Happy Halloween!

Halloween gets better each year! It's so fun to see the kids' excitement as they start catching on to what holidays are all about. For Carter and Maylie, anything with candy involved is top priority! Carter, of course, had to be a firefighter like Dad. Maylie didn't really have a choice as to her costume- we borrowed the lion from Ashley. She looked so adorable! And Cadon was a duck. Maylie caught on to trick or treating pretty quick, despite this being her first time. She shoved her way to be first at the door, stuck out one hand, then the other, shouted "Tank Ooh," then booked it to the next house! She was in such a panic- resulting in some kids being pushed down out of her way and quite often, falling down herself ! What a character.

Introducing: Cadon Ryan Miles

Cadon was born September 1, 2009! He weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 21 inches long. I had the most perfect delivery and so far, he is the most perfect baby! We went into Mtn. View at 11:00 a.m. on the 1st. I had been having mild contractions for 5 weeks. Monday, they began getting stronger and more steady. I thought we would go in late that night, but they never got any harder until morning. We got up at 8, ready to go to the hospital; but on the way we decided to walk the mall and do some last minute errands. I was having a hard time telling if it all was false labor or if this was really it. Finally, we decided to go in anyway. After being admitted, I was dialted to only a 1! I told Ryan to unhook everything and take me home! I was a little mad and disappointed that I couldn't determine true labor. After an hour of walking the hospital halls, I had progressed to a 2. The nurses decided to keep me as long as I kept dialating- so, we did alot of walking! I did not want to go home! Eventually, it became the real deal and a doctor was sent in to break my water. I had my epidural about 3:30 that afternoon. Around 6:30 I was pretty much a 10. The nurses called Dr. Beckett, who had a 20 minute drive to get to the hospital from Blackfoot! The nurse told me not to push if I felt I needed to. Well, my perfect epidural was taking away all the pain, but not the pressure- and I felt like I should push! I didn't, but with every contraction I felt like the baby would fall out any minute- Doctor or no Doctor! So, we tried not to have a baby for about a half hour. When Dr. Beckett arrived, the nurses were ready, and so was I. Ryan wanted to help deliver as he is now an EMT- so he was dressed and ready too! I pushed three times and delivered Cadon at 6:54. He was pretty gray with the cord around his neck- but other than that, he was perfect and so beautiful!

The kids loved him- a little too much! The first week home was hard. Maylie, though she loved the baby, didn't understand where she fit in. We had some stressful moments...but things are better now. I actually think two is harder than three. I was always busy, so that didn't change much- but don't look if you come over, it seems like I haven't cleaned in weeks!

Carter was my lifesaver- he entertained Maylie and retrieved alot of burp cloths that first week!

Late Update: POOL PARTY!

Yeah, so its been a busy summer. I felt I had neglected updating our lives long enough! Ryan bought a pool at the beginning of the summer- which we used almost everyday! There have been a number of pool parties- but this one was the biggest! The kids LOVED it!They'd cannon ball from off the slide!

Classic Kreid move!

All the kids enjoying their otter pops! We had the Carpenter boys, Hill boys and girl, Robbins girls and boy, Clapp kids, Kreid, Navey and my kids! It was a blast- a definite highlight of the summer!

The Boise Zoo!

Somewhat spontaneously, we packed up the kids and headed to Boise for a quick visit to Grandma and Grandpa's....and to the zoo! We made a day of it and packed lunch for a picnic! Ryan and I brought along Taylor and Jenna (who are out for the summer and soooo bored)! It was the perfect day to go...not too hot! We all had so much fun...but, by the end we all were exhausted. It's a bigger zoo than I remember as a kid! The infamous Giraffe Slide!

A small hut the kids played in!

Carter touched a boa constrictor and thought that was pretty awesome! At least, thats what he talked about when asked about his favorite animal in the zoo.

Gotta ride the carnival ride!

Easter

Brandi and I got our kids together for an Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Miles'! They had to wait downstairs, while the moms hid the eggs. There was great anticipation...more for the older kids!

We spent the weekend with my parents in Boise! We colored eggs just before bed on Saturday. Mom looks great!!

Maylie wanted to eat them instead of color them!

Sunday morning... the kids were so excited that the Easter bunny had come...well, Carter was! Maylie was just excited because he was! In all my hurry to pack us, I forgot it would be Easter Sunday- therefore, forgetting her Easter dress! Poor girl didn't even have an Easter dress!

Is that all? Apparently, there weren't enough goodies- he had to search the grass! Maylie looks so disgusted with him!

Birthday Boy and Girl!

Carter and Maylie's birthdays were in February. Maylie's the 16th and Carter's the 21st. So, to make my life a little easier and while they are both young enough- I decided to celebrate them together. My plan was to celebrate them on Carter's birthday when his Grandma and Grandpa Crossley would be in town. But when it actually came down to the last few hours before bedtime on the 16th, I couldn't stand it! After all, my baby is turning 1! And I don't know about anyone else...but for me, it is the saddest birthday- making my baby grow up before my eyes! So, just before bed we did cake, video camera, and pictures! (But the ones i posted are from the 21st.) She devoured the entire cupcake using both hands! One just wasn't shoveling it in fast enough!

Carter, being the big 3 year old, needed a special cake from mom! I had so much fun making it! I had asked him for about a month, "What do you want your birthday cake to be?" I could never get a solid answer. First, it was snowmobiles. Then red, just red. Then black, no orange. No, monster trucks. So, I made the decision...and went with a racecar track! He loved it! He asked me to turn it on! It must've looked pretty authentic!

I had to do this for Ryan...ya know...in case of a collison or wreck!

Carter helping Maylie open her present- books! What a great helper!

For the kids' big gift, we got them a playhut tunnel set! Maylie was kind of leary of it. Carter on the other hand loved it!

What a sad and happy day! As a mother, I want to make it special. But, I also want to go in the back bedroom and cry! It just goes by to fast. I already have a 3 year old. But for the kids, what a great birthday! Thanks mom and dad for coming down and being apart of it! Carter sure loves his Grandma and Grandpa Crossley...and Taylor, and Jenna!

WHAT THE?

Well, I had to post this story because my kids don't usually do things like this! To say the least, I am hoping its not the start of an awful habit. One morning last week, I went into Maylie's room to retrive her from her crib. She had been awake for about 15 minutes just talking to herself. So, I finally crawled out of bed to get her. To my complete surprise, I found her standing in the corner of her crib... stark naked! No Pjs. No diaper. Both were laying on a blanket beside her. I was like, "Uh, did your Dad come in here before me?" I immediately grabbed her and ran for the tub, not knowing if she may have already had an accident. All I can say is, it is a good thing she hadn't pooped! I went back into our room to break the news to Ryan that his one year old is a streaker! We laughed and laughed over that one! We went back into her room to investigate the damage and the evidence to how a one year old can remove button down pjs and a diaper. The diaper looked like it may have been falling off...but this still doesn't explain how she undressed herself! I'm hoping she won't remember how she did it...she obviously had beginner's luck! So far, this incident has not occurred since. But ya never know!