The Harrells: It's been a while...

Yes, I know it has been a while, but for those of you out there who don't know what I do for a living...It's busy season! Which means I'm working a lot! So, the blog has taken a back seat to my work, reading all four twilight books, and hanging out with the family. I wish I had time to update you guys everyday on the happenings of our life, but alas duty calls...

Other than me working, we have been pretty busy since we got back from the Dominican...let's see, Caden and I had a lovely stomach virus for about a week in the beginning of February. Oh, and mommy got a new computer which lets her upload pics faster, but it took her a while to get it all set up...Then, mid February, Caden started a new school...Scottsdale Academy. We call it big boy school. He is too cute...after we get him dressed in the morning. I give him his lunchbox and backpack and tell him it's time to go to big boy school and he runs straight for the door!

He loves it and so do we...he comes home filthy covered in paint, glitter, dirt, etc., so that must mean that he is having fun. We're just amazed at how well adjusted he has become, I mean I cannot believe that they get our little active boy to sleep on a cot at nap time, sit at a table to eat his lunch, walk in a line (well sort of)...he is learning so much! We get a full report every day on all of his activities.

Then in the beginning of March, we headed over to Macclenney to celebrate Grandmother's 84th birthday. The whole family was there to celebrate (except for Melissa, Scott's cousin's wife...Sorry, we missed you, Melissa). Grandmother finally got her wish and got her picture taken with all four of her great grandchildren. Every other time we have tried to do it, something has come up, and most of the time it has been Caden getting some sort of virus, so we were glad that we could finally make her wish come true this birthday!

Drumroll, please...and here it is!

No smiles, but hey, we were dealing with a 2 year old, an almost 2 year old and two 19 month olds...From the left, Madeline, Wade, Grandmother, Brody, and Caden. We'll take it since no one is crying...although Brody and Caden look like they are about to.

Here's Aunt Marilyn reading to Madeline and Caden...

Madeline and Caden playing with Grandmother's recliner...they both thought it was so great that the armrest had a secret hiding place they could put stuff in.

Then all of the guys and Madeline marched out to sing Happy Birthday to Grandmother (marching is a strong word, as it seemed more like chaos to me)...Alex even played a song on the ukelele while we all sung along. Hopefully Grandmother enjoyed our singing :).

Note that Caden has his shoes on with his pajamas...more to come on that...

About the third week in March, we were working the birthday party circuit...first up Hunter Newell's 3rd birthday. Caden was a little unsure of all of the big boys since he was the youngest there. Happy Birthday to Hunter, you have come a long way in 3 years!

Then, we were off to Anniston Milgrom's 1st birthday party that same day...it was a rainy, gloomy day, but everyone made the most out of it. Anniston's party was in her Aunt's backyard, which had so much room for Caden to run around, a great swingset, and even a see-saw! Here's Caden with Anniston's big sister, Aydan on the see-saw.

He loves to go down slides backwards...I guess that ensures that he doesn't land on his hiney ;)...

Then last weekend, we went over to Grammy and Pops' house to visit and Uncle Todd, Aunt Carly, and cousins Brody and Wade came over for the day too! So, we got to ride outside on the trikes! Here's Brody...

And Caden with his safari hat on...

So that was the short version of our last two and a half months. Other things going on in the Harrell household are that Caden is getting more adventurous and climbing on taller furniture and moving objects like his ride-in car. He loves to go outside and runs for the door whenever he thinks we are going outside and gets EXTREMELY upset if we don't go. Speaking of, he has developed quite the little temper, too..hmmm...I wonder where he gets that from :). He still loves to read books and his babysitters are now all well aware, he loves to change his shoes. He LOVES shoes, he has to have shoes on all of the time (even with his pajamas), and then he will pick them out in the morning by pointing to the pair he wants (although mommy tries to talk him into a pair that matches his outfit). Silly boy, he must get his love of shoes from his mommy, too...

Caden is even more of a pickier eater now than ever. It depends on the day as to what he is going to eat and if we don't get it right, he will just refuse to eat. He wants nothing to do with anything green, but loves fruit and will eat up to three bananas a day. Loves crackers, popcorn, gold fish and other snacky foods. And he loves to chew on ice chips and loves freezer pops.

He is saying more words all of the time...some new ones are go, juice, light, shirt, shoes (of course), socks, truck, and then the other day I grabbed my camera to take a picture of his crazy hair standing up with the static and he said "CHEESE"!