Caden Turns 4 (when he feels like it)

Caden is officially 4 years old, he doesn't always admit it though.  Sometimes he just wants to stay 3 and he lets us know.  I think I freaked him out on the few days before his birthday when I said things like "come give me a hug, it's my last day to get a hug from 3 year old Caden."  I guess he liked year 3 and isn't quite ready to let it go.

His birthday celebration started the night before when Clark took Ethan and Caden to the Fathers and Sons Campout.  Unfortunately, right as they were loading up the car to leave we heard that the campout was canceled due to weather...but that didn't stop my boys.  They loaded up and took off anyway.  That night I stayed glued to the TV watching the severe weather warnings, flash flood watches and listening to the intense thunder and rainfall out my windows.  I thought for sure my brave campers would come marching home during the night, but they hunkered down and rode it out.

When it was time for bed the boys realized they had forgotten their dogs, so I kept sending them pictures to reassure them Bingo and Brown Dog were well cared for in their absence.

While the boys were gone I worked on a camping cake for the birthday boy!

Caden and Ethan on the cake.

Clark and Quinn peeking out of the tent.

 After the campers got home Clark took Caden on a date to get frozen yogurt.  The birthday boy picked McDonalds for dinner and then a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

Quinn figured out a way easier way to play skee ball.

We came home for presents and cake and Facetiming with both sets of grandparents!  It was a fun day to celebrate a fun boy!

At age 4 Caden has the best laugh in the world!  I love when he giggles!  He is smart and creative and has a good dose of mischief.  He is also sweet and thoughtful!  He still loves creating projects and is always working on something.

He is a bit like the absent minded professor...very smart but can't be bothered with the inconsequential details in life (like keeping shoes on his feet, we are constantly losing shoes...or putting his underwear back on both legs after he uses the bathroom...you know the small things).  It's pretty funny and also drives me crazy at the same time.

Caden has a sharp memory.  This kid doesn't forget anything.  His favorite thing to talk about right now is our trip to Disneyworld...he remembers every detail and loves to talk about riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

He is usually Ethan's shadow, they are rarely apart after Ethan gets home from school.  He is still the snuggliest and loves to be hugged and held.  I love how he says, "flushy" instead of slushy, and "infinnion" instead of infinity.  We love everything about 4 year old Caden!

Here is his birthday interview at age 4:
What is your favorite food:  pizza, ranch salad.  (This kid seriously eats ranch on everything!!!  I think he keeps the Hidden Valley in business).
What is your favorite color:  Green and blue
What is your favorite toy:  My yeti
What is your favorite TV show:  Tom and Jerry, and Wild Kratts
What is your favorite movie:  Despicable Me 2
What do you want to be when you grow up:  A pizza maker
Who is your favorite person:  "Mason, but in the whole world Mom is my favorite girl."
What are you good at:  The minion game and holidays
Who is your best friend:  Mason
What do you like best about Mom:  He just gave a big smile and hugged himself and then said, "hugs."
What do you like best about Dad:  "I like you Dad."
What do you like best about Ethan:  Play with Ethan
What do you like best about Quinn:  He runs so fast.
What do you like best about yourself:  holidays

Mom Garden

It's great to have a garden of growing little boys.  It's also nice to have a garden of growing flowers.  However, sometimes the two don't coincide so well.  On Mother's Day we were given four marigolds at church that I planted in my garden.  The next day after I planted them Ethan dug one up with a shovel.  Today Quinn hit one with his lawn mower and then stomped on it with his foot as he plowed through the flower bed.

 A few minutes later Quinn tried to take a seat by me on the step and missed and sat on two more, totally breaking the plants.

Later, when I pointed out these flowers to Ethan and told him they were called bleeding hearts, he said, "wow, they really live up to their name."

So maybe my flower garden isn't perfect, but it's a good reflection on my little boys...and I love it just the way it is.

Brotherly Love

These 3 little boys get along really well for the most part.  I love seeing the little acts of kindness they do for each other.  Quinn has recently started saying, "mine," and standing up for himself when his toys are taken away.  The other day he grabbed Caden's stuffed tiger right before his nap and Caden tried to grab it back while Quinn yelled, "mine."  I gave the tiger back to Caden and tried to distract Quinn with his own stuffed animals.  As I was tucking Quinn into his crib Caden snuck into the room with the tiger and gave it to Quinn to have for his nap.  This sweet gesture left both boys were grinning ear to ear!

 The other day I heard Caden telling Ethan that when we move someday Ethan will still be his best friend.  They agreed that was a pretty good plan.  I hope they will always be best brother buddies!

Quinnion, Rhymes With Minion...at 18 Months

Quinn is officially 18 months, according to his latest doctor visit he weighs 20 lbs. (9%) and is 32 in. tall (36%).  We are having additional allergy testing this week to investigate his weight falling off the chart.  I personally think he is just too busy keeping up with his brothers to gain weight.

He is pretty good at scooting the right way, but doesn't go very fast.  So he solved that problem by hauling the scooter to the top of the sloped drive-way and riding it down.  It was pretty cute.  Even when he fell, he would jump right up and do it again.  He's a bit of a dare devil!

My favorite thing about Quinn right now is his talking.  It is so cute!  There isn't a word he cannot say if he feels like it and it's just cute!  He really uses his eyes to communicate and nods his head vigorously when he really wants something so I will understand.  Most things he pronounces really well, except bubble which he says as "bago."  He always gets his way when he comes with outstretched arms saying, "hode me, hode me."

He LOVES minions from Despicable Me and yells, "Minion" passionately every time he sees one.  Like the minions he also really likes bananas and starts every morning yelling "anana, anana."  It made Quinnion a logical choice for another nickname.  He is also pretty into dogs right now, and yells "doggie" so loud on our walks that the dog walkers we pass crack up.

The other day we were driving in the car and Ethan asked if we could listen to the Frozen music, Quinn immediately started singing, "let it go, let it go...anymore."

He's playful and fun and likes to tease us.  Most of my friends describe him as the most serious child they know.  He doesn't warm up easily to other people, and has a pretty good stink eye if he doesn't want someone to pay attention to him.  He's pretty content to just be with people in his own home.

A little clip of his head bob he likes to do in the car (somehow tiny little clip of time captures all of their personalities all too well).

A little scared of the popcorn popper.

He's still the baller in the family and is happy as long as he has one in his hand.

He leaves a trail of "bagos" wherever he goes.

He makes us laugh and brings so much joy into our family.  We couldn't love him more!

The Karulak Family Comes To Greeley

For the last several months I have been looking forward to our friends Bryce and Jessica and their two little boys Beckett and Weston coming to visit us!  We somehow lucked out and were able to sit with them at a getting to know you banquet when we first moved to Iowa to start medical school.  It was pretty much an instant friendship, and they quickly became some of our favorite people.  When we were in Iowa it was just the two of them, but now they have added two darling boys to their family.  It was so fun this last week to be able to get to know their little boys (and meet Weston for the first time).  

Clark was able to take a few days off and we had quite the staycation exploring some of our favorite places around Greeley.

They came on Monday, just in time for Jessica to watch the Bachelorette with me!  Ha!

Tuesday morning while Ethan was at school we explored downtown Greeley, which was greeley exciting! 

The most exciting part of that adventure was when the boys found a dog in the window of this store.

So I kind of had a knack for leading our friends into very random places while we lived in Iowa....and apparently I still have that talent.  I heard about this drive-in that has been open in Greeley since WWII, so we tried it out.  The wood paneling, carpet hung on the walls and orange booths looked like they hadn't been updated in quite sometime.  The best part was that there were little red phones to call on to place our order.  I had to get this picture of Jessica using a napkin so she wouldn't have to touch the phone.

The gallon of homemade root beer came in these awesome plastic jugs!

They are good sports!

Later that evening we went to Loveland for a picnic dinner and walk around the sculpture garden.  I don't know if this is how the artists envisioned their art work being appreciated...but the little boys seemed to love it!

The podiatrists by the foot statue.

The boys are training for the mutton bustin' competition this summer.

Jessica made a new friend. 

Quinn couldn't have been happier riding this saddle and yelling, "yee-ha!" 

Wednesday - Exploring Fort Collins

Wednesday was Ethan's last day of school, so we were all able to go watch him in his program.  Once he was a free man we started the summer right!  We headed to the Lee Martinez Farm in Fort Collins.  The Dads and the boys stayed and explored the farm, while the Moms and Weston went to find a cupcake shop and walk around Old Town Fort Collins.  It was a win-win for all!

Quinn is right in the middle of Beckett and Weston by age.   I think they will all be good buddies on future vacations and get-togethers!

Goats?  or Cupcakes?  Not too hard of a decision there.

When we all met up again we had dinner at Cafe Rio and then went to a cheap movie theater to watch the Lego movie.  

Seeing how Quinn looks here is evidence it was a good day!