with the older she gets. I think they were playing cowboys, & hunting bears :)!

Kellen is 1 month old!!!

Our little guys is one month old already! Wow that was a fast month. He has started smiling at us, and interacting which is so fun. He sleeps really well, and only wakes up a few times each night. The first week he had his days & nights mixed up, but he is doing much better. I still have to watch what I eat while nursing like I did the others. As long as I don't eat the wrong things, he does really well and is a very happy baby. The kids love him, and are such big helpers.

Melt my heart!!!!

Kellen is now 3 weeks old and has started to give us the cutest smiles. A few days ago I was talking to him, when he gave me his first smile. It was so cute and took me by surprise. My reaction was "ohhh, Ryan look" which took Kellen by surprise. He then frowned and looked a little scared, so cute. Every time I get a smile from my sweet boy it melts my heart!!!!!

Kellen's Newborn Photos

Here we go!!!!!

Ready or not here we go!!!! After 2 1/2 weeks of a wonderful vacation life has to get back to normal. Ryan is back to work, Tayten & Aryn are back to school, I started cleaning again. We all enjoyed our stay at home spending time together as a family with out new little guy, but it is time to start a routine and get back to it. Here we go!!!!