Happy Birthday Cayden

I cannot believe that 9 years ago today, I became a mother. Time has flown by so quickly and I can't believe that I have a 9 year old today. Cayden Robert Peacock was born in Boise, Idaho weighing in at 8 lbs 4 oz (He was 3 weeks early, so who knows how big he REALLY would have been!) He looked like his daddy from the very beginning and was known as "mini-me". Cayden has always been a joy and such a special boy. He has a giant spirit and we know he was one of the noble and great ones that the scriptures talk about. Cayden was a big boy from the beginning and is truly a gentle giant. Here are 9 things that I celebrate today on Cayden's 9th birthday.
1. Cayden loves everyone. He really doesn't know how to be mean spirited. This is sometimes hard because this makes him very vulnerable, but because he is such a likable kid, he usually wins everyone over. He has a gift to love and accept everyone. He is especially kind to those younger than him. He always tries to include others. In Cayden's opinion, it is always "The more the merrier!"
2. Cayden LOVES to learn. He gets this from his dad. He has a natural curiosity and loves to find out how things work, where things come from, etc. and he retains things just like his dad. I often joke that I knew my kids would outsmart me at some point, I just didn't think it would be in kindergarten! Cayden is an excellent student and I have yet to meet any of his teachers who don't absolutely adore him! He is always doing experiments, making projects. etc.
3. Cayden is great at trying new things and doesn't give up. Even when things don't come particularly easy to him, he finds a way to push through and make it fun. For instance, he has played soccer for quite a few years and at first we were worried because he wasn't as fast or skilled as some of the other kids because of his size. But Cayden never gave up and is now one of the best soccer players around. He still isn't the fastest, but he is a force to be reckoned with and scored quite a few goals already this season. He also started piano this past year and is cruising through all of the books and never gives up on learning.
4. Cayden is an amazing big brother. Cayden was only 20 months old when we found out we were having twins. It was so interesting because the overall response from anyone who knew us was that it would be a no-brainer with Cayden and that he was definitely meant to be a big brother to twin sisters. Even though they don't always get along, he is a wonderful big brother to Ashlee and McKell and it has been a joy to see him be such a great brother to Sadie. He adores her and she loves him so much.
5. Cayden always tries to choose the right and has an amazing testimony of the Gospel. He is such a great example and feels so badly whenever he has made a bad choice.
6. Cayden is the definition of "happy go lucky". He has such a joy for life and for experiences. It really is contagious to be around him, especially when he gets giggling.
7. Cayden hates any form of contention, especially in his family. He has always kept us in line when it comes to arguing, yelling, etc.
8. Cayden loves Star Wars, XBox, playing with friends, Swedish Meatballs, the colors red and blue, Fish Lake, camping, Pokemon, movie night, going to Grandpa and Grandma's, soccer, basketball, Texas Roadhouse, trains, Disneyland, and being with his family.
9. Cayden is a true gift to our family. We feel so honored and humbled to be parents to this great and wonderful kid. He is such a special boy and we love him and are so proud of him.

Happy Birthday Cayden!!

What a sweet baby boy!
Our little Fisherman

Tub Time!

Cayden was always SO happy!

The greatest big brother ever!

Handsome Boy

Easter Sunday

Cayden and his daddy are best buds!Cayden and Mommy

Cayden has always loved trains!

Happy 4th Birthday

Easter Egg Hunt

Buzz Lightyear!

Preschool Graduation

Cayden is a great swimmer!

Fish Lake

Cayden is a great cub Scout

The great soccer player

The most awesome Jedi!

Accident Update

I wanted to give a quick update on the status of our car accidents. So, first about Rob. He has his new Honda Civic (although I know deep down inside he misses driving the hot blue mini van to work!). Unfortunately, he is still having pain in his left shoulder. He is having to do physical therapy 3 times a week. He has some soft tissue damage and muscle damage that they are working on. He is supposed to schedule an MRI when he gets a free minute. We will be finding out more about his settlement once we know more detail of his injuries. As far as my accident, it is still quite complicated. I finally got my Sequoia back. It cost over $5000 to fix it! I couldn't believe that. After really thinking about it, I think my accident was a lot worse than I originally thought because I was so focused on Rob and his accident that I don't think I even remotely realized the severity of my accident. Anyway, we have the car back. I had both of my MRI's done last week. One on my lower back where it is still very painful with the pain going all the way down my left leg. And one MRI on my lower neck where it also still hurts a lot and is completely numb. I just heard back that the MRI's show that I have a herniated disc in my lower back and also a herniated disc in my neck with also a torn disc in my neck. So now, I get to see a neurosurgeon to find out what to do next. We now are starting the battle of getting the guy who hit me to take responsibility which will be an uphill battle. I am in pain pretty much all the time with it being worse usually at night. I'm not supposed to lift or sit at the computer or work too much. So, that is the update. Thanks to everyone who has asked about us and kept us in your thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate it!

My sweet girls

I love my sweet little girls. They love each other and love to be to be together. I just had to take some pictures of them yesterday before church.

May the Force Be With Me!

This past weekend we had Cayden's big 9th birthday party. He decided to do a Star Wars clone Wars party and invited over 40 kids! He has so many friends at church, school, cousins, etc. that we couldn't leave anyone out. But trust me, this was one of the biggest undertakings I have done in a while and I am the one who needed the "force" with me. We decided to make his party an official Jedi training camp. When the kids got here, they each got a Jedi uniform and badge. I made the girls white uniforms to be more Princess Leia-ish. We then had lunch including "Yoda Soda" (green punch with dry ice...they all thought this was very cool!), hot dogs, chips, and birthday cake. Needless to say, it was a NOISY bunch! Thank goodness it was decent weather outside because that is where we headed next. I made about 30 lightsabers out of swim noodles and PVC pipe. Thank goodness I have awesome neighbors and family who donated swim noodles to the cause because I couldn't find swim noodles ANYWHERE in stores this time of year! I made them all take a Jedi oath that they couldn't use their weapons for hurting others etc. or they would lose their weapons and not graduate as a true Jedi. We went outside after that and did some weapon practice. Rob had downloaded all of the Star Wars music including the "Darth Vader" theme and after the kids had practiced their lightsaber skills, Rob cranked that music from inside the house and he came out fully dressed as Darth Vader. He looked pretty darn cool and in typical Rob fashion, had the Vader voice down to a tee and really played it up. The kids thought this was pretty cool. They stood in line and each took a turn battling Darth Vader. Too funny! After that, we played "Save the planet" aka hot potato game with a planet ball. Then they had target practice where they got to shoot down different Star Wars action figures with the dart guns. We played Jedi bingo with Rob doing his freaky Yoda voice and then did the pinata. I am proud to say that they ALL passed their Jedi training and received their official Jedi diploma upon leaving. It was EXHAUSTING but so fun! I asked Cayden afterwards if he knew why I did such big parties for him? He aswered, "Because you're the BEST mom ever!" That was sweet, but I told him that the reason I do such big parties for him and his sisters is because not only is it a party for THEM to celebrate their birthday, but it is truly a celebration of me getting to be their mom!

Target Practice

Cayden battling Darth Vader

Darth Vader trying to recruit the Padowans to the dark side

The Jedi trainees and their lightsabers

Cayden blowing out his candles

Jedi Cayden

Trick or Treat

Sorry this is a bit late, but I wanted to post some photos of our Halloween and trick or treating. It was a really nice day. The kids had the day off from school so we spent the day cleaning the house, getting ready for Halloween, making treats, etc. We had a small kink in the day when we got a call saying our Sequoia was done (over $5000 later...yikes!) and we needed to return the awesome blue mini van. But we are definitely happy to have our Sequoia back...all except Ashlee who in typical fashion had a sad moment of saying goodbye to the van. Halloween night we ate some pizza and then headed out trick or treating. For the first time ever, we were some of the first ones out on the street. The weather was actually great aside from a few sprinkles. Sadie had a GREAT time in her stroller. She was in heaven! About half way through, Rob brought Sadie and Ashlee home and Cayden and McKell and I continued on. I think McKell could have gone all night! It was another wonderful Halloween!

The whole gang ready to go Trick or Treating
Our sweet little Sadie cat
(originally she was a bee, but hated the costume, so we opted for the cat)

Anakin Sywalker ready for battle...and candy!

Our cute cheerleader, McKell. Do you think McKell loves candy? I think her face says it ALL!

Ashlee the cutest little clown.

I need to vent...

Okay, I really don't have the time to do this today. I have 40 kids invited to a Star Wars birthday party tomorrow and still have a TON to do. But I feel the need to vent right now, so that is what I will do.

I just read a comment on another blog concerning Proposition 8. The obviously angry person (whom I don't even know) posted the question, "What right do the darn Mormons have to tell anyone they can't get married!? I'm glad people are protesting outside the temples. I'm embarrassed I used to be a Mormon. They are such hypocrites!"

So, I figure that question was posed, so I will take the opportunity to answer it.

What "right" do those darn Mormons have? Uh...they have EVERY right. They, just like you, are American citizens. They have the right to vote. They have the freedom to speak what they feel. They have every right to say their thoughts and views on a law in their state. And really, are you seriously going to play the "Mormons are hypocrites" card? Because here is what I find hypocritical. I think it is INCREDIBLY hypocritcal to be condemning one group of people for exercising their American right to vote, while cheering for another group who is exercising their freedom of speech as they protest outside of Mormon temples. So, which is it? Either we ALL have the same rights as Americans, or we don't.

Some argue that the Mormon church should have stayed out of this and let their members decide for themselves. Why? Isn't that another right we have as Americans? To worship as we wish? And as part of that freedom of religion, the Mormon leaders have every right to weigh in and share with their followers direction and guidance as they see fit. And then it is the right of those members to exercise their freedom and vote as they wish. Just like any Catholic American, Muslim American, etc.

It really doesn't matter which side you stand on in this issue. For me? I stand on the side of America and I stand on the side of our Founding Fathers who made it possible for American citizens to be on different sides of an issue, but BOTH have the same rights to express and vote their conscience.

For the record, I do tend to side with the elderly temple workers who are being verbally abused and berated as they leave and enter LDS temples. My own parents are temple workers in their seventies and it doesn't sit too well with me at the thought of anyone attacking them. My father serviced in the Air Force to protect our country and is a retired Air Force Major and I know many of the LDS temple workers are also military vetrans who ironically fought with their lives to protect the very "rights" they supposedly shouldn't have because they are Mormons."

So please, in the future, before posting ignorant comments about the "rights" of those darn Mormons, please kindly go read the constitution. I'm sure our Founding Fathers could set things straight.

A Rock in his Bumma

So this week, the kids and I were talking a lot about the election, getting a new president, etc. On Wednesday morning on the way to school, I told the kids that we now had a new president. They asked me who won and I told them it was Barrack Obama. Cayden was really excited about that. Then Ashlee, from the back seat says, "Mom, I am confused. Why does our new president have a rock in his bumma?" At first, I had no clue what she was saying. She was really concerned about it. And then it hit me. When I said our new president was Barrack Obama, she thought I said our new president has a rock in his bumma. Cayden and McKell about fell out of their seats laughing and Ashlee realized she had made a funny joke. I explained that this was our new president's name and that no, he didn't have a rock in his bumma. She thought for a minute and then said, "Mom was that a funny joke? Cause you know, I made that up myself!" Yes, Ashlee, we know.