The boys

Photos of the boys at the park. That's all! :)

Fun with Cal, Walker, Dalin and Hannah!

Our friends Linda and David passed through Greensboro on their vacation, and we had the best afternoon with them! This was the first time Cal and Walker met Dalin and Hannah, and they had so much fun! Walking downtown to City Park, the boys and girls held hands quite happily, and they all had a blast at the park. I am not sure the smiles could have been any bigger on our faces as we watched the kids play. :) Now we are actively trying to get them to move here from Arizona!

Our future rock star

Sweaty hair? Check.
No shirt? Check.
A bit of a delirious look from all the rocking out? Check.

Nature Boy :)

Cal is taking a camp in June about connecting children with nature. He is so excited about all he is learning about, and we are so excited for him! He is growing grass inside in a cup - this was a gift he made for Scott for Father's Day. He LOVES to be outside in the yard - he helped us to choose all the fruits and vegetables we planted this spring. He is no longer afraid of bugs, because he understands they are part of the landscape and just doing their own thing. When Scott was outside pulling weeds one day, Cal asked him not to "because weeds are part of nature too." :) Cal is simply the sweetest child, and each day is more exciting for us as we see things through his eyes and as he teaches us about things from his perspective.

I know he needs a hair cut...

But Scott and I swear his hair just fits him! His wild hair fits his wild personality, and is just so "Walker." He doesn't like getting his hair cut, at all, so we have not pushed it. This child, so fiercely independent, so decidedly doing his own thing, with his brown eyes and his blond hair, and the sweet little kisses on the nose he will give me when he decides I am worthy - well he just has me wrapped around his little finger. And he knows it. :)

Hippo's new outfit!

Cal, Walker and I arrived home from school yesterday afternoon, to find a beautifully wrapped birthday gift waiting for me from my dear friend, Jennifer. Cal promptly asked me to save the "beautiful ribbon" and upon further consideration, asked for the tissue paper one of my gifts was wrapped in, and the box. He left the room and was back within minutes with his friend Hippo, lovingly adorned in a new dress and ribbon! I took photos, and emailed them to Jennifer and Scott. When Scott asked Cal about Hippo's new outfit later on, Cal responded that Hippo "looked wonderful!" I totally agree Cal. Please save Mommy a seat in the front row when you appear at Fashion Week, okay? Love you!!!

Just Because. Random photos of Cal and Walker from tonight.

Cheese!

Cal talking about what makes him happy - whale sharks!

Cheese!

Still talking very earnestly about sharks and whale sharks!

Cal's first book report!!

At Greensboro Montessori School, Cal is in a Primary Class with 3-6 year olds. He is in his second year, and will turn five on May 31st. In their third year of Primary, the 5 to 6 year old children start doing book reports. Cal was so excited to see his older friends start doing them, and he came home last night, determined to do one of his own. We didn't know he intended to actually "present" today - and neither did Isabelle and Syeda - his teachers. :) He picked a shark book we have read with him a lot, and he drew three pages of pictures of all the different sharks. He took everything to school this morning with him, and announced to his class, during circle time, that he had a book report. He presented it, and when I visited his classroom later, his friends came running to me to tell me that Cal did a great book report! I could tell he was happy - quietly proud and just listening to his friends tell me how cool it was to hear him talk about the shark book. Isabelle and Syeda later told me how relaxed he was, and how happy he was to share his book report, and his shark facts, with all of his friends. To think about how only a year ago, even just last fall, Cal isolated himself because of his speech, and he could not grip a crayon or pencil at all and had no interest in drawing and writing - yet he drew three pages' worth of sharks last night for his friends to see - it is just amazing to Scott and I and really makes us so happy for Cal. The changes since January alone are incredible, especially the happiness we see in Cal because he is so excited at all the things he feels he can do and the joy he has in expressing himself. Scott and I are truly thankful to have this incredibly sweet boy in our lives, and we have such gratitude for Mr. Carl and Ms. Janet - the Speech and Occupational Therapists who truly have given Cal the gift of confidence in himself. They are just awesome.

Walker. Nature dude. Pondering life.

Nah. Not really. But whatever he is thinking -- he looks cute!!

Cal and Walker ~ our happy little men!

They are one shoe size apart, share the same size clothing, and get closer every day. Of course that means they fight with each other and whine a lot too, but it is still pretty cool and pretty hilarious at the same time. :)

Cal - about to turn five and growing more each day!

Cal is a pretty great kid. He is super cute, super affectionate, and he actually corrects me when I call him "cute" to tell me he is "handsome!" And he is!! In the first photo below, he is obviously thrilled after a music concert with his class at school.

He brought home a caterpillar a few weeks ago from school, and thought it was really cool when it spun a cocoon within two days. Scott and I will never forget when Cal came running excitedly to us to show us his project and tell us that a "chrysalis" had appeared - it was awesome to see how happy and excited he was! On Sunday evening a moth appeared, and Cal was thrilled to see it venture out and test its wings. Pretty cool!

Walker. Guitar Hero. Rock Star

After one fun Saturday evening with friends who have Guitar Hero and play it with their kids, we (okay, I) quickly gave in and picked it up the next time we were at Costco. (Thanks Mom for giving us the Wii in the first place!) :)

We have all become equally addicted to this game, and we play it some evenings after dinner while Cal and Walker each grab their "guitars" and rock out. One of the bottom photos in the collage shows Walker in one of his signature moves - he will jump off the ground at the end of each song for the BIG FINISH. Walker loves to imitate the guitarist as he moves around the stage in the game, and the only move I have not been able to capture on film is when he stops playing suddenly, and with this intense stare, just points out into the audience. Like the true rock star that he is.