Horses

We're having a bit of a horse moment right now.  Every time we go down to play in our basement we have to go a few rounds on the "neigh".  Also, whenever we visit Grandpa and Grandma we HAVE to help feed the horses.  Mommy always stays a good 20 feet back from the fence and frets the whole time.  I'm determined to not pass on my fear so I plant a big, fake smile on my face while Kade obliviously helps Grandma or Aunt(s) Erin and Jenna with the "beasts".  Seriously, why do they have to be so big?!

Here's some documentation of the Crazy Cowboy in action.

Come with me "Jen Jen", I'll show you where we keep the horse food.

First, you take the lid off the barrel.

Then, you very scientifically measure the grains.

I like to take my own special cup to the horses as well.  I have to make sure it's good and full because...

...no matter how careful I am I always seem to spill most of it while I'm walking!  I even have my tongue sticking out for extra concentration and I STILL spill it!  Gah!

Luckily, you gals didn't spill your bucket or these horses would starve!

Erin likes to help me pull the hay wagon.  I let her think she's helping anyway.

Does anybody see my mom?  Why is she so far away from the fence??  These "neighs" are awesome!!

Merry Christmas from the Silly Headbands!

Yesterday Kade gave his present to the Giving Tree in the mall.  I couldn't get a very good picture because he was too busy people watching.  We didn't bother the old folks with trying to take a picture of the 3 of us this year.  They were all too busy being entertained by the blond cutie anyway!

He had fun pushing the present through the gate but got a little mad when we wouldn't let him climb on it afterwards. 

Last Thursday Kade had a play date with Owen and Ellie at our house.  This video shows what happens after lots of pizza, puppy chow and a combined total of 40 minutes of sleep between three kids 4 and under. 

Kade and Ellie modeling Kade's infant hat from last winter.  Aren't they special?

On Saturday Lady A, her mom (S) and her aunt (along with her little guy) came to visit.  It was a great time, like always, it goes way too fast!  And, of course, like last year, they hijacked Santa's sleigh along the way!!

Although Kade seemed more interested in the paper, once we got the toys put together he loved playing with them. 

Safety first!  Always wear protective eye wear when holding a toy level.

Kade LOVES his horse that he got from his birth-great-grandparent's!  As long as it's just a toy horse and not a real one...seriously, horses scare the bejeezus out of me!!

Modeling his new shirt and hat he got from his birth uncle.  He's right in the middle of going "round and round" as in "the wheels on the bus go..."

Another cute pic.  His eyes match his shirt!

Farm play is serious business.  Kade cannot be bothered to smile for the picture, not when there's corn to be harvested!

Poor Goldy is getting worked by the Kade Man! 

Read my pajamas.  Enough said.

That little-baby-diaper-butt is super cute too!

Snow!

Last weekend was a lazy weekend at home.  Saturday we did some decorating for Christmas and Erik may have put together part of Kade's Christmas gift. 

He loves his new train table!

Sunday we woke up to lots of snow and couldn't wait to get Kade outside to see what he thought of the white stuff.  First we had to eat breakfast though.

Look at these goofy grins!

After the morning nap we had to have a snack with dad...

Then it was time to go outside.  Bundling up a 16 month old is no small task, but it was worth it because Kade LOVED sledding! 

He even went solo a bunch of times down the hill on the side of our house.  If you listen closely in the video you can hear him giggling the whole way down the hill.

Week In Review: A Post of Pictures

Wednesday

Kade meet Ella.  Ella meet Kade.

Hmm, cute girl?  Or cool tractor?

Tractor?  What tractor?  Hellllloooo Ella!

                                                               Thursday

C'mon Dad!  Let's teach these fools how to play pong!!!

Kade devoured his first Thanksgiving meal (last year's bottle of formula on Thanksgiving doesn't count).  He even had seconds on most things, including sweet potatoes (yuck!)

If the women are cleaning up the kitchen and the men are doing this, who's watching Kade?!?

                                                               Friday
A day with Dad while Mom worked.  Since Mom was not around, no pictures were taken.

                                                               Saturday

All of Erik's cousins (minus a couple spouses) gathered at (great) Grandma and Grandpa's house.

                                                                     Sunday

Good choice Kade!  It's just your size!

I think our ornaments might fit a little better on this one though.

What do we do when Grandpa is laying down?  We tackle him!  No matter that he's under a tree, with a saw in his hand. 

When he's down we make sure he stays down!  No help for you Old Man!!

                                                            Monday, Tuesday
Work.  Daycare.  Lame.

                                                             Wednesday

Decorate the tree!  Don't be fooled by this sweet picture.  He puts the ornament on, then winds up and swings as hard as he can and bats the ornament off!!  Our tree is sporting all unbreakable ornaments this year.  I have an image in my head of Kade knocking the whole tree down, which is probably not too far from reality!

Ornaments don't belong in a box!  They belong on the floor so I can stomp all over them with better efficiency!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Lately Kade seems to like trying things on.  He puts on our shoes (mine anyway, Erik's size 13's are about the same size as Kade's entire body!).  He'll pull clothes out of our drawers and try to wear them, and he loves to put things on his head.  The proof is in the pictures below!

I know we tend to keep our house a little chillier than most people, but I think he's exaggerating just a smidge!

Lookin' Gooood, Big Guy! (Erik tells him this every morning)

Sweatin' to the Oldies.  He was right in the middle of "jumping" in this picture.  You can't slide a piece of paper under his vertical yet.

Do Dad's basketball shorts fit me yet??

At daycare they made Indian headbands.  Kade wore his all day and the whole way home.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

He's really getting in the spirit of Thanksgiving. 
Festive head decor:  Check!
Comfy pants with an elastic waist:  Check!
Football:  Check!

Punt...

Pass....

and Sit??? 

15 Month Stats

Kade had his 15 month appointment yesterday.  He's healthy and growing like a weed!  Someone told me that if you want to know how tall your kid is going to be as an adult, you take the height they are at 2 years old and double it.  By the measurements taken yesterday (and if that old wives tale is true), he's well on his way to being over 6 feet!

The stats:
33 inches tall (2'9") 93%
26.9 pounds   80%

We got out Kade's old gym for a friend.  He lived under that thing for most of his little baby months!  He thought he should try it out again.

Unfortunately, "Godzilla" kept collapsing it because he's way too big for it now. 

And, because I can't resist comparison pictures taken last year at this time :-)