Caleb funnies

So I decided to take Caleb to the school by our house so he could ride his bike on the track. Mark had other plans so I thought this would be fun for us to do since there was a playground there too, if all else failed we could play there. Caleb right off the bat did great once I got him started. He takes off around the track and as the track goes to the left he keeps going straight. I of course am half way around the track and take off running with the babies in tow. He apparently decided he wanted to stop, but it just so happened before the turn and was headed for the hill that went straight into the street. The funny thing was that Trisha and Caiden were coming to meet us there and they were coming down the street and saw the whole incident unfold.


At the same track, there were other people there walking and Trisha says to me did Caleb just run into that Lady? I look to where he is and he is on the ground and she is brushing off the back of her legs. So we run up to where they are and she has already taken off...running. Mind you she had been walking the whole time we were there. So I ask Caleb if he hit the lady and he says 'no'. I press further and he says, 'all right, but she was in the way'. We had a nice little conversation about politely letting people know when you are coming up behind them like a 'beep, beep'. So he takes off and within seconds the boys have caught up to the woman Caleb ran into. Trisha and I were watching closely thinking she might run off the track if she hears them coming , she did not, but she did leave. As Caleb rounds the track and approaches the cheer leaders I hear him yell 'get out of the way!' I guess that is better than running into them!

Today at costco, Caleb was insistent that we get samples. I of course did not know that the sample people did not come out until 11 and we got there at 10. Fortunately for Caleb we circled the store looking for Christan's shoe that he threw out of the cart for awhile and back tracked several times deciding what to get. Oh, and of course the bathroom break that took longer since the checker would not let me past without unloading my entire cart. (I have been to that bathroom a ton of times with unpurchased items. They don't let you out without a receipt anyway). So when we were done in the bathroom we had to reload all of the items back into the cart. After the first sample, Caleb said 'Mom, old people make good stuff'. He of course meaning this as a total compliment since most of the sample ladies at Costco are older, gray haired grandma looking types. I of course thought it was cute until we got to the lady with the yogurt. As he tasted her peach yogurt he says to the sample lady, (as he is commenting on how good his sample is) that old people make good stuff. She smiled and said 'oh really?'. I wanted to crawl back into my shell. I think she knew what he meant, but still!! I of course felt obligated to buy the yogurt so we have been enjoying that all afternoon.

Big Boy Bike!!

Mark and Caleb decided about two weeks ago that they were going to take the training wheels off Caleb's bike. I'm not really sure that Caleb was 100% on board with the idea because at times he was so resistant. I think that is just his personality at times though when he can't do something he doesn't want to even try. Teaching him things does seem to be a huge challenge of our patience, but if we stick with him it works out in the end. The most frustrating part is that we know he can do things but refuses to try.



Well, we finally convinced him he could do it and it didn't take long. The hardest part was finding a time that we could get him out to a flat area to practice. Once we get to the top of our street it is pretty flat so that is really where we practiced. Mark would go one direction down the street with him and I would follow with the babies and then on the way back I would take Caleb and Mark would take the babies.

Sweedish fish finally did the trick. After dinner last Wednesday night we went for a ride but before we went out Mark was eating sweedish fish. We all love them so we all wanted some. I grabbed a pocket full and told Caleb that the fish would be calling his name and if he rode his bike he could get one. He of course thought this was really funny since I was calling out 'here fishy, fishy' and saying 'Caleb, I see a fish up at the next corner...focus on the prize!' This was the best he had done ever. He rode almost the whole way back home without any help other than starting off.

Caleb and I way ahead of Mark and the babies

Me, taking a picture and dangling sweedish fish out for Caleb to get.

Arch

I have been wanting to take Caleb up into the arch for a long time. He see it quite often when he go to my grandmas in IL and I guess he has probably seen it somewhat close up, but he had never been to the actual base of the arch and up inside it. I was excited to take him since most places I get to take him he has already been to. I had not been there since I was about 10 so it was I didn't really remember what to expect either.

His whole focus was on getting up to the top and then to get dippin dots on the way out. Oh, and he wanted to take a picture for Mark. Once we got in, we had to wait about 30 minutes for the next available tour. We checked out the museum and then got in line. Once in line we had to wait and watch videos which of course for Caleb was a lifetime.

Once at the top Caleb was a little nervous he was going to fall, but then he got the lay of the land and was excited to check it all out. We were only up there for about 5 or so minutes, but enough time to see what we needed to see and get on our way to get those dippin dots.

I have to be honest that I was REALLY nervous about the capsule ride and looking down from the top. As I have gotten older I have become anxious about small spaces and heights, but I was a big girl and did just fine. It actually wasn't bad at all. We were lucky though because we were with another mom and dad and their 5 year old little girl. I was envisioning several other large people with Caleb and I.

Mom and Caleb waiting for our ride back down

Caleb and Busch Stadium
Caleb in the capsule

Caleb and the Arch

Daddle

I think everyone needs a daddle and Aunt Sarah thought the babies needed one too so she gave it to Mark for Christmas. We have had it out several times since and it was more fun for Caleb than anyone else, but most recently everyone joins in on the fun. The daddle is a dad saddle and straps ever your shoulders and around your waist. Mark is more like a bull when Caleb is riding, but a gentle pony with the little ones. Caleb is usually on crowd control and helps the riders on a off.

Even though it is called the daddle, during the day I have to step in a play horsey. I find it more fun to watch and it is definitely easier on my knees.

Christian - Woo hoo!! Cohen - Giddy Up! (Caleb and Cecilia in the background)

Caleb

The lake..take two cont

More pics of the kiddos.....

After Cohen crashed the neighbors kiddie pool the day before we decided to just legally take them all over to play and they were diving in before it got too wild and we brought them back to play with the hose.

Cohen

Cecilia (little red), Cohen with the hose and Christian
Christian making his dog bark..hoo hoo

Cecilia being the wild woman that she is.

The lake..take two

We had not been able to make it back to the Lake of the Ozarks since memorial day and were getting a bit frustrated. So last week things fell into place so that we were able to not only go, but leave early on Friday and not come back until Monday. The extra added bonus was that almost the whole family was there with us. We have yet to be there by ourselves since the triplets were born and I'm sure we could do it but it is so nice to have the extra hands and eyes around especially for Caleb. At home Mark or I can handle the babies but at the lake many time we both need to be with them and Caleb's agenda is not always the same.

This weekend seemed to be so much more relaxing than memorial day was. I guess it is because we got over the hump of not knowing what it would be like with all 4 kids and are past the nervousness of it all. The babies seem to do really well with big groups and on the boat they just sit and chill. The boys in particular love to drive with Mark but someone is usually always standing looking out at the waves and water. It was a hot one so we were sure to have a cooler full of ice for them to play in and eat and all was well. Caleb spent a lot of time in the water and fishing. Grandpa put some steps into the water from the grass so the kids like to walk into the water and swim around to the ladder. I enjoyed driving the boat while Jacob and his friend tubed. It was fun to try to knock them off and I was successful two times. I decided to tube after they were done and 3 days later was still sore from it and I don't think I had nearly as rough ride as they did.

Caleb seems to really appreciate his time at the lake. This year on boat rides I have caught him relaxing in the back of the boat. This is the good life!!

Caleb, Caiden, Preston and Nolan

Our chore this weekend was to get a picture of all of the grand kids regardless of whether they were screaming or not. Lots of pics were taken and I think this was the best of the worst.

All 10 Gardner Grand kids : Jacob, Caleb, Cohen, Caiden, Cecilia, Nolan, Christian, Aliyah, Preston and Noah

Daddy and his helpers, Christian and Cohen

They're all mine

I know they are all mine because they love salsa & chips, Jalapeno cheese dip & chips and kettle cooked jalapeno chips. I have corrupted them all at a very early age!