S is for Sledding

Last week we got some snow - not feet, but enough to cover the sledding hill behind our house.  On Saturday, JZ decided he and CP needed a sledding outing.  Once again, since I don't fit into any waterproof pants, I was on photo duty.  They had a BLAST!

Who's giggling more and which giggle is cuter?

When trudging up the hill got a little tiring, Caden decided to just take a little walk

But it's so HARD!

And that gave Daddy time to do a little (faster, steeper) sledding on his own

And who is this cutie waving at?

Mommy?  A neighbor?  Nope, the snow plow driver.  He's almost as cool as the garbage truck driver.

It's a good thing we have several months of winter left.  This snow-loving boy LOVES winter!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

 Last week I turned the big 3-4.  In case your wondering, that officially makes me geriatric in the pregnancy world.  I had to work on my birthday, but I was treated to some beautiful flowers and notes from my students, and some lovely surprises from my boys

A sparkling clean house, dinner, cake, flowers, and a balloon were just the beginning

I also got iTunes gift cards and and an iBaby Monitor - possibly the coolest invention EVER. It's like a video monitor for Caden's room, but instead of having to have a separate receiver, it comes through on my (new!!) iPad.  It's awesome!  We can see what he does when he's in his room, if he stays in his bed (mostly!), and how long it takes him to fall asleep.  Because it's on my iPad (and JZ's iPhone) we can check on him wherever we are.  It's so cool!

And, since I like to celebrate my birthday as long as possible, we celebrated again at Family Fun Day on Sunday. 

Thank you to everyone that helped make my birthday so special!

Fort Building 101

For Christmas, JZ gave Caden a fort making kit.  Now, this is not the first time the boys have made a fort - it's a pretty regular occurrence around here.  Usually they just use blankets, so when JZ saw the kit, complete with camo, he had to get it.  Last Wednesday, when I was at work, they pulled out the kit and had a blast.

By the time I got home, it was pretty obvious that they had been playing in there all day

and CP was so excited to show me his fort

He even got some new toys to take in there with him.  I'm not sure where he got the glow stick, but he used it like any boy would - he stuck it up his nose

Fort Building 101 - DONE!

My Funny Valentine

Valentine's Day 2012 was...interesting.  But before we get to that, let's take a trip down memory lane.

2010

2011

And now, 2012

We had a little bit of a tough day today.  JZ is out of town all week, so that just makes me sad.  And tired.  And Caden has been in a "I'm-almost-three-so-I'm-going-to-challenge-everything-you-say" phase.  That makes me very tired.  Consequently, our day had to be rearranged a little.  Nevertheless, we were able to squeeze in a little fun today.  And a LOT of cuteness.

And even more presents



"What is it?!?"  A soccer ball and net!



Who knew you could snuggle a soccer ball?  Thanks for the ball and net Papa and Gaga!

It's a recordable story book from Nana and Grandpa Kim.  He's waving hi and yelling, "Hi, Grandpa!  Can you hear me?"

This evening Caden and I ate a heart shaped pizza

And then we played the "I love you" game and sang the Barney song.  It's lucky for this cranky boy that he has his cranky mommy wrapped around his little finger.  One sweet hug or "I wuv you, Mommy" makes me go from wanting to string him up by his toes to smothering him with kisses. 

Happy Valentine's Day, hope you're with the ones you love (or at least got something pretty if one of your loves happens to be in Boston)!

I a Skier!

Since Caden began walking, JZ has been dying to put him on skis.  I was able to hold him off until this year, but no more.  So a few weeks ago the three of us packed up and spent the night in Breckenridge in preparation for our big outing.  That morning JZ took C to a nearby ski shop to rent him some equipment.  I was lucky enough to avoid that outing - I was sure it was just going to be a disaster.  What two year old wants to try on ski boots and helmets?  Apparently this one!

Here he is growling at himself in the mirror because he's a tough guy. 

When they got home we let him go outside and try on the equipment.

After his nap we drove up to Breck and got there just in time for dinner.  The next morning we ventured out for our first attempt on the snow.  We had gotten some great hints from some friends with kids.  The big ones were to make it fun (even if that means you spend the entire time building a snowman), take lots of snacks, and quit early.  We decided not to put him in ski school because we figured he wouldn't last long and it's a ton of $$.  We decided we would just take him to the "magic carpet" and just work on balance and enjoying skiing.   I have to admit that I was prepared for the worst.  He's usually not a big fan of putting on the regular outside gear, I thought the extra ski gear would be even worse.  Mark it down, I was wrong.  He LOVED skiing.  He giggled and had an ear to ear smile the entire time we were out there.  I was on picture duty that day and I did my job well!  I took a million pics, and I promise these are just a few!

JZ got a lot of exercise that day.  It was his job to carry Caden up the hill over and over and over again.

It's hard to tell, but he's actually laying in the snow in this one

After about an hour we stopped for his snack of choice - water and fruit snacks.

Then he said, "I all done.  I got to Cay-Cay's home."  So we both pushed away the urge to say, "Let's try it one more time," and we packed up and went home.  After an hour of skiing this is what he looked like...

So we decided to take this super exhausted kid home for a nap.  But, not before he called Papa and told him, "Papa, I a skier!"  Yes you are sweet boy! 

And, just in case you were wondering, when we finally got home (after a celebratory lunch of "chicky nuggets") he took a four hour nap.  About a week later we got a BIG snow.  He looked out the window and said, "It's snowing.  I go skiing!"  So, we're already working on scheduling our next ski outing.  Hooray for our Colorado boy!

Things I Love About Caden #4,321-4,336

I'm back from my month long, self-imposed blogging hiatus.  Why?  Well, I don't really have any good excuses.  Except that my computer has been on the fritz, causing me to want to throw it out the window.  And, in case you missed the memo, I'm pregnant.  Really pregnant.  As in I-can't-sleep-at-night-anymore-so-I-sleep-during-Caden's-naptime-instead-of-blogging kind of pregnant.  And the I'm-so-exhausted-so-I-go-to-bed-as-soon-as-Caden-does kind of pregnant.  Ok, I guess I have a few excuses.  But, I'm back, and I have a lot to share, so prepare yourselves.

Sigh.  A few weeks ago I registered my baby for preschool beginning in the fall.  Double sigh.  In honor of this monumental occasion I have written a few things that I love about Caden (this blog is, after all, my diary and Caden's baby book).  I don't want to bore anyone, so I'm only listing a few - #4,321 - 4,336

4,321 - You call a screwdriver a "goose driver."  When you use your screwdriver you say, "goose, goose, goose."
4,322 - You always tell me I'm handsome, even when I'm not (like naked in the shower!)
4,323 - The other day when I asked you who loved you the most (thinking you'd say, "Mommy"), you said, "Jesus."
4,324 - You're very polite.  You always say, "Peas.  Tank-oo.  'scuse me.  Bess you.  I saw-we"
4,325 - When I want you to do something you tell me to,  "Set the time-uh"  Then you throw a fit anyway.  Let's not talk about that part.
4,326 - You have taught me the difference between a digger, tractor, scooper, excavator, dump truck, 'ment truck, fuel truck, fire truck, bob cat ...
4.327 - When you say your prayers at night, you always pray for Mommy first.
4,328 - You told me the M on the mountain stood for Mommy, not for the Colorado School of Mines
4,329 - I don't know of any other two-year-old that can play Jingle Bells on the drums in perfect rhythm using both hands and your foot.
4,330 - You REALLY want to chew gum.  I told you that you couldn't have any until you were four.  The next day you told me, "I four.  I have gum."
4,331 - Any time we say here's a "little" of something ( a little more milk, a little snack, etc.), you say, "No. A big one."
4,332 - Speaking of "big ones..." one day when I was changing your diaper you grabbed your...parts and said, "It's a big one.  Like Daddy's."  I didn't even know what to say to that.
4,333 - You love to cook for me and make the best "pa-tend skettis", pizza and soup. 
4,334 - You are also a great construction worker.  You are going to build me a house - with three bedrooms - "for Mommy, Daddy, Cay-Cay and Belle." 
4,335 - As I was typing this you brought me some fake flowers from the bathroom and said, "Bootiful flowers for you Mommy."
4,336 - This morning you said, "Happy Birfday, Mommy.  Have cake!"  That is a boy after my own heart!