Nick is FOUR YEARS OLD!!!

NICK IS FOUR!!!

Four years ago, on August 18, 2005 at 3:02 a.m. after 20 very long hours of labor, Nicholas Baker Cadwallader was born. He weighed a whopping 9 lbs 3 oz and was 22 3/8 inches long.

Here I am at 40 1/2 weeks pregnant looking ready to pop!

One Day Old

One Year Old

Two Years Old

Three Years Old

Four Years Old

(actually, he's a day shy in this picture)

Make a wish!

Monday, we went Nana & Pepaw's to begin Nick's birthday celebration.

Look what a dork he is with the thumbs up.

Nana & Harris swinging on the back porch

Seesawing

Here's Miss Cara eating her brother's new Transformer and trying to crawl

It's Nick's official birth day!

Chris and I thought we'd surprise him with his favorite blueberry muffins for breakfast.

Seriously, mom and dad what are you doing?

I'm really tired, I don't want to blow. (What he actually said was to go away, he was tired and he didn't want our stupid muffin.)

Okay, now he's better. It's time for birthday celebration #2.

Another cake for me?

Aunt Andrea and Cara

Rocky

It wouldn't be a party without Harris and his sunglasses.

I think all that partying wore Harris out. When I went to check on him, this is what I found.

Reading his favorite David book the next morning.

So we all know my obsession with Dachshunds is a little over the top. Gymboree came out with a new Puppy Love line this fall which I of course had to buy. Here's Cara modeling one of her many new Dachshund shirts. If you click to enlarge the picture, you can see the tiny Dachshunds on her bow as well.

Harris (also in a Dachshund shirt) and Cara

Thursday brought the annual Old Soldiers Reunion Parade in down town Newton. We watch it as always with our friends Brandon & Amanda. Hannah had a ball, but Cara, well, I guess it just wasn't her thing.

She was out cold.

All clean and ready for some bedtime snuggles.

Okay mom, I'm done with the towel!

Birthday Celebrations

What a week this has been! It was my last week of summer vacation before the real world of teaching arrives. What did I do? I worked in my classroom trying to get things organized.

Of course a week couldn't go by without some sort of mishap. About lunch time Friday, my hubby says he doesn't feel very well. We're eating out, and he doesn't finish his meal. You all know Chris, if he doesn't eat then he must really be sick. Then he went home to sleep for a few hours. He NEVER takes naps. He's running a fever, has chills, and basically feels like tush. Saturday morning comes around and he still doesn't feel good, so he calls the doctor (okay, now I'm really starting to get worried). The nurse tells him she consulted with the doctor and that it's probably just a viral infection not to worry. Two minutes later the doctor calls me and tells me with three small childrenin the house that maybe Chris should come in as a precaution. Chris calls to give me his diagnosis - SWINE FLU!!! Yep, I guess my husband has been kissing on some pigs. It's really not funny, but I'm trying to deal. He's been quarantined. This means he has to move out of our house and in with his parents until he's fever free for over 24 hours without medication. This leaves me with 3 children. What do I do? I call my parents and ask them to keep Nick for a few days. WHEW! Did I mention that we were having a party in a few hours from then for my best friend Lisa's daughter Lauren? Chris is going to be fine though. He just needs some rest and some pampering from his mom for a while. Bless her!

Here's my princess going Hollywood!

Grinning

Harris loving on his sister. They really do look a lot alike in this picture with their chubby cheeks.

Celebration #1 - Lisa turned 30 on Thursday. To help celebrate, we decorated her room at school.

Then we headed to Dos Amigos for some good food and friendship. Yes, that's my son on her lap; she's become his second Mommy.

Don't you love the cake? Don't worry, it still tasted delicious.

Miss Lauren had to try out the icing.

The poor people at the restaurant will probably never let us come back. After dinner, Lauren and Harris chased each other with their chairs.

You are looking fabulous at thirty!!!

Time for celebration #2. Lauren turned TWO years old. We hosted her birthday party at our house - minus pig boy who was of course banned from the premises.

Check out the awesome Elmo cake Lisa's husband Paul made.

Here's the birthday girl testing the frosting to make sure her Daddy did a good job.

The Wade Family - Paul, Lauren, & Lisa

Cara got a taste too. She cried when they took the cake from her.

How sweet!!!

Lauren got a new baby doll stroller for her birthday. She didn't have a doll with her, but she had a Harris!

And so ends another interesting week with our family. If you have time, say a little prayer for our family that Chris starts feeling better soon and the rest of us don't get sick.

Bathing Beauty & Pretty in Plaid

Nick had a birthday party at the science center a few weeks ago. My dad just emailed me the pictures a couple days ago (sorry).

Here's Nick making an Alligator mask.

So excited to see the lizard.

Lisa asked me to post pictures of all my kids at the same age to see who Cara looked like. Here they are, and me too, at about 6 months. I didn't have one of Chris. Vote on the side of the blog and let us know.

NICK

HARRIS

CARA

ME

My little bathing beauty has her first bikini. Chris thinks it's really funny because her little boobies fall out from under the top. Bet he won't think it's funny when she's 17!

Okay, mom, I'm tired of standing. Oh, there's a towel on the floor.

I'm going to get it.

Almost...

Whew. Hey mom, did you see what I did?

What a princess!

I do love that she's a water baby.

Harris!

We don't get very many pictures of Harris these days.

(Look at Cara trying to eat his swimmy).

Harris figuring out she was eating his swimmy. He's thinking, seriously kid, what are you doing?

Daddy, I want a red convertible when I'm 16 please!!!

Pretty in Plaid for church (28 weeks)

Cara & Hannah Grace chillaxing in the hottub.