Bahama Mama!!

Yes mon' we are back from the Bahamas and it was fun. Chilly, windy but fun. The picture above is at Grand Bahama island, Lucaya was the town we took a tax too, our taxi drivers name was "Bullfrog". He had this huge head of dreadlocks tucked into his hat. He was very funny told us all about the city and showed us some of the parts that have never recovered from the hurricane in 2005.

I love these little foot prints in the sand, the kids loved the beach.

The picture above and below of some houses right on the ocean on the island of Nassau. A VERY expensive place to live about 10 million dollars for a home. (they said Oprah had two there:)

This picture is looking North, this is going out of the port of Miami.

Just one of the crazy yachts in Nassau. They were pristine, so clean and beautiful, this is just right outside of the resort Atlantis, on paradise island.

That is a picture of Atlantis resort from afar, their property is about 11 miles long

This picture is looking toward Atlantis, Bauer could not help himself anytime a bird landed he HAD to chase it, even though we kept trying to get him to play, the birds were way too tempting.

Grand Bahama Island, behind the Sheraton resort (that was an awesome hotel)

Finally the birds left Bauer alone.

So, so windy on this side of the island. The waves were so rough.

This side of the island, even though it was so rough, it was so beautiful. There were these pretty little keys of land out there in the distance.

Brrrrrrr.....you wouldn't think in the Bahamas

We got LOTS of comments about all the kids. The nicest comment was someone gave us was at a restaurant (the 94th Aero Squadron, I will tell you about that later) they commented on how well behaved the kids were and how much they appreciated us keeping them under control:)
The funniest was Ben was holding some bags and Kessler while I was trying to get the kids on the Ferry and the Ferry drivers were teasing Ben, saying " you've been busy daddy" "real busy daddy" it was so funny. In there Caribbean accents made it even more comical.
The coolest restaurant I have ever been too was the 94th Aero Squadron it was right off the runway at the Miami airport they had these huge windows that faced the runways, so you could sit and watch these huge airplanes take off and land. They also had headsets you could listen to the air traffic controllers speak to the pilots on the runway. It was neat.

The Norwegian Sky, was a beautiful ship.

The kids had a blast at the kids zone, everyday was a different theme. This day there were doing a animal theme. They actually were tigers before this in the same day. We went and got them took them to dinner and they wanted to go back, this time they were bears.
The kids zone was totally worth it. It comes with the cruise package, and they have the funnest activities for the kids. They loved it.

Cooper tormenting his sister, by throwing sand at her.

This picture cracked me up, as I looked back at it, it reminded me of some kind of sport illustrated swimsuit edition picture. That is not what I was intending:)

The finished product, we ran into this lady on the beach, she was selling jewelry, but would do braids as well, I could NOT believe that she could braid the very itty bitty sides of Livi's hair. As I was watching her I noticed she most likely had some kind of arthritis. Her little fingers were bent awkward. But she could braid her hair so fast. That hair do lasted the whole trip.

She had this bags full of hundreds of beads, Alivia chose pink, black and silver.

This was so cool, this guy on the beach that we shared a cab ride with found a star fish on the rocks and picked it up and brought it over to us to show us. It was awesome!! he did put it back. It was one of the neatest things I had seen.

Kessler loves listening to music, I have to get him on video soon, he will sit there and sit there and just listen. He will sway from side to side like he is dancing.

(our picture sequence is backwards, the way I downloaded them) this was us cruising out of the port. It was interesting the front of the ship where we were looking out of, it pulls to the end of the port and then it spins a full 360 degrees to go out of the port.

Windy Miami

It was so fun to watch the kids, realize that we were on a boat, and watch them get more excited as it got going faster.

He is such a busy, busy boy. Thanks heavens for Grandma, who loved to walk him around.

Looking at the front of the ship

Cruising out to the carribean.

Carnival cruising past us

Mustering, Bauer was not a happy that he had to put the life vest on.

Checking out the ship (below)

Cooper

I wanted to post this about Cooper before I forgot. Last night we were talking to the kids about where they were before they were born ( the lesson was the plan of salvation/eternal families)
Ben asked Cooper "Cooper where were you before you were born?" Cooper got out of his seat and walked toward us. Ben said "No Cooper sit down and tell me where were you before you were born" but I was curious of what Cooper was doing I asked Cooper to show me what he was going to do, He stepped up on the couch to point on the map, and you hear him say hmmmm and wave his finger around. He points to Ukraine, thats where I lived before I was born he says.
We cracked up laughing.

I realized it has been a while since I blogged. We will update you on our craziness.
Ben is still at Jordan Landing, they did comment about him possibly going to Colorado? more as an inquiry than an actual we want you to go there. So still waiting on some news.
I am part time still, we are going to be able to use our benefits soon, and take the kids on a cruise through the Bahamas. They know we are going somewhere but don't know it will be on a boat. They are going to freak out.
Alivia turned 6 and is so proud to be six, loving kindergarten and loves to play with friends it is hard to keep up with her. She is also becoming a little sassy. She does like to argue regardless if she has any idea of what she is talking about. Not that fun sometimes, sometimes she can be entertaining.
Cooper like the post above, has been saying some funny things and has a really hard time eating anything but cheese sandwhiches, hot dogs, mac n cheese. It is a huge battle at dinner time, I would say 9/10 times he will not eat it.
Bauer, potty trained for the second time, he was potty trained for about 2 weeks and then reverted back and a little while ago he got sick and so I just kept his diaper off and that seemed to help a little. We then got him the potty watch and that he loves, for one it is his and only his, and he likes when it rings he can run to the potty.
Kessler, is crawling/walking around furniture every where, he is such a happy baby, and turning into a good sleeper 7-730 pm to 7:30-8am sometimes 9am. He loves cheerios and gets so excited when Ben comes home he crawls as fast as he can to the door and will say da da da da da..
I have been trying to clear out some old stuff, we took 4 big bins of toys to the DI and still have piles of old books some chairs and some old clothes to take. I surprised Ben the other day with a kitchen back splash project that I have a blister on two of my finger from. But I can't believe how much different it looks and plus a fresh coat of paint in the kitchen. Today the hard ware on the cabinets will go up.....a mini kitchen make over. YEAH!! The only down fall is that Ben poured something down the sink that didn't agree with the disposal so we had to take that apart last night and clean it out. Luckily it works again and we didn't have to get a new one.
Life is good, crazy busy, but when it passes I will look back and miss it. Congrats to Tim Ben's brother he is getting married in April to Ashton. That will be a fun trip to head up to Canada and see some cousins.

January

We love January, or should I say Alivia loves January. For the same reason I love April.
We had Alivia's birthday party today and it was fun. We had a few friends and cousins over. It started with a picture coloring activity while we were waiting for everyone, pin the tail on the donkey, a pinata (Liv pronounces it pee-nata). Pizza, cake, ice cream, Hokey pokey, dress up and dancing in the basement. At one point during the party 15 kids were singing, I like to move it, move it......Here are some pics of the party and our night out ice skating mixed in.
We decided to take the kids skating for Alivia's birthday weekend:)

Grace, Alivia's cousin

Bauer loved walking around in his ice skates, did not like the ice unless Ben was holding him and skating around with him.

Kyleigh, Alivia's cousin

Thank you to everyone who came and all the wonderful gifts, Alivia is in heaven:)

Happy New Year

I really had some fantastic intentions of sending out Christmas cards and finishing my neighbor gifts (sorry all of you south of the Leavitt's:) I hate excuses so I won't give you any.
But I will recount what the letter I did type out said and fill you in on some of our intentions for 2009.
Throughout our marriage we have been blessed and we truly were this year.
First Kessler born in March and from non biased parents what a sweet baby, he is so good, and so cute! It was thankfully another good pregnancy and a delivery to remember:)
Alivia started kindergarten and she loves it, she has Miss Gurney in the PM and some comments from her teacher she is nice to everyone and is always happy.
Ben passed of STL for Target and what a RELIEF......... we are still waiting to hear what, when and how? but seriously he has worked so hard and continues to work hard for all of us, he loves his job, he loves working for a really good company.
We went on a few trips this year, another trip to Florida in February I was 8 months pregs, I have not been to Florida NOT pregnant...WTH? We made it to Kauai in June and that was a trip to remember...I loved it, it is so beautiful and I love just sitting in warm sun. Kessler did a really good job, he would fall asleep every time we would go by the ocean, it was so cute.
I continue to work for SkyWest coming up on 10 years and I am still part time and love it. I have been able to write and help develop training programs for their new hire program and their annual training program. Something that I love to be a part of.
Cooper has gained A LOT of ground this year, he would contently hang on to Livi's coat tales and go for the ride. He is gaining more confidence and is such a sweet, loving little boy. He loves dress up right now, and loves his class. He especially has loved Christmas songs this year, you will hear him singing randomly through the day.
Bauer is the brute, he is the tough guy. It takes A LOT to make him cry, but when he does get sad enough to cry, he makes Kessler cry it actually really cute to see.
Kessler is on his way crawling, walking along things and loves to dance, just say the word dance and he starts to sway.

Our goals this year, well I did accomplish my goal that I set last year, so we have to step it up a notch this year. I am still thinking of some goals that I feel I could work on, but here is the starting point.
Ben's goal is to gain weight, ummmm yeah who does that, oh wait the Whidden's do.
He made that goal because when we went on a cruise in 2007 in the picture you can see his ribs and so he wants to fill in some chubby by his ribs?!? and he wants to work out more consistently, (more than once a month)
I on the other hand want to trim up or would it be down? I actually love to exercise, and to lift weights. My goal is to keep working out and build up each week to longer and stronger.
Also I want to study something each week and post a quote or a saying from the subject on my mirror for that week to think about.
I also want to get my photos organized, that will take me ALL YEAR LONG for sure.
Anyway happy new year, to health, happiness, love and Joy in the Journey:)
The Whidden's

Merry Christmas!

Lots of fun around here the last 24 hours. The kids had a blast opening their presents and they were actually pretty good the night before. We tracked Santa on NORAD Santa, and when she found out he was in Canada, she rushed and put her pj's on. ALivia wanted to hurry and get to sleep so Santa would come.
Livi left Santa licorice, that Santa forgot to eat...how rude. Not on purpose though.
The kids highlights were, Cooper loves dress up clothes, he got batman wings and mask, he also go a police uniform from Nana Whidden. Bauer got army dress up and a spider man flying thing, and some hulk gloves. Alivia got colors, Lucky the wonder pup, and Ben bought her a necklace with a dragon fly on it, that she loves. They all got clothes and needed stuff, socks etc....it was funny when they opened those gifts they seemed excited. Sad that will only last so long. We have a video of Bauer getting really excited when Livi pulls out a red sweater. It is hysterical.

Ben got a cool Canucks hockey wall decoration, a watch and a gift card to his favorite store Target. I got a necklace from Ben and a necklace from the kids, and a gift card to one of my favorite stores. Thank you Nana and Papa Whidden.
We also booked a cruise for the beginning of February out of Florida, a five day through the Bahamas. I get periodic emails from a company who sends out deals to airline employees, when cruise companies want to fill their ships. We booked the cruise for 109.00 each:) I was looking at the price break down and for the kids they were 69.00 and the cruise was just over 9.00 and the rest 58 dollars and change was taxes and government fee's. Note to self always look for cruise deals around Christmas:)
Ben built the kids a snow fort and was going to take them sledding up to the school but the back yard hill, was just fine:)
We had a yummy Christmas family dinner and ended the night just relaxing, watched a movie and enjoyed watching the snow fall