.Ethan.

I haven't done an update on Ethan in a while and figured it was time to give him a shout out.

ETHAN IS POTTY TRAINED!! YAAHOO! WAAHOO!

He was a total rockstar. Woke up one Monday morning and went potty, came to me and said, "I a big boy, I wear big boy undies and go big potty!" Literally that was all it took. We are into our third week of dry nights and are going strong! I go cold turkey when it comes to potty training, they wear a diaper that first day, just to makes sure the successful day wasn't a fluke and then a towel down the next two or three nights. He still wakes in the night, I don't think he has slept through the night in his life, so he wakes and takes himself potty or asks us to turn on the light. Rockstar!

I am so thankful.

I had to include a photo of his cute big boy undies sticking out! What a spunk!

.Tooth Fairy.

I have acquired a new title as of today! Cade will have a visit from the tooth fairy tonight as he lost his first tooth.

It was not by choice unfortunately. We had a trip to Rapid City today for some dental work done by a peds dentist. Once they got in there, they realized he had an abscess tooth and decided to extract that and put a spacer in its place. Cade was put under anesthesia for the whole procedure today thankfully, as he needed quite a bit of work done. He woke really cranky and with a bloody nose as they use gas to put them under and that dried his nose and mouth out. We were in recovery for about an hour and he just kicked his legs all annoyed and cried a little until we rocked in the recliner and sang together. He is such a brave boy. He slept all the way home and woke feeling like a new boy.

We took some photos of his 'teeth with hats on' but they are way at the back and didn't turn out too good, so I will save you the joy.

I so hope this was the first and last time we will have to do something like this, but that might be jumping the gun if he has inherited my teeth, poor bugger. Lets hope he has his dads teeth from here on out!

I am so proud of my boy and marvel at how quickly children bounce back after such ordeals. Amazing small mercy in my opinion, one I am ever so grateful for.

.25 Things.

I saw this on a friends blog (thanks KaLee) and thought I would follow along... break up the monotony a little.

1. I love movies that I can fall asleep to, just a comfort movie, I really like things I have seen a billion times before, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Little Women, Wives and Daughters, The Notebook.
2. I say 'knock it off' way to much I think, to noisy little boys.
3. I would love to decorate my bedroom 'just so'... think crisp white linen, simple lined sepia canvas flora prints on the wall and dark mahogany furniture... hmmm
4. I really don't care to read. I have to really want to read the novel or book to get into it. I am not a fad person, will wait until the excitement of the new release has gone before I will get into it, not sure why?? My only exception, The Help.
5. I detest TV, it is the bane of my existance (only since having kids). Since having children I can seriously count on one hand the shows I remotely follow.
6. My all time favorite flower is tulips and I love the shape of peonys.
7. I am fearful of the dentist and any talk of a visit sends me into stress mode. I so want to get my teeth whitened but fear to do so because I have to go to the dentist for it.
8. Me + my slow cooker = IN LOVE!
9. I write childrens stories. I love it and would love to be published some day.
10. Along those same lines... I am picky with childrens illustrators. I know what I like for my stories which help.
11. I think I will have all boys. Don't think a little bubba girl is on the horizon for me... I may eat my words, but we'll see.
12. If I could pick, I would have Christmas in the USA and New Years in Australia, hands down, the awesomest place for New Years celebrations.
13. I hate it when people sniff constantly.
14. My favorite pass times, Sudoku (book form) and Klondike (on the ipod).
15. I have been super slack this year with my reading of the book of mormon, I need to get back on that, and get consistant starting now!
16. If I could afford it I would have a personal chef.
17. I am a total car person. I can tell you brand of a car and often what the reviews are on the cars I like. I am picky on that front too.
18. Music is something I use to follow really well, knowing who sings what, what is on the charts, etc. I have not followed that at all since I moved to the USA.
19. My favorite songs that have stood the time are and I love to hear are, 'The Middle' by Jimmy Eat World, 'Love Rollercoaster' by Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster The People (don't read the lyrics though... I just like the sound... it is deep...about a shooting in 2007), 'I Like It' by Enrique Iglesias, 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol, 'Wish You Well' by Katie Herzig... I could listen to her ALL day. Makes me think of the music from Greys Anatomy... I heart Greys. I realise I either like songs that make me dance or make me think.
20. I have the biggest crush on Henry Cavill and Ryan Gosling (by the way, did you know that Henry Cavill was who Stephanie Meyer had in mind for her image of Edward in her novels?? bit of fyi)
21. I almost went into labor watching the 2 guys from 'Who's Line Is It Anyway' perform at UW. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I was contracting like no other!
22. If I could relive the day my children were born, hearing them cry, seeing them for the first time, I would relive it 1,000,000 times, I just don't want the pain and anxiety that comes with that day. It really is what life if all about, feeling that perfect, perfect love.
23. I want to learn to fly fish.
24. When I think of the perfect holiday, I always think of laying in the sun on the beach.
25. I collect Willow Tree figurines and always have a running list of the new releases and what ones I want.

.Cade.

Our handsome, clever and sweet boy turned 5 last week. We had a fun little celebration and were so glad for that one perfectly happy day in a week of stress. Cade is a definate joy and I am ever so grateful to have him!

I will have to post updated pictures as soon as I find my camera cord. But here is a photo history of the delight that is our first born...
2 weeks old...

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

.November.

November? Already? Holy smokes where has the last two months gone...

We have been busy here at the Andersons. We had lovely visits from my dad and step mum and then my mum. I was very spoilt with these visits and I so appreciated the time I got to spend with my parents. My mum left at the end of last week and I missed her right away. I bet she is glad to be home though and I know my sisters were missing her big time. It is really hard to say goodbye, not knowing when you will see family in the flesh again. We don't have a trip planned at all but hope to make it over as soon as possible.

We are settled into our home and our puppy seems to be settling in too. He is now 13 weeks old and 24lb. He is a monster. Big boy on our hands.

Cade and Ethan are doing great. They keep me busy as ever and we are in the process of attempting to tackle potty training for Ethan. Next week is 'do or die' week. I just have to make the conserted effort to be home. We have been busy and in and out so the effort has not been there 100% from me.

Next week is also Cades birthday and we are planning something small for that. He has put in his requests so we will see what we can come up with. We are still on the wait list for preschools for him but I don't think we are going to get in so he will likely start school without preschool at all... is that bad?

We are staying busy with our callings and work. I actually applied for a few positions and had call backs for all of them, but decided to accept a job working for a good friend of our family. I can safely say I will so enjoy going to work each night which is such a blessing. I start tomorrow and I am excited. One of the other positions was awesome and what I thought I wanted, but wouldn't allow as much freedom with scheduling so I am happy with what we decided. Should be fun and is totally just an outlet for me.

We are so into Christmas already, listening to music, watching shows and movies and if I could get the muscle to tote up the christmas decorations, I would be doing it. I think we will have to wait another week though, get Cades birthday done and dusted and think about it then.

I think that is the run down... can you believe it is only 59 days until 2012! That is almost longer than Kim Kardashians marriage... (couldn't resist)!