Addi

So many of my recent posts have focused on Cade.  I wanted to share a few quick things about Addi.  She is 7 months old now and growing like a weed!  She sits up, she rolls, she laughs and babbles a lot.  She absolutely adores her brother.  It's so fun to watch her watch him when he walks into a room.  It's like she sits on the edge of her seat hoping he'll look her way.  So cute.  I just know these two will be lifelong friends. 

Below is a video Lucas took with his iPhone of Addi jumping in her exercauser.  I wish it was better quality, but it's still so cute:

Cade's First Year of Wrestling

Anyone who knows Lucas very well, knows that his passion in life is wrestling.  He has spent much of his time since he was a young boy on a wrestling mat.  From the minute we found out the baby I was carrying was a boy, I've imagined what it would be like for my husband to watch his son wrestle.  Now that Cade is five years old, he's ready.

Cade's first wrestling practice was Nov 1st.  He's now been wrestling a little over a month with the Matrix Grappling Club of Mustang.  Lucas wanted to wrestle with Matrix because he knew a couple of the coaches and because Bodie planned to put Carter and Grady in wrestling there.  Lucas signed up to coach the boys too.

Cade's first tournament was an Open Tournament in Newcastle on Nov. 12th.  He'd been wrestling all of 12 days (4 practices).  His first match wasn't much of a match.  The kid he wrestled had clearly done this before.  His second match was more exciting.  He didn't win, but he did well enough to learn something and get some experience under his belt.  I must say even though he didn't win, I was proud of him beyond belief.  He went out there fought and worked hard.



Our next tournament was a week later in Tuttle at the Battle for the Buckle. He didn't do as well in this tournament, but he did learn some more and got some more experience.

We skipped the next weekend because it was Thanksgiving and the only tournament around was an Open Tournament (we'd decided we wanted to do more Novice).

Last weekend we went to Midwest City for the Lil Bomber Tournament.  Cade got his first win!!  In his first match he pinned his opponent in the third period.  When you watch the video you'll hear the excitement in my voice.  It was so thrilling to see my kid get a victory that he worked so hard for and deserved!  You must watch the video below all the way to the very end.  Watching Lucas' and Cade's reactions and watching them hug and soak in the victory is a moment I was always be grateful to have recorded.



Here is a video of Carter's very first wrestling match.



Here is a video of one of Grady's matches from the same tournament.



Yesterday Cade wrestled in Del City's Novice Tournament.  He did well in his first match.  I actually thought he won the match.  However, as you'll see on the video, the girls at the table did a poor job of notifying the ref that time had expired.  Cade pinned the opponent, but it didn't count because time expired.  :(

Family Pics

Jessica Smoot has taken our pictures twice this year (well kind of three times).  She came out when Addi was 15 days old and took pics of her Cade.  She came back a month later and took pics of all four of us.  We loved the pictures so much, that we decided to use her again for Cade's 5 year old / Addi's 6 month old pics.  Below is a sampling of the pictures from May and June, 2011.  The indoor ones were done at our house when Addi was 15 days old.  The outdoor ones were done about a month later when Addi was 5 weeks, Cade was 4 years, I was 29 and Lucas was 31.  I can't wait to shoot with her again when Addi turns 1!

Below are pics from our shoot in Oct 2011. 

Cade was 5, Addi 6 months (almost), me 29 (almost 30), Lucas 31.

Halloween 2011 - A Zomby and a Pink Butterfly

The Sunday before Halloween, Lucas and I decided to take Cade, Carter, Grady, and Addi to TG Farms in Newcastle, OK.  They have a cute little patch with big slides, a hay ride, a petting zoo, etc.  While we did have fun, I don't think it was worth what we paid.  (I think it was around $50 for all of our admission.)

We were there about an hour.  The boys enjoyed the slides and the petting zoo.  They were bored with the hay ride.  I enjoyed getting a few pictures of them and picking pumpkins.  (We did each get one free pumpkin.)

Cade, Carter and Grady

Carter

Cade feeding a goat

Lucas and Addi

Grady, Carter and Cade

Ms. Addi trying to escape her stroller

When we got home, we downloaded some pumpking carving patterns online.  I poked the pumpkins with the pins and Lucas carved them.  (He always gets stuck with the hard job!)  I think they turned out great!!

Why did Halloween have to fall on a Monday?!  Boo!  Cade dressed as a Zombie and Addi dressed as a pink butterfly.  I carried Addi to about 10 houses to watch her brother. 

Once she started getting heavy, we loaded up and headed to my mom’s neighborhood.  There must’ve been several hundred kids trick or treating her street.  It reminded me of a scene out of a tv show or movie.  I’ve never seen so many kids out trick or treating in my life!  My mom watched Addi while Cade and I walked down her street.  It didn't take lonet,g before Cade was ready to call it a night. 

When we pulled back down our street, we noticed that Cade's teacher, who by the way lives across the street, was at home.  He was so excited to run over and trick or treat her house.  (He really likes her, which makes me happy!)

I could kiss these faces all day long!!

Fall Break Oct 19-21

I was able to take a few days off work for Fall Break. Nana and Pape decided to take the grandkids to Ft. Cobb lake to go camping for Fall Break. Shecoeta and I loaded up Cade, Addi, Carter, Grady, and Madi. The kids had such a great time. They rode their bikes around the campground, built a campfire, at smores, walked along the lake playing with sticks and watched movies. Shecoeta and I also had the opportunity to sit outside for a good while one evening chatting with Madi. Little does Madi know, but that will probably be my biggest memory from the whole trip. Madi is such a sweet, smart girl. I have great hopes for her life. I really enjoyed the time getting to know her even better.

Carter, Cade and Grady went looking for sticks for the fire and came back with this.  LOL



Madi found some sticks

Cade, Addi and Aunt Coco on the picnic table

Shecoeta

Pape

Cade and Carter riding Cade's bike

Maddi riding her bike