Jay Boy

Our little JJ is in such a cute stage right now. He is a quiet, type B personality...fine being in the background. He is a peacemaker, but so goofy! He's talking so much and is very bright. He also has an amazing memory (just like Cade)! He's learning to play computer games (PBS kids), is taking swim lessons (those floppy ears, goggles and dive position are to die for! XD) and is way above his age level...

BUT

he is still so little, and I love to observe him learning and growing each day. He is so brave, but still has his little baby gut and skinny little chicken legs and arms.

Here are a couple of cute things he's said lately:

*While having family home evening, I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the head. He looked up at me and said, "everybody loves me SOO much. Right, Momma?"

*While sipping on some hot chocolate with Cade, Cade said, "Look Mom, I'm the chocolate monster" (mustache).

Jay very seriously said, "I'm a chocolate monster, too. Every time I see chocolate, I eat it."

Jay also is known to be a light sleeper. He and Cade both sleep talk and sleep walk.

A couple of things he's said while we were waking him up (eyes still closed):

"twinkle twinkle little star...."

"wasn't me..."

I wish I could remember all of the other hundreds of things he says all the time that make me giggle every day. :)

Love you, JJ.

Paaaaartaaaaayyy!

JANUARY 14h 2012

CADE 5, JAY 3

For the first time, we had a split opinion on the birthday party theme...

So we did both!

Cade invited 5 friends, and Jay 3.

It was perfect.

The Spiderman Party Table:

...And the Cars 2 Party Table:

We had the parents drop off, and we spent an hour at Bounce N' Party:

Then Jon and I took all of the kids back to our casa to eat pizza, cake and open presents!

The boys had a ton of fun and got very spoiled. :)

We swore we would never own a gaming station (neither Jon or I are into video games), but we gave in quite early, as Cade loves playing his friend's wii's.

So they got their Wii and they love it!

Cade at 5 years: Doing awesome is school. Starting to sound out words and can read small words. Knows all of his ABC's and can sound out, and write out each of them. Taking swim lessons and is "way above his age level" according to his swim coach....diving for items at the bottom of the pool, holding his breath for 15 seconds or more and doing great stroking. LOVES "PUNCH OUT" game on the wii. Is a HUGE help to Mom.

46 lbs 80th% weight

45" 85th % height

Jay at 3 years: Loves going to the gym with Momma, playing with all of his friends. Big on coloring people right now. Also doing swim lessons and is starting to swim without a lifejacket. "Is very comfortable in the water" according to his swim coach. Is loving his roll as the big brother...and loves to try to make Cheekies smile. Loves playing PBS kids on the computer. Shares everything. :) Loves and is great at puzzles. Recently got a double ear infection and pneumonia... :( he's a trooper.

32 lbs 50th % weight

38" 55th % height

Sister's Lunch

We try to get together as women in the family about once a month for lunch. We switch off whose house it is at and they make lunch for everyone. It's always when the older kids are in school and the younger cousins get a "play date" with eachother.

This time it was at Mikin's house for my mom's 62nd birthday celebration. The theme was "still red hot @ 62"!! It was so fun! Here are all the women there (and Tyce and Johnny).

"Cade, are you IN my pants?"

Cheekies is 6 months!!

Half of a year??!!

This has been the quickest 6 months of our lives!!

-SITTING UP!

-breaking your second tooth!

-eating all kinds of solids, and you love all of it!

-still the happiest baby around!

Christmas Card

Merry Christmas to anyone we missed!

TWENTY TWELVE

Once again, not enough pictures!

NEW YEAR'S EVE:

-Puss n' Boots @ the discount theater with cousins

-Tom & Brooke family to our house to checks it

-double date with Tom and Brooke to Texas Roadhouse

-after party/games/seacrest countdown @ the Steve/Jean Gatten house

-Jon chaproned the youth dance

NEW YEAR'S DAY:

-Nice, big home-made waffle breakfast

-Church @ 11!

-family naps!

-nice dinner and bubbly with toasts to the new year!

tomorrow we write out our goals for FHE!

Gatten Family Reunion!! Cntd...

HOPE, ID

Pond Oreille Shores Condos

A week full of swimming, hot tubbing, steam rooms, saunas, basketball, duck hunting, racquetball, family fitness classes, crafting, too much food, not enough sleep, movies, skiing, games.....

the family birthday parties for December and January (Cade and Jay).....

And NOT ENOUGH PICTURES!!!

We were sad to see it end.

Christmas Eve/Christmas

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at our Steve Gatten Family Reunion at some condos in Hope, ID on Pond Orielle Lake.

We were bummed to not have Christmas in our new home, but once we got there, it made me realize home is where the family is.

Christmas Eve we had a big yummy dinner with everyone, then separated to open our one present (PJ's), then met up before bed. We sat by the burning fire and sang Christmas songs as I played the guitar, watched the nativity story video by the church, filled Jesus' stocking with goals for the year, and then Papa read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' to all of the grandkids:

It was awesome.

After the children were nestled all snug in their beds, the adults watched Elf AND Christmas Vacation (tradition)!

Christmas morning, we opened gifts in our own condo with our little family:

Cade

Jay

Tyce

trying to eat his presents!

We then made a nice, big breakfast and enjoyed a relaxing day together.

So glad Christ was born, and that we are reminded each year of Him.

Merry Christmas!