Heritage Square

If you grew up in G-town, you know Heritage Square. It's legendary! Most people we know have worked there at some point in their lives (including JZ and me!), and everyone has ridden the alpine slide, seen a show at the Music Hall, and watched fireworks on the 4th of July. Well, that was then. Now Heritage Square is a little...smaller. Many of the stores have closed and the restaurant I worked in is about 1/4 the size. But, the alpine slide is still up and running, and the number of rides has doubled, so not all is lost.

A few days ago, JZ and I took Caden to Heritage Square for the first time. We weren't sure what to expect - new place, new things - but he had a fun time. Mostly. Don't expect many smiles in these pictures, but no tears either - they'd already dried up by the time we snapped the pictures!

The first ride we went on was the banana scrambler. CP thought he wanted to ride. Then when he started getting buckled in, he changed his mind. We made him go anyway, and he ended up having a blast(ish - again, no smiles, but no tears either).

Next, we rode the carousel. Caden has ridden many a carousel in his day, but this time was a little more fearful. Apparently black horsies are bad news. This carousel had LOTS of black horsies - uh oh! Luckily, we were able to find a white and purple horsie instead.

Afterwards, we had a little lunch at a kiddie picnic table outside, and made some new friends (Cade and Cole that were visiting from Texas and Ontario, Canada).

And then you-know-who had a great time jumping in the misters

After the misters we decided to go on the little train that goes around the park. Caden likes trains, but he's not so sure about going on them (remember, a little fearful these days). We had been trying to get him to go on the train all afternoon. He kept saying, "No train." So, what did we, the kind, understanding parents do? Why, we put him on the train, of course! We decided that we needed to show him that it wasn't scary. We thought he'd stop crying once the train started (that's what we told the conductor anyway!). He did, but he rode the whole way like this...

Eventually he got super brave and lifted his head

Part way through the ride it started raining. Hard. We couldn't do anything except laugh. It was a funny way to end our fabulous day at Heritage Square!

26 months

Dear Caden,
Today you are 26 months old. That means that you have been rocking our world for the last 112 weeks. Or 791 days. Or 1,137,600 minutes (you know, give or take a few). However you calculate it, we've loved it and you.

You have grown so much in the last 68,256,000 seconds (ha, I just can't stop myself!). You still love music of any kind - guitar, drums, singing, and dancing.

You have some amazing soccer skills and your pitching arm...well, let's just say it's not quite as strong, but it's coming along too (it shouldn't surprise me though. You are the same kiddo that kicked one of my ribs out of place while you were in utero and that spend the majority of your first few months of life lying on your back kick,kick, kicking!).

Your are still an amazing sleeper, love the water, and being outside.

Although you are in the throws of two-year-oldness, you have all of us wrapped around your little finger. You do get frustrated easily and can throw one heck of a tantrum, but you get over it and move on quickly.

You are as stubborn as your daddy, as emotional as your mama, and as opinionated as both of us!

You talk a mile a minute and never forget anything. Here are a few funny things you've said recently:

- "Welcome GaGa house" (every time you or anyone else visits GaGa, you welcome them to GaGa's house)

- "Oh honey" (pronouned 'hauney' and said while hugging me on the way up to bed)

- "Ha-oh. Yes." (said while cradling a telephone)

- "Oh Man!"

- "Green. Go-Go, Daddy!" (at a stoplight)

- "JZ!" (calling for you-know-who)

You're still pretty fearful of loud noises, and it takes you a few minutes to warm-up to new places. That's ok, a little fear is good, I think!

You still giggle up a storm and if you find something that makes the rest of us laugh you do it over and over and over...

You can say *most of* your colors correctly and are starting to count - usually it goes 1, 2, 6, 3, 5, but you're getting the idea of what a number is.

I'll just say it. You are adorable. I mean really, ADORABLE. I don't think it's just because you're mine, but maybe it is. Sometimes your cuteness is your saving grace, if you know what I mean

You never stop moving, and easy-going to not a word I would use to describe you, but you're so fun. I think that everyone needs a little Caden in their life - to keep their parenting skills in check and to keep them laughing.

You are becoming so sweet and cuddly (well, maybe not soooo, just more than you were). Last night you let me rock you and sing to you without trying to wiggle out of my arms. You just looked up at me and snuggled. I get goose bumps just thinking about it! You are starting to become very empathetic and worried if people are crying or hurt. The other day you kissed Grandpa Kim's bruised elbow over and over again.

Sweet boy, you are such a gift. At the end of the day, whether it has been hard or super fun, I get to shout from the rooftops that I am your mommy. Lucky me.

I love you thiiiiiis much,
Mommy :)

Golf

Caden might be on to something.

If you are struggling with your golf game, try a bigger ball.

It's just as fun!

Just a little advice from "The Prince"

Wordless Wednesday

Our Little Firecracker

Happy Independence Day!

We had a super fun day with our little firecracker. We began the morning with a neighborhood parade. Nana, Papa, and GaGa all came over to help us decorate the wagon...
and we joined the rest of the neighborhood kids for a parade through the neighborhood...

complete with a police escort!

The Prince enjoyed the activity

Belle did not

Afterwards we played at the park,
ate popsicles,
and met the nice policeman
All while wearing matching t-shirts!
When we got home, Caden played in his pool and with the sprinkler
That night we let CP stay up waaaaay past his bed time to watch fireworks.
It was worth it.

Happy 4th of July from our little firecracker!

The Farm

Around theses parts, we love The White Fence Farm (aka The Farm, WFF, or the chicken place). We even hosted our rehearsal dinner there many moons ago! This was not Caden's first visit to the farm (look way down at the bottom), but it had been a very long time since we visited our favorite chicken place (restaurants, even family-friendly ones are not easy with our busy, noisy, little friend).

We had to wait just a little bit for our table. Not a problem, WFF is full of kid stuff!

Caden's favorite part of the evening was when he was given a balloon.
He was so excited about the balloon that he hardly paid any attention to the animals(which was ok with me because this naughty goat tried to eat my purse. Hey, that was a fake Coach bag!!)

He threw the balloon up (even though it was attached to his wrist)

and was able to catch it every time ('cause it was still attached to his wrist!)
Unfortunately, the balloon couldn't hang with Caden P and it flew away
Up. Sky. (To the) Moon. Balloon. Broke. Bye-bye balloon.
See you soon, White Fence Farm