HAPPY BIRTHDAY KADEN!

KADEN'S BLESSING DAY- 3 MONTHS OLD

KADEN AT 1 YEAR!

"KADEN IS 6 TODAY!"

I can't believe that Kaden is 6 years old today! I remember the day he was born, and how excited we all were that Colton was going to have a baby brother. It has been so neat through the years to watch his personality develop into his own (nothing like Colton), and to also watch him become a "big brother" to his little sister. Here are a few facts about Kaden:

• He looks a lot like his Dad, with his curly hair and his square chin.
• He has green eyes, 1 of 2 Carpenter men that have green eyes.
• His Grandma Jo calls him "Cocoa Bear", because he gets so tan in the summer.
• He is my "wild child", and I love it!
  
• He can bring a smile to everyone's face no matter how naughty he is being!
• He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. at birth (being 2 1/2 weeks early!)
• He now weighs a solid "59.6" pounds, and he loves to check the number on the scale almost daily! He thinks it is cool, I don't think he quite gets it!
• His smile melts my heart.
• He loves to sleep in late, and hates to be woken up.
• He is starting Kindergarten this year, and is SO EXCITED!
• He is quick to say he is sorry, and he is very generous with his hugs and kisses.
• He is a rough and tumble kid who loves to climb on everything! (My only child who is a monkey!)
• He loves to breakdance, play all sports, and he is very into drawing!
  
• He is left handed in writing as well as sports.
• He loves to play with the "older" boys, because he says, "I am just as big as they are!"
  And he usually is!
• He couldn't say the word "Dad" until he was almost 3, and with a lot of Speech Therapy, great pre-school teachers, and a lot of work at home with Mom, HE SPEAKS AMAZING! I am so proud of him that he has worked so hard!
• His favorite color is blue...and red...and black...
• He loves Pizza, and will try most everything once!
  
• He loves to pray, especially for Colton to be nice to him!
• He loves to go to the BEACH! It is his favorite place ever!

Kaden is a very special boy, so different than my other 2 children. He holds a special place in my heart! He is such a helper, loves to just hang out with the family, has a few good friends, but prefers to be with his family and cousins!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KADEN, I LOVE YOU!

Pass it on, First Five, Pass to Five...

Pass it on....First Five.... :)

The first five people.....
The funnest tag ever! Here's how it works: The first five people to leave me a comment get something made by me just for them. It can be anything I want, I get to choose. It can be silly or serious, edible or not, but don't plan on anything alive. There are a few rules involved (aren't there always?):

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It will be done sometime this year (Don't expect grand things if it takes a long time. I'm just lazy!).
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. (The choice is mine! --insert evil laugh here--)
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange and/or silly.

The catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they've posted on their blog win a hand made, super creative, possibly lovely whatever in the heck I decide! Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Disclaimer... Not usually one to do this, but sounds like fun, you will love what you receive!!!

Josie's First Dance Recital!

Mom and Josie- SO PROUD

Daddy gave Josie her first bouquet of flowers!

This cute gal is Mikelle! She is Josie's jazz 1 teacher at TDC. She has done a wonderful job with Josie in the last 14 weeks!

Josie had her first dance recital on Friday, April 10th! Her number was called "Teddy Bear"... She danced with a cute little white Teddy Bear and she did a fabulous job! During her dance their is a part where they place their Teddy Bears on the ground while they dance, and she let that Bear have it. She slammed it to the ground, we were bustin' laughing! She has a little sass, this cutie does! It made my heart happy to see her enjoy dancing and performing just as much as I did and sometimes still do! I love you, Fifi, way to go!

fAMiLy pIx...

cOLTon, jOsIe, BrY, KaDEn, jEn

I have been waiting for ever to have my sister, Ashley, take our family pictures, it just always seemed to never work out- the timing that is! Well, she did an amazing job, as usual! The kids had a great time posing, smiling, being serious, and just messing around. Bry and I also had fun, it has been a very long time since we have had pictures of just the two of us, and they turned out great! Check out her blog, she is reasonably priced and has some amazing locations!

$50 for a 2 hour session
*includes edited disc
Extra fee for traveling outside of Utah County
Let her know that you saw her on my blog, and receive a 10% discount!

www.ashleyelizaphotographyandevents.blogspot.com



She has posted a ton more of the pix on her blog that she took, she also has some of Josie in her dance outfit, and that is another story for next time!

Thanks so much Ashley, I love seeing your passion in your work and I sure appreciate the time you took to take our family pictures!

Down 50, another 30 to go...

Groovy pix I know! This one is for you Kim!!! Yes, I have lost 50 pounds and I plan on losing another 30! I know you are so loving the groovy heels, and the way to short pants, but I am not buying anything until I am down 2 more sizes!!! I feel so much better and I am so excited to start running and lifting again, once I can get rid of this nagging dry cough! You know they always say, eat better and exercise more. Well I did that, and then a little somethin' somethin'!!!

I am happy with my new self, inside and out! I am excited to tone up and get the rest off!!!

Wish me luck! I know you are diggin' the big hair, I did it just for the pix!!! Lol!

HOW TIME FLIES...

FIRST DAY OF DANCE!

CUTIE PIE KADEN

LAZY SUNDAY! BAKING ZUCCHINI BREAD! CUTEST APRONS EVER!

ICE FISHING WITH DAD UP STRAWBERRY!

Obviously, we are way over due for an update! I am so glad to say that 2008 is over! The holiday months were SO NOT FUN for me and my little peeps! If it wasn't me having ridiculous earaches, then it was either Kaden or Josie having a cold or something! I am back, and I have so much updating to do... so I will start with me!

What have I been up to:

• lost 50 pounds since November- THANK GOODNESS!
  
• Running kids around to all of their activities, and I love it!
• I am the activity days leader for the 10-11 year olds, they are darling!
• still loving Saratoga Springs! I finally feel "home". Yes, after 16 moves, it is time!
• trying to improve and balance being a wife, mom, friend, and neighbor.
• not blogging!
• helping in kids school classes, subbing in Primary, and just being mom...
  

Bry:

• will have fabulous news to post on Monday, (pinch me!)
• works way too much!
  
• still fitting basketball in around all of his side jobs...
• and the ward ball team are going to REGIONALS! lol!!!
• constantly taking time to help me with every small thing I need ( and that is a large task!)
• is the BEST AND I LOVE HIM! (GUSH!)

Colton:

• is staying busy with school, took the 4 hour test and hopefully makes it in to the A.L.L. program at school! We'd hate for him to be bored another year!
• is rockin' it on the basketball court. He loves it!
• still reads like a maniac. He is currently reading the "Leven Thumps" series. What to do when he is done?
• can't wait for the snow to melt, so they can play "real football on the grass"...
• is earning money to buy his own DS, and saving money for the beach!!!

Kaden:

• still busy as always. He continues to draw, color, and do anything artsy-fartsy. I love it!
• is playing Indoor Soccer, and is enjoying it. A little different than regular soccer, but still fun and scores almost every game!
• loves Legos, and is obsessed with Star Wars (still!)
• is amazing! He finally quit biting his fingernails and cuticles. He had a 30 day challenge to stop, and we didn't think he could do it. That is a lot to ask of a 5 year old. He did it, and Mom bought him the Darth Maul galactic hero (not an easy find!)
• is very protective of Josie. He is realizing that he shouldn't be so mean to her! He is constantly helping her out with everything!
• is almost done with his phonics program at school. He works so hard, and is reading so well. He loves to do his homework, practice his writing, and his speech has improved amazingly!
• is still cute as ever!

Josie:

• started dance this year, and LOVES it so much! She now constantly twirls, kicks, does splits, and sings EVERYWHERE! Her personality has blossomed! I can see why my Dad got so sick of me twirling and practicing in the front room!
  
• is a complete slob. She changes her outfits at least 8 times a day. It drives me nuts, she never matches, and she drops everything on her floor. I am trying to teach her to put things up when she changes... wish me luck!
  
• is doing really well in preschool. She can write her name, recognize a ton of letters, and is starting on her phonics. She loves her teacher!
• got a haircut! And looks adorable. She is getting so grown up! The hair was cut in a cute "bob" and it makes her a little Sassy! I told her she looked like "Fancy Nancy" after she got it cut and had gotten all dressed up. She told me, "No, Mom, I look like Sassy Fifi"...
• is a little too much like me, but I love it!

I will try to keep up on my blog, no promises, but I need to start utilizing this as a journal! Wish me luck! I hope everyone is well!

I'm out!

Jen

BACKPACKS..............

hey everyone! I've gotten a few comments about the backpacks. If you could email me direct, that would be fabulous. My email is bjcarps@yahoo.com

I can't access some of the profiles to respond! I am putting the order in on November 21st! There is still time!