While in DFW at the end of July, Caden got to do some really cool things! Caden loves all things transportation — cars, trains, boats, and planes. Keller and Granpops took Caden to the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham in Fort Worth. Caden loved it! He even got to sit in a few cockpits and play with the controls. We also took him to lunch at the Blue Hangar Cafe at NW Regional Airport to watch the little prop planes take off and land at the airstrip. He was so excited every time a plane came by. It was quite a hit! Maybe he’ll be a pilot one day.
To top the week off, Caden got to go to Texas Motor Speedway! Each time we drive to Granpops’ house Caden asks, “Can we go there?” pointing to TMS but not knowing what it is. They went to the infield, pit row, and even got to take a ride on the track! One of the people working there offered to take them around the track a few times in his suburban (he had a car seat in the back for his kid, so Caden could ride safely). Keller was really impressed with the track too and commented that the banking on the curves is much steeper than it looks. Caden had a lot of fun — he’s done more at TMS than 99% of the people who have been to race!
Also in DFW, we had a chance to go swimming. The kids are such water bugs, they had a great time in and out of the water and they paddle around with their floaties on. Caden really liked to jump into the water to Daddy and play with all the floating pool noodles. When we were done swimming, we took both kids out of the water and got them dried off. I walked around the side of the pool to get my camera and shoes and turned around to see Caden standing on the step of the pool about to jump in — without his floaties! Of course, he jumped right in … and so did I. (We were in DFW for my laser eye surgery, so I wasn’t supposed to be in the pool and was just a spectator up to this point and was fully dressed.) Caden was fine since I saw it happen and he was only in the water for about 10 seconds, holding his breath and kicking for all he was worth. When I picked him up and took him out of the pool he promptly burst into tears because he was going to pick up the pool noodles. He was only trying to help. Silly boy! So now we recite, “You have to have your floaties on if you are getting in the water.” I’m grateful that he was fine, but it certainly reinforces that I do not want a pool at our new house.
One of my strategies for getting the kids to go to sleep has been very effective! When they go to bed, I offer to bring back water for them to drink in ten minutes — if they stay in bed and stay quiet. Fortunately for me, and intentionally too, if they are quiet and still for that long one of them is usually asleep by the time I come back in. Hooray! They do seem to enjoy sharing a room and get along really well. I am glad that they are friends.
Caden has a new favorite response to questions — “Uh – huuuh.” It doesn’t matter what you are asking him about, if his reply is affirmative, you’ll get that as your answer. I’m not sure why he has latched on to it so tightly, but he is super consistent about it. “Caden, are you having fun? Uh-huuuh.” “Caden, do you want to go outside? Uh-huuuh.” He adds this exaggerated lift at the end of his reply too, which I find really cute.
My Caden loves tomatoes! He couldn’t be happier to have a garden outside and he heads out there to scavenge a tomatoes whenever he gets a chance. I planted a bunch of cherry tomatoes this year and I rarely get any inside. Even if they get picked and put in a basket, I have a little boy plucking them back out of the basket and popping them in his mouth all the way back to the house. Anyone else think it is funny to hear, “May I have a tomato please?” before breakfast? =)
