Caleb Turns 3!

We celebrated Caleb's 3rd birthday a few weeks ago. He had three parties over the course of a week! He didn't mind, of course! Here are a few pictures from his celebrations.

On Labor day we celebrated with Matt's side of the family.

G enjoying Caleb's presents.

On Caleb's actual birthday he had his first day of preschool! He loved it!

Caleb also got a battery powered 4-wheeler. We were a little late ordering it online and it was set to be delivered on the day after his birthday. We were pleasantly surprised when it came early on his actual birthday! Matt put it together quickly while Caleb was napping and then we surprised him when he woke up. He rode it so much the first few day he would use up the battery by the afternoon!

Gunther trying it out too.

Caleb picked a Lightening McQueen theme for his party.

On the weekend after Caleb's birthday we celebrated with my family.

We love our precious little three year old boy! It was fun to celebrate him all week long!

Five.

Matt and I celebrated our five year anniversary this month! It was a fun day! We started out with runs. We took turns watching the boys at a park and running a few miles around the track there. Our 1/2 marathon is coming up in just a couple short weeks so we're trying to get our runs in whenever we can. :) Later we both got massages. So wonderful! 

A picture taken on the night of our wedding.

(We were off to our Alaskan honeymoon the next day so Matt had to leave his tux with family to return)

We went to a special restaurant called the Lighthouse for dinner. We've celebrated a lot of special occasions there. Our first date, Matt proposed there, we celebrated our first anniversary (and several since), we also found out both boy's genders there (we had the ultrasound tech write down the gender in a card and opened it at the restaurant). It's the type of place that just feels comfortable and homey. they even had live music this time when we went.

I bought Matt five gifts to celebrate five years. I planned on giving them to him throughout the day, but he decided he wanted them all at once. :)

I love being married to this man. He is the perfect one for me. I fall more in love with him everyday.

I really mean that.

He takes such good care of the boys and I. He is a great daddy who loves to play with the boys and really takes the time to slow down and appreciate all the little quirks that makes each boy who they are. He goes in multiple times at night to check them after they're asleep and tells me how precious they are. :) I also love his sense of humor. He keeps me laughing all the time!

Matt is a learner and he has a lot of patience and persistence. I'm especially thankful for his patience. I can be a bit bullheaded at times. :) He is my biggest fan and always is encouraging me to try new things and challenge myself. (Hence, the 1/2 marathon. ) He believes in me when I don't always believe in myself.

I am thankful for my sweet husband! God has blessed us so much!

Letters: 10 Months and Almost 3

Caleb,

You are a joy! You are very creative and quite the little thinker!

We all go grocery shopping together every 2 weeks and stock up. Usually at Fareway Mommy goes to grab a few items while you, Daddy, and Gunther go to the meat counter and then I meet you back there. This time when I came back you greeted me with a big smile and you YELLED, "I LOVE YOU MOMMY! YOU CAME BACK!!!" There were quite a few people around us smiling and chuckling.

I took a Pilates class at church last month and when I came to pick you up from childcare you asked me, "Did Dunfer have fun morning? Did you have fun with the ladies?"

You love to play with all sorts of non-toy items. Tape measure, stud finder, screw driver, calculator, flyswatter. Recently you told me, "Mommy, fly swatter my best!"

You love to chatter to your stuffed animals, especially in the car. One day as we were headed somewhere I thought you were talking to me and you told me, "Mommy, I not talking to you. I talking to elephant." 

Your favorite TV show right now is Curious George. One morning as you were watching an episode I called you to come do something. You responded by saying, "Mom, I watching this right now. You not 'sposed to call me."

This is a conversation I had with you yesterday: (You had just ordered me to do something in no uncertain terms)
Me: Caleb, you are not the boss. Mommy and Daddy are the bosses. Well, actually God is the big boss and then Mommy and Daddy are boss."
You: I be little boss?
Me: No sweetie.
You: Mommy! We can share!
Me: Share what?
You: We can share boss!

This week when we were grocery shopping we stopped to get baby food for Gunther, which was across from the dog food. You looked over and said, "Lets get dog food for Dunfer!" and then you giggled. I seriously don't know where you come up with this stuff!

You love having little daily rituals. Lately we've been shelling and eating pistachios for an afternoon snack. After several days of doing it you looked at me and said, "This fun Mommy!"

We were driving somewhere the other day and I asked you, "Honey, are you cold or hot? Or just right?" You responded, "I not that Mommy! I Caleb!"

We have a prism hanging in our window. One day you looked at Daddy and said, "Daddy there something on head!" Daddy felt his head and said, "Nope, buddy nothing on my head." "Yes Daddy, red, orange, yellow, green.." Then we realized you were seeing a rainbow!

Not too long ago you turned to me and said, "Mommy, you Wifey. Daddy Sexy." Oh dear!  :)

Your favorite foods are tomatoes, gummy snacks, granola bars, watermelon, grapes, donuts and cookies.

You love to go to the library and get books. We read at least 30 minutes a day. You'll go get all 10 of your library books and want to read them all. You love books about emergency services (firefighters, police officers, ambulances) and also Clifford is a big favorite.

You are learning how to write and draw more carefully. You drew some umbrellas the other day with chalk and can even draw the letter 'c.'

We love you sweet boy!

Telling Aunt Sara good bye. She's off to have new adventures after living close by for the last couple years for school. 

Fourth of July!

Caleb and Daddy singing "Always" (A favorite song) before bed.

 At a parade!

Waiting for the chicken to cook in the smoker. A.K.A"Putting mulch in the cooler"

Off to fight 'partment' and 'cake' fires. (What he tells me when I ask what he's doing)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gunther,

You are very busy these days! 

You are waving now. It's so cute. We ask you, "Can you wave?" You think about it for about 10 seconds and then you do it. You are so proud of yourself. You are also pulling up on everything and walking around things.

You are our little carnivore! You LOVE meat! I just introduced it to you a couple weeks ago and you pick that off your plate first. One night you ate almost a whole hamburger!

You love wheels and are constantly flipping scooters, tractors, trucks, and cars over so you can spin the wheels.

You are trying to say Caleb's name. "Eb-eb." You love your big brother and want to be with him all the time. He likes to get down and crawl with you. You'll follow him back to his room and then you guys play together. Caleb is good at making you laugh!

Still just two teeth! You're really working on them though!

We love you cutie pie!