Choices

Option A: I have a sink full of dishes that I could be washing.

Option B: I have a living room that has been hit by Hurricane Ethan that I could be cleaning.

Option C: I have a sweet little fuzzy haired baby that I could cuddle.

Hmmmm...hard choice!

Option C has been winning out a lot around here, because if I've learned anything from this guy:

It is the fact that these little babies grow up way too fast!

Caden, 5 Weeks

SMILES

Have you ever noticed how much people smile when they see a new baby? It seems like everywhere we go people stop and smile when they see little Caden.

We are all about smiles around here. Caden has given us a few cute little smiles that weren't accidents, his eyes and face just light up!

I was smiling today after only having to get up once last night with the baby - I got a 4 hour stretch of sleep! Yahoo!

I love that this baby will snuggle with me while he naps, it is so fun!

Ethan was smiling today when he got to touch a snake at the Zoo show n' tell at the library.

We're even getting smiles from Clark as he is studying for his board exam that he will take in 2 weeks! Today while he was studying at home he was using a highlighter and Ethan thought he was coloring - so he pulled out his Elmo coloring book and "studied" along with his Dada!

Holding a baby while reading a text book, now that is real multi-tasking.

DAD MINE

Ethan has a board book called "Dad Mine" that has pictures of animals in it. One night when Clark was reading it to him, Ethan just recited the book. We were pretty surprised that he had it memorized, so now it is a favorite - Ethan loves "reading" it to Clark.

For Father's Day I made Clark our own version of "Dad Mine," with pictures of him and the same words that Ethan loves to read.

DAD MINE

DAD DAY

DAD NIGHT

DAD BLACK

DAD WHITE

DAD UP

DAD DOWN

DAD COUNTRY

DAD TOWN

DAD HIGH

DAD LOW

DAD FAST

DAD SLOW

DAD BIG

DAD SMALL

DAD MINE

BEST OF ALL!!!

Ethan and Caden are so happy to say this Dad is MINE!

Saturday by the Numbers

200 pieces of candy put into Clark's hat at the Johnston Green Days Parade. Apparently, if you are the only kid on the sunny side of the road you get lots of extra treats! Ethan loved it!7 outfits worn between the 2 boys (Caden strikes again)!

4 miles run by Clark while Ethan, Caden and I made

1 trip to the grocery store:

8, only 8 items on my shopping list!

6 grapes eaten by Ethan in the back of the grocery cart (I couldn't see him over the baby car seat) before a HyVee employee informed me my son was eating the grapes.

1 screaming baby in the baby car seat.

1 Momma holding 1 screaming baby and pushing 1 grocery cart.

1 man's grocery cart crashed into by the above mentioned momma and her grocery cart.

1 of his 3 gallons of milk fell off the bottom of his cart, I was so embrassed by the whole situation I didn't even tell him he had lost his milk (I now feel guilty).

1 two year old boy that couldn't take the baby crying started screaming/crying himself while we looked at Father's Day Cards.

0 is the number of Father's Day cards Clark will receive tomorrow because really you can't pick out a good card while holding a screaming baby, and pushing a shopping cart with a screaming toddler.

20 people I passed as I tried to get to the checkout as fast as possible that gave me either looks of disgust, amusement, or pity!

1 very stupid comment made by the cashier, "wow your kids sure aren't happy." Thank you sir for pointing out the obvious.

0 is the number of grocery store trips I have planned with both kids in the near future!

1 calm Clark at home and 1 buy-1-get-1 free milkshake at Sonic makes the lovely grocery store experience seem almost funny. ALMOST.

1,000 kisses given to this little cutie! Look at him pucker up!

All in all, a fun day!

For Westy and Erica

My brother Weston and his wife Erica sent this cute onesie for Caden. It's still a little big on him, so E decided to model it!

We got a good laugh! Thanks guys!

Boys will be Boys

We have the best neighbors that moved in this Spring. They have a 2 year old grandson just 2 days younger than Ethan that is visiting them this week. Tonight Ethan was having a blast outside playing with their little grandson, I came inside for just a minute to feed the baby, and Clark comes in the house with this:

Those cute little boys found the one muddy spot in the yard where the sump pump empties water into the grass. Apparently they had a blast! I'm sure you can imagine what his clothes look like.

Cheeks!

Really, what else is there to say?!

What's in Your Carry-on Bag?

I'm sure you've all heard of or seen the trend "pooch in a purse."

Well, move over Paris Hilton, Grammy Tammy is starting a new trend, "Caden in the carry-on."

Sunday afternoon we had to take Grammy to the airport, just in time I discovered her trying to pack Caden in her carry-on bag!

We were sad to say good-bye to "Wayne." We made quite the spectacle. We didn't even make it out of the airport parking lot and Caden was crying, Ethan was whining/crying for "Wayne," I was still a little teary - Clark just looked at me and said, "I need a Wayne." We had to pull over to comfort the screaming children before we could make it home.

"I need a Wayne."

Then we got a phone call from Grammy, because of flight delays she got to stay in Des Moines an extra day! We couldn't have survived the last few weeks without her help. She cooked, cleaned, slept on the air mattress, helped me all night with Caden, entertained Ethan, laundered, etc...and all without complaining. She needs a vacation now, but instead she gets to go on the pioneer trek tomorrow! We had so much fun with Grammy here and the only way we are getting by without her is knowing she gets to come again in August!!!

Thanks for all you did Mom! We love you!

Papa and Wayne

So what do these 2 people have in common?

We aren't really sure either, but to Ethan they are both "Wayne." For some reason when Ethan pronounces Grammy it comes out sounding like Wayne. (He also calls doughnuts hot dogs and won't be corrected, so go figure). He calls Grandpa, "Papa."

We have been spoiled with 3 weeks of Wayne visiting. Papa joined Wayne this week for a little visit as well and Ethan has had SO MUCH fun!

My Dad's flight was delayed and he missed his connection in Denver so instead of arriving in Des Moines Tuesday night we had to go pick him up in Omaha Weds. morning.

He didn't make it with any of his luggage, but he did manage to bring this fish through 5 states and Ethan loves it!

After we picked him up we went to lunch at King Kong Burgers and then to the awesome Omaha Zoo!

Grandpa with 2 little monkeys at the zoo!

It was also my mom's birthday, so we went out to dinner, and had a little party with candles on the strawberry pie.

Friday we had a fun little visit to the Bass Pro Shop.

Love those chubby cheeks!

All of the animals, boats, fish and ATV's to climb on - Ethan thought it was better than Disneyland. We did hear him say, "I knee-a boat!" many times, and I have to agree we do need a boat.

Grammy with her gun!

Later that night we had a blast racing Go-Karts, and playing arcade games at Incredible Pizza Company. FYI - "Dance Dance Revolution" is not so good 2 1/2 weeks post c-section.

It was just a whirlwind of fun with Wayne and Papa here at the same time! Ethan loves his grandparents. After such fun visits it is hard to say good-bye. Luckily we still have 18 hours left with Grammy!

Grandpa and the boys!

A brotherly "nosey."