Kindergarten! (yeah, yeah, I know this is way late)

Kaden started kindergarten on September 6th.  He is in the morning session.  His teacher is Ms. Nelson.  We had his first parent-teacher conference on November 7th.  Ms. Nelson had nothing but good things to say about Kaden.  She said he is nice, wants to please, and is so helpful.  She says he tells her about happenings in his life which are hilarious (for example, "Ms. Nelson, I fell on my nipple on my bike and it almost got all ripped off!).  He has some work to do academically to be fully prepared for first grade, so hopefully he'll get there by the end of the school year.

Kaden seems to really like kindergarten.  Three days a week the daycare "bus" (van) picks Kaden up from kindergarten and takes him to daycare.  Kaden loves getting to go on the van and is disappointed on the days Tina or I pick him up.

On a side note, as you'll see in the pictures, two days before Kaden started kindergarten, I picked him up from daycare only to find him with two sores on his forehead.  I asked him what on earth he did.  His daycare teacher, Ms. Luz, apologized and said during nap time she looked over and Kaden was on his knees, forehead to the ground, scooting around giving himself two dandy friction burns.  Seriously, I don't know about that kid sometimes!

Walking into class for the first time.  I cried.  He didn't.

Kaden's first official school photo!  I just can't take how handsome he is!

It's A Girl

Kaden and I are pleased to announce a new edition to our family.  Please meet...









...Cocoa!!!  Isn't she adorable?

Kaden has been begging for a pet, specifically a puppy, for sooooooo long.  I do not want a dog at this time - too high maintenance.  Since we live in a townhome community dogs have to be on leash at all times and you have to pick up the poop in a bag.  I can envision it:  me outside in my robe and slippers at 6:00 in the morning, standing in a foot of snow, taking the dog out to go potty.  NO THANKS!

A co-worker of mine came into my office a couple of weeks ago and asked if I'd want a guinea pig for Kaden.  His wife rescued her friend's daughter's guinea pig from going to the pound and they needed to find a home for her.  I picked her up from them on Kaden's birthday and gave it to him as a surprise.

Cocoa is super cute and has a great temperament.  She doesn't bite and handles Kaden's constant mauling well, poor thing.  Kaden loves pets more than pets love him.  He really loves her to pieces.  Hopefully Cocoa doesn't end up in pieces. She is a great substitute for a puppy.

Bell Canyon Hike

This summer has been crazy busy and I've managed to lose time to blog.  Memorial weekend Kaden and I hiked Bell Canyon with Jim and his boys.  It was crowded and hot, but an easy hike.  It was very pretty at the top. 

Kaden had a melt down when we were almost back to the car.  He was absolutely HOWLING, "My throat hurts," repeatedly.  Everybody was staring at him with a "geez, kid, what is your problem" look.  So embarrassing.  I think he was just hungry.  I packed a lunch for all of us and the boys were in disbelief that I'd only made one sandwich for each.  They were all so hungry they needed two sandwiches - even Kaden.  Boys eat more.  Live and learn.

Here are some photos:

View of the valley.

Preschool Graduation

Kaden graduated from preschool last Monday, the 28th.  Tear.  Sniffle.  I know this is what every parent says, but, where has the time gone?  He is growing up so fast and quickly gone from a baby boy to toddler to little boy to bigger, little boy. 

Kaden is smart and has such a cute, fun, outgoing and energetic personality.  He genuinely loves people.  He is athletic and coordinated too.  He has a penchant and apptitude for music and dancing.  In other words, he's got rhythm baby!  Looks aren't everything, but he is so handsome!  LOVE doesn't begin to encapsulate how much I feel for this kid.  He is my reason for living.  My reason for wanting to be and do better.

A couple of months ago we attended kindergarten orientation.  The school had all of the kids in a classroom doing activities while the parents were in the gymnasium listening to the presentations and getting registration information.  When it was over, the kids were brought into the gym to meet up with their parents.  In came this crowd of kids and I thought to myself, "Oh, they are so little."  At the very back of this crowd was a boy a full head taller than all of the other kids.  It was Kaden.  I love that he's tall and I hope he stays tall.  I would love for him to be a tall man and with his father's build and my brain.  Fingers crossed!

The graduation processional.

  

Receiving his "diploma".

Receiving his graduation gift.  A backpack full of educational games.

  

Kaden and Grandma and Grandpa Bailey

Kaden and Miss Sherrie.

Kaden and one of his student teachers, Miss Darlene

Mini B-Boyz Don't Sweat the Technique

In January I signed Kaden up for Mini B-Boyz, a breakdancing class at Kickin' It Dance Company, the same place my niece, Tarah, has danced with for years.  Kickin' It participates in the America On Stage National Competition at Lagoon every year.  We've gone for the last three or four years to support Tarah and this year we got to support Kaden too.

Grandma and Grandpa Bailey were there as well as Aunt Tina, Aunt Kristin, Uncle Dave, Tarah and Annika, Aunt Kathy and Taylor, Mike and Chloe Rogers, Todd and Mindy Smith and their daughters Trinity (who is kinda Kaden's girlfriend) and Morgan who both also danced, and last but not least my boyfriend, Jim and his boys.

The Mini B-Boyz performance was THE MOST ADORABLE thing I have ever seen!  I wasn't planning on registering Kaden again this fall, but after seeing him perform last Saturday, I probably will.  It was just too cute!  To make it even better, Kickin' It's Mini B-Boyz took 2nd place in their division!

Kaden and his instructor Josh

Kaden is the third from your left in the videos.  Unfortunately he's hard to see sometimes but his freestyle solo ROCKS (in his mother's humble opinion)!  The little dude on the end is Kaden's friend that Aunt Tina takes him to play dates with.  If you click on the link at the top of the videos it will take you to YouTube where you can view them larger. 

{videos here}

This next vid my sister took.  Maybe you'll get to see Kaden better?  It's sideways at first but will flip to the right way.

{Kristin's video here}

Practicing

Featured Article

Kaden was pictured in an article in the West Jordan Journal about the Jordan School District Superintendant visiting his daycare/preschool.  He is the third from the left.

http://www.westjordanjournal.com/pages/full_story/9868/A-tea-party-with-school-superintendent/

Christmas, Four Tee and the New Year

We had a great Christmas this year.  The festivities began on the 22nd with a family party with the Snyders.  Kaden's grandparents are so nice to always include me.  Kaden, as usual, got spoiled! 

Can you tell they're related?

My evening, however, was spoiled by my ex-husband's mother (the infamous MIL) for giving me a bad time about not letting him sleep over at my house on Christmas Eve so he could spend Christmas morning with Kaden. Sorry, but NO: (A) it's weird, we're divorced, and (B) I tried that a couple of years ago and it was a disaster! She told me I should be inviting him to my family activities because his family still invites me to theirs.   I stood up to her and I'm proud of myself for that.

On Friday the 23rd my mom, sisters, sister-in-law and friend Bree planned a surprise party for my 40th birthday.  It was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me!  There was something like 45+ people there, including my new man, Jim.  I felt so loved!  I can't believe I'm 40.  FOUR TEE!!!!!  A friend of mine referred to it as the 10th anniversary of my 30th birthday.  That sounds pretty good to me!

I got this cute necklace for myself to celebrate the big Four Oh. 

Christmas Eve we had the Iversen family Christmas party.

Christmas morning I woke up early and went to pick up Derek so he could be with Kaden to watch him open presents Christmas morning.  Yes, I'm nice.  Yes, I felt guilty.  I realize that there will be a time in the future when Kaden will sleepover with his dad to be with him Christmas morning.  But not this year, because Derek could not provide the Christmas experience (no tree, no decorations, no stocking, and only one gift). 

After Christmas morning I dropped Kaden's dad back off at his place and we went to my parents' house for brunch and gifts.  I always enjoy Christmas day at my parents with my family.  We hang out, laugh and play games.  It is always such a relaxing, fun day.

Later Christmas afternoon/early evening I took Kaden back to his Dad and they went to a family party with his Dad's side of the family.  What a busy day of running back and forth four times!

Kaden seems happy with his gifts.  Particulary the Star Wars stuff - light saber, Blue Ray movies, Star Trooper helmet, and his iPod.  Mine is the Tetris game Santa brought me.  Curses, I stayed up so late playing that game over my holiday vacation, that now I can't get back on a regular sleep schedule.

This is Kaden seeing "Christmas" for the first time.  He took off his shirt before he came downstairs because he was hot.

My mom knitted Taylor that cute rainbow scarf.  Don't all of the adults look so excited?

I love Annika in the background giving Grandma a hug, thanking her for the presents.

Monster High Dolls are all the rage for girls this year.

I love my brother!  And Dave in the background is an added bonus.

I ended the holidays by celebrating New Year's Eve at my sister's house with about 30 of our closest friends, including Jim and his two boys.  Kaden celebrated with his dad (see I'm not as mean as Derek's mom says I am).  On New Year's Day we had family dinner to celebrate my sister-in-law's and my birthdays.  My family gave me a new TV - flat panel, 32", LCD TV!  Welcome to the future, Stacy!  Pair that with the Blue Ray player from the most generous in-laws and we are set!  My man gave me an sparkly, pink ice fishing pole among a bunch of other things so I guess I will be putting that to use.  I couldn't be happier!

Happy New Year everyone!  May 2012 be a great year for all of us.