Christmas Card Picture Time- FINALLY

So we FINALLY got around to taking our family picture for our Christmas card. Here are a few...







On a totally separate note, I have come to the conclusion that almonds will now be banned from our house. I was snacking on a few, talking with my dad and brother, and then I swallowed wrong and started choking/coughing. Beware- the almonds are out to get us!

Trevor's quote of the day

"Mom, were you born in 1777 or 1977?"

A favorite quote from the past...
"He's so strong he can pick up a house...or my mom!"

Scary!

This morning I was just cruising around the house picking up the occasional stray toy, folding and putting away laundry- the usual weekday morning routine. Trevor was in trouble sitting on a stool in the middle of his room, and Maddie was watching cartoons and playing with the puppy. I was in the middle of making my bed, when I heard a voice in my head clearly say, "Go help Maddie". I was a little stunned and then ran out to find her. There she was on the couch, her face was a purplish bluish and she couldn't breathe. I saw that she had the container of almonds sitting next to her and assumed that was what she was choking on. I grabbed her and started pounding her back with no success. I then picked her up and ran next door screaming for my brother Ryan to help me. He jumped out of bed, got her and started hitting her back. All of a sudden to my relief, she started coughing and took a huge breath in. Her color started coming back to normal. I took her in my arms, hugging her so tight and went back home. We sat down in a chair and I just rocked us, held her tight, and sobbed. I also said a prayer thanking my Heavenly Father for my precious little girl and for her safety. I know that He was watching over her, and I'm so thankful that I listened to His prompting so I could help her.

Trevor walked out a few minutes after I came back home with Maddie wanting to know if he could come out of his room, totally oblivious to what had just happened. He saw that I was crying, turned around and walked back to his room. I actually laughed out loud at that! Poor little guy was clueless!

The rest of the day I've just been walking around the house in circles, still kind of dazed. I just can't get the picture of her not breathing out of my mind.

Maddie's First Solo Ride

Thanksgiving Weekend

This year was our year to spend Thanksgiving with the Casida side of the family. We spent it camping in the desert at Dove Springs. We all had a great time hanging out, riding motorcycles, and as a special treat, Todd got the Dune Buggy up and running for me to drive around the desert! Good times were had by all which is very obvious when you look at the following pictures!












We FINALLY convinced Trevor to ride his motorcycle with no training wheels and he took off! Before we knew it he was doing donuts and going off little jumps, no problem!


This is how Maddie spent the whole weekend- helmet, goggles and riding gloves.



She even ate with them on!













How cute, the brothers (Todd and Logan) playing together! They're actually trying to jumpstart Nate's quad.












Trevor is following Logan and Nate on his motorcycle, and Maddie is chasing all 3.


How sad! Somebody buy that poor girl a motorcycle!



Nate on his quad.


Finally Maddie gets

her chance!

Cousin Austin kept racing Maddie and Trevor up the hill behind us- oh to be 18 again!


Maddie with Uncle Logan wearing his beanie.


Winner of "Best Crash of the Weekend" award. Our friend Ryan was thrown from his bike and dislocated his nose and fractured his thumb. We think he was just trying to get out of packing up to go home!

Thankful Thoughts...

I've had the stomach flu for the past few days, so I've had lots of time to ponder things I am thankful for in my life. Here's just a few:

1. Todd, my Knight in Shining Armor. Not many husbands will stop fooling around with his motorcycle to come in and check on his wife every few minutes when she's sick, empty her puke bucket, get a cold washcloth to put on her brow and take care of all 3 kids. I'm so lucky to have such a great guy!

2. My lovely children...the random, out of the blue kisses and I love you's, The screams of love as you pull gum from their hair, the tantrums in the store because you said "no" to getting a $300 robotic horse that just stands there and eats a fake carrot, the glares and slamming of doors I get when I say a friend can't come home with us today (and he's only 9, can't wait for the teenage years!) Yes, I am thankful for my children.

3. My health, or lack of it the past few days. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because, well, I love to eat. I've been trying to lose some weight before JJ's wedding in January, and thanks to the stomach flu this week, food does not appeal at all. No extra holiday pounds for Jen this week at least!

4. Family. I'm so lucky to be so close with my family, quirky and deranged as they may be. I rarely have to pay for a babysitter, I have someone I can call anytime day or night when I need some help or a shoulder to cry on. Although tragedy has hit us in the last year, I am thankful for the closeness it has brought with my cousins. My family always keeps me laughing, from game nights to their everyday antics like getting stuck and hanging in bank teller windows :D

5. Good friends. A friend that makes you stay home with your family for Thanksgiving instead of visiting her in Idaho and holding a brand new baby, friends who go walking with you every week so that you can have some adult conversation and venting time to keep your sanity- I guess the exercise is good for me too! Friends who consider me an "honorary sister" and welcome me into their family.

6. Blogs. I am thankful for blogs because they allow me to stay in touch with friends and family across the country, and in doing so has strenghtened our bonds and friendships. It also allows me to share different events and funny stories about our family with those who can't be here.

7. Our home. Our little safe haven where we can be togather, safe and happy, and shut out the world.

8. Being a stay at home mom. It's not an easy job, and living paycheck to paycheck isn't fun, but I wouldn't change it for the world and I am grateful for the opportunity.

9. Temple marraige. I am so thankful that I was married in the temple so that my family is sealed together for eternity. Even though I sometimes can't handle being with the kids for an afternnon without going crazy, I'm still glad that we will be together forever.

10. Christ. I am thankful for the sacrifices that He made for me so that I may live with Him again someday.

11. Prayer. I cherish the prayers offered by my children at meals and bedtime. Their sweet innocent words comfort me and I am so thankful that they know and love their Father in Heaven, and they feel His love in return. I have had many an answer to prayer and know that my Heavenly Father knows me and listens to my prayers.

12. The Holiday Season. I love this time of year when we get together for the holidays and enjoy the company of family and friends. These are some of my happiest times and fondest memories. On the other hand, it also makes me start to stress over planning 2 January birthday parties. I don't recommend January babies!

13. School and Pre-school, and teachers of course! I savor those few hours a week when I am kid free. Teachers are amazing people- they have 10-30 of other peoples children every day and yet they still have a smile on their face and are so thankful for you helping in their class a meesely hour a week. There is definitely a special place in heaven for teachers, and definitely a reason I changed my major from becoming one! Patience is not my forte!

I suppose I should stop here. I fear I've stalled long enough. I have to break down and do laundry and pack for our Thanksgiving adventure now. I hope you all take a few minutes this week and reflect on what you're thankful for. And I hope you all have a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving weekend filled with love, laughter, family and friends. I know I will! Love to all!

Fashion Show

Sunday we had some family over for dinner: Nana. Aunt Cindy, Cousin Amber, Cousin Ivy, her husband Chris and their son Bailey, and then of course my parents, and JJ & Kristen. Maddie and Bailey decided to put on a fashion show for us. Nana was in Maddie's room dressing the kids and sending them out.


Maddie and Bailey
















Bailey looking lovely in his hat and boa.


















Trevor decided to join in the fun!

















Bailey is pretty in pink. Love the blond ringlets.

















We had a good laugh, and hopefully we didn't emotionally scar poor Bailey!

Sleeping Beauty

The other night we had some family over to watch a movie. It was still fairly early so the kids were still up playing and hanging out with the aunts and uncles. I happened to notice that we hadn't seen or heard from Maddie for a while. I went looking for her and found this:

She was standinng there fast asleep, snoring away. I love how her leg is crossed even! She definitely takes after her dad being able to sleep anywhere, anytime!

Double Tag

I got tagged by Shan and Robin. I guess I have to play along!

1. 8 shows that I watch:
-Eli Stone
-Jon & Kate Plus 8
-One Tree Hill
-Lost
-Grey's Anatomy- I don't know how much longer though if they don't get away from the whole lesbian thing
-Criminal Minds
-30 Rock
-Dancing with the Stars

2. 8 favorite restaurants:
-Blue Agave
-El Ranchito
-Red Robin
-Islands
-Lascari's
-Olive Garden
-Summit House
-Ruby's Diner

3. 8 things that happened yesterday:
-Gave kids breathing treatments
-watched the news about the fires
-went to church by myself
-went to Longs to refill Trevor's Steroids
-cleaned house
-had Aunt Cindy, Nana, Chris Ivy and Bailey, JJ & Kristen and my parents over for dinner in my little house
-watched Jeff Dunham's Christmas special
-watched Maddie and Bailey do a fashion show for us

4. 8 things I'm looking forward to:
-Going to Idaho to visit Dan, Shan & baby girl Adair
-Thanksgiving dinner-yum!
-watching Bailey tomorrow
-Todd coming home
-The kids' bedtime
-my computer being fixed
-Girl's night out Friday to see Twilight
-vegging in front of the TV tonight in the peace and quiet

5. 8 things on my wish list:
-a house
-finish the kitchen
-finish the backyard
-be out of debt
-another baby- hey, it says "wish" list
-a housekeeper
-a weekend away without kids- with Todd or friends, I'm not picky
-not be the PTA President

6. 8 things that I love:
-My Family
-My friends
-cleaning out/organizing
-a clean house- it doesn't happen very often
-Being a stay-at-home mom
-game nights
-ice cream
-walking/venting with my friends

7. 8 things I can't stand:
-figuring out answers to these questions- 8 for each? Really? It's a bit much!
-computer viruses
-whiny kids
-Wednesday morning early start for school
-drama
-clutter
-a messy house
-being told that I'm wrong

8. 8 people that I tag:
-Kristen
-Jill
-Lauren
-Shannon & Paul
-Deanna
-Roxie
-Carla
-Kamryn

It's Snowing!

Maddie came running into our room this morning as excited as can be and said," Mommy! Daddy! It's snowing outside! Look! I need to get my snow boots and beanie on so I can play outside!" Unfortunately, the "snow" falling from the sky is ash from the fires that are surrounding us, and much to her disappointment, the last thing she will be doing today is play outside!

Helloooo...Tooth Fairy....

I don't know about you, but we have a really flaky tooth fairy. My kids will put their tooth under their pillows and it'll stay there for days until she finally gets around to stopping by. She's constantly leaving notes apologizing for the long wait, usually because of an impromtu vacation or claims of being swamped. This has got to stop! I think it's time to start looking for a replacement or figure out how to whip her into shape. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. My kids deserve to have a reliable, dependable tooth fairy! No more excuses little fairy, just show me the money!

Halloween Haunting

We had so much fun trick-or-treating last night! Our friends do a haunted house every year, and we stopped by to check it out. Maddie and I were the only ones in our family to actually go through it. We're tough chicks!

If anybody has a sweet craving, we've got plenty of candy to satisfy it. We had to keep going back to the car to unload the kids' bags because they were so full and heavy.

Here are a few pictures of our little goblins in their costumes and carving pumpkins the night before.


Super Girl, Maddie






Ninja Warrior, Trevor


The Headless Horseman, Nate


Quite a motley crew!


Maddie loved her Goofy pumpkin.


Trevor did his own design and all of his own carving.


Nate of course chose the hardest, most intricate design. It's not done yet, but it was getting late. There's nothing worse than a tired headless horseman!

Popcorn Balls

"...a popcorn ball that would smell so sweet...."- sing it if you know it! Tonight we had a special treat and got to decorate popcorn balls. Grams and Grandpa Skip Casida sent the kids the popcorn and decorations in the mail. Very exciting when the kids get their own package!

Nate and Maddie working hard.


Trevor was having issues, so dad steppped in to help.


Maddie is so proud of her creations!


Even Todd joined in the fun.


Forget the decorating, I'm just gonna eat mine.


Some of the final products.


We ran out of popcorn, so Todd started decorating Nate.

A good time was had by all. Thank you for the gift Grams and Grandpa Skip!

Trick-or-Treat

Nate, Trevor, Joel, Maddie,Emily, Christopher & Luke

Friday night we went to Disneyland/Ca Adventure and went Trick-or-Treating. The kids and adults alike had a blast, although us 3 three moms were wondering why we spent the money for our husbands to go too. The 3 of them hung-out,walked behind us and talked together all night. We got a ton of candy which I plan to "re-gift" on Halloween night. My camera was acting funny, so I only got a couple of pics, and even those aren't the greatest. I'll have to check with my friends and see if they have any better ones to add.
I do have to mention that Trevor and his friend Luke braved the California Screamin' rollercoaster in Ca Adventure. They were the only 2 out of all the kids to go. Their dads took them, and those were some very proud fathers when they got off the ride! Both boys actually came back smiling!

I would like it go go on record that I ,Jen, the ultimate procrastinator and last minute girl, had all 3 costumes ready tonight, Friday, October 10th, 3 whole weeks before Halloween!

Nate is the Headless Horseman (He doesn't have his whole costume on here), Trevor is a Ninja Warrior, and Maddie is Super Girl.

A Helpful Tip

I learned a cool tip from my sister-in-law Kamryn the other night and thought I'd share. To keep cut up fruit from browning like bananas and apples, I had always heard to use lemon juice. My Sis in law told me that if you run the cut fruit under tap water, that also keeps it from turning brown and in turn doesn't change the taste either. I tried it yesterday and it worked!I guess it doesn't last as long as citrus, but it lasted all day yesterday. I don't know what that says about our tap water though....:)

Dizzy Dreams

This is a conversation Trevor had with Grandma when she was tucking him into bed. "Grandma, sometimes when I lay my head down on my pillow at night and close my eyes, my eyes get dizzy and start spinning in circles inside my head. Then I just shake my head a little and it's all better."

Don't worry Trevor, it's probably just lack of oxygen to your brain because of your asthma. You just keep shaking your head my "special" little child!

Beauty Rest

Last night Maddie was wide awake laying in her bed, so Todd crawled in beside her to help her wind down and go to sleep. Todd was snuggled up with her with his arm across Maddie's belly, and he was asking her questions about her many adventures of the day. All of a sudden Maddie asks, "Daddy, could you take your arm off me?" so Todd complied. He proceeded to ask her some more questions, and then Maddie says, " Excuse me Daddy, but could you be quiet please? I need my beauty rest."

The "Moon" Is Out.

This morning I'm in the kitchen making lunches, and Maddie comes in babbling something about the moon. I just nodded and said, "oh really?" because half the time you can't understand what she says anyway. Then she says "Mom, look at me when I'm talking to you!" I look and she tells me, "the full moon is out!" I look at her a little puzzled, and then my beautiful, dainty daughter proceeds to turn around, pull down her pants, and moon me!
I'm in shock and thinking, Really?! You just did that to me?
I'll have to thank her father whose favorite past time is going around mooning the kids!

Game Night

So a lot of you know that our family likes to have game night Sunday nights after the kids are in bed. Tonight we played Taboo. It's Crystal's turn to desribe the word for us to guess, and the clue she gives us is,"Sean has really bad this..." I pipe in "Acne!", Kristen says "Eyesight!", Ryan says "Taste in women!" It went downhill from there.We did eventually guess the word- it was asthma. But it wasn't even in the top 5 guesses! Poor Sean, we say these things out of love and because we miss you. Will you still come visit next weekend? You know you don't want to miss game night!

Normal Nate

My poor Nate, he's too normal and serious so I never have anything to write about him. It doesn't help that he's surrounded by a nutty brother and sister. Nate just sits back, rolls his eyes and shakes his head at them. At us his parents too! He's my 40 year old in a 9 year old body. I usually say 30 year old, but realized I'm in my 30's, and he is so much more gown-up and mature than me! We are very proud of Nate because he was just accepted into the G.A.T.E. program at school. I just learned that GATE stands for Gifted And Talented something- I don't remember what the "E" stood for. I guess that's why I was always the kid that just missed the cut-off for GATE. Yeah, you're pretty smart Jen, but not "gifted and talented" smart.
Anyways- good job Nate! We're so proud of you!

Who's kid is this?

Trevor loves to do math. Every night when the boys go to bed, they have 30 minutes to read in bed. Lately instead of reading, Trevor has been getting out this math workbook he has and does math problems. In church the other day, he took multiplication flash cards. He decided he needs to learn his times tables now because he'll have to know them for third grade. He just started 2nd grade! Whenever we go somewhere, he brings the math workbook so he'll have something "fun" to do. Gag! The last thing in the world I want to do for fun is math! I think they sent Trev to the wrong family- He should have gone to Uncle Ryan, the High School math teacher. Honestly, they both think math is fun, they both have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and they're both too smart for their own good! I can see them exchanging math equations at the dinner table....

"Princess"

Maddie was hanging out watching TV with uncle Ryan when a Sleeping Beauty commercial came on. Uncle Ryan asked if Maddie was a princess. Maddie replied,"Yeah, that's what everyone always calls me, but my real name is Maddie Casida."

She also insists that she goes to high school instead of pre-school. Oh please, she's a big enough diva now, I have nightmares of her in high school! Let's not rush things!

Beauty Shop

Maddie did my hair tonight. Need I say more? Ah, how cute-she has my double chin!

11 Fabulous Years

"There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved." George Sand

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary, and besides the 3 kids, the extra pounds and the gray hair (Todd), nothing has changed since that blissful day 11 years ago. We're just a couple of big kids goofing around and having fun as much as possible while trying to raise a happy and healthy family.
I'm pretty proud to tell people how long we've been married when they ask, and I love to see the look of surprise at my answer with the inevitable following question, "How old is your oldest son?" I like to follow-up and say, "You know, people do get married just for love still, not only for unexpected pregnancies!"
I feel bad because the other day my friend asked me if our family had any plans this weekend. I thought for a minute and then told her,"No, no plans." The fact that it was our anniversary Saturday never occurred to me. Tonight we were going to go out to dinner and then down to the beach, but Todd was busy tiling our kitchen floor and our babysitter got called into work so we just stayed home saying we'll make it up another night- both knowing that it will probably never happen! But life doesn't stop just because it's a special day.
I feel so blessed to have the life I do. A beautiful family, wonderful friends and a handsome, loving, helpful, hard working, supportive husband who spoils me and is an amazing father to our children.
I'm excited to see what the next 11 years will bring for us. And the next 11, and the 11 after that.......

Honey....you're old !

Todd has always loved soccer. He played from 5 years old all the way through high school. When we were dating our senior year, Shantel and I would go watch his AYSO evening games. (We enjoyed the evening games because Todd's team wore white shorts, and with the lights shining behind them there was no need to ask them,"boxers or briefs?"....)Naughty girls!
Anyways, Todd has tried to pass his love of soccer onto our kids. He has coached both boys teams for the last 4 years and has been itching to play himself. Our friend Ken Putnam has been playing in a co-ed indoor soccer league and invited Todd to try it out.
Todd has been so pumped and excited to go play. Last week was his first game, and he learned that he's not quite as swift and agile hauling an extra 50 lbs. around. So this week he went mountain bike riding a couple of times and has been stretching more tryng to build up his endurance and get his game back. So this Thursday's game rolls around and he's feeling a little more confident. He's out there, he's feeling good. 4 minutes into the game, playing defense, he was in pursuit of cutting off a through pass. Todd put all he had into it and cleared the ball only to hear a "pop" along with agonizing pain shooting through his leg. He pulled his hamstring. Poor Todd. Honey, I'm sorry, but you're old. You might need a little more than a couple bike rides to get back into shape....just a thought.

A Not So Welcome Milestone

Another chapter of our lives has started. My baby, my constant companion, my shadow started pre-school today. Sigh.......Shouldn't I be missing her?
All I can think about are the many things I can accomplish by myself, 3 mornings a week, for 2 1/2 hours. I can think of many pros, but the cons just aren't coming to me. Mom of the year here!

Pros:
- Go to PTA Board meetings and other meetings by myself without 20 potty breaks
- I can get through shopping a lot faster
- I'll save money because I'm a sucker and get her something every time we go out
- I'll have time to exercise and get in shape- I know, I was laughing so hard myself that I could barely type it!

Now some Cons....
Hmmmmm....I'll have to get back to you.

Quite Possibly the Perfect Day

So today I had what to me is quite possibly the perfect day. The boys who sleptover here were picked up by 8:30 AM, Todd was out mountain bike riding for the morning, the kids were mellow because they were exhausted from staying up all night with the friends, and I had a Saturday with no plans.

I know I'm behind the times, but I finally bought the first 2 books in the Twilight series last weekend. With this week being so hectic , I was only about 50 pages into the the first book. So, I decided today was the day for me to relax and celebrate MY survival of the 1st week of school.

I sat in my bed, in sweats, all day long reading my book. It was fantastic! Todd brought lunch home for us, the kids were quiet and did their own thing, throughout the day a kid would wander in with a book of their own and lay down and read with me for a while. No one bothered me, I just read my book all day! Todd never even asked me if I was going to get up and do something else today. He vacuumed & mopped my living room (necessary after the sleepover), made dinner, and bathed the kids! What a great guy!

I finished the book around 9:30 tonight, and everyone (including Todd) was crashed out for the night. I ended my day with some Ben & Jerry's Half-Baked ice cream (okay, so it was the whole carton!) and watching some Jon & Kate Plus 8 episodes that I had recorded. Honestly, does it get any better than this?

Crazy?!

To celebrate the end and survival of the first week of school, I got this bright idea for my boys to each invite a friend over for a sleepover. Trevor however has 2 best friends-twins- so of course we invited them both. So I had three 7 year old boys, and two 9 year old boys.

We all had a great time. We ordered pizza & soda, I made brownies and popcorn and they played the Wii and watched movies all night. Maddie of course thinks she's one of the guys too, so she joined in with the video games, the belching contests and the making of noises only little boys can make with their armpits. I really need to find some girls for her to hang-out with!

Open mouth, insert foot!

Okay, so I'm at Trevor's school this morning, making small talk with some moms I knew from last year. The other moms took off, and I'm left with a mom who I worked with a couple times last year with some PTA things. I knew that last school year, she was a stay at home mom so I think to myself-let's do a little PTA P.R. so that I can call on her to help this year. She was dressed up very nicely in a skirt and heals so I commented on it. The conversation went as follows:

Me: Hey, how's it going? You look so nice and dressed up today, do you work now?
Mom: No. I just have some visiting to do today.
Me: Oh how nice! What a good friend you are!
Mom: Actually, I'm a Jehovah's Witness. I'm going knocking on doors today.
Me: That's great! Good luck with that!
Mom: Are you going straight home?
Me: Actually, I have a couple of errands to run and then I'm going home.
Mom: So you'll be home in about an hour you think?
Me: Ya, probably
Mom: Great! I'd love to come by and share some information with you. I heard you were Mormon and I'd like to share the true gospel with you.
Me, who does not handle confrontation well: Actually, I totally forgot- I have to take Madison to speech today. It lasts for most of the day, and I get back just in time to pick up the boys from school. (Really no speech today, and it only lasts 45 minutes!)
Mom: Well, you need this information! Why don't I go to speech with you and we can talk there?
Me: They don't allow anyone there except patients and immediate family (I say lying through my teeth)
Mom: Well, what are you doing tomorrow?
Me: Oh, look at the time! We're gonna be late! Gotta go!(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I don't need help this badly!)

2 down, 1 to go!

Today was the first day of school! Yeah! It also starts another year of being PTA President-Boo!

Nathan was up and dressed, ate breakfast and made his own lunch by 6:15 this morning- he doesn't start school until 8:00! Trevor on the other hand was dragging up until the very last minute- he starts at 9:00 and we barely made it!

I have a son in 2nd and 4th grades- I feel so old! Maddie was very upset to learn that she was not going to pre-school today and in fact has to wait until next Monday for it to start-oh the tears! Drama!

Here are some pics from this morning.

(Above)Maddie, 3 1/2 years- obviously this picture was taken before I broke the news that she didn't have school today!

Trevor 7 years, 2nd Grade

Nate, 9 years, 4th Grade

They almost look like they like each other, don't they?!