Our Canoeing Adventure

Nick was invited to his friend Maddie's fourth birthday party at the Hickory Art Museum . He enjoyed painting with Zach.

Making tissue paper fish

Check out my bug (he insisted on putting almost 30 beads in his bug to give it some sparkle)

My brother and his wife have a little cabin in West Jefferson. They invited us to come up on Saturday to take Nick on his first canoe ride. Nick was so excited that he got up at 4:30 a.m. to go (Chris and I were not excited that early).

That's his "you know what" eating grin that scares me.

Cara went to hang out with my parents since she was a bit small to go in the canoe.

She's almost 21 weeks old and gets more and more personality each day. Her newest thing is squealing with delight.

Chris and I got Nick his own paddle so he could help us on the river.

Harris was also too little to go.

"Hey mom, I've got a paddle, does this mean I can go too?"

Pouting and sucking his thumb when we left without him.

Uncle Dan gave Nick a ride down to the river to drop our canoes in.

Okay Uncle Dan, show us the way.

Uncle Dan, Aunt Andrea, and Big Dan - There is a picture of Dan and Andrea mooning the camera, but since this is a kid friendly blog, I didn't post it.

Hey, look at me! I'm canoeing!

Paddle, paddle, paddle...

Seriously, mom, do you have to get my picture? (I think he looks so handsome).

Whew, I'm tired after a long day, let me put on this pink robe to relax.

And the weekend wouldn't be complete without a little bump up. Harris scraped his chin in the church parking lot on Sunday morning and now has a boo boo which I have to kiss at least 10 times a day to make it better.

Outdoors / Father's Day 2009

CARA PAIGE

What a great week! It's been fantastic spending my first week out of work with my kids. Cara is getting to be so big. She loves spending time outdoors and watching her big brothers.

Cara's been battling some sickness for almost two weeks. She finally kicked it and celebrated by rolling over. The first time she did it at school. I came in to pick her up, and they told me she'd rolled over in her crib. I was upset I missed it, but she demonstrated it for us later that night. Now we can't stop her from rolling. She's even doing it in her bed at night. At least she doesn't mind sleeping on her stomach.

She loves to stand up, so we pulled out the boys' old Johnny Jumper for her to swing and jump around in. She's still getting the hang of it

.

And if rolling wasn't enough for her, she's been trying to sit up too. She has the back strength but not the balance to hold the position for very long. I guess my baby girl has decided she wants to be a big girl faster than mommy's ready for it.

POOL TIME!!! Cara enjoys floating around in the big pool and watching her crazy brothers jump and splash around.

Last week Cara was sitting on my lap a few times during meals. I think she would have tasted my coffee if she could have gotten the cup to her mouth she was trying so hard. Later that week, she tried to shove my pizza in her mouth. Our doctor wanted us to wait until she was 6 months old before starting her on solids. Apparently little miss has her own ideas (wonder where she gets that from?). We've been slowly starting her on some cereal. Of course whenever she eats it, Harris thinks he has to have some too. I've never seen a kid who loves baby cereal like Harris.

POOL FUN

Now that the rain has finally stopped, we've been spending our afternoons and weekends in the pool.

Silly Nick!

These are the only two picures of Harris this week. Harris loves his naps and would rather sleep than swim. He turned 21 months old this past weekend.

Some of our favorite people, the Lindsay's and the Moose's came over Saturday night. Here's Keith and Cara.

And crazy Nick and Zach on the float.

Hannah Grace was the calm one.


FATHER'S DAY
I've always thought when our family gets together we should expect the unexpected. Nick's been having a rough time at school lately. He told his friends to "smell his butt" last week. Oh yes, a proud moment in the Cadwallader house. The only thing that seems to work on Nick is my brother Dan's scary mask. We discovered Nick's fear of the mask about a year or two ago, and it is a miracle worker. That's how we finally potty trained him last year - we told him the scary mask would get him if he kept peeing in his pants. So on Father's Day, my brother brought the mask in hopes that Nick would get it together at school.
Attractive isn't it.

I can't believe I erased the video, but Dan scared Nick in the pool and my dad jumped in fully clothed to save him. Of course all the dogs (three Golden Retrievers) had to jump in too.

Then my brother decided to borrow Harris's floaties.

And his mildly challenged alter ego Billy joined Nick in some splashing.

Nick got to catch a ride on Rocky's tail.

The end (literally) to our Father's Day was Nick wearing his Big Dan's cowboy hat (and nothing else as you can see). I swear our neighbors must think we can afford to clothe our children as much time as they spend running around our yard naked.

There aren't any pictures of Chris either, but I am beyond blessed to have such a wonderful husband and father to my children. Happy Father's Day - We love you!!!

Fun Times at the Lake

We've had some major thunderstorms lately. Thursday it was so bad our yard flooded. Of course the kids wanted to go play in it. NO!!!

Miss Cara is getting to be a big girl. She's had a rough time of it lately though. She was diagnosed with bronchitis last week and couldn't get rid of it. She's finally on the mend and giving us smiles and coos.

Cara had her first boat ride on Sunday. I thought it was going to be a bad idea when we put her life jacket on. Once she settled down though, she even took a nap.

Then she got to hang out on the dock and play while her brothers rode the jet ski.

Harris loved riding in the boat even though you can't tell by the picture.

Can I drive now?

Nick is a water lover too.

Even the dog got to go swimming.

Nick caught three fish while we were there, but he didn't like its "slimy" feel.

Chris took Nick on his first tube ride on the lake. I had to go with him since he's only three. Nick did great, but I fell out. Luckily, there are no pictures of that.

Everyone but Cara got to ride. Next year...

Come on, someone bigger than me has to drive this thing.

Woo Hoo!!!