This is what you call talent!

May 26th Caiden had his first talent show ever!!!!! Him and his friends did such a great job, they sang "Apples and Bananas." I did a horrible job taping it and really need to brush up on my skills, but you get the idea from watching my train wreck of a video. I am working on getting another copy from one of Caiden's friends mom, but we will see.

Caiden was so excited to see me there watching him. He kept looking back at me and smiling! It just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it again! I love being a mommy!

What a homecoming :)

DADDY IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this homecoming was NOT at all what I had planned/dreamed up in my little head of mine!  I don't know why I do this to myself when big events take place, but it is what I do so I will live with it!  Mother nature was NOT cooperating with the boys and I for daddy's homecoming...hence the FLOODING.

I had spent the last 2 or three days getting ready for John to come home.  I mean house/garage/car/yard cleaning, grocery shopping, "mommy and daddy time" shopping {wink wink}, and just the excitement of being able to see my man made it to where I was getting no sleep!  So I am pretty sure that as I continue to tell you our story that all of this played a role on my emotional state of mind.

I went to bed around 1 am and at 4 am Caiden woke up scared due to the nice thunder storms rolling into our area.  So he crawls into bed with me and before I knew it my alarm was going off 5:30 am.  I jumped out of bed trying not to wake Caiden up and get all prettied up!!  Then I woke the boys up and got them ready.  We were out the door by 7:15 am.  It was pouring down rain so I grabbed 1 of my 3 umbrellas as we headed off to Homeland to get daddy's balloons.

When we arrived at Homeland I figured out that my umbrella was broken so I pulled up to the curb put my hazard lights on (must be cautious!) and got the boys out.  I finally found someone to help me in the floral department and it was a gentleman that did not normally work there.  I pointed out what I wanted and then the boys and I were off to find me a new umbrella.  Mind you this entire time I am staying happy and keeping my cool!  The ONLY umbrellas they had were little kids umbrellas, you know the ones that would cover one of shoulders and they were Sponge Bob (which I can't stand since he is so rude), Spiderman (already have one of those), and Hanna Montana.  I decided I would be able to make the broken one work.  We proceed to go back and check on the gentleman blowing up our balloons.  He made the first balloon and its string was so short (it was obvious this was his first rodeo) that there was no way I was getting that to tie into a balloon bouquet...totally fixable (staying positive and up beat!).  He blew the 2nd one up and gave it to Ethan...not a good idea because it soon went flying up into the rafters.  We finally got all 4, yea I said 4, blown up 30 minutes later and I helped him tie them onto a weight, we payed and then we were off.  It was still pouring down rain and a lady offered to hold the balloons while I got the kids in the car (THANK YOU LADY!!!).

With smiles on our faces and not letting the rain get us down we were off to the airport.  As we were on the road we saw cars floating and they were talking about interstates closing...it was getting a little scary out there.  My friends were all calling me and the boys to make sure we were okay and not one of the idiots on the news with their car floating away.  I also got a call from the photographer trying to get to the airport to meet us.  Obviously she was having some issues too that morning!  I was still staying positive and upbeat!  We saw the airport in the distance and then we saw the fire trucks, the road blocks, the cars floating, the traffic getting detoured...I began to panic a bit but only inside as not to get the boys all crazy!    Caiden began to ask his 100 questions about the flooding, the firetrucks, the traffic, you get the picture.  I went through the turn-around and pulled over on the side of the road.  I began to call my friends to find out about John's flight and what is going on at the airport.  It was about 9 am at this point so we had been in the car for about 2 1/2 hours.  Caiden and I were praying to God to make the rain stop so we could pick up daddy at this point.

We stayed parked on the side of the road for about 20 minutes and then the kids started to get crazy and I had to use the restroom.  We headed to Panera.  Remember still pouring down rain, broken umbrella, 2 kids in car seats, oh and I wore my first maxi dress that day (that is a really long dress for those who do not know).  We made it inside and we were drenched.  Caiden was wanting to take off his shoes because they were wet, my dress was weighed down with water and Ethan was touching the food (which of course I bought UGH!)  Everyone there was waiting for the airport to open back up.  The boys did not eat a single bite of what I bought them and I had to waste a perfectly good cup of coffee because they opened the airport back up soon after we got there, so it was either take the coffee with me and have drenched kids, or ditch the coffee and take care of my kids.  I chose the responsible mother thing...

We are off again, excited and ready to get our daddy!!!  I called the photographer to tell her that the airport was back open and we would meet her there.  I pulled up to the door and it was raining harder than before at this point, so I had to make 3 separate trips into the airport.  I got Caiden in first , then Ethan, then the balloons/signs, and me!  The boys were on this "we are picking up daddy high" and I now looked like I just got out of the shower, literally!  BUT I am still happy and upbeat!

We checked on John's flight status ARRIVING, found the photographer, and got ourselves together.  We took a few pics and I went to check on his status again DIVERTED...what???  What does this mean exactly???  I asked some guys that worked at the airport and they said all calmly "That means they had to land somewhere else."  I said "You mean not at this airport?"  "Yep" they replied.  Okay staying happy and upbeat!!!  I need more information than that so the boys and I (who are running around literally in circles, Caiden is talking to anyone and everyone is telling them how cute they are and Ethan has the balloon bouquet all tangled up and running around with it under all the line markers...I looked like THAT mother!!!)

I waited in a line for about 5 minutes, the entire time trying to keep my cool, yelling at my kids under my breath (thank goodness the photographer was there to help me keep my kids under surveillance).  No one would help me so now I was starting to lose my happy upbeat attitude.  I got into a different line where they were helping people (mind you they helped the person before me in the line I was previously in).  I waited in the other line and still no one will help me, now I'm just mad and trying not to cry and I am screaming at my kids to be good (of course the screaming was doing zero good at this point).

I finally got someone to help me and he basically could tell me nothing except that they were diverted to Wichita, Kansas and gave me 1-800 # to call and check on the flight status.  I gathered my rambunctious children and headed off to the side of the wall.  I was holding back all my tears and trying to pay the photographer for coming all this way.  She said "no way" to taking any money and then I began to cry.  The only thing I had to wipe my tears was Caiden's extra pair of underwear that I put in my purse, Oscar the Grouch to be exact.  I know I looked like a lunatic lady with 2 out of control children!!! It is about 11 am now.  (I can now laugh about it all)

We head back to the car...still pouring down rain...I made 3 separate trips to get the kids, signs, and balloons back into the car.  Once I got in there I just sat there with the kids climbing all over the car like it was a jungle gym and all I could do was cry and called my step-mom.  I knew she would be able to understand what I was going through and help me think clearly.  I gathered myself together head to the Avers' house to eat lunch until John called me back to let me know what is going on with his flight.  We were at the Avers' for about 15 minutes when John called and said he would be landing in 30 minutes.  It finally quit raining and things were starting to settle down.  I was emotionally numb at this point.  One of our friends Alysea, met us at the airport and took pictures for us.  This is what happened from there...

 The boys were sooo happy to see daddy and so was I.  They stood right by me as he came through the gate and I asked Caiden if he wanted to run and give daddy a hug, he didn't even answer me he just took off and jumped into daddy's arms!

 Ethan waited until John got to us and then he put his hands up and said "Dada", he remembered his daddy and couldn't wait till he held him!!!

John was sooo tired, he had traveled for 3 days to get home to us.  All he could say was how weird it was to be home, and that the boys had gotten so big!  He loved that Ethan could talk now and was so surprised at how well Caiden could carry on a conversation.

Even though it was the longest day ever, and maybe not the "best" day, it turned out to be GREAT and we are all so glad to be together as a family again under one roof.  We have been enjoying each other daily and cherish this time!  Thank you to everyone who supported us while we were apart, the prayers, the calls, the cards, and everything else.  I/we couldn't have done it without it all!!!

Safety First!

The other night we had an accident involving the tractor and the boys.  Everyone was fine, THANK THE LORD, but it raised some safety issues with daddy when I told him the story.  We all know how daddy is about safety!

The story goes like this {short version}...boys are on the tractor, I am chasing them, Ethan is reaching out for me so he is holding onto the tractor with one hand, Caiden turns the opposite direction sharply, Ethan does not go with the tractor and lands face first hard on the cement.  Yeah my heart was racing and I was scared to see what the outcome of injury would be, but there was nothing...no teeth through the lip, no broken nose, no blood, no tongue bite, NOTHING!  Now there was a lot of crying, but I think he was more scared than anything!

So long story short, daddy is a big "wear your helmet" kind of guy.  Ethan did not have one yet so we bought him open today.  He loved it!  We were going through he grocery side of the store and he had it on singing with the package of weed-eater twine as his microphone.  I wish I would have had my camera...too cute!

Here are some cute pics of when we got home...

What an interesting place!

Today we were rebels and skipped our swimming lessons to go to the zoo.  It was over cast and kind of chilly for the water, but PERFECT weather to go to the zoo.  I did of course ask both the kids if they wanted to go to swim lessons or the zoo...they both picked the zoo!

We frantically changed out of our "swim lesson clothes" into "zoo clothes", grabbed our bag and off we went.  The entire trip Caiden and Ethan are pointing out every truck, tractor, trailer, camper, race car, etc. that they could find so that was fun!  I also noticed the caravan of daycare buses that were driving in the same direction as we were and thought I hope they are not going to the zoo they must be going to the zoo.  Well I was right.  They followed us on the off ramp and turned into the zoo.  As we drove the parking lot I saw that there were way more that just one daycare that had the same great idea that I did, so I hurried to find a parking place.  I yelled at told the kids to hurry up and unbuckle themselves while I got the stroller.  I wanted to beat the giant crowd.  We barely made it in front of all of the kids but we did it!

Next we went into the new kids part of the zoo.  It was okay, but nothing super special and all the daycares went there first too.  I was pushing the boys around trying to figure out how to get out of that place and I could not for the life of me find the exit.  I finally broke down and asked a zoo employee how to get out of here and they ask "Where are you trying to go?"  Like I am supposed to be one of those mothers with a plan/map and know what I am doing!  So I replied "I don't know, I just want to get out of here!"

We made it out and then we were off to see the animals.  You know the elephants (who are in Tulsa and Caiden has asked me ALL day why they are in Tulsa), rhinos, lions, monkeys, and bears...  

We saw many statues and it was so funny because the  boys didn't understand that they weren't real at first.  Caiden was talking to the gorillas saying "Hello" in a timid voice waiting for them to answer back!  Too cute!

{note...I did not make them get on this rhino statue!  it was all their idea!}

At this point my dear friend Natalie and her 2 girls met up with us and the kids were having a blast.  We went and saw the gorillas and they were having some domestic issues amongst them all (it was like a Lifetime  movie all the women were ganging up on the man for begin a man!) so we actually got to see animals in action...COOL:)  Then there was this monkey that came to the window and was "talking" to the kids and they loved that!

Ethan is getting so big!  Today he said turtle for the first time.  He is getting so much better at talking everyday!  I can't believe how fast he has grown up :(

 Then of course we had to do the rides!  We were limited on time so they only could ride 2 rides.  They chose the good old carousel and the train.  The guy in charge of the train was laughing at how the boys were hanging on so tightly.  Little did he know that Ethan holds on for dear life on a daily basis when he rides in the tractor with Caiden!  He does drive like his mother...

Then our day had to end on a bang!  We are in the parking lot packing everything up in the car and Natalie and the girls go driving by honking and waving bye.  I notice her purse is sitting on the hood of her car!  She is totally clueless so I leave the kids and the stroller to go running down the parking lot at her yelling for her to stop.  All the people in the parking lot were looking at us like we were nuts!  She finally stopped when she got to the end of the row since her purse flew off with everything in it as well.  All I could do was laugh hysterically while she got out and picked it all up off the ground.  After that we pack up and head back to the house!  What a great end to a great morning!

We don't need no stinkin' T.V.

We have had an eventful day of playing.  I LOVE being at home with the boys for the summer.  I have barely taken Ethan to daycare...only when Caiden wants to "play with friends" (which has been twice so far).  Today we woke up ate breakfast, played outside, had swimming lessons, ate lunch, and then this...

Now why they think that this is sooo much fun I have no earthly idea, but it makes me laugh!  They are so crazy!  I absolutely love watching them play together (it makes me think of me and my sis :(...sad face since we don't get to see each other that often) and that is another reason why I think I am not ready to quit having kiddos yet!  I know some of you are thinking and probably saying right now "SHE IS NUTS!"  But God had blessed us with the ultimate blessings and I want to be showered with more them if He plans for us to.  We will see, just my hormones talking, my hubby is coming back soon:)

Here you will witness some brotherly love.  Boys show their love in the strangest ways sometimes to each other, but all the same it is love!

And so this wraps up why 

WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' T.V.!

Good old swimming lessons...

Just look at he excitement on these faces!  The boys were sooo ready to start swim lessons today!  Caiden woke up and basically jumped out of bed to put on his swimming trunks.  I think he really likes to wear them because he doesn't have to wear underwear with them.  This is just a mom talking so I might be way out in left field!

Ethan was very excited too and woke up in a great mood!  Caiden and him are so funny together.  I can't take a pic of them during swim lessons since i am in the water with Ethan so I took one before.  Notice that they are standing by each other so you know it was a good morning :)  Also when I told them to go and stand for a picture they ran out as far as they could...kids are soo funny.

Caiden really wanted to stay with "baby" and I  but I convinced him to go to his class.  He is such a good big brother he always wants to take care of his baby!  The entire time he was checking on us and making sure that I was watching him.  His teacher said he did great today and was the fastest motor boat in the class.  He also learned how to flutter kick and jump in the water without being scared.

As for Ethan he did great too!  HE DID NOT LIKE THE BACK FLOAT AT ALL!!!!  But he did like throwing the toy and "swimming" to go get it on his tummy.  He tried to blow bubbles and was successful 1 time after that he just chocked on water.  He also kicked his legs a lot!  So overall a great first day and I am excited to know that this is the LAST major event I have to do solo since daddy will be home.  Caiden asks everyday if his daddy will be home tonight.  It breaks my heart to have to say no so many times to him, but when I tell him how many days/weeks it will be he gets all excited again!  You got to love a child's mind and no concept of time!