Pacifiers

Yesterday my husband told me a story.  Before he began he said to me, I think this should go on the blog.  Since he never says that I felt that I should honor his interest in my small obsession by writing this story.  

So Kelly went out last night to pick up some dinner.  He took Noah along with him to give me time to ??  I don't remember what I was doing, but anyways I always encourage little outings together.  Gives Kelly perspective.  So off they went to the restaurant.  He said that once the food came he realized that he would have his hands full with the bag of food, Noah and opening the door to the vehicle.  This would take all of his multi tasking talents.  (I can totally relate) I could just picture him struggling to get the door open while trying not to drop child or food, when all of a sudden Noah takes the pacifier out of his mouth and pops it into Kelly's.  Too funny...and he had no way to take this bright orange pacifier out of his mouth before someone sees him.  I love it.  Noah is starting to share early.  

Oh and he says that they taste terrible and has no clue why Noah is in love with them.  

Housekeeper

I just hired myself a new housekeeper.  She is cute, efficient and comes very cheaply; I only need to pay with hugs and animal crackers.  

Surprise!

My mom phoned me on Monday night to say that she would like to come and visit us, in Phoenix, tomorrow.  WHAT??  Seriously!!  I booked her a ticket that night for the following day and she is here now.  Talk about completely out of the blue.  And I would just like to mention (especially since she will read this) that I realize now why I sometimes go on crazy and random adventures.  I once drove all the way to Nanaimo to get ice cream.  That's right a full three hour drive to get the same ice cream I could have gotten in town.  That was a random adventure; I also learnt all of the words to the veggie tales song 'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything'.   That was one long car ride to be able to get those song's lyrics under my belt.  

Monday Night

I was super excited when they announced that our Bible Study would be having an ornament exchange during our annual Christmas dinner.  The guidelines were to be creative and bring an ornament that said something about yourself and we would give them to one another.  So last family night Kelly and I went ornament shopping (that is another long tale) but we only came away with an ornament for Kelly.  So I made one, a Canadian flag, out of beads.  I thought, hey pretty creative Heidi, but I had no idea there were better more creative ornaments to be had.  

So off we went on Monday to the ornament/dinner party.  We ate, we talked and then we opened ornaments.  I loved mine.  Heather made it, it was so beautiful and creative.  But, sadly, someone stole it (ahem Theresa) and I ended up with this.

That's right.  It's a star with a lovely picture of Mike Caruso, the Filleman's three boys and a Bible.  Oh and don't miss the gun and Diamondbacks Logo. (?????)  And yes it actually sits on my tree (in the back) but it's on there!  I look at it quite frequently and have a good laugh.  I am pretty sure that I was not supposed to be the one who ended up with the Mike Star but that is the fun, and scariness of ornament exchanges.  By the way Filleman's, I voted for you.  

Celine Dion

Yes, we went to the Celine Dion concert last Saturday!  Kelly had bought the tickets last year as a Christmas present,  he thought of doing this all on his own without any hints from me (actually I had no idea she was coming to town) and voila we were going.  So last Saturday the big night finally came.  We left Noah with his grandparent's and, sigh, had an evening to ourselves.  I must admit she is a fun concert to go too; the only thing I was really, really disappointed about was that no one wanted to stand up.  I must be used to going to concert's with a bit of a different demographic because I was itching to stand up, dance, and sing at the top of my lungs the whole time.  But I sat, nicely, with the rest of them.  I should have been a rebel and stood up,  I so wanted to pound my chest while she sang the Titanic song.   

This girl likes her shoes, and tiny dresses!  I was impressed that she didn't trip walking around in those things!!  She did show her undies though on the mega-screen; you would think someone would tell her??!!

My favourite Christmas shot...so far.

Two cuties under the Christmas tree.  

Bah Humbug

So the Christmas season has officially begun in our household.  The tree is up, the lights are lit, and I have just experienced my first frustrating shopping trip... 

I decided to head over to Michael's to score on some of their deals.  They were advertising Christmas decorations for 50 to 60 percent off and I wanted to check them out.  Being the smart person that I am, I decide to go at the best possible time: right when Noah is his grumpiest, I have to pick Kelly up from work in 40 minutes, and I can't find any of the coupons I religiously save.  So all ready circumstances are sketchy.  But we were doing fine for all of five minutes and then boom, it's all over.  Noah is done shopping and to let me know he keeps arching his back so he can slide out of his stroller (his new trick that I lOVE).  So to give myself more time I hold him and try the pacifier trick.  By this time I have long stemmed flowers on top of my stroller which makes it somewhat difficult to maneuver around people and merchandise yet I am still doing fine and I continue shopping.  

I guess it all went downhill when I thought that buy a garland (have you ever tried to get one of those things off the rack with a baby in hand??) And by the time I made it to the garland's I had picked up Noah's paci for the hundredth time and (yes I do this) wiped it off so I could make him less noisy.  I was sweating profusely from carting my son around, doing squats (involuntarily) and trying to avoid rather aggressive shoppers.  I mean come on, do people not notice that I should obviously have exclusive shopping rights to the aisle that I am in?? And that pushing past me could result in serious injury??  Well the garland did me in; I couldn't move with garland in front and flowers in back and I was so blinking hot, so I chucked the garland on the floor (I am so sorry to those working in retail) and put the flowers in some bucket on the other side of the store and left.  Yes Christmas has begun.  

7 Random Things...and some are just embarrassing.

1) I still have all four of my wisdom teeth!   I had dental surgery, braces and retainers which made room for them.  Yeah for me!  And by the way it is true; having wisdom teeth does mean you have more wisdom.  (Read following fact)

2) I once had a wardrobe malfunction, fell off a chair, and ran head first into a lady videotaping a high school dance performance.  Which all happened in about an one minute time frame.  I am still scared that I may see that fiasco on America's Funniest Home Video.

3) I was kissed by two different guy's on my 16 Birthday.  Oh don't you want to know!!  

4) I have caught a 27 pound spring salmon.  And he tasted soooo good.  

5) I have traveled to Disneyland with 9 children and a coworker from the Boys and Girls Club of Nanaimo, Canada.  Believe me it is not the place where dreams come true when you have 9 children.  

6) I once had a customer strip down to his briefs in a clothing store because he wanted me to see which pair of pants that I liked more.  I was like a deer caught in the headlights.  Where do you look and what do you say??

7) I dressed up as Posh Spice for a Millennium Party.  You had to dress up as someone influential and I chose a Spice Girl??  I wore a black dress and a blue, furry bath coat that I had found at Value Village.  Oh and we sang Spice Girl songs all night.  I know what your thinking-invite that girl to a party!!  

Cheerios

Noah Update

It is always fun for me to head off to the Doctor's for Noah's monthly appointments.  I mean watching him get his shot's is torturous but the rest of it I love.  I eagerly anticipate finding out how much he weighs, how tall he is and what percentile his head is in (85%, thank goodness for c-sections).  Well this time he did not disappoint.  Our little guy is growing up!  He is now a record 18 pounds 11 ounces, measures at 26.5 inches and has one very big head!!  No wonder all of those one size fits all hats never fit. 

 You realize how much they are changing when you head back to the doctor's office because things they never bothered with before (paper on the examining table) was not a problem.  All objects within his reach or view was fair game: the doctor's stethoscope, the paper, his diaper, the paper (I know I keep mentioning this but they need to do something about that paper).  I kept grabbing things out of his death grip and apologizing; like this doesn't happen all day for her.  Next she mentioned that we probably should start thinking about baby proofing because he could be active the next time we see her!!  AAHH.  That is all I will say on that subject.  

0 to 6 Months

Noah turned 6 months old this week.  We can't believe that our little one is now a half a year old!!  We loved looking at his newborn pictures to now; he sure has changed.  

Noah getting ready to leave the hospital. 
This last Sunday at the park.  Our big boy now likes to sit up in his stroller.

Formula Gut

Who says that you can only have a beer gut??  It's still cute on a baby though.

Sunday: Fun in the Sun!

Sunny days in the stroller.  Who knew it could happen in the middle of November??
His new thing: sitting up in his stroller.  
It seems that all children love finding and emptying diaper bags.
Not so happy about being in their car seat's.  

Visitor's!

Our friend Ellisha arrived on Saturday with her sweet boy, Malcolm.  We are looking forward to spending the week together exploring the zoo, many kid's parks and even baby story time at the library.  I think that I did not prepare Ellisha quite well enough because the last few days have been very warm and she keeps commenting that she would have brought SHORTS if she knew.  Oops.  

Thanks Grandma for my cute pj's.

Organized or Crazy?

I am not sure why I think doing big house projects before company comes is a smart thing to do but it seems to be a pretty common event in our household.  Here was my latest project that I started on Friday and completed on Sunday afternoon: organizing our office and my craft closet...I am thankful for plastic bins, label maker's and my husband!

Before:

After:

Friends

Kelly and I had some company for the past two days; our friends Darlene and Jeremy flew to Las Vegas, spent three days there, and then drove down to see us in Arizona.  We were thrilled that they came and had a wonderful time together.  

I took them for a rather adventurous hike at South Mountain (I had no idea that those hills have no trails off of them and once you are on them you are stuck!!) So we may have veered off the path after about three climbs (see picture above); I know the area said closed but I was fine with disobeying the park rules until a helicopter flew right over us.  I was pretty scared that it was the park rangers coming to yell at us (you know like in the movies with megaphones) and then I realized, park rangers have helicopters?  Maybe not.  

I had Noah on my back for the first hill, my goodness he is heavy, eventually I had to pawn him off onto Jeremy.  I am so out of shape.

Thanks for the visit Omstead's!  I am so glad you came.  And sorry Dar for not explaining the Ticket to Ride game very well; maybe that's why I won??

I know, you get it. I am Canadian.

A little article I saw today and swelled with pride.  Had to share it.

Cut and paste the link:  

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/SavingsDebt/Canadian-products-we're-proud-of.aspx

Halloween!!

 Noah's first Halloween...

                                           The Martin Boys!  Such great costume ideas Sarah.  

                                                  Emma: born to be Annie for Halloween.  

Cool Harley Dude.   Not sure if true Harley driver's suck on pacifiers and have monkey toys??

                                                     Such a sweet picture with Vanessa.  

                                                                        The Watne's!!  
Noah in his motorcycle.  I now know that my drawing skills are lacking; he was called Mickey Mouse and a hockey player by stranger's.  
The mini Halloweener's (that can not be a word??) They are all so cute.  Notice two are asleep and two just want to get down!!  

Any Ideas??

To my fellow Arizonians.  I have a quick question for all of you.  I have two sets of company coming to visit in the next two weeks and I have been trying to think of fun ways to spend our time together.  Our first visitor's are a married couple (no kids) and will only be here two days.  Any ideas as to what would be the best to see in that short amount of time?  Our next visitor's are a Mommy with her eighth month old son.  I have a few more ideas of what we can do but I am wondering if any of you know of an indoor aquatic center or something fun that would appeal to that age?!  Thanks!!  

Arizona State Fair

Yeah for State Fairs!!
Noah chilling with his Daddy.  I love that he is asleep with one hand on his pumpkin hat and his other arm is cradling his soother.  
Another crazy ride...I am starting to think that all of the photos I posted on Facebook I am posting here.  Sorry for the repeats.
Noah's first ride!!  
Oh yes she looks calm folks but inside she was screaming, get me off this thing!!  The worst is when they stop the Ferris Wheel to let people off and you are just hanging way up high.
On the Ferris Wheel.  
The James's on the crazy-make-you-lose-your-dinner ride.  For some reason there was this grungy looking tarp that covered you.  All I can say is what if someone had just barfed??  Gross.
Emma: I am going to post the video that I took right after this shot on Facebook.  She can sure get down and boogie:)  

The crazy Mega Drop ride.  I finally got up my nerve to go on this ride with Kelly.  I was so scared.  It was actually a lot of fun going up and seeing out onto the fair but the drop?  I don't think I breathed, blinked, or screamed but quite possibly could have (but didn't) pee my pant's.  It was petrifying and thrilling all at once.  

A Noah First

Guess what!?  Noah officially rolled over last night!!  And Kelly and I missed it!!  Our son rolls over for the first time and we didn't see it (FYI: I can't get him to recreate the momentous event no matter how hard I try).  So I guess that our little one decided that rewarding the James's with his new skills was payment for having three little ones all crying at the same time last night, while his parent's were at Bible Study.  And so we missed it.  Not the crying, certainly wouldn't miss that, but his first officially roll.  Sigh.  I am actually super excited that he is rolling because I was starting to wonder if maybe his, um, chubbiness may be cause for the delays.  

New Food Alert: Squash

Hmm...is Mom really going to try to stuff squash into my mouth??  Really she needs to stop trying to feed me all these healthy veggies-bring on the fruit!!  (Don't you love people who think they are speaking thoughts for their baby??)

Pumpkin's

Thanks Jenna for opening your home and organizing this fun, creative craft~ I had a great time making my pumpkin and it looks pretty darn cute sitting on my mantel.  

To bead or not to bead....

I love to bead jewelry and I have been beading for a few years now.  Lately a cute little bundle has been consuming much of my time so if I do get free time I am either on the computer or trying to clean the house, quietly!  But I have this great website that I have always loved going to for ideas.  I thought I would post it on my 'sites to see' for any of you who also love to make jewelry.  Who knows maybe this will inspire me to start again...

PS> Check out the inspiration area!

Blankie Boy

My son loves(!!) to hide his face while sleeping.  I usually try to check on him through out his nap to uncover his face but inevitably he will have covered it again by the end of his nap.  Here's a good example.  

Noah's New Hair Do!

Please disregard the yummy carrot dinner on his shirt...

Noah is our little swinger. Thanks Tonya!

Back From Canada...I know that was over a week ago

Okay I realize that I have let my blogging lapse but I have this idea that no one truly reads my blog except myself and maybe my Mom.  So I sometimes let things slip; like writing about our trip home to Victoria or the fact that Noah has started to eat real food (is rice cereal classified as real?  If I only ate it could I survive?).  There is much to tell.  

Our trip to Victoria was a one week long adventure!  As I mentioned before I wanted to be with my parent's after my Dad had his operation.  Our flight down was pretty uneventful (thank goodness for empty seats) and we arrived to see that fall had begun if any of you from Arizona were wondering!  I could not believe that the trees were changing colour and their leaves were beginning to fall.  I love fall, I love crisp cool weather, I love pumpkins and turkey.  I was thrilled to be surrounded by that reminder.  

My Dad did very well after his surgery; he truly is the best patient.  Our first few days were spent visiting him in the hospital, me trying to see my friend, Cindy, who works on the labour and delivery floor, and Noah getting to spend time with his Nana and Papa.  Before I knew it we were bringing Dad home (he is a much better patient in the hospital than out we soon discovered) and trying to keep him on the couch and NOT going outside to get the paper, or taking a walk, or getting Noah's stroller out of the vehicle.  I think two women in his life nagging him was a bit more painful than anything he had just experienced...and no morphine to take the pain away:)  We sure missed Kelly during that week and those very early mornings spent just with Noah, though wonderful, would have been that much sweeter with someone to trade off the early wake up calls (I won't put the time here because I know some of you will say, that's early???).  

Our flight home was a bit more eventful.  We had to switch planes after we had all boarded because the back door wouldn't shut.  Yikes.  It's not good when you see maintenance men come onto your plane only moments before you were about to leave the terminal.  It was good news for me because up until this time Noah had been crying, fussing and then full out screaming (the man beside me reassured me he didn't mind sitting beside us because he had noise reduction earphones). I don't really believe him though because once we boarded the next plane he had switched seats with someone else.  Thankfully Noah slept the whole way (ha ha to you funny man with the crazy earphones) and I had a great conversation with the lady beside me.  

Update!!

I just heard from my sister that my Dad is out of surgery!  All went very well which is such great news; the cancer was successfully removed and there is no sign that it has spread.  Praise the Lord!!  He is in recovery right now and they will see him later this afternoon.  

Tag your It!

Before I go I must tag the following people....if you don't know what that means check out my 'tagged' blog entry.  Can't wait to read them!

Tag your it!!

Janis Scott (seriously Janis you need to start a blog!)

Katie Lloyd (what is your new last name??)

Heather Mellstrom (because I would love to hear about your life; the snippets I have heard are fascinating!)

Heidi Vage (she was to be my blog of next week, if I think I had it tough moving to Arizona she moved from the US to Norway!  Learning a new language just puts a whole new spin on things)

AND  Renee Gleason (lovely lady!!)

Going away...

Noah and I are heading up to Canada early tomorrow morning!  Our flight leaves at 6:30 in the morning and I have been practicing for the big day.  For example today I woke up at 4:45 am  because my son uncharacteristically decided to wake up at that time and scream for food.  Not a cute little cry but full on, top of your lungs, scream.  Thankfully my husband quickly got up, made him some food and then decided to turn on the TV on at the loudest setting and watch a program on Japan.  I believe sometime during this I stumbled out into the living room and gave him a look of death, for the TV volume went down, and I went back to sleep.  I know most of you are probably saying, Heidi your husband actually got up and fed the baby!?  I am thankful for that!  I just have problems with early mornings.  Hence the need to practice getting up...

That is my silly story but now for the reason I am going home.  My Dad, right now actually, is having surgery.  He was diagnosed with prostate cancer pretty shortly after Noah was born and today, after months of waiting, is the surgery.  I felt God leading me last week to book a last minute ticket and be with my family.  We are planning on being there for one week and should be back into Phoenix on the 8.  

 We are praying for my Dad as he will be facing a lot of down time (especially hard for someone who can't stand sitting still), my Mom as she will now have a different role as care giver and my sister who does much in helping and caring for our parent's.  

I will be away from a working computer for the week but would love your prayers during this time!  

Love the Cassadays

Blog of the Week

So I sort of like highlighting certain people's blogspot that maybe most of us haven't seen or heard of.  I don't actually tell the person that I am doing this, but I think hey it's a blog they expect people to check it out!!  Here is my blog of the week.  It is done by Heather Mellstrom; not only was this lady a princess for many years (seriously) but looks to me like she is one talented lady.  

I Was Tagged!!

Thanks Melissa....

20 Years ago...I was 11 years old, still attending a French Immersion School and living on Prospect Lake in Victoria, BC.  This year was huge for me; I started attending a youth group which meant the beginning of a social life AND the beginning of noticing that other sex: boys.  I may have been a late bloomer but there was no stopping me now!   The only other thing I can remember was I loved taking dance classes and went on a Band Trip to the USA!!  

10 Years ago...A lot changes in ten years; the most drastic change?  I had become a Christian in my early teens... I had it all planned out I was to be married, on the way to having my first child and probably solving world peace by the time I hit 21.  Well I hit it and I was not married, not with child and definitely not solving world peace.  I was however figuring out lessons that God obviously had for me.  I had spent my last two summers living on a native reserve running youth and children's programs.  I got a job as a Special Needs assistant for a preschool and worked in an after school children's program.  I had to learn how to drive one of those mini school buses for that job and it terrified me.  My major mishap was one day I forgot to put the bus in park, got out of the vehicle (thankfully no kids were with me at the time) and then watched as it gained momentum rolling down the hill.  I ran like I have never run before, jumped into the vehicle and stopped it right before it was about to hit a building.  I guess I wouldn't have had that job for long...

5 Years Ago...By this time in my life I had moved to Nanaimo (a small town still on Vancouver Island) finished my schooling and was working at a High School as an Education Assistant.  I was living with a friend in a lovely apartment building with a fire hazard tenant on one side (seriously one day my roomate came home, saw smoke billowing out our neighbors door and when he came to the door he acted like nothing was wrong, smoke what smoke?) and some super noisy (not in a good way) neighbors on the other side.  I was not doing well in my job; my student had a history of violence which would cause the school to go into lockdown mode.  Yes they would all lock their classroom doors so she couldn't get in and then they would call the police.  I remember one day, after one of her blowups, she was outside trying to 'run' away and I thought to myself why am I alone outside with her?  Well I quickly left that job and did something completely uncharacteristic, I became a Missionary.  I traded my secure life for adventure.  I loved it; I lived in a remote coastal town, learned how to drive a boat (our only mode of transportation) and wore purple gumboots every day.  

3 Years Ago...I met my wonderful man, Kelly.  Need I say more?  Plus that is a super long story.  

1 Year Ago...I was just pregnant, we had finally received my immigration papers allowing us to move to Arizona, we drove down to Arizona, with a crazy cat, along the I5, I felt ill the whole time (in denial that I could possibly be pregnant) and we arrived to our house that was completely torn apart.  Oh and I need to mention it had been a bachelor house for over three years.  YIKES.  This was the time to panic.  New place, new town,  new church, newly pregnant, somewhat new marriage, and new country.  Let's just say that I went through some tough times.  

Today...I just put down our four month old (Noah) down for his afternoon nap and I will eventually make dessert for tonight's Bible study (probably once I am done writing this post).  Noah and I spent the morning at our local library checking out books and music.  We (I) eventually picked out an african children's CD which we spent a wonderful time dancing to this afternoon.  I am in love with being a Mom and we are so thankful that we have been given this gift.  

Tomorrow...I will try to brave the post office.  Spend the evening with our little family and try, try, try to get outside for a walk.  

One year...Funny or crazy as this might sound?  Hopefully we will be well on our way to having baby number two!!  As for the rest of us?  Noah could be one active boy, Kelly will be the same wonderful parent  he has been from Noah's birth, and I will be emotional, fat and loving it!!   And maybe we should throw in a dog, a few more fish and of course Enzo into the mix.

Heidi

Noah's a Star!!

I have to do the Mommy thing and show my sonny boy off.  We were so grateful to have a friend, Zak, come over and take professional pics of Noah.  Here is the website to check out our little boy's photos!  

I have now posted it on the side bar.  Living Creation Photography.

Cuteness

Funny Stuff

I tried posting this before but it wouldn't work so I will try again.  Kelly and I discovered one of my favourite TV specials on YouTube; I made him watch all four episodes because well I think it's hilarious.  A few years ago a Canadian comedian thought it would be fun to head down to the states and ask all different types ( Ivy League Professors to Tourists) questions about Canada.  He had them sign fake petitions and make comments like: Congratulations Canada on legalizing staplers.  Huh??!!  If you want a good laugh here is what to do:

Go to Youtube, Enter in Rick Mercer Talking to Americans, and enjoy.

Highlighting: Katie's Blog

I didn't tell my friend Katie that I was going to do this so I hope she doesn't mind!  But if you want to read a hilarious blog about what happens when a cute American marries a Canadian, and has to move to Alberta while waiting for immigration papers, read the following blog ( on the side under my blog list) called In the Grip of Grace.  She is keeping me in stitches.  I have no hard feelings toward her when she complains about Canadian ways that she finds annoying (postal codes and such) because I know that soon she won't want to move away from the Great White North...eh!!

Lime Green Pod

Here's Noah's new bebepod.  We just got it for him because we thought he might like to join us for our meals rather than sit over in the family room by himself.  He usually lasts about ten minutes in it and lately he seems to choose this time to, well, poop his pants!!  Very unappetizing for his poor parent's...

Labour Day Weekend

Noah met his cousin Mike for the first time!  Mike has been away at Basic Training (Air Force); Noah had many admirers and spent a lot of his time being cared for by his other cousin Emily!  Needless to say we were all a bit overwhelmed by the time we left.