Like mother like son

Cade has been so honest lately. It's so cute. I'd like to think that it's genetics, but it's probably not. The reason I say that is that when I was growing up, my family used to tell me I would be a nun when I grew up because I couldn't tell a lie.

It all started with a little lie I told in preschool to my teacher. She asked if I had any brothers or sisters, and since the boy sitting next to me said he had a brother, I wanted one too. So, I told my teacher I had one sister (the truth) and a brother (a lie) but that he had died by getting hit by a car! I knew I couldn't verify that I had a real brother so I guess him dying was a cover up! Ha! Well, when I was in first grade I was learning about telling the truth at a church service one day. I could not stop thinking about that lie I told. I ended up crying to my mom that same night and told her about the lie I told. She said it was okay, but I was insistent on her calling the teacher to tell her what I did! She said she would. That eased my liar's remorse, and I started only telling the truth from then on out.

Fast forward to present day. I got home from grocery shopping at Sam's Club yesterday, and I had gotten a scrumptious pop there. I sat it on the table when I came in, and went back out to get the rest of the groceries out of the car. When I came back in, Cade was standing on a chair at the table- I thought nothing of it, until he said (with the cutest little smirk on his face) "Mommy, I took a sip of your pop." I said, "oh you did, that's okay just ask me next time." "OK mommy, I will" LONG PAUSE... "Mommy, I took TWO sips." I was chuckling at that point. Then he wanted another sip, of course (pop is a big treat!) Then later that day, he was playing with his friend Hunter, and I heard Hunter kind of crying, and I said to everyone else in the room, "Did Cade just take something away from him?" Then Cade blurted out, "No, I just pushed him." Gotta appreciate the kid's honesty, right? These are just a few recent examples, but since this has been a pattern, I think we might have an Honest Cade on our hands.

Happy Birthday Dad/Jerry/Gramps and Happy Belated Birthday Mom/Mary Lynn/Nana!!

Today is our beloved Dad/Jerry/Gramps' Birthday! We hope you know how much we love you! You are a wonderful example in so many ways- thank you for all you do and who you are!One day, Scott walked into our house with a gentleman that he worked with that resembled Gramps in only a way that Cade would recognize because Cade said "Hey Gramps!" when they came through the door! It was so cute! So even though you are hundreds of miles away, Cade knows exactly who you are and thinks of you often! As do all of us!

Unfortunately, I messed up and didn't do a post on Mom/Mary Lynn/Nana's Birthday which was February 17th! I am so sorry! We hope you know how much we love you, and how much you mean to us! You only get more beautiful with time! Thank you for being such an amazing mother and grandmother!

We love you both and hope you can make it out to Michigan soon to visit!

Easter pics

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Since I'm such a procrastinator, here are finally some pics- and finally a new post!

We headed to Kalamazoo to spend Easter with my family- we had a great time, and of course, Cade was spoiled!

Happy 6th month b-day Colton!

Today Colton is six months old! I can't believe it! I wanted to make sure I wrote something about him since I have been bad about documenting stuff in his baby book! Sad I know! He is a little peanut- that's exactly what they called him at the doctor's office today- he is very small for his age! A lot smaller than Cade was at his age!

Here are some things about Colton right now:

-He has an auburn tone to his hair! Going to be a red head? Hmmm.
-He adores his big bro and watches him in awe! But don't let that innocent face fool you-

he starts to screech loudly when Cade pulls a little too hard on him! Which leads me to...

-He has this high-pitched screech that he does constantly to get your attention- doesn't

matter if he's tired, hungry, bored or whatever- he WILL get your attention!

-He is sitting up by himself! But you need to be nearby cause he's still mastering this!

-He smiles ALL THE TIME! He is such a happy guy and so laid back!

-He kicks his legs constantly! Same thing Cade did too! Funny!

-He is a really good sleeper right now! I hope I didn't jinx this!

This is what happens when mommy tells Cade to play with me! He dumps all the bath toys on me!

We love you, Colt!

Meet Pedro Peabody Tousa

Well, in celebration of Cade being officially potty-trained, we got him a fish! We were in Meijer's one day when he wanted to look at the fish- he loved them, so I told him if he started to go to the bathroom on the big potty, we would get him a fish! He did it! So, he named him Pedro Peabody Tousa. We tried to give him lots of options on the name because he wanted to call him "Purplefish", which would have been okay, but isn't Pedro so much cuter? Celebratory dinner at where else- QDoba! At the pet store with Cade's new fish!

Cade's sticker chart

Pedro

The Next Survivor Series

So, the reason for this post is two-fold.

The below proposed "Next Survivor Series" is hilarious to read (Thanks to my friend Kari, whom I stole this from off her blog that she posted it on a while back). First off, I do believe my husband would win. He is amazing, and he amazes me more each day with the way in which he approaches each day with his easy going attitude. He is an awesome daddy, our boys love him to pieces! Nevertheless, this is not to undermine men- it is just funny to look at all that moms do that sometimes gets overlooked.

Secondly, when is this writer's strike supposed to end? I am so tired of not being able to watch my favorite shows! So let's get our husbands together for a little friendly competition and we'll get the cameras rolling!

NEXT "SURVIVOR" SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.There is no fast food.Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time.Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation).

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.Each father will be required to know all of the words to every silly kid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6 year old boy finds it in the purse.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.He will need to read a book to the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00.

They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 am and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they arebetter.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, 'You're not the boss of me'.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if... he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

Our trip to see The Lukken Family

Better late than never! It has been a week since we got back from visiting our best friends, the Lukkens, but my computer has been acting up, and I could not get pictures to upload!

We had a blast! As some of you know, Michelle and Wade and their three precious little ones moved to South Dakota last June because Wade finished up his residency here in Ann Arbor and now is working at a surgery center as an anesthesiologist in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. We miss them so much!

Wade and the boys!

Bennett and Colton! Only 2

months apart!

We flew into Omaha, NE on a Wednesday and headed to their house. They have a beautiful new home! Of course, it's spotless! The boys were having a blast together! Drew and Dylan are such cute little boys, and baby Bennett is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen! We actually took all of the boys to the mall in Sioux City, IA (only a 20 minute drive) to go to the playland they have there. It was hilarious! We had two double strollers and Cade walked- it was a riot! We got lots of sympathy stares not to mention some sympathy quarters for the rides they have near the food court! The best was the ride home (we left twenty minutes too late) when almost every boy in the car was crying at one time or another! Michelle and I just looked at each other and smiled and thought- this is life and we love it! Ha! We hung out at their house until Friday afternoon until we headed out for Lincoln, NE to visit Michelle's family.

Michelle's family is so sweet! We all stayed at their beautiful home and they were angels for housing us all (Cade likes to run around like a wild man)! We had so much fun! We went to the Lincoln Children's Museum and then headed to Michelle's nephews birthday party! Thanks Jennifer for having it on the weekend we were there! It was awesome! It was at a gymnastics place, and of course, Cade was in his element. We then went to Jennifer's beautiful home to hang out and bake some chocolate cookies. It was a blast, and between the three of us- we had 7 boys! We had so much fun! We also met for breakfast the next morning- all 7 boys and 6 adults!

Dylan playing at Derek and

Braeden's Birthday Party!
It was jersey party if you

hadn't guessed!

Drew being cute!

Cade being a daredevil!

Again!

Colton and me!

Barb and Bennett

Stu and Colton

We managed to make it to the mall again- yes- another playland trip! But, this time, Barb was so sweet to watch the two little ones so Michelle and I could have some special time with the toddlers! We rode the carousel and ate dinner at our fave place- Q-doba! The boys ran around there more than the playland, but there was no one there so it was perfect! We had to head home the next day, but we really had such a great time the whole time we were there!

Colton and Bennett

This was one of many attempts

at getting all the boys picture!

This is how we travelled!

All in all, Michelle and I got plenty of time to talk- staying up late only to be woken up hours later to feed the babes, but it was so worth it! I miss you my friend! Thank you Michelle and Wade, Barb and Stu, Jennifer and Scott- we had the best time!

Dylan playing outside

Cade and Drew playing outside!
Hugs!

We will be back in June so be ready!