Playing Mommy

The last couple days Cadence has been playing "mommy".  She fills her purse and then says "I going".  I ask her if she is going to a meeting and she says yes.  Then she says "I miss you", and blows kisses.  After walking around the house for awhile she announced "I home".  Seriously she is so cute.  I could just eat her up!

Isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery?

Final Cub Car Rally

It was that time of year again in cubs - CUB CAR RALLY!!  Bowen was excited to make his car and picked his design a long time ago.  He spent the last couple weeks making his car with his dad.  Last night was the rally at the church.  A couple of years ago they decided to make the rally non-competitive, which actually really bugs me, but I thought I better come and support Bowen anyway. Bowen had a good time and I guess that is all that matters.

Bowen's design this year was a smart car.  He knew it wouldn't be especially fast, but it was what he had his heart set on.  He wanted it to look like a Car2Go that you see downtown.  I thought it turned out cute!

They did several heats and the cubs enjoyed seeing their cars race down the track.

Even though it wasn't built for speed.  It didn't do too badly, coming in 2nd or 3rd in most heats.

It was a fun night and Bowen was proud of his car.

Birthday Outfits

Cadence got some cute new clothes for her birthday from Grandma Puzey.

A beautiful new dress for church.

And a cute little shirt with doggies on it, with pink leggings.

... and she's off.  Can't get this girl to stand still for very long.

Thanks Grandma for the new clothes.  She's growing so fast everything is getting too small.

Fun n More

Cadence's birthday was a busy weekday so we decided to celebrate today.  She really didn't know the difference anyway.  Grandma Puzey was able to join us and that made it extra special.  We took the kids to the play place Fun n More.  They have lots of things for toddlers to do and for older kids as well.  We arrived at about 9:30 am.  We were the only people there.  The kids had the run of the place and had a fabulous time.  We stayed for a couple of hours and no one else ever came.  It was awesome!

Cadence has the best big brothers who are always willing to play with her.

After a great time was had by all.  It was time to come home and open presents.  Cadence was a lucky little girl and got some great presents.  She was pretty happy with her gifts.

We then had lunch, Cadence's favorites - Kraft dinner (roni as Cadence calls it), and hotdogs.  Then it was finally time for cake.  For weeks everytime I'd ask Cadence what she'd like for her birthday she always answered "cake"!

She seemed a little embarrassed when we were singing to her.

Blowing out her candle.

Trying even harder!!

Yummy Chocolate Cake

Ashton putting together her new nursery.  He did a great job.

Hours of fun.

It was a fun day with our little girl.  

2 Years Old

Our sweet Cadence turned 2 years old yesterday.  I can't believe it!  These past two years have gone by so incredibly fast.  Cadence is an amazing little girl.  She is full of personality.  She makes us all laugh every day.  When I was asking her yesterday how old she was usually she would answer 2, but sometimes she would say 10.  That is Cadence in a nutshell.  She is so anxious to grow up.  She seems so much more grown up than her 2 years.  Her vocabulary is ridiculous - you can totally have a little conversation with her with complete sentences.  She is such a joy (and a bit of a menace) to have around.  She certainly has completed our family.

Age - 24 months (April 7th, 2016)
Weight - 28.5 lbs
Seems tall for her age but not sure of exact height
Wears size - 24 months, 2T clothes
Wears size 5 - 6 shoes
Tons of brown curly hair
Has 11 teeth
Loves to eat - often tells me she is hungry, and wants to sit and have her plate
Favorite Toys - her babies, play food, and lego
Favorite shows - Toopy and Binoo, Curious George, Bubble Guppies
Loves to go to nursery at church.  After every hymn during sacrament meeting she asks us "I go?"
Gives kisses and hugs - but only when SHE wants to.
Dances when she hears music.
Likes to sing action songs and knows all the actions.
Will play the piano while saying/singing "Twinkle, twinkle, star".
Has a huge vocabulary and says new words every day.
Can count to 3, and then knows 8, 9, 10 (we're working on the middle numbers).
Likes to draw and colour.
Loves bath time, except when its time to wash her hair (still not a fan).
Gets into absolutely EVERYTHING.

So grateful for our little miracle from heaven.  Happy Birthday Cadence!

Easter

We had such an amazing weekend last weekend with Ashton, and to make it especially wonderful it was also Easter.  We decorated easter eggs with the kids on Saturday afternoon, and invited cousins Dane and Bennett to join us.  The kids had lots of fun decorating eggs together and I had a little nap on the couch while their dads helped them.

Cadence covered a few eggs in bubble guppie stickers - along with a few on her hands.

Sunday morning the kids looked for their easter baskets before church.  Cadence found hers before her brothers were even in the room.

We have a later church time of 1 pm. So I was able to get part of easter dinner ready before we left for church and my mom had time to travel from Champion to join us for the day.

My gorgeous kids ready for church.

Church was nice.  Our choir sang the closing song "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" in sacrament meeting and I accompanied them.  Then the YW President had asked me to sing "Gethsemane" in YW.  I had sung it in sacrament meeting last week and it was nice to sing it again.  It has such a beautiful message and I hope the girls enjoyed it.

After church we came home and had dinner.  We had ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, caesar salad, and yummy cheesecake with strawberries for dessert.  It was a relaxing, lovely easter Sunday and I was happy mom was able to come up and spend the day with us.  I am grateful for my Savior and for my knowledge that I know he lives.

Amazing Weekend

Now that Ashton is 12 and has been made a deacon in our church he was able to do a couple of very special things this past weekend.  After getting a recommend from our Bishop last week, we woke up early Saturday morning, dropped off Bowen and Cadence with my cousin Sheri and then headed up to the temple.

Ashton is now able to do baptisms for the dead at the temple and Sheri had 8 family names that he was going to do for her.  We get to the temple and Ashton reaches into his suit coat pocket to pull out his recommend and it was gone.  He checked all his pockets in his coat, then I checked all his pockets.  He had shown it to me before we left so I know he had it at one point.  Luckily President Stonehocker was there and he made a call to our Bishop (sorry for the early morning phone call bishop) and we were able to proceed.  (By the way he found his recommend in the back pocket of his suit pants - the one pocket I didn't check).

It was wonderful to watch Ashton and his dad doing these baptisms and then the confirmations. It was so nice to be in the temple together and I look forward to the day when our entire family can be there together.  Ashton told me he loved it and wants to go once a month.  He would also like to go with his cousins.  We are hoping once Emry turns 12 the older cousins can plan a temple trip together either up here or in Cardston.

On Sunday Ashton was able to pass the sacrament in our sacrament meeting with the other deacons.  I thought it was neat that his very first time was on Easter Sunday.  He'll always be able to remember that.  He was very excited and very nervous and was hoping he wouldn't make a mistake.  He did a great job and I was proud of how seriously he took his responsibilities.  It was a very special weekend with a great young man.  I'm so proud of him.

Happy 12th Birthday Ashton

March has been a very busy month in the Atwood house and somewhere in there we celebrated a very special birthday with Ashton.

Jason was going to be in Vancouver for work on Ashton's actual birthday so we let him open a present the day before.

He got a CD/Radio and he was very excited to have a radio for his room.

Jason left for the airport later that night.  The next day March 17th, Ashton's actual birthday was a super busy day for me.  It was our ward's RS party and I had lots to do for that.  Busy all day making soup, decorating, babysitting, etc.  Then I picked up McDonalds for the kids, grabbed the babysitter and then headed to the church.  It was a nice event and I was happy to have it done.

When Jason got home we finished celebrating for Ashton's birthday.  A couple more presents to open.

He got a CD for his new CD player.  A Doctor Who "Tardis" Lamp, Doctor Who Christmas Special DVD's, with a Sonic Screwdriver.  Notice a theme.

Since this is Ashton's 12 birthday it is a very special birthday.  The Sunday following his birthday Ashton graduated from primary and then was ordained a deacon in our church by his father.  The blessing with his ordination was so special, I wish I could remember more of what Jason said, but it was so beautiful.  It was a very special day and lots of family came to celebrate with us.  After church we had a barbecue at our house for everyone and it was nice to visit.  My only regret is I didn't take any pictures of the day.

The following Monday we took kids out for a birthday dinner.  Ashton chose the cheesecake cafe.  As hard as he tries he still can't finish a whole piece of cheesecake and I think we are now up to Cheesecake 6 / Ashton 0.

Happy 12th Birthday Ashton.  You are becoming an amazing young man.  You are such a big help and a great example to your younger siblings.  We love you so much!