What's going on at the Stagers?

Hello!

Well, after a couple of computer crashes, and a busy fall, I am back onto blogging. It has been a while and I probably won't capture everything that has happened but at least I'm back. As you are all aware, we are due in a week with our baby girl so I can't promise I'm back regularly yet but I can assure you that I will have more updates in 2011 than I did in 2010!!!

I am officially off work now and spending my days as a full time mom to Kayden. We have a lot to learn about each other but I must say, it's going pretty well so far. We have our tantrums and our cuddles and so far it's a good balance of both. I think he misses being around other kids so hopefully when I get organized we can join the other moms on the block for their play dates.

So, these pictures are not the greatest but just this weekend Kayden went to a Santa Party, he sat on Santa's lap and didn't freak out!

Daddy and Kayden watching the clown at the Party

This fall, Kayden took swimming lessons with Daddy, Molly and Uncle Andy. He refused to wear a life jacket until the very last class. I was so proud I had to post pictures to prove it!

I will be sure to post more pictures and stories as I get used to our new computer but this is a start! I hope everyone is well and I can't wait to keep in touch through the blog again.

Sincerely,

Michelle

long time no see!

Hello! As you may have noticed we have been quite busy trying to keep up with life that I haven't even been able to post about our adventures!

We have a few exciting details to share with you. First of all, Chad's done school!!! Woohoo! Not only did he finish his exams but he also received his final marks and did so well he's definitely all done. That's gone so fast!

And...... in other news..... we are adding one more to the Stager Family! We just went to an ultrasound on Monday and our little girl (yup, that's right!) looks really healthy and growing strong. With a due date of December 21st, she may be our Christmas gift this year. Who am I kidding? She may be our New Year's gift if she follows her brothers footsteps! We feel so lucky and thankful and we are just putting all of our positive energy towards this baby's continued healthy growth. Do you know what's also exciting? Auntie Ali will be delivering her! At the hospital ofcourse but still in Auntie's arms.

Alright, so back to the star of the show.... Kayden and I went out West to visit Memere and Grampa Stew. We had so much fun and can't wait to do it again soon!

Our West Coast kid ready for a day at the Ocean

Memere trying to show Kayden some fun water things, Kayden puddle jumping

'Playing' with Maggie, not sure Maggie saw it the same way

Memere and Kayden exploring the Greenhouse

Mom getting a dirty look for stopping an artist hard at work...

Grampa Stew! I think Kayden was trying to delay bed time with one last story
Out to the ocean and playing in the sand

Here's a couple of pictures back at home. Kayden and Lorelei having a heart to heart

Elmo is still the favorite, with baby (the blanket) not far behind

Trying to figure out how to get his carseat in the Chevy

Jam Session

Kayden's love of music continues on...

Easter

We all headed to Cranbrook for Easter to visit Nana and Grandpa K. All of us but Lorelei as she stayed at Molly's for the weekend. As you will see in some pictures, she will be very thankful she stayed there. So, Chad Bogey Kayden and I carpooled with Terri and Rowan to Cranbrook. It was great fun being together for Easter.

There was some quality time with Nana

Some fun with Bogey





Hanging out with Dad


Watching some movies



Craft time and play time



and last but definitely not least, the Easter Egg Hunt!

Winnipeg

Hi there! Well, I am back on line. Our poor computer decided it was time to quit so we had to get a new hard drive and load everything back up. We decided to hold off on buying a new one at the moment so hopefully the upgrades will fix this one up for a while. So, while the computer has been collecting dust we have been having some fun! Kayden and I packed and headed off with Grandpa Stew to go visit GG in Winnipeg. The trip was a huge success. It was a little exhausting but great to spend time with GG and Grandpa Stew.

Kayden and Grandpa having lunch

our little rockstar

Kayden checking things out at the Children's Museum

I'm pretty sure Grandpa wanted to sit down and have a turn...

GG's poor magnifying glass getting covered in Kayden prints

Happy Birthday Kayden

Kayden is 2 years old! I can barely believe it. On his birthday I asked, How old are you? He said, Good! We're working on that. So, we kept the birthday party small as I think this will be the last small birthday party since we are starting to meet more kids. Andy, Ali and Molly came over and we had a great time. Kayden had a tough time sharing his toys but I guess a birthday boy is allowed that trouble! Bogey tried chasing Molly around the yard until he got in trouble. Bogey loves little miss Molly! Kayden tested out his new rainboots and jacket and told us about his plans for the vegetable garden this year (or at least that's what Uncle Andy thinks he was talking about). Molly was a hard working kiddo collecting snow for Lorelei to eat. I made a Teddy Bear cake (with the help of a bear shaped tin ofcourse). I am pretty proud with how it turned out and hope to learn more cake decorating tips and tricks. All is well in the chaos that is the Stager household!!!

Playing on the new etch-a-sketch

My little toddler! He's all grown up!

The Teddy Bear Cake...

Putting on the new rainboots in pajamas to try and go with Dad to the dog park.

Auntie Ali and Molly! and Bogey....

My budding photographer


skyping with Memere

Nana and Grampa K (stopped by before their trip) got Kayden Play-Do which he loves!

Click!

New Haircut!

Well, since I last posted Kayden has had a word explosion!  He repeats everything (which makes us re-think what we say a lot).  He's learned 2 word sentences and is working on making them 3 word sentences.  We get a lot of 'I wan, I wan'. I then say a lot of 'Kayden, what do you want?  Use your words' (sound familiar moms?).  He's currently obsessed with DVD's but only likes about the first 10 minutes or so.  He's doing great, keeps us laughing and guessing and just keeps growing!  We've had to move a lot of stuff from the counters...

As for us, Chad is doing great in school.  He's working hard to get good grades and finally be done!!!  I decided to learn something knew so I took up snowboarding.  It's been a ton of fun but I do have the bruises to prove it's definitely not easy.  Our lives feel so incredibly busy I keep trying to get things to slow down.  I have my days where I feel like I'm super mom because I accomplished everything on my to-do list but let's be honest, those are the days I've thrown the list out... heh, heh, heh... We'll make it through just like everyone else does, you just wonder some days if there is a different way to do things?  Inventing a self-cleaning house would help... or teaching the dogs how to clean? yuck, no, that would be bad...

Helping Dad Study (not really though)