HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NATALIE!

We were invited to Natalie Narducci's 2nd Birthday Party at Bounce U and it was sooo fun. All the kids wore themselves out jumping, sliding, and climbing to their little hearts' content. And Paisley cheered everyone on.

Here's the cutie-patooty birthday girl! Look at all that curly hair!

MY LITTLE FISH

Gage has always been a good swimmer, but I wanted him to learn more strokes and improve, so I put him in swim lessons at the gym. They moved him up to the level above halfway through the session so he got to have classes with his buddy, Lincoln. Those two had a blast. He LOVES swimming and spends most of his free time in the water (pool or bath). He immediately took to the water when I first put him in swim lessons at 22-months-old. He had no fear. In fact, we had a problem keeping him from jumping in the deep end when it wasn't his turn. How nice it was to let him swim independently at this age, sometimes swimming along with him and other times lounging in a chaise watching him.

I was on swim team starting at 4 and I loved it too. I never minded those early morning practices. My mom is a good swimmer too, so maybe this is one of the few things Gage has inherited from my side.

AN UN-EXTRAORDINARY DAY

I just want to jot down some things we did on Monday because it was a FUN day with the kids. Nothing too exciting and just sort of ordinary, but oftentimes those are the best days. We first went to storytime at the library, which was one of the better ones they have offered there. Gage and Bella loved the songs and the books about fall coming and the change in color of the leaves(ha! ha!). I pointed out the squirrel puppet to Bella, to which I was quickly corrected by the librarian that it was, in fact, a chipmunk. Duh!?? Paisley was very wide-eyed and looking all about. Then I let them each pick out some books that we read all in one sitting later at home. That was at their request, not so much mine.

After the library we walked over to the Riparian Preserve to see the ducks and hopefully that cute little turtle we saw before. Gage talked about how "beautiful" the ducks were and he wanted to know where the baby ducks were. Bella kept quacking while Paisley slept. There were dragonflies fluttering about and it reminded me of summers in Lakeside at Grandma's cabin when I was little. (Funny how these really insignificant things stay with you.) It was really hot that day, but I was determined to pretend it was fall - after all the librarian said so. Then we walked over to these fun concrete walls that have hills and form a sort of maze. They do require some balance though. Par for the course, Gage was scared and would only walk on the shortest wall. To help ease his fears, I got up on the highest wall with the most hills and pretended to be confident in my flip-flops. A passerby said, "What a great mom!" and I got embarassed and almost fell off. It almost blew the whole thing. Finally, with lots of prodding, Gage started to get a little braver and do a little taller wall. And he said, "I'm so proud of myself!" Meanwhile, Bella has already mastered most of the low wall and her brave little head is way ahead of her clumsy feet. I ran over to her to hold her hand and guide her through the rest of it, but she would have none of that. She screamed, "No!" and pushed me away, which caused her to fall off the wall. It was about a four foot drop, which doesn't sound like much, but it was. She cried so hard and I was trying to comfort her, but after a few seconds she pushed herself off of me and went right back to that wall. How different these two kids are. And Paisley slept. As we walked back to the car, Gage said, "What a great day this is, Mama!" I couldn't agree more....

Note: Knowing it wasn't an extraordinary day, I failed to bring my camera. I was kicking myself the whole time about it. So no pics....

THEY HAVE MY TOES!!

I found it....the ONE thing my kids inherited from me! Poor things....they have my toes. My pinky toes, specifically. I always thought my toes were normal until Rob pointed out that the bottom of my pinky toes come to a point instead of being flat or rounded. Courtney and Alyssa (my sisters) have them too, so it must be a LaDuke thing. I'm not sure about the others' toes. Some of the chub is melting off of Bella's feet, and lucky for her, I think she has my feet too. Those beautiful, flat, wide, all-the-same-length toes, Fred Flinstone feet!!

MO! MO! MO!

Up until two weeks ago, Bella never said the word "no." Usually, that is one of the first words a kid says because it is so easy to say (and probably because they hear it A LOT!) Bella had tons of other words and two and three word combinations. Well, she would always just say "yes" or "yeah" to everything and we actually said to each other, "Maybe she'll just be so happy and she won't say 'no' for a LONG time and she'll just be agreeable to everything." We knew better....we really did. But we really enjoyed living in the fantasy world for a while. And then it came....except we weren't entirely sure at first. She kept saying, "Mo! Mo! MO!" We figured out she meant "no". Now, she has corrected herself to saying, "No...NO...n-n-n-n-n-NO!" Too bad. It was good while it lasted!

RESCUER

Gage has an imaginary friend named, Rescuer. I have no idea how he came up with that name and when I ask him where he heard it he said, from his friend, Rescuer. In Gage's words: "Rescuer has only one sister, (whose name changes all the time). Rescuer lives in Snowflake normally, but he is in India right now. His sister is with him too. He has short yellow hair, he's four years old, the same height as me and he is a really great kid." To be continued......

Gage knows that there are certain words or phrases that he is not allowed to say so to get around them sometimes when he REALLY wants to say them, he'll just use a word that rhymes with it. For example, "That bufid (stupid) car won't work." Or, "He struck me with his sword and now I'm fled (dead)." He asked me if he could say, "What the heck?" and I said I didn't really like that so he says, "Ok, can I say fut fa neck instead?" Rob told him to just say, "What's the deal?" When I tell him it's time for bed, sometimes he'll say, "No, no, don't say bed....say it's time for med." Somehow he can swallow going to bed better if I don't actually call it "bed".

We ate dinner at Joe's Crabshack over in Tempe (right by our old house) with Alyssa and Trevor last night and we took the kids. We had so much fun. Gage was fascinated at Daddy's and Uncle Trevor's crab legs, but neither Gage nor Bella liked the meat. The waiters dance and sing and the kids REALLY liked that. We drove by our old house just to check it out and we marveled at how much the neighborhood had changed. Or maybe just our perspective changed? I'm not sure. We asked Gage if he remembered that house at all (knowing he wouldn't be able to remember it as he was 15 months old when we moved) and he said yes and started making up what it looked like. Such an imagination. We remembered his army crawl that he did, instead of a proper crawl, on our wood laminate flooring. We talked about the first and last time Gage climbed out of his crib and fell hard on the floor. It is a tri-level house and Rob and I were both downstairs while Gage was napping upstairs. We heard a loud THUD, followed by crying and we shot upstairs. Rob had a headstart but I jumped all six stairs (on the downstairs steps) and took two big jumps over nine stairs (on the upstairs steps) and left him in the dust. You can't stop a mama bear when her baby is in danger!! Mostly, we decided we are so grateful we moved to Gilbert and wished we had done so earlier.

The picture above is of Gage and Bella in their tent. They LOVE this tent and play in it all the time. The other one, Rob is being a goofball (that's not his actual smile).

GAGE'S FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

Gage started preschool on Tuesday, September 3rd, at Kerri Robinson's house. He goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:30. He LOVES it and is already doing such fun things. For me, the best part is he is learning good manners, respecting his teacher and others, how to talk at an appropriate decibel (inside voice, whisper, etc.) - things like that. The worst part is that he isn't home. We miss him, Bella especially as she asks for him all day, and on days like today where he played with his friend and classmate, Reese, after school all day we really missed him. He came home and I had so many questions about his day and was so happy to see him. He just responded, "I don't remember" and "I'm really tired".

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

We had a great weekend with lots of activities. Friday night, Rob and I met our friends, Chris and Erna Ray, at the Tempe Improv to see Frank Caliendo. He was soooo funny and his whole act was clean. We went for ice cream after and had a fun time talking. Chris and I have known each other since before kindergarten and we grew up together. He married a really cool chic (fun, spiritual, hip) who lets him be himself. We have a lot of fun with them and wished they lived closer. We only get together about once every three months.

We got up early Saturday morning to go to Tucson to see the Tucson LaDukes. Addie invited everyone to come down to the waterpark and food after. Trevor and Alyssa rode down with us and we met Addie, Callie, Avery and Aaron at the waterpark. It was a blast and perfect for our little ones. Addie outdid herself on the food back at their new house (which is awesome). Cameron had to stay home studying, so we got to visit with him, and Courtney and Jim came over too. The kids all played while we chowed down. One of these days I'll figure out how to caption the pictures I post instead of just clumping them all in at the beginning. We had to leave Tucson early to go to the reception of Aubrey Brooksby (the niece of one of my oldest and dearest friends, which makes me feel REALLY old) out in Peoria. We talked Aaron into going with us too. Everyone was tired on our ride home, but especially Bella. She was snacking on pretzels and I turned around to check on all of them and she had her eyes closed and was still reaching into the bag and putting pretzels in her mouth while she's almost asleep. Only Bella...

Our main reason for going was to see my dear friend, Kathleen Ashton, who flew in from Alaska to attend. It was like a Phoenix West Stake reunion! We saw so many old friends, not to mention the entire Ashton clan. We also got to hang out with Chris and Erna again and our kids played and had so much fun together. I WISH I had taken my camera! But it was so dang hot in there and we all know I'm a sweater. Nothing better than seeing people you haven't seen in a long time and you have sweat all over your face and your hair is wet! But Kathleen said she was hot too....or maybe she's just a really good friend.

Monday, we went over to the Frosts to film our movie for Ward Movie Night. It was pretty funny and the kids got to swim. Bella has a new best friend - Amy Johansson - because she took her swimming.

Some funny things about the kids while I'm thinking of them:

Gage:

I took him and Paisley to the pediatrician for their wellness checkups. Bella tagged along. This was a nightmare. I got their early (by mistake) and ended up having to wait for 30 minutes past my appointment time (a total of 45 minutes) to be taken back. But not before I HAD to use their bathroom where I clogged and almost overflowed their toilet while I frantically looked for a plunger. I'm sure the office ladies, sitting right outside the bathroom door, were wondering WHAT was going on. Then I had to wait in the room for another 20 minutes for the doctor. Bella for sure had had it and Paisley was getting there. She was mostly tired and a little hungry. Gage and Paisley each had to get 4 shots!! Poor things. Paisley cried a little but recovered quickly. Gage....not so much. That kid screamed bloody murder. It was drama at full throttle. When I think of it now, it makes me chuckle, but at the time it was mortifying. So, Gage is still crying, Paisley is crying more loudly, and Bella is working on a little present for me in her diaper. So, I have to change her as quickly as possible, before they send in the paramedics for Gage's wounds, and she starts crying because she doesn't want me to change her. I can only laugh about it now....

Gage is 43 1/2" tall and he weighs 45lbs (95th percentile for both).

Paisley is 25" tall (75th percentile) and weighs 16lbs 14oz (you guessed it....95th percentile)

Bella:

Even in the middle of crying with tears streaming down, she says, "Bus...Bus" which means she wants you to sing Wheels on the Bus. (She has a lisp - wonder where she got that? - which is so darn cute).

Everytime she says "bye" to someone she follows it with "see ya".

Paisley:

I discovered today that she LOVES Pat-A-Cake, especially the "roll it" part. She laughed out loud. That was fun.

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA POWERS!

We had a surprise birthday party for Grandpa Powers' 80th Birthday here at our house on August 23rd (his actual birthday). We had a GREAT turnout with the whole family, cousins and friends. He thought he was just coming over to our house for dinner, so he was truly surprised. He was so touched and happy that everyone was there for him. We had delicious food from Joe's BBQ and an even more delicious chocolaty chocolate cake ever!! Grandpa Powers is an amazing man who has lived a very full life. Every time I go visit him, he'll tell me more stories of when he was a child, then teenager and all the way up until now. I am amazed at his memories of specific events and their details. I need to record him the next time for posterity. He tells me often that he is doing better with Una gone. He still misses her terribly and life hasn't turned out how he thought (he always expected to go first, being 6 1/2 years her senior). When Grandma was still with us, he used to say he wished he could live until Gage was 18 and he really planned on it. That would make him 94! I think now he has changed his mind. He was so worried when Grandma passd that he let her down in some way, but we all reassured him that she couldn't have asked for a better husband. I am so grateful to him for the example he set for his children on how to treat a woman, wife, and mother. He worshipped her and his whole life was dedicated to making her happy. He was such an example of selflessness and true, unconditional love. I have so much respect and love for him. He is adored by Gage and Bella and he likes them a little too!

PORTRAITS

We just had the kids pictures done. It's pretty much impossible to get all three of them smiling and looking at the camera at once. We tried to have Gage's individual pictures done without his glasses, but his eye was crossing badly. Everytime we tell him to use both eyes, he tilts his head to the side and has this goofy look on his face, but it doesn't help his eye. Poor kid....

Here are some of them.....

TRAVELING BLUES

(I finally downloaded some pics so I can begin to post some things.) Rob has been traveling so much lately, so when he's home all we are doing is playing catch-up on everything! So my blogging has suffered. The kids miss Rob so much when he's gone. Gage continuously asks what day he is coming home and then each day says, "Is it Friday yet?" When Bella wakes up, she asks for Dada first thing. I miss him too and wish he didn't have to go.

We had Mike and Lora over for dinner and it was really fun. The kids love Uncle Mike and Aunt Lora and Bella will go to Lora happily - which makes me happy! We have been planning Grandpa's Surprise 80th Birthday Party. On Monday (August 11th), Mary Kay and Nathan invited us over for Family Night. Rob left town on Sunday and wasn't coming home until Friday. Mary Kay is so good about inviting me over when Rob's gone to help me pass the time and have fun. We had a yummy dinner and the kids played non-stop. Every once in a while, Bella would come running to me from whatever room they were in with a huge smile on her face, just to make sure I was still there. Her run is hilarious...one of these days I'll catch it on video and post it. We watched the Olympics (we love the Olympics!) and visited. Paisley slept the whole time so I had a really nice break. We're so lucky that the kids have their little cousins to play with. Rob is the baby of his family, so all the cousins on his side are older. The youngest cousin is 16 (I think). But they still love to be around their older cousins (I think Gage even has a crush on some!)

Gage is still entertaining us at every turn. He is always looking for ways to make us laugh and tells jokes that don't really make sense, but we laugh anyway. He is sort of regressing on some things, though. He insists on taking off all his clothes to go to the bathroom and then throws a fit because he "can't put them back on....I promise!" He used to feel so proud undressing and dressing himself and now he always wants us to do it. When I tell him that we aren't going to help, he throws a HUGE tantrum. Just another phase! But he is still a fantastic helper. He and Bella are really into pulling out all the utensils and playing with them. Each day they come up with a new game or story for the utensils. One night, after a long day, I came up to the kitchen to find Bella had gotten into the crackers and they were all over the floor along with the utensils. I gave a heavy sigh and said something like, "Oh, come on, you guys", and Gage immediately jumped up and said, "Don't worry Mom, I'll clean it all up" and he did. It was wonderful. He just seems reluctant to be a "Big Boy" and do things for himself. Probably because I am more anxious for him to do things for himself! It's really fun to see Gage and Bella play together. She is his biggest fan, and he is hers too. They go throughout the house just playing and making up games and laughing. It's awesome. I think he can't wait for Paisley to get old enough to play. Sometimes he forgets that she is just a little baby and tries to include her. He has recently taken to one of Bella's dolls and says that she is his baby and he carries her around. Best of all, he'll sit on the couch and lift up his shirt and "nurse" his baby. He'll sit there for like ten minutes, pretending. Sometimes he'll cover himself and the "baby" up with a towel to be modest. Rob doesn't like this role-play, but I think it's hilarious.

Bella is so much fun. She seems to have five new words each day. It's cool to see her discover and explore new things and see the little light bulb over her head as she figures things out. She is into EVERYTHING and loves making messes. I cannot take my eye off of her or she'll be pulling out every drawer, cabinet, roll of toilet paper, makeup, clothes, etc. She is into climbing up on everything and has had two bad falls. It hasn't scared her away from climbing yet. It's so interesting how every child is so different, even in the same family. Gage never got into ANYTHING and he never was a climber. She is also obsessed with cleaning. She'll say, "wipe", and demands you give her a baby wipe so she can walk around and clean everything she can reach. She loves to have wet paper towels to clean her hands and face and all the tables. She will say, "wash hands" all the time. When I hold her, she plays with my hair so sweetly. She is so sweet to Paisley...she'll kiss her gently and say, "Hi, Baby!" very excitedly. When Paisley is sleeping, she puts her finger to her mouth and says, "sshhhhh".

Paisley - I still just want to eat her up. She is chubbier than ever and so happy. She is a dream baby - I'm so lucky. She gives big smiles constantly and loves to grab onto my shirt or my hair. Her eye color is gray for now. Gage's eyes did the same thing - they didn't turn to brown until he was about 8 months old. I think that's going to be true for Paisley as well. Rob is still holding out...in fact, we have a bet on it.

Each day just flies by and I wonder what I got accomplished. I wish there was more time in the day......don't we all?