Swimming Lessons for an 18 month old?!

Ok, so I know it sounds really strange to do swimming lessons for an 18 month old. In fact, that what I said when I heard about it too! But apparently the local wellness center at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton offers swimming lessons for kids 6 months to 3 years old! And since Cache loves water and Tyler was taking the class, we decided it would be fun! It's every Tuesday for the nest 4 weeks, but it was fun and Cache didn't want to get out in the end! They practiced reach and pull, kicking in the water, blowing bubbles and passing balls around. I was pretty impressed when Cache was able to blow bubbles in the water! He still needs to work on his reach and pull and kicking. Right now he wants to fly in the water like superman with arms and legs stretched in front and behind him. :)

Off to swim class!

Cache watching Tyler splash

Swimming!

Here's to strange ideas that work out! :)

Halloween 2011!

We were fortunate enough to be invited to a Halloween party this year at Major and Jill's house. This meant that we HAD to get costumes and dress up! Ok, we didn't HAVE to, but it was sure a good excuse! So off to the store we went! I had pretty much planned on Cache being either Batman or Superman because Brandi and Anna had gotten him this awesome cape that is reversible, but when Cache picked out a pirate costume and walked off with it, I had to let him be a pirate! Plus, they had matching adult costumes for me and Jared so it was meant to be!

I've been saying to Jared for a few years that we need to go get pumpkins for Halloween! This never seems to happen though. (but we did have a mini one that was given to Cache at the Avon Homecoming parade) So when Major and Jill asked for help carving pumpkins for their party, we were glad to help! So while the adults carved pumpkins to the theme of sesame street (for the kids), the little ones got to play!

Big Bird

Elmo

Grover...he was a little rotten, so he didn't make it...

The kids played and crawled through the messes and they had a good time. Cache has also become quite astute when it comes to others' needs. He knows that when Tyler (Major and Jill's boy) cries, he needs his bottle to feel better sometimes. So whenever Tyler starts to fuss (even a little) he finds Tyler's bottle and "plugs it in". lol It's really rather sweet. So he pretty much "babysat" Ty while we carved. I tried to get a picture of him doing this, but this was the best I could get:

His right hand is giving Tyler his bottle.

And for the party we all went as a pirate family! Jared didn't like the "frilly" sleeves on his costume, so I cut them off and he got to show off his muscles :)

The brain watermellon...I had to get a picture :)

Cache's bear had a costume too :)

Pascal (Tyler) and The Cowardly Lion (Kendall) playing with Ty's new awesome car toy!

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The party was fun and the kids got to play together. Not a lot of people came, but it was a good time, none-the-less. It's a good things we went too, because this town was dead (at least this year) for trick-or-treaters. I think we got about 6, so that party made Halloween for us! :)

Fall is in the Air!

So i know that it has been a while since the last blog update. I have been taking pictures though, so at least there is that. It has been a warmer than normal fall (or so I'm told) for South Dakota. And in the 6 months that we have lived in Tyndall, a lot of things have changed in this small little town. For a place that has mostly remained the same for a long time, there have been a lot of changes. Some of those include new park equipment, the closing of a favorite place to eat (which has since been reopened, but dramatically changed), two buildings have burned down and the old pharmacy was torn down this weekend. Now this was your classic old pharmacy that reminds you of the "good old days" and I kept thinking that someone should buy it and turn it into a cute shop. Well someone who bought it had other plans. Oh well. Things change and life goes on. :)
We have been spending a lot of time out in the yard getting ready for the cold weather that is inevitable to come. It would seem that firewood is just as important to food storage around here and Jared has been good at making sure we will be able to stay warm this winter without breaking our pocket book. :) Jared found a farmer in a nearby town that was trying to clear his tree line on the fence by his farming plot so he could cut down as many trees there as he wanted. I think we have cut down 5 or 6 so far. Cache was pretty cute because he wanted to help so he would pick up the little pieces of branches and drag them to the fence to throw them over. Of course he wasn't able to do it all on his own, but he sure enjoyed helping where he could! He also liked to throw the little pieces of wood off the end of the trailer when we were unloading it at home. He is such a good helper.

Jared cutting a tree

Collecting wood! Notice that you can't see anything but a phone pole in the distance...South Dakota is FLAT!

Helping in the yard!

Looking like a big boy in his camo gear!

Cache and Jared were taking turns blowing on the fire to get it started

Cache has also been getting pretty creative with his toys. This is part of the ball pit that grammy marquis got him and he pushes it around and gets inside and rolls around the house. This was one of his more creative spots though. There were pillows under the walls under his head and he would just lay there and watch a show or something for a few minutes before sitting up to smile at me and look all proud of himself occasionally.

Just chillin' :)

And last but not least, a cute video of Cache mimicking Jared's muscles pose :)