Christmas Cookie Fun

Rolling

Cutting

Waiting

Eating!

"Ho, ho, ho merry Christmas little boy"

The title of this post is Cades response when asked what Santa says. He is absolutely obsessed with Christmas, snow, skiing, gingerbread men, and pretty much everything else winter/Christmasish. He is totally Tylers son when it comes to outdoor adventures; the first day it snowed here in Bend, Cade was asking when he was going to go skiing. Since then he asks to go about 3-4 times a day, it's either

"I go skiing today mom?"

or

"lets play in the snow!"

The first few days of snow I thought I was going to go crazy with him asking and winter was looking to be SUPER long, luckily it has tapered off a bit, but not totally.

Now that he is all suited up with awesome bibs, boots, a sweet coat & gloves ,we have given him his fare share of playing in the snow, 2 times sledding, 3-4 mornings of playing outside, and the making of a full sized snowman! I am so glad that he likes the snow so much, I mean we live in Bend it would be pretty sad if he didn't.

I know the day is coming when we will actually take him skiing (Tyler is set on it being this year...) until then I will keep praying for his safety!

Waiting his turn to sled (sporting his new jacket)

Loved santa but did not want to sit on his lap

17 weeks

The count down to ultra sound day has begun! 2 weeks to be exact.

You will have to excuse the lame picture but I needed a picture to go along with the post or I know I would hear from some of you out there! :)

So at 17 weeks I:

* Am seeing my belly stick out

* Have been feeling the baby move. Officially felt the flutters at 16 weeks. It's really weird to feel it move and not know yet if it's a boy or a girl!

* Craving sweets like mad! Peanut butter pie to be exact

* Exhausted ALL the time! My left eye has been twitching for about a week now, so i had my mom check with an eye dr. in her office and sure enough the reason is because I am so tired. I guess I will be taking more naps, can't complain about that!

* Starting to freak out about all that needs to be done to get a room ready for another family member!

* Excited to know if we will have little boy or a girl, and finally put a name to the "baby" in my belly

Everyday Life with a 2yrd Old

We have quite the chatty Kathy on our hands!

He is pretty much talking all day long and it is so much fun to listen to his little brain work.

Yesterday he was walking around the house "talking" to Jaxon and Jace on his cell phone.

His conversation went a little like this,

"Hi Jaxon I'm watching the beavers with my dad, ya I had fish for dinner what did you have, o yummy! You going to school today? (phone drops on the floor and back flys off) "whoopsy daisy the phone just brokeded!"

Tyler and I both just cracked up!

It is conversations like this that he has with himself and other people pretty much all day long!

I love it!

We also have a little adventurest with a GREAT imagination! Cade loves snow and anything skiing. The other day he was playing with the magnets on our fridge and decided that these long rectangle mangets were his "ski boards" he took them layed them down on the floor and put his feet on them like he was skiing, pretty soon he comes running over to me asking me for his jacket and his sun glasses so he could go skiing!

It has been snowing today and all he has been talking about it how he is going skiing when daddy gets home from work. I can't wait to acutally get him up to the mountain and see what he really thinks of skiing!!

Dinner Time

Coming up with a dinner menu is one of my least favorite things to do. I like to have 10-12 meals planned out before I go grocery shopping, it doesn't always happen but it's my goal!

To make things eiser this Fall/Winter I'm going to try something new.

Starting this week I will be attempting the following:

Mon: Itallian Night

Tues: Community Group Potluck

Wed: Soup Night

Thur: Whatever

Fri: Mexican Night

We will see how it works, so far so good.

Mon we had Lazagna

Tues we didn't have community group but Tyler and I went on a date :)

Tonight (wed) we are having Ministrone Soup

Thur we will have Fish

and fri we will have a Lime crusted Chicken, it's a new recipe so we will see how it tastes.

As I have my menus planned I will try to update my blog with them, that way any of you other moms out there that hate this task as much as I do, can get some new ideas!

"Melvin"

When Cade was a baby I wanted him to have a "favorite" thing. Like a blanket or a stuffed animal, don't ask me why now, but at the time I thought it was a cute idea.

So I found a cute little giraffe lovey blanket and I put it with Cade all the time! They were together when he slept, hung out in his swing, rolled around on the floor; Melvin was always by Cades side. Pretty soon Tyler gave it a name and from then on it was called "Melvin". Well my little plan worked because now Cade is obsessed with Melvin and pretty much does everything with him. He sleeps with him, plays hoops, the piano, race cars and puzzles all with Melvin by his side

Yes I cursed my son!

So when we asked Cade what he wanted to be for Halloween it was only fitting that he said MELVIN!! So this year Cade will be sporting a giraffe costume! Should be pretty funny.

3 months old with Melvin

2 years old with Melvin

Musician in the Making

Cade got a suprise in the mail today!

A late birthday present from his uncle Brad.

What is more fitting from a musician than a piano! It is so awesome and just the prefect size for a toddler, complete with a bench and sheet music stand!

His favorite songs to "play"/sing so far are "TwinkleLlittle Star" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"

(Movie to follow)

:)

A Season of Change

Out with Summer and in with Fall/Winter!

I always love this change in the seasons and I know I have blogged about how much I love fall, so I won't bore you with it again.

We have had a lot of exciting changes in our household!
-We now have a 2 year old. Cades birthday party was so much fun. It was a blast to watch his anticipation as he understood what was going on. His excitement over a "choo choo party" was so fun and the look on his face when he saw the decorations was priceless! He had lots of friends and family join him as he turned 2.

- Cade has graduated to a twin bed! He loves it and calls it his "big boy bed". We were nervous about the transition since he would be able to get in and out as he pleases and the fact that he still wakes up at least once during the night. He suprised us and actually stays in it! He is still waking up his usual 1-2 times but he doesn't get out, just cries until Tyler or I comes in and layes him back down. (we have tried letting him cry it out but 1-2 hrs later her is still crying. Much eaiser to just lay him back down. Pick your battles right?!)

- Potty training is in full effect! Cade is doing great! No accidents the past 2 days and he even kept his pull up dry the entire drive home from Portland. He is finally telling us when he has to go which is much eaiser than taking him every 20-30 min. This week we are going with just underwear and no pull up during the day, wish us luck!

- I have taken on teaching art and technology to pre schoolers at The School of Enrichement. I started this in Sept and it is working out great. It's only Thur & Fri morning and Cade gets to go with me and participate in the pre school program which he LOVES!

- Tyler's job is going great! He is so good at what he does and passionate about getting to know and helping his clients. He is all settled into his own office. It is probably the best looking Edward Jones office there is! Tylers mom blessed him with 5 paintings to hang. 3 of them were done custom for the office and the other 2 were ones she had already done and let him display.

I am so proud of you Tyler!

- Well saving the best for last!! Our family is going to be getting bigger come April! We are SO excited to share that baby #2 is on the way. I am currently 11 weeks and finally feeling good! The first 10 weeks I was feeling pretty sick and just super tired. But I think I have turned the corner and things are much better! Our 10 week doctors appointment went great! All 3 of us went and got to hear the heart beat as well as see the little peanut on an ultrasound. Cade thought it was the greatest thing ever and still asks if we can go back to hear "baby heart beat woosh woosh!" He is going to make an AMAZING big brother! I absolutly can't wait to see him with a sybling.

Summer time

Wow is it seriously the end of August already?! If feels like the summer just got started and we are already going to be saying hello to fall! CRAZY

Well we have had a blast this summer. As you can see I have been the biggest blog slacker ever. So to not bore you by going back through the summer and detailing everything we did I will just pick a few highlights and post pictures of them.


SUMMER 1010
Mackeson Family together for Tyler & Brad's birthdaysHappy Birthday daddy!!

Floating the Deschutes River

Fun @ the Children's Festival

Swimming at Juniper

Together with my sis & bro

Riding the Carousel at Salem Waterfront
He LOVED it and rode about 5 times in a row :)

My sister & her boys came to spend 3 days with us!
So much fun!

Outside listening to the thunder storm

Wow is it seriously the end of August already?! If feels like the summer just got started and we are already going to be saying hello to fall! CRAZY

Well we have had a blast this summer. As you can see if I been the biggest blog slacker ever. So to bore you from going back through the summer and detailing everything we did I will just pick a few to highlight and post pictures of.

Little Drummer Boy

One of Cade's favorite things is music. He tries to sing along to every song and actually has a few down pretty good. He also loves to walk around and beat on his drums. Yesterday he played them pretty much ALL day. While he was drumming away he was making up songs and it sounded like he was singing them in Chinese! It was so cute to watch!

Here he is drummin away!

A Mother is Always Praying

These 7 verses were shared at my cousins baby shower this weekend. As moms we never stop worrying about our kids no matter how old they are. Instead of worrying I am challenged to pray these prayers over Cade throughout the day or when I feel myself consumed with worry over him. Ultimately Cade is the Lords and He has given him to Tyler and I to raise and care for. It is my job to pray for him and give him back up to the Lord daily.

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

A fun day

One thing I love about being a mom is that I get to make up the rules!

I am usually very picky about what Cade eats and I try to make sure he gets all of
the food groups in, but some days you just need to throw all of it out the window!
That is exactly what we did today! As we were out getting a few things for dinner
I thought it would be fun to get an ice cream cone to share with Cade. It was about 5
o'clock and we would be having dinner in about an hour, but I didn't care! We pulled into McDonalds and got a big cone to share. At first Cade was freaking out because it was too cold, but once I shoved it in his face he got over it and then refused to share it with me! Little stinker!
Here are some fun picts of Cade and his cone.

Easter Egg Extravaganza

This year for Easter we are staying in Bend and celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus with friends. So since it's just our little family we did some fun "spring" activities today. Today we spent the morning dying eggs with Cade. It was a fun little family project and even more fun because Cade loved it so much! He was so excited to pull the eggs out and see what they looked like, he then proceeded to tell us what color each one was! (smarty pants)

After coloring eggs we went to an egg hunt that our friends organized at the park. It defiantly did not feel like Spring with the snow flurrying. We were so freezing that it didn't last long, I think we were only there hiding/looking for eggs for about 25 min! The cold weather didn't phase Cade he wanted to keep hunting and was super sad when we loaded him back up in the car.

These activities are a lot of fun but have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter. It has been such a great week digging in the word and reading day by day what Jesus went through to complete his mission here on earth. I am so grateful for the sacrifice the Lord made on my behalf and I can't wait to attend an amazing Church tomorrow to celebrate the Resurrection and hear the Word taught. I also feel so blessed that even though we are 3 hours away from our families and won't be together with them, we have such amazing friends here in Bend and I can't wait to spend the afternoon fellowshiping with them!

HE IS RISEN!

Eatable Birds Nests

Cade digging into his nestMessy boy!

Today we had some friends over to do a little Spring project.

I had seen this recipe on another blog and thought it looked super simple and adorable, so we tried it out.
Here is the recipe if you want to try your hand at it:

• 1 cup shredded coconut
• shredded wheat (six large "loaves")
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  
• cooking spray
• mini eggs
  
• muffin tin
• Recipe yields 12-15 mini nests

Step 1: Put six "loaves" of shredded wheat into a large bowl and have your child crunch them up into little tiny pieces.
Step 2: Add 1 cup of coconut to the shredded wheat, toss until mixed well.
Step 3: prep your muffin tin by spraying it with cooking spray.
Step 4: Use a double boiler (or a heat-safe bowl set over pot of bowling water) to melt 2 cups of chocolate chips.
Step 5: Pour melted chocolate over wheat mixture and mix up until the chocolate evenly coats.
Step 6: Form the nests, either in the muffin tins or on the tray. Make sure to make a little center for your eggs.
Step 7: Put in your eggs and put in the fridge to harden.

Cade at 1.5 yrs

Hi my name is Cade.

I am 1.5 yrs old.
Here is a few things about me.

I have discovered picking my nose.
I love balls.
I can identify the colors blue, green, yellow, purple & red.
I can fill in the blank for "P" & "W" when my mom sings the ABC'S.
I love being outside.
I insist on sitting in a big chair at the table during meals, no booster seat for me.
I love markers.
I have already started the "why?" stage
My favorite foods are peas, peanut butter & honey sandwiches, saltine crackers & fruit snacks.
I am putting together 2-3 word sentences. My most used phrases are "no way", "that one", "where's daddy" & "I did it"

Introducing Artists Jaxon, Jace & Cade

Snow Day

My sister and her family came to stay with us last weekend. One of the things on our agenda was to take the boys sledding. It sounded like a great idea but we were wrong... well partially wrong. Her boys Jaxon & Jace absolutly hated it while Cade loved it!! It was short lasted for there family but Tyler, Cade and I were able to stay out a little longer and let Cade sled his little heart out. Luckily Amy and Jay were able to take a few good FAST (hence Amy smacking into the snow bank) runs before there boys completely lost it.

Back in the day

So Tyler was looking through his email a few days ago and came across this gem!! It was taken while we were dating and living in Corvallis. I love 3 things about this pict:
1. You can tell how in love we are
2. We look so young!
3. It brings back memories of living in Corvallis in the Forest Green apartments with Jenna!

This picture is going to be printed out and framed somewhere in my house!!
I LOVE IT!