Caden's First Haircut

Yesterday Caden got his first haircut. I have heard lots of good thinks about Cookie Cutters so I thought I would give it a try. It was wonderful!!! He sat still while enjoying the 'drive'. It was fun to see him transform from my little baby boy to my big grown-up boy.

BEFORE THE HAIRCUT:

DURING THE HAIRCUT:

AFTER - What a CuTe BoY!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

It is a Herrscher tradition to cut down our Christmas tree. This year it was a much smaller group than usual but was still really fun. We went far east this year to find the perfect tree...I think we picked a good one =).

Video of Caden helping cut down the tree or should I say trying to keep his head on his shoulders!





Here are some pics of our adventure...

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Thanksgiving 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, we decided to host it at our home. I was really excited because I had never cooked a turkey before. Needless to say, it was a little stressful, but for the most part really fun.

The Turkey - It only took 3.5 hours to cook so it was a little dry.


Poppy and Granny brought a shrimp tray. The problem was Poppy didn't realize it was frozen. Brian being the 'Engineer' he is decided he could defrost it with the blow dryer. It worked great.



The Thanksgiving Tables - We had 18 people total so it was full house.




My boy puckering up for a big kiss from his Mama.

Caden - 15 Months and Growing

In November, Caden turned 15 months old. His stats are as follows:

Weight - 27 lbs (75%)
Height - 32 inches (75%)
Head Circumference - 19 inches (75%)



Caden is a real JOY right now. He is such a sweet boy!!! He makes my heart melt every time I look at him. Some of his favorite things include his ball popper, cars (any of them), his electric motorcycle, legos (he loves for us to build towers and then he knocks them down). He also loves to throw balls down the stairwell and then slide down the stairs to retrieve them. Brian taught him how to negotiate stairs a couple of weeks ago. The problem is he is starting to realize that everything can go down the stairs. This week Brian caught his little CARS car on the fifth stair down =).

Caden also loves to play with friends and his cousins. He is at the point where he can now interact with other kids - it is really fun to watch. He also loves to see his grandparents. This week he said Papa when we got to my dad's house...it was really cute.

Caden is a true Herrscher. He is not shy nor is he afraid of anyone. He loves to be held and likes to wave and flirt with strangers at the grocery store.

Some of Caden's favorite words include: MA (shouting it), Dada, ball, car, down, go, done, dog, wawa and my personal favorite NO, NO. He loves to say this to Brian and me after he does something we have told him he shouldn't. He also loves to yell it at Gracie when she has her head on his highchair tray cleaning up. Today, he also told her down after I had shouted at her once.

This age is really fun although it is a bit challenging with him finding his independence and developing his own personality. He is becoming his own person!!! It is rewarding to see him grow but also difficult to see my baby change so quickly.

Fall Fun - Round Two

Hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon




Pickin' Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch

This year we once again went to the local Pumpkin Patch to pick our pumpkins. Caden had a blast although he preferred picking rocks over pumpkins...he is all BOY!!

Fall Fun - First Round

Visit to the Zoo to see Zuri the Baby Elephant

Visit to Wheeler Farm to see the Animals

Driving the Alpine Loop with Poppy and Granny (September 2009)