Spring Photo Dump

I will now roll out nearly all of the pics from this Spring that I didn't blog about thus far...

The bounce house truly is the gift that keeps on giving.  Get one.  Now.

We are at a total loss for what to do with stickers.  My children seem to believe they are interchangeable with tattoos.  Luckily, we're okay with a little "ink" around here.

Ok, maybe not this much...

Reesie being cute.

First trip to Deanna Rose of the season came in May with my parents.  Everyone loves the Farm!!

A fun night out at the K with Chris and DeAnna in their crazy-good seats!

We survived the spring session of gymnastics with both kids.  They enjoyed it at the time but neither of them have said a thing about it since the session has ended.  If they don't notice its absence in our lives, do we really need it?!

The kids and I made a quick trip to the Bend over Mother's Day weekend while Matt was traveling for a MoKan tourney.  The Bend is perfect for...

Swinging...

Biking...

And the Zoo!
Highlights included hearing the lions roar, the "fish house," and watching the chinchillas be fed.

The Kid, always great for a laugh!

This slide is quite high...and in hind-sight, not the safest idea.

Gentry and Reese had the right idea here...

This was when Cade said, "Mom, take my picture with these guys before I brush my teeth."  Sure thing, Cade.

That nearly catches us up to summer time...more to come!

Preschool: Year 1

Cade has a late spring birthday so we weren't really sure if we'd be sending him to Kindergarten as a 5-year-old or as a 6-year-old.  I was young for my grade and Matt was older for his grade when we were in school.  It's no shocker to us that Cade is on the small side (Matt weighed 90 pounds as a high school freshman!!).

Academically, Cade would be ready.  He has known his letters and the sound they make since about 18 months.  No lie.  Proof here.  Also know that this is not really a result of anything that we did other than purchase magnetic letters and the Leap Frog Letter Factory DVD.  (My poor 26-month-old second child has no clue about letters and sounds...)

We decided to send Cade to 3-year-old Preschool this year as we felt he was ready for this step and this could help us test the waters as to his Kindergarten readiness.  Preschool: Year 1, we will call it, was a learning experience for all of us.  We, as parents, were pretty clueless.  I'm thankful that Matt is able to do the drop-off and pick-up since I cannot, but this kept me pretty clueless about school and Cade's performance.  I am glad that I was able to attend several class parties and special events, despite having to take off an extra hour for round-trip travel time to and from work.

Cade's First Day

My gifts at the Mother's Day Tea...where no tea was served...but I get it.  

My handsome date.

Cade's Last Day of Preschool: Year 1...of 3

It's looking like it will be best to do a 3-year-old program (this year, twice a week), a 4-year-old program (next year, 3 times per week), and a Pre-K year (4-5 times per week) to be on track behaviorally and socially for Kindergarten.  Turns out Cade's not much of a corporate rule-follower it seems... 

Only time will tell, but it's probably better for the start of Kindergarten to be overdue rather than the opposite.  I would think there are few that wish they would have sent their child earlier (especially boys) but there are many that wish they would have waited.  This is just one of those unknowns that is difficult about parenting.  I want to do all I can to set my children up for success.  Even if that's completely over-analyzing whether they will be ready for Kindergarten in the year 2016 or not.  Seems extreme, I know.  So let's just say that Preschool: Year 1 has taught our family a lot.  Things we will do differently next year and things that are good to know for the future.  

I am so proud of Cade.  He's such a special combination of a strong-will and a caring spirit and it is a blessing and a privilege to be his mom.  As educators, we have high hopes for our children to love learning, which is definitely not something that can be forced upon someone.  So we'll take it slow, and follow his lead, and do the best we know how with our first-born.  I hate feeling like he's our "experimental" child as we work out all the kinks of our parenting...but I have a feeling we are never going to be experts at this gig...

C & R Meet the Dentist

Cade and Reese's first dental appointment was a family affair!

Cade was the brave one to go first and show Reese how it's done.

While I was impressed with the kids' reaction to the whole experience, I couldn't help but think God bless this dental hygienist!

Reesie was a bit unsure about this business, but warmed up to it after seeing Cade.

Cade looked on intently, cheering Reesie through!

Dental chair full of cuteness!!!

Dr. B has become famous in our household now.  He instructed Reese not to suck on her two fingers anymore...and Cade has made it his personal mission to remind her of that now!  (I figure orthodontia is inevitably a part of our future...if you knew Matt and I in middle school and high school...you'd probably agree.)

Happy to report healthy teeth and an even  more amped up enthusiasm for brushing resulted from this appointment.  The kids are obsessed with brushing and now they have these timers to help you remember to brush for a full two minutes.  LONGEST two minutes ever!!!

Cade's Birthday Bash

This little cutie turned four years old on May 5th and after much thought (the four-year-old party themes and venue options are endless you know) he decided he wanted to celebrate with friends and family at Chuck E. Cheese.

What a great bunch!!

I was a bit skeptical of a Chuck E. Cheese party...I mean...are we those people?  But the kids had a blast, the food was better than expected, our party hostess was really great, and the mess and clean-up were left to them!

They make you feel like a Rock Star at Chuck E. Cheese!

And...bonus!!  When it's your birthday you get to go in the ticket tunnel and grab as many tickets as you can!  Clearly, Cade picked the wrong parent for this adventure, but it was really fun.  

We just didn't end up with nearly as many tickets as if Matt would have been in there...but don't worry folks.  We still had plenty of tickets to purchase a variety of pencils, plastic and rubber junky toys, etc.  

Obligatory birthday banner pose.  Four years old.  Can't believe it!  It's has been so fun to see Cade branch out into preschool this year and begin to make his own friends and pave his own path, a bit.  He loves all super heroes, waking up early, watching movies, coloring with markers, coming up with a "plan" for the day, and playing with friends.  He has such a sweet, caring heart and I'm so thankful I get to be his mom!

Birthday bash of 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 (birth story)

The Big D...

...and I do mean Dallas.  Got to enjoy a trip to Dallas with Matt and his parents where we rendezvoused with Beth.  We took in some events associated with the NABC Convention (National Association of Basketball Coaches--also known as the logo-ed polo mecca) as well as the Final Four games!

Yeah, kind of a big deal.

"Jerry's World" the Dallas Cowboy Stadium

Where Charles Barkley hangs out

NCAA Tournament trophy which now lives at UConn

This is one of those cameras on the cables that can capture crazy angles during sports events.  I was engrossed with watching them fix it.

During the open practices we got to go down close, not so much for the actual games.

This place is huge!!

Iconic ball of Dallas captured in the less-than-flattering selfie

We got "invited" to attend this "private" party for schools sponsored by Adidas.
  

Complete with swanky ice sculptures, free food and drinks, and awkward Adidas models who were paid to be there.

Game time!

This screen is ginormous!

Matt and I had so much fun thanks to these guys!

It really was such a nice trip and we had a great time with Mike, Jan, and Beth.  I'm thankful for all that we got to do and see!  Also, very thankful to Peggy for staying with the kids a couple nights and Cindy & Erin for taking them on for the weekend!

Matt tries to go to the Final Four every year to attend the convention and the games.  I hope to attend again some time...but I seem to have very few sick days left come April usually!