Movies, Fix'n Floors, Popcorn and Sleeping on the Couch

On Thursday morning Conner and Cayden woke up to find Mom and Allison gone...no where to be found. They were very sad that they didn't get a chance to say good-bye and give hugs and kisses before they left to California for Gandpa Foulk's 70th birthday party. As sad as they were, we were able to quickly transition to BOY'S WEEKEND mode.

Thursday night after school and work we headed to Glenwood Springs for haircuts, Chili's, and Target. The haircuts were not the highlight of that trip, but I managed to bribe them to enjoy it by offering ice cream after dinner.

Friday I picked them both up from Ms Diana's house and we headed straight for the movies...Madagascar 2. In the opening scene the song "I like to move it move it" came on and Conner jumped out of seat and started dancing. Halfway through the movie, Cayden who was sitting on my lap and shoveling popcorn in his mouth, took a quick break and said "Dad, Mom said we could see two movies at the movie theater. So we have to stay and watch another one tonight." When the movie ended Conner got out of his seat and yelled--as loud as Conner can yell, which isn't very loud, "Dad I LOVED that movie!!" Cayden then said, "Dad that movie was crack-a-lack'n!!" (which is a quote from the Zebra in the movie). We got home fairly early so we headed up stairs and popped in Kung Poo Panda--woops that how Conner and Cayden say it--its really Kung Fu Panda. We got our pj's on, grabed our blankets and pillows, and spent the night on the couch.

Saturday was a pretty low key day. We "fixed" the floor. Went to the lumber yard. Had Subway for lunch. Took naps--just the boys, Dad worked. And worked on the floor some more. After dinner Conner and Cayden almost ran up stairs and got their pj's on. I came up stairs and they were sitting on the couches and asked if they could fall asleep watching movies again. So we got cozy for long night of movies. I headed downstairs to make the popcorn. Conner feel asleep eating his popcorn. The only way I was able to get Cayden to sleep was turn off the TV at 11:00!! Way past his bed time!

Today is Sunday and we decided to take the day off of church and get the house ready for Mom and Allison's return home. I'm folding small mountains of laundry. Conner and Cayden are cleaning up the playroom...sorta...in between running to their room to fly Mom's airplane (their bed) back to Colorado. We're going to finish up some loose end around the house and then back to the fix'n the floor. Of course we'll have Hawaii noodles for lunch. And Mom and Allie should be home for dinner.

I don't know about Conner and Cayden, but I've loved BOY'S WEEKEND!! I'm pretty certain that Cayden would tell you this weekend was "Crack-a-lack'n!!"

Future Gymnast

We've been saying for a while that Cayden would be good at gymnastics, and we need to get him in a class. He is constantly tumbling, jumping, and diving around the house, and we thought it would be a good idea if he actually knew the proper way to do things, hopefully preventing further injuries.  I am posting the first two pictures from one year ago as an example of this. Cayden gave himself the biggest fat lip I have ever seen from tumbling on his bed last November.

We finally signed him up, and today was the first day of gymnastics.  He loved it, and actually told me to leave and pick him up later.  Here are a couple pictures of the class.  Today they worked on balance, and tuck and roll.

I realize the last few posts have been Caydencentric, and I am not sure how this happened.  I promise we love our three children equally!  :)

5,789,102,340....

...is how many leaves Conner, Cayden and I raked up the other day!

So fall has come and gone and as Lindsay posted the other day Conner thinks its Christmas. We barely got the leaves into piles and in the trash bin before it snowed. The boys had such a great time swimming in the leaves...making their own piles...throwing the leaves into the wind...and playing worker with the shovel and rake. If they are this excited about raking leaves, I can't wait to see how much they enjoy shoveling the snow this year!

Cayden's Girlfriend

Our good friends the Headley's came to visit, and it was so good to see them!  We promise to come visit after your move!  The kids were so cute together and had a great time running around, composting (see earlier post), having a slumber party (is it still called a slumber party if no sleeping actually occurred?), and playing in the snow.  We ended the visit out at lunch and then left for our cars.  Cayden began to cry, and said that he forgot to give "his friends" a hug. We ran over to their car to give hugs before they left.  As we were driving away, Cayden began to cry again.  I asked what was wrong, and he said that he forgot to give Abigail a kiss.  I told him we would see them again, but this didn't cut it. Cayden then asked if he could draw a picture of a flower, take it to the post office, and send it to Abigail.  I told him that was a great idea, and thought the issue was solved. He began to cry again, and said that he didn't know how to spell Abigail for the envelope.  I spelled Abigail, and told him that I would help address the envelope.  Two seconds later he was at peace and asleep in his car seat.  Such a sweet boy!

Compost

I wish I had a picture, but I do not.  A couple days ago, Cayden was in the kitchen area of the playroom, working very hard on something, and I was trying to get him to help clean up the toys. I asked him to put away the toys, and was getting frustrated that he was not working as fast I would like.  I went to help him empty our play cookie jar (which was completely full of random toys, and no cookies) and he immediately got very upset, and I couldn't figure out why.  I thought he was saying something about compost, but surely I was just not able to understand what he was saying. After trying to put the toys away again, he kept saying this is my compost, and getting very angry with me. He then picked up a piece of play fruit off the floor and asked if it could go in his compost . . .  I told him yes, and then began to wonder who taught my child how to compost.  I know it was not me, and I am pretty sure it was not Keir.  A few hours later, it came to me....I think Curious George taught Cayden about composting.  It is amazing what kids remember! 

First Snow

Conner woke up this morning, looked out the window, and said, "it's Merry Christmas!"  It was snowing for the first time (well, we have had some snow in Aspen already this year, but this was our first at home) and Conner was convinced it was time for Christmas.  After explaining that it was not quite Christmas yet, we loaded up and took him to school.  On the way to school it was still snowing, and Conner asked when we were going to go get our Merry Christmas tree...I guess my explaining didn't convince him.  Snow must mean Christmas, right? 

After returning home, Cayden could not resist, and was running around in his giraffe rain boots without a coat.  I told him they could play in the snow when Conner got home from school, fully expecting all of the snow to have melted by then.
Well, I was wrong, and there was still snow on the ground when we got home from picking up Conner.  As I promised, they went in the backyard to play.  However, I must say how wonderful it was (unlike last year) to have them put on all their snow gear BY THEMSELVES!!!
Sorry the pictures are not great...Alli and I were not dressed in the necessary gear to go out and play with the boys.

Happy Halloween!

This was our 5th Halloween since we moved to Colorado, but it was our FIRST without down jackets and snow suits!! We were so excited to have nice weather yesterday.  Conner and Cayden had a great time, and (unlike last year) they were happy to come home and pass out candy.  I think they had just as much fun passing out candy as they did trick-or-treating.  Happy Halloween!

At the pre-trick-or-treating party for some dinner.

Because all good cheerleaders are flexible.

Our neighbor actually cut out some of his porch/deck, and put this grate to walk over. Conner and Cayden had to go back a few times to this house to see the skeleton under the porch.

Comparing their loot

Go Bears!!!  (Thanks to Uncle Jeremy & Aunt Ellen for this costume!)