Do I have to?

Some moments I document, just because I don't want to forget.  This is one of them:  A conversation with Kaden.

June 9, 2013 - Sunday

...just 2 days after the last day of school.

As Kaden is getting dressed for church, he says to me: "Mom, I don't want to go to school tomorrow!"

I say, with a smile, "Ok, you can stay home." 

Josh, overhearing us, says:

"Now Kaden, if you stay home from school then you're going to have to spend the whole day resting in your bed, and not do anything."

Kaden whines a little and says, "Fine."

Then I say, "Maybe you could lay in bed and dream about how it IS actually summer!"

We all laughed!

And Kaden says, "That wasn't funny at all!  You guys are so mean!"

---We just couldn't help ourselves.  

Versii: Kindergarten Grad!

 June 6, 2013 

I went to Versii's Kindergarten Graduation.

 Versii with his class at their last field trip to Meinig Park.  (He's in the middle on the top row.)

 When asked what he wants to be when he grows up...A Police Officer.

 Versii: Kindergarten Grad!

Versii with his teacher, Mrs. McElhaney.

Mason and Linden's Party

 June 2, 2013

Our neighbor friends, Mason and Linden both have birthdays around the same time as the boys.  They had a costume party at their home, so we went over with the boys, who were more than excited for the opportunity to dress up!

They had a good time, climbing on the ropes, having a dance-off, playing with friends and having their faces painted.

 Paxton wanted a "bug", so she went with a spider.

Kaden wanted to look like he was dirty and beat up.

And Versii wanted Luigi's mustache and eyebrows.

Although he temporarily lost his hat somewhere at the party.

In the end, even Josh and I got in on the paint action.

 After the party, playing in our yard.

Boys Day Out

 June 1, 2013

 Dad and Josh left with the boys to go fishing and when that plan didn't pan out...they came home, grabbed some flashlights and headed out to the Ape Caves.

Dad said, that at one point, inside the cave they decided to turn out all the flashlights to see just how dark it would be and that even Kaden couldn't wait to get them turned back on.  He said none of the boys were fans of the dark.  And Paxton just kept asking when he could go to the part where you have to crawl on your belly.  Dad said about a mile into the cave, it gets so narrow you'd have to crawl on your hands and knees to go any further.

The boys had fun spending time with their Dad and Grandpa.

And I had an enjoyable time at home in a quiet house.

Big Birthday Surprise!

May 31, 2013

Josh's Mom arranged a big group gift for the boys this year, 

from her and Moe and all Josh's siblings.

She had seen some candy bouquets online and insisted the boys have one.  So with financial backing from them, I went to work creating a candy bouquet for the boys.

I love the way it turned out!

We found the green pot and it looks just like the pipes Mario and Luigi are always hopping into and popping out of in the game. Then I cut out Mario and Luigi from the fruit snack box and placed them to look like they're jumping out of the pipe.  And of course, candy and coins exploded out with them!  Looks like I have a talent for arranging candy, who knew.  

Paxton and Versii caught an accidental peek at the bouquet the day before, and tried to tell Kaden about it at bed time.  Paxton said, "And we're getting Mario Kart!" Then Kaden said, "What?! You guys are lying! Was it a toy or a game?!"  They said it was a toy and he sort of lost interest.  But luckily they did not spoil the surprise for him.

The boys were so excited!  They loved it!

Picking out their favorite parts!

We had the boys open the game, Mario Galaxy 2 first. 

It was wrapped in a random box, so as soon as the paper came off, Versii and Paxton immediately lost interest. Kaden opened the box and saw that it was Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii!  A game he really wanted, but we had discovered only exists for the Wii.  So we tricked him into thinking Mimi bought the wrong thing.

And then we had them open the biggest surprise of all:

A Wii!

When the paper first came off his first thought was another random box...and then he realized it was real!

The boys have wanted a Wii for the longest time!

They are ecstatic!

The boys and their Wii!

Below is the video of them opening their gifts.

It's so fun to watch their reactions.

A Million thanks to everyone who made this possible:
Mimi and Papa Moe
Aunt Autumn, Uncle James and cousins
Aunt Amanda, Uncle Jesse and girls,
Uncle Jake, Aunt Heather and Frank "the dog"
Uncle Jordan
Aunt Ariel, Uncle Joe and McKenzie
and
Uncle Josie!
Thanks so much!

Blurred Vision

May 30, 2013

Thursday we took Kaden to the eye doctor to have his vision checked.  He had been complaining that he was having trouble seeing thinks far away.  The doctor said that he could benefit from a low prescription and that he is near sighted with a slight astigmatism.  He said that because of the astigmatism,
glasses would likely help him see clearer close-up as well.

When Kaden saw all the eye-checking equipment, he said,
"It looks like the mad scientist in here!"

Top Left is Kaden in the frames he picked out.

They have been ordered and will be ready in 2 weeks.

Oh the Fun Run!

 May 31, 2013

This year, Prescott's Fun Run fell on Paxton's birthday.

Paxton hanging out on the bleachers waiting for Versii's class to start running.

 Our first shot at Versii coming around the track for lap 1.

 Josh running a lap with Versii.

 Paxton ran a lap too.

 Kaden requesting Versii's lap count, then yelling "Run Versii, Run!"

Versii showing off his running card to his friends.

Each class had 30 minutes to run and the track is a quarter-mile.

Versii ran a total of 12 laps...possibly the most in his class.

3 miles in 30 minutes!  Wow, nice job Versii!

Kaden getting ready to start his run.

 On the left: Kaden's shocked face as I told him Versii ran 12 laps!  He had predicted Versii would only run 6.

He said he ran 8 laps in Kindergarten.

On the right: Josh pointed out that these girls were into Kaden.  Which Kaden thinks is "not funny at all".

 The race begins!

 Kaden running with friends Ben and Trevell.

 Josh and Paxton watching from the stands.

 Kaden checking in with his teacher, Mr. Marsh, to mark another lap complete!

 

 Paxton having a fun time running around the bleachers.

The end of the fun run!

 Kaden showing off his card: 13 Laps!

There had originally been a debate about how much time Kaden was given to run, as Josh and I didn't keep track.

Josh and Kaden thought it was only 15 minutes, but I thought they had a half-hour.  Although, I remembered the camera automatically timestamps each photo.  So I was able to conclude that the shots at the start line were taken at 10:00am and the end shots were taken at 10:32am.

Kaden had the same amount of time as Versii.

He's a little disappointed that he wasn't able to complete more laps, but I think 3.25 in 30 minutes is awesome!

Way to go Kaden!