Taydens Selfies

Tayden loves to take pictures! My mom has a pocket size camera she has let him use while we've been here and he has loved it. I found these gems as I was scrolling through his pictures. 

He is SO cool.

Eleven

My wonderful baby Cache is eleven months old today! E-leven! I think out of the three children, his first year has gone the fastest. I remember seeing him in the NICU the first time and feeling like we would be there forever. Those 5 days seem to last longer than the past 11 months have. 

He is such a joy. He brings so much love and happiness into our home. The boys adore him and he loves the boys. He is still pretty laid back, but is slowly learning the power of tears. He is always smiling, never holds still and is growing up entirely too fast!

We hear often how much C looks like me. It's true. And after two boys that resemble their dad, its fun to have one that looks like me. Cache rocks his four in locks! His mohawk is starting to curl over and fall down. Its about time for a haircut.

Since we've been at my parents, Cache has become an awful sleeper. He was sleeping through the night right before he came, but that is a story of the past. Since we are sharing a room, he wakes up and sees me in  bed and stares and screams until I pick him up. Usually, I asleep with him in my arms and he stays with me most the night. It is something I vowed I would never do again, but here I am. Its going to be a pretty crappy habit to break.

At 11 months Cache:

-Has 4 teeth and working on more

-Has started walking. He is taking more and more consistent steps each day.

-Is a total mamas boy.

-Is vocal.

-Still really small. Like worrisome small. Definitely something I will be discussing with the doctor and possibly getting a second opinion about.

-Is a major sweater.

-Recognizes all his family members.

-Points to the things he wants.

-Eats everything.

-Is happy all the time. Mostly.

We love him so much and I can't imagine our life without him. I can't believe he will be a year next month. And he is going to get the best first birthday present ever... a new house!

We are set to close around October 11th, if not a little sooner. Scott sent me these pictures of the progress the other day. I am so in love with it!

Yay for Cache and house that is getting closer and closer to be finished. 

(Idaho) Preschool

As September was quickly approaching Tayden kept asking if summer was over and when school was going to start. I had planned on waiting until we got back into Vegas and things settled down to start school, but with his constant questioning and growing boredom I started looking for options in Idaho. I talked to a friend of mine and she gave me a referral to the preschool her daughter went to last year. Turns out it was my old softball coach and she made a spot for Tayden for a few weeks. He had his first day on Tuesday and loved it. Its in an actual building and set up just like a school and Tayden is totally digging it. He has show and tell tomorrow and can't wait to tell everyone about his super awesome Spiderman his Aunt Jo got him. I'm actually pretty bummed that it isn't in Vegas. Its a really great place. I am so grateful she was willing to take Tayden for the few weeks we have left.

 

 

And truly, its only a few weeks. As of this past weekend we have walls! Scott is hoping by this weekend the stucco will be done and the walls will be taped and textured. I love seeing updates.

 

After that, the fun stuff starts happening. Paint, tile, carpet, trim, cabinets, etc.

 

Feel good about things today.

Blackfoot Parade

One great thing about being in Idaho during the first of September is the Idaho State Fair. We headed up to Blackfoot Saturday morning for the kick off parade and had a blast. The kids loved watching the floats and gathering candy while I enjoyed chatting with my cousin.  

Tayden has been on a major shark kick lately. He acts like a shark and gives me this face whenever he is mad. It is comical/annoying and I'm hoping he's out of this phase soon. Dang you Shark Boy and Lava Girl. 

Cache loved watching the fire trucks and ambulance go by, which surprised me. But he loved it and was great during the whole hour and half long parade!

It was a nice change for the boys and fun to get out and do something different. 

Now only 4 more weeks! 

House Update

Scott reminded me that there were pictures of the house I hadn't posted.

 

 Windows are in!

 

We have bath tubs, electrical and heating and cooling done. I'm pretty sure the plumbing is done as well.

The sheet rock was stacked and ready to be put up as of Monday.

 



 

He gets home from work for the week today, so hopefully we'll see some more progress and have more pictures to share. 

A week in Idaho

Another week down and one more closer to our finished home. This week was good. We played lots, hung out with family and started to establish a good routine. Then Scott flew in Thursday and messed everything up! Haha. Isn't that how it goes? Its okay, I would ruin our schedule any day for daddy. We loved having him here and are sad to see him go. 

In all honesty though, this week was good. Everyone is starting to settle down. Bedtime is getting easier, the boys are getting along and we are making things work. I worked really hard to be positive with Tayden and he was much better this week. We did have one morning of 'consequence chores' due to some naughties at bed time the night before, but other that I feel like things went rather smoothly. 

After a week of counting down until Daddy came, Thursday finally rolled around. We were all happy and ready to go to the airport, then we got some bad news.

He was going to be late! His airplane had some mechanical errors mid flight so they had to turn around and go back to Vegas. I am so incredibly grateful that he was safe and they were able to make it back to Vegas without any issue, but it was still a hard thing to try to explain to his boys who had been patiently waiting for him 

These are our mad faces. Tayden was still genuinely upset in this picture. 

However, only 3 hours late, we were able to pick up Daddy. As I walked behind all four of my boys I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my family and the eternity of families. Its hard not to be grateful for all my blessings. Most of all these four. 

We hit the movie Friday during nap time. Cache was great and slept during 3/4 of it. Beckett did his best, but passed out about 20 minutes before it was over. Tayden loved it and was excited he finally saw Turbo.

My birthday was Saturday and Scott got me some beautiful pearls, although Tayden really wanted to get me a barbie...because that is what girls like. I got multiple phone calls, texts and facebook messages of well wishes for my birthday. We went out to dinner with my parents and finished the night with pie. It was a great birthday! 

Plus, Scott and I were able to go to the temple together with his brother Matt. It was an awesome experience to be in the temple with the whole family! We're so proud of him and excited for him to serve in South Africa! It was just icing on the cake of an already great day. 

We also had some crazy rain in Idaho this week. These pictures were taken Friday after the movie. I haven't seen rain like that in years. I love love love the rain, so it was a special treat for me.

Oh, and before I forget... My boys do their own hair...everyday. Its makes me proud to watch them grow, but a little embarrassed to go out into public, but mostly proud!

We dropped Scott off this morning to head back to Vegas. It was a great weekend and he'll be back in 11 short, but probably long, days. Saying goodbye never gets easier and the car is usually filled with tears on the drive back to Pocatello. 

We're missing him already. 

(Tayden stares at his dad in our big Mennear family picture.)

Phew, I got it done. If this post sounded rushed and jumbled, its because it was. Scotts waiting for me to call as we speak, but I feel it so important to stay up on my blog, since it is our family journal. Hopefully, things will slow down a little more for me to blog more regularly and with a little more clarity. Until then, it is what it is and we'll all just have to deal.

Heres to another good week! 

Going Up

The house is going up! And, it can't go fast enough.

 Kitchen Island.

 From the kitchen looking into the living room.

 From the kitchen island looking up to the stairs. To the left is the formal front room and to the right is the dining room.

Kitchen Island to dining room.

Upstairs. The middle doorway is to the bathroom with a room on either side.

Entrance of the top of the stairs. This is the loft and the doorway is to the master bedroom.

Its getting closer!

Like I said, it can't come soon enough. The stress of being 'homeless' is getting to the kids. I forget how sensitive they are to our emotions and how much they pick up from our example. The past few weeks have been nothing short of hectic and it is starting to wear on them, especially Tayden. Their listening skills used to be my pride and joy. They have always listened fairly well, until about 2 weeks ago. I repeat myself at least 15 times a day...or so it feels so. T is pushing every button I have and he knows it.  On top of flat out ignoring me, he is talking back, being rude and tormenting his little brother. Its pushed me to the breaking point and leaves me questioning if I am going to be able to stick this out for the next 6 weeks. It will be worth it. We will get back into a routine and a schedule and he will mellow out. Alot of me thinks he is trying to find some sort of control in his life. I don't do well with the unknown and he may be proving to be the same.

However, just as my life seemed to be spirally out of control, I had the opportunity to go through the temple with my sister in law, Ashley, as she took out her endowments. It was so neat to go through the temple with her and it was a much needed session for me. I found peace and clarity during the two hours I was there. I was in a dark and confusing place. Not only being mentally and physically exhausted, but spiritually as well. I was reminded in the temple that joy comes from fulfilling our potential. I have not been fulfilling my potential as a mother lately. In fact, I've flat out neglected my calling as a mother. I've been short and quick to get angry. I've been looking at it as a burden and my kids behavior as a burden. The temple gently reminded me what life is about and gave me hope that things will get better. I learned again to be positive about life and our trials. All to often I am quick to be negative or complain about the boys and their behavior. I vocalize it too loudly. And when we give in to negativity, it only exasperates the problem. It clouds our sight and makes things seem worse then they are and the vicious cycle continues. So this is the last I will be complaining about the boys. I'm taking this challenge head on with a positive attitude. I am going to find things to keep them busy. I am going to give them peace and comfort and stability in all this and do my best to love and cherish every moment I get to be among family. I am going to stop talking badly about them to other people, even if the people I am talking to are noticing...and commenting...about how poorly they are acting. I am going to be a shining example and advocate for my kids and help them through this. Because it is not easy on them. I forget I am not the only one going through a hard change. 

Among all this, its exciting to see the house go up and it already feels like home. 

This will be worth it.

And as two very smart women reminded me, "Come what may, and love it!"