First Swim Lessons

If you haven't noticed, I have several children. Several small children. Large bodies of water feel like a death sentence, because remember, I have more children than I have arms. So we decided it would be a good idea to have the big boys take swim lessons. 

I looked in to lessons through the Parks & Rec deparment, but Cason was not old enough to go to his own class. I am not talented enough to do Mommy & Me swim lessons with two boys, so we needed private lessons. I found a fabulous gal through The Village Mommies play group and the boys loved her. She was the perfect balance of patience and prodding. Cannon literally found the courage to swim on his own underwater the day after swim lessons ended. Cason is much more apprehensive but I feel better knowing that he has at least practiced blowing under water, kicking in the water, and monkey climbing along the wall.

In true Reeder fashion, we ended our last swim class with a Slurpee from 7-Eleven and a nice long nap.

First Fishing

Danny has had a miniature fishing pole tucked away in his closet since Christmas just waiting for the perfect day to take Cannon fishing. The only problem . . . Cannon found it and would ask every few days if it was time to go fishing yet. 

Finally, finally it was time. The boys went to a stocked catfish pond in Mesquite and came home with dinner. 

I don't think Cannon quite understood what was going to happen when they went fishing because he enjoyed holding the pole until they caught their first fish. Danny helped him reel that catfish onto the shore and Cannon wanted nothing else to do with that pole. He watched Danny catch the second one. 

He also wasn't so sure about tasting their fresh catch, but Danny sure enjoyed his fried catfish dinner.

The following are a few photos from Danny's phone that he managed to capture while he was keeping kids from falling in the lake.

First Easter Egg Hunt

We took the boys on their first Easter egg hunt this year at Prairie Creek Baptist Church. Cannon was a little overwhelmed by the crowds and Cason didn't understand that finding more than one egg was the goal, but we all enjoyed the chocolate and sugar at the end. 

Rain Rain Come Again

Cannon waits for rain. The minute he sees a drop of water outside he asks if he can get out his umbrella, which is really my old umbrella from when I was little. It's old and brittle and breaking but he doesn't care. 

Some things we do to brighten a rainy day: make a sun on the sidewalk and eat popsicles!

Duck Commander

Danny's newest hobby this winter was duck hunting. Cannon desperately wished he was old enough to go. Every morning that Danny wasn't home it was, "Daddy go duck hunting with Uncle Matt and get stuck in the mud?" Because yes, the first time Danny went out in that cold morning muck he and Uncle Matt got ridiculous stuck in the mud. And Cannon, innocently enough, won't let them forget it.

I think I should have been more disturbed to see my son touching dead birds, but Danny was already handing him the ducks when I walked out, so I just vowed to bathe him in hand sanitizer when all was said and done.

He now asks to go "duck hunting" almost daily. One day little "hunter." One Day. 

Cannon's First Album Cover Photoshoot

Cannon received a half-size guitar for Christmas, and in case you can't tell, he loves it. Nothing melodious is coming from those strings yet, but he has the heart and the vocals to make up for it. He and Danny love jamming out together. And when all else fails he just plays it as a bass.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Cannon has been waiting for a rainy day to try out his umbrella every since we found my old Snoopy umbrella at my parents house. I'll have to dig up an old photo of me with this - probably 25 years ago.

Unfortunately, this was all the photos I had time to take because at this point Cason was crawling through the wet rain and grass in his drenched sweat pants. NOTHING stops that child.

A Baker's Helper

I put Cason down for his morning nap and Cannon and I whipped out a batch of fudge and chocolate chip cookies for friends and neighbors. Well, I baked while Cannon licked his weight in chocolate off that spoon. I do believe (following his first ever hot chocolate experience) that this was his first official "licking of the beaters." I'm telling you, chocolate is totally making his Christmas AWESOME this year.

Hot Chocolate Mustache

There are many things this holiday season that we're getting to do with Cannon for the first time, hot chocolate being one of those. It was more like "warm" chocolate in Cannon's case, but he didn't care. Anything chocolate and Cannon is all in, no questions asked. 

Just wait until we take some hot chocolate in his little thermos to go look at Christmas lights. We are going to blow his mind!

Christmas is so fun with kiddos!

Cut, Cut, Cutting

On a whim, I picked up a $1.99 pair of kid's scissors at Target (isn't that what Target is good for? making cheap purchases on a whim?) He didn't quite grasp that he could cut all the way across the page, but instead made little cuts around all four sides. And was quite proud of his handiwork.