Sunday, October 25, 2009

Silly boys, great Smiles and the Pumpkin Patch

It has been a while since the last pictures, but what can I say, I'm a little busy keeping these two out of trouble. Caden is really needing to be potty trained, but doesn't really want to learn. All he does know for sure is that he doesn't like the feel of poopy diapers and so he takes it off immediately wherever he is whatever he is doing. Even while playing at McDonald's! It has been a long few weeks with lots of frustration....I think Brian is taking it the hardest of all of us!

So enjoy the picture, and I will try to do better!


Big Smiles!
Just Chillin'
"I have an evil plan..."
Caden is bigger now...but for how long?
I know there is a hole in here somewhere.


We took a really cool train-ride up to Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Patch. It was a lot of fun.






Roasting marshmallows

Caden LOVES the characters. He couldn't get enough of them.


Posing pretty!
He even likes the small red-neck train!

Mommy and her boys!

Pax taking it in.

"What can I get into?"
Pax loves to bounce!


Caden LOVES Monkey Joes.





















Sunday, August 23, 2009

Another Sunday Hike

Again we had great morning weather so we hit the trails. We have begun to hit a groove with packing up an getting out of the house now...one of these days it will be a routine, and we all know how much I love routines!

Caden, in his typical fashion, had to explore natures great wonders at his own pace, which turned a 2.4 mile hike that should have taken about an hour into a 2.25 hr expedition. But the joy that Brian and I get from watching Caden explore and learn makes up for the slow pace. We both did much better this weekend on the same trail from last week...we reversed the order that we took it and it was much less difficult. Next week we will extend our length to 3-4 miles....I hope neither one of us have a heart attack!

So I guess I will shut up and let you enjoy the pictures!

Family picture...isn't it sweet!

Too much excitement for Pax.


They didn't teach this in survival training!!!




Isn't he handsome.





Mr. Cool






Nothing is too much a challenge for Caden!




Mr. Independant didn't want help, even when he high-centered!




Even balance skills are easily conquered!




Looking cool in our sunglasses.



Mr. Big Man




Sunday, August 16, 2009

More Hiking, The Zoo and First Bites

We had lots going on this week. We started the week with our first ex-rays... for PAX!!! I had money on the fact that Caden would be the first one, but I was wrong. Paxton was in his bumbo seat on the table and I turned my back for just a minute to get Caden more food and the next thing I know I hear a horrible crash and Pax is face down on the floor...still in the seat. So we made a mad dash to the pediatrician who sent us to get x-rays to make sure that there were no facial or skull fractures. Thank goodness he was ok, minus his first little black eye. I on the other hand was a nut case. I felt like the worst mother in the world. I think the doctor was much more worried about my mental state than Pax's physical!

Moving on through the week we started Pax on solid food, and surprise, surprise, he is a major chow-hound. He was like a little bird after the very first bite....it didn't take him any time to figure out the eating thing.

We also went to the zoo with the MomsClub. Caden was excited to see some of the larger animals, but the smaller stuff was not too interesting. His did laugh HARD at the large tortoises who were "wrestling". I guess a boys fascination with the "birds and the bees" starts early.

We ended the week by taking another hike on Paris Mtn. This trail was 2.4 miles long and nearly kicked my butt (and Brian's, although he won't admit it) in a couple of places, but we made it. I am seriously out of shape... although I am using the excuse of the extra 30lbs on my back to justify the struggle. Pax has a big boy pack now too because he was getting to long and to heavy to wear in the front carrier.

So enjoy the picts from this week.

Pax's Big Boy Pack- or Mommy's Monkey on her back!


Never leave home without your juice...always hydrate!
And daddy is back doing the Captain Morgan apparently.
"Man this hiking thing is tough work, I think I will just take a nap..."

Smooth Ridin'

What is mine is mine and what is brothers is mine!
Cozy rides at the zoo.


Caden is not big on posing for pictures... he is afraid he will miss the action.



Here kitty, kitty, kitty.


Talented Pax... managed to get his rattle on his foot! (This is pre-falling off the table and ER visit, needless to say we don't sit like this anymore!)

Happy Pax!


Hungry Pax!


"Is this how i do it?"


Faster, daddy, faster!















Friday, August 14, 2009

Paxton's Baby picts and Family Photos

We have the baby pictures of Paxton and the family pictures we took at the beginning of June back. So there are a lot of neat pictures to finally put up for all to see. The photographer, Valerie White, is super talented and these 20 or so that I posted are just a few of the many wonderful pictures that she took for us. So enjoy!












































Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Silly Tikes and Mountain Hikes!

Can you believe that is is August already! Where does the time go? I still do not have the pro picts yet, but as soon as I do I will get them posted... but in the meantime here are a few that we took this weekend.

Caden has a gear toy that he LOVES...and everyday he figures out new and fun things to do with the gears. Today is was new improved ears!


On Sunday we went to a local state park that is about a 30 minute drive from where we are for a hike because the weather was great. It was slightly rainy and only about 78 out, perfect hiking weather. So here are a few picts from that trip.
Caden was our fearless leader...he literally ran the entire time until he was "done" and then he wouldn't move another inch!




Nothing stops Caden, everything is an adventure!



Pax enjoyed the ride too. He was wide-eyed and looking around the entire time. He rode with both mom and dad and was a happy little man!


Pretty nice photo-op just 30 minutes away. For those of you in Texas, the thing in the background is called a waterfall...I know that you don't see many of those!







Friday, July 17, 2009

Busy Summer so Far

Well I don't have many pictures today, but I will be posting a bunch of photos taken by a friend who is a photographer very soon.... the wait is worth it. Until then just an update.

We were in Texas for three weeks in June/July, saw lots of family and the boys were spoiled-rotten. I painted 2 rent houses which was LOTS of fun, but at least that makes the whole trip a nice big tax write-off.

Now we are back and working on our backyard makeover. We have moved about 7,000 lbs of stone to put in tree rings and a short retaining wall around some soon-to-be flowerbeds in the back end of the lot where the grass won't grow. We have also made a play area that will be the home to a play-gym in the future, but now has the boys "outside toys" including the swimming pool. So after 7,000 lbs of rock and 19 shrubs, painting 2 houses, and traveling 2,600 miles all within 6 weeks, I am a bit tired, and I still have tons of projects to do. I don't think it ever ends.

Pax had his 4 month check-up and he is my little man-giant. He weighed in at a hefty 17lbs and was 26.5 inches long. This put him in the 85% for both height and weight. I had to break down and buy a new car seat because he is about to exceed height/weight restrictions of his carrier, which gives me a hernia every time I pick up anyway. He is a very active baby- he squirms and bucks himself in circles when he is laying on the floor so I have to be careful where I put him now. He rolled over both ways for the first time this Tuesday so we hit that milestone. He is growing so fast, and all I want is for him to stay my baby for a while.

Caden is as rotten as ever. He can open doors now, so there is no peace. I have to keep all of the exterior doors locked, and anything interior is game for fun. It is amazing where I find things now days- especially food because he loves to get into the pantry and relocate everything. I found cereal bars in my bathtub yesterday! So if creativity and ingenuity is a sign of intelligence, Caden must be a genius...but personally I think it might be the work of the devil. Oh well, I will enjoy these years because they go fast as everyone tells me, but I haven't figured out why that is bad!
I have joined a local MomsClub, so we are meeting new people and making new friends, and it gives Caden a chance to try to learn new social behaviors. We have gone to a swim party and to Monkey Joe's which is an inflatable bounce place. Of course Caden watches the older kids and tries to do what they are doing, which gives mommy a heart attack. Good thing we have good medical insurance, because we are going to need it.
Anyway I will end this novel with the few picture I have. Enjoy!

Our backyard is coming together slowly but surely.





Caden can be a good helper when he wants to, which is not often!

Caden LOVES to help daddy mow. Now when he hears any mower he goes to the door and whines, he doesn't get that the neighbors don't want his help too!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Fun in the Sun- Our new Pool

Well it is official- Redneck is contagious. Instead of going to WalMart and buying a $10 air pump, my industrious husband rigged up his own way to air up the new pool...with a leaf blower duck taped to a vacuum hose that would fit the deflation spout. Looks proud of himself doesn't he.


From this vantage point it looks like he is inflating something other than the pool!




Who needs an actual air pump when you have...
....plenty of hot air!




So we finally got the pool inflated and Caden loves it!