Chore Day

This was from about a month ago. .  I'm seriously behind with my updates!

 

I've been having the kids help me clean the house - they each have a couple chores to do each week.  Caleb has to make sure there are two rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom and Sarah has to clean the sink in the bathroom. 

 

After they were done with their normal chores, they both decided to help me finish cleaning . . . wasn't that nice?!?  They both did a great job & I was thankful for the help!

No More Crib!

Look at his big boy bed!  Isn't it exciting! 

No more crib. . . no more keeping him in bed until I decide to get up. . . sigh.

 

He was so excited about his new bed we had to celebrate with a hot chocolate . . .  

 

From the mouth of my kids. . .

As Caleb and I were patiently waiting for Sarah's dance class to end last night we were discussing what to do when we go home.  Caleb got so excited and said "I know Mom, we can watch the Cardinals!!!"  To which I sadly responded "The Cardinals lost, buddy.  We have to wait another 5 months to see them again."  Then he proceeded to tell the other Mom waiting that the Cardinals lost.

 

Now for Sarah's lovely comment. . . . I just finished fixing my hair in a new style (and for me this is quite a huge accomplishment).  I went into the kitchen to show Brandon and Sarah to see what they thought.  Brandon, such a smart man, said it looks great!  My beautiful, nice daughter, what did she say??  "It looks like you woke up with bed head and didn't want to do anything about it, so you put your hair in a pony tail."  And so it begins. .  .



This morning Caleb informed me that he kept his gum under his pillow all night so the tooth fairy would know where he put it!  (Sadly, I ran out of time to check to see if the gum was still in the wrapper or not. . . )

On the way into town this morning Caleb informed me that "Daddy is a good van driver and a good boat paddler."  Not sure what he was thinking, but he did mention them as we were driving past a lake. . . I wonder if he was worried I would drive off the road???

The Animal Game

Caleb wanted to play the animal game this morning on the way to Grandpa's house.  Here were my clues:

• It's big
• It's pink
• It has brown poop

Wow. . . what great clues!!  I guessed a flamingo - wrong!  I guess an ostrich - wrong!  Finally, I got it right . . . a pig!

 

In my defense, the poop clue threw me way off!!!

Little Drummer Boy

Don't you love when you think you've put away toys to where they will never be found again??

Caleb found his drum and then decided to use this empty popcorn can for a "cymbal," yes - that is what he called it!  I think Brandon was so proud of him!

 

I thought he would tire of the drums, but several days later, he is still banging away and now it's even better because he is taking them to different locations in the house. . . my bedroom, the basement, the bathroom. . .

 

Don't get any ideas - he does NOT need a drum set for Christmas!!!

Caleb's First Day of Preschool

Caleb has been going to school for over one month now!

He loves it, but let me back track a little. . .

 

Here is our first morning of Caleb getting ready to go to school.

His every important sugary breakfast cereal. . . yum!

 

We had his crayon cup all decorated with Mickey Mouse stickers. . .

sorry, buddy - I just couldn't find any tractor stickers!

Note for next year - check Lee's in Nashville . . .found them there a couple days ago!

But nevertheless, his cup look cool & he enjoyed putting all the stickers on it!

 

He only briefly hesitated at the door and then went in to play with all the tractors at the school!

I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. . . my little man is going to school!

Caleb is Getting Ready

While Sarah is off & running with her school already, Caleb's hasn't started!

His first day isn't until the Wednesday after Labor Day!

But he did get a letter in the mail from his teacher!

He was very excited to get mail (once he gets older and all the mail consists of bills, I'm sure his opinion will change)!

 

He studied the letter for quite some time, even after I read it to him.

I asked him what he was thinking . . . he wanted to know "which one is my teacher?"

I couldn't help but giggle because the boarder of the letter was cartoon pictures of kids!

 

Hopefully this enthusiasm will last through the first day!

I cannot believe we are getting ready to send him off to preschool!

Time really does fly by!

New Bike Helmets

The weather has finally cooled off enough for the kids to be able to play outside again!  Caleb got a new "big boy" bike with training wheels!  He loves it; he jumped on and started riding right away!

The kids love riding their bikes and scooters in the garage.

Look at Caleb go!

I bought the kids new bike helmets because we've started going on walks while the kids ride their bikes.  There isn't much traffic on our country road, but I feel so much better with the kids wearing their helmets!

The first night we bought the helmets the kids did everything with them on!

After bike riding, Caleb needed to move some rocks:

Then he needed to move more rocks with his dump truck:

Sarah was teaching Bella, our cat, to walk:

(not sure Bella enjoyed the experience)

Marley was jealous of all the attention Bella was getting, so here is a picture of him too!

Mud Makeover

I don't know why I haven't learned my lesson by now. . . .
when the kids are quiet, go investigate!!!

Caleb brought home a Ziploc baggie of dirt from Grandpa Ken's house.  Caleb said he wanted to start his own dirt collection. . . that should have been my first clue.  However, the cute little boy told me he would only add the dirt to Daddy's garden  . . . that should have been my second clue.

After a very enjoyable 30 minutes of quiet, my third clue, I went to let the kids know it was time to get ready for bed. . .thankfully it was bath night because this was the cute little face that greeted me at the door . . .

I guess Caleb thought this was a better use of Grandpa's dirt than putting it in Daddy's garden.

I did ask if his face felt smoother, but he didn't quite understand what I was asking.

Gotta love my boy!!!

Caleb's Toddler Bed

My little boy is growing up!

He is completely potty trained; he has recently been brushing his own teeth (he puts on the toothpaste);

he has been dressing himself.

And now, he has been sleeping in a Toddler Bed!!!

These pictures are from his first night in the bed, July 3rd.

He must have been completely exhausted because he fell asleep and stayed in bed all night!

Well, sadly, that only lasted for 3 nights!

Then the battle began . . .he would get up & come find me, then back to bed, he would get up, back to bed.

One night this pattern went on for 7 straight times!

So back to the crib we went . . .

I don't remember having these issues with Sarah - she has always been one that needs her sleep, much like her Mom!  Once she goes to bed - it's lights out!  I guess she spoiled me!

Now, a couple weeks after having to sleep back in the crib, he has slept in his "big boy bed" for the last 4 nights without getting out of bed once!  Brandon has been wonderful with helping me transition Caleb to the "big boy bed!"  I guess when Daddy speaks, he listens.

Caleb is so cute in the morning, running into our room!

This morning he was pulling his blanket, carrying his small green John Deere pillow and his stuffed giraffe.

I love hearing his happy voice in the morning, especially when he gets excited and says "Good morning, Mommy!  I did it. I stayed in my bed all night!"

MKL Kickoff

Another cold kick-off celebration, but it was fun!

Fredbird showed up and after waiting for the mob to die down a little, we got a quick family picture and he signed Sarah's hat!

Of course he didn't have a handy writing surface, but the top of my head seemed to work pretty well for him!

Did I mention it was cold?

It was a good thing Caleb got this awesome Cardinals outfit from Aunt Emily for his birthday!

Fredbird

Each year the Mascoutah Khoury League has a kick off day where we take team pictures, have a hot dog lunch and Fred Bird from the St Louis Cardinals comes to visit!  Caleb was so excited all morning and insisted on wearing his new Cardinal outfit from Aunt Emily!

However, once Fredbird appeared Caleb changed his mind, but that didn't stop Sarah from wanting him to autograph her team hat!  We very patiently waited for the autograph & got a quick picture of us with Fredbird! 

Fredbird thought it was so funny to use my head as a writing surface.

Caleb thought Fredbird was a little too close!

Sarah thought it was hilarious!

After all the excitement was over, pictures were taken and our bellies were full,

it was time for a nice long, cold walk back to the van!

It seems like the kick off weekend is always cold!

At least the sun was shinning this year and it wasn't raining - that made it a great day in my book!

Caleb's 3rd Birthday!

Caleb only requested a few simple items for his birthday, which of course is during tax season, but I try to be accommodating for the Birthday Boy!  He requested the following:

• John Deere tractors
• cake
• cupcakes
• balloons
• party hats

I was sure I could make a themed party, but alas John Deere birthday party decorations are extremely difficult to find 5 days before the party!  I did find some cute animal party hats & blowers, which were a huge hit!  However, not so fun for Mom & Dad early in the morning - the kids wasted no time playing songs for us - did I mention it was only 7 am??

After I finally pried the blowers out of their hands, we went to church where Caleb got to put his pennies in the birthday cake!  I told Caleb that was the same cake Mommy put pennies in when I was his age, but he was not very impressed!  He was more concerned about whether or not he was going to get to eat the (plastic) cake. . . remember his requests??

After church was over we got a quick picture of Grandma & Grandpa Canning with all the Grand kids!  What a good looking group of kids!

It turns out Caleb picked a pretty easy birthday theme, as far as decorations I pulled out all his tractors and set them around the house and used green and yellow (thank you Grandma Susan for finding these) handkerchiefs.  Caleb didn't care for my choice of decorations, so they weren't there very long!

We had lots of friends & family members join us for the celebration - those I did catch on camera:  Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jane, Great Grandma Lill, Great Grandpa Bob, Great Grandma Lois, Grandpa ken, Mike and  Angie!

It was finally time for cake - Caleb blew out the candles with no problems!  Wonder if he wished for cupcakes or tractors???

Of course, after cake we need cupcakes!  After all it was a specific request!

After cake is present time!  He did great at opening all his own presents!  He got the same card about 5 or 6 times - the first card was from Grandpa Rollie & Grandma LaVon, so each time he opened the same card he thought Grandpa Rollie was giving him another present!  It was so funny!

The big moment finally came to find out what was in the red bag . . . Caleb looked at that bag all day and kept asking to open it . . .now was the big moment (well it was after Daddy untied the knot)!

What is it Caleb?  What is in the huge bag??

His very own red barn for all his tractors & animals, made especially for Caleb by Daddy!

Complete with a hay loft and sliding doors.

This project was 100% made by Daddy - I didn't even paint it!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Caleb! 

Mommy & Daddy love you!!!

Girl Scout Fun

Sarah decided to join girl scouts this year, with a little encouragement from her Dad!

Of course in exchange for that encouragement, Dad was the responsible parent during tax season.

One of the events was at Crab Orchard Wildlife Nature Preserve in Marion, IL.

Sarah had a blast; she loves anything to do with animals and craft projects!  This was both, so it was perfect for Sarah and Caleb enjoyed it too!

I believe they are making an eagle's nest in a paper bag.

 I have no idea what this big blue bird is, but the kids were cute . . .

The best part of the day, was seeing Uncle Jason and playing at this "really cool" park.

Grandpa & Grandma Voss went along for the adventure too!

I think they all had a great time!

 This was part of the park toys; Brandon said Caleb loved climbing on it.