Let's Get Married

Our daycare provider told me today that Nolan announced to her yesterday that he and one of the girls were getting married – and then tney proceeded to walk around holding hands and calling each other honey.  The best part is he did this while wearing pink cowboy boots!

Running

The summer has been spent running around, literally. Yesterday Adam and I took the kids for our first family run. I’m training for a 10K, so he joined me for the run until Gale Woods Farm. He and the boys spent some time visiting the animals, and then they met back up with me to finish the run. The boys thought it was great to mix it up a little bit.

Adam officiated a wedding yesterday, so the boys and I took a nice, long nap in the afternoon. After that they tried to be good shopping buddies, but an hour in the stroller was about as much as they could take.

Nolan is on a big kick these days to be just like Adam. He still says Adam is his best friend, and when he gets bigger he wants to “ride a motorcycle, ride a skateboard, and go duck hunting”, just like dad. Adam doesn’t skateboard, but apparently he associates that with him!

Adam took the boys fishing with Grandpa Greg today. He was so proud of Nolan because he reeled in his very first fish all by himself.  Plus he caught the first fish of the day so he got the quarter!  Kale did good, too, but his fish was a lot smaller than Nolan's!

Kale is on a “mooooovie” kick lately. The best we can figure is that it’s the only time he can actually relax himself. It’s amazing how he can sit and watch Cars, Toy Story or Shrek! He does like a few of our Leapfrog videos, too. The battle now is who gets to choose the movie – Nolan or Kale. We try and rotate it around as much as possible to keep it fair.

Family time

We spent the weekend with my family, the first time we’ve all been together since the newest baby to the family joined us in June. Nolan and Kale enjoyed the time with their cousins, and with Grandpa on their walk. We’re really going to miss the double stroller when they outgrow it! Sunday was Adayln’s baptism. Kale didn’t even make it through the opening prayer at church, so Adam and I split our time in the kid area. We spent the afternoon celebrating with everyone. Nolan took a nice long nap, but Kale chose to party on with everyone else.

Nolan had his ECFE preschool screening today. We made a special morning out of it, first with a big breakfast of pancakes, toast, bacon and orange juice at Scotty B’s. After that we made little field trips to the post office, dry cleaner, the city offices and the bank. I think it was his first trip to the post office, and he thought it was great to put the letters in the mail slot. It was pretty amazing to watch him during the screening. He did really well and did everything they asked of him. There was a part of the test that the teacher showed him an object and asked him to tell her about it. He did exactly what his personality is – he was very matter of fact, which I think caught her off guard. At the closing conference she talked about it and I explained that he’s never had a real wild imagination, and that he’s very matter of fact with most things. She said that made a lot more sense! He said some funny things, like a window is made of paint and that fish jump out of the water. I can’t say I’ve ever talked about a window being made of glass, and we do make a big deal when fish jump out of the water – so it all makes sense to us! I was very proud that Nolan was complimented for how well he sat and followed directions. The school nurse and the teacher both said it’s unusual for a boy his age. I told them to wait another year and half when they meet my 2nd boy, because he’s just the opposite!

Down on the Farm

We spent a fun weekend at the farm.  Adam needed to cut shooting lanes for the upcoming hunting season.  That meant me and the boys spent a lot of time hanging out with Erica and Conner.  They were very helpful, carrying sticks and logs to the fire pit and picking up rocks.  The highlight again was riding on the 4 wheelers with Adam and Uncle Dave, and seeing the kitties and cows next door.  Bedtime was of course a challenge, but after we finally figured out that Kale would sleep much better sharing a bed with Nolan things went a lot more smoothly. 

The Great Escape Artist

Kale has been busy breaking all sorts of barriers. Jane has informed me that on two separate occasions in the last few weeks he has done something no other kids have done in 20+ years. The first is that he figured out how to unlock the gate to the stairs and let himself up. The next is that he found a small hole in the chain link fence in the backyard that separates the play area from a swampy area. He managed to push the metal aside and climb through the small hole, similar to what a mouse does. Seriously. Jane quickly got him and she made him show her how he got through the hole. Needless to say it’s been fixed. At home we're even having to be more careful because he's figured out how to open doors - and that includes the doors to the outside.  There has been more than one occasion where I've heard the door slam and I run outside to find Kale playing in the garage.  The doors are now deadbolted when I'm home along with the kids because I can't trust Kale! How can one kid keep everyone on their toes all the time?

He’s a big fan lately of saying no and throwing tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. He is such a different kid from Nolan, who evidently was abnormally easy for us. Don’t get me wrong, Nolan has his moments too, but he wasn’t quite as high strung as Kale! Kale literally goes non stop from the time he gets up to bed time, and even bed time has gotten more challenging. He has a really hard time settling himself down. I’m trying something new this week and we’ll see if works – leaving the door open and putting him back as soon as he gets out of it.

Kale is working on his numbers, and for the first time tonight I heard him count to 5. I tried to get him to do it again but he either couldn’t or didn’t want to – which would fit in to his other favorite saying of "I don’t want to". He loves to sing and dance and his new favorite song is Twinkle Twinkle. He doesn’t know all of it but what he knows is pretty good.

Kale is still potty training and doing a pretty good job. Jane tried underpants for a few days, but he’s not getting the hang of #2 yet, so we’re back to pull ups. If he doesn’t go #2 we can make it through most days dry. I personally think he’s motivated by the treats!

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Adam was gone most of the weekend at a softball tournament, so the boys and I spent some quality time together. Nolan announced he was “having a lot fun” as we drove to the grocery store Saturday morning. I guess it doesn’t take much to entertain him! Saturday afternoon we attended a wedding reception for Adam’s cousin. Sunday morning I decided to take the kids to church. I remember why I don’t particularly like to take them by myself, especially Kale. I nice woman sat next to us during the service and she watched me struggle trying to keep Kale in one spot, while Nolan quietly entertained himself by coloring and drawing pictures. At the end of the service she said that we should do something with Kale, like music classes, because he has such a strong voice. I think she was being nice – but I’m not sure! It’s so funny how many people are sympathetic to parent’s who spend the majority of time chasing their kids in church and not hearing what’s said. After lunch I made a last minute decision to take the kids to the zoo to see the dinosaur exhibit. It was quite an experience getting down there and back, as two of the main roads we take were closed. The kids both napped on the way down, so I’m kinda glad it took longer than expected! Once there we headed straight to the dinosaur exhibit. When you enter the exhibit 2 large dinosaurs greet you and spray water on you. The boys were okay with this, but then it went downhill from there. I wouldn’t say the dinosaurs were particularly lifelike, but they were very large, kinda scary looking and made loud noises. Nolan quickly informed me he didn’t like it and would not get out of the stroller to pose for any pictures. At one point near the end the path was covered with fog and there there was a big dino making lots of noise. Nolan started to freak out, saying “I don’t want to see that, I don’t want to see that!” I pulled the shade on the stroller over his face, told him to cover his eyes and ran past it. Once we were in the play area he was fine, and the boys actually took a great picture on a dinosaur that didn’t move or make any noises! As we left the dino exhibit a tractor pulling 2 trailers appeared at the farm. Nolan asked to go on it, so we hopped on the trailer and took a quick ride to the farm area. The boys had fun petting the goats and cows, and seeing pigs for the first time. They also had fun taking pictures in the cut out chickens! After the trailer ride back I put them back in the stroller and we went to see the bears. It was amazing, because one of the bears was eating fish right in front of the window where the boys were standing. A few minutes later the other 2 bears joined him. I was shocked that Nolan wasn’t scared! We said hi to the red butt monkeys on the way out, and started our trek home. As always a highlight for Nolan is seeing the airplanes land at the airport, so I drove home around the airport so he and Kale could watch the planes. Traffic was still backed up so I drove through Minneapolis to get to the 94. Nolan also loves the tunnel, so that was exciting. When we got home Nolan told Adam all about how “the dinosaurs spit on me with water and then said “roar””. Literally, Nolan just said roar and didn’t make any noise. When you ask Kale what a dinosaur sounds like you get the full effect of “ROAR”!

Nolan sat two of his teddy bears next to one another during bedtime last Friday, on a night when Adam was out.  He announced "these 2 bears are best friends." I asked him if he has a best friend and he replied "Daddy is my best friend." Two nights ago when Adam was putting Nolan to bed Nolan asked him where his Lightning McQueen pillow pet came from.  Adam told him Santa.  Nolan replied "Santa is my best friend." Then, as an afterthought Nolan said "you are too, Daddy."  My, how things change when Santa enters the picture!

Jane reported today that when she asked the kids to line up to go to the bathroom this morning Kale was the first one to coming run through the living room yelling "Ok I will!" He beat all the other kids and was the first in line.  We sure hope he keeps this up!

A few nights ago we were saying prayers with the boys and Nolan prayed for one last person - who I thought was "the Savior".  I looked at Adam in awe, thinking he had really paid attention at church on Sunday.  Adam looked at me and replied "he said Xavier".  I think I need to pay closer attention to him.