sick, 31, Lecompton

sick: That's what Caden is. Doug's mom had to pick Caden up from preschool Thursday afternoon because he was running 102 fever with a cough. No preschool Friday, which was extra sad because it was his scheduled poop party day at school. Caden has been coughing so much he's thrown up several times. Poor baby! He's a little better today. The fever is down, but the gagging cough remains.

31: as of Thursday that's what Doug is. Happy Birthday, babe! We spent the evening eating cold pizza and watching TV in the basement after we put our sick boy to bed. Not the greatest birthday, but SO much better than last year's. Doug's 30th birthday was spent in the hospital finding out his mom had lung cancer.

Lecompton/Lawrence: As of Thursday evening that's where I back from. I was there for the KS Coaching Academy. I'm tired because I didn't sleep well Tuesday or Wednesday night at the hotel or Thursday night because of listening for Caden to cough so hard he got sick again.

So that's what we've been doing since Thursday. Hopefully next week will be a lot better! We have Tegan's birthday and party and of course Caden's poop party at school (more on that later, I know you're curios!) to look forward to.

sweet

As Caden I were snuggling and chatting in bed this morning like we usually do on Saturdays mornings, I was asking him about school. Questions like, "Do you like school?"; "Who is your favorite teacher? (He has 3.)"; and this wonderful exchange:

Mommy: "Who is your best friend at school?"

Caden: "Baby Jensen"
Mommy: "Jensen doesn't go to school with you."

Caden: "I know, but I love him!" "I love Baby Jensen and Tegan and you, Mommy!"

How sweet is he? And, how sweet and cute is this adorable bundle below?

reading edited

I've been reading quite a bit lately.

I started this reading binge with The Shack. This is easily one of the best books I've ever read and would highly recommend it to anyone. It's a thought-provoking story and it might challenge your beliefs and ideas, and possibly your faith. I can not say enough about this book and its power. Eloquently written and now an all time favorite of mine.

I also read a new Nicholas Sparks' book, Change of Heart. CORRECTION: I wrote the wrong title here. Nicholas Sparks' new book is actually The Lucky One. Change of Heart is another book I got for Christmas by another one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. Thanks Amy for catching my error so I could correct it. Another great novel by Mr. Sparks. I think this might be my favorite of the ones of his I've read, though I've thoroughly enjoyed them all. Thanks Tim and Melissa! It was a a wonderful Christmas present!! :)

I just finished The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King. I've always shied away from Stephen King novels because I don't like scary and gory, but this one was totally different. Very suspenseful, but not scary or gory at all. I've also been informed that Stephen King has written several novels which are not of the scare/gore genre. My friend Christie is a Stephen King addict and loaned me 3 of his non-scary novels. I'm getting ready to start Delores Claiborne tonight. Hopefully, it will be just as good. Thanks, Christie for turning me on to a new author!

Happy reading!

family

Over Christmas break, we traveled to Savannah, MO to visit my grandma and some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. My grandma is AMAZING! She has 6 children and 6 in-law children, 11 grandchildren, 1 in-law grandchild, 1 in-law grandchild to be in June, and 1 great-grandchild. She'll be 79 in February and she's helping my mom's youngest sister and her husband raise their 3 children, ages 11, 7, and 5. I think she and my mom could easily pass for sisters (for a comparison, check out their pictures below). My grandma has very little gray hair and is very active and probably in better health than some of her children and their spouses. Caden was really impressed by the new knowledge that he has 3 grandmas. He kept talking about Grandma J all the way up there and all the way home and several times since we've been back. I think she made quite an impression. And sometime will have to confuse him more and explain that in all truth he has 4 grandmas, Doug's mom's mom is still alive, too.

my mom

Grandma J

4 generations
Emma and Caden

pure orneriness

A note about the picture of Emma and Caden: Emma is Grandma J's youngest grandchild. She's 5 and looks exactly like her my mom, my aunt Elaine. Caden is Grandma J's oldest great-grandchild. He's 4 and at least 2 inches taller than Emma already. They got along fabulously. For once, Emma was the bigger . . .er, I mean, older kid.

cooking dress

Caden LOVES to help us prepare dinner. So for Christmas, Doug and I were looking for some more "unique" gifts for Caden in addition to the vehicles and board games he got. We found 2 that lean a bit more toward "unique". One is this chef's dress up outfit. Caden calls it his "cooking dress" even though we've tried many, many times to explain it's not a dress of any sort. Anyway, he loves it and asks to wear it every night while he kneels on a chair next to me "helping" me cook dinner. The outfit came complete with the chef's hat, jacket, 3 plastic cookie cutters, mini skillet, and 4 cooking utensils. Caden dons the get-up each night to help us and dutifully makes us cookies for dessert, rolling them out, cutting the shapes, and baking them in the utensil drawer he uses as his oven. I love his imagination and his passion about helping in the kitchen. It's so fun to see him using his creativity, plus I think he looks really cute in his cooking dress!

101 in 1001 challenge

I have been thinking a lot about the things I'd like to accomplish in my life. Now that I'm in my 30s and Caden seems to be growing up a warp speed, I want to make sure I'm living my life, not simply going through the motions. So I have challenged myself to complete my 101 things in 1,001 days (see complete list on left sidebar). I found this particular idea on this website. Wish me luck and if you're so inclined, ask me about my list and/or start your own list.

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks.

Christmas Day

We had both sets of our parents over to our house for Christmas Day. I made brunch (including a new coffee cake recipe, Thanks Lisa!). While I was making the coffee cake, Caden kept asking me if that was Jesus' birthday cake. We spent a lot of time talking to him about the real reason for the season. After brunch we opened gifts with my parents.

Caden loving up both grandmas
love this expression

very happy with his blue M&M's tin

helping Cane Papa unwrap

me and my favorite boy

making Cane Grandma proud by

sporting his new Jayhawk Jersey and hat