Our November....

Merry Christmas! There's snow outside and Christmas music and decorations everywhere! I just love the beauty, magic and mystery that only this time of year brings! I can't believe that there's only a few weeks left of school before winter break and Christmas is just around the corner.

November was a little crazy and brought some changes our way. Like my best friend Katrina eloquently put it, busy is a word we often use, but doesn't even begin to cover it. So true!

The last week of October, a lost or abandoned 6 month old cat began wandering our neighborhood. Mikaela noticed her right away to which we told her to leave the cat alone. For 3 days the cat followed me to the mailbox and I ignored her. I wanted her to go home or someone ELSE to take pity on her. I love all animals but Mike and I and the boys are dog people through and through. Mikaela, however, has been a cat person since she knew what one was. We did a pretty good job of ignoring her till we had our first really cold Fall night and she was meowing outside our door. I swear she knew all along that we're suckers. I brought her in to Mike's horror. I thought she had to belong to someone because she's beautiful. I made it perfectly clear to the kids that we were NOT keeping this cat and we took her to the vet to see if she's microchipped. She's not. I went on a mission to find her owners. I checked craigslist, the paper, called the pounds and rescues. I looked for lost cat signs and put up found cat signs....nothing. As fast as I was looking for her owners, the kids were falling in love with her and it was mutual. When no owners were to be found, we had to decide if we wanted to keep her or find her another home. Mike and I had to decide if we could be cat people. We took a month to decide and during that month, the kitty actually worked her little way into our family. Mike was the hardest sell and I think she knew it because she followed him everywhere. But I think what won us over in the end was the fact that she gives real hugs. Sweetest thing I've ever seen. So, I still don't know if we're cat people but apparently we're THIS cat's people. ;) Kitty got a name, a collar, a bed and there's actual cat toys in our house...I'm still shocked....but Abbey has moved in. Oh and there's one more recent development...she's apparently pregnant...little hussy. ;) I tell ya...never a dull moment in this house...ever. ;)

Both Kyler and Mikaela had their birthday parties this month. Mikaela decided to have three friends go to the movies to see "Puss In Boots" and then come back to the house for pizza, cake, ice cream and a sleep over. Kyler's birthday isn't until December but we've found that people get really busy after Thanksgiving and so we celebrate it early now. Kyler had so much fun at his party last year, he decided to repeat it again this year. He had a bunch of friends go swimming at the Aquatic Center and then come back to the house for pizza, cake and ice cream. Afterwards a couple of the boys spent the night. They both thought their parties were a hit so I think it's safe to say we had success. :) I'm still having a hard time believing Kyler is ELEVEN and Mikaela is EIGHT! Where does the time go??? :(

Kyler and Mikaela are back in Ballroom again with Jayden. We had taken about a 5 month break but are back into the swing of things...no pun intended. ;) They're all three taking the Junior Ballroom class and then Kyler likes to stay for the class afterwards with the older kids for more experience. Kyler and Jayden are finally getting to take private lessons together which was the plan all along so they could dance together. It's been fun and they're all enjoying being back.

Kyler has his first basketball practice of the season this Saturday and he can't wait. We needed a little bit of a sports break after baseball and so we didn't let him play the Fall basketball league like we usually do and just signed him up for Winter. You would have thought it was the end of the world that he wasn't playing a sport every second of the year by how he's been driving us crazy asking if his coach has called and when practices start. He was able to get the same coach that he's had for the past 3 years so we were excited about that. He's a great coach...works them hard but is still patient and easy going... so it should be a good season.

Mikaela is wrapping up this semester of dance. They're starting to get ready for their recital in May. This month they pick out their recital outfits. They're learning their Christmas dances for December and then when they come back from the winter break in January, they'll start learning their recital dances. She's very excited!

Kamden is still busy being Kamden. He really "gets" Christmas this year and is so excited about all things Christmas. There's nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a four year old, I promise you.

School is going really well for both kiddos. We had the whole week of Thanksgiving off because Monday and Tuesday were Parent/Teacher Conferences which was really nice. The conferences went really well...all good things, so that always makes you proud and brings a smile to your heart. Both of them also had fieldtrips this month which was fun. I went with Mikaela's class to the theater to see the play, "Miss Nelson Is Missing". Fieldtrips to the theater are always my favorite! Mike got to take a day off work and go on a fieldtrip with Kyler's class to hike Sandia Mountain. It was a little chilly but they still really enjoyed it. While the kids were out of school, we got to go to the movies a few times....we just love going to the movies and jump at the chance when we can.

We had a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving this year. Usually we make our own turkey and Thanksgiving dinner but this year with Mike working so many hours, we decided to forego that and just decorate the house for Christmas. We still got to have a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner though because The Schimke's had us over and it was WONDERFUL! It was a perfect day.

We decided to take our house off the market the day before Thanksgiving and we'll reevaluate things again in the Spring. We got great feedback from buyers and the realtor tours, I just don't think it's the right time market wise or for us. We were always okay with staying or moving, so we're content and happy staying here for now. I have to say, it's nice not having to worry about people tromping through our house, especially throughout the holidays.

Well, I think that's all our November news. Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas surrounded by people you love and the brightest of New Years!

Sending Lots of Christmas Love and Hugs,
The Glade's

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Dramatic 4 year old anyone???

Last week Kamden was helping me in the yard. We needed to blow the leaves before it snowed and froze the leaves where they were and I would have to look at them until Spring. We also needed to bury the Christmas light cords outside. We'd gotten the leaves all cleaned up and it was lunchtime so I took Kamden inside and made him a small sandwich and a drink. He wanted two small sandwiches but I told him to eat the first before we made a second. About 10 minutes later I was burying cords in the front yard and Kamden came outside and asked me to make him another sandwich. I told him that I couldn't make it right this minute but would after I got finished burying the cords.

Kamden: "But my (he says "my" for his "I"s) going to STARVE!"

Me: "You are NOT going to starve Kamden, you JUST ate a sandwich...you can wait a few more minutes for another sandwich."

Kamden: "See, you just said my going to starve"

Me: "Seriously Kamden"

Kamden going back into the house with his head down: "Yes, my seriously going to starve"

Me: "You're just fine...I'll be in there in about 5 more minutes"

Kamden: "Okay, but my be seriously starved then"

Um...drama, party of one. ;)

This is such a perfect example of Kamden because when I got back in the house about 10 minutes later, he'd made his own sandwich and was eating it.

Little stinkpot. :)

Abbey....

It was a big decision and took a lot of soul searching (a whole month's worth) but we might just be able to be "cat people". Or THIS cat's people anyway. ;) We won't push it just yet. There's still a part of me that still believes I'm a dog person and is even a little embarassed to be seen in the cat aisle at Wal-Mart. Not that there's anything embarassing about being a cat person. I've just always been a dog person and now my identity is being shaken up a bit. *stop laughing* It cracks Mike up that I zip down the cat aisle as fast as I can and actually hide the cat food and litter underneath my basket with things surrounding it so no one can see it. I know...like anyone cares. See, logically I know it's silly but my emotions have yet to catch up with my logic. ;)
We must be meant to have this cat because I worked very hard to find her owner and there's just not one to be found. While I was working to find an owner, she was just working her way into our family...and shockingly fitting right in. Mike and I are more surprised than anyone. Who would have thought??? She's smart and actually behaves better than our dogs...but what won us over in the end was...this cat actually gives real hugs. Sweetest thing I've ever seen.
So, we've officially adopted kitty and finally given her a name....meet the newest member of the Glade family...Abbey. She has a name, a collar, a bed, cat toys...she's all moved in.

And there's ONE more thing.................

We found out she's PREGNANT...little hussy. ;)

Never a dull moment around here...never. :)