Brotherly Love Part 2

I have been keeping up on this blog ever since Ethan was just a few months old.  It is a great record and journal of our family life.  We love looking back at past holidays and events and the boys love seeing themselves when they were babies.  I have not made baby books or other scrap books...I plan to one day print out these blog posts in book form and make the boys special remembrance books from the blog.  Lately it has been harder for me to keep my blog up to date.  Part of it is that our computer doesn't work very well and it makes the whole process frustrating, the other part is that life is just busy and I don't make it a priority.  I feel like lately my blog has just become a record of places we've been and things we've done, I've been missing out on the little moments in life that I'd like a record of too.  A month ago, I wrote a note to myself to write a blog post about Ethan and Caden's special brotherly relationship, I remember there was a tender moment that gave me this thought that I always wanted to remember.  Well, I've waited so long I can't remember the moment I wanted to document.  Maybe I'll remember it and can edit this post later.  Either way, I still think their brotherly love is worth mentioning...so here goes.

In May, I wrote a blog post called "Brotherly Love," about how Ethan, full of faith and love for his little brother, fasted for Caden before he had his ECG so that his heart would be okay.  I titled this blog post Part 2 to continue on with those thoughts on how I love seeing the brotherly love between these boys lately.  

 

This past Friday I had a house full of boys!  They were going on snake hunts in the backyard, dressing as super heroes and running around in a world of imagination having the best time together.  It's in these moments that I think being a mom of boys is the best thing in the world.  They are just so fun!  This particular Friday it was Ethan that had invited 2 friends over, but I loved how he included Caden in the group.  Quinn also felt included, even though he was usually trailing the crowd about 4 feet behind. 

At these ages 5 and 7, Caden and Ethan really are best friends.  They have such a great relationship and truly get along so well.  I know that their relationship is special, 98% of the time they get along really well.  I'm trying not to take these happy days for granted.   I have a few theories on why they get along so well.  One is that Ethan is the oldest.  He is extremely patient with his little brothers, and is so sensitive to contention, he avoids it at all costs.  He is also social and always needs someone to play with, so by default Caden gets to play.  I definitely think it helps that they are close in age and that they have similar interests.  At these ages they could both be content playing for hours in an imaginary scenario.  I think the year that we moved every month helped solidify their friendship when we all just had each other.  But probably the most accurate theory is that I believe their friendship started in heaven before they were born.  Truly, I do.  In fact, when I was pregnant with Caden, Clark and I took Ethan into the ultrasound to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.  As we were looking at baby Caden up on the screen, Clark said, "look Ethan, that's your little brother."  Right at that very moment baby Caden waved...he literally waved right at the screen like he was saying, "yay, I'm here bro, let's get this party started!"  It was such a great moment, all of us looked at each other with our jaws dropped.  Did you SEE that?       

Clark usually drops them off at school in the morning and reports that they usually walk into school hand in hand.  I'm so glad they have both been at school this year to face being the new kids together.  They only have recess together one time a week on Thursday afternoons.  Every Thursday when I pick them up from school they can't wait to tell me that they got to play together at recess!  It is the high point of each week.

Always a brother around to be helpful, even during homework time.

They help each other out.  Ethan is afraid of dark places and hates going upstairs or downstairs by himself if there are no lights on.  So he recruits Caden to go down first and turn on the lights.  Ethan also doesn't like bugs and critters.  He's curious about them, but doesn't want to touch them...so he gets Caden to pick them up and show them to him.  Caden on the other hand is nervous about new situations, like starting school or karate lessons.  He really relies on Ethan at these times until he feels comfortable.  As long as Ethan is there he is game to try something new. 

When our friends the Fowler's came to visit in September both of my boys wanted to ride with them in their van when we went places.  There was only one extra spot so we had the boys take turns.  As we drove to our next destination Caden was in our car and I could tell he was disappointed he wasn't with his friends in the van so I reminded him that he would get the next turn.  He thought about it for a second and then said, "but what about Ethan, then he'll be sad, I'll just stay in your car so Ethan can be with his friends, so he won't be sad."      

It takes 3 brothers to take down this 1 Dad!

My mom warns me that one day this great bond they have will not work so well in my favor, but for now I'm so happy for these wonderful brother buddies.  I pray sincerely that they will always be brothers AND friends.  

Karate Chop

The boys just finished their first session of karate.  They have loved it.  I know in their minds they are real life ninjas doing kicks and jumps that look just like their black belt instructor.  In reality, it's just really entertaining and fun to watch them in their classes.  I have been so proud of Caden, he hates being put on the spot, and that happens a lot in these classes, but he has powered through it and done so well.  The first time he practiced breaking the board he wouldn't make a sound, his teachers kept telling him that if he yelled, "yah," it would help.  I could tell it was about killing him to yell like that in front of the whole class, but finally I heard a "yah," in a voice I didn't recognize and he smashed that board.  Their class has been fast paced, tons of running and jumping and perfect for burning lots of energy!  

 



I'm also impressed that these kids can stand perfectly still at attention, for a long 10 second countdown at the end of each class.

I think karate teaches great things.  We are trying basketball and indoor soccer right now, but I won't be surprised if we're back at karate someday soon.

This is hard mom!



Caden's First Field Trip

It has been hard for me send Caden to all day Kindergarten.  He loves school.  He was ready for school.  However, he comes home so tired and emotional after a long school day.  I've been trying hard to be patient.  This past week he came home jabbering to me about his day and all of a sudden fell to the floor in a puddle of tears.  He was devastated that he had told some boys in his class that he wanted to be a penguin for Halloween and they laughed at him.  Then to top it all off he dropped his fruit cup and it spilled all over the cafeteria floor.  I've finally pin pointed why it's hard for me to have him in school all day.  I can't be there to give him a kiss and make it better when he has a problem. 

 

But like most Kindergarten problems, it was over quickly, and the rest of the week went better.

 

I got to help out in his classroom and have lunch with my sweet 5 year old!

On Wednesday, Quinn and I got to go with Caden to his first field trip to the pumpkin patch!  Such a fun fall day with no spilled fruit or mean boys!

He found the perfect pumpkin!

I somehow managed not to lose the little group I was in charge of in the corn maze.  #blessing

Family Pictures in Durango

When we were in Durango this summer our awesome niece Delanie offered to take our family pictures.  She is a great photographer and has an eye for beautiful views.  I warned her that our family is probably one of the hardest to photograph, but she did a great job.  These pictures are so special because most of them are taken on the Johnson ranch in Durango, so they hold great sentimental value for Clark.  

 

 

This is my favorite picture of Quinn.  It's perfect of his little expression.  And his boots, he always insists on wearing his cute little boots!

Caden's picture smile that evening looked amazingly like a tiger.

The family that hays together, stays together.

Such a beautiful sunset just accentuates are photogenic qualities.

Delanie wanted to practice some engagement poses for future clients...sorry Delanie, we aren't better models

I treasure these imperfect moments with my family!  Thanks Delanie!

Mom's Visit

My mom came to visit the last part of August and it was so fun!  I was so excited for her to come see our new house and our new place.  We had such a great time.  The highlights included visiting Santa's Workshop in the North Pole (a.k.a. the mountains above Colorado Springs).  We visited the Royal Gorge Basin where my mom and I zip-lined across the gorge, dangling 2,000 feet above the ground with a little red canvas between us and the ground.  It was exhilarating!  I loved shopping with my mom at the outlet mall in Castle Rock one day.  Pretty much everyday we had an adventure that left us rushing back to the boys' school pedal to the metal to avoid picking them up late. 

 

Up close and personal with mountain sheep.

The zipline at the North Pole was super fun!  And we rode it A LOT!

The boys were thrilled by this very low key magic show at the North Pole.  As we left Ethan said, "see Caden, you didn't believe in magic, but now you know it is real!"  We saw a show with a few more high tech tricks at the Royal Gorge Basin later in the week. 

Quinn says his favorite reindeer is Branson with the red nose.

This was my favorite picture of the week with my mom's flowing hair and Quinn being squished into oblivion on the Candy Cane Coaster!

The highest ferris wheel in the world runs on a high peak and the views are superb!

Clark and I were taken on the dinner train that runs through the bottom of the gorge while my mom took the boys home after our day in Canon City.

Grammy made Caden's day joining him for lunch.  The crumpled up note on the side of the lunchbox that I had slipped in did not make his day.  Apparently the mom and son heart figures I drew were a bit embarrassing. 

I'm so grateful that my mom is willing to visit us wherever we land!  Just wish Pueblo was a tad closer to Idaho.