my little artist

Kyle decided he wanted to draw a picture of our family.
He did a great job!
I am really impressed.
He is not really "into" coloring so he does not draw very much.
I was surprised at the amount of detail he was able to do.

I put a big piece of paper on the floor in the garage.




Working hard on every detail. Check out how long our arms are!



The finished product.





Do we really look like this?





He even got every one's height correct.
Daddy is the tallest and Kaden is the smallest.
So cute!
I am a proud mama (and kindergarten teacher)

Happy Halloween

When I was a child, Halloween was a 1 day event. For some reason, Halloween has become a month-long celebration. My kids have been to parties, church events, birthday parties (Halloween themed), Preschool Harvest parties, multiple pumpkin farms, etc.
Kyle had 3 costumes this year. (I only bought 1)
He was a Jedi at a birthday party and for trick-or-treating....Thanks Tanya for making the costumes for Deek's birthday!
Kyle was a Knight and Kaden was a dragon *these are the "original" costumes that we planned on
Kyle had a Harvest Party at school and could not be anything scary or violent...so I did not let him have his Knight sword or his Light Saber...so he was a lion.
Kaden was a monkey for that party :)
We went to Bellingham to spend the day at MiMi and PaPa's. We dressed in costumes and attempted to get photos with our baby cousin, Owen. It is very challenging to get a good photo of a stubborn 4 year old, a wiggly 1 year old and a 2 month old who cannot sit up :)
this is the best we could do....not bad.


Kyle, Kaden, Owen...our little Halloween boys!



A good one of the two littles



Smiley Mr. Dragon Boy...he ATE (literally) the pumpkin sitting on his left. Took bites out of it and swallowed them!




The Knight Slaying the Dragon
(this was taken before our Church Family Night)





A Lion and a Monkey...ready for preschool party....well...they need to get shoes on :)

All in all....it has been a fun month...but I am glad to see October go and November come!
I am exhausted.
I need a vacation....good thing we leave for Cabo in 1 week!!!! (Minus kiddos)

1 year old photo

I like comparing picture of Kyle and Kaden when they are the same age.

This is Kyle at 1 year.


This is Kaden at 1 year


similar?
yes. and no.
but both very cute!

soccer

I have always wanted to be a soccer mom.
Kyle is finally old enough to sign him up to be on the YMCA 3 year olds/4 year olds soccer team.
I pictured....cold, crisp fall mornings, coffee in hand, watching my little guy score a goal or two, bringing juice boxes, orange slices, and granola bars for the kids after the game....etc.
Well.....
The weeks building up to the first day of soccer we got the uniform, the shin guards, the soccer cleats (shoes) and we practiced at home and talked alot about it.
You see, Kyle does not like new things. New situations. So there was some anxiety about soccer. I fully expected the first day to be a disaster. And, oh boy, was it a DISASTER.
Did I mention, most Saturday mornings Troy has Cross Country so I have to go solo and bring my 11 month old baby (who normally naps at that time)
Anyways, the first day Kyle refused to wear the uniform, the shoes, and most of all...the shin guards. He freaked out. When we got to the field he threw a HUGE CRYING FIT and I had to carry him over to where the rest of his team was. Many parents were looking at me as if I was torturing my son. It was very embarrassing. Thankfully, my neighbor was there to help with Kaden and also helped with Kyle and his crying. Kyle spent most of that soccer game crying in the van. So we tried again the next week.
This time my friend watched Kaden so I could focus on Kyle during his soccer anxiety. He made progress. He wore the uniform, the shoes, the shin guards. He even stood on the side lines and watched his friends play the game. He did not want to play or participate at all but I was proud that he was doing better than the week before.
The third week I had high hopes that he would go out there and play. Daddy even got to come since his cross country match was in the evening. Kyle walked out on the field and watched the kids practice but would not play at all.
It was frustrating.
Troy even suggested that we quit. But I wanted to keep trying and see what happened.
The fourth week of soccer...like magic....Kyle went out on the field as if he never had any issues. He kicked the ball, he ran, he scored lots of goals, he high fived his teammates...it was wonderful! We were so proud.
From then on.....we had a soccer player. He loved it!
I love the way he looks over at me when he scores a goal waiting for me to give him a thumbs up and a smile :) It is adorable. Now the season has come to an end. He only got to play in 3 games but I am so proud of him for the progress he made this season!
Hopefully, next year, he will get out there with confidence the first week and remember all the fun he had in 2010!



Kyle and Greyson proudly showing their medals the last day of soccer



Aspiring soccer player



sitting on a ball is the best place to watch a soccer game




a cold, foggy morning. lining up for drills


Kyle got a "coffee" treat (Hot Cocoa with whipped cream) for all of his hard work!


Kyle's # 1 Fan....on a wet soccer afternoon



Buddies.



Kick, Pass, Score!


Guard that Goal!

Way to Go Kyle! We are so proud of you!

twins???

Kyle, October 2007


Kaden, October 2010

ONE!

Happy 1st Birthday Kaden!
We love you so much!
It is hard to believe that a year has gone by so quickly.
You are such a fun, happy baby!

October 7, 2009

7 pounds 11 ounces

12:43 pm

20 inches

Kaden is such a wonderful addition to our family. He fills our home with joy and laughter. Kyle loves his brother so much and they love playing together. No one can make Kaden laugh more than Kyle :)

Kaden has been given a few nick names throughout the year. Kyle likes to call him "Boo Boo" but mommy and daddy don't like that name.

Mommy calls him "Little Bittle" "Kade-man" "Baby Head" "Bittle" "Do-Do" and "My Little"

Daddy calls him "My Monkey"

Kaden LOVES bathtime, eating grass rocks, sand, dirt, etc, playing outside, reading books, playing with balls, his binkie, eating big boy food, wrestling with Kyle and Daddy

Kaden has 12 teeth! (Kyle only had 5 at his 1st birthday)

Kaden is a FAST crawler and is walking more than crawling now

He can: wave bye-bye, blow kisses, sign "all done", puts his arms up to say touchdown, when asked what a dinosaur says he says "roar" (in a cute whisper voice), points up to the sky to show me an airplane, drinks from a sippie cup, eats everything we eat (no more baby food), goes up and down stairs all by himself, squeals with excitement when he sees any kind of animal, plays peek-a-boo, puts the remote to his ear as if it were a phone, blows bubbles in the bathtub

Kaden puts up with alot of "brotherly love"

When he was an infant I called it "death patrol" because Kyle wanted to lay on him, smother him with kisses, carry him, etc. Now Kaden is bigger and can handle the "love"

Kaden is full of wonder and mischief....if we turn our back on him he will be playing in the toilet, unrolling an entire roll of TP, pulling all of the books off of his bookshelf, taking all of his pants out of his drawer, smearing poop everywhere, eating Kyle's paint or Kyle's peanut butter *before he was allowed to eat peanutbutter*, ripping apart newspapers or magazines and eating the paper, climbing in the dishwasher....just to name a few things that have happened :)

We love you so much our little Kaden!

Happy ONE YEAR to you!

4 years old

Happy 4th Birthday Kyle!
I cannot believe it has been 4 years since your birth! Even though your entrance into the world was traumatic for mommy, it was also the happiest day of my life. I have always wanted to be a mommy and YOU made that happen for me :)


9-29-06
9:11am
8lbs 4 oz
21 inches


Things Kyle loves:
running
playing
riding his bike
hiking
boating
camping
motorcycles
playing with his brother
the color pink
super heros
any kind of weapon/playing "mean guys"
baking with mommy
singing
swimming
baseball (you should see his pitching skills)
his "millions" of friends
diggers, dumptrucks, loaders, ALL construction vehicles
preschool!
reading books
going to church
eating "treats"
chewing gum.....I told him when he is 4 he can have gum....so I let him try it last week (a few days early)
favorite foods: strawberries, pizza, mac and cheese, hot dogs, apples, grapes, cheese, chocolate milk, apple juice, spaghetti

Kyle is NOT a fan of: (and he will let you know it)
haircuts
toe nail clippings
trips to the doctor, dentist
new things/new situations


Kyle,
We love you so much and we are very proud of you!
Happy Birthday! I hope your Four-year-old year brings you joy, happiness, growth, and many fun memories
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Preschool!

We have entered a new phase of life in the Schwenke Household...Preschool.
Kyle, bless his little soul, is not a fan of change or new things....so Mommy was very nervous about this new adventure. Considering the fact that the first day of basketball, soccer, swimming lessons, t-ball, etc all involved crying and freaking out....I was prepared for the worst.
The day began as usual....up EARLY!
I offered to make a yummy, special breakfast...but Kyle wanted "his usual" (again...not a fan of change)
So...I made him his usual order of: toast, peanut butter to dip, sausage (cut up), apple juice, 2 gummy bear vitamins, and fruit
He did not want his photo taken



Getting dressed was not fun. He was anxious about going to school and did not want to get dressed. It was a wrestling match to get him into his clothes. I was upset. He was crying and kicking, I was then crying, I got mad. It was not fun. I was very worried about the events ahead.



I finally got him dressed and convinced him to sit on the porch for a photo with his Star Wars backpack.


He cooperated. Amazingly.

Then I dropped Kaden off at a friends house (thank you Sara) and had some special time with Kyle before Preschool.


We went to Safeway for a donut. Complete with white frosting and sprinkles!
This is pay back for all the moms who did it to me when I was a teacher....sugar them up and then send them to school! While eating the donut we had a nice chat about being a big boy and being brave and going to preschool without crying, etc.

We pulled into the preschool parking lot and he said to me "Mom, I will be brave, you don't need to come in with me"
WHAT???


So he was brave and walked in with no fear. I was shocked.
I thought I was going to have to carry him in kicking and screaming. I was pleasantly surprised!


Here he is in front of the door to his school. I am so proud.


He found his name on his hook and hung up his coat and backpack.



Then he found his name at his table spot and sat down.


See mom, K-Y-L-E is my name.


When it was time to sit on the carpet he had to sit on the number 3 because he is 3. (So are all the other kids in his class) His teacher, Mrs. Bloomingdale is going to be a great match for him. She is a great teacher! She is firm and loving and understands the wiggles that come with teaching 3 year olds and she has alot of experience with boys like Kyle. :)
The parents were allowed to stay for the first 30 minutes of class. I got to see Kyle in action during calendar time and carpet time. He is Mr. Chatty. He always has something to say and does not yet know the importance of raising his hand and waiting to be called on. Good thing he has 2 years of preschool before he starts kindergarten!
Being in his classroom made me miss teaching. It is SO DIFFERENT when you are the mommy and not the teacher. Crazy!
Overall, it was a good first day. I am so proud that Kyle decided to be brave and enter his new phase of life with confidence and ease. I was too relieved to cry. I am just glad it went so well. When I picked him up I did shed a tear or two because I was so proud of him and so happy that the first day was a success.
It is exciting to think about the year ahead and all the fun things Kyle is going to get to experience and learn.
ABC, counting, writing, field trips, singing songs, bible lessons, sharing, playtime, learning how to be a big boy at school.
I can't believe my BABY is in Preschool! Where has the time gone?

Baby Nephew, Owen

I am an auntie!
Owen Green Olvera
Born: August 18, 2010
8 lbs 2 oz.
20 inches

I made Owen a "Happy 0th Birthday Cake"

Owen and Auntie Christy

Kyle and Kaden are so excited to have a baby cousin!

Uncle Troy

Kyle loves babies! He is kissing baby Owen

Kyle holding Owen for the first time (3 days old)

Kyle holding Owen (17 days old)

Owen chilling in his bouncy seat.....makes me kinda sad because Kyle and Kaden used to use that seat

The 3 amigos will LOVE being cousins: Kyle, Kaden and Owen

Happy Birthday to ME!

I celebrated my 32nd birthday with my family (Troy, Kyle, Kaden and my sister, Sarah) at the Oregon Coast. It was great. We went to the beach all morning. Then Sarah watched our kiddos so Troy and I could go on a date. We had a casual and yummy seafood dinner (my favorite) then we went to Ona State Park Beach and enjoyed a relaxing evening cuddling and watching the waves. Then we went to a wonderful little cafe for coffee and dessert. The evening was perfect!
Kyle and Troy made me a cake.
Kyle actually taught Troy how to bake :)
It was cute.


Kyle helped me blow out my candles...all 32 of them!


No...the fire alarm did not go off in our hotel.


holy cow, Kyle....I think there are enough sprinkles on there!




Kyle carefully placed each candle





Kyle showing daddy how to bake....precious!