Baseball is just around the corner!

I registered Easton for baseball with AYL Rebels this past weekend and they actually had a practice on Sunday! He had a lot of fun and it seems we have a great little team. I am ready for him to have something again. Football was a huge commitment and we will do it again next year, but the break through the holidays has been perfect.

I love being a baseball & football Mom!!

Tooth Fairy!

It finally happened, another milestone!!! Easton lost his first tooth on Friday night...he could not quit talking about it! :) Matthew was spending the night, so that made it even more special for Easton. He finally fell asleep and the tooth fairy was able to do, well, what the tooth fairy does! ;) The next day Easton says "Mom, I feel like I am missing something..." that kid cracks me up!!

May-December 2011 Cliff note style

I am so thankful we have turned the page called 2011...that was a chapter in my life that was by far one of the hardest, but I also grew as a person and would not be who I am today without the trials and heart ache I experienced.

Last May I was hit hard. We moved twice, ending up in our new little home on May 6th, I got divorced on May 9th (although it felt official 2 years ago) and then my Dad got Pneumonia and passed away on May 25th, a day before his wedding Anniversary date. I look back now and think, wow, God says He will never give us more than we can handle. He's right...with Him, I was able to get through it all, but I am looking forward to this new year and all it has to offer.

Now to play catch up from last year to now. (I am pretty sure this post will be all over the place) I will say, that the most IMPORTANT topic at hand is that my little man has his very FIRST loose tooth!! I had no idea how exciting this news was going to be for me, but it was!! He is such a gem, and we find joy together every day. We just celebrated his 6th birthday on January 7th. We had his party at Laser Quest (thanks to Uncle Scott) and had a blast! I am pretty sure the adults had as much fun, if not more than the kids! ;)

Prior to that, we had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Christmas night, after a wonderful day of opening presents, brunch with loved ones and sledding, we got home pretty late. Easton stopped in the doorway of my bedroom, clasped his hands together, bowed his head and said oh so reverently & emphatically..."Thank you Santa"...it was so stinkin precious!! Then I was like, Hey! What about me?? :)

Another HUGE milestone that happened was Easton started Kindergarten! July 6th to be exact!! He has been a model student thus far. He is a little encourager I have been told by his wonderful teacher Miss Hippen. I could not be prouder!!

He played baseball again for Cherry Creek Little League and then played flag football with AYL...he was on the Rebels Black. He loved both and is looking to spring baseball, we are going to try AYL out for baseball now.

In July we took a day trip up to Grand Lake to see my "Kindred" Leah and meet her baby girl Olivia!! It is ALWAYS fabulous seeing her and her whole family! Olivia was absolutely precious!!

We have had 3 guests in our home since we moved. My Uncle Lars was first, he was on a motorcycle trip with a buddy and he stayed for a few days. We went up to the top of Mt. Evans, Beau Jo's and a trip to Ikea. It was so fantastic seeing him! Then my Mother In Law (Gramma Sharon) came out for 7 days, we had such wonderful and thoughtful conversations, it was great bonding time. Then my Father In Law (Grampa Ken) visited for 11 days through Thanksgiving. We did a lot of relaxing and playing tons of games :) I am blessed to have them all in my life!

Lastly, Easton had an opportunity during his winter break to go with his Dad and his Dad's girlfriend to Seattle and then they went to CA to go to Disney Land. He is still talking about it.

I am one incredibly blessed woman and try to thank God daily...may this year bless you all and make sure to take time to reflect on everything you are thankful for!



I still need to add Christmas and Birthday pictures...soon!

Can you say SLACKER!!

Last October was the last real post I had...once again so much has transpired. Christmas, Easton turned 5 & Uncle Scott came to celebrate, Easton played Soccer for the first time, Easter, we moved...twice...Mother's day, we went to church for the first time in almost 2 years, And...I got divorced. Phew, that is a LOT of happenings!! I am absolutely thrilled to have certain aspects of that behind me and am looking forward to my future now more then ever.

Easton continues to be a constant joy in my life and says the darnedest things! The other day we were talking about broken arms and I told him I had broken mine twice as a young girl, his reply "did you grow a new one?" you just can't make this stuff up!

He still tells me daily "I love you Mom" at the most random times and I am so thankful! He is getting ready to start T-ball this weekend, he is on the MN Twins. I will definitely post pictures after this weekend.

I know the pictures below are completely unorganized and in a random order...oh well!

GOAL!!!!

Easton did it!! He scored his very first goal tonight!! Not only am I proud of him, but he is proud of himself! These are the moments that make parenting such a joy!
Easton, I am so proud of you baby and so amazingly blessed to be your Mom...xoxo

Fall photo's

A few weeks ago Easton, Matthew & I went to Red Rocks and then to Golden to watch Matt play football. We had a great day! The following weekend I had the pleasure of taking pictures of Jan & her family in Golden.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

October...really!?!?

Tomorrow is Halloween, I just cannot even believe it!!!!

So, a few bullet points and some photo's to follow.

*September Easton started Preschool two days a week.

*The end of September Easton & I met Grandpa Ken in Florida and stayed in Daytona on the beach, went to Disney & Hollywood Studios, was able to see some of my most wonderful girlfriends, 3 from high school and one from my college age times. We had a ball!

*My little condo has been on the market for a third time, we have a contract & are now waiting to see the outcome.

*Easton and I have become huge fans of Mario games, and we truly love playing together!







My Dad moved to an assisted living facility on October 1st, he seems pretty happy, especially since my brother bought him a new recliner. :) He has come a long way since March and I am so happy to see him much more himself these past couple of months.

Mine & Easton's life is soon going to have lots of change. I would like to say I am excited but I am pretty anxious truth be told. Once the condo is sold, I have some decisions to make...one of my biggest ones is where to live. I also want to make the best decision for Easton when it comes to choosing his next school. I know it will all work out, it always does. Just needed to be vulnerable for a moment.

He DID it!!!

For those that follow, I am sure you know by now that Easton sleeps in my bed with me. I have never regretted my decision, but I always wondered what it was going to look like when it was time to kick him out...he gets taller by the day and more often than not he kicks me through out the night. The up side is that he sleeps like a champ and he is always right there to snuggle with! :) Have I mentioned I love this kid?!?! (Hey, I heard that!!)

So, last night, getting ready to turn the light off, Easton says, "Mommy, I want to sleep in my bedroom." Notice I said bedroom because he has no bed. LOL I said, "are you sure???" He said "yep!" So, I laid down a few blankets, he grabbed a couple of pillows & his bear & rabbit, set his stars & moon night light on the floor by his head and he laid down. I said "would you like me to pray with you?" after a few seconds, he said "no, just a hug" I hugged him and said "I am right over here if you need me" then I walked out.

I barely slept a wink, with the combo of excitement that my baby made a big boy choice all by himself and the anticipation that he would be trotting in any minute, followed with, Oh my goodness, is this really it?!? I watched him get up twice to go potty (and yes, I said potty) but he traipsed his happy little butt right back to the makeshift bed his Momma made. WOW, I am SO PROUD of him!!!!!

Phew, I am tired today, but it is a wonderful proud kind of tired!! Each day brings new surprises...I am so thankful!!

I guess it's time to get him a bed. Although, I may be posting again tomorrow letting you know he fell off the wagon. Either way, I am one proud Momma!

Out of the mouths of babes...

Last night, on the way to visit my Dad:

E: hey Mom, I learned how to pee in the water today

me: oh yeah? who taught you?

E: Greg...he told me to go out far so no one can see my butt

me: (stifling a chuckle) is that right? you know you can just pee with your suit on (am I REALLY telling him this?!?)

E: I can?

me: why yes, yes you can, but please don't pee in our pool, okay?

E: okay Mom, I won't.

My baby is getting older and learning new things daily, if this were ALL I had to deal with I would be golden!!

SO, just after the "pee" conversation he said:

E: Mom, I know how to walk like a magician

me: huh, I didn't know magician's had a special way to walk...can you show me??

E: (holding his arms up with his hands at a 90 degree angle poking the air)

me: OH, you mean you are walking like an Egyptian...

E: yep!

Man I love that kid!

Grand Lake

Last Saturday Easton and I took a day trip to Grand lake to visit the Anderson clan. It was such a blessing to see them all, including Leah's pregnant belly!! She was so stinkin cute!!

It was a wonderful visit, I really mis my friend!


Julia, Jonetta & Leah Bug


Playing in the woods


He really loved it out there


Julia & Greyson, what a sweet little guy!


Yummy Smores!

Seriously...

where does the time go...in fact, where did the month of July go?!?!? That means my little man is growing bigger & bigger every day, in fact from April until now he has grown 3 inches!!! And he is 53 pounds!!!

I love this kid so much it hurts sometimes. I want to see him have the chance to do anything he sets his mind too. I will do everything I can to help him grow into the man God designed him to be! I am not a perfect parent, but I love Easton SOOOOOO MUCH!!! I hope the love outweighs the mistakes I have made and the mistakes to come.

Just yesterday, Easton asked me if he could bring such & such toy in the car...I replied, "no, we don't need anymore toys in the car" (that was me being an anal, like to have have everything tidy Mommy response) after a minute I decided, why not...so, I said "Easton, ok, you may bring such & such toy into the car", he came into the bathroom where I was and said "Mommy, you said 'no' and no means no..." I just about fainted!! All of the hard work is paying off!! I just got down & gave him a BIG HUG and told him how very proud of him I was.

Here are a BUNCH more photo's of The "Barden" family reunion...(my Mom's side of the family)

 
Cousin Brynn Peterson
 
Uncle Lars Peterson
 
Birds (not sure what kind?!?)
 
Portrait of Aunt Tracy Rider (Messing with Picassa)
 
Me, Lars & Brynn on our hike up to lake Emerald
 

 

 

 

 
Lars, me, Brynn & Uncle Bob
 
Brynn Pondering...
 
Lars falling...LOL
 
James Wiltshire (Erica's Hubby) giving me the "eye"
 
Chillin
 
Ted (Great smile!)
 
Super duper Sue
 
Cousin Nat
 
Aunt Janie & Nick
 
Aunt Tracy & Uncle Merrill
 
Brynn & Auntie Lydia Peterson
 
Alice & Merrill
 

 
My Mom's siblings (She would have LOVED this trip!)
 
Cousins (we wish all could have been here)

 
so sweet!
 

 
Happy Birthday Erica! (Still a bit confused about the coffee filter hat?!?)
 
nothing like silly self portraits!