2 weeks we'll never forget....part 1!

A couple of months ago a lady in my ward asked me if we would be interested in being a host family for a foreign exchange student for 2 weeks. I remember being asked last year but shot the idea down pretty quickly. This year though, I thought it sounded like a fun idea. I'm not really sure what changed my mind but I told her to send me the info and before I knew it, I signed us up! Not even 2 days later, the exchange leaders were at my house and I was looking through profiles of students. At first I thought we would for sure get a girl but the more I thought about it, I felt like we should get a boy. I also thought a boy would be better for Kayston. After all, he has always wanted a big brother.
After looking through all the profiles, the profile of boy named Takahito stuck out to me. The thing that stuck out to me the most was that he said he likes to play baseball and if we had any kids he would like to play catch with them. I knew I wanted someone who would interact with my kids, not hide from them!
After selecting Takahito and filling out some paper work, all we had left to do is wait for his arrival! The kids were SO excited! Brylee would come in to my room every morning and ask "when is Takahito going to be here!" Then she would get sad when I told her it wasn't today!
The night before he got here, I started to get super nervous! I worried that maybe he wouldn't like us, or maybe he would hate my cooking, or maybe it would be super awkward, or maybe he wouldn't feel comfortable here and what will I make him for lunch everyday? So many thoughts went through my head, I could barely sleep that night!
But finally, on the night of Saturday, July 14th, we were able to pick up our Japanese son! We were all SO excited! As soon as I saw him, I knew it was him. (we had exchanged emails a few times before he came so I knew what he looked like!)
He was so cute and sweet and shy and Kayston couldn't stop smiling!!! =)

Waiting for the bus!!

 YAY! They're here!!

 I loved how colorful their luggage was!

 YAY!!!! TAKAHITO IS HERE!!!!

 To be continued.....

18 months...

I can't believe our little trouble maker is 18 months already! Time is going by faster than ever right now. She is the funniest little girl I have ever know and is always giving us a good laugh. She is super mischievous just like her older brother was/is and is always getting in to something.
Sometimes I joke that she's part octopus cause it seems like she has a million hands!
I thought she would be my one child that would LOVE nursery and have no problem going in. Boy was I wrong. She HATES it and is totally inconsolable if I leave! She cries so hard and for so long that either I give in and go in or they bring her to me. UGH!! I was SO looking forward to nursery!!
Hopefully she'll start to like it soon.

Stats:

Weight: 25 lbs 1 oz= 55%

Height: 35.2 in= off the chart

Head: 47.8 cm= 75%

Some things Kenley can do and likes at 18 months...

She says LOTS of words and is starting to pair them together. 

She loves to dance!
Loves to give high five!
Can still do her famous somersault
She always has to have a spoon and insists on feeding herself
She copies everything her older bro and sis do
She is SO smart and will do anything I ask her to do.
(put something in the garbage, go find something I ask for)
Still loves to eat dirt, rocks, deodorant, lotion and pretty much anything that the normal person wouldn't eat.
She's obsessed with "bouncy balls" and can spot one from a mile away
Her favorite person right now is Grampa B.
She has finally decided that she likes to swim and swing. (She hated both at the beginning of Summer.)
She still hates being in the car
When she gets tired she will tell you she wants to go "night night".
She is still mostly taking 2 naps a day.
She has FINALLY learned how to slide down the stairs on her tummy. I was beginning to think that would never happen.
Her favorite foods right now are macaroni and cheese, ramen, hot dogs, and watermelon
She has decided to not like banana's but always asks for one but ends up just smashing it in her fingers.
She is still one of the cutest girls I know!!

Love you miss meaguls! Thanks for bringing so much joy and entertainment into our family! 
 

Ummmm REALLY???

We told Kayston to go get his Church clothes on and this is what we got...

 The funniest part about it is, he had no idea and couldn't figure out why we were laughing so hard!!! Love this crazy kid!