Our March/April vacation

I have been so excited to get these pictures posted and to blog about our trip to Utah that we had the end of March/first of April...but I haven't found the time, so hopefully I can get them all on here now.

On March 25th, the kids and I headed out with Grandma Jeanette in her car to drive as long as we could. Jeanette and I were blessed with food poisoning the day before so we were still recovering. Jeanette more than I. So I drove most the way and we made it all the way to Farmington, New Mexico...about 14 hours. It was really a great drive and day. The kids did soooo well and I was fine driving a lot, so it worked out really well. We did have several little pit stops, but they usually consisted of a stop of to the side of the road so either Sarah or Kaden could tinkle. After our long trek the first day we were only left with 6-8 hours the next day, which was also really great. Jeanette was able to drive the last few hours that day, and the kids still did just awesome! So we arrived in Orem, Utah at about 3 pm on Friday, March 26th...just in time for my Scrapbooking Overnighter in Sandy, Utah...one of the main reasons for the trip.

(I posted a link to the map...I think it's fun to see how far we went...)

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Friday night Madyson and I stayed the hotel in Sandy with Aunt Liz and little (big) David, and Uncle Danny was kind of enough to keep Sarah and Kaden at his house...he even took them to the Nickel arcade that night. I had a great time, as usual, scrapbooking with my family (mom and Liz) and cousins even though we were very small in number this year. It was just so great and worth every minute of the 22 hour drive. I even managed to scrapbook 12 pages in Sarah's scrapbook along with all the visiting and fun we had. (Big THANKS to my cousin Shauna!!)

Madyson and David hung out in the playpen for a while, until David grabbed Madyson's hear and tried to pull it off. He's 4 months younger than her...

Sarah and Kaden got to spend time with Grandma Jeanette, Ava, Violet, Kirsten, Coleen, Trevon and Grandma Daisy on Saturday while I was still scrapbooking. They loved that of coarse!

We spent the next 4 days at Liz and Danny's and just had so much fun with them and their cute little boy, David! Grandma Cook (mom) brought Chris's kids down to play Saturday night and Sunday and that was lots of fun. The kids hadn't seen each for 8 months so they were pretty excited. Kaden and Kaleb just played outside non-stop...luckily the weather was beautiful the first couple of days, and Sarah and Ally played with the babies.

On Sunday we were invited to Danny's aunt's and uncle's for dinner. Well, Danny got a pretty nasty bug that morning, so the kids and I went with Liz. It was very, very yummy food and Great Aunt Colleen had a talking bunny. It would ask questions and Kaden would answer back.

Sarah and I made a trip to Target...here she is trying on a stylish hat.

We got to spend an afternoon with Aunt Kiki (Kirsten) at the mall. We ate lunch, played on the new tree house and dinosaur playland at University Mall in Orem and shopped a little.

More pictures of us playing at Aunt Liz's...

David playing with Kaden's homemade gun...

Sarah crashed and managed to turn herself completely upside down on the love seat.

On Wednesday, the 31st of March we headed up to Mom's (Grandma Cook's) cause she was finally out of school for spring break. So we spent Wednesday night through Sunday night at her house. On Thursday we got to go up to Garland, Utah to watch the Herzog boys (Jay, Michael & Riley-my first cousins) play water polo. It was our only chance to see Aunt Jo. We had a wonderful time with them. I just can't believe how those boys have grown up and changed so much. It was so great to visit with Aunt Jo, Uncle Andy and RaLauna.

Uncle Andy holding Madyson at the polo game.

Kaden and Sarah watching.

We went to a local drive-in afterwards and had yummy burgers, fries and english chips! Here's Michael, Kaden and Sarah watching Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure...they watched the whole thing while we ate...even Michael!...Riley watched some too.

Here I am with my greasy goodness (ranch burger and english chips)...hadn't had it for so long...had to take a picture.

Aunt Jo and Sarah

RaLauna and I at the restrauant...it was sooo good to see her again.

Saturday, April 3rd Brandon(Daddy) flew in. We were so excited to see him. We missed him so much after more than a week apart. We picked him up in the morning and headed down to Provo to see Great-Grandma Daisy. We spent most of the morning and afternoon with her. We enjoyed visiting and watching General Conference with her and her friend Shannon. The kids were very well behaved and both got to pick a bear to take home from grandma's collection.

We were able to visit with so many people that day and it was great. We saw Grandma Daisy, our old neighbors Duffy and Rex, my cousin Ashley and her family, Liz, Danny & David for a minute, Trevon, Coleen, Ava, Violet, Kirsten for a minute, Paul, Jannet, Nate, Heather and Alayssa. Brandon and Trevon got to go on a "date" and were able to attend the Priesthood session together. The kids and I hung out with Coleen and the girls and had fun playing and visiting and eating pizza. It was great to see everyone even though our time was very short. After priesthood we headed back up to my mom's to spend the night, Easter and the rest of General Conference with her, Uncle Chris, Ally, Kaleb, and Great-Grandpa and Grandma Small (my mom's parents.)

Sarah on Easter morning!

Kaden slept in that morning...he was sleeping in the play room the night before, but woke up and went and got into Grandma Cook's bed...well he had no idea that Great Grandpa & Grandma Small were sleeping in there, but that didn't bother him. He climbed over Grandpa and got right in the middle. He and Grandma both slept in. Here he is finding his Easter basket.

Ally and Sarah had so much fun together.

Sarah helped Grandma take out her curlers and then she got to put some in her hair.

Ally too....here they are again.

Grandpa Small loved pushing Sarah's buttons and she talked right back to him...it was so funny.

Grandma Cook and the girls...(Ally, Sarah & Madyson)

We had such a wonderful Easter dinner and visit with everyone in between conference sessions. We even were able to celebrate great-Grandma Carma's and mom's birthdays. The kids played and played and played and played....they just loved being at Grandma Cook's. The decorated Easter eggs, hunted for Easter eggs and ate lots of Easter eggs...well Sarah at least, I think she had like 3 in the one hour. Danny, Liz and David were also able to come up for Easter so we were all together and it was wonderful.

We headed out early Monday morning (Happy Birthday Mom!)...like 6 am and so the kids slept for a bit longer, which was nice and we were able to have a great first day on the road back home. We stayed the night in Albuquerque and then headed home Tuesday, April 6th. The second day on the road was not so great, but we made it home around 9:30 pm.

Here's Kaden and Sarah in the car with their bunny ears.

The night in the hotel...Kaden and Sarah watching cartoons.

The kids got kites for Easter and were dying to fly them, so once we got to Texas where there was enough wind we stopped and tried them out. Here's Brandon and Kaden in Albuquerque trying to get Kaden's kite to stay in the sky. It was soooo windy.

We just wanted to say thanks to Brandon's parents for letting us borrow their car and helping make our trip possible! Love you!

Just some stuff...pics too.

I haven't actually taken the time to write much lately, so I thought I would since this is really like my only "journal" right now. Let's see?..what's happened recently? Well, the biggest thing is that Sarah has been officially potty trained for over a month now. One day she just decided it was time and was done in like 2 weeks. It was so awesome and we were so thankful! She doesn't need anything at night either, she gets up and goes on her own. It's sooooo wonderful! Kaden is on Spring Break this week and is loving the later nights! I am also loving it, because he keeps Sarah more occupied than I do and so it has given me a chance to get some things done around the house. Brandon has been working dilegently on finishing the pioneer handcarts for the youth trek and completed them last Saturday. The youth leave tomorrow so he is still rounding up the carts that they are borrowing. Hopefully I can get some pictures of him with these things...they are amazing! We have a new nephew as of Friday, March 12th. Chase Michael Wales was born to Erin and Bryan and we are so happy that he is here and doing well. He will be in NIKU for a while cause he was pretty early...weighing only 2 lbs 12 ounces.

Well, here's the pics and more stories I have to share and hopefully I can get the videos posted too!

Kaden has been begging Grandma Jeanette to make gingerbread men cookies with him, so last week one evening she made it over. They had so much fun cutting out the cookies and decorating them. I'm going to post the video if I have time.

We have several animals around this little house. We live right across the street from a huge field at the park and also have several mature trees around the house with lots of acorns. So we have heard these small creatures several times...one we know is a squirrel because Brandon saw it jump at him out of his hole when he was trying to cover it. We thought we got all the whole covered that he had made, but we're pretty sure he is back and making new holes....great! But we did find out that the animal making holes in our roof was a RACCOON! Our repair man came and had the droppings tested and then set a trap on the roof. That night...sure enough...that little thing fell for the peanut butter and marshemellows. Here's his photo! They took him out to the lake to release him...hope he doesn't find his way back?

Here is Sarah and Madyson in the crib. Sarah loves to go into Madyson's room in the morning once Madyson is awake, and they play for several minutes together in her bed.

Here's Mady standing up in her crib. She can already do it all by herself. We had to lower her mattress a couple of weeks ago. She is crawling and pulling herself up onto everything. She won't be 9 months until next week! Ahhh!

Madyson crawled under the kids' bunkbed. Sarah had to go in to help her find her way out, although she was having so much fun...I have a feeling she is going to be our little dare-devil...

no fear.

Kaden's Pledge...he learned this all at school!

Sarah singing her ABZ's....so cute!

The Latest here in Texas!

Madyson is so beautiful, especially in this turquoise color. She is moving all over the place, not quite crawling yet though.


February 11th, 2010. It snowed and snowed and snowed today. Sarah and Raelee are waiting to go outside. Grandma Jeanette and I were trying to get some gloves to go on Kaden and it just wasn't working. They were being so patient waiting here on the couch...oh and they have matching hats and gloves, well coordinating anyway. Here is Brandon with the kids in the front of our house with the snowman they built. If you look really hard, you can see Madyson watching in the window. They had such a great time, but were all red and cold when it was time to come in.

Kaden is now drawing people....I couldn't believe it when I saw this because I had no idea he could do it. He must have learned it at school. The line across the waist is his belt.

Sarah had to have a picture like Kaden with the polar bear...she was so funny. She even had to stand in the same place by the front door, although she doesn't have her pajamas on like he did for his pajama day.

Just some fun stuff!

happy birthday daddy (brandon)!

We Love You!

This is a picture of the kids on the only Sunday we were all able to go to church together this month. Someone has been sick every other Sunday this month. I sure hope it's all over soon.

Kaden had a pajama day last Friday. He also got to take his bear, Howard, to hibernate in the cave at school. They talked about animals that hibernate all week and on Friday they got to read a story in the cave with their bears.

Madyson and her first pigtails...and she still has bangs. such a big girl!

Kaden got his pants dirty one day at Erin's. He put one of Raelee's belts on and loaded up with everything he could. There was something in every "slot"!

Holiday Fun!

We had a great holiday...with "out-of-town" visits from Great-Grandma Daisy, Aunt Kiki and Uncle Chris. The kids loved every moment with each of them. It was nice to stay home and enjoy the time together. The kids are growing so fast and just really love the time of year. It is so rewarding to see their excitement. They loved hearing the story of baby Jesus and had their own manger sets they could play with to understand the story better. Hopefully we are helping them to know the "real" meaning of Christmas, but it is hard at their ages.

Aunt Kiki(Kirsten), Raelee & Kaden

Great-Grandma Daisy & Madyson

Uncle Chris, Kaden & Sarah

Kaden, Sarah, & Brandon with Santa at our ward Christmas party

New pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Here is our Christmas letter!

What a Year! 2009!

We have really had a great year. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but the Lord has truly blessed our family through it all. We recently moved from our apartment in The Colony into a 3-bedroom rental home in Frisco, which was just about a 15 mile move. It’s just down the street from Brandon’s office, so he is home frequently for lunch. We love it! There is also a park directly across the street, which is so wonderful for the kids!

Kaden is 4 years old and started Pre-K at the Early Childhood School here. It’s a public school that just opened this year. He absolutely loves it and they love him. He goes everyday from 8-11 am. His dad drops him off on his way to work and he rides the bus to the closest elementary school, where we pick him up. Kaden is such a great big brother and loves all the “boy” stuff. He wants to be a “superhero, builder, power ranger, and a missionary” when he grows up. He now sleeps on the top bunk and just loves it!

Sarah is a very mature 2-year old, and keeps mom on her toes. She can do her ABC’s and numbers almost as well as her brother and sings any song you want her to, even if she has to make it up. She loves her baby sister, Madyson, and is either mothering her or her own baby dolls, while she talks on her “play” cell phone. She also loves to sing and dance to her “wheels on the bus” CD.

Our little Madyson was born this year on June 23^rd and has been such a joy. It has been a very smooth transition with 3 children, because she is the best baby in the world. Really! She is 6 months old now and is the sweetest thing, sleeping 10-12 hours a night. She is all smiles and keeps us all smiling!

Brandon has had a pretty rocky “employment” road this year, with construction being the way it is right now and all. We are so grateful though for his current position here in Frisco at a small company called SFCC, Inc. They work with the Frisco School District on the schools and other public construction projects. He is so happy to have a garage so that he has a place to “build” things. It is one of his favorite places to be. He hasn’t had a lot of time to cycle this year, but he did squeeze in one hundred mile ride in August and did very well.

Maria is just happy to be wife and mom to a wonderful husband and great kids. It is so rewarding! I have been working in primary for the first time this year and love it. I also enjoy my stamping, scrapbooking, music and just “getting out” to the park, mall or wherever.

We are so grateful for all our family and love them all so much. We couldn’t have made it through this year without them! It’s really what life it all about…serving one another, especially our own families.

We thank our Heavenly Father for each of you and for his Son, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! Love, The Brandon Hauth Family