I LOVE MY KIDS!!

I am head over heels for my kids! They can always put a smile on my face, no matter what kind of day I've had, especially coming home straight from work. I look forward to every moment I get to share with them and can't wait for the day I can be home everyday with them. That day will come sooner than later I know. Their cheezy grins will always brighten my day and remind me exactly why I became a mom. I'm so excited they came into my life and that I get to share the rest of eternity with them. Sometimes I wish they would stay this way forever and never grow up and leave me. But I look forward to the day they can have this same experience and share the love I have for them with their own families. They may be monsters at times, but I LOVE them unconditionally.

It's POTTY Time!!!

I finally did it! I had originally planned on having Addison potty trained by the time was 2 years old, but that never happened. She fought as hard as she could and with me working full time and being pregnant I didn't have the time or energy to fight back. So, this last weekend I decided that I had had enough of changing diapers on two kids. So Addison was told that the diapers were all gone and her only choice was to wear panties. And after about two days and only about 3 accidents she DID IT! I'm so excited for her.

Now that it's done she really enjoys going and if you'll let her she'll try to go almost every 30 minutes. She has caught on fast and now I'm kicking myself wondering why I waited so long for this day. Heck while I'm at it I just might potty train Lincoln. Just kidding!

She still isn't dry through the night, but we're still working on that. It hasn't even been an official week yet, so we'll keeping working on that and hopefully that day will come soon enough. I'm so proud of her and the progress she has made with being okay on the toilet. She use to just sit there and cry every time we made her sit on one. Now, I find her in the bathroom going by herself without me even asking if she needs to go. It's kind of sad to think of how fast she is growing up and becoming a big girl.

All's Good in the Kitchen

It's true my husband CAN cook. The final in his last class was to put on a catering banquet for family and friends of the students. AWESOME!!! It took about a week to plan and two days of class to prep. The most exciting part was that Cole was in charge of the kitchen for the whole night. The teacher picked him to make sure all the food was cooked properly and ready to serve on time. Another student was suppose to make sure everything was set up correctly and put in the correct places, but somehow Cole ended up overseeing that also. What a guy! When we showed up they were still in the process of getting ready and it was great to get to see him in the middle of everything. He looked so happy and peaceful even though all the other students were rushing about. I guess you can say he really has found his niche.

Setting up

Yes that is an ice sculpture and Yes Cole got to help carve it! There were only a few lucky students that were given the honor of helping with that. He was kind of disappointed because they only spent 1 class day on that subject. Apparently it's becoming a lost art. Too bad, looks like fun!

I know it may not look good, but the food was sooooooo awesome. This is just a taste of everything they had there. Too much food to eat, especially at 9 o'clock at night. Cole takes the evening class, so that's when they started the banquet. Late for me, but it was worth the wait!

Me and my AWESOME chef. I am so proud of him and love watching him do so well in something that he loves. Just can't wait for him to be done so we can all enjoy his many talents and maybe he can teach me a few things.

A picture worth 1000 words!

This picture has got to be the best picture that I've ever taken in my entire life. Don't ask me how I got them both doing the same face at the same time, but it's CLASSIC! I always knew that Addison was just like her dad, but this is too close that it's almost frighting. Addison has been drawn to things with wheels that move from the time she was an infant. She loves going for rides in Uncle Kyle's sandrail and Papa's T-Rex. Cole swears that it's time to get her own three wheeler, but I think it's still too soon. But I can say that she will have her own some day, whether I like it or not. I just can't keep her off those things!

After the exciting trips around the block!

Lincoln's turn and YES he did go on a ride all the way around the block too! My crazy kids, sometimes a wonder if I have 2 or 3. I think most of the time it's 3!

Temple Lights

I know it's kind a late, but we did make it to the Temple to see the Christmas lights and of course Addison loved every minute if it. We drove in with a friend of ours from church and their little girl. The kids had so much fun and it was entertaining to see their reactions to everything.

And here are a couple of pictures by our famous photographer Addison Perkins!

Let Them Be Little

So........as most of you know I just had a baby about 6 months ago and he has to be the cutest thing ever! He also has turned out to be the complete opposite of his sister. He is very quiet, content and patient. I couldn't have asked for a better baby right now with Cole being gone so much. He has truly been my blessing! He is also trying things alot sooner than Addison ever did. He was rolling by 2 months of age and up on his hands and knees rocking by 5 1/2 months. He was crawling and getting around pretty quick by the time New Years came. Addison didn't crawl til she was 10 months old, so this is very new to me. Here's the scary part....I picked him up today from the sitter's and she said that he was pulling himself up on everything he could today. AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

He can't do that he's only 6 1/2 months old. He won't be 7 months until the 2nd of February. Just proof that he will definitely be walking BEFORE he turns 1. So scary!!!! As you all remember Addy was a knee walker until she was almost 18 months old, and a pretty good one I might add. I don't think I'm ready for him to grow up so fast. He's still suppose to be my baby and for some odd reason he thinks he needs to keep up with his sister. Crazy kid! So sad for mom, but I do love him and can't wait to see what exciting thing he'll do next.

Let's hear it for the BOY!

Okay so I know that it's now old news to our family, but we're SO excited for Cole's younger brother Tanner. He graduated from the City of Mesa Fire Academy and is officially a working Fireman! Way to go Tanner!

We are so proud of him. He worked so hard for 14 weeks to survive all the training and he did an awesome job. He is currently working as a full time fireman on a four man crew in Mesa. What a deal, only 22 years old and already has his career. Your the MAN Tanner. (Oh and by the way he is single for anyone out there looking for a great guy!)

Kristy put together a graduation party for him afterwards and it was nice to see old friends and of course the family. Cole was unable to make it because of school, so me and the kids had to go cheer him on. The ceremony was nice and short, just the way we like them. The only complaint came from Addison. " Are they going to do that again?" was her only remark to the awesome bagpipes that played at the start of the ceremony. All together it was perfect. Once again, Way to go TANNER!

Ty and Tanner walking up to the stage to make him OFFICIAL.

Addison enjoying herself with her granola bar and water. What a ham!

The two studs: Tanner and of course Lincoln.