The Odell Offering: March 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

Family Museum

While Daddy was in California, Grandma Glenna came to stay with us for a few days before Daddy arrived home again.

We picked up Cade early from school and headed to the Famu Museum in Bettendorf. The boys were so excited to show Grandma the fun!

Joel and I went to the art studio, while Cade took Grandma to the clay studio. We worked in our art for awhile and them headed downstairs to Foxhollow to play in the town. The boys had so much fun. We definitely played till they were worn. It was a fun day away and it ended with some yummy DQ on our way home.

Good Morning!

This is Cade's wish for every morning. He loves Callie snuggles, and when she sleeps in, he is so disappointed. She is the apple of his eye.

Mommy and Me

With Daddy gone for the week Callie and I got lots and lots of hugs. We spent most hours snuggling and together. She has been working on her voice and loves to hear herself talk. She is a squealer!

I have moved her into the 3-6 month and Carter's 6m clothes. It is always sad to say good bye to the many cute outfits. She is just so adorable. I am hanging on to a few, but I am going to sell the rest. It is just clothes, but I do have a sentimental attachment to many pieces.

Sleeping Baby

She is just so precious. I love her soft soft skin. I don't lay her in her bed too often to sleep during the day. I kind of just have her fall asleep wherever. Many people would probably tell me I am motherin wrong but whatever, it works. Maybe she will be my one kid who can sleep anywhere. The other two are such sleep fighters. I wonder if I am going to have a third like that?

Popples!

I have many of the items from my growing up days because my mom took such good care of my things. I have almost all my stuffed animals from my youth and they have come to live with me in my adulthood too. The boys enjoy playing with them now that I no longer use them. Joel found my Popples the other day and just loved on them. My friends think it is amazing I have my childhood items. I always like to show them my toys when they come over. It is fun!

Daddy and His Girls

Daddy took us girls out on a date the day before he left for California for the pastor's conference. We always dread him being gone, but are so glad that he is able to go and get wonderful instruction from God's Word. We enjoyed a yummy meal at Cracker Barrel and then some shopping at Kohls. And don't forget the Starbucks Daddy treated Mommy with! He is wonderful!

Build-a-Bear

We made an extra special stop when we went to Peoria for the Speech contest. Joel was given gift certificates to Build-A-Bear for being in a ring bearer in Gwen and Scott's wedding. Of course we had to take both boys so we got part of our adventure free.

We had an awful time trying to get animal picked out for Joel. He wanted the My Little Ponies and tutu dresses. That little boy loves all pretty things. He shed a number of tears but we didn't want him to have such a girly toy. Call us cruel parents, but we do feel like it is important to protect our son. He ended up with a cute bunny which he named Sally in the store but soon became Hop Knight when we got home because of Cade's Rough Knight dog.

Cade had a great te creating his dog. He had no problem picking his outfit, a Jedi with a light saber it was. It was so fun to watch him. We kind of felt extremely spoiled. We never do stuff like this. To be honest I felt guilty that we were spending. $30 on a stuffed animal. Then I tried to block that out of my head and live in the moment through my children eyes. What fun! What a treat!

Speech Contest

Cade qualified for the ACSI speech meet in Peoria, IL on the 28th of February by being in the top two from his class in te category of Scripture memory. His Scripture passage he memorized was Colossians 3:1-4. He is amazing at memorizing Scripture. I think he has memorized more passages during his first grade year than I have in my whole entire life. He is a machine.

We had a great day celebrating Cade's hard work. After presenting his speech in the morning our family went to the Spotted Cow with the Klingenberg family and Mr. Clausen and his daughter. The kids had such a fun time together.

Cade received a blue ribbon for his speech. He had great expression, eye contact, pronunciation, and self control with his body. It was so fun to watch him overcome his fear of being in front of people. It is a joy to watch him.

Four Months Old!

Here is Callie Mae on her 4 month birthday, February 25th. I am not one for big bows but this one matched her outfit so well that I thought, why not! She is so wonderful.

She usually take 2 short naps in the morning - 45 minutes each. Then she takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon plus a couple short naps in the evening. She is a great eater and overall is a wonderful baby. She prefers her momma over anyone else, and when momma is gone she is not happy. She cries and cries and cries. I know it is no fun for those taking care if her, and I really do feel bad. But there is one part of me that is happy that we have a special bond. She cracks me up when she is whining and complaining with someone else and then she is put in my arms and she starts laughing. What a goofy girl!

Brother Joel and Sister Callie!

Joel adores her and I think she is pretty fond of him too!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Tummy Time

Callie is enjoying her tummy time so much more than she did just a few weeks back. She is able to hold her head up so well but can't quite use her arms and hands to balance. When she gets tired she doesn't know how to just her head rest on the floor so that frustrates her.

She is starting to play with toys. She enjoys the ball pictured here and a couple other toys.

Pretty Girl!

This is Callie at 4 months old! Isn't she beautiful?

Pop and Callie

These two have one special bond! Pop cherishes his moments with Callie. She is definitely a little princess in his arms. She hardly fusses and the two of them get along quite well.

This special bond bothers Grandma Bev because Callie cries within 1 minute of being held by Grandma. Callie associates Grandma with my absence which makes her very sad. Bev watches her every Wednesday evening while I am at youth group. Callie cries the entire time. It is such a sad time for her and it makes Bev feel awful. Soon, very soon, she will like for Grandma, but for now Grandma's arms are a bit scary.

Brown Chair

Callie's other spot to sit is in the brown bouncy seat. I use this a lot in the kitchen while I am working. She enjoys playing with the hanging toys on it. I think she is more content in the bassinet but this works nicely for a bit of time each day.

Family Museum

In mid February, Pam and Kaylyn went with us to the Family Museum in Bettendorf, IA. We make the best team and love going on adventures together. The kids get along well and we have lots of fun together. We visited the Family Museum, a new destination on our "list of fun".

We started our time at the museum in he clay studio. We had the opportunity to create with a hunk of clay. It wasn't the easiest activity for Joel and Kaylyn but Cade was so into it. He had so much fun. Pam took Joel and Kaylyn after a bit so Cade and I could finish playing with the clay.

In the afternoon we enjoyed playing in the play area of the museum. The play area was set up as a little town - Fox Hollow. It had various stores and stops in the town where the kids could play. A shoe store, pizza restaurant, play house, grocery store, post office, veterinary, ship yard, and farm. There were so many things to play and do. We spent 3 hours playing. It was so fun!

As the afternoon progressed Pam and I started discussing the membership opportunity that was offered to us when we paid our entrance fee. The cost to get into the museum was $21 ($7 a person). For only $69 we could buy a membership for unlimited entrance to the Family Museum and 300 other science and children museums for a year. What a deal! Pam and I both decided to sign up our families. It will only take a few times to break even. I am excited!

Hot Chocolate!

Grandma Glenna sent some yummy hot choclate in her special valentine's day look. We enjoyed hot chocolate for many evening with fun pink and white marshmallows! Yummy!

Bassinet!

One of Callie 'a favorite places is in her rocking bassinet. She sleeps do sound in it and it is a wonderful place to keep her protected from crazies that could step on her when running through the room. I keep wondering how we raised the other two without this great contraption.

Snow Day ... Again!

We had another snow day in February. Surprise! Surprise! We differently feel cooped up, but I can not imagine how we would feel if we were still in our Putnam Street home. What a blessing we have more space to run and play!

We made our basement into a roller skating rink late this winter. We moved around the boxes and tables to give a bit more room and the boys have enjoyed it. Cade has used my roller blades and Grandma Glenna brough roller skates for Joel to use. Both pairs are big on the boys, but they still work! And he helmets are a must due to Momma's rules. There are just too many things to run into!

Callie Girl!

I am sitting here laughing at myself at the many photos I take of Callie. It isn't that I have many pictures of Callie, but it is that I have many pictures of the same pose of Callie. I am laughing because I can't decide which photos to delete even though I have 6 photos that are practically the same. She is just too cute! I never want to forget these days.