Through the years

First day of kindergarten.

First day of first grade.

First day of second grade.

Putting Cade in the same first day of school outfit the past 3 years had made it fun to watch him grow through the years. You can see how much he's changed since his first day of kindergarten

Back to School

The obligatory fist day of school by the door pic.

The annual picture by the statue.

His pal Riley C.

Packed in like sardines

Isn't this a hoot? It's a real tub that's been painted to look like it's under water. It even had pillows!

Lydia was all giggles while Cade was at school.

Cade started the second grade last week. He was happy to get back to see all his friends-despite any minor grumblings he may have had about going back to school. He managed to make it through the first week with flying colors until we got home on Friday. He told us he was really cold and his throat hurt. I checked and he had a 101* fever! That's a first for me--getting sick during the first week of school!

Cade's Birthday in Salina

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Cade thought it would be fun to go to Salina for a couple days for his birthday. We got to visit grandparents and great grandparents as well as take a tour of the museum at Rolling Hills Refuge.

One Happy Boy!

Cade used some of his birthday money and gift cards to "finally" get a Nintendo DS. Can you tell how happy and excited he was? When did we go from Thomas the Tank Engine trains and tracks to Nintendo DS and Mario Brothers, Indiana Jones and Pokemon games?

Cade's 7th Birthday Party Pics

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Killer Party!

The awesome Allspark cake.

Every kid at the party who saw the movie Transformers immediately knew what this was.

Cade's best birthday cake to date!

Gettin' the party started.

The adult instigators.

Aww, come on! Let the kids play! Grandpa? Is that you? Rusty! Is that a hammer in your hand?!?!?!

Atta boy, Charlie! Get 'em!

Reliving his youth.

Making a wish.

Pinata time!

Not a single kid looks interested right then.

What a crew!

Cade celebrated his 7th birthday by having a big water balloon/blaster battle for the Allspark party in our backyard last Sunday. Even though we filled up 400+ waterballoons, (flooded the bathroom sink as well) they only lasted about 5 minutes. They were gone in NO time. Everybody had a good time, and I mean everybody! Even the adults were seven years old again. Cade has friends and family who are crazy generous and lavished him with an insane amount of toys, gift cards and money. Thank you to all who helped make this his "best birthday party ever!"

These should look familiar...

Lydia made more than half of these faces when she tried carrots.

Channeling her inner Calvin

Wait a second! That's not mama's milk!

What the...? What is this gruel??

You've GOT to be kidding me!

You expect me to eat this stuff?!!

What is the MATTER with you???

Gag me.

Hey, Daddy, a little help?

Would somebody stop this crazy woman? Please?

I am not happy, mommy, NOT HAPPY!

Oh my gosh! Does anybody out there remember Calvin from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes? And do you remember all the faces and noises he would make whenever he ate something his mom made for dinner? That's who Lydia looked like the other night when I gave her carrots for the first time. We were cracking up watching her try to figure out this whole solid food thing. She is definitely NOT into anything else but mama's milk right now. Apparently Lydia is as big of a lactivist as I am these days!

Campin' Out Back

Cade's scary camp story-telling face

The crew getting settled in for the night

Ahh, nothing says camping out like reading about Transformers by flashlight

Well, some (Steph and I) said it couldn't be done, but they proved them all wrong! Cade, Rusty, Hanna, Sophie and Uncle Mark all camped out in our backyard this past Saturday. Despite some loud fireworks, a fiesty toddler, and no air movement whatsoever inside the tent, the quintet "roughed it" all night, a mere 5 yards from our back door.

Fun weekend

Cade had his own cheering section at his game on Saturday afternoon.

Listening in on the pep talk.

Right foot two times.

Cha cha real smooth.

Criss cross.

Gettin' funky with it.

We got to have Hanna and Sophie stay with us Saturday evening. Cade enjoyed having the gang at his game before Mark and Steph left. He also had fun teaching Hanna and Sophie the Cha Cha slide. He's really good at gettin' funky with it, too!