Brother/Sister - Completely Different Children

I know each child is different...  but I really thought having a brother and sister (raised by the same parents and same discipline), they would be similar???  I was wrong.

Kayson and Cora are so opposite.

Sleeping:

• Kayson falls asleep at the drop of a hat... literally within minutes of going to bed, that kid is sleeping hard.  Cora takes much longer (about 20 to 30 minutes to fall asleep).  She lays in there talking and singing all while rubbing her eyes.  I mean - GO.TO.SLEEP!! 
• Kayson wants/needs/and stays covered up all night long when sleeping (sometimes his head is covered up when I wake him in the morning!). Cora starts uncovered, then in the morning she has her big soft blanket over her neck and body, but her legs are always out.

Eating:

• This is an age one, I think --- Kayson has gotten a ton better about eating what I make.  He's been eating really well lately (liking meats more), without much complaints.  Cora, on the other hand, fusses at every meal, really only wanting mac & cheese (which she only will eat half the time!!!).  She just doesn't eat well for us... 
• Kayson eats the frosting off of cakes/cupcakes (like his Dad).  Cora scrapes it off (like me).  

Playing:

• Cora can play by herself - toys, baby dolls, using her imagination.  Kayson has never been one to play alone - besides electronics.

Weird stuff?? Viewers vs. Friends??

So I have been looking at my blog settings...  seeing that over 1,000 viewers viewed my blog just today.  Well, that's not possible - or maybe it is - but I do NOT have 1,000 friends. 

So...  I'm going to be putting a safety setting on my blog.  If you are truly my friend and want to continue to view my blog - send me the email that you use to view, and I'll include you.  Otherwise, no luck!!

Christmas #5 - Taylor Family

We are officially done with Christmas.  It always, always seems to go quickly...  same with this year.  I can't believe it's already Tuesday (which I'm thrilled about).  
We headed to Creston Monday morning - around 10ish.  The kids slept til about 8:00, so that was nice.  They needed the rest.  We just hung out at Mike and JeanAnn's all day... Blair's got there around noon.  We had lunch, the girls rested for a little bit (too short!), the boys played... and the rest of us just hung out.  It was a really nice day.  

Once the girls were up from their rest, we dove into the gifts.  Once again, our kids (all 4 kids) were spoiled.  Kayson got two football jerseys - Cam Newton and Demaryius Thomas.  He was thrilled.  He got a few other games for his PS4 too.  Spoiled!  Cora got a fun tent for her baby doll, and it's adorable.  Plus lots of other nice things.  

Us adults were spoiled as well.  I got a beautiful necklace (heart shaped) that says "Mom" on it...  it's awesome, and brought some serious tears to my eyes.  Thank you JeanAnn. 

Overall it was a really nice day...  the kids were pretty good, and we made the kids take their turns at opening gifts.  It went well.  

Monday night we just hung out some more...  eating, and chatting. 

And then today we just got up and hung out some more...  We headed home early this afternoon.  And the rest of our afternoon and night included organizing, doing laundry, playing and getting some groceries.  I'm wiped out! 

Here's to another special Christmas.  I'm sad that it's over, but also a little relieved.  It was a very emotional and sometimes unstable couple of days for me.  I've been struggling - missing Mom terribly...  and just gathering myself.  I have a long ways to go...  lots of praying (and many deep breaths!) is happening. 

Here are some pics of our couple of days.  

Cousins

Who looks 14???

Christmas #4 - Us

Merry Christmas from our little family. 
We had a super nice day...  up around 7:15 by Kayson.  And him and I sat for about 15 minutes quietly and talked...  then he couldn't stand it any longer, so he woke Cora up.  She probably would have slept another 40 minutes I bet.  She's been tired all day...  (of course, I'm praying she's not sick and just super tired from the busyness).  Anyway, Santa had come...  brought the kids big bean bag chairs, which are cool.  And other fun things.  

We ate a little breakfast...  then the kids were dying for gifts.  And they were spoiled... literally.  Again, I felt like Cora was a little 'off', but then she'd perk up a little...  

Kayson's been playing with his new PS4 gaming system...  and is loving it.  Ryan loves it too, so that's fun.  Cora took a little rest too, not very long though.  I've done some laundry - getting all the new clothes cleaned and caught up. 

It's been a nice day at home.  I really enjoy being at home on Christmas Day. 

Kayson's 8th Birthday

At promptly 1:16 pm this afternoon - Ryan spanked K's butt 8 times and Cora pinched him to grow another inch.  :)

Our little boy is no longer little (hasn't been for a long time!)   He's growing fast... getting taller...  and smarter by the minute.   We don't have official stats on him - but we weighed him - 55 lbs. and about 4' 4", we think!  ha. 

He woke me around 7:15 this morning with a whisper --- "I can't really sleep any longer Mom!"  He rushed out to the living room... then back in and told me Santa had came.  Again, like every other year -- my first words are "Happy Birthday buddy"  He smiles and thanks me.  

He was spoiled with gifts this year, on the Christmas side...  but for Birthday too.  We've said he's not getting ANYTHING FOREVER.  ha.  He seemed thankful and happy. 

Happy 8th birthday Kayson Michael.  We love you.

Christmas #3 - Hardy Family

Friday afternoon we headed up to Clarion.  Clarion (northern Iowa in general) was getting heavy, wet snow.  Our drive was ok on the interstate, but once we got off the interstate and onto the county roads - things were messy.  It was like all of the sudden - there was a shit ton of snow and no plows!!   We took it slow, and did just fine - but wow, it was crazy!  Once we were to the farm, then the snow was beautiful.  :) 

Friday night we just hung out... everyone came out and we ate pizza.  It was a nice night, but I was a little out of sorts.  I have had a nervous stomach for about a week - lots of thoughts, lots of worries, lots of tears...  and I really thought it would be better when we got up there, but it wasn't.  I just wasn't feeling right.  

But Saturday morning, I woke up ok...  still a little nervous, but better.  We got ready for our day, then my sisters and their families headed out around 10.  We just started our day - had a good lunch, then opened our gifts (kiddo gifts).  It was a good little day...  good memories... and we think Dad had a good time as well.  Mom was with us in little different ways I felt - in the kitchen specifically... and also I felt her there when the kids were opening gifts.  It eased me a little.  I'm definitely thankful for my sisters...  we've just become so close, and I'm so blessed for that.  

We headed out around 4:00 - stopped at the cemetery to put a pretty winter wreath out.  It was good to talk to Mom for a minute.  Then on the road. 

Once we were back, we dropped Murphy off... freshened up for about 3 minutes and back in the car to go to Christmas Eve service at church.  

It was a nice day.  Merry Christmas from the Hardy's!

Kayson - Lost 8th Tooth

Is it weird that I keep count of the teeth Kayson has lost?!?!

Well I am. 

Last night was #8.  It was literally hanging there when we were flossing last night.  Ryan pulled it out in 1/2 a second.  

Love this kid.

Random

• I miss Mom.  It's been almost 2 months already.  It hurts. 
• I'm looking forward to Christmas actually...  kind of weird to say that, but I am.  Typically I'm just overwhelmed and don't want to deal with the travelling, potential of being around sick people, etc....  but I'm definitely ready for a day at home with my little family.  We have spoiled Kayson this year, so I'm excited to see how he reacts to some of the gifts we got him.  And I mean SPOILED.  Eek. 
• I did my Volunteer Day yesterday - wrapping gifts at Valley West Mall for the Children's Cancer Connection.  It was a slower day than other days we've been there...  but we had a good time catching up!  

  

  Kelly, Colleen, Renee, Me

• We bought a Sleep Number bed last Monday... and it was supposed to be delivered last night.  We were told it was delayed, and won't be delivered til this coming Friday.  NOT IDEAL - since Friday is the day before the holiday weekend, and we won't really be around all day.   I was irritated... still am.  I was so looking forward to sleeping on a new bed!!!!!  More to come on that. 

Cora - "Wants to stay 4 Forever"

Yesterday Cora told me that she wants to stay 4 forever.  I giggled and snuggled on her and said "I do too - don't get bigger Cora!"  She proceeded to say "When I turn 5 I have to have shots!!!"  

OMG.  What a little stinker.  She's already worried about shots at the doctors.  Oh boy - gonna be a long 8 more months.  :)

Christmas #2 - Taylor Family

We had the Taylor extended Christmas gathering yesterday afternoon through this morning.  We had some snowy, windy, icy weather come through Friday night... and stuck around through Saturday night.  Unfortunately, Mike's one brother, Todd and his family couldn't make it up from KC.  The roads were just that iffy... so they stayed home.  Blair and Martina were able to make it... a little iffy for a bit, but they said it wasn't too bad.  

We (my little family) hung out Saturday during the day --- Kayson had his second basketball clinic, Cora and I just hung out at home.  I cleaned and did laundry.  We made lunch... Cora took a rest...  I continued to just do random stuff, prepping for our evening.  It was nice being home. 

We met up at the hotel with everyone around 3:30.  Just gathered - started eating way too much.  But we had a really nice time.  I was having a good day...  however, my Dad wasn't.  Trish had messaged me telling me that - so that bummed me out, but I tried not to worry about him.  This time of year... and just knowing this was Mom's favorite - is hard.  Period.  

BUT...  the night went on.  We had a good time.  We ordered pizza in this year... worked out well.  We played some games, opened some gifts, played some more, the kiddos swam...  It was just a good evening.  

This morning we got up and ate breakfast at the hotel with everyone... then we were back home around 10:30.  We got unloaded...  grabbed lunch...  and just had a nice afternoon at home.  Ryan and Kayson went to Lifetime (we joined the gym last week) to shoot hoops and show Kayson around.  

Nice day. 

Here are the pics from last night!

Kayson and Duke have become great little buddies/cousins

Such a pretty girl

Papa and Grandma's littles.  (my flash was SUPER bright!)

Grandma Janis with her grands and greats (Minus Jenna, Katie, Kyle & Matt)

Team Tate

Team Cora (she was pouting!)

Team Kayson

 

The kids had a blast swimming!

Cora and Brittlyn!

Lil Miss with Aunt Tina