Fuzzy and Snaggle-Toothed

Another post about Cade? Yep. His life has been pretty eventful lately. I always feel just a little sad when the kids lose their cute little baby teeth, and their huge permanent teeth come in because then they look so much older and just aren't quite as cute. But Cade doesn't have a normal tooth growing in. He has a weird looking "extra tooth" coming in. The dentist thinks he will have a normal permanent front tooth come in within the next 6 months, and at that point, he'll decide if it is safe to pull the extra tooth (he said they might be connected somehow, so we have to wait and see what happens). So for now, the poor little guy has a strange looking tooth coming in just behind where his normal front tooth should be. I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I feel bad that for now, his smile is so strange looking. So then on Saturday, I gave all the boys (and Chuck) a haircut. Cade has been begging me to let him have "fuzzy hair," meaning buzzed all over. I really dislike that haircut, but he REALLY wanted it, so I went ahead and shaved his head (leaving 1/2 of fuzz). It doesn't look that bad in the picture, but I really don't like it. There is no hair to spike or comb. Cade loves it, so I should just be happy that he's happy, but I feel like it just adds insult to injury (crazy tooth then bad haircut). :) Oh well, he's only six. Someday he'll be a teenager, wanting a really bad (or long or outrageous) haircut, and then I'll be wishing for this day back when he just wanted fuzzy hair. With that perspective, I'll take today's issues and be happy with them!!!

Loss and a Miracle

This past week, two of my friends and a family member has suffered the loss of a loved one. One friend lost her mom--very unexpectedly. Another friend was 20 weeks pregnant and lost her baby. Then Chuck's Uncle Brent (his Mom's brother) died. My heart ached for all three, and I felt kind of overwhelmed with all the pain that my grieving friends/family were going through. So I have felt a little discouraged and sad. Then today, my friend, Roxan, stopped by for a visit. Several months ago, she had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, and had been given 3-5 years to live. Our family has prayed for her every day since her diagnosis, and we have fasted for her too. Today she came over to tell us all that the results of her last scan showed that all her cancer is gone! It is a miracle, and an answer to prayer. It just made me realize that the Lord is watching over us. Sometimes we have to suffer pain and loss, but He is there to help us through it. Sometimes he blesses us with a wonderful miracle. In all things, He is watching over us, and we are always safe in the circle of his love. I am so thankful to know that in all things, He loves us and is aware of what we are going through. And I am so happy for Roxan and her family!!

Cade Shoots, He Scores!!!!!

Cade has been playing basketball, and...Cade made a basket at his game last Saturday!!!!!! Cade has been practicing so hard--just trying to get the ball in the hoop. He goes out every day and shoots hoops. He is small for his age, and it is really tough for him to make a basket. But he tries and tries. Well Saturday, in their game, Cade got an open shot and IT WENT IN!!! Whoo Hooo! We were all so excited for him. Here he is with Ben and Brayson after the game. Our little basketball star... GO CADE!!!!

Old McCade had a Farm

Cade loved his Field Trip to the farm. He got to pet, feed, and hold all kinds of animals. Here he is petting a bunny. He looks so small on this huge tractor!

Cade got to feed some carrot slices to this horse.

Here is Cade feeding a goat. Here is Cade with his freind, Ethan.

He came out of the hay maze jumping for joy.

Cade REALLY didn't want to hold this rooster, but I begged him to do it because I knew it would make such a cute picture for scrapbooking. In the end, he was glad he wasn't too chicken to hold the chicken. :) I love that triumphant smile!

Milestones

Life with kids is full of milestones. They have important moments and achievements all the time. Here are a few things that have happened the past week:

1. Cheyanna learned to empty the dishwasher, and she has finally started to participate in the daily chores. (Her name has been on the chore chart for a year, but Chuck and I have been doing her chores for her every week until this week.) Yay!!!

2. Cade has conquered his dinosaur dream!! For years, Cade has a a nightmare that a dinosaur is chasing him and eating him. (Charlie's obsession with Jurassic Park probably hasn't helped). Last week, Cade realized that he can control what happens in his nightmare. He had the dinosaur dream, but when it was coming after him, Cade fought back and was able to defeat the dinosaur! It was a huge milestone for him because he is always afraid to go to sleep because of the dinosaur dream. Now he feels empowered, and is not afraid to go to sleep. (He did have a nightmare about some Scooby Doo monsters the other night, but it wasn't nearly as bad as that horrible dinosaur.)

3. Charlie was frustrated with a boy at school (one of those kids that has no friends and bugs everyone), so he decided to pray for the boy, and prayed that the boy could have friends, and that Charlie could become his friend. Sure enough, Charlie has been able to befriend this boy, and his life at school has been much happier now. Instead of having this boy tormenting him, he has a new friend, and the boy's behavior in general is much better now that he feels accepted. I was so proud of Charlie!! I have tried really hard to get him to understand that even though it is really hard to follow the Savior's teachings ("Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you" Luke 6:27-28), if we follow Jesus and do what he taught us to, we'll be happy. It is easy to get angry, hold a grudge and not forgive. But we can't be happy if our heart is filled with hate and anger. I'm so glad that this concept has clicked for Charlie, and he has seen how keeping the Commandments blesses our lives.

I love having kids. I love how their growth helps me to grow. Their triumphs are my triumphs, and I share their sorrows too. I am so blessed to be a mother to my four precious children. :)

Trick or Treat

Here are some pictures of Halloween night. Chuck's dad and Sandra came over to go Trick-or-Treating with the kids. Our neighbor, Hillary went with us too. The kids got a TON of candy!!!