I've had Bladen in swim lessons since he was 6 mths old so he is quite the little swimmer for only being 2.
He is so FEARLESS! He has to "jump in and go under mommy" and not just a under a little bit; he has to go under all the way!Then the week after April 15th our life turned to HELL! I started out Friday night... I went to my work's April 15th party and after dropping off all the drunks around 10:30 I get a phone call from Nate saying Bladen had a surprise for me when I get home. I get home, get out of the car and Bladen walks me to the flower bed and shows me that he chopped most of the tulips that had just bloomed that day down with his shovel while his dad was putting up his new basketball hoop (supposed for 3 seconds).
This was the morning after I'd already cleaned them up and realized it wasn't a big deal that they would die in a week anyway!After my ranting and raving to both Nate and Bladen about the tulips, I go yell at Neko to get out of my car that I had left open during my fit. I continue my complaining and by the time I'm done Neko is NO WHERE to be found. I didn't freak out because at our new house he goes and roams the neighborhood until around 3 morning and then I hear him barking at the front door. The next morning though... still no Neko. Nate's been telling me for the past 2 years that he'd wish Neko would run away (ok since he's the one who bought him for me 10 years ago but whatever). We continue the weekend with the biggest monster child ever! He ends giving me another surprise on Sunday - while Nate, Jenna, Jillian and I were out doing yard work Bladen was supposed to be having a nap. Well Nate goes in to get a drink and comes out and says Bladen wants to see you. I walk in and the first thing I see is a dozen eggs cracked all over the kitchen floor in front of the fridge. I lost it!! I don't have many patience and this weekend had put me over the edge.
This was Bladen the day of the egg incident. He LOVES his "sister"
Bladen helping me put chairs away after our BBQ (aren't all kids obsessed with wearing their moms' shoes)Brandi and Tyler moved to Philly for the summer so that Ty could sell alarm systems, so they came through Champaign and stayed with us for a night! It was so good getting to see them since we haven't seen any of our family since Christmas! We took Ty to see the town and he was in awe of the University and how big and old it is! We took them to Papa Del's (Chicago style pizza) for dinner and then the boys played basketball in the rain until 11:30 while me and Brandi sat in the back of the truck in the garage and watched. They then headed on their way to their new home at 5 the next morning. Fast visit but worth it! 
Austin/Annie and Tyler/Brandi in Philly. I'm so glad Brandi has friends back there to keep her company!Nate and I were supposed to go to Cancun the first week of May... of course that didn't happen because of the Swine Flu outbreak, but the good thing is I then got to spend all that time with my mom instead. She flew out for a week to watch Bladen while we were gone. This was the first time Mom's been to our new house and we had so much fun! 
My mom was also here over Mother's Day and left the day of my birthday... for the second year in a row :) What we did on Mother's Day:
The 2 beauties ate Chinese leftovers to hold them over for an early dinner at Texas Roadhouse
Bladen and Nate gave me roses
to the park!I was WAY sad to see my mom go. You'd think it would get easier after being away for 4 years but I still cry like a baby when she leaves. Bladen also understood for the first time that Nana was leaving and cried his eyes out at the airport when Nana left. It's so hard!
Bladen and I also went up to Chicago with Wendy/Taylor and Danielle/Lauren to see Seasame Street Live. 
Lauren, Taylor and Bladen (3 carseats and 3 adults in a TrailBlazer all the way to Chicago... see me in back haha)
Bladen was SO anxious for the show to start
Praire's PageantNate and I have been working our butts off on our yard! It was such a mess when we moved in so we've had to do a lot of work. We've bought and laid 1,500 lbs of top soil and 1,200 lbs of mulch and that only covered the front yard! We've enjoyed spending time together working on the yard! 
Front yard
Back yard
Bladen sitting next to my 2 cent flowers... Nate was at Walmart last weekend and they were selling these flowers for 2 cents haha... but hey they are cute! 
I told Bladen Saturday was his day to do whatever he wanted so we work up on Saturday and had Captain Crunch before we headed off to Old Navy for the $1 flip flops (mommy's only to do list for the day), then we were off to Pets Mart to see all the animals. Bladen now knows his way around the store and what we have to see next (the kitties, then the dogs getting groomed, the birds and the hamsters and then off to the Nemos to finish it off). We then headed to the car wash to wash - yes Bladen's favorite place to go and then home for a quick nap before we were off to the Farm with Danielle and Lauren. I swear Bladen should be a COWBOY he LOVES animals! 
B and Lauren in the petting area. Bladen was hilarious... one minute he was chasing all the goats around being wilder than crap and then 2 seconds later he saw a baby cow laying down and got so calm and went right over and sat down by him and started petting him so nicely... his mood changes so fast! Then we we headed home to set up his NEW swim pool!
He was in it for about 10 minutes and then was freezing... maybe tomorrow when it's warmer he'll like it better! 
