Where has the Summer Gone?

Another summer winding to an end.  It has been one month since I have sat down to post and I am missing our little blog.  We have been busy with summer fun, working on getting in items Emma Claire's summer "bucket list", Arnold's birthday, Rowie and Opa's visit, Fair Hills Trip, MN Zoo, MN State Fair.  I am ready for the transition to Fall, my favorite time of year.  Emma Claire's, too, because she "can play in the leaves".  Emma Claire has said many times that she is ready for snow (which I am NOT).
Both Emma Claire and Arnold move up a classroom after Labor Day.  Arnold to the transition room and Emma Claire to the Pre-K room.  They have grown and changed so much this summer.  I can't believe we have only one more year before Emma Claire starts kindergarten, which she is already excited about.
The summer was the best yet with both the kids and we look forward to a fun year ahead.  I plan to spend the coming weeks organizing my house, my photos and catching up on my blog posts.  Now, if there were only more hours in the day...

Twins Game

Brad and Emma Claire biked to Target Field last night for the Twins game with Adrian and Ollie.  Emma Claire had a very animated "true story" about a really mean player ("was it the white or grey team, Daddy?") and somebody "catched" the ball he hit and he was out of the team. She had LOTS of questions about how he left the stadium, etc (not sure she quite gets the rules of baseball yet).

Tee Ball

Emma Claire's parks & rec class wrapped up with a second week of tee ball.  It sure was entertaining watching the kids learn the concept of bases and running them in the correct direction.  

It is sad when the parks and rec summer programs come to an end.  Each year is getting to be more and more fun for Emma Claire. 

Our Beanstalk

Emma Claire and Blad planted a little Wisteria plant for me a few years ago for Mother's Day.  I dreamed of it growing to cover the pergola on our deck.  It has finally taken off this summer and has reached the pergola.  Emma Claire is fascinated by how quickly "beanstalk is growing.

Boingy Hop

Meet the newest member of the Kadue terrarium... "Boingy Hop".  He is the 4th frog to join the party.  Emma Claire and Brad catch bugs for the frog family and make a cricket run to Pet Smart once a week.

First Raspberries

Brad planted raspberry bushes in the backyard this year.  We have been harvesting our first raspberries, eating them as fast as we can pick them.

Swimming

Lessons are going well.  Emma Claire is now swimming short distances on her own and has made real progress in confidence and Arnold just plain loves the water.  

Sweet Boy

Playing at our after dinner favorite spot - Meadowbrook playground. 

Water Days

This was our first year to try parks and rec water day at Scheid Park.  Emma Claire desperately wanted to go, so we fought the crowd and managed one ride down the huge tarp and some time at the Puppet Wagon.

Sunflower

Milestone

It happened.  Arnold made the great escape from his crib.   

He made the leap at almost the exact same age as Emma Claire did.  Brad switched the rail out for the toddler bed conversion.  Arnold was so excited that he was able to freely climb in and out of his "big boy bed". Emma Claire was every bit as thrilled for him.

For this milestone, I am SO happy to have the Arnold cam.  It is better than TV.  The first night he slept it it, we watched him crawl in and out, play in his room, flip the light switch on and off and crawl under the bed over and over again.

Emma Claire even spend a couple of nights in Arnold's bed with him.  They giggled, played (in and out of the bed), cuddled and eventually fell sound asleep.

Wheels That Work: Trucks

Emma Claire: "When daddy grows big, he should be a truck driver"

Time Capsule

We went as a family to the 125th Anniversary Time Capsule Ceremony.  We rode our bikes to City Hall, snapped a photo by the time capsule and grabbed a program (Arnold wasn't much into the ceremony, so we made a quick exit).

We hope to be there as a family when the capsule is opened in 25 years!

Fourth of July 2012

This was one hot Fourth of July for us.  Record temperatures here, with a high in excess of 100.  

Emma Claire and I made Rowie's famous pimento cheese (it wouldn't be the Fourth without that!)

 We had plans to watch the Delano parade, but decided not to brave the heat.  We, instead, spent the afternoon at Kevin Carver's pool party.  Emma Claire hardly left the water and Brad had a good showing in the cannon ball contest. 

After supper, we loaded Emma Claire and Arnold in the Burley and biked over to Aquila Park for fireworks.  It was well worth the effort and the late night.  Everyone enjoyed the show.  Arnold said "whoa" after most every firework.

It was one late night for the Kadue family, but we survived (eventually recovered) and enjoyed another fun filled Fourth of July.

Why God Made Little Brothers

Emma Claire:  "Arnold's really silly!... That's why God made little brothers, I guess".

Happy Teeth

Emma Claire's second trip to the dentist...  No cavities and a good report.  We left with instructions from the dentist to add a brushing in the morning (Emma Claire can do that one by herself) and at night (mom and dad are to help with that one) and floss.  Emma Claire took the instructions seriously and has reminded us many times "remember, the dentist said..." (why won't she take us so seriously?)

Water Balloon Pinatas

Emma Claire is brave on the monkey bars this summer.  She climbs part way across, using the trapeze bar for assistance.  She loves to hang upside down on them.

This night, we made water balloon pinatas (one of the items on our "Summer Bucket List - more to follow on our list).  We had a hard time breaking them!

Basketball

Emma Claire just completed her second Wednesday of basketball in her Parks & Rec class, where she learned how to dribble and shoot the ball.  She loves the class.  Next week...t-ball!