Whoa, Horse!

We were getting ready for baths Friday night and tell the boys to get down the hall and here is what we see. Caden and Carter have long loved horse rides from their dad, but he must be getting old because he doesn't give them as much, especially to both at the same time. Caden has decided this is the next best thing!


Carter loves every minute of it and Caden thinks he is running the show, so he is happy too! Carter even loves getting bucked off, if only we can keep Caden doing it gently!

What My Boys Are Up To...

***Warning*** this is a long post, but is mainly for my family who can't seem to get enough of these boys...

Cole:
He is much more alert and stays awake in longer stretches. We started working on his schedule more this week. We begin with the first AM feeding around 7am and he is adjusting well. I try and keep him awake for at least 30 minutes after each feeding. Sometimes he stays awake for almost 1 hour or more. Others it is a struggle for the 30 minutes.

He is going easily 3-4 hours between each feeding and eating well! We finally moved him out of our room into his crib. It took us a couple of weeks longer than with the other boys, but I am lazier I think and if he was in our room, I didn't have to walk so far to get him! He loves to swing and somehow he can stand listening to his brothers scream and play!

He apparently is growing like a weed. I know he is getting chubbier, but I don't realize it much because I am with him 24/7. But we have been out of town recently and when Brandy saw him she commented on his growth, so I know my family is dying to see him. I know by holding him and standing on the scale he is well over 10lbs...not sure exactly how much he weighs. So here is Cole, aka Coal Train as we like to call him! Ignore the red eyes, I am too lazy to get them out right now!

Here is a smile - sort of!

Carter:

He is going through some adjustment these last couple of weeks. He was kind of getting sick and his allergies are killing him, so that has made him extra whiny. But since Mommy is now busier than before, I think he feels a little left out! He is also jumping right in to the terrible twos. We are experience several tantrums. He is so much more dramatic than Caden was with his, so it is humorous at times.

Carter has also started talking more! We love this! He can say all sorts of things now, but my favorite besides Mommy of course is hearing him say Thank You, "Da Do!" It is really too cute. He can say the names of most family members and lots of other things around here!

He is also getting really good at playing with Caden. Yes there are fights at times, but this one can hold his own! He is really good at telling Caden how it is! He also enjoys playing alone. When Caden is at school, I try to do some one on one stuff with Carter, but he would rather be alone. He is more and more like his Daddy every day!

Here are a couple of shots of his latest antics - climbing on the changing table and getting into stuff. Once it was lotion, then powder, this day it was Corona - the only thing that works on his diaper rash - sticky, messy, and smelly! Oh joy - as you can see he was pretty impressed with himself!
Caden:
He is learning and changing so much every day. He is really loving school and comes home with something new to tell us each day! He is such a big helper around the house too. he keeps Carter entertained for the most part and also helps with chores. Today he "babysat" Cole while I cleaned the bathrooms. He gave him his binky and rocked him in the car seat. It was too cute.


Caden is also attending Cubbies in AWANA at our church. He has been w3 times now in 4 weeks and has memorized 4 verses. He is doing so good and is loving every minute of it. He also loves to be outside, which the weather now is perfect for. he stays outside for several hours each day. He helps me by swinging Carter outside, so I can stay in and feed Cole.

Caden is making lots of friends at school and has asked to have lots of playdates, so we are working on that. I am really glad he is enjoying it! That is what I wanted for him, was to make friends so that is great! Right now, he is working on a massive Christmas list, so get ready family!

I don't' have any pictures, but I got a cute video of him singing to Cole today, and then he wanted me to video him saying his Cubbies verses, so here you go!

Cory:

He is one of my boys too right!?!?! He is working hard (thank goodness, so I can stay home!) and rescues me nightly when he gets home. He plays with the older two then bathes them after dinner. Some nights he also bathes Cole for me. He then feeds Cole his late evening bottle so I can get stuff done before I hit the hay! I have the best husband ever!!!

He really isn't doing much other than helping me, sad I know...I need to let him get away to do some guy stuff or something. He did finish up putting the trim in the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom, now we just need to paint it.

For his relaxation time, he does get to play his new Wii. We obviously play Rock Band the most, see previous post, but we have also played some tennis. Cory has played golf a few times and this weekend borrowed Mario Kart. He had fun with that one!

Well, I hope this satisfies everyone (Mom, Dad, and Jana!) We are basically up to the same old stuff!

That's What it is in Spanish

Caden now has a slight obsession with translating everything into Spanish for us. I know he gets a little Spanish here and there from Diego or Handy Manny, but that is about it. Last week he kept telling me on several occasions that "cube" was the Spanish word for "square". Also while he was with his Grammie and Papa he would tell them some of his "Spanish" words.

The real kicker came tonight at the bath...Carter pinched Caden and Cory made Carter apologize. Well, Carter doesn't really say the word sorry yet, he just grunts and hugs you, but we have translated this to mean sorry. He kind of gets this look in his eye like he means sorry, but anyway, I digress. Caden accepts Carter's hug tonight and tells Cory, "see Daddy, that is how Carter says sorry, that is Spanish for sorry."

Where oh where does he come up with this stuff?

Spending Time at Grammie and Papa's

While Cory and I were in Tulsa at the Connect Conference (more blogging about this soon!), the boys headed to Grammie and Papa's house. They have been able to spend some good quality time with their cousins, Tate and Mya, while they are home from Albania. As most of you know Cory's sister, Kaci, her husband, Ryan and the kids have been in Albania since February.

**SIDENOTE***They are home for 2 months before heading back there for another year. We are so excited that they are surrendering again to God's call to be missionaries. I hope to post sometime in the next few days some of what they have been up to over there. Ryan is talking tomorrow at their church and we are all going, so I will fill you all in!

Anyway, the real reason for this post...what the kids have been up to!

Apparently Carter found Brooklyn's dress up items~!

Caden is showing off his slip and slide skills. Caden telling Grammie how strong he is.
The boys buried Tate in the sand.
Carter and Mya decided to give us a piano concert.
Mya loving on Baby Cole.
Sweet Carter drying off after the slip and slide.
Tate and Carter in the sand
Tate loving on Baby Cole.
Carter was so good and didn't throw any fits until I got here Friday night.

The boys had a great time and we are heading home on Monday sometime! We love seeing Grammie and Papa and spending time with our cousins!

Bug Project

Caden had to catch a bug and take it to school on Monday. Let me just say this was not my favorite homework project. They said it could be dead, alive, or squished...I preferred the latter! Caden of course preferred alive so we waited until Sunday afternoon and I sent Caden and Cory out to look for one live bug. When I woke up from my nap, I discovered the boys had caught a spider...YUCK! My least favorite bug!

After church Sunday night we checked on it and it was still alive. Cory brought it in my house, to my hesitation, and told Caden we needed to feed it. The boys found two dead flies and some leaves and put it in the container, then I made Cory tape it shut! That nasty bug is still alive and kicking today. I want to get rid of it, but Caden is loving it, so what is a mom to do!

Rockin' Out!

Saturday night we all went out for Brandy's Birthday - Happy Birthday Brandy! - and then had a Rock Band session. For those of you who don't know, Cory got a Wii for his birthday and the game Rock Band. He received Guitar Hero, but decided he had mastered most of the songs, so he traded it in for the other. With Rock Band, he can play guitar, drums, or sing. That way the entire family can participate, or we can have jam sessions with our friends!

Tyrel is practicing his percussion skills.

Cory on guitar
Now Tyrel is strumming and Cory and Caden are playing drums. Cory also thought he could multi-task and sing as well.
Cory made Brandy sing at one point.
Tyrel even got to love on Cole some!

I am not sure how much fun Tyrel and Brandy had, but the Graydon and Carter had fun dancing...Caden had fun once we let him play the drums, and Cory and I had a blast goofing off with our friends! Thanks Brandy for entertaining us on your birthday!

A Game of Tag with 5 Things

I got this in an email and thought it was interesting...so here it goes!

5 THINGS I WAS DOING 10 YEARS AGO:
1. hopefully going to class at OSU - entering my junior year
2. planning my wedding
3. trying to figure out how to move out of the kappa house
4. deciding where to go on fall break - Cory's house or mine
5. thinking about where we were going to live the next year

5 THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST:
1. pack the boys for their week at Grammie and Papa's
2. pack Cole and myself for Tulsa
3. unload the dishwasher
4. finish laundry so I can do above packing
5. make the boys pick up this crazy playroom

5 BAD HABITS
1. biting my nails
2. leaving laundry in the dryer too long
3. checking caller id and not answering the phone
4. yelling
5. sitting at the computer too much during the day

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Lawton, OK
2. Duncan, OK
3. Stillwater, OK
4. Houston, TX
5. Woodward, OK

5 THINGS I'M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW:
1. the dryer
2. Cole's swing
3. Caden and Carter yelling outside
4. Jack, the dog, snoring
5. the fan

5 JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. bank teller
2. veterinarian assistant
3. tutor
4. beggar for money - called alumni for the OSU foundation
5. teacher

5 WORDS I HATE
1. irregardless
2. alls
3. can't
4. meanie - coming from caden
5. Hepseba - however you spell it...some character from the House of Seven Gables, Cory thinks it is funny to call me this - I don't think it is funny!

5 THINGS I'VE EATEN TODAY
1. banana bread
2. alpha bits cereal
3. carl's junior burger
4. fries
5. M&Ms

5 WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY
1. Yahoo!
2. Blogger
3. ESPN
4. MOPS International
5. Online Banking

Now I tag Brandy, Becky, Mandy, Sally, Dawn, and Devin! Like you guys all have time for this!

Sight for Sore Eyes

Caden was in a bit of trouble this afternoon after lunch. He couldn't go outside to play and he was not watching any cartoons. I told him he could play in the playroom or the living room until Carter woke up from his nap and then we would see about going outside.

Well, after putting a load of laundry in, I came back into the living room and Caden wasn't around. Uh-oh, as Carter says now! I went to the boys' room and Caden was lying on his bed...he told me he wanted to rest like Carter. I said that was fine, but he couldn't' walk up Carter. No less than 5 minutes later, I went back to find.

Here is what the other two were doing at the same time. This is a beautiful sight for this tired momma...I may just go join them!

Enjoy a nap today if you can!