"nakes!"

While eating dinner on Christmas day Claysen suddenly gasps and shouts "nakes!" pointing to his plate. I had served him a few whole green beans. They still had their little tips on them. He acted scared for a second and then began to eat them. He "thought" they were Snakes.

Last night we were eating canned cut green beans and again he was calling them "nakes."

Lots of pictures...

Rusty's Aunt Dar watched the boys one evening back in August and took these great pictures in their back yard. This one is my favorite even though you can't see Claysen's face.

The newest Cada family member is an amateur photographer. He took this photo of us enjoying Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for this year, but would like to remember the two great Cada uncle we lost this year, George and Emil.

The boys enjoying their beef dinner.

At a birthday party for my mom, Callen fell in love! Here he is dancing with Jenny. He asked her to dance. As shy as he can be, I was surprised that he did all by himself.

Claysen enjoying himself with Oil's hat at the party! It was a great time!

Merry Christmas!

Fine figure of a Man

Rusty killed a 4x5 buck this fall. He is so proud!

Are you Okay?

Claysen is always thinking of others, you know he wears a halo, right?

If one of us coughs, burps, falls down or says "ouch!" he will ask, "you kay?" Many times if we don't answer he will ask several times. The other night Rusty was dozing on the chair in the living room and he farted. Claysen was nearby and immediately asked Rusty, "You kay?" I guess that list now includes farting. Sometimes that can be uncomfortable you know. I am glad he is so concerned about our comfort and well being even if that includes our gastrointestinal systems!

Happy Halloween!

First I need to catch up. Early October we found a Katydid in the sandbox and kept her for two nights and took her to show and tell at preschool. Callen took really good care of her and set her free after school.



Claysen was a very good sport about wearing his costume. The boys were excited to go trick-or-treating on Saturday. They had to take turns ringing the door bell and several people got an extra ring or two! Claysen was always sure to say "bye" as we left each house.

Callen put his birthday chaps to good use. The jacket he is wearing was Rusty's when he was a kid.

Crazy boys!

Still working

After Chuck E. Cheese I felt Callen was digressing and had a couple of rough nights. Like he would not stay in his bed after I took him back there finally both of us were exhausted and he decided to pack his pillow, bear and blanket into our room and camp out next to my side of the bed. He had picked going to breakfast at the local cafe for his reward this week. Even though this was his choice I don't think it was a big enough incentive for him because he kept getting up, so I suggested going for ice cream. This seemed to help, so on Sunday afternoon we went out for an ice cream cone. If that isn't the best $3 I've ever spent I don't know what is. Since having that mint chocolate chip ice cream cone and seeing his brother get a birthday cake flavored one he has slept through the night by himself for the last three nights. Sunday night after reading books to him I told him that to earn the next ice cream prize he had to stay in his bed all night, not just sleep by himself in his bed. He couldn't get out of bed unless he had to go to the bathroom. Sunday night after I wished him good night and went to get ready for bed myself I hear his door open and he hollars, "Mom, I'm just going potty." I found this funny because we always brush teeth and go potty before stories. But he was excellent and went right back to bed. I decided I better reinforce the good behavior so I went in a little later and told him how proud I was of him for following the directions.

He really seems to want that birthday cake ice cream.

Maybe we can finally get him sleeping consistently all night and then tackle the binki for Claysen....maybe, it all depends on how strong I can be.

Finally working

I'm finally addressing the sleep issue with Callen. I think he's slept through the night in his own bed about 20 times since birth. Yes, that's right, and he is 4 1/2 years old!

Whoever said bribing you kid is wrong or doesn't work?

Callen has been talking about Chuck E. Cheese for a while now, asking if we can go or to have his birthday party there. I've been dreading the day I would have to take my kids there. So I sucked it up and decided if he wanted to go bad enough he might stay in his bed. For a week I was very diligent about not staying with him until he fell asleep then I kicked it into high gear and did the same thing in the middle of the night for the next week. I would just walk him back to bed and snuggle him a quick second and head back to my bed. He successfully slept alone all every night. Not always sleeping all night or not getting out of bed, but I didn't lay with him and he didn't sleep in our bed either. Out of 8 nights that he sucessfully did this he slept all night with out getting out of bed 3 of those nights. Three in one week!!! One early morning he got up, walked out of his room noticed it was still dark and went back to his bed all by himself. I was shocked.

Last night was reward night. We took him to Chuck E. Cheese. Our friends Tyler and Shelly went with us with their little boy. It made going a little more bearable. Thanks guys.

So hopefully the sleeping all night will gradually get better each week. I just have to keep it consistent. I think I am actually getting better sleep this way so it should be easier for me to stick with it.

Yeah!!

We've been Busy!

I think September was one of the busiest months for us. We had 3 weddings to attend and a party, one every weekend! Thanks to everyone who babysat for us!

These first two pictures are when we were in Twin Falls for the 3rd wedding we attended. We got the boys to pose before the ceremony and I think the picture of Claysen is "pro." The scenery was beautiful so we took advantage. I was surprised how warm it was so late in September, but we sure enjoyed it. Now the weather is defenately FALL! It is as if the thermostat was quickly turned down from Summer to late Fall.

They day after the wedding we took the boys to see Shoshone Falls just outside of Twin Falls, ID. I knew the falls wouldn't be at their best but still wanted to show the kids. I think they liked it. While we were there some canoes rowed up to the base of the falls. It puts a new perspective on them. The really look huge when you can see the ant-sized people down below.

Dracula-Claysen...

I share my home with a pig and a horse. Callen received a book for his 3rd birthday that has four masks of animals in it. Last night the boys were having a good time pretending to be farm animals.

Callen is going to dress up as a cowboy for Halloween and was practicing the other day. Today Claysen decided it was his turn. This is Rusty's hat and Callen chinks/chaps that he got for his birthday. This is my favorite shot of the dress-up because I love his eyes so much! He has the greatest smile!
This is just plain cute!

Whisper

This morning as Callen was watching a movie in our room drinking his morning java (warm chocolate milk) he called me out of the bathroom.

"Mom, come here. I want to whisper something in your ear."

"Okay."

I lean down so my ear is next to his mouth...

"I love you." He whispers.

I lean back up and he says again, "I told you I love you."

I lean down to whisper in his ear. "I love you too"

Happy 2nd Birthday Claysen!

I can't believe Claysen is two. Monday we celebrated his birthday, which is his actual birthday. I made surf board invitations and cake for the party. Claysen even wore his surf board shirt. The weather was excellent so we celebrated outside.

This was the big gift from Mom and Dad, a new swing for the playground.

Gift from Maga and Oil, a pint sized wheel barrow.

Claysen blew out the first candle before I could get the second one lit! He sure enjoyed his cake which he called "keekee."

Just a couple to reminisce...

Back to School and a Mohawk

Callen started preschool on Thursday, August 27th. This year he is attending Crayon Brigrade Preschool. He was excited to go to school this year. This school has a drop off area so I was a little concerned that Callen wouldn't stay and have a hard time watching me drive away. I tried to prepare him for this change by describing what would happen. On the way to school I again told him what to expect. When we got to school, I helped him out of the car, put his backpack on him and he walked right over to the teacher and other kids. No tears, no pulling, whining, begging me to stay. Just a "Bye, Mom." Claysen cried when we pulled away and I did too, just a little. So proud that he didn't need me there, but a little sad too.

Claysen need to pose with Big Brother too!

After bath one night recently I styled Claysen's hair in to a mohawk. I have seen several kids sporting mohawks this summer and am reminded of how cool that was when I was a kid. I don't think Claysen had much idea of what I was doing, although I did take him to the mirror to see himself. I think every boy needs to have a mohawk at least once, just for fun!

Manners

Yesterday when I was changing Claysen I stood him up and he burped. He promptly said, "me." I like to think it was his way of saying "excuse me."

Maybe what we do to teach Callen is starting to sink in with Claysen after all!

Route of the Hiawatha

Back in May my mom suggested an extended family vacation to ride a rail-to-trail in Northern Idaho called the Route of the Hiawatha. The railroad was originally built in the early 1900s. We traveled the now gravel trail 15 miles down hill through beautiful country. We travel through 9 tunnels, one almost 2 miles long, and 7 trestles, the tallest being 230 ft high. The views were spectacular, the weather was perfect and despite the sore butts at the end everyone enjoyed it and completed the trail on their own bikes!

I think all of us wondered how Claysen would handle the ride. He had been a bit clingy to me each morning we were away from home and when I initially placed him in the little trailer he screamed. When we started going he was just fine, even fell asleep in the first and longest tunnel. Our family picture is lacking a bit because he was so well behaved!


Callen cannot yet ride a two-wheel bike with out training wheels. Plus none of us own great bikes, or at least in good enough condition to bike 15 miles! We rented the above combination for Callen and Rusty. Rusty said it is a little bit difficult to steer and stay balanced because Callen's movements throw it off. Callen had to stand up to push each pedal all the way down so it was a constant back and forth, throwing Rusty off balance. Rusty did great, he never got into a bad situation and neither ever fell off.

View down from one of the trestles. I don't remember which one.
Looking back at the first two trestles we crossed.

It was a great inexpensive short family vacation. I would reccommend it to anyone. All ages and abilities can tackle this since it is all down hill (2% grade). To get back up you can take a bus shuttle or bike it back up. We took the shuttle. Along the route there are about 2 dozen historical markers that tell the history of the railroad.

Check out www.ridethehiawatha.com for more info.

A month behind and lots of pictures!

I just really liked this picture of Callen. I couldn't tell you from this photo who he looks like most, but cute and sweet anyway.

Bubble blowers extraordinaire

My mother recently reminded me a story that she and my Dad used to read to us about the
Tooth Fairy. In the story the Tooth Fairy's name is Maxine. So when Callen asked to have wings because he was the Tooth Fairy, I promptly told him that her name was Maxine and then started calling him Maxine.

Putting the baby to bed.

Can you see their horns? They definitely get into some mischief now, I am really in for it in the future.

This is Claysen's way of helping to clean up.

Artists. Claysen is on the left and Callen on the right.

Callen with his sparkler on the 4th of July. This is the first time I've used the firework mode on my camera. I was impressed.

Claysen and his sparkler in regular photo mode

Thanks for reading and enjoying our boys. We have fun with them!