It's been a Looooooong time

It's a new year and a lot has happened since the last time I got a chance to post. I don't think I will be able to remember everything that we did so I will just do recent stuff. First though the reason behind the big hiatus was our computer was busted and with the Geek Squad for over a month then life just got too busy for blogging.

First I am a proud new Auntie again!!!! Ms. Alivia Elaine Bronleewe was born Dec 29, 2011. Mom, the kids and I had just gotten to Texas that day and lil Livi decided to make her debut earlier than her scheduled time which was supposed to be the next day. She is gorgeous and I couldn't be happier to have that little girl have my middle name.This was the first time I was able to be there for the birth of any of my nieces and it was really special. I was incredibly excited and I am so glad I was able to be there when Heidi got back from the hospital. Those new born snuggles are priceless!! It was so much fun getting to spend time with my nieces!!! Anna is a star and rules  Texas with a sparkly mircophone and a crown atop her head and Brielle is little dancing queen that adores tutus and baby dolls (don't let that angel face full you though she isn't a push over she has enough of her Auntie in her to stand on her own two feet). If you add my two to the mix you have quite the combo!!! Bug and Anna I think had to adjust a little to sharing the spot light since frankly Bug rules Florida with sparkly dancing shoes and a crown firmly in place but they were thick as theives and put on some hilarious shows. Caden is a go with the flow kinda kid and of course the only available Prince Charming so was in very high demand. There was many tears when it came time to leave and the count down has already started for when they will all see eachother again. <3

While we were in TX my lil man got a cold. That turned into a sinus infection. That didn't go away after two rounds of antibiotics. Which then after that turned into pneumonia. That final diagnosis was a week and a half ago and he is doing better now thankfully. The good thing is that he was in good mood through all of this and never really lost much energy. Actually the pneumonia kinda took me by surprise except that his cough had turned funky sounding he hadn't really slowed down much. He was still not taking a nap but was going to bed at 6p.m. which is very early but when he is not feeling well not uncommon for him.

While we were in Texas Caden asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. It was a huge moment. He was so excited and couldn't wait to come home and tell everyone. We ended up having to miss church though because he was sick for a while and finally he got to go one sunday and he told Pastor Hixon. I was so proud of Caden because usually Caden is very shy and it is like pulling teeth to get him to talk to people. Pastor Hixon likes to speak to the kids before they walk forward and get baptized to make sure they really understand what they prayed and what it means to have a relationship with Jesus so Caden and us went into his office 2 weeks ago and Caden was a little chatter box! I was a little shocked. My little boy is getting so grown up. Anyway Caden wanted to get baptized right away so we set it up for the following sunday. That was the week we found out about the pneumonia though and we had to reschedule...twice. Now that he is doing better it is back on and will be this Sunday!! Caden is super super excited about it.

I am now in my last year of my twenties! I don't know why but my birthday is still just like it was when I was a kid. I count down to it. I wake up several times the night before and the morning of is super exciting. People call to sing Happy Birthday, the facebook messages, the fun texts and cards. I mean really it is so much fun!!!! When you have kids it is even more awesome because you get to see on their little faces how much they want to help you have a good birthday. We went to IHop for breakfast, Red Robin for lunch and then Il Primo for dinner and shopped in between. According to Caden it was the best birthday ever and he wants to do the exact same thing for his. I guess my food choices were right there with a 5 year olds hehehe. My hubby had to work A LOT! so he is going to take me out some time soon for a great date night when his work load gets lighter. I told him that is fine it is like stretching my birthday out over into March which is when his birthday is so I get to keep celebrating with him : ) We also get to go out thanks to Aunt Jan and Doug still for Valentines day at Cheese Cake Factory because we saved our giftcard from christmas like we always do. So thank you guys!!!!

About Joe working so much please pray for him. His one supervisor is having to work in ft myers the past few weeks and it looks like he will be there for quite a while. While this supervisor is in ft myers that means that Joe is carrying the load of a full time super on his part time schedule. He worked about 39 hours last week and he is supposed to only work 20 to 25. He is tired but doing well and he actually enjoys the job. A lot of big wigs are watching him right now seeing if he can handle the job for possible promotions in the future. So please just remember to pray for him that he would remember to seek Gods will, not lose his cool under the pressure, make wise decisions and have energy. Also pray for me so I would have a good attitude as I want to support him and not be snippy when he tells me he won't be getting home till 11 or will be working on a day he was supposed to have off. I may have done that this last week (insert red shame face here) He told me I didn't but I felt like I did.

The Weekend

Friday Joe didn't have to work because of the holiday. We LOVE it when he is off and this day was even better because it worked out the best way possible. My mom had to have some surgery on her veins and I was taking her. Joe is such an amazing Daddy. He took the kids out to breakfast at IHop before taking them to the Letter Club (yep he played Mommy for the morning) and joined my friends at the park. I have the say my friends were really impressed that he brought the kids and said their husbands wouldn't have done it. The kids had a great time and he scored major points with their friends too by doing all the cool stuff at the park that only dads do. By the time they got home for lunch and I got home with mom even Bug was telling me what a great time she had. She is a total Mommy's girl and wasn't all that sure about her Daddy taking her Mommy's place that day but he won her over. Caden of course didn't have to be won over he is all about his Dad.

Mom did good with her surgery though she was sore. She is able to walk around and all which is very good she just can't over do and can't stand still she has to keep the circulation going. I have to keep an eye on her she is queen of trying to push the envelope on seeing just how much she can do before it is too much.

Anyway So Joe ended up having to go to work Friday night and Saturday but he got overtime which is good for this time year so God is good! We had a great time though when he got home. Caden and I went to the Library while he was at work on Saturday (Caden has discovered that he really can read he doesn't have to just read from his lesson book) but Bug decided to stay with Grandpa and Grandma and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas for like the zillionth time and yet another cooking show. I figure if she keeps watching all these cooking shows by the time she is tall enough to reach the top of the stove I will never have to cook another meal again.

Sundays are Church and then Bronco Football!!!! I have decided I do not like 1p.m. games. They mess up my day. It was a mad rush from church to Costco to the pizza place to try and get home in time for kick off and I had a coupon for Sunday only for a store and I had to go grocery shopping still too for the week. The kids were not happy about having to miss part of the game for naps and I had to leave at half time for all the things I had to get done. It was really inconsiderate of the football people to do that to us. Broncos won though!!!!! Browns lost : (

Caden's science project he is working on

racing Daddy

 I was gone at this point of the game see what happens when I am not around!

My Fishing Man

Caden has been asking to go fishing for a while now and since the weather has turned cooler my mom and I decided to take him. Before it was just too hot for me mostly because Bug has no intention of ever fishing and she has NO intention of touching a worm or shrimp and she has NO intention of sweating. Since I am the one that has to deal with the little princess while my mom gets to enjoy the boy and fish and I really didn't want to miss his fishing experience we waiting till I thought she wouldn't complain about sweating.

I have to point out that this pattern of one child enjoying fishing while the other has a strong aversion to it runs in the family.

As it turns out it was a PERFECT morning!!! Caden didn't catch anything but he had quite a few bites which was just as exciting as him actually catching a fish in his opinion. He was cute as could be with his fishing pole and the look of anticipation on his face. We got to see a bald eagle fly over us with a fish in his clutches. This excited both kids as it is Grandpas favorite bird and as a result Caden's too. I have to say God really blessed the trip it was beautiful out and we had a shady spot it was a little breezy too! Bug actually ended up having just as good of a time as everyone else pretending that the dirt, shells and sticks were food and cooking tools and she was making her own cooking show.  I didn't get to fish because I didn't buy my license yet but next time I will definitely be fishing too!!!

Here are a few pictures

A Few Pumpkin Photos

Waaaaay back at the beginning of October we got our pumpkins. The kids had a great time and here are a few pics from that outing.

Caden is big into ties right now. So he wears one when ever he gets the chance.

You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile!

This is the song Bug will be doing at her dance recital. She is beyond excited to say the least. Annie is one o her all time favorite movies and I love that she loves it because it brings back tons of memories for me. We would always watch that movie at my Grandma Krouts house when we were kids and it is impossible for me to see the movie and not think of her.  Anyway Bug was a little disappointed she wasn't going to do ballet because she like ballet better than tap (I think that is because she is better at it LOL) but she loves the song and gets to wear a hat so all is good. I threw her off by being in the room I wish I had recorded her when she didn't know I was watching because she did all the steps then but whatcha gonna do right? It's only the very beginning of the dance since they have only been working on the dance for 4 lessons now.

Enjoy the cuteness!

Out My Kitchen Window

The kids have been greatly enjoying the outside as of late. It's like they have discovered this new world and they must be out there in it at all times. I have to admit part of it is me. Joe and I were really cautious about letting them be outside without us so there playtime outdoors was limited to only when Mommy or Daddy felt like it. I grew up in this yard but Joe didn't so we decided to wait for them to explore the outdoors solo till they were older (well as old as 5 and 4 is). Joe still isn't super comfy with it but it has been awesome I have to say. I open the kitchen window and tell the kids to go have a good time but stay where I can hear and see them. I can do the dishes, make dinner, and fold laundry all while watching my amazing kiddos have the time of their lives out my kitchen window.

That is the whole reason I wanted that window there. Sure it kinda needed to be there because of the way the house is made but when we were talking about building I was insistent on having a kitchen window where I could see the backyard. It is so much fun!!

Yesterday I went out to hangout with them after getting the kitchen all clean and was texting my sister in Texas while she was having to do that whole 3 hour glucose test (she is fine by the way test came back good) and I was telling her Caden was hanging from the top of the swing set just like I used to do and then Bug climbed up on the slide and started singing into the pipe that is the top of the swing set (we do not have a fancy swing set we have the old fashioned kind) just like Heidi used too! It was so funny I just was dying. It was just like being sent back to when we were that age and we were the ones running around the same backyard having the time of our lives.

It made me really thankful for the great childhood I had. My parents were amazing we didn't have lots of money but they made sure we had moments just like these memories and we were beyond loved.  I am so glad that my kids are getting to enjoy some of the same joys. I pray they know they are as loved. God has blessed us beyond belief. Who would have thought so much joy could come from looking out the kitchen window.

Pumpkin time!!!!

It's Fall!!!!! I was so excited to have a little cool weather the other week that I spent the weekend doing yard work and hanging outside the whole week. Of course now that is over because it is so stinking hot right now but I am looking forward to it being cool again sometime in the future.

Today we are missing Letter Club for the first time since we started it : ( Caden has a cold and I didn't think that sharing those "I"cky germs with the other kids were be a good show and tell experience. The kids are bummed but Caden is feeling okay so we are going to take them to the pumpkin patch to pick out there pumpkins and we will be painting them tonight at family night. Caden is beyond excited it has pretty much been his favorite thing since he was 1. He already know what he is going to paint it too. It will be a fire breathing dragon to eat his sisters princess pumpkin that she is planning on painting. Gotta love that boy.