Caden's Third Birthday Jake Style

Three years ago this handsome little pirate was born! And today he celebrated his birthday Jake the Pirate style!

We actually started out Caden's celebration a day early. He got to choose where he wanted to go to dinner, and of course he picked "Da Enchalada!" (El Rancho Grande). He was so excited for all the fun celebrations he fell asleep on the way there.

 Makayla didn't fall asleep. In fact I think she talked/sang to herself the entire way there.

 Because it was his birthday, they gave Caden his very own fried ice cream, but he is such a sweet and thoughtful boy he shared with all of us (and I'll be honest, Tyler and I ate most of it).

 The next morning Caden woke up and wanted to open his presents from us. He got a Jake the Pirate toy, clothes, a helmet, and a towel.  Makayla and Brynnli got him a Cars book and stuffed animal.

Then we started decorating for his big party that night. We had Chips Ahoy with a sign that said, "Ahoy, Mateys,"  Swedish fish and goldfish crackers with a sign that said, "Shark bait", and Golden Oreos with a sign that said, "Gold Doubloons" for pre-dinner snacks.

 The drink/dessert table with Captain Hook's Root Beer and Jake cupcakes.

 Happy Birthday sign and balloons...

 Tyler saw a fruit bowl on Pintrist and said he could make it. I thought it looked like to much work, but Tyler made it anyway and I'm so glad he did because it turned out so cute! My hubby is pretty talented.

 After dinner the kids went on a treasure hunt around the house.

 At the end of the hunt there were treat bags for all the kids and a Jake sword for our special birthday boy!

 We sang happy birthday and Caden got to open his presents.

 Caden was so cute when he would open a present because he would look at the card and say, "They left me a message!" Then I would ask him what the card says and every time he would say, "Happy birthday Caden. I love you. Here's some treats."

Caden got spoiled with a lot of clothes, balls, legos, kite, bubbles, and games. Then we sang happy birthday again and he got to blow out a candle on his Jake cupcake.

By the end of the night Caden was exhausted from all the fun!

At three years old Caden: 

• Is fully potty trained... even through the night. 
• Is still a really picky eater. 
• Loves to read books with Daddy at night
• Stutters when he gets excited.
• Adores "Key-bugs" and takes good care of his "Brynn- Brynn"
• Loves to watch Jake the Pirate and Toy Story
• Loves to wear socks on his hands and calls them his gloves. 
• Loves to play Legos. 
• When he wears anything with a hood he has to put the hood up. 
• Puts his shoes on the wrong feet EVERY time!
• Nicknames: Charlie Brown, Handsome, Cader-tot, Buddy, and Cader-Man,

This year is Caden's first year for his birthday interview questions, so here's his answers: 

1. What is your favorite color? "Red"

2. What is your favorite toy? "Da balls... these balls" (holds up two balls)

3. What is your favorite food? "Pizza!"

4. What is  your favorite show? "Super Why"

5. What do you like to eat for lunch? "Ham and pickles and yogurt, and dat's all. We don't like cheese."

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? "Mickey Mouse jammas"

7. What is your favorite game? "Diswey wand game." (Anyone know what this game is, cause I don't!)

8. What is your favorite song? "Bees and the buzz one"

9. What is your favorite book? "My truck is stuck"

10. Who is your best friend? "Daddy"

11. Where is your favorite place to go? "Grandma Kathy's to play, and eat, and watch a movie, and then you guys pick me up and it was night time."

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? "Preston"

13. What is your favorite thing about Makayla? "To play"

14. What is your favorite thing about Brynnli? "To talk to her"

15. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? "Play wegos"

16. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? "To go outside and skate." (Because we do that a lot).

Caden, 

We can't believe you are already three years old. You are the best, sweetest, kindest, little boy around. We love how you admire your big sister and try to do everything she does. We love how you look out for your little sister and make sure she is taken care of. We love how you cuddle with mom and dad and give the best hugs. We love how you are so thoughtful and share everything you have. We love the funny things you say and the way you can make us laugh. Most of all we love that you chose to be in our family and that we get to call you ours! We love you little man!

The Others From March

Here's some random pictures from March: 

It was about 2 am when I took this picture, and this little stink bug was still awake. 

It was a really long day the next day, but don't you worry, Brynnli slept great during her naps. I didn't get a nap that day, but thanks for asking. 

 Makayla's preschool had Thilly Thursday to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. She got to go to school dressed all silly and wacky. She wore her clothes backwards, different shoes on each foot, and we did her hair all cra-cray.

 Caden cracks me up. He is seriously so funny. Here is is feeding his baby on the boobie.

 Brynnli still enjoys oatmeal cereal. In fact she likes it better than her veggies.

 We had another fun three weeks at the trap shoot this year. The weather was so nice and we could be outside the whole time. Tyler's team was really good this year, but they didn't win any prizes. The last week he shot a 71/75! Of course that was the only week I didn't make it in time to see him shoot... maybe I'm not his good luck charm.

 This may be inappropriate, but seriously, how cute are those thunder thighs and her fat rolls? I could just eat her up!

 Grandma Kathy went with us to the zoo one day. They have a new baby orangutan that is so cute. He reminds me a lot of Brynnli.

 And to end this month's posts, I would just like to remind Tyler why I don't make the bed some days. Brynnli likes our bed so much more than her crib.

Only a few funny sayings of the kids this month that I can remember. I need to be better at writing down the funny things they say.

The kids were teasing each other one morning, so I told them they should just stop talking to each other. Makayla responded with, "okay mom, save your batteries!" After she said that I realized we need to stop watching Toy Story so much.

Caden told me the other day: "Ma Ma, you look stinky." At least he's honest.

I must be stinky a lot in Caden's opinion because we had the following conversation:

Caden: "What's that stinky smell? Did you toodle?"
Me: "No, but I just got done working out."
Caden: "Oh... did you poo?"
Thanks Buddy.

As soon as Caden wakes up, he runs to see if Tyler left for work. If he did leave already, Caden says, "Did Daddy give me a wuv and a kiss before he went to work?"

Brynnli Likes Carrots

Seriously, could she be more photogenic? 

 Brynnli turned 6 months old, and that means she got to try her very first taste of carrots. Good news again, she liked them. 

Since then she has expanded her veggie diet to include green beans. She didn't know quite what to think of those, but we forced them down her anyway. Brynnli even splurged one day and had apple sauce. In the future we'll go a little wild and crazy and let her have some sweet potatoes. Hang on to your hats, folks, we have some exciting times ahead!

6 Months Old

How is this stinkin adorable little girl already 6 months? I swear the last six months have gone by faster than I can believe! At 6 months Brynnli: 

• Weighs 14.5 lbs (25%) and is 26 inches tall (50%).
• Is pretty much crawling. She gets up on all fours, rocks back and forth and plops down on her belly. It is an odd crawl, but she can get where she wants to go. 
• Because she plops down on her belly she has a nasty rash on her chin that won't go away. 
• Loves oatmeal cereal. We'll be starting veggies in the next day or two. 
• Still not consistently sleeping through the night.  I may have to get mean with her here in the next month and let her cry it out. 
• Still is just so happy! My mom comments every time we see her, "Does she ever cry? I don't think I've ever heard her cry!" I told my mom to come over to our house at 2 am, and she could her Brynnli cry a lot! :)
• Likes to play with toys, but mostly just loves to watch Makayla and Caden play with their toys. 
• Still nursing and loves it. 
• Still the sweetest baby girl around! We just love her so much!

Luck O' the Irish

Another successful St. Patrick's day to add to the books! 

When the kids woke up Lucky the Leprechaun visited again to play some tricks and leave some treats. 

"Lucky, lucky, lucky me, I am green, but you can't see.

Leprechauns are so much fun; we play tricks on everyone. 

Look around the house to find tricks and treats of every kind

for Makayla, Caden, and Brynnie-goo. Oh my heck, the milk's green too. 

Don't forget to wear green all day, so you don't get pinched when you play. 

Love, Lucky the Leprechaun. 

Lucky used the kids' bathroom again and forgot to flush. 

 and he turned our milk green.

 He brought the kids some treats and green beans for Brynnli.

Later that day Makayla had a magician come to her preschool. He asked for volunteers to help him onstage and Makayla got picked to go up there. 

 He magically made a rabbit come out of his hat and Makayla got to hold it. She was pretty scared.

 Then he played some other silly tricks on her and made her a balloon animal.