My little MoNSteRs!!

I have been really behind at posting... but haven't you missed these faces?!?!

My friend Julie made the cute hats and we love them!!

KELSON
I can't believe how grown up Kelson is.  He is such a funny little boy!  He loves to mother Caleb to death and tell him what to do all the time.  They play really well, but they fight just as good!  Kelson LOVES to play outside even though the weather is getting colder.  He had a very BIG imagination, which I love.  He has a make-believe friend named "Chains."  Some times he plays like Chains is his baby.  But most the time Chains is his friend that he plays races with and watches movies with and fixes the four wheeler with.  Kelson loves to sing, when he doesn't realize people are listening, when he realizes you hear him he gets shy. He loves to help me clean, no matter what kind of cleaning I am doing.  My lower kitchen cupboards are quite clean from the help of my boys... (I didn't say the rest of my house was clean- don't judge a mom can only do so much!!)

  He loves books and playing games on my kindle!  He is so fun, but also VERY naughty!  He yells back when he gets in trouble.  He cries/pouts to try to get out of stuff.  He tells me "NO" way more than I want to hear it.  Sometimes I am certain he does things just to spite me.  BUT... we love him anyway!

CALEB
I can't believe Caleb is already 16 1/2 months!! His nick name has stuck... he truly is our little Caleb Monster.  He is very mischievous and loves to get into things he knows that he shouldn't.  Including permanent markers and coloring on the walls with crayons.

He has become Kelson's little shadow.  He follows him everywhere.  If Kelson will eat it for dinner then most the time Caleb will try it.  He can mostly climb out of the high chair because he hates being in it.  He wants to sit at the bar with the rest of the family... (we are now on the hunt for a decent cheap dinning table). He is VERY independent at meal time and won't let you help him.  He has to have a dish of food just like everyone else and have his own spoon or fork.  He is a very messy eater, but he is getting a little better.  He still loves to play outside even though it is getting cold.  He loves to climb onto the furniture to get off and get back on again.  He still won't watch more than 2 seconds of a movie or any cartoon. He loves to dump out toys all over the house and then go find any other bag or tote that he can empty. He likes to pick them up, just so he can dump them out again! He still isn't talking much, just grunting like crazy.  He jabbers, but makes very few words.  His newest words are MMMmmm (moo), and Wo.  He loves to point at things that interest him.  We finally got rid of the bottle and he uses a sippy-cup for milk or regular cup for water.  He loves to scream and sing.  He wears mine or Trevor's shoes at least once a day.  He is a fun little monster and we love him!

Just a quick trip

A few weeks ago was my niece Paisley's birthday and they were having the party in Delta on a Saturday afternoon.  So, Me, Andrea, Kelson, Caleb, and Rylee all squished into Andrea's car and made the journey for her party.  Caleb kept Rylee awake crying most of the way there, but after we were out of the car we had a great time. The kids played button-button, had races, three-legged races, hit the pinata, and ate cake and ice cream.  It was a fun time being able to let the kids play and visit with the family.

Kelson hitting the pinata

Paisley hitting the pinata

Andrea and Rylee

Kelson helping Brandon with the pinata

Born to be a COWBOY

Chase and Malorie both love western and cowboy things.  Cowboy is just their style you could say.  So, for the baby shower we did a cowboy theme.  I think it turned out really cute and we had a fun time.

This is the invitation

 We played a few games and the winners got to take home the cowboy cookie jar mix centerpieces as the prize.

centerpieces

Diaper cake that Baylee made for her

We had a buffet of food to choose from.  We served "cowboy caviar" and "cowboy sushi" (a bean salsa, and pickles wrapped up in cream cheese and ham).  We also served the cake that Malorie made.  We also served some s'mores on sticks.

She got a lot of fun gifts.  We are so excited for Chase and Malorie to have a new little cowboy in the family.

Thankful Thursday

Ok, so I have been so behind on my Thankful Thursdays...
This morning I got up to go running and it was so cold!!!  I ran this morning in 37 degree weather!  FALL IS HERE BABY!!!
I am THANKFUL for FALL.  I LOVE the fall.  I LOVE the changing leaves.  I LOVE the cooler temperature.  I LOVE the decorations for fall.  AND... I LOVE the food for fall.  Today has been a perfect beginning to fall.  I went running (I am also very thankful for my health) and came home and drank some yummy hot cocoa.  Now, I have pumpkin chocolate chip cake in the oven.  It is time to decorate and enjoy the season! 
HAPPY FALL YA'LL!!

Unforgettable moments

There are moments in life that seem to shape us- make us who we are... moments that make us better and even moments we regret or want to forget.  No matter who we are, we all have UNFORGETTABLE moments. 
Every year on 9/11 I remember some of these moments. 
I remember sitting in seminary listening to the radio and talking about the tragedy.  The lives that had been lost.  I remember my seminary teacher saying how important prayer is in a time like that.  I remember how united the US became and how so many people turned to prayer.  Throughout my life I have realized the importance of prayer, and not just in big tragic moments.  I hope that from the unforgettable moment of 9-11 people grew into stronger better and more prayerful people.  I know that I did.  Another thing I remember every year on 9/11 is my dad!  I remember him in a lot of moments, but every year it is easy to think about him on his birthday.  I don't even remember celebrating any of his birthdays when he was alive because I was so young when he died.  Every year I calculate and... "this year he would have been 64."  Then every year I think about how different my life would be if he was still here.  Because of moments I do have from my past and with my dad I can become grateful and more spiritual.  Because remembering my dad reminds me of the ultimate goal.  To get life after death and to aim for the celestial kingdom.  It is so hard to find good things from tragic moments, but if we try to learn from these moments it will shape us into better people.

Camping

We had such a fun Labor day weekend.  We went camping out in Hamlin Valley.  The weather was great- not too hot, but not freezing.  The location was great, the food was great, the company was great, we had a BLAST!

 

 

 

Caleb loved rocking in this rocking chair...
doesn't everyone bring their rocking chair camping?!?!?!

 

Grandpa and Kelson had a busy day, and they were tired!!

The boys love riding the horse!!

 

The shirt Jamie wore to announce the new baby!

Kelson, Kyson, and Kinsey playing in the dirt!

 

I think grandpa got enough sunscreen!!

 

 

 

Catching up Part 2

Picture overload!!

Boys will be boys

The boys have been having so much fun being able to go outside all summer.  They get along most the time, but they both have little tempers that show up every once in a while through-out the day.

Kelson is becoming a demanding, sassy, 3-year-old and likes to be the "mom" to Caleb.  He is fun, but he is sure at a hard age.  His most used phrase is "I'll do it!!"   He is starting to lie or blame things on other people.  He likes to tell Caleb what to do all the time.  He gets mad if Caleb doesn't do what he wants.  He is kind of dramatic- he cries if he gets in trouble, and if he barely bumps his head he wails until he gets the attention he thinks he needs.  He hates to feel left out. 

wearing dad's shoes

He LOVES to spend time with his dad and his grandpa.  He also LOVES playing with his trucks and tractors.  He is so funny playing he will be driving a truck and all the sudden say "Where is the dodge?"  or if he is playing with tractors he has to find the "loader" or the "backhoe" or the "grater" he is definitely a Gardner boy!

Caleb is a little monster boy.  We have been calling him the little monster for quite some time.  He doesn't talk much so he screams and yells until he gets what he wants. He has even started stomping his right foot if he doesn't get what he wants soon enough. He has a little bit of a temper.  If you try to help him unwrap a candy he gets so mad that he usually throws it and wont take it back.  He is a climber- loves to climb on the bar stools and up onto the bar.  He climbs on to all the furniture and if he can't quite get up he goes and finds something to push up next to it so that he can climb up all by himself.  He is getting really independent- he hates when I help him eat (the temper comes out and he usually tries to throw the spoon or fork).

 He loves to do whatever Kelson is doing and Kelson hates it!  If Kelson is sitting on a bar stool he needs to sit on the bar stool.  If Kelson goes is playing with a balloon Caleb needs a balloon.  Caleb also really hates to share mom time.  If Kelson is getting more attention from me than Caleb- he cries and cries.  He is also very mischievous... if it is quiet for more than 2 minutes I worry... and this is why....

They are so hard, but they are sure fun!

CORNFEST
This year the cornfest had carnival type booths for the kids to play and get tickets to turn in for prizes. Kelson thought it was pretty fun. He really liked throwing the balls at the milk cans and kicking the soccer ball into the goal. He also used one of his tickets to ride a pony. He was kind of nervous at first, but he warmed up pretty quick.

While we were eating our lunch (delicious homemade corn dogs) Caleb cried and cried until I finally gave in and bought him a balloon for $1!! yes it was a very expensive balloon, but it was pretty worth it cause it kept him happy for a while.


CAMP FAMILY REUNION
The weekend following the 24th we went up north to go to the Camp reunion!  It is always fun to go up north and see all my family up there.  We got to enjoy a picnic and swimming in my cousin Toby's backyard on Friday eve.  Caleb is a little to brave around water... and Kelson is such a chicken it is funny!  They had a fun time playing while we all had fun visiting.  The next morning we all got together at Murray City Park and enjoyed the heat of the summer.  Playing games outside and picnicking for breakfast and lunch.  As usual we had the annual Camp family auction to raise money for the next year.  It is always fun to see what everyone brings.  The boys were loving playing outside and playing with their cousins!