Takin' a Hike

On Saturday we had Clark the whole day to ourselves, so we went on a hike to Horsetooth Falls.  The trail is about 1.2 miles to the falls.  The boys loved it.

At the beginning this was our view...we were just trying to keep up with the boys!
I'm pretty sure Ethan did the trail at least twice, he would run forward and back, forward and back.

I loved watching these little legs try to keep up.
Caden just constantly chattered the whole way, giving a narrative of everything he saw.  "I don't need a hand mom-o," was my favorite comment.  It definitely took us a little longer than we thought it would due to the 2 year old wanting to examine every rock along the way.  He would climb on even the smallest little pebbles and say, "I king of the mountain."  

Then we finally got to the majestic falls!  Wait for it...wait for it...

Hmmm...because of the extra dry summer the falls resembled more of a dripping shower faucet.  Just enough water for Ethan to get wet.  Although the falls were a little less than we had expected the views on the side of the mountain were pretty at least.

With about a half mile left on the way back to the car Caden was done.  It was nap time and he was so tired he was walking like a drunken sailor, so Clark put him on his shoulders for a little rest.  He was complete dead weight, so so tired!  I love these next pictures because he just looks spent!

I love this dirty little face!

Poor kid could barely keep his eyes open.  He had a great nap on the way home.  I don't know who looked more tired by the end...Caden or the pregnant lady.  With all of the braxton hicks contractions I was having on the hike home I was pretty much waddling by the time we finished.  I kept laughing watching Caden, and Clark kept laughing watching me.  It was a great day!

Celebrity Look Alikes

This week in 2 different places, I had 2 different people tell me that my 2 boys look like 2 different celebrities.

I was told at Sam's Club yesterday that Ethan looks just like Prince Harry.  I had never thought of it...but I suppose with the spiky red hair, and mischievous grin there could be a resemblance.  I sure hope he is better behaved than Prince Harry.

The one that has me a bit puzzled was when a new friend here said to me, "I finally figured out who Caden looks like...Kevin Bacon."  Really?  I will admit I always wonder who Caden looks like, but I'm not so sure we have a Baconator on our hands!

What do you think?

While the Daddy is Away...

the kids will play...
Last Weds. morning we took Clark to the airport so he could go to Washington D.C. for a conference.

As soon as we dropped him off the water works started (have I mentioned Ethan is a bit of a Daddy's boy). I knew I needed to have some fun things planned for us to do while he was gone, and fun we had!

One morning while I was doing some cleaning the boys got to watch "kid shows," I came out to check on them and found Caden as comfy as can be "nuggling" with his "bouncy neigh" in a Rubbermaid tub.

We had some outings with friends to go swimming and visit a farm.

But the highlight of the week was the cousin slumber party.  All week Caden kept telling everyone he was having a "slumber potty."  Erin and Brooke came and stayed with us Friday night.  My boys love their cousins!  At one point Ethan asked Brooke if they could get married one day, she was definitely grossed out and told him that of course they couldn't get married because they are cousins!  Caden just loved all the attention.  Erin is a natural mom and carried him around and helped him with everything.  

We made individual pizzas, frosted sugar cookies, stayed up late watching a movie.  And Saturday we went to the little indoor water park that is at the rec center here.  Fun, fun!

We were all a little worn out from playing so hard while Dad was on vacation!

On Sunday evening I knew it was going to be a long trip to Denver to pick up Clark when the boys were chanting at the top of their lungs, "Daddy-o, Daddy-o," before we even made it out of Greeley.  We were sure excited to have Clark home, and play with all of the presents he brought us A.K.A. free foot swag from the conference.

He Reminds Me

We went through a phase since moving here where Caden was all of a sudden terrified to go to nursery on Sunday.  He would start to throw the biggest fits and cry as soon as we started singing the closing hymn during Sacrament Meeting knowing it was almost time for nursery.  He would beg me to take him to the Jeep and take him home.  I couldn't figure out what was going on, because every time we picked him up after nursery he was so happy, he just didn't want to be dropped off!  It was to the point that Sunday morning when I would get him in his church clothes he would start crying and begging not to go to church.

Anyway, after a really bad Sunday I focused the whole next week on how great nursery is and how we don't  cry when we go places we like.  The Saturday night before church Ethan said a special prayer before the boys went to bed that Caden wouldn't cry tomorrow and have fun at nursery.

Of course the next day was great, we dropped him off he was happy and kept saying, "I don't cry to go to nursery, I happy."  

Driving home that Sunday I was telling Caden how proud I was of him, and mentally giving myself a big pat on the back for helping Caden overcome his fits.  Right then Ethan said, "well mom, its because I prayed that he wouldn't cry and Heavenly Father helped him."  Oh yeah...I immediately repented for forgetting, Ethan reminded me of Proverbs 3:6, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.

Ethan put this little ensemble on the other day and said, "Look, I'm fancy.  I'm a mom."

But just so you don't think he's too much of a saint...last Sunday we had Ethan's new Sunbeam teachers(that he LOVES) over for dinner.  They told me on the first day they taught his class they asked the kids what rules they should have in their class.  One little girl said, "we should sit in our seats."  Ethan added, "and we shouldn't toot in our seats."  They thought he was so funny.  I told them I'm terrified of the things they will learn about our family!!!

If you give Caden a bad day...

...he will give you a bad night!  After waking up all through the night he finally ended up taking over our mattress this morning.  Every time he woke up he was crying about how his legs hurt.  I think I wore the little guy out yesterday.

While we were at swimming lessons we got a call from a friend inviting us to come to Denver and use their guest passes at the big science and nature museum.  We rushed home and changed our clothes so we could go.  The museum was so well done and so fun.

The boys especially loved the astronaut training center.  Ethan found some other little boys to play with and their rocket ship escaped many dangerous scenarios thanks to their fast thinking.  Caden just chased them around yelling "outer space, fly to the moon."

Then we found the Discovery Zone.  There was a dance party going on for all the kids, Ethan joined after finding the Geico costume.

Some of this tail shaking could definitely be considered a bit scandalous!

Since Clark was working late I decided to take the boys to Ikea afterwards.  Ikea's play area is so fun Ethan sees those big yellow letters and acts like we've just arrived at Disneyland.  After a little shopping and a meatball dinner we headed for home arriving right when Clark did at 9 PM.  Caden wasn't the only one that was tired...but it was a fun little day getaway.

Final Swimming Report Cards

Today was our final day of our stellar swim training!  The boys are a little sad, I'm just grateful I'm done with putting on a swimsuit every morning.  

I cracked up when the boys got their report cards after class.  Ethan had no skills checked off on his and this was his comment:

Really, getting your "noes" in the water was the best she could come up with.!

Caden's had every skill checked off, many that I'm sure we did not ever even talk about.  His comments included a note about working on those kicks.  I will be sure to splint his legs right away!

Too funny!  I guess you get what you pay for, and we got a great bargain on our swim lessons!

The Buhlympics

We have been really liking watching the Buhlympics around here.  During the Opening Ceremony Caden kept piling animals and blankets on me and then climbed on top to "nuggle."  I love a little Olympic nuggle time.

A few nights ago Caden was sick.  At about midnight it was clear he was not going to be able to sleep, so we made a little bed on the couch.  He kept asking to watch a "kid show," I knew if I turned something interesting on he would never go to sleep.  So I turned on the Olympics and turned the volume way down, I immediately fell asleep, but not Caden.  Every time I woke up until 2 AM he was sitting straight up on the couch cheering on the Olympians.  He was fascinated by the canoeing finals.  Such a funny little boy.

Raising Michael Phelps

So this past week we have been channeling our Olympic spirit by hitting the pool for swimming lessons.  I have felt like an Olympic mom getting our swimsuits on and packing our bag each morning so Ethan can go to the preschool class and Caden can go to the mom and tot class.

But then I get there and realize rather quickly I'm probably not raising any swimming prodigies!

I'm pretty sure neither of my boys will have hands the size of hot mitts or feet the size of diving fins:

And I definitely don't think my boys resemble gigantic sea monsters when they are lurking in the pool after races:

But you would think with the training we are getting in the mom and tot class that I've got a little Michael Phelps living in my home!

The teenage boy that teaches our class is actually pretty terrible, he does nothing structured at all.  Pretty much it is just up to the moms (and 1 dad) to entertain our kids and keep them from drowning for 30 mins.  Caden jumps into me about a million times and is constantly squirming around yelling at me to let go of him.

But when our fearless teacher does make the rounds and talks to us about 3 times during the class...then I feel like we are training a future Olympian.  Yesterday he told Caden that he needs to hold his hands in the proper "ice cream scoop" form.  So for the next 5 mins. Caden just kept yelling "I need ice cream, I want it."  Really, a 2 year old that can't even float yet, that has a hard time showing 2 fingers when he's asked how old he is, and you are worried about his proper hand form!!!  It is so funny.  He also told me I need to start splinting Caden's legs, make him lie down on the floor on his belly and practice kicking, because his legs are bending way too much.  Could you imagine?  Me tying some sticks to Caden's legs and making him kick...I think I would get child services called on me.  The day after he gave me that tip he asked me how the splinting went, "ummm, well we didn't get around to that yet," and then I had to laugh.  

Some of the moms are up in arms and have confronted the teacher, called the director, etc.  I have been wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt...until yesterday.  After class he awkwardly approached me and told me that another mom has complained about me taking my boys with me to the women's bathroom.  Seriously!?  She doesn't like the way the boys are looking at her daughter who has had a traumatizing experience!  I was shocked!!!  Number 1, we have never used the bathroom/changing area at the pool, never.  Number 2, my boys are 4 & 2 and if they do need to use the bathroom they will go with me to the women's or I'm going in with them to the men's.  Still I'm shocked!!!  The conversation ended with him saying, "well you better not take them in there anymore."  What?!?!  Who is this kid?  And who is this mom complaining?  I felt so uncomfortable.

Ethan's class is going a little better.  Poor Ethan just thinks about things too much.  I overheard him tell his teacher today that he is "very afraid of getting his eyes wet."  They do a game where they throw toys into the pool and then have to jump in and swim to get them (while wearing floaties).  Ethan throws his boat in and then thrashes like crazy to get to it.  When he realizes he isn't going anywhere he starts to yell, "help, help."  Then I noticed as soon as the teacher looks away he stands up and just walks to his toy, when she looks at him again he starts thrashing a little.  It cracks me up!  

But all in all the boys have been loving swimming lessons.  Every morning they cheer and jump around while we get ready to go as you can see here:

I love it because it wears them out:

So I may not be raising any future Olympic swimmers, but they sure look pretty cute in their suits!