Caden Hiding

Dear Lucas (5 years 8 months 2 weeks and 1 Day),

Since my monthly letter is two weeks late I thought just this month I would cheat a little bit and ask you a few questions.

1.What is something mom always says to you? "No"

2. What makes mom happy? "I be good at school"

3. What makes mom sad? "When I don't behave at school."

4. How does your mom make you laugh? "Tickles me"

5. What was your mom like as a child? "Maybe bored"

6. How old is your mom? "16" (That would mean I had you when I was 10)

7. How tall is your mom? "2 foot, no 2 inches, no 4 inches tall" (The funny thing about this answer if you pointed at squinted your eyes at me like you were measuring)

8. What is her favorite thing to do? "Play on the wii because you play on the wii with me"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Play on the wii" (nope, I think we can see your most recent obsession is the Wii)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "Being a Super star, a rock star"

11. What is your mom really good at? "writing, because I get all my "s"s wrong" (You are always impressed by how fast I can write and how I know how to form my letters)

12. What is your mom not very good at? "punching in the face"

13. What does your mom do for a job? "babysitting"

14.What is your mom's favorite food? "Spaghetti" (So not my favorite food, but it's what we just finished eating)

15.What makes you proud of your mom? "When we went to Caden's birthday party and I came home and played on the wii and Daddy didn't know what he was supposed to do so you played with me instead"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Maybe Mickey Mouse"

17. What do you and your mom do together? "play on the wii"

18. How are you and your mom the same? "because we are both white, I mean peach colored. Why are we peach colored?"

19. How are you and your mom different? "Because we don't have the same birthday numbers"

20. How do you know your mom loves you? "Because her plays on the wii with me sometimes" (You are just like your Dad, the way to your heart is video games)

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? "He is nice and only sometimes mad."

Snuggle buggle, I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Dear Lucas (5 years 7 months),

It's had to believe that you are now closer to being six than you are to age five. The other night you feel asleep in our bed and when I went to pick you up I couldn't believe how heavy you were and how long your legs were. You are growing like a weed. Standing next to me the top of your head comes to my elbow and you now weigh 40 lbs (you were 36 lbs at the end of July.)

The biggest change around our house has been your Aunt Sam and Caden moving out. The first day you can home from school and they were gone you burst into tears, which is quite ironic since you and Caden ALWAYS FOUGHT! We had a fabulous time while they were here and we'll still seem them all the time. I'm still taking care of Caden while Aunt Sam works, they just won't be sleeping here at night.

This month we also got a new car. Hopefully soon you will be a big brother so we went ahead and bought a car with 4 doors and 5 seats. You were so excited when you first saw the car and started screaming, "I have my own door!!!" The first few times you rode in the car you forgot you had your own door and tried to crawl into the front of the car to get out. You've also already asked, "Hey Mom, when you die can I have your car?" For an only child you are quite worried about what your inheritance will be. If you have it your way you will remain an only child. Your only prayer request during nightly prayers lately is "Dear God, please don't give me a baby brother or sister."

Ever since you turned 5 you've gotten really picky. You might as well be a vegetarian. It is a constant battle to get you to eat meat. The other day I made a roast for dinner and made you try one bite and you started chocking and saying "This tastes like hair! Why are you feeding me hair?" So all you ate for dinner were potatoes and carrots. One night you wanted to eat raw cookie dough for dinner and when I wouldn't let you I was handed a "behavior chart." You explained that if I got two more sad faces I could not be your Mom anymore.

The weather has been so lovely lately that I hate staying in doors. I miss the time before you started school when we would spend tons of time outdoors. You had a day off from school last Friday so we packed a lunch, a blanket, and a few kites and headed to Forsyth. It was so much fun. When it is nice outside I am so tempted to let you play hooky and head to the beach but you are learning so much at school I'd hate for you to miss something. You've become quite the little reader. So I send you off to school and count down the days until St.Patrick's Day and Spring Break and head off on a new adventure.

Last weekend we went to a birthday party for your friends. When we walked up to the house there was a horse in the front yard. You didn't bat an eye as you went into the house. It was like you were used to seeing horses just hanging around in residental areas and it was no big deal. During the party you would run out and ride the horse for a few minutes then run back in the house and play then run back out and ride. I think you rode the horse three times total. You have informed me that you are now a real live cowboy.

Sweet-pea, I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Happy Hearts Day

This year Lucas addressed all of his Valentines by himself. I made the photo Valentines online and picked them up in our local Wal-mart store. I thought they came out cute.

The night before Valentine's Day I stayed up late baking Strawberry muffins. When Curtis, Samantha, Lucas and Caden woke up they were surprised to find breakfast already made.

Lucas was also surprised to find out that I had packed him a lunch, complete with a heart shaped ham and cheese sandwich. He also had carrots, apples, yogurt and a chocolate milk to wash it all down.

Before we left for school I took his picture in front of our heart tree.

The next day Caden helped me turn it into a shamrock tree.

When Cousins are Two of a Kind

Caden discovered a sheet of heart stickers and started decorating himself on Sunday.

It instantly reminded me of pictures I had taken in 2007 of Lucas doing the SAME thing.

Caden 22 Months

Lucas 19 months

Dear Lucas (5 years 6 months 1 week... and a few days late),

This is probably the latest I've been with a letter to you. It's just crazy life seems to get as you get older and how much it seems to go by quicker. It's also funny to think how when your Dad and I first found out that I was pregnant with you that we both hoped for a girl. I can honestly say however since you've been in our lives we never once thought "man I wish we had a girl instead." I just never realized how much fun pirates and super heroes are. The other night I went to dinner with a friend and came home to find you passed out in bed. You were all snuggled under the covers and next to you was your Spider-Man costume. I couldn't help but smile because the way everything was laying there it looked like I had just discovered Spider-man's secret identity.

Caden and Aunt Sam are still staying with us. You and Caden are finally starting to warm up to each other. When Caden first moved in he was terrified of taking baths for some reason but he started to see how much fun you had he decided to give it a try. Now every night when he hears the water running or you splashing around he comes running. Caden has been giving you a taste of what life would be like with a little brother or sister.

This month I've noticed how much you are like your Dad. The two of you really are two peas in a pod. You both get so frustrated if you don't get something right the first time. You both love to work with your hands and you both love video games. I just got a new phone and every chance you get you are always swiping it to play games on it. There are these puzzle games on my phone that I can barely figure out but you just zip through with no problem.

This past week you were the Star Student for your class. We had to make a poster so that you could share a little bit about your life with your classmates. You were supposed to include pictures of your family and pets. Last month your cat Siren was hit by a car and we had to bury her in the backyard. You wanted to include her picture on your poster. When we put that picture on the poster you almost started crying and grabbed on me and said "Mommy, I still miss her and I think I'll miss her forever."

At the end of each week you always bring home the papers and activities you did at School. You must have studied the planets last week because you brought home a paper you did where you placed all the planets in the right order from the sun. I made a comment to you about how when I was a kid there were nine planets. I totally thought you were going to be shocked or think I was making something up. Instead, without skipping a beat you said, "Yeah well that was Pluto. It got destroyed or something and now it's just a star." Then you started talking about the libery bell and how it got cracked. I am always amazed by just how much you have learned.

Friday was awards day at your school. You got a perfect attendance certificate and you were so proud. I think only four or five kids in your class had perfect attendance (including you) this last marking period.

The other day a little girl that lives a few houses down came and asked if you could play. She goes to your school and rides your bus. I've met her parents so I let you go play for a little bit. It was your first playdate at a neighbors house.

Sweet Pea, I love you to the moon and back,

Mom

Party of Five

Right before Christmas, Curt's sister Samantha and her son Caden moved in with us. Sam got a job right down the street from us and I watch Caden while she as at work. The extra roommates are just temporary but there haven't been any issues at all. It's actually been really nice having them here. I really like having another female in the house and Sam and I are only 8 months apart and both Moms of boys so we have quite a bit in common. She helps around the house and we take turns making runs to the grocery store. Another nice benefit to her being here is that Curt and I have already gone out on two dates without Lucas. We have a third planned for Friday night!

Rest in Peace Siren Firetruck Hose Hunter

Friday morning I noticed that Lucas' kitty Siren was missing. She was always an inside cat but she enjoyed going out in the backyard with the dogs when they took potty breaks. I figured she would turn up. I got Lucas dressed for school and we headed to the bus stop. Right as we walked out of our driveway I noticed a black cat lying in the road. I was able to distract Lucas so he didn't notice the cat and get him on the bus without him knowing anything was wrong. It turned out that it was Siren. When Lucas got home from school Curtis and I told him that Siren had passed away and he wanted to bury her in the backyard so we did.

The first night we brought Siren home 10/15/2010

Bonding with his new kitten

Siren quickly became the subject of Lucas' artwork.

She liked to jump in the empty dryer.

Even our nephew Caden loved her.

She loved taking naps on the couch just like Nicey and Jadie.

Dear Lucas (5 Years & 5 months),

It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and soon you will be going back to school. This has been the best Christmas yet. It's been so magically watching you get excited about every little thing. We've gone to the Roundhouse to watch "The Polar Express," you decorated a gingerbread house, we saw the nativity story acted out in front of us at the journey, and we wrapped tons of presents. In all the excitement and craziness I think the best moments were just cuddled up next to you singing Christmas carols and drinking hot chocolate.

Right before Christmas your aunt Sam and your cousin Caden moved in with us for a while. So far so good and it's been nice having them around. I think the only one having any problems adjusting is you. They are staying in your playroom so you've had to give it up for now. Also, suddenly you have a little person there trying to "mess with your stuff."

The very same day that Sam and Caden moved in three of your cousins came to stay with us for a short visit. It was a loud but fun house for a couple of days. You really had fun playing with Levi. One time he was not listening to his Mom and she was joking and told him that if he didn't behave she didn't want to take him home. You immediately said "that's okay, he can stay here and be my brother," and for the rest of his visit you kept referring to him as your brother. When his little brother Isaiah did anything you thought was wrong you would run to their mom and say "that boy is being mean to my brother." When it was time for them to leave Erica explained that she had to take Levi home because all his Christmas presents were at their house. You were fine with that but you keep talking about how now that Christmas is over your brother Levi will be back soon.

Before Christmas I took you to see Santa and luckily there was no line. You were able to talk to him for a few minutes. The only thing you asked Santa for this year was a Nerf gun and a hot wheels track. Christmas morning you were so excited to see a nerf gun next to your stocking you didn't even notice any of your other presents for over an hour.

Since we are in a house with a whole lot more room we were able to get a decent Christmas tree. Since we've had you we've always had a tiny Christmas tree. This year that little Christmas tree went in your bedroom and served as your night light. Christmas morning the tree was packed with presents and our house was full with family and it was such a great feeling.

The day after Christmas we were just hanging out at the house and I looked out the window and noticed a few snow flakes floating down in the air. It was so exciting and pretty to see snow falling around all the Christmas decorations. Just as the sun was starting to go down some of the snow started to stick and covered the roof and started to stick to the ground. You drank hot chocolate while we watched the snow fall around us. It was the perfect ending to a perfect Christmas.

Sweet-pea, I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Santa Baby

Reunited

Steven and Caden haven't seen each other since this summer. It took a little while for Caden to warm up to his big brother.

Almost 20 Months