Halloween 2009 and Thanks Giving

We just celebrated Halloween. Kaden's 6th, Ember's 2nd, and Logan's 1st. It was nice. Kaden had book character day at school a week ago so he went dressed up as Thing 1 from the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. Ember was a little chick-a-dee and Logan was a chili pepper. They were soooo cute!




















We went to First Baptist Church for their Harvest Party. I like taking the kids to theirs vs ones at other churches because the activities are geared more for their age. When we left there we went to Ken's parents' house to trick or treat. By the time we left there Ember and Logan we in tears or near them anyway. So we went home.

Now we are officially in my FAVORITE season!!! I love Fall and Thanksgiving! There is nothing expected of you and everyone is happy and thankful. I can not wait to see what all this season has to offer!

Well, I haven't been keeping this up-to-date but since a friend said she would check this out to see pics, I decided I needed to update.

Logan is here!!!
Kaden and Ember absolutely love him. In fact so far they can't get enough of him. Which is great...to a point! Logan is growing every day. He was 4 wks old last Friday and he weighed 7 lbs 1 oz at that point. He is getting closer to a tolerable sleep pattern.:) Hopefully that will happen soon.:)
Kaden has started Kindergarten and loves it. His class has already gone on 3 field trips. One was to the Apple Farm, one to the pumpkin patch and one to see the play of Jack and the Beanstalk in Modesto, CA. His teacher had us bring in white t-shirts at the beginning of the year and the kids tye-dyed them and that is what they wear when they have field trips. They are just too cute!


We love to hear everything he is learning at school. It is amazing how big he is getting and how much he retains in his brain. LOL He loves his teacher, Miss Cann, as do mommy and daddy. She is a great teacher and he learns boundaries with her. It is great! I am now the secretary of the Parent Club at MCS. It is crazy to think that just over 10 years ago I watched moms of my classmates go into that meeting and would think to myself, "Someday I want that to be me." And now it is. I love being a mom!

Ember is a hoot and a holler! She is just under the age 2. She doesn't really talk yet but that doesn't stop her! She will talk your ear off if you let her. She loves to talk on the phone. Takes any chance she can get. And if not she will pretend.:) She is all into singing now too. I would swear to you the song never changes. She "says" the same thing every time. But I can't understand any of it. One of her favorite songs to dance to is "I've Got A River of Life". She will do the motions with you over and over. She loves it!

I guess that is about it for now. As for mommy and daddy, we are just trying to make it day-to-day sleep deprived. But I cherish every quiet moment I can spend with Logan. And I don't take one second for granted.

Baby dedications

So I was born on a Friday. My mom was not up to taking me to church (as she had just gotten out of the hospital) that Sunday so a week and 2 days after I was born my parents took me to church and had me dedicated that day. I decided long ago that that was a tradition I wanted to carry on.
So when Kaden was born on Monday, July 19th I made sure that we were at church and he was dedicated the following Sunday. And after his dedication I sang a song by Sandi Patti called "Masterpiece" (go to this link to hear it:http://www.imeem.com/people/rF8q9M/music/af79PpLA/sandi-patty-masterpiecemp3/ ).
Then Ember was born on Friday January 11th and I wasn't realeased until that Sunday afternoon. So the following Sunday we were in church getting her dedicated and I sang "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride (go to this link to hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLS0Y40WwlA ).
Well this one is due in October and he was NOT planned at all. People kept asking us if we would have another and we kept saying it would be a miracle if we did.:) We were going to have no part in planning any more children. When I found out that I was pregnant I thought to myself, "well, there's the miracle." But still didn't understand why. I kept telling people that if I was going to have this baby he had better bring NATIONS to Christ and not just a couple of people. Then last week my mom and I went to my cousin's bridal shower and on the way we were talking about how much of a miracle he is. And the fact that my mom often wondered why my brother and I were spared our lives (my mom hemorrhaged with me for months and my parents were going through a hard time when my brother was born). It got me to really thinking.
Well, I decided on the song that I am going to sing for his dedication. It is a song that I had actually thought of for both of our other kids but it just didn't seem right. Now it couldn't be anything else. It is called "Miracle" by Celine Dion. (go to this link to hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKpE9VOkh0g ).
The reason I have chosen it is in the lyrics and something that God has spoken to me. Below are the lyrics:

MIRACLE

Lyrics: Linda Thompson
Music: Stephen Dorff

You're my life's one miracle
Everything I've done that's good
And you break my heart with tenderness
And I confess it's true
I never knew a love like this 'til you

You're the reason I was born
Now I finally know for sure
And I'm overwhelmed with happiness
So blessed to hold you close
The one that I love most
Though the future has so much for you in store
Who could ever love you more

The nearest thing to heaven
You're my angel from above
Only God creates such perfect love

When you smile AT me I cry
And to save your life I'd die
With a romance that is pure in heart
You are my dearest part
Whatever it requires
I live for your desires
Forget my own, your needs will come before
Who could ever love you more

There is nothing you could ever do
To make me stop loving you
And every breath I take
Is always for your sake
You sleep inside my dreams
And know for sure
Who could ever love you more


Okay, here's why I chose it and what God shared with me. It starts off by saying "You're my life's one miracle" Nuff said right? Then it goes on to say, "I never knew a love like this til you". Okay, I understand I have other kids and that they are miracles (every child is) but they are nothing like this one. God has chosen US to give this baby a life. And He went past the birth "control" we were using and HE controlled this life to be placed in me.
It goes on, "You're the reason I was born. Now I finally know for sure". my mom said that she has wondered WHY it was that God spared my life and allowed me to live. God spoke to me and said, "You were born so that this baby could have a life. Without YOU there would be no HIM." WOW! What a thing to realize. I wasn't born on this earth so that I could live as much as so that I could bring into this world a child that GOD WANTED born! Am I the only one who finds that amazing?! What is HE going to do for God that someone else can't/won't? What is the purpose for this little life growing inside me? Is this a bit of what Mary thought when she was pregnant with Jesus? "Quite possibly my whole purpose in this life is to make sure HE is born." What a thought.
The rest of the song speaks for itself. Although I must say he is not necessarily the "one that I love most" because I love my kids equally but he is pretty high on the charts there.
Hope you all like the songs. And I hope I didn't bore you. But I just had to share what was on my heart. Love ya!

Funny thing Kaden said today

So he decided to go with daddy and Papa (my step-dad) to split wood at my step-brothers house this morning. Well, my step-dad and step-brother raise goats and my step-dad told Ken and I last night that one of the goats was ready to give birth either last night or this morning. So as I am getting kaden in the truck, we have the following conversation:

Me: "Guess what! Papa told me that one of the goats might have a baby last night or this morning. Are you so excited?!"

Kaden: "Yeah! I've never seen a goat plant eggs before."

Me: "First of all, nothing 'plants' and egg. You 'lay' an egg. Second, goats don't lay eggs. They have babies like mommy has a baby. In their tummies."

Kaden: "Sheep lay eggs though."

Me: "No, sweet boy. They have babies just like mommy too."

Kaden: "BUT sea turtles DO."

Me: "Yes! Sea turtles do."

Kaden: "See. I told you."

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Kaden and Ember

New to This!

Well, here is the first official blog of Mrs. Wootten. Hopefully it will go well. We shall see.:)

We are doing well here in the Wootten household. Ken is working hard at his job with Merced Irrigation District. He is at Lake McClure on the Exchequer Dam. He really enjoys his job and looks forward to moving up eventually. He spends his weekends with us, or doing yard work. But his Sunday mornings are definitely spent playing bass for church. He loves it! And he is really good at it. If I do say so myself.:)

I, Charlene, am pretty much just a stay-at-home-mom. And I love every minute of it...for the most part anyway.:) I am pregnant with baby #3. We know it is a boy and we think we have a name but we aren't really set in stone on it. I will be 23 weeks along tomorrow according to the ultrasounds. He is getting bigger. I feel him move every day. He loves to stay really low. he lays between my hips which I must say is not the most comfortable for me but whatever works to keep him safe is fine with me. I wasn't really excited when I found out we were going to have another one. I will be honest. But God has really changed my heart towards him and I am really excited! I can't wait to see which of his siblings he is more like.

Speaking of his siblings, Kaden will be 5 years old next month. I still find it hard to believe. My little boy is growing up so fast. We have him signed up for kindergarten in August. At this point the plan is for him to attend Merced Christian School (mommy's alma mater). I can't wait for him to go there. I am excited to know that he will get a good Godly education. He is our passive child. He pretty much lets things roll off his back. He is a great big brother. He likes playing with his sister. He loves to play computer games (when he is allowed) and he loves story time with mommy. I am a full supporter of reading chapter books to kids. I have had some say that the books I read to Kaden are too old for him and there is no way he can comprehend them. But I disagree. I have read him many chapter books ("Mouse and the Motorcycle", "Ramona the Pest", "Sideways Stories From Wayside School", etc) and he can always tell me where we left off. Currently we are reading the "Chronicles of Narnia" books. We are on "Prince Caspian". I have really enjoyed this series as I have never taken the time to read it before. So it is a first for mommy AND Kaden.

Ember is our agressive child. She is 17 months old today and very girl! She has the attitude, the girlish charm, the flirtation. It is interesting.:) She likes to try to get her way and when she doesn't she will make it known. She has no qualms with hitting her brother when he doesn't give in. And when she gets into trouble for ANYTHING (no matter how big or how small) she will throw herself down and throw a temper tantrum. HOLY GOODNESS!! It is something that we are trying to work on getting rid of, but I think I will lose my sanity before she loses the attitude. :) On the upside, she is only 17 months old and she is already telling us when her diaper is dirty. I love the hope of getting potty-trained at an early age but I am not getting my hopes high. I don't expect much. That way if something happens it will be wonderful.:)

That is pretty much it for now. I will try to keep this updated as much as possible. Some entries will be long and some just quick funnies that the kids have said/done. Hope you enjoy as much as I will.