Momma's let don't your babies...

...grow up to be cowboys!

A few weeks ago, we took Kade to the Dodge Circuit Finals Rodeo at the coliseum in Waco. As far as the actual rodeo was concerned he loved it. He watched all of the riders in amazement. However, his favorite part of the rodeo was watching the tractors plow up the arena after the rodeo.

His least favorite part of the rodeo was getting to see the clown afterwards! There is just something about a silly guy with paint on his face that Kade just didn't want to see!

MeMaw made sure Kadester fit right in with all of the cowboys in his "sponser" shirt! We also found out that it doesn't look hopeful for Kade growing up to be a cowboy as he definitely inherited his mommy's allergy genes. My poor little guy sneezed his little head off the entire time!

Ornaments

I have always been one to absolutely love a Christmas tree that was covered in ornaments. In my opinon, the more lights and ornaments, the better looking and more festive the tree!

Begining the year that Justin and I got married, I have ordered a Christmas ornament for that year. I have a snowman ornament for every year, with the exception of 2010, that has each family member's name on a snowman. Last year, I decided to continue the tradition I started and get one that was a family of four as Kynadi is still an integral part of our family even though she is no longer physically with us.

Last year, I also received another ornament from a friend that I will always hold dear to my heart. This ornament is a simple glass ball painted with Kynadi's name on it and all kinds of little symbols to represent the person she was here on Earth.

After getting Kynadi's ornament, I knew I had to order one for Kade. To make things more interesting, I found out the lady who paints these ornaments also lost her oldest daughter to an automobile accident.

We'll be Friends....Friends Forever

Our little Kadester has his first best friend.

Our dear friend Kelli has started working part time for us at the feed store, and with her comes her little boy Karsen. Karsen is all of eight months younger than Kade, but Kade sure loves to aggravate  play with him. Kade tries every way he can to figure out how to get his little fingers on Karsen, including trying to climb up the side of his pack and play.

 For Kelli and I, this works great because we put Kade in the playroom on one side of the baby gate and Karsen in the office on the other side. Kade keeps Karsen from crying by throwing giving toys to him (over the gate), pulling his socks off, and taking his blankie away. Karsen on the other hand keeps Kade entertained so he isn't wanting to be held!

On days when Karsen isn't at work, Kade still goes over to his (Karsen's) pack and play looking for him.

It's the beginning of a friendship to last many years to come!

Kade's 1st Christmas - Part 3

After a busy Christmas Eve with 3 celebrations, we were headed home to prepare for "Santa". By the time we got from my uncle's house (a mere 5-8 miles from ours) we had a zonked out little boy in the truck. Kade didnt' even wake up when we took him in the house, so he was put straight to bed without leaving any cookies and milk for Santa. I'm sure Santa was okay with it though. After preparing for "Santa" Justin and I headed to bed thanking God for allowing us to have a happy day and a happy little boy to spend it with.

Kade must have been on Santa's nice list

Santa even left Kynadi an angel for her gravesite

Going to bed, I was certain Kade would sleep until at least 7:15 or so because Justin and I wouldn't be up, so there wouldn't be any noise in the house not to mention he didn't really have a full nap the day before. However, I was wrong and Kade obviously got his waking up early on Christmas genes from his mother as he was up on his own bright and early at 6am ready to go!

There is nothing quite like a lollipop for a 9 1/2 month old at 6:30am!

Kade was all excited and ready to play with his new toys!

Mommy, Daddy, & Kade at 6:45am on Christmas Day

After having our own little family Christmas, we were back off to Robinson to celebrate the last Christmas of the day with the other side of the family. Kade once again had a wonderful time playing with his cousins and especially Braylen!

Kade's 1st Christmas - Part 2

Following our Christmas at MeMaw and Pop's house, we headed to Robinson to have Christmas with MaMaw & PaPaw (my parents). This was the first time we have had Christmas with my parents on Christmas Eve as this was the only day my brother and his family were going to be in from Houston.

Kade had a blast opening more gifts and playing with all of his toys!

He is all set to go in his Lightening McQueen pedal car! He also figured out that he could use his car to climb into his big toy box with all of the other toys!

After Christmas in Robinson with my family, we were off to West to celebrate Christmas with my grandmother and all of my cousins. This Christmas celebration was also more exciting than in many years as it was the 1st Christmas for all three of the great grandsons born this year! 



 It was also the first time for the family to meet the newest addition, Daniel Don Seymour, who was just a shy 8 days old!
 

  This year, we got my grandmother a very special gift. All she asked for from my family was a photo collage of Kynadi. You can tell from the picture that she was very happy about the outcome of it!

Kade being silly

My Mom & two of her grandkids!

Following Christmas here, we headed home with a very sleepy and cranky little boy to put out cookies for Santa and get ready for Christmas day!

Kade's 1st Christmas - Part 1

 (insert apology for long post)

This year, Justin and I were able to celebrate something we didn't have last year. A Christmas filled with smiles & laughter. Last year, we were mourning the loss of our Kynadi, on what would have been her 2nd Christmas but her 1st to really understand, all the while trying to be happy and hold back our tears with our family. I've always been one to decorate up the house for any holiday, but not last year. We didnt' have a single sign of Christmas in our house and I didn't even use Christmas wrapping paper to wrap any gifts. We also we didn't attend any Christmas celebrations where we had to be around any small children.

This year on the other hand, was a small return to "normalcy" (if there is such a thing) and celebrations filled with smiles and laughs starting with the putting up of Kade's 1st Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas events started with Christmas Eve morning at MeMaw & Pop's (Terry & Sonja) house. MeMaw & Pops had been giving Justin & I a very hard time about giving Kade a pony for Christmas, in which we were very much against. When the horse trailer pulled up the driveway on this morning, Justin and I were beginning to get very upset & immediately told the whole family that if there was a horse in there, we were not keeping it. It was going to be sold. However, after the opening of the door, we decided "Woody" could stay!

After "Woody" was corraled & brought in the house, it was time for a little breakfast follwed by a nap for Santa's littlest helper!

After naptime, it was all about the paper, the toys, laughing, and having fun! I think we have one spoiled little boy on our hands!





Blog-A-Thon & Walking

Please forgive me for being so far behind. I've definitely lacked in the blogging department for the past two months so get ready for a whirlwind catch-up!

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We'll start off with Kade learning to use his walker! He had a little problem learning how to make it go in the forward direction while sitting in it the correct way. However, every savy daddy has a solution for the problem. What is it you may ask? Well, put him in it backwards to see if he can/will make it go forward, so that is just what we did. Did it work? Of course it did!

After figuring out how to make the "Car" go forward, little Kade was off to explore the feedstore and see what all kinds of things he could find to get in to!