Great Wolf Lodge Adventure

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge Monday and Tuesday and it was so fun! If you've never heard of it, it's the biggest indoor water park in the northwest. Waahoo! The whole place was huge. We stayed in room #4000 and that was only the 4th floor. There was 8 floors! I didn't think I'd swim much with nursing baby and holding her, but our friends took turns with us so we could get away from the kiddie pool area once in a while! (Thank you Sammy and Rodney!!!) I swear Kaleb went down this slide about 100 times. He didn't mind getting his face wet. In fact he thought it was funny if he went totally under. Scary! His other favorite thing (that he keeps talking about) was this gigantuos bucket that fills up and dumps water over everything. He was fascinated. My favorite was the Tornado! (I stole this picture off the website) It was so crazy, especially if you went down backwards! You go down a normal tunnel thing and then it DROPS into this humongous funnel that shoots you up and down the sides. Now I know what it's like to get flushed down the toilet. Braydan and Rodney got some 300lb. guys to go on it with them and they pretty much set a speed record :) They should have tipped over, but the laws of physics were with them I guess. Braydan took Kaleb in the wave pool a lot . . . . ...... and the pool with floating animals. He liked the snake.Eliza pretty much hung out naked the whole time cause it was so humid and hot. Scandalous, I know! People were checking her out left and right. Except they didn't always know it was a her. I got a lot of the "what a cute little boy!" or "how old is he?" questions. Poor Eliza :) Anyways, it was nice to have a much needed break. I laughed a lot (or screamed)!

First Smiles

This last week Eliza started smiling lots and it's so fun when they start to interact. She's also getting really strong! No more wobbly neck baby, especially when she's mad. I really love her for sleeping good. Last night she slept from 9 to 4!! I almost had a heart attack when I saw the clock. Now I just have to work on her naps in the day . . . . Does the swing count?

Happy Birthday Kaleb!!!

Yesterday my little Kaleb turned 2!!! Crazy!! Every time I asked him how old he was he said, "PREEE!!"--which means 3. We'll have to work on that. I tried to make it a special day for him, even though he didn't really understand the whole concept. I let him pick out a balloon at the store (thanks for the idea Ashley) and he wanted a pink heart one. He loved running in circles around the balloon and acting silly with it. I tried to get him to go to the playland at the store (cause you can go when you're two), but he wouldn't. Maybe next time. He helped me make the cake and was most excited about that all day. Whenever anyone said happy birthday to him, he said "CAKE!" I planned on making him a police car cake cause that's what he's obsessed with right now, but I forgot about the black frosting thing -- pretty much impossible unless you buy the gel stuff, which I didn't. So. . . I made an easy basketball. He likes those too. We had some of our friends over and it was so cute to watch his face when everyone sang to him. I think he was in heaven. He practiced blowing the candles out before the big event, but Braydan had to help. As soon as he blew them out, he said "Again?" I love my little boy. Everyday I seriously crawl into bed exhausted from him, but for some reason I love him and all his mischief. I don't know if it's cause I have Eliza now and I'm distracted sometimes or if it's really the "terrible" two thing, but this past week he did some naughty things. One day he threw all his socks in the toilet. While I was cleaning that up, he got my water bottle and emptied the whole thing on his floor. Another day he got Eliza's baby lotion and smeared globs of it all over the couch. I think in the same hour he scooped dirt out of Braydan's plant into his dump truck and "unloaded" it on the recliner. He likes to help me cook and usually we have no troubles, but yesterday he threw a glass cup on the floor. After that shattered and I'm sweeping it up, he got the lid off the pepper and dumped the whole thing. I think that was the worst cause it seriously burned my eyes and nose!!!! We were all sneezing for a while. You're probably thinking that I never watch him, but he's fast and sneaky! Never a dull moment around here.
Anyways, Kaleb we are so thankful for you and that you are a part of our family. You make me laugh with all your little quirks - - like your hop skip walk, your face when you say "Eww Gross," the way you push your stool all around the kitchen to help me cook, the way you say "funny" and all "f" words for that matter. I love all our conversations, your excitement for life, and especially how eager you are to help me clean : ) (It will be a sad day when he figures out cleaning is actually not that fun.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!!

Dude

That's right, Dude. It's the newest member of our family lately. It's a plastic turtle Kaleb got with Braydan at Value Village for $2 that he calls "Dude." If you've seen Finding Nemo you'll understand where he got the name (He thinks all turtles are Dudes). He feeds Dude snacks and drinks, tucks him into bed, and insists on having him nearby for reading books. Today a firetruck and ambulance parked on our street and before Kaleb could watch them out the window, he had to run and find Dude so he could watch too. The only problem with Dude is that he weighs about 10lbs. Okay, maybe not that much, but I fear for Eliza. One day he's gonna make Dude "fly" and he'll land right on her head.

Eliza Sue and Alisha Lou

I can't believe Alisha is gone already! Sad. She was super energizer bunny while she was here, cleaning, playing with Kaleb, running around with me . . . . . Come back ALISHA!! When she left this morning, I cried and honestly thought I couldn't do it without her. BUT . . . somehow the day went on as normal and I managed. Thank you sister for everything!!!!

Sunday we blessed Eliza and Braydan did a nice job. She was awake during the whole thing but never made a peep. I almost forgot to take pictures, but 15 minutes before church started we hurried and took some! Maybe I'll have to dress her up one more time to get a few more.

Saturday we took Alisha to Marymore Park to rock climb with some friends. At first I thought it was a crazy idea to try with two kids, but it was fun getting outside and Kaleb loved running around.

I tried a new climb and struggled the whole way but finished! Alisha did good (the first picture is of her) and Braydan lead a hard one at the end.

Here's some more updated pictures of Eliza. She's changing and growing fast!

Two Little Munchkins

Well, Kaleb and Eliza are both asleep so I better hurry and post something! (Yes, Kaleb went down for his nap without crying about his "beep!" YAY!!)

Life has been good and I feel really blessed. I think Heavenly Father knew I needed an easy baby cause he sent me a little angel! She does have a cough that I'm worried about, but it hasn't gotten worse or interrupted sleep or anything.

Kaleb has been really sweet to her. He asks to hug and kiss her all the time (the hugs are a little much, but he tries) He likes to cover her up with his blanket and I have to pull it off her face so she can breathe! He'll run and get me a diaper and pull out wipes (like the whole box worth!) when I ask. He won't say her name yet, she's just "baby." If I'm being loud and she's sleeping, he'll say, "Mama, shhhhhh" in a very bossy voice. My sister comes tomorrow and I'm excited for her to see them! Kaleb will love a new playmate :)

A moment of silence

I invite you all to take a moment of silence in remembrance of a sacred friend of the DuRee household: Kaleb's binky. Yes, it has finally passed on as of yesterday 6:15pm via the toilet. (Please don't call the city wastewater treatment place. They might yell at us. Throwing it in the garbage failed in past attempts. Kaleb always seemed to rescue it.) I wish I would've taken a picture of the beloved "beep" as he calls it because it sported at least 5 holes and was filled with who knows what kind of filth. Kaleb even knew it was gross and told me so often. So last night we told him your bink is yucky, go throw it in the toilet. He happily did, slammed the lid, and flushed it. He was pretty excited about what he did until reality sank in. Then he talked about it the rest of the night.
"Beep?"
"Sorry Kaleb, you flushed it remember?"
"Why?"
"Because it was gross."
"Ya, gross." (with a disgusted look on his face)

2 minutes later . . . .

"Where go?"
"Where did what go?" (trying to pretend I don't know what he's talking about)
"Beep."
"You flushed it."
"Potty?"
"Yep, potty"
"Why?"

Okay, you get the idea. . . . but we wonder when he'll change the subject!
To make a long, miserable story short, I found Braydan asleep on Kaleb's floor this morning. I was so tired last night that I actually fell asleep with him still crying about it. Wow. At one point as I'm laying there listening to him, I actually started getting emotional. How would I like it if someone flushed my bestfriend down the toilet? What if I slept with something for two years and then the next minute it's gone? I must've not been too upset cause I fell asleep :) So, farewell little friend. You've served me well and Kaleb will miss you (way too much), but it's time we said goodbye.