Lost and Found

Last week we took a quick, but way fun, mini-vacation up to Salt Lake to visit Kyle's sister Mel, her husband Jake and their kids.  It was so fun for us.  Kyle and I have both been so crazy busy.  He is on winter break for school and we never get to leave Cedar, let alone, visit family.  We drove up on Thursday after Kyle's last final.  We hung out that night and the next day we went to City Creek and Temple Square.  It was cold and rainy... but still fun!  When we got to Temple Square, Jaxton was so excited to see "Christmas".  There was so much for him to see and he got a little over excited.  Kyle and I looked away for one minute to get a quick picture of me and Paisley and he was gone.  Our conversation went like this
"Where is Jaxton?"
"He is over with Jake"
"No, those are his kids... where is my kid?"
I have never felt so much fear in my life.  I basically chucked Paisley at Melissa and Kyle and I immediately started running around, luckily Jake and Rob seemed just as concerned and booked it with us.  People must have thought I was the biggest jerk.  I was screaming his name, cutting in front of people with strollers, walkers, canes... honestly I didn't even care.  I just wanted my son.  Kyle was digging in bushes, screaming his name, and running around like crazy.  I have no idea what Jake and Rob were doing, but I know they were doing what they could.  As I was running around looking (please remember that all little boys were dressed in dark coats and beanies... just like Jaxt was) I see his little face walk right up to me and he says "Mommy, I am right here"... I grabbed him, picked him up, hugged him close and bawled.  I ran back to Kyle hugging Jaxton close and crying.  We couldn't even be angry.  He didn't know any better and we got him back... which is all I cared about.

The next day we woke up to snow!  And lots of it!  It continued to snow all morning so we decided to just have some fun and go out in it.  We went to a really cool store called Scheels.  That store was huge!  But I held onto Jaxton close!  Kyle and Jake bought these snow block making things so they could build a snow fort (hey, whatever works) and when we got back to the house, they went to work.  The kids had fun in the snow, but when they got cold... they were done.  After building the fort, they decided to tear it down and use that snow to make a ramp for the kids to sled down.  Boys!  We came home the next day!  We love getting to visit!  We always love visiting the Johnson's!  They have always been so accepting and understanding!  We love them!  And hope to see them soon!!

Cowboys and Indians

Halloween came and went this year.  It's not my favorite holiday.  I love the candy, and then there's the candy... which I LOVE!  I was never one for dressing up, just not my thing.  Kyle and I actually had our first "real" date on Halloween, so it holds that special place in my heart.  But now it is about the kids, and I love that.  Jaxton has been loving cowboys lately, so I thought "why not have him be a cowboy for Halloween".  My mom found the costume down in Vegas and brought it up here.  I only have a few years that my kids will let me dress them as what I want so since Jaxton was going to be a cowboy, how fun would it be if Paisley was an indian!?  And she has the dark hair, which is perfect!  While my mom was up here, we made Paisley's costume, I think it turned out adorable!  They actually won a "Cutest Kids Costume Contest".  They are pretty dang cute (in my humble, but correct opinion!)  They had a blast trick or treating.  We went with the Larsen's (Lacey, Pete, Brooklyn and Vanessa) and the kids did really well.  Jaxton loved going to the door, knocking and saying "trick or treat".  The Cedar City Youth City Council was asked to help work at Bradshaw Chevrolet's trunk or treat, so we spent a little bit of time there as well.  It was a great Halloween!

Lookin' good!!!

One of my favorite thing about Paisley is the abundance of hair she has!  I know some of you out there have kids with so much hair it makes Paisley still look pretty bald... but after talking to Kyle's sister... I should (and am) grateful that Paisley got my hair and not from Kyle's side!  We don't want a bald little 3 year old running around!  Paisley and I sit down every day and we do her hair... just like my mom did with me!  My favorite look on her is 2 pony tails, so she has that hair-do a lot!  But my mom had some fun ideas while she was here, and I loved that she got to do Paisley's hair since that was a story I heard so often growing up!

I know she is my kid so I think she is absolutely adorable... but come on... how can you not love that face??!!

Chew it Up!

I feel like  most of my posts are about Jaxton... and they probably are!  He is one crazy kid!  He "go go goes" NON-STOP!!  I used to call my mom all of the time and just cry, because I am so exhausted from him, and her response was always "Shan, he is just a little boy".
Kyle and I were in the process of decorating Paisley's room (which is A-DOR-ABLE by the way) and part of that process was touching up the paint.  Jaxton was of course running wild and Pais was right on his heels!  Next thing we know, he is on her crib and falls off.  We noticed a little bit of blood in his mouth and I assumed he bit his lip and carried him downstairs to snuggle till he felt better.  He opened his mouth and blood came pouring out!!  I started screaming for Kyle and once he got downstairs, he picked him up and we rushed out the door.  While getting the kids in the car, I called his Dr's office to see if I should take him the Instacare or the emergency room.  They said if he bit down on his tongue, like he had, the Emergency room would be able to more thoroughly treat him if something had gone wrong.  We waited in the waiting room for a long time, then we waited in the room for a long time... and then Jaxton wouldn't let the Dr look at it.  He became hysterical.  It took me holding his top half, Kyle holding his legs and the Dr trying to pry his mouth open for him to see that he hadn't gone all the way through the tongue.  He referred us to an ENT specialist and put Jaxton on a liquid diet until then.  When we went to see the specialist he said it should heal just fine but that we need to watch that no food gets lodged into it because the tongue heals so quickly that it could heal over it and that would be a problem.  So far nothing!!  It is healing great and looks much better.  I tried to photo document the worst of it!  He likes to show people his "owie"... and tell them "the Dr looked and helped him feel better"... but hey, whatever story he likes, works for me!  I can guarantee it won't be our last trip to the emergency room.

















My mom had come to help me the next day.  Which was such a blessing!  But while she was here she said "This kid seriously does not stop... I get why you are SO tired all of the time!"  Haha!  And she thought I was complaining about nothing!!

Bigger isn't always better!

Some days I pray that time will slow down.  My kids are getting bigger and bigger, and although I LOVE the stages they are in right now, my little babies are no longer little or babies!  It's fun to see them grow and watch as the develop their personalities.  Kyle and I are definitely the lucky ones!

Jaxton is 2 1/2 now.  BOO!  He is in the "terrible 2's" and some days bed time can't come fast enough but he still loves to snuggle with me and Kyle.  He is quite sensitive and cries when we raise our voices.  He loves his sister and his mom and his dad, and makes sure he includes them in his nightly prayer.  He always tells me how much he loves Jesus too.  Jaxton has a sweet spirit and I am happy I was selected to raise such a loving little boy.

Year of Paisley

 Time flew by... it felt like just yesterday we were enjoying our very first days with this princess... and I blinked and it is a full year later.  What a joy she is and a special spirit she has.  I can't even describe the happiness she has brought into our home... or into my heart.  I have said this before but I feel like the addition of Paisley into our lives has broadened my capacity to love.  She is so amazing.  Her personality is developing more and more every day and what a little sass!  Paisley, you are such an amazing little person.  I can't even imagine my life without you... Mommy and Daddy love you more than we could ever express.  I feel so blessed and honored to be your mom.  <3 span="span">

Girl Cousins

We finally got to meet Emarie!  Paisley and Jaxton were so excited!  They both love babies!  She is darling and such a wonderful addition to the LaPratt family... we needed some girls!!!

 Paisley is on the really small side and Emarie is a little chunkers (which is SO cute on her)  they were almost the same size!

LaPratt girls!!

On my toes

Jaxton sure does keep me on my toes! "Relaxing" is definitely a thing of the past. Even when he is taking a nap, I am running around looking for things he has hidden, or cleaning up the mess he has made.

So a few weeks ago, I laid him down for a nap at the usual time, hoping he would go right to sleep. Kyle and I had a meeting at his work and I hadn't showered yet. I went downstairs to get Paisley to sleep (which is a much easier task) and to pick up the house. About an hour later I heard a crash. Jaxton has tipped over Paisley's dresser a few times and that was the first thing that came to my mind. I booked it up the stairs and opened the door, but I didn't see Jaxton. Then I heard a small giggle and I looked up. There was Jaxton, on top of Paisley's dresser, COVERED in Desitin. Being the sucky mom I am, I told him not to move so I could run downstairs to get my camera... he loves having his picture taken, so he didn't mind. He was SO pleased with what he had done. I got him undressed and into the tub... I called everyone I knew that might know how to get all the Desitin off of his body and out of his hair. I washed his hair 8 or 9 times, and nothing worked. I tried dish soap too, but it didn't work! Kyle's cousin suggested I used baking soda... it took 3 washes but it came out about a week later!

There are times that this kid drives me crazy... but I love him so much and he keeps a smile on my face! I can't help but laugh when I look at these pictures!

Big Bad 2

Jaxton turned 2 years old on February 17. It was fun getting to spend the day with him. Last year, we took him to McDonald's to get him a Happy Meal and we decided we would do that again. We considered letting him play in the PlayPlace, but for one, it's gross and for two, he throws tantrums when we try to make him leave a place he wants to stay. We got him a few gifts, nothing big... but we did get him Just Dance for the Wii... which he LOVES!! He is starting to act like a 2 year old but he is also so much fun. It's hard to imagine our lives without Jaxton. Some fun things about Jaxton...

- he loves hot dogs

- loves to be tickled and to tickle Paisley

- always asks to play Wii bowling, he comes up to me and says "Mama, I bowl"

- jumps, climbs, throws, kicks, hits and runs into just about everything

- still wakes up a few times every night

- is getting good a t-ball and basketball

- always happy and has no fear of anything, including strangers

WE LOVE YOU JAXTON!! HAPPY BIG 2 BUDDY!!!

Standing Ovation

It's all Kyle's fault... that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Paisley has been sitting up for a little while now, but that just wasn't good enough for her! She will grab hands, or legs, or anything she can grasp and pull herself to her knees... and then her feet! But how could I ever be mad at that big, toothless smile and those chubby chubby legs?! She will be running around with Jaxton in no time!

2012 Freezin' For A Reason

You may recall last year Kyle jumping (more like running) in the frozen lake for a fundraiser for Special Olympics. This year, his work didn't participate but our friend, Helen asked us if we would be willing to jump in with her. Foolishly thinking the weather would be as fantastic as it was last year, we agreed... boy were we wrong!!! It was FREEZING this year... it was starting to rain/snow when we all headed outside, and it was like a madhouse! We didn't jump in the lake like last year, but the outdoor pool. The worst part for me was that the pool was 11 ft deep so my plan was to jump in, hit the bottom and push myself up as fast as possible. It never even occurred to me that I wouldn't touch the bottom, and when I realized that, I started kicking like crazy!! But, you're legs are in some sort of "cold shock" and they didn't want to move either! We all made it out ok and to be honest, I'm glad we did it. I don't have a "bucket list" but if I did, I would cross that off!