Cadence's First Day of "School"

Because Cadence is such a good talker and is so outgoing, she has many older friends. Some are in pre-school, Kindergarten, elementary and some in college (like many of our neighbors.) She often asks, "Where's (insert a name)?" I will often tell her, "At school."

Knowing that I will need to get out of the house in the winter, but not being able to go on walks very easily due to the snow, I've been looking around for fun things to do indoors. I checked up on "storytime" at the Family Information and Resource Center about a half mile from our house and they told me about a new program they are starting called Ready! Set! School! for kids younger than kindergarten age. I signed her up for school!!! It is one hour a week and FREE! They gave her a school bag with crayons, scissors (yikes), a pencil and a few other things. She was very excited!!!

Last Wednesday, we walked to school in the stroller. Half way there, Cadence HAD to walk by herself holding her schoolbag. She holds her arm up high so her bag won't touch the ground.

She likes her "school" (a portable) in back of "Mom's school" (where I taught my first three years) and likes to play on the playground.

She has two friends in her class, Bridget and Jack. I told many people with kids about it!!! This is Bridget and her mom, Tina!
For their first lesson, they learned about clean and dirty hands, handwashing and germs. Cadence also used scissors for the first time. (I'm nervous about the scissors. The last thing I want is for Cadence to cut her hair!!!) We are excited for the next 20 lessons!!! Cadence is such a big girl!
WE LOVE SCHOOL!

Dump and Stir

At this point in Cadence's life, she loves to assist me with the cooking. Her two favorite activities to do in the kitchen are to dump and to stir. Last week we made yummy, yummy Earth Bread. It has zuchinni, banana, carrot, cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Talk about a good recipe!!! My friend, Tina, posted the recipe on her blog at http://blog.ernstrom.net/?p=259. I recommend making this bread if you have some zuchinni or just want to eat a tasty quick bread.
Cadence thoroughly enjoyed dumping and stirring!!!

I also made the most amazing hamburger a few weeks ago. If you like blue cheese, you will ABSOLUTELY love this Bleu Cheese Burger recipe from my other friend's blog. This is the address: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/08/bleu-cheese-burgers-holy-cow.html
HAPPY COOKING!!!

Two Free Hands and Attacks of the Geese

Somedays I go crazy because I don't have two hands available to do some of the things I want and need to do. I can't hold Cooper, play with Cadence and cook at the same time. I've tried my Infantino carrier already and it was so uncomfortable and nearly impossible to get on and off. My friend, Amelia, has this wrap called a Moby that she let me try on and I LOVED IT!!! I kept trying to figure out how to get one without paying full price. Making one was my first option, but that didn't work. To make a long story short, my friend Heidi had an extra one and I bought it from her for less than full price. (Unfortunately, Chris ordered one for me without telling me so now I have an extra one. If anyone wants one, let me know! I will sell it for less than full price to you!) I finally have 2 hands free and am comfortable carrying Cooper around with me on long outings!!!

A happy mother and son!!! I can take my own pictures!!!
The other night, we took Cadence and Cooper to First Dam to feed the ducks and geese. I actually got to participate instead of just sitting there and holding Cooper. HOW FUN!
Cadence and Dad were quite comfortable feeding the geese sitting down until one came up from behind and attempted to steal bread right from Cadence's hand. The geese can be a little aggressive. Cadence didn't really enjoy this and was scared. Dad slapped it away!
So Cadence stood up to feed the ducks/geese and to tell them to "stay away." They still wanted to attack.
She finally ended up on Dad's shoulders to be safe from the geese and to put her mind at ease.
We love being outdoors as a family and enjoying God's creations. Peering into the water, we looked for fish. Some people had caught oneand put it on the dock. It flopped wildly while Cadence looked at it. She screamed, cried and jumped on Dad. "It's scary. The fish scared me" is what she talked for a few minutes.
We are a happy family!
I can't seem to get enough pictures of Cadence and Cooper.

A Pizza Picnic

For Labor Day, we wanted to take Cadence and Cooper to Hogle Zoo. It rained and was a little cool so we decided against it. Instead we hung around the house and had a pizza picnic inside. We've had a few picnics outside and Cadence likes to eat on a blanket. One of her favorite foods is pizza and her favorite drink is rootbeer. She used to get up close to our face, smile a huge smile and whisper either "rootbeer" or "pizza." She is so fuuny!

Who Is The Real Father?

This is our neighbor, Kevin. He is very cool and Cadence adores him!

Sometimes I joke that Cadence looks more like him than like Chris. What do you think? Is Chris really Cadence's dad? I hope so - otherwise I don't know what happened!

Is TWO Better Than ONE?

Cadence is letting me put bows in her hair these days and I think she looks darling with them. I wish I had more, but they are expensive!!! This the the only bow that I have 2 of. They were given to Cadence by Mimi (Cynthia Fredrickson). She looks like a model - as usual! I don't think two bows are too much. Do you?

I want to learn how to make them. If anyone knows and wants to show me how, I'd love it!!!

Birth Announcements are OUT!

The birth announcements for Cooper are finally out. I only made about 20 and sent them to mostly family. I hope I didn't hurt my friends and acquaintances feelings by not making and sending more. (If you didn't get one, at least you got to view them on the blog.) I did a "bug" theme and it is hard to find boy clothes with bugs on them. I think they turned out cute.

These are the thank you notes I gave out.


It is such a relief to have these done. Most of the thank you notes have been written and sent too. Now I can focus on other fun things! I have quite a few stamps and ink, if any friends would like to borrow them to make something, let me know and I would be happy to share.