Giddy-up!

We, I should clarify, Cayden and I ventured out to the rodeo on Sunday (Oct. 11th) for Military Appreciation Day.

Some of Cayden's Favorites:
Popcorn, Soda like Grandpa likes (AKA Coca Cola), and the bubble gum we brought from home.

Rodeo favorite: The guy who jumped the motorcycle over the pick-up with trailer attached. How sad is that? We go to the rodeo and he tells me that his favorite was the motorcylce. He also told me he was going to do that someday and ride a motorcycle really fast. I explained that mom wouldn't really like that, so he said ok. And that he wasn't going to ride a motorcycle. Can I get that in writing?!

Other Favorites from the Rodeo:
My favorite: CAYDEN!


This was one of Cayden's favorites: The "Broncos" as he calls them.


And I have decided the most insane sport that I can think of: Bull riding. I apologize to anyone who reads this that might be a bull-rider or a fan of the sport. Cayden had fun watching them, but I cringed everytime a bull moved. I can't believe people willing ride bulls. And on top of that, I can believe that people (me included during the rodeo) watch the sport. So very crazy. At least Cayden didn't come out saying he wanted to ride bulls. I don't know what I would have done.
(sorry for the blurry pictures, these animals move so fast for their enormous size!)

Sweet Jade...

I've been debating putting a post on here about our sweet Jadie girl. I've decided that I am finally ready to do so. On October 9th we had to have Jade put down. She had bone cancer. She was 8 years young at the time.

She has been greatly missed by our family. Cayden sure does ask some tough questions regarding what happened to her. It is difficult to explain death to a four year old so that they understand without all of the hard to understand details. (I don't even think that sentence makes sense).

The above collage are pictures from 3 days before she passed away.
The below picture is Cayden giving Jade her morning kiss and hug and "I love you"

Crawling Videos

Each baby developed their own style of crawling. Aleah (in pink) has pretty much always crawled on her hands and knees like a "normal" crawl. Cayley (in green) started with a "military" crawl. She could really move fast this way. Bryce started his crawling (and he was first to crawl) did the "wounded person" crawl. Now all of the babies do a combination of their original crawls with the "normal" crawl. They are cruising furniture, but not walking yet. I haven't decided if walking will be a good thing or not.

The girls

I figured, if Brycey gets his own post with videos, I better put on some videos of the girls. Here's Aleah...


And Here's Cayley...

Peak-a-boo, Brycey

Brycey has learned how to play peak-a-boo. It is too cute! It took a time or two of him doing it before I realized what he was doing. I love it!

Brycey...

I thought I would get some pictures of the babies. Little did I know what I was really capturing on the camera.

At first I'm thinking: "Oh, Bryce, how nice of you to give Aleah love." and I snap the picture.

After I took the picture. I got a chance to "better" see what was going on. That wasn't love... It was a bite! BRYCEY!!!! Be nice! Poor Aleah.

"Operation Heroes"

This was a day filled with activities for family members affected by military deployment. I thought that it sounded like a great activity for the kiddos and I. It was a lot of fun, but I should have gotten more details before I ventured out ALONE with the kids.

I went out alone thinking I would be okay. I brought the double stroller for the girls, and a single stroller for Bryce. Cayden loves to push Bryce in the stroller. He is an excellent helper.

So we get in the theater and they tell us about the activities for the day. "The BUSES will shuttle us to the various places." Excuse me? Did you say buses? How am I going to manage 4 children by myself on a bus? I can't hold three babies and Cayden can't carry one. Luckily, a nice airman helped me load the girls, stroller and all onto the bus. Then I was able to get Bryce onto the bus by myself. It really was an interesting day.

Here are LOTS of pictures of the activities Cayden participated in. The babies just hung out in their strollers and took it all in.

Fingerprinting for Cayden's ID card.

Cayden getting painted for "war".

Cayden with Bryce after Cayden got his "war paint" done.

Cayden checking out the displays. He really liked the green tornado!


Trying out the camouflage and weapons.

Checking out the robot. The kids got to take an artillery shell from it. (I'm guessing the shell was a fake)

Checking out the armored vehicle.


Hanging out in the ambulance.

Checking to make sure his heart is still beating.

By the wheel of the B52.

Under the wing of the B52.

Driving the helicopter.


Some random military vehicles, not sure what they were.


Driving the Fire Truck.

Checking out the rest of the fire truck.

Driving the snow plow.

Under the blade of the snowplow.

Random Photos from my cell phone

These pictures are really from the end of August.

Cayden and I took the babies around the block. I looked down at the end of the walk and Cayley (far left) and Bryce (middle) were holding hands. It looks like Aleah and Bryce might be holding hands as well, but I can't remember and I can't really tell on the picture.


Babies at Oak Park. Bryce is in stroller by himself. Cayden likes this because then he gets to be the helpful big brother and push Brycey around. Cayley is in front of the double stroller and Aleah is in the second seat. This is a change because normally Aleah is in front.


Cayden at Oak Park. It was tough to get him to stop long enough to take a picture. He had found a little "friend" to play with. He says it is a friend because he asked the little girl her name, so now she is his friend (haven't seen her since!)

Random video from my cell phone

This is a video of Cayley "crawling" that I took on my cell phone. Since Scott is gone, I can "text" his email from my phone. It's a nice way to keep in touch with him. I took this video of Cayley back in August of her crawling. It was so Scott could better see how she crawls. I have other videos of the babies crawling, as each one has developed his and her own style of crawling.

First Day of School

Yep, you read it right! We are back to school! A week earlier than many of the schools in our area (just means we get a few more holidays throughout the year!)

Here is Cayden on his first day back to "school" aka: daycare. He was really excited to be going back. He even picked out his outfit for the first day of school. I think he did a pretty good job!


And here is Cayden and I on our first day back. Teachers met today and Tuesday and the kids come Wednesday! I'm excited, I have a student teacher this fall so a new adventure at school for me!

Fishing in MN

Cayden was able to do a little fishing while we were at the cabin in MN.

And Cayden was succesfull!

Touching his fish that he caught.

Cayden's fish (sorry the picture isn't so great. But it sure makes the fish look big!)

Oooooooo... Spooky....

Not really. Here is Cayden and I roasting marshmellows at the MN cabin.

Cayden roasting his very own marshmellow. And if you ask him about it, "It turned out perfect!"

And here is all of my friends that stayed while I roasted a few marshmellows! I love how the pictures are a little fuzzy. So scary...

I was really impressed with all of my friends so I had to take another picture of them.

Presents at the MN Lake

Lisa and family gave the babies this fun multi-activity toy for the babies birthday. Of course the three older kids, Cayden, cousin Addy and cousin Ash, helped the babies open it. And of course the older kids enjoyed playing with the toy as well. At some point there were 5 kids playing with the toy, but I missed it on the camera.

Cousin Ash running to help open the big present. Cayley is in the yellow top.

Cousin Ash, Cousin Addy and Cayden opening the big present.

Ash, Addy, Bryce and Cayden checking out the new toy.

Aleah is in the middle of the picture looking at me. I wonder what is going through her mind.

Cayley (in yellow top) and Aleah were watching me.

Lake Fun in Minnesota

My sister and her family rented a cabin on one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes. I offered to come crash their cabin, and she agreed! Cayden had a blast playing in the water.

Cayden playing on the knee board.
Cayden writing in the sand.
Cayden's first experience with goggles.
Checking out the water with the goggles on.
Cayden's sand castle with stick flag that I helped him build (this was our second attempt. He crushed the first one.)