#2

I decided to do this in 2 entries because I have a hard time adding all the pics and getting them where I want in just one huge post so here we go again. This week Parker has a super hero day at preschool. They were each given a letter to use and Parker had Z. I didn't remember until about 30min before the morning of so I dug up some fabric and made a quick cape and mask for him. We also sewed and patch to his shirt. It was cute. All the kids were so excited. We might have to do dress up more often.
KC is everywhere!! He is pulling himself up on everything and walking along stuff now. I can't believe how fast he is growing. but he is such a doll, I just can't get enough of him, well except at 5 in the morning, I get a little too much then. :). His most recent discovery is the piano. He's found he can reach the keys and thinks it great that they make noise. He follows me all over the house like a little puppy, I love it. And Parker is learning to share a bit more. Expecially at nap time. :) Sometimes I go in their room and find the crib full of toys and poor little KC stuck in one corner not sure what to do. He loves the attention from his big brother though, and its so fun to watch them together.
Today I got a new treasure from free cycle. A bunk bed. its the kind with a single on top and a futon on the bottom. We need to get a futon matress, and paint it all, but it will be fun to have, We are going to put it in our tv room so we have a couch in there and also will have extra bed when, if ever, we have company. So you are all officially invited to come stay. :)

Monday was Kennys birthday, my bro that past away. He would have been only 22. It was a hard day having all my family gone, except my little family here of course. But we went to Kennys grave that night for family night and took some flowers. Then we got icecream. I can't believe it has been almost 2 years already. Seems so long, but so short at the same time. I miss him a lot. The other day I was talking and caught myself saying something that totaly reminded me of Kenny. Just the way he talked and his expressions. Its hard to think that he really is gone and I won't see him again in this life. He was such a fun guy. And I remember he gave the best hugs, really big strong hugs. Like he really loved you and didn't mind at all hugging like some guys do. Its just not the same without him.

I'm back

Well, I'm not very good at keeping up on this. I don't know how you all find time to post everyday or read everybody else's. This week has been good, much better than the last. Everyone is healthy finaly and doing really good. I even got a free day today!!! My parent took the kids overnight last night and kept them until after 5:00 tonight. It was so great. I had all sorts of plan to fill the day, but I ended up in the kitchen for about all of it. But thats okay, I was having lots of fun.

I was able to start and finish the cake for Julies shower on Saturday. It took a long time, like 6hrs or more, but I love it!!! It was so fun to do and the candy decorations I made to put on it turned out just the way I wanted. It feels good to have it done. Expecially since we have a busy few days ahead of us. I did a cake last week for Aaron office again. It was a scuba theme. I found a mold that I used to make the sea creatures from fondant. Then I painted them with food coloring.I was looking back on all my cake pics so far as I organized all our digital pics tonight, and I can't believe how some of the first look. Its amazing what a few months practice and some confidence can do. This is so fun, but expensive. I wish I could find more people to do cakes for, even just for the cost of the ingredients so I could get more practice. Tonight as I finished I had one litle cake left over and so Parker and I put some frosting on it and he covered it with gummie worms and candles. After dinner we even sang happy birthday. He was so excited. he loves to pretned he is making cake and that it is his birthday. Here is a pic of a cake he made with his playdough. It is fun to see him play and mimic me. Who knows, maybe he'll grow up to be the next Duff. (Ace of Cakes)

The Sickies

Yesterday Morning Parker started to feel yucky, fever, tummy ache, all that flu stuff that is so miserable. Mostly he just layed around all day, slept, watched movies and wanted to cuddle. I thought that this was bad, until about midnight. That's when KC started crying. I ventured into the room and smelled something not so delightful, picked up the baby to smell his diaper and got a face full of throw up instead. yum..
So the rest of the night I got to spend holding KC and making sure he wasn't choking on his vomit, today we are all trying to re coop. Aaron was so wonderful to stay home and let me get some sleep this morning, now hes in bed, I think he may have a touch of it too. Parker is still not quite himself, and KC, while very stinky, and not able to keep food down, is happy as can be and into everything. poor kids, I feel so bad when they are sick. but I'm glad I get to be here with them and help them feel better.


Aaron update--- Since starting the remicade over a month ago now Aaron has gained 15lbs!!! I'm sure mostly its the medicine helping him, but maybe a little too much cake as well. :) He's feeling great, other than the flu, and we are really enjoying him. He's taken up golfing and really have fun with it when he gets a chance to go. Our days are pretty busy with all the stuff I fill them up with, but occasionally he gets s night out. It's been good for him to find a fun hobby. We also found out this week that he was accepted to the MPA program at UofU. he has decided not to do it, but it's always nice to be accepted. he is starting a MBA program through University of Phoenix in 2 weeks. it should take about 1.5-2 years to complete and will just be 1 night a week of class, and lots of nights of homework :) I am proud of him for taking the initiative to go back though and get more education since that can only benefit us in the future. besides hes a smart guy and I think he'll do well.
we are discovering the fun of medical bills like we never imagined before. We always though the other meds were expensive, but Remicade is in a class of its own. for his first 2 treatments they billed our insurance 11,000$!!! For each one!!! Luckily we have a contracted amount much lower, but still I can't believe it could cost that much money. We are going to be receiving some assistance through a program we found, but they won't pay for the first 2 since they were before our approval date. and hopefully the money we get there will be enough for most of the rest of the years treatments, we think. until then we now have about 4K in bills to find a way to pay for. Its crazy. Luckily we are so blessed with a great family and they are going to help us. And I am doing day care a few days a week so that is bringing in extra already. I can't imagine how people do it when they have major health costs and no one to help them, it really is amazing how fast it all adds up. I can't even begin to express the gratitude I have for the people who have helped us over the last few years. You are incredible.

Easter

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter! I know we did. We also decided that the Easter bunny would come on Saturday with all the fun egg hunts and stuff. The kids were cute in the morning. Parker was excited that "That Easter man with the big tall ears" came to visit and brought him fun candy and new things to play with. He got some play dough and a set of animal parts to stick in it to make zoo animals. He loves it! and KC got a toy hippo that laughs and clicks and other things. I think Parker ate all his candy before breakfast, but when else do you get free reign over the candy as a kid. Saturday morning we also got together with some friends and had an egg hunt in our backyard. There was about 7 kids and it was lots of fun. I think I liked it better than fighting the crowds at the public ones. And the kids actually got some eggs. It was so fun watching them run around and find them. And it will be nice next year when we don't have to just hold KC the whole time to keep him from eating the grass and dirt. That afternoon we went to my aunts for dinner and another egg hunt. In between all the fun we tried to do a little yard work, we are trying to get our garden ready to plant. Its really big though so its taking a lot more work than we really thought. But it will be worth it in the end right?
Sunday Parker got to wear his new suit, and KC had an adorable new Easter outfit from Grandma and Grandpa. Aaron even got new clothes. We went to my parents after church and had dinner with family and had a really fun time. I made an Easter cake that turned out really well. The best so far actually. It was really yummy too. I am taking another Wilton class and learning a lot. The instructor has given me lots of tips too about making the actual cake that have really helped a lot. Its fun to feel like I am making some progress.
Anyway, we have a busy week ahead of us. Today I start babysitting a couple of kids. It will be about 10hrs a week. A 2 1/2 yr old and a 15m old. I hope it goes well. We also have preschool this morning, visiting teaching, then the kids come over. After that we are having a quick dinner then family night with the neighbors downstairs to plan the garden. And then i have a girl coming ever to meet with me about doing her wedding cake in July. Hopefully today will be our busiest day, but knowing me its just a start. But at the end of the week we are off to St. George with my parents for my moms b-day. The pool is open at their condo so we are looking forward to some relaxation.
Well that's about all, if the week isn't too crazy maybe I'll post some more, but probably will be next week.

Feeding the baby

Parker has decided that he wants to be the one to feed KC. He's actually a pretty good helper, although most the food ends up on KC's lap, or he shovels it in so fast that poor KC can hardly get in a breath. it is so cute to watch them together. Parker always want to share his food with baby, unless it is something really good of course, in that case don't even get near it or your in trouble. :) It helps a lot now that KC is getting bigger and gets more big people food. He gets to join us for pancake breakfast almost all the time now.