Are We Gardeners Yet?

Our wonderful previous neighbors had strawberries...lots and lots of strawberries! The boys would catch them outside picking them, smile the right way, and get lots of bites! Caden even once talked them into giving us a few starter shoots...but we killed them! So this spring when we were getting flowers to plant, my arm was twisted and strawberry plants were purchased. It is a little easier to keep them watered because of the sprinkler system so they are doing well.

The boys check them daily and wait, mostly impatiently, to find a ripe one! Well today their patience paid off...Caden came in with a big red strawberry!

At first he wasn't sure about the taste, a little tart...

But then he decided this one was pretty yummy!

So does this make us official gardeners???

Crosby - 5 months

Here is Crosby's 5 month picture. We were hurried today, but this will have to do! I can't believe I was 5 months last week (23 weeks). If Crosby follows Cole and Carter's lead we could meet him in less than 4 month...WOW! I know he needs to grow more, but I am already feeling huge!

Swim Lessons

We were able to get in early this summer for swim lessons! A girl that babysat for us last summer is a trained lifeguard and gives private lessons. She had some lessons going last week at an indoor pool so the kids weren't too cold yet! They both did great! They love the water, I just wanted them to gain some confidence and try not to use the floaties too much!

I was a little concerned with Caden after the first day...then he turned it up a notch! By the end of the week he was swimming the length of the pool like a champ! He really improved his breathing and his stroke. He has been able to swim without floaties for a while, but would never really swim just stand and move his arms. So when we got him in the deep end and he couldn't stand he had to swim! It was great! To see him compared to last year was awesome!

Carter also did amazing! By the end of the week he was doing so well! Here he is diving for some rings in the shallow end...with NO floaties! Wahoo!

On the last day, we convinced Carter he could jump off the diving board and swim to the ladder without his floaties...he protested some, but he did it!

He did so awesome. He popped up for air and then went back under and headed for the stairs. He did it a couple of times then begged for his floaties back! At least he tried. He is doing really well with holding his breath, if he can just remember to come up for air some and use his arms to swim!

Way to go boys...Momma was proud!

May Days

It finally got nice around here and we have been able to play outside A BUNCH! I took these a few weeks ago, and I know the grandparents will love to see them! Just a bunch of ornery boys playing outside!

I love this one because Carter was actually begging me to take his picture while he was riding...a rare treat!

Then it got even better...he came over close to me and took off his helmet and told me he wanted to pose! So not his character, but I did as requested!

Then we have little mess...he thinks he is a big boy too and can ride anywhere the big boys ride!

But then he got distracted by the mower...he tries so hard to push it.

Then just gives up on pushing and starts pulling.

We had so much fun, that I forgot to come in and cook dinner...ooops! I think on this night, we convinced Daddy to take us to get some fast food :) So healthy, I know, but playing with the boys was more fun than cooking anyway!

Children's Day

Sunday, May 2nd was Children's Day at our church. The choir kids led us in worship that morning. Caden did really well! He only got distracted a few times by the video screen in teh balcony!

Here he is cheesing for me before they started!

He actually did the choreography most of the time! Impressive!
Sunday night was the AWANA awards. Carter was in Puggles this year and Caden was in Cubbies so they both were able to participate! They both enjoyed it and had lots of fun!

Carter did enjoy Puggles this year, but did not enjoy the Awards Night. He did great in practice on Wednesday before this. All of us Cubbies were in there and he put on quite the show. Sunday night, however was a totally different show.

He pouted the ENTIRE time he was up there. He wouldn't sing, dance, or say his line. He did loose the attitude somewhat when he received his goody bag from his teachers. Even the AWANA commander told him he would pray for him as he went home that night. We had lots of people tell us that Carter could come home with them so he wouldn't be in trouble!

Cory didn't take picture of the Cubbie awards, since he was "talking" to Carter. I couldn't take pictures since I was giving out the awards. But Caden did great this year and we actually finished our book.

Next year Carter will be in Cubbies with me and Caden will move on to Sparks! I can't believe how much they are growing up! So fun! We love participating in AWANA!

Hollywood

Finally the last few pictures of our LA trip. After the morning trip to the Getty Center, we took a bus to Hollywood. There we took an open top van tour of Hollywood. All the stars' homes, movies sets, Rodeo Dr., etc. It was fun and I got to sit the entire time :) Our tour guide took an extra hour and took us to Old Belair to see tons of home. You know so and so lived here 10 years ago, and now so and so. I can hardly remember them all! So here are just a few of the favorites!

This is the fire escape that Richard Gere climbed up in Pretty Woman to rescue Julia Roberts, you remember...at the end with the umbrella in his mouth and roses :) It looked just like the movie! So cool!

Here is a shot of Cory and I with downtown LA in the background.
Another one of Cory and I with the famous Hollywood sign in the background.

We finally got in to Beverly Hills and so lots of fancy houses, cars, etc.

Back to LA

I didn't forget about LA, I have just been so busy since we got home that I haven't had much time to blog.

On Wednesday, we grabbed a quick breakfast at Starbuck's and then got on a bus to head to the Getty Center. We were told that it could cost us up to $120 to take a cab to the Getty Center, then to Hollywood, then back to our hotel. We took the bus most of the day, then the subway from Hollywood to downtown close to our hotel, maybe spent $12 total on fare...nice! I was a little nervous about the bus, but it was fine and the bus drivers were really helpful!

So after switching buses once and walking a bit, we arrived at the Getty Center just in time for opening! We weren't really sure what to expect, we knew it was some kind of museum so we were ready. We had to ride a tram up the mountain to the actual center.

Here is the main building.

We got a map and took the architecture tour first. It was interesting to learn about the man that planned all the construction and why he chose certain materials that he did.

Here is a picture of me and a view of the mountain and the 405 Freeway.

Another shot of Cory next to the cool architecture of the building!

There was a great Leonard da Vinci exhibit that we got to check out! So really great statues and lots of his early sketches...amazing!

The garden was the centerpiece of the center and it was beautiful! Cory got some great shots, and this is just one of my favorites. He captured the pretty flowers, the waterfall, and the great azalea bushes in the back. they have them fenced where they will grow like that...really neat!
Momma and the pretty flowers!

Another favorite shot of Cory's...

That is the museum...after this we had lunch at the restaurant there, then got on a bus to Hollywood. Stay tuned!

Baby Names

One of the blogs I read often, Kelly's Korner, did a children's name link yesterday and Tisha participated. Well I told Tisha I wanted to do it because I love baby names, and what a great way to share Boy #4's name with the world...so here it goes!

Background info...nothing against our parents, but we wanted our kiddos to have more sophisticated sounding names than us (Kara Dawn and Cory John) so that was always one of the main focuses. I aslo wanted them to be somewhat unique. We knew that we wanted to do C names for boys and K names for girls from the beginning, so that made it somewhat easier.

Caden Montgomery:

When we got pregnant with Caden we picked out a girl's name easily but had a harder time with the boy names. Once we learned it was a boy, I made the C name list and we discussed a few, but none just hit us. One day Cory came home and said he heard the perfect name on the radio. Caden...it sounded unique and we both liked it. I knew that I wanted to honor my Papa who had passed away before Caden was even conceived. So Caden's middle name is my mother's maiden name after my Papa John. I always think of Papa when I say Caden's whole name, or have to write it...I LOVE that fact!

Carter Andrew:

When we learned Baby #2 was a boy, I again made the C name list. It was shorter this time and Cory had a harder time deciding. Carter was on the list and I wanted it from the beginning. I had a thing for ER and Dr. John Carter especially so I think that is why I leaned so heavily towards Carter. Since we honored my side of the family with Caden's middle name we wanted to honor's Cory's side with Carter's middle name. We had a few to pick from and Andrew won out because it again was a little more sophisticated sounding than the others.

Cole Jackson:

Baby boy #3 we again made the C name list. It keeps getting shorter and shorter. We have always like Cole or Colton. Cory coached a little boy back in Stillwater named Cole and we loved it! We went with Cole because I don't personally like naming someone something and calling them something else. His middle name was much more complicated. I think I had two or three polls on the blog and Jackson didn't win the polls but Cory liked it best. I struggled with it, because although I do love Jackson, our dog's name is Jack and didn't want people to think I named my baby after my dog :)

And introducing...

Crosby James

Baby Boy #4 and again the C name list. There were a few more unique sounding names on this list so we had a harder time. There were a couple I really liked, but they were vetoed for one reason or the other. Before even finding out the gender, Cory suggested Crosby and we both liked it. It is unique and sounds sophisticated so it worked. While traveling this past week, I made Cory help me narrow down a name. We tossed around a few family names, then decided to go with a biblical name. Cory decided he wanted a one syllable name for the middle name, so James it is.

We also have in reserve for our futured adopted princess...Kyleigh Paige. This has been our girl name from the very beginning and God willing will be a future daughter's name one day! Cory has always loved Kyleigh and I liked Paige and chose the spelling. So there is the Reid baby name novel!

I would love to read more of these from some of you! I won't put any pressure on anyone specific, but do share if you have time :)