Memorial Day Weekend 2012

After much maneuvering with same day sites at the local campground, we were able to camp this last weekend! It was only because we were able to "double up" on the same spot with Major and Jill. Why is it that everyone else wants to camp when we do? I suppose it was the holiday weekend but still. :) Jill was on back up call at the hospital, so we couldn't go too far if we wanted to camp with them, but I'm glad we were all able to hang out and have fun! Cache and Tyler always have so much fun together too, so that helps. We also decided to give Cache his birthday present early so he could use it while camping. We got him a Strider bike which is a "pre-bike" or balance bike. It is meant for kids 1-5 years old and it has no pedals. It's meant for learning to balance before you're going too fast with pedals. Most kids start off just walking with it between their legs, but eventually sit down and coast! This has kids riding regular bikes without training wheels by the time they are three! Of course it all depends on practicing, but it's a good start! Tyler has one too so they just "ride" around together. It was really cute to see. And anytime Tyler would fall down, Cache would go pick it up for him so they could continue riding together. lol

His Strider bike

Tyler and Cache!

On Friday night (at least I think it was Friday) we were all sitting around the campfire while the boys were going to sleep in the trailers. All of a sudden we hear Tyler knocking on the trailer door as wanted his mommy or daddy, but when Jill got up to get him...he had locked the door!! With the keys inside!!! These kids are too smart! So there we were, 9:30 at night, in the dark, with no keys and a locked trailer with a kid inside! THANKFULLY, their trailer has a small access door that you can get to from a compartment in the bottom of the trailer. Jared volunteered to give it a try.

Jared's foot from the outside of the trailer

The cubby door on the inside

Jill Measured the door, it was 10"x 15"!! How did he fit through there?!

Another view of Jared in the cubby

Well, Jared did get through and unlocked the door! But by the time he did, Tyler had fallen asleep in his bed and didn't need anything lol. At least we all learned not to keep our trailer keys in the trailers! It's similar to what Cache did earlier last week when he was playing with the truck keys and I got him all strapped in his carseat, put on his movie, took the keys and put them in the front seat and shut his door...how was I supposed to know he'd locked the truck? So, luckily, we live across the street from the courthouse with the police station and a nice cop came and unlocked the truck! Whew! Not to mention that my phone was in the truck so I couldn't even call them! Yikes!

The weekend started off with cooler weather with threats of thunderstorms, and it did storm. But none of us were prepared for the HOT weather that would follow! Saturday and Sunday with in the mid-to-upper 80's and humid! Luckily we were camping by a lake so we got some water time! On Saturday morning we went into town to get a few things from the grocery store and on the way, Jared wanted to check out the Ace Bikes store in Yankton to see if they would have anything he might want to get sometime. After looking for a little while and talking to a suave salesman who had stories of a "buy two bikes get 10% off"....Jared and I walked away with new bikes!! Not planned and certainly not expected, but we have been talking about it for a while. So Cache was not the only one to get a new bike this weekend! There were also these awesome bike trails that went along the water that we got to break them in on. And Major and Jill had an extra baby seat for the bikes so Cache got to come along too!!

View of the river and one of the beaches from the bike path

Jared and his new bike

Pregnant me riding with Cache behind me

Cache really liked riding! The first time he went into the seat, he wasn't too sure, but after riding he was all "Yay!" and "wow!" I thought it was funny to be getting kicked in the stomach from one baby and kneed in the butt from the other :)

We also got to play in the water, which was surprisingly not as rocky as I was expecting. I suppose that's what happens when you grow up in the PNW. :)

Digging with Spoons! Some other little kids were nice enough to let them play with their toys

Cache and Tyler. Tyler really likes "brrm brrrm's" :)

I'm white!

Playing with Tyler back at camp

Cache after a long day of fun in the sun

Another one of our bike trips led us to one of the many playgrounds and the boys got to play and have fun!
Here are some pictures of Cache enjoying himself:

He's gotten good at climbing the ladders and such at the parks! SO big!

Random pictures of Cache while camping:

One morning he wasn't quite ready to get up...He wasn't even interested in his muffin on that plate lol

Nap time!

Passed out on the way home from camping! Played long and hard!

All in all, camping was a success! Lots of sun, lots of fun, got to play at the "beach", good friends and plenty of "stay out of the road!!" from all the adults :) It's hard to keep two toddlers in the campground when there is so much fun asphalt to push toys on! Now it's only a week until we leave for Washington, but we have Cache's birthday party this Saturday to plan for and packing to make the time fly!

Jared's New Toy

Well, we officially have a new "member of the family" and, no, it's not the baby yet....Jared bought a truck! His Ford has been good and we have gotten our use out of it, but it's been a while now that Jared has been looking for something more. This new truck is really nice and has plenty of room for carseats (my stipulation). At first I was a little skeptical because it is a big purchase and I was happy with no car payments, but now that he has it, I've been converted. The gas mileage is way better than both the Ford and our Durango (nothing beats the Jetta though!) so it will probably become our new family commuter vehicle when we go to Utah and such. Here's some pictures.

Stick Shift...one of Jared's requirements

Plenty of room for two car seats! Or three....:)

Also just a few words on stuff. Cache is being such an awesome little man. Of course he has his moments when you just KNOW that he's two and boy does he play it to a "T", but he's also been really affectionate and finally learned "Mommy!" Now whenever I leave a room or he's trying to get my attention, I hear "Mommy!" until he succeeds. Whenever he finds what he's looking for, be it daddy, mommy or anything really, he says, "There you are!" He's big on snuggling and will lay his head down on Bear or me and say, "awww!" He has learned that patting a head is a sign of affection and will do this with Tyler, me or daddy. It's really very sweet. He's learning new things everyday and we love to watch him grow! He's getting to be such a boy, and no longer a baby. That's all for now! We will be camping this weekend with Major, Jill and Tyler, then the next weekend is celebrating Cache's birthday here in SD, then off to Washington! So fast!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is a day to thank all those mothers in our lives that have helped influence, raise and nurture us, so THANK YOU! Especially to my mom who I love very much and appreciate more and more everyday I spend with my son and doing the things that mother's do. If there's something I learn more about everyday, it's the silent sacrifices, quiet frustration, endless love and special rewards that come with being a mother. Thanks, mom, for teaching me the things that help me to be a better person and better mother! I can't wait to spread the love some more with another baby this fall!

Jared did really well this year for mother's day. I programmed a reminder in his cellphone to go off a week before and two days before the actual day so he would have plenty of opportunity to plan. :)

Perfect Willow Tree Figurine

Flowers!

My handsome boy right after his haircut!

My other baby :)

 We took Cache to get his haircut at the local barber, here in town. I was dreading it because the last time we asked a friend to cut it, it was a nightmare! I came armed with candy and movies on my phone just in case. But he did so well! He just sat there in the barber chair on the little booster shelf and very timidly let the man do his job! Thank goodness because I don't know if I could have handled a full on tantrum lol. He even got three suckers afterwards for being such a good boy. :)

And since Cache got his hair cut, I decided it was time for me to get my hair done, and since our friend who does hair just had surgery recently, I scheduled an appointment at a local hair salon and spa in Yankton. It was so nice to get my hair cut and colored. I was looking really, "blah" and what mother doesn't want to be pampered for mother's day. :) There was even this little "princess party" consisting of about 7 girls ages7-8 at the salon getting hair styled and nails painted. It sure puts perspective on the differences between sons and daughters! It was cute though. Such a brave mom to endure that by herself...sheesh! She better get a good mother's day breakfast or something ;)

Here's some cute pictures of our recent activities!

Cache put his Bumbo on the elevated console on the couch then snuggled with to watch George before bed. Silly boy

We busted out the jumper when we had a 7 month old for a few days, and Cache thought it the best thing! For about an hour lol

Just silliness

Helping daddy with the brake rotors! He kept sticking bolts in holes and we had to fish them out with magnets :)

Driving his matchbox car while laying down at church

The crazy flowers that bloom every year! And in the background, notice the piles of wood and our other project of a wood stacking area. :)

Another helping daddy with the rotors.

 That's it for today's update! Remember to show love to your moms!! :)