Now that Genevieve is standing, it is about all she wants to do.


Especially when she doesn't want to sleep!









Notice the lucky land of the large can!



Breakfast



Wishing they could go outside on their own..


Cade has gotten very good at catching toads.

He is always finding them back at the house. I'm always amazed how gentle he is with them.




On Thursday, Andrew's work had a picnic at French Meadow park.
Almost every employee has kids right around Cade's age so it was really geared for them. They had a reptile show that he loved. He had to touch everything 3 or 4 times and then run up to me and tell me if they were sticky or slimy...never mind that he catches these things all the time!




Even Genevieve got to check out the turtles.


SNAKES!


The park had an awesome playground. It was pretty much all cargo nets so Cade could climb like crazy. It was really well enclosed so no matter how high he went we didn't have to worry.





I think Cade could have stayed there all day!
They had tire swings, sand diggers, huge slides, and tunnels. It was a dream come true for him!

we have a two year old...

I cannot believe that Cade is already two! It is absolutely amazing watching him become such a great little man. I especially love seeing little bits of Andrew and me come through in him, but for the most part he is very much is own self!!
So needless to say we had a great party for Cade on Saturday. Both Grandparents were there, aunts, uncles, and even Thea, Rob, and Matt drove up from Iowa to celebrate!

We let him open his presents from us as soon as he got up in the morning.




Then we let him have chocolate milk...




Then cake...








Which somehow he didn't finish!


He got to play with Jillian...


And open more presents!







Eve had fun watching her brother

Though unfortunately she was sick.
In fact, Cade, Eve, and I all had terrible colds all weekend, but I think Eve had it the worst. She not only had a bad cold, the kind of cold where the second you lay down your nose is completely full making it impossible to breath, but she also got her second tooth. It was a long weekend for all of us.
But, sick or not, we still managed to have fun.

Climbing trees...



Swinging...



Crazy mowing...



Cat attacking...



Bath time togetherness...



Hiding in our bed...



And cute faces...






We probably all got sick from our big day at the State Fair last week...


Cade went on his first Merry-Go-Round...

And had to pet every animal in every barn!



He got to eat is first Pronto Pup!



And after 5 hours at the fair, they were out!







I thought I should also put up some house photos, as we have been making progress!






The east and west sides are completely sided...




The middle section should be done soon and after that we can start painting again!


I can't wait to use this bathtub.

this has nothing to do with my kids...

Two things this week that have just made me smile.




Ebay


I can't leave the kids out completely...
Genevieve got her first tooth on Sunday. This makes me smile as well!
Enjoy!

a week at home

We bought Cade a swing set last week and he loves it. I wasn't sure he'd be able to do the swings without a back, but he figured it out right away.







Lunch time with Cade and Eve involves lots of faces.





While at dinner time, Eve usually gets to flirt with Grandpa.





About a week ago we had a bad storm and had to get the kids out of bed. The power went out so we all sat around with candles and flashlights. Cade got his out that nite too, along with his firemans hat. As soon as he got up the next morning he had to get them again, even though the power was back on.



Eve fell asleep for a long time on her hand...




The kids at work at the house.


Now that Eve is getting more mobile she sometimes gets herself stuck.


Cade loves that Eve is moving around more, I think he thinks he'll be able to do this more and more...







More new tricks-




The first time she pulled herself up she instantly let go and stood for a long time!

where do they learn this stuff...

Yesterday I had to take Cade to Urgent Care. He had a temp. that was averaging around 102.8. It turns out he has an ear infection in both ears and strep throat. However, since we had to go to Urgent Care we were quoted that the wait would be about 2 hours, so I packed everything I could think of that would keep him busy. Andrew got off work early to make sure Cade was ok and to sit with us at the doctor's office. After about an hour and a half of staying fairly still and entertained, Cade began to get restless, so Andrew got up and walked him around. We were seated right next to the eye clinic so they walked in to look at the glasses and checked out the rest of the building. Andrew and Cade came back, and Cade was just slowly wandering by himself. He started to go slowly into the eye clinic, he turned around and looked at both of us for the "ok" or "the denial", I told him "no" and to come back, but he just stood there. So then I said "Cade, back up, back up, back up". Which always prompts him to walk backwards towards us. But as I said it Cade started to say, "back up back up back up", he then turned around, faced us, and walked backwards into the eye clinic.

No, this is not a repeat...

Last week we went to the zoo, again! Can you ever have too much zoo?
Jim, Abby, Joe, and Great Grandma came down for a long weekend. We had a nice cookout on Sunday with them.


Helping Joe carry water to boil the corn.



Why are you over there mommy?...



Cade's favorite game, "here comes the bee from the barn to the house to get you!" until later that day a bee actually got him three times.


Eve watching the goats at the zoo.


Cade did lots of things he never would do before at the zoo...

Pet the goats...



Go through all the big dark tunnels...



Ride the Monorail. (Actually we don't do that because I'm too cheap!)



Grandma had to put Eve's toes in the fountain




How Cade eats broccoli




Eve got a new trick this week

She finally got a new sound!!