Autumn '08

Banana Bread

Kaiden and I made banana bread together this morning. We pulled the step stool up to the counter and Kaid stood up on it, helping me with every step. The mess was everything I dreaded it would be...quite possibly more, but it was TONS of fun and worth all fifteen minutes of clean-up.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Our gorgeous 3 year old neighbor girl (Ila) loves Kaiden with an incredible ardor. Ila is the queen of drama and nothing brings that out like saying goodbye to Kaiden. It always involves many tears, extended hugs, kisses galore, and uncontained sobs of "Kaiden, Kaiden, Kaiden" while her mom, often quite literally, drags her away to her house right across the street. In fact, Ila's mom told me that she has found her, more than once, at the window staring over to our house and quietly crying "Kaiden, Kaiden, Kaiden". (By the way, you absolutely must click on the second photo in order to really see Ila's distress)

An evening in the life of a Dean

Yesterday evening I was thrilled to find this little fence along the side of the road (a very common thing around here,--if you don't want something anymore put it out on the sidewalk for someone who might.) I have been wanting something like this because fences aren't allowed in our neighborhood and anytime Kaiden is outside I have to be right by his side. I put it up and secured Kaiden inside with a couple dishes of water and some toys to keep him entertained while I went in to make dinner.But after a couple minutes things got too quiet so I went to see what was up, and too-smart-for-his-own-good Kaiden had figured out how to escape.

Much to his dismay, I rigged up a little system to prevent future break-outs and again went in to make dinner.
This time little Mr. Smarty Pants (within about 5 minutes) figured out how to unhinge the fence and escape again.
But then Kaidens friends from across the street came over to play with him and keep him inside.
And he put on a entertaining splashing water show for everyone in response to the laughter it earned him.

Wedded Bliss

I had the privilege of shooting my brothers wedding in North Platte this past May. The wind was very intense the day of, and despite hours of mowing and preparations for the ceremony to be held in a pasture with tall grass and a gorgeous view, a couple hours 'till show time it had to be moved to a coral where there was at least somewhat of a wind-block. It was still a beautiful wedding. I was so thrilled that they asked me to be their photographer and was hoping to keep it going from here, with plans to start a business. However I underestimated the hours of work it would take me to edit all the images (primarily from lack of experience, I'm sure) and I have decided that for Kaiden's sake it's not something I should pursue right now. I'm still hoping to start a business, and if someone asks me to shoot their wedding then hey, I probably would be thrilled to do it, but I'm going to focus on outdoor portraiture for now instead I'm also looking forward to doing food photography for a gluten-free magazine my friend Julie is starting! Here is a short peak at the day.

Date Night

Last weekend the wonderful husbands of us Emmaus Road girls took us out on the town for a group date. We had dinner together then divided up into groups to play their own version of the Amazing Race on Pearl Street. After that Bran took me out for a delicious dessert and home to watch a DVD that he and the rest of the guys had each made for their wives with a special message conveying their love. It was a wonderful evening. Thanks guys!

Birthday Boy

Kaiden turned one on July 1st! We celebrated on the 5th with a bbq at a park near our house. The weather was pretty sad (very windy and rainy) but it still turned out to be an evening of fun. Kaiden had a blast as he was quite aware that he was the center of attention the whole night...a place he really enjoys being! Mama made star-shaped cupcakes for all the guests and Kaiden got a double stacked cupcake covered (and I mean covered) in frosting. Other than what he got on himself and on Dad, who was brave enough to hold him during the cake feast, he joyously finished it up and was on quite a sugar high for the rest of the night. We love you, Kaiden Brandon.

Mmmm...birthday cake!
The older kids had a water balloon toss and fight, and even though Kaiden didn't join in on that he had a whole lot of fun with the water balloons.

Grandpa, Grandma, and Gigi (great grandma) came and stayed with us for a few days so they could be at Kaiden's party. He had a blast with them.

Pinata time! Notice the change of clothes...Kaiden broke too many water balloons on himself so he had to have a change of clothes...new birthday ones straight from the package. After dad helped him hit the pinata a few times Kaiden pulled the stick away and started swinging at it himself.

What a big boy!

A boy and his Oats

The keyword being his. Kaiden has decided that he should be able to feed himself his breakfast. He gets so excited when I hand him the spoon, then does everything in his power (and arm reach) to keep the spoon from getting back into my hand. If handing him the spoon with food already in it is exciting, handing him the bowl to dip the spoon in himself actually gets a squeal of sheer delight! Yes, baths have become more frequent in the Dean household...not to mention floor sweeping and mopping.

Back off buddy...this one's MINE!

If only I had been holding a camera, but I wasn't, so picture this:
A bbq with friends last night. I look behind my shoulder to see Kaiden crying madly at 2 yr. old Josey as he holds his hands out following her around and trying to steal the cheeto from her left hand. Josey, a very unhappy look on her face, keeps it out of reach and behind herself. With her other hand, and pointed threateningly at Kaiden, she holds an empty water gun, finger on the trigger.

These are a few...

of my favorite things:

11. My little boom box. I carry it around everywhere I go and as soon as the music stops, I slap the front until I hit the correct button and it starts up again. Please don’t teach me which button is the correct one to press…slapping stuff is much more fun.

10. Attention. Especially when mama takes me shopping. She lets me stand in the cart and I bop up and down and sing at the top of my lungs—staring at people while I do so until they talk back. It’s working out pretty well for me.

9. My cool ball-blowing machine from miss Becky. People think I’m pretty smart because I have it all figured out. I know what button to press to get it to start blowing, then I walk around and collect the balls and put them back into the machine all by myself so that they can blow out again.
   

8. Jewelry. Sorry daddy, but it’s just so darn pretty! I’m learning to be gentle when I reach up and touch mama’s earrings…but when I saw grandma last I accidentally got a little too excited and ripped the earring almost completely out of her ear.

7. Balloons! Mind-boggling fun.

6. Playing in the cupboards…or should I say wonderlands.

5. Clapping. Just say “Yay” (or “bravo” if you speak Spanish like a lot of my neighbor friends) and I’ll give you a show and a half. In fact, if I am playing with my toys and I hear applause on the tv, I’ll join in right away. Such fun!

4. Bubble baths! As soon as the water starts running I try to get into the tub, my legs just aren’t quite long enough yet so as hard as I try mama has to eventually lift me over.

3. The vacuum cleaner. Call it that if you want to, but I know it’s really a monster. I get SO excited when I see mama bring it out. As soon as she turns it on I start running away usually falling over (like in a bad dream) cause I’m just running too quickly for my little legs. I come back to it every once and awhile to tease it to chase me again, then if it catches me I laugh. Too bad it has to spend most of the time in the closet.

2. Being Naked! Seriously, what more can I say.
   
   And coming in first place with a long lead…

1. Food! Wow. What can I say. It’s wonderful. Topping the charts is still mama milk, although I don’t eat too much of that these days and I hear that I am going to have to say bye-bye to that in a few weeks. Banana’s are amazing. I pretty much enjoy anything that anyone else is eating…after-all if they’re enjoying it so much it must be good. I’m known as the beggar at whatever social gathering in which food is present. Forget playing, I will grovel at the feet of anyone eating something…smacking and licking my lips until they share with me…for hours on end. I embarrassed mama at the park the other day because I kept going up to people we didn’t know and trying to take the food out of their hands.
   

Naked AND carrying around my boom box. Life is good, is it not!

My friend Josey and I both understand how wonderful food is. Here we are sharing a cookie while all the other kids are off playing with silly toys. Back and forth we handed it till every last crumb was devoured. Yum!

And here is the cool ball-blowing machine I told you about. This is my friend Asher and I playing with it. Did I mention that I LOVE bigger boys. Sometimes I pull their hair or do something that annoys them, but Asher especially is really nice to me.

A Day at the ZOO

Kaiden had his first trip to the zoo last Tuesday. It was a gorgeous day, though a bit tiring for us mama's as we tried to keep pace with 9 excited little kids (7 of whom were boys!). Kaiden has decided that he shouldn't have to ride in the stroller when it's so much more comfortable in mom's arms, so needless-to-say I am learning that every-mother's art of holding, pushing, and carrying a million things at once. We had a wonderful time, and I'm going to have to sum up the experience by agreeing with Tara who said "it's always fun to go to the zoo, and it's always fun to leave the zoo!" :)