Cade's First Day of School

My first born started preschool! The orientation didn't go too well two weeks prior to the start of school, but Cade loved his first day and was excited to stay! He has 5 children in his class, with 3 of the children at the age of 3 and one at the age of 4. Cade is obviously the oldest and looks like it too! He is so advanced phsyically compared to all of the pre-schoolers, but also the kindergarteners. He would probably be able handle kindergarten, but Curtis and I really believe that waiting until he is 6 is going to be the best decision for him now but also when he is 16. We love seeing him as a leader versus a follower, and watching him excel versus struggle. We pray that this decision will help him in the years to come. Happy first day of preschool my baby boy. YOU ARE TOOO BIG!!

Fine Motor Skills

I have really noticed a difference between Cade and Joel's motor skills, as Joel wants to do more and more activities using his fine motor skills but Cade wants to do more and more activities using his gross motor skills.

I have not been able to interest Cade in doing many activities using his fine motor skills - coloring, stacking, lacing, writing, etc - through his life He always wants to be using his big muscles to accomplish tasks. Just in the last 6 months, Cade has shown a large interest in Legos, which does require him to use his fine motor skills. He does get frustrated when he can not get the Legos together, but his patience is growing in the fine motor department.

Joel, on the other hand, is more advanced than Cade was at 26 months, when it comes to fine motor skills. Joel enjoys holding a pencil, attepting to color, and pulling on and off stickers. He loves to play with his Little People figurines, as well as small bouncy balls. His fine motor skills are much more refined at this point. Of course, he wants to do everything his brother is doing, so his gross motor skills are not far behind Cade's when he was at this age.

It is fun to watch each boy grow and see how God made them similiar and different. He is an amazing God and knew exactly what He was doing with each of them. Praise Him for his amazing creations.


Joel is playing with stickers.

Mr. Fearless

Cade is Mr. Fearless when it comes to any physical task. I find a size 5/6 Peter Pan costume at our local consignment store and it become a permanent part of Cade for about the last 3 days of August. The costume could pass as a Peter Pan or Robin Hood costume, and Cade prefers it to be a Robin Hood costume. He then "performs" acts like Robin Hood, carrying his quiver and bow around wherever he go. Plus, he enjoyed "scaling the castle walls" or our playground, just like Robin Hood did. I am sure my neighbors think that I am an extremely irresponsible parent letting my child climb on the very top of his playground, but I find that Cade has no fear and any physical task he excels and exceeds expectations. I remind him and remind him to be careful, and of course he tells me he is. I also spend a lot of time praying that he would have good discernment and wise judgement when it comes to making decisions. Personally, I just love to see my boy's imagination grow and grow and grow. He is so fun!!

Squirrel Hunting Trip #1

Curtis took Cade out for his first hunting adventure on Sunday, August 21. Cade was so excited and felt so special getting to go with his Dad. They did not see or kill any squirrels on the adventure, but that was truly not the "goal" of the event. I was not along on the trip, so I don't know many of the happenings, but what this mommy does know is that Cade had a fantastic time. He did ask if Joel and I could come the next time :) And I did learn that Cade needs some sort of boots to avoid all of the burrs being stuck in his shoes laces for me to clean out when he returned home!!



Cade with his new "rifle" from the Iowa State Fair. He was ready for hunting!

Everyday Moments

There are some things about our everyday routine that I don't want to forget as my boys get older. One of those routines is storytime. Every since Cade was a baby, I would rock him to sleep each night. When the rocking continued but the sleep did not, I transitioned to reading him a book. Though some nights it is very late and we want him to just go to sleep, we still read a book or two before bedtime. I always remembering reading with my parents before bed. I feel like it is a positive way to end the day versus a possible "go to bed" fight. Cade enjoys listening to books, and one of these days so very soon he will be reading the books to me.

Joel has consistently started reading with me before naptime and bedtime now. The stories are a bit more quick, but he doesn't want to go to bed without a book.

I pray these reading times will be times of enjoyment and teachability for our kids as they grow older.

Curtis and Cade reading together before bed this summer.

July Lambert Visit!

After our trip to St. Louis with the McClellan's, the Lambert's continued their vacation by coming to Illinois! One of the best parts of our summer is when the Lamberts are here to visit. We enjoy all hours of our day together. The kids have formed a great bond and have created so many great memories of fun. One of the main attractions of the visit this year was Pop and Grandma Bev's pool. This was a nice $10 purchase that served its purpose well for a very very hot week in July! The kids spent many many many moments in the pool. The one main problem of the pool was the size. As you can tell from the pictures, with 7 grandchildren trying to play in the pool at one time it got EXTREMELY crowded and someone was always in the way of someone else's fun. Through the chaos, some hurt feelings, or hurt bodies, the joy of the pool was had. I love these summer days of best friends!

Joel's Lastest Measurements!!

Tuesday, August 23
Joel is 33 1/2 inches tall and weighed 28 1/2 pounds.
He is in the 50th percentile for his weight and the 25th percentile for his height.

Cade was always in the 90th percentile!

Settling In

I have now been home for a little over two weeks from our trip to Uganda. I still feel like I am playing catch up a in certain areas, especially in the area of corresponding with our supporters and logging the memories of the trip through stories and pictures. It took me a good week to get in the groove of fixing meals again, managing laundry, and of course learning to sleep again. I had two Pampered Chef shows my first full week home, which was stressful but was also good because it got me right back in the saddle (not to mention the paycheck is a good thing too!). Of course, being a full time parent again was not really an adjustment but was overwhelming because of the intensity our children have for life. I was not as physically tired in Uganda each night, as I am at home because I get so worn down by the boys. In Uganda, I really didn't have to worry about anyone else except me. I could think and do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do that. Coming home that "right" was stripped. As much as I have wanted to process and take the time to record memories, I haven't really gotten the opportunity because my role as a mother and a wife take all of my time, effort, and energy each and everyday. I wouldn't want this changed, but I have to admit I enjoyed "my time" in Uganda (I DO LOVE MY BOYS, dont' get me wrong).

I know that we were only in Uganda 17 days, but it felt like we had spent a long time there. I want to be able to share the experience with people through stories and pictures, but I truly feel like it is impossible to let people know what Uganda is really like. God is the God of the people of Uganda and the people of America. He is AMAZING!!

I have started running the last couple of weeks because I have been waking up very early in the morning. I toss and turn for a good hour and after awhile I just get up and go. I think it is the malaria medicine that is causing the sleeplessness. Well, Cade discovered my running in the morning because I took Joel with me in the jogging stroller one morning because he woke up very early to. So the next day Cade wanted to go with me. I let him go with me and he did a great job riding his bike while I ran (about 2 miles). I have now realized that this "my" time is no longer mine because Cade keeps waking up earlier and earlier hoping to go "running" with me. I don't totally mind, but it can be stressful at times. He is learning the value of exercise, which is all part of training him in the way he should go.

Cade starts preschool on Wednesday, so this will change our morning schedule. He has to be at school at 8am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We take our time getting ready in the morning, so it will be an adjustment as we try to rush the morning along.

Life will be normal sooner than later, and then of course something else will change again! I should realize by now that I will never have life "under control". God is in control Jessica, God is in CONTROL!! TRUST HIM!!!!!!!

Joel's 2nd Birthday!

We celebrated Joel's birthday again on July 21 when we got home from St. Louis. We had a hot dog and macaroni and cheese lunch, his favorite! Aunt Kim made the cutest little piggy and cow cupcakes, which she staged next to a Little Tikes barn. Joel loved the cupcakes. We set him up on the bureau to get a picture with him and the cupcakes and he was just so excited about them. He was pointing at them, laughing at them, making piggy noises, making cow noises, and smiling. He was excited! When it came time to sing happy birthday, he had to be sure he had a birthday hat on. He didn't really like keeping the hat on his head, but it was like he knew he was the birthday boy and needed to wear a hat. Of course when it came to eating the cupcakes, he had to have both a piggy and a cow. Priceless!! Way to go Aunt Kim! You made your littlest Odell nephew feel like a million bucks! You are so creative and we love the way you love our kids!