YAHOO!!!

As I've said many times before, Cale loves his "horsies." Aunt Debbie got Cale a really cool horsie for Christmas, but since we didn't end up going to Chicago this year, she had to send it to us. We showed up at Grandma and Grandpa "T's" last week and found "Dude" waiting for Cale to climb on up! You should know too that every horse that Cale owns is also named "Dude", which makes this like Dude # 5 or 6! Grandma T tried convincing Cale to name the new horsie "Blue" (his favorite color) but he shot her down. Nice try though Grandma! Our little cowboy just wasn't quite complete until Grandpa finally found some old sun hats--close enough to a cowboy hat for Cale--(Now I wonder when and where exactly Grandpa T actually wore this hat!!!) Needless to say, it was a hit with Cale---and his cowboy adventure was a hit! Or, as Cale would say "YAHOOOOOO!!!"

Hats off to Daddy as Cale tries to show him EXACTLY how to perfect the art of "yahooing"

For someone that hated hats a few months back, he sure did not want to take this one off!

FAMILY FUN NIGHT!!!

It's really been hard to keep sane this winter, at least at times. It was so much nicer when we could go outside after dinner and go to the park or go for walks--even for as many nice new toys Cale got for Christmas, there really is only so much mommy can take of playing cars, trucks, horses, cars, cars, trucks, horses, and more cars! (you get the picture) I can't even get him to color with me anymore these days--at least for more than 2 minutes at a time! So, needless to say, some nights at the Thompson household are spent doing really silly things...



For instance, posing for pictures via self-timer. Quite a chore in itself, but at least it got a few laughs out of my little guy!

I do have to admit that the play-doh has been a huge hit though. And surprisingly, Cale has only tried to taste it ONCE!

Kinda blurry, but here is his final project...his favorite barn yard animals (plus the 5 other additional horses he had riding in his truck!) Like I said, "horses and trucks"

Let me just start this by saying there are some things that Cale and daddy do that mommy would NEVER do.....but I guess that's what daddys are for! Cale actually loves being hung upside down--it is a nightly ritual for my two boys that just never seems to get old!

We started off the new year with a trip to the Children's Museum. Jason and I had never been there yet and we thought Cale would be old enough now to actually enjoy himself. It was pretty packed the day we went, so there was a lot of commotion and sometimes it was a little hard to do things "hands on" with all the little kids running around, but overall it was a really good day! Cale had a lot of fun and Jason and I really enjoyed watching Cale explore everything.

Cale especially liked this water slide for boats----the idea was to wait at the bottom and as soon one of the kids at the top launched their boat down the slide you had to be at the ready to grab one once it fell into the pool at the bottom so you could get your own turn of launching! Here, Cale waits patiently for a boat........

He was also pretty amazed at watching the little white balls get sucked up into the tubes and come out a different hole somewhere else way down the line.....He made a little friend at this stop--there was a shortage of little white balls, so they ended up sharing--each taking a turn at dropping the ball down the tube....
This place was all about balls.....balls of every size, shape, and color...so Cale was in heaven. However, by this time, Daddy was getting a little annoyed at some of the "commotion"-- really feeling that some parents needed to teach their children some better manners! Can't you just see his face now?!!?

We spent the most amount of time at "Habitot." This was an exhibit made especially for toddlers -- tons of different things for them to touch, climb, and explore. Our little man was getting pretty adventurous, preferring to climb up slanting slopes all by himself instead of holding mommy's hand, and running across draw bridges just to get to a cool slide.

Here is Cale sitting on a lilypad as he wonders what this little girl next to him might be up to.

The slanting slope I was talking about....and also notice he's paying no attention to the kids that are trying to come down the slope--almost like he's daring them to try!

Cale and daddy looking at all the cars down on the street below

And then here we are at Earth World. Cale loved this area too-- lots of fish and outdoor things to look at. Here Jason is trying to help Cale grab some tadpoles and frogs from the river--He could have done that for hours--and Jason got quite a work out heaving Cale up and down, to and fro!

Nothing like a good field trip to put our little guy to sleep (this despite the fact that he had had multiple cups of apple juice, multiple sips of pop, and multiple bites of ice cream throughout the day) What can I say, we were still on vacation mode! Although, I can't decide if no affect from the sugar and caffiene is a good thing or a bad thing????!!!!

This picture is for Daddy and Grandpa "T" specifically...sorry Viking fans....I think Cale has officially "slipped to the other side!"

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

We started off our holiday by going to 8th floor Macy's in downtown Minneapolis. The theme this year was "Santa's Little Helpers." It has been our tradition every year to attend the Macy's festivities---and this was BY FAR the best one I've seen. Jason agrees too. Cale also enjoyed himself--there was so much fun stuff to look at--everything was so animated, it was like he was in his own tiny little village! In this picture, he couldn't get enough of the animated animals--you'll see them in the next picture---he especially liked the polar bear and walrus!

Here, Cale was showing Daddy the singing Christmas trees and the little bunny that was directing them....

Not the greatest picture of the singing Christmas trees, but they were SOOOO dang cute! My favorite part of the whole thing!

Cale and Grandma "T" pointing out all of Santa's Little Helpers!

Of course we can't get a family picture with EVERYONE looking.....that dang Cale!

Me and my hubby!!!! (luv ya babe!)

Cale actually tried climbing up into Santa's workshop here...he was ready to start riding the rocking horse and jump into the candy cane machine!

In this picture, some of Santa's elves were climbing up a ladder carrying presents and he kept saying "uh-oh, fa" (uh-oh, fall) cuz he was afraid they were going to fall off the ladder. He was probably just more concerned that the presents were going to fall!

And our last picture at Macy's -- Cale loved the snowman and the little racoons pulling off his hat behind him...

HO HO HO--Merry Christmas! Jason told Cale he had to put cookies out for Santa. The only cookies in the house were Cale's fig newtons, so those had to do. In the morning, we showed Cale that all the milk was gone and the bitten cookies and tried to explain to him that Santa must have come cuz he ate the snack....but I think the little Santa doll had him confused cuz I think he thought that the doll ate the cookies!

The rest of the pictures are of some of Cale's favorite Christmas presents.....let me just say...Santa was very very good to our little boy---as well as all of our friends and family! He is so lucky to loved by so many! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

This GeoTrax Grand Central Station was his big present from Santa---it's been quite a hit with both of my boys!!! Yes, even my 31 year old husband has found a second hobby!

Another hit with both of my boys was the big remote control truck from Uncle D and Andrea! Although now that Cale sees how fast it goes, he doesn't favor it as much as his Daddy does!

Another big hit...his Handy Manny tool set--with handy tool belt

Our 4th haircut thus far..... ...and by far, Cale's most favorite look yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why oh why did I wrack my brain for the "perfect" christmas present for Cale to have on Christmas morning when all I had to do was give him the dang box it came it? He's been playing in this box for a week straight! He can't get enough of the packing noodles--and I think I've lost count on how many times I've had to duct tape the sides so the whole thing just doesn't fall apart!