Unfortunately we missed Sadie's toddler group graduation because the whole family got really sick for about a week and a half. Immediately following that, I got a herniated disc in my back as I was walking to the car to go out for lunch on Father's Day. I managed to hobble my way to the restaurant but the rest of the day Casey had to take care of me instead of vice versa :(. A few weeks later he traded in the BMW for our new Yukon Denali and was very excited about the new car and the deal he got - hopefully that made up for his incomplete Father's Day :).
Wednesday was the 4th of July and we went to Jack's to watch the fireworks by the lake. We only made it until about 7:45 but Caden did actually see one firework go off before we left. He was very impressed by how bright it was and decided he wasn't scared of them anymore. He was telling us about it very excitedly on the way home when he distracted by a fire station. Without taking a breath, he immediately segued into his excitement about that, and then returned to the initial subject - all in about 5 seconds. It went something like, "I saw the firework and it was big and round and bright - there's the firetruck and I saw it and I saw the garage - and I was so surprised when it was so loud".
----------
Sadie still has her reservations and told us many times, "'cared it". She tells us this about a lot of loud things. She doesn't usually seem upset though, just wants to make sure she knows she's scared and then she's fine.
Sunday was Sadie's 2nd birthday and Laura was able to fly into town to help us celebrate with the grandparents. As per our new family tradition, Casey, Sadie and I had a special outing in the morning while Caden hung out with everyone else. Before we headed out, Caden and Casey made a special early morning trip to the grocery store for supplies to make the birthday girl blueberry and cinnamon french toast.
Our plan was to hit up the children's museum in Factoria but when we got there it was closed so we went and saw the animals at Kelsey Creek for a while and then returned to the museum.
Sadie's favorite parts were the building blocks, the semi-truck, the air scarf shooters, the bouncy animals, and the water tables.
We spent the rest of the day playing in the backyard on a bouncy water pad we made out of plastic sheeting and enjoying our freshly bricked patio.
Casey and I were in DC the week before for the ECG conference so I didn't have a lot of time to plan but her lady bug and butterfly party came together pretty well. She was especially excited about the cake (which is funny because last year she had a cake all to herself and wouldn't touch it.) This year she polished off her slice in about 2 minutes and then went around the room asking everyone if she could try theirs - hitting the softer targets (i.e. grandmas) first.
That's the big stuff, here are some of the smaller things that exemplify the kids these days:
----------
S: wipe off hands?
Me: Yeah?
S: Hold on...
Me: Not yet
S: Not yet?
S: ... Almost
Me: Yeah, almost... How'd you get so smart?
S: Big Girl
Me: You're a big girl?
S:Yeah! No Lucky Duck!
----------
Sadie doesn't often want me to rock her to sleep in her glider anymore, except for when she's extra tired or sick. She's had a runny nose all week and has been sleeping a ton so she's been asking to be rocked again. I love it because I don't get to do it much anymore and I'm not sure how much longer she'll let me. Also, she sings along quietly with all the songs now - which is very sweet. She also thinkgs the "CD" in the alphabet song is "Sadie" and says "and Caden, and Caden" for the rest of the song.
----------
Caden was watching a show called Super Why the other day and they asked the viewer what they wanted to be when they grew up. Without hesitation Caden said a janitor because he likes to sweep.
----------
Caden:
"When I come downstairs in the night, I sleep on the chair. The problem is at night all my friends [stuffed animals] want to talk to me so I can't sleep and I want to come downstairs with just my guys [two bugs, doggie and polar bear] because only my best pals don't talk to me when I'm trying to sleep."
----------
When I hurt my back, Debby was kind enough to take the kids home to Yakima so I could rest it. When they got back, for some reason Sadie decided she needed to skip everywhere she went for about two days straight. Also, she perfect a new move so I won't have to lift her into her crib in which she stand on the ottoman, raises herself up by the arms so that her stomach is on the railing, leans over and dives into her crib. It's hilarious, impressive, and scary to watch all at the same time.
No lucky duck
----------
Our bedtime routine has recently changed again so that we now, all four, read books together in Caden's bed before one parent takes each kid off to sleep. Before that, Caden was still asking whoever put him to sleep questions every night. One night it was my turn and he asked me something in the dark. After about 10 seconds of silence (while I tried to come up with an answer) he asked why I didn't answer. When I told him I was working on it, he said, "Say 'umm...ummm...hmmm' and tap your chin so I know you're thinking about it."
----------
The kids were outside playing tonight and they didn't know I was watching. Sadie got something in her shoe and sat down in the bark to try to get it out. Caden sat on his excavator and gave her verbal directions on how to take it off and shake it. When she couldn't get her shoe back on, they both ran across the patio to the dining set. She climbed up on a chair, Caden kneeled in front of her and patiently put both of her shoes on for her. They they returned to playing, never the wiser that I saw any of it happen.
