Kids and Hepling

Its hard for me to do laundry or dishes when the boys are awake because all they ever want to do is "help"

THIS is helping with laundry...

While I am here lets give you an update on the kiddos!

best picture i could get of all three together..
 Dr Seuss Day at school


Adalie is still loving school, but is getting excited to stay up late for summer time. And is also getting excited to see some cousins. She is getting SO big. She will be 6 people...SIX!! Holy Cow I cannot believe it! He little voice is changing and its makes me sad. i love her little minnie mouse voice...She does still however remind me often she is still a 5 yr old. She still sucks that darn finger, which just about drives me nuts. She seems to be doing pretty well in school, right at the average mark where she should be and she is starting to read so well!! She is all talk these days, and that includes plenty of back talking too! =) She still says super cute things and words....like vasagna (lasagna which is her absolute favorite meal) or funny things in school. Like for St. Patty's day writing activity for her school, she put "I am lucky not to be living on the streets". And that is probably a glimpse into my old woman parenting techniques for threatening to put her out there! She is growing up so fast and but she puts up with so much from her annoying little brothers and her crazy mom. Oh i love her so much and hope we can always be best friends.

The boys are just that...boys. Rambunctious, busy, messy, fun loving little boys. Cason is going crazy with this cold weather that seems to be hanging around. This kid needs outside and sunshine. He is talking so much and always asks why to everything. He and Brody and starting to play so well together....for the most part. The destroy things together which really makes them bond apparently. Brody is one smart little cookie just like Cason was when he was little. He understand absolutely everything you say to him and requires no baby talk to get him to listen. He has all of his teeth in...well most i think. Five on bottom, four on top, plus all four molars!! He just turned one. He has been so sick these last few months on and off almost every week! This reminds me a lot of Adalie who was also sick all the time when she was a baby and now, hardly ever gets sick. She has missed one day of school because she wasn't feeling well. And that took a lot of convincing to make her stay. She HATES to miss school.

 Texting and driving...No, no Brody!!

The Good. The Bad. The Ugly

So let's start with The Good

 I have so, SO much to post about but once again before i backtrack, i will start with what is fresh in my mind. We took the kids to the circus this last weekend and they seemed to have a lot of fun. Brett has never been to the circus, so it was fun trying to explain to him what to expect. I think I used the words "fair-like" "trashy" "rinky dink" but I did say they usually had elephants which were pretty cool. We even had free passes for all three kids so it was a pretty ok price for the outing.

 We didn't pay to ride the elephant but i did have them stand to take a picture by him. 10$ for 2 times around the circle squished in with a bunch of other kid doesn't NOT seem $20 worth to me!

We did pay $12 to ride the miniature pony buggy hoping that would suffice, and they laughed the whole 5 times around.

 This is Tiny....he may look like he is eating that girl but he is just holding her i think. i didn't see any blood so I am assuming she was ok.

i

 If you asked Adalie what her favorite part about it, she says "When the elephant pooped all the way out of the circus"....and for most of his act. Gross. Kinda ruined the magic

Also good, Grandma and grandpa came to visit, but this is also a pre-courser to The Bad. I had to have half of my thyroid removed because of all the goiters all over it so they came to stay for a few days to help.
 It was such a fun visit and the kids had a blast with all the attention they got from their grandparents. From what I remember, it was great and they were such a HUGE help and a blessing to us. We miss them already and the kids keep asking where they went.

The Ugly. I have thyroid cancer. Don't worry, it is just a scary word and really not too much to be concerned about just yet. I am NOT dying nor am I even sick, really. I have to go in and get the rest of my thyroid taken out and they will take some scrapings around to see if it has spread. Most likely it has not since this type of cancer doesn't spread too often and they caught it was early. I am not, however, excited about the pain that comes with this surgery. Although a week later from the last time they did it I am feeling pretty great, just super tired and a little bruised, the first three days are some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. Not excited AT ALL! So, what will happen to Lydia you wonder? Well, i will have it taken out and the cancer will most likely go away. It's that easy! I will have to be on meds my whole life to supplement for my thyroid function, but lots of people do that already and they are just fine. I will most likely have to do some radiation, but nothing harsh or too serious as chemo. So, no worries again. I will still be here for a very long time and I will still be happy, healthy, thyroid-less  Lydia =) It could be so much worse and if you're gunna get cancer, this is the one you want because no one really dies from it and it doesn't have too high of a chance for coming back! It can be fixed. So-no crying, no sympathy - I really am ok. I promise.

Ok..

So Christmas happened. Let's finally talk about that!!

We got to go to Colorado this year for Christmas. All of Brett's family was there and it was so fun! The house was full and happy for the most part...i think. We got to stay for 2 weeks, but everyone was there for Christmas morning, which was SO super busy and crowded, but fun! you should've seen the commotion! There were millions of presents everywhere. The kids got quite the loot this year and i think were very happy with everything. The kids were in heaven being outside ALL the time! Everyone one was happy and everyone was together. It was so wonderful. i seriously have the best in-laws ever. K now here are a ton of pictures....and some explanations to them =)

 All of us ready for Church Sunday before Christmas

 My little man's first Christmas!!

 This was the living room...i still think there were two families presents missing still. It was a mess in there!!

 My sweet baby girl and i on Christmas Eve

 Brody lovin on some Grandma

 He sneaked a chocolate and got it EVERYWHERE!!

 The boyd went out to play some football....Cason too. Seriously the cutest thing ever

 My happy Chubster on Christmas morning

 Some of the chaos on christmas morning

 This is Adalie's new little cousin Ellie. Grandma said she wouldn't give her up once she got her. Just held her for a full thirty miins and told us she would let us know hen she was done with her. She loved her so much and now keeps asking for a baby sister.

 Outside...all the time.

 Waiting to come up for Santa!!

 Hanging out with Grandpa

 Took to unwrapping like a pro. Totally knew what to do and wanted to open everyone else's presents as well

 My teenagers and their new innotabs. BIG hit!!

Remembering...

Birthdays always have a way to bring out the memories....I cannot believe my kids went from this....

 Adalie Marie....

 Cason Brett....

 Brody Vance...

To this....

Growing Up SO fast!!! I absolutely love and adore my family...

Feb Birthday #2

Cason's birthday was on the 19th. This crazy little man is 3 years old!! UN-believable!! This dude came into the world trying to show us who was boss in this house (no time for drugs for this labor) and has been determined to be head of household since!
 

Oh Cason....Bubba, you are one spunky little man. You melt us with that smirk of yours and win everyone over with your beautiful smile. You are going to be one hunky lady killer. Right now you are way into superheros, hence the Cpt America cake. Also, we got you and your sister a piggy-bank at the store about a month ago and since then, you have become a little obsessed about money. Daddy can't even walk into the house without you diggin through his pants. Everyday when he leaves you say "Oh to make more money?" Well kind of kid....to get a degree to make more money, but actually we won't have it for a long time as we are going to try and pay the gov. back, but ya-one day hopefully we might ave some =). You are an expert at being the annoying little brother. Although, you can be so sweet and cute when you want to be You have entered the "why" stage and ask it after EVERYTHING!! I eventually can't come up with any more reasons to the questions you ask and have to say just because and quickly change the subject. You love the outside and I think this winter has just about killed you....We go to the store A LOT just so we can get out really. You, and everyone else here to, cannot wait for the sun to come out and play!!

  We celebrated your birthday the sunday before. We got to skype with Grandma and Granparado which was so much fun! It reminds us how much we miss our grandparents and wish we could be closer.

 He got a really cool gun from Grandma and Grandpa....SO excited to have all those little bulletts all over the house =)

 The Cake!! Delicious =)

Happy Birthday buddy! We love you Cason Brett and are so happy that you are part of our eternal family! Here is to many, many more birthdays!!

Brody is One

Ok maybe if I work backwards I will get more things posted?? Let's see....
Well both of my boys have their birthdays this month. Brody turned ONE on the 16th and Cason's is actually tomorrow, 19th, but we celebrated yesterday with family and he will have some of his little friends over tomorrow for a little playdate. But lets start with Brody....
I cannot believe how time just seems to be flying by.... Where did this last year even go?!!?

Current Brody Facts:
*You just started walking!! For almost a week he has been taking little steps here and there and I think he is almost up to 20 straight steps. He can still get to where he wants to go faster by crawling, its his super speedy mode of transportation.
*22 lbs and 8 ounces.
*He says "cheese" for the camera, "dada" "nawnaw" for milk and "nigh.nigh" He can say momma but rarely does. Oh, and he makes kissing noises. So cute.
*He has a mouth full of teeth. Just this last week his molars came in. A TERRIBLE experience for both of us. sheesh.
*WORST sleeper ever!! We got him sleeping through the night about a month ago. It lasted a few blissful weeks. We were even able to move him into the same room as Adalie. However, about 2 weeks ago he got sick and is reverting back to newborn stage again. Every. Two. Hours. GOO!! he is still sick, even was for his birthday. Poor little man.
 **Sorry....kind of pg-13 rated, and white trash. We stripped him down for the occasion =) haha

 

 this is one of my favorites...he is REALLY enjoying that chocolate. He is DEFINITELY his momma's boy

 Then we hosed him down in the sink and let him open his present....still naked of course

 Brody--We love you so much. You are such a sweet and happy baby. Your smile and dimples are the cutest thing ever. You have a cute and mischievous personality just like you brother and sister, but you have a hearts. Happy birthday little bubby, we are so glad you are ours!!