We have so much to be thankful for

We've had quite a rough few weeks with the boys but things are slowly becoming "normal" again. Both boys have been pretty sick, first with a cold then it turned into ear infections for both of them. In the last 3 weeks, we have been to the doctor 3 times and to the ER once. Austin had quite a rough few nights, the antibiotics he went on didn't take away his infection so it became way worse. He had 3 nights of being up most of the night in pain. It makes me so sad just thinking about it. One night he was in our bed because would not sleep for longer than 15 minutes and could barely get comfortable, that night I was headbutted in the eye and kicked in the head. AHHH! I've cried so much and have felt such sympathy for my little boys that I couldn't even focus on the fact that I was sick too. Mike has been so great and has been right there with me cleaning up throw up, rocking the boys back to sleep, giving countless doses of tylenol, and wiping snotty noses. It has made me realize how lucky I am to have a husband who really does just as much as I do, then he goes to work on top of it. I can't say enough about him, he truly is such a good man and an amazing Dad. He is sad when they are sad and happy when they are happy.

Through all the tough times we have been through in the last weeks, I can't help but be constantly reminded of how lucky we really are to have kids that are healthy and happy. That things could be so much worse.

Things that I am thankful for...

• My amazing husband
• Our beautiful boys
• Our cute little house
• Our health
• Our parents
• Our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents
• That we live in a beautiful place
• Our friends
• Our jobs
• the love we have in our hearts because of all these things

I pray that these things drift constantly into my mind to remind me why I wake up everyday and keep on living life.

Taken this time last year!

Austin's 1st haircut

We broke down and gave Austin his first haircut. As many of you know, I have had a really hard time even thinking about cutting Austin's hair. I just love his whispy curls and I think he looks adorable. Yesterday, at least 6 people referred to him as a girl...Doesn't really bother me, I can see how someone might think he was a little girl. It's the big blue eyes and the long curly hair. The hair in his face has really been bothering him. Now he looks like a little boy. There is no mistaking him for a girl any longer. It turned out super cute.

Before

During

After

Halloween 2008

It's hard to believe that Halloween has come and gone! It's crazy that we are already 4 days into November! What?! We had a good Halloween this year. This was Austin's first year where he kinda knew what was going on. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Stacy arrived Friday morning and we spent most of the day playing with the boys in the back yard. When Daddy got home from work and the boys were up from their naps, we headed out to the village for a little trick or treating...

Honestly, we probably won't go back next year. I have to say I find it really lame that they don't close down the street for this event. They have yellow tape up along the street, but anyone knows that yellow tape is not going to stop a toddler from running into the street. There were just way too many people and way too many cars. People were walking in both directions and it felt like a constant traffic jam. I just didn't find it very fun this year being down there. Halloween in itself is already incredibly overwhelming for kids, add a little bit of candy and hundreds of people and that is the recipe for a toddler melt down!!! After coming home from the village we decided that we would skip the trick or treating through the neighborhoods. We have the rest of their childhood to introduce them to that. It just wasn't worth it...We certainly didn't need or want more candy hanging around the house either. :) Kaden had lots of fun getting all dressed up in his pirate costume and Austin looked absolutely adorable in his dinosaur costume.

Later that night, after Austin was lost in dreamland, we decided to take Kaden on a walk to try and calm him down. We were walking through the neighborhood and we saw a coyote running through the street!!! I guess weirder things have happened on Halloween. We spent most of Saturday being lazy and shopping. The boys were spoiled once again by their Uncle Bobby and Aunt Stacy, Kaden got a new fire engine and pet monkey. Austin got a toy dog with a leash. Bobby and Stacy left on Sunday morning before we were awake. We had a blast with them and the boys were really sad to see them gone when they woke up.

Kaden is doing much better sleeping in his bed. He now goes down pretty easily at night and usually stays in his bed till 5 or 6am...Then he comes in bed with us. Better than him being up several times during the night and going into Austin's room and waking him up!!! Yeah, that was happening for about a week. It was torture... He is finally getting used to his bed and we are so proud of him.

Austin runs through the house now. He is getting his first year molars in right now, but he is taking it like a champ. Poor kid has been chewing and gumming anything he can. He continues to be a daddy's boy and I love that too!!! I'm debating whether or not to cut his hair. Last night Mike suggested we buzz his hair and I nearly choked...Ummm, you mean his curly adorable hair? Absolutely not!...I can't cut those curls off. His hair goes down to the middle of his back when it's wet! He has the cutest little curls I have ever seen. I'm not ready...

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving in Napa this year. We can't wait to see everyone. There are family members that we haven't seen since last Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading yet another update....