Caden's season project

This is a project that Caden had to complete for Kindergarten.  His assignment asked him to dress this paper doll to represent his favorite season.  Caden chose summer!  For those of you who know him so well...I included his check list.  That is right.  He made a check list and actually checked the items off as he completed them.  We are so proud to say that he did EVERYTHING by himself.  I had a really hard time with this. I had so many ideas and things that would make it the best one in the class.  But then it would have been my paper doll. 

Working together...or it appears that way

 

Brooks was so excited that he was able to help Caden and Corley as they relocated some dirt and mulch around the yard.  They look like they are working so well.  And they were. For a while.

Our "Terrific Kid"

We are so proud of Caden.   He received the Terrific Kid Award for January from his teacher.  The award ceremony was so cute!  (Please excuse his hair.  We were trying something.  It didn't work!)

Can you tell how excited Corley was at the program?  She wanted to go and see Caden get his award.  I guess she didn't realized that it would be during naptime. 

Fun with 5

Michael and I were given the opportunity to experience life with 5 children. We kept the cousins while Leah and Mike were back at work over the holidays. It was really fun and much easier than we thought it would be. At the same time, we were so thankful that Michael took care of that issue last year. I do so love the advances in the medical field:) During the visit we went to the Greenville Zoo to see the baby giraffe and then had an early supper at the Downtown Greenville Airport.

Brooks is ONE!

Happy birthday to our littlest! We had a wonderful celebration with the family today...and he is exhausted. Hope he sleeps well tonight. We will:)

Swim lessons

We have been talking about swim lessons for a long time. I even took them to the pool last week to watch the swimmers and get a feel for it before signing them up. Corley thought it was a great idea; Caden not so much. So I signed Corley up and we have been so excited about today. She woke up this morning and told me that she didn't want to take swim lessons, of course. I told her that she WOULD be taking swim lessons and she said ok. After she got home from school we started our preparations. BAD MOTHER moment - NO swimsuit that fits:( Luckily we have two that someone passed to us. They are 2 sizes too big but had to work. Of course there will not be any swimsuits at the stores now. Swim lessons - great idea, mom!

Excited to get in that pool!

Ms. Ashton talks about water safety before "jumping" in

Getting a feel for the water. Corley was ready to jump off the ledge at this point.

Splashing with her new friend. Glad there was another little girl. She is a few weeks younger than Corley and no swim diaper needed. Corley wasn't bothered by that:(

Doctor visit

Brooks has been battling ear infections the same way Caden did as an infant. Needless to say...we are at the doctors office LOTS these days between the three kids. They are so good, though. Such great helpers!

Corley reading Brown Bear to Brooks and Caden. Keeping everyone busy!

I love the way the boys have their hands in this picture. Shows the sweet relationship that has already developed.

Fire Truck Fun

Each Fall the fire truck visits Trinity Preschool. This year Corley invited Brooks and I to join her. It was a lot of fun and Brooks LOVED it - probably more than Corley.

Cousins!

Caden and Corley are so blessed to have cousins that are the same age and gender. This makes it fun for Leah and I also. We hosted our first switch this past weekend. Leah got the girls and I got the boys...guess who got the better deal? I'll let you ponder that:) We began our morning at our church pumpkin patch - celebrating the 10th year of this mission project

Next we ventured to the Greenville Airport for lunch at Runway Cafe (a favorite spot for the Olsommer's)

After a short nap in the car, the boys spend the afternoon playing at the house before we made the switch back. It was so much fun. Look forward to our next switcharoo.

Apple Picking

Here we go! Caden and Corley were very excited to get started.

They LOVED that you had to get inside some of the trees and had to climb some of the lower branches.

Brooks was such a "helper" although Corley didn't like his help so much. She was afraid that he was stealing her apples.

Turns out that Brooks wasn't as interested in apple picking as the other were. He was interested in the wagon, grass, sticks, and anything that he could get his hands on.

Corley is 3

We just celebrated Corley's 3rd birthday. Wow. She has grown so much. Her FAVORITE color is purple and has been asking for a purple party for months. Wish granted. We invited the friends in her class at preschool and had a purple party at the church playground. I think she had a great time.

Such a familiar sight

Corley was so excited to get the walker out for Brooks. Reminded me of Caden when we pulled it out for Corley. Funny how these baby toys are so exciting to an almost 5 year old and a 2 and 1/2 year old. Things never change.


Caden age 2 and 1/2

Kids' bath update

Corley is such a big helper. She jumped at the opportunity to help daddy with the bathroom update while Caden was at school. She LOVED her pink hammer. Unfortunately, she worked so hard that she fell into the bathtub and almost hurt herself with the hammer. That was after she almost hit herself in the face while "hammering". Needless to say, she was fired. The good news is that she still thinks that she was a big help to the project. That is all that matters!

The Dentist - AGAIN

 

After previous attempts to have Caden's teeth cleaned - and them not going well - he finally did it! Such a battle with him. He even watched Michael and I at our dentist over the past year to help the situation. He came home telling Corley all about it and how much it didn't hurt. Thankfully he is already promoting it for her.

Corley's new hair cut - so grown!