Saturday, April 11, 2015

Aspiring Artist

Cale has decided to follow in the footsteps of PopPop, his mommy and his sissy (http://www.stevenandamynorton.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-artist.html) by becoming a muralist.


We have a strict "Don't Color on Anything But Paper" rule in our house (regardless of which house we live in).  Our boy just couldn't contain himself.  I actually caught him in the act, and he was going to town.

As is the rule, he had to clean up his own mess.


He really didn't seem to mind cleaning.  Apparently using a Magic Eraser is quite fun.



Love this boy!!  He keeps us entertained!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Snow Much Fun!

We currently have a little more than 20” of snow on the ground with at least two snow days coming this week.  We are just now entering the “snow season,” so we have no idea how much of this we’re going to end up with.  We have decided to make the best of it. 

Steve used the snow blower to pile most of the snow in the backyard into a mountain.2014-2-15

Then he took the snow shovel and made steps in one side (as best as he could).  Then he made several slides for the kids to sled down.  We have our very own snow slide.  The kids love it!

Last night Cale couldn’t get enough.  He’s just too cute!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

From Gramps

Cale received another birthday present this week!  Gramps sent Cale a birthday present when he mailed Claire and Cale’s Christmas presents.IMG_0862

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Thanks, Gramps!  Cale LOVES his tractor!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Two-Year Checkup

Cale had his two-year checkup on Friday.  He is 2 ft 11.75” tall (83rd percentile).  He weighs in at 31 lbs 2 oz (also the 83rd percentile).  According to his doc, he is “perfect!”photo 2 (7)

I had to complete a developmental checklist for him while we were at the doctor’s office so that they could make sure that he’s progressing on-schedule.  I had to start with tasks that he should have been able to do six months ago and then circle everything he can do going forward.  According to their list, he can do everything a one-year-old should be able to do, everything a two-year-old should be able to do, everything a three-year-old should be able to do and all but two of the things a four-year-old should be able to do.  Those two things – he can’t hop on one foot, and he can’t cut with scissors.  It’s quite possible that he can actually cut with scissors, but I haven’t yet let him try.

Cale’s funny for the week:  As I’ve mentioned before, Cale likes to use the fewest number of syllables to get anything said.  (I’m not sure if this is because he was born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma thus far or if it’s just because he’s naturally super-efficient.)  A couple of nights ago, I was making dinner, and the kids were playing downstairs.  Cale came up and yelled, “Mom!  I want more crack!”  My shocked and confused reply was, “You want what?!”  “Crack!  More crack!”  Again, in utter disbelief, “You want more crack?!”  “Yes!  Crack!  More crack, Mom!  PLEEEEASE!”  It took me a minute, but I finally clued in.  “You want more crackers?”  “Yes, more crackers.  More crack, Mom!”  My oh my!  This boy keeps me guessing and keeps me giggling!

This picture was taken this morning before church.  My kids are so cute and so silly!photo 1 (6)

Cale is wearing size 3T clothing.  He has officially outgrown most size 2T.  He wears a size 8/9 shoe.

Cale definitely has preferences for things.  He has opinions about almost everything and is not shy in expressing them.

He LOVES dinosaurs.  He calls them “roars!” and always follows up with a growling demonstration.

He talks a lot – a whole lot.  We understand most of what he says.  He is very polite and mannerly.  He is helpful and kind.  He’s very funny and loves to make everyone laugh.  He loves to sing and loves to pray.

If you try to give him a food that he did not request, even if it’s something he loves, he will loudly exclaim, “Gross!” or “Yucky!”

He loves “choo-choo trains” and cars and airplanes.

He is definitely all-boy.  He loves to wrestle and get dirty.  He loves to jump on the trampoline and has learned to jump really high.

He loves to play hide-and-go-seek, and he finds some great hiding spots.  But he almost always will jump out and yell “boo” without really giving you the chance to find him.  He does a pretty good job of seeking too.

He’s scared of loud noises, especially the hand dryers in public bathrooms and the stuffing and bathing stations at Build-A-Bear.

He loves vacuum cleaners and always wants to help clean.  He calls them “vacs,” i.e. “There’s a vac!” and “I want a vac!”

He loves to read and to be read to.  He has a few favorites – “Santa Claus” and “Airplanes.”

He loves to play games.  He has started playing “I Spy.”  He always says, “I spy yellow!”  You can guess several things, and he always says “no.”  After several guesses, he’ll finally say, “OK.”  Then he suggests that someone else have a turn.

He loves talking on the phone.  He asks several times a day if he can call Daddy or MiMi or PopPop.  He may or may not have anything to say if we actually do call, but he likes the idea of talking to people on the phone.

He LOVES to get mail!  He gets so excited when the mail is delivered everyday, although he rarely gets anything.  I’ve started giving him our junk mail.  Our house has an old mail chute near the door that has been boarded up from the outside.  Cale uses this as his own personal “hidey-hole.”  We’ve found various things in there from stickers to cars to pieces of paper that he called “mail.”

His favorite mode of transportation is galloping.  He climbs on everything.  The world is his playground.

Cale brings so much joy to our lives.  He is fun and exciting.  He is silly.

We are so blessed that he is ours!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Twins

We had a very busy weekend, so I am just now getting around to posting the last of Cale’s presents.  On Saturday Cale got some new items for Charlie – a Minnesota Twins t-shirt, a baseball cap, glove and bat.IMG_0246

This moment of anticipation as he looks into the bag…IMG_0247

Trying on Charlie’s hatIMG_0251

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Cale’s birthday month was SO much fun this year!  He loved getting presents and was so excited about every celebration!  Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!  You are loved beyond words!

Cale’s two-year checkup is scheduled for this Friday.  I’ll have his height, weight, etc. then.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Happy 2nd Birthday, Cale!

The last two years have been so much fun because Cale has been a part of them!  What a ride!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Handsome!  We love you!!

“You’ve Got Mail”

When Cale opened his present this morning, he yelled, “Mail!  Mail!  I got mail!”  He actually received a puppy along with cards from his sister and his daddy and mommy.  Cale has named this darling, “Puppy.”IMG_0096

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Cale figured out very quickly how to push the button inside of Puppy’s mouth to get him to growl.IMG_0124

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We spent the day as a family.  We, of course, did a little Black Friday shopping and found some fabulous bargains.  For lunch we took the kids to “Cheeseburger King” (what they call BK) to play on the playground.  We ate more of Cale’s favorite foods today and played with him and kissed him and sang to him and loved on him all day long.  He is such a joy!

Happy Birthday, Little Mister!IMG_0218

And Happy “Big Sister” Anniversary to Sweets!  Two years ago today she became the world’s best big sister!IMG_0243

I have the best kids in the world!  I am one blessed mama!  Thank you, God, for giving me the best of everything!