Everett Favorite New Seat

Here is Everett's favorite new seat. He can open the fridge by himself, so he just chills there.

Two More

Ev just cut two more teeth this week. His top two K-9's. He has a total of 14 teeth now. Eight on top and six on the bottom.

???

Can anyone explain why second children do everything so much sooner than older siblings? Or atleast all the mischievous things.

Some of some examples of Cael and Everett

1. Cael started walking at 12 months. Everett was 9 months old. Are you kidding me?

2. Cael didn't learn to open the fridge until he was 3 years old. I think it was last August or September to be exact. Everett started opening the fridge last week. What??? 18 months.

I love that Ev is so smart, but now I have to watch out double time for the fridge being left wide open.

What to be for Halloween?

What should we do for Halloween?

Cael is going to be a wizard. I want them to coordinate, but I'm at a loss of what make Ev. Should we try to get another wizard costume for Everett? Should we make him an owl? If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
















This is Cael in his costume. Isn't the best picture, but you get the point.

Cael's New Pet

I forgot to tell everyone of Cael's new pet. He got this cute little fishy at the Walk for Autism. They were giving them away as prizes for a game. I thought Cael would really like it. He loves fish tanks and Papa Wayne's fish pond. I am surprised it has survived this long with how long we had it in a ziploc baggie on the way home from the walk. Plus the cats are really intrigued by it too. You can see the little scratch marks on the side of the fish tank.
Cael loves his little fishy.

Why is it when I feel sick the boys have tons of energy and don't want to take naps?



The miracle of motherhood, I guess.

Walk for Autism

Today was the San Diego Walk for Autism. It was so great. There were so many people there and so many different booths ranging from insurance to therapies. We even saw a booth that is AYSO for special needs children. I am so excited for that because I've been really wanting to sign Cael up for soccer. But I knew that he not understand it enough to play on a rec team. I can't wait to hear from them about when the next season starts.
I want to thank everyone who helped us raise money for the walk. I am so glad that I was able to be a part of it and I know that I'll be doing this every year for a long time. Before the walk started they announced how much money had been raised so far for this year. $100,000.00 was raised and I'm sure that more people brought in pledges today, so the total will be even bigger. I am going to try to raise more money next year than I was able to raise this year. Cael's Crew raised $865 and next year my goal will be $1000.
Thanks again for everyone's love and support.

I forgot to take my camera down there, so we just used Adam's phone for pictures. If I ever figure out how to transfer those pictures, than I'll add them to this post.

Here are pictures that I took once we got home from the walk. I didn't take any pictures of myself. But here are my boys. All three of them.

18 Months Old Already

Ev is 18 months old now. How is this possible? I was just pregnant with him just a little while ago. I can't understand how my boys are getting older, but I'm staying the same age. He had to go in this morning for some puppy shots and they gave me his stats. I was a little surprised by them because I thought that he was pretty big for his age.

26 pounds 4 ounces, 50% for weight
32.5 inches, 50% for height
49.5 cm, 90% for head size

That is right, my kid has big brains. He is just average for his size. I just think that he is perfect.

Happy Birthday Gracie

Happy Birthday Gracie Mae Galyan. I can't believe that you are five today. You are growing up so quickly and becoming such an amazing girl. You are so smart and you are such a great big sister. I'm so lucky to have you as a niece. I love you.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Gracie from the last five years.





















This is Gracie the first time I met her. She is so beautiful already. I love her.






















Gracie at her first birthday party. Look at her little pony tail. I love her.

















Giving kisses to the camera. How can anyone resist this face? I love her.






















Gracie as a chick for Halloween. That has to be the cutest chick I've ever seen. I love her.

















Gracie playing with Ev in the bounce house at Lucy's first birthday party. She is such a sweet girl. She is a great cousin too. I love her.

Back to School Night

Yesterday was Cael's back to school night, but early afternoon is more accurate. I had to go between 2:00 and 2:30. I met his new teacher Diana Salazar. She showed me around his room and we talked about what we need to work on more with Cael at home. It made me so proud when she said that Cael is the potty example. I guess he is the only one potty trained in the class, so whenever he goes to the bathroom, he takes a different boy from class and shows them how to do it. Yay Cael. He is really good about going potty all by himself. I still have to remind him sometimes, but he will go on his own when he needs to. He is one of five boys in his class. I think that he is doing so good with school. He is learning so much and growing so fast. He still isn't loving the early morning wake up call for the bus, but he is doing so good other than that.

I love my Cael.

Randoms

Our computer has been running super slow lately, so I haven't wanted to do any blogging on it. Here are some random pictures from the past week or so.




















Everett is trying to wear Cael's jammies.
















Licking the beaters clean.





























Cael trying to play some Guitar Hero. He has underwear on too, don't worry.

Back to School

Cael is back to school and we are so excited. He has a new teacher this year Ms. Salazar and he goes for five hours a day instead of three. The only bad thing is the bus picks him up at 6:25 am. You read that right, 6:25. That is too early for me. He hasn't been giving me too much trouble in the morning yet about getting to the bus that early, but it's only the second day of school. We are excited that he is back in his routine and learning so much.
School is Cool.

Tutu and Papa's New Place

We spent a few days in Buena Vista Colorado with Tutu and Papa. They just moved there three weeks ago. Their house is beautiful and their town in so quaint. I miss small town living. They are so happy to be retired and living right next to the river. I am jealous, but I've been told that they have an open door policy. Come and leave when you want. Yay for me.

















The back yard getting wet from a thunder storm. The rain drops were so fat, the deck got wet pretty fast.
















I was trying to get a picture of the lightning, but you can't see it. But I know that there is one in there.
















Again trying to catch the bolt of lightning.


The boys crawling through the doggie door.














Monkey See.
















Monkey Do.
















Back he comes.
















Where is Cael?
















There he is.





















Playing in Papa's Dodger chairs. Tutu bought some old stadium seats from Dodger Stadium when they changed them up. They have four chairs. What a cool way to always be close to the Dodgers.
















Their river is half a mile away. They take two walks a day there with the dogs.
















A closer view of it.



On not so good news:
Cael had a little run in with a fire ant. Poor thing got bit in a very bad spot, on his upper inner thigh and once in his private region. Ouch. I rushed him into the bath and than cover the ouchy area in butt paste. That stuff is amazing. The area didn't seem to bother him at all after that. I was so thankful that it was only one ant that he had the run in with. Poor boy.

Hydee and Jerry's Handfasting

We made a quick trip to Boise to see my cousin Hydee and Jerry do their hand fasting ceremony. I was so excited to be able to make it there because I haven't seen my Cook cousins in so long. They were all there too. It was so fun to see them and all their little ones.

We had a little scare while we were there. Cael decided to run out the front door without anyone noticing. He ran down the street to a yard sale. We didn't realize he was gone until we started getting everyone loaded in the cars. My mom noticed him down the street as she was taking Everett to the car while I was looking in the house for Cael in all his usual hiding places. My uncle Bill's friend Mel went down there and grabbed him for me. I was so scared. After that Cael was Mel's shadow. They were best buds. Mel was so awesome and took Cael swimming during the ceremony. Mel didn't plan on going swimming, so he went swimming in his shorts. Cael was in heaven spending most of the day in the water. Mel was so thoughtful and kept making sure that we knew where Cael was. They even ate dinner together.
















Cael checking out the pool.
















Uncle Bill.
















The kids on the swings before the ceremony.





















Nana in her Luau moo moo.
















Leisa and me. I know its a little fuzzy, but I loved this picture.





















Go Devin. Don't hit yourself with one of those things.
















Here is Mel and Cael on their way out to the pool.


Here is a description on their ceremony taken from their knot.com page.

Handfasting was the traditional style of wedding in medieval times. And for Jerry and I, a ceremony that is more intimate and meaningful. For anyone not familiar I'll touch on a few of the differences in style. In a handfasting everyone is equal. There is no aisle, no veil, no procession, and no objection. Everyone gathers in a circle around the couple during the ceremony. The ceremony will include a cord woven around our hands to symbolize the love that has joined us, and then tied to symbolize the bonds we've made and our commitment to one another. Handfasting is where the term "tied the knot" originally came from.
















Hydee just looks so happy.
















Each of the ribbons stood for something.
















Making it official.
















Leisa had to get in as much baby time as she could. Ev was happy to oblige.
















Cael putting his floaties on. He was shivering, but didn't want to get out of the water.
















Cael and Mel eating dinner together. Thanks Mel, you are awesome.





















Leisa and Ev on the trampoline back at Uncle Bill and Aunt Cyndee's house.
















Close up.
















Hailey, Drew, Chase and Cael in the hot tub. Doesn't Cael look awesome in that pink life jacket?
















Everett was playing fetch with Honey. She just wanted anyone and everyone to throw anything for her to fetch.
















Cael had to get one more jump in on the trampoline before we got him dressed and in the car.
















Here is Leisa, Tab, and baby Zack. I sure do miss all my cousins.

Texting.....So it Begins

While we were in Utah, I was texting more often. So Cael would steal my phone to text too. I never found out who he was texting, but it must have been a serious conversation because the look on his face shows great concentration.