We're Back!

We spent the past week at my sister's in Texas. It was so fun being with my sister and her family. They are so helpful and my kids look up to their big cousins SO much!! Here are pictures my sister took on her camera and I love them. 

It was quite sad the morning we left. The truck was SO quiet as we pulled out and with a little tear streaming down his face Porter asked when we would be back in Texas to visit his cousins. 

Then, Henry covered himself in a blanket and boo hoo'ed. Then of course I lost it. It's so hard living away from family sometimes!!

Memory Space.

Lately I've been spending lots of time going through old pictures and deleting all the outtakes we don't need to free up memory space on our laptop. It has really caused me to reflect and go back and re-live so many precious moments. 

(We got to be a part of a "enjoy henry county" commercial with the boys at one of our favorites Southernbelle Farms.)

I have laughed and cried looking through pictures. I remembered a lot of pictures but there were a few I'd forgotten about like the one above and it took me back to a gorgeous sunny georgia fall day. 

I'm walking away with a couple of thoughts about this "chore" I'm finally crossing off my to do list. 

1.) We are so so so very blessed. I have reminisced in these pictures and remembered some highs and lows and every time God has far exceeded what we could have ever imagined. Why would I ever doubt his goodness? Just look at those 4 handsome boys of mine above. 

2.) What we are going through now is temporary. It is so easy to let your mind not be able to see past a certain trial and thinking things will never improve or ever seem "normal" again. But instead of returning things perfectly how they were before, they've become better. And a new normal has been born and it is beautiful. 

3.) Keep taking those pictures. That capture jogs the memory and memory is a beautiful thing. To remember the season, the crisp crinkling leaves, the smells in the air and the coziness of a home. Such beautiful things.

4.) It really does go by fast. In regards to time my favorite quote would be " the years are short but the days are long". That perfectly describes the season of life we are in right now. Some days are SO long and SO exhausting but then I look back at pictures and wonder how has it gone so fast. But every time I say it is WORTH it and I would do it all again! 

Update!

I really am trying to make headway in getting the blog going again. It's so hard to find spare minutes here and there bc at the end of the night when I set down I'm usually toast!

Here's a little update of our 1/2 dozen family::

Kit: He has settled into work nicely and is enjoying his new job. He gets to work with some familiar faces from when we were in Lafayette previously. We just completed our second round of whole 30 and he lost a total of 24 pounds! Woohoo! Go, Kit. He still wants to complete 1,000 projects on the "to do"list (do those lists ever all get completed?) in our new home but he finished out the boys room and it looks awesome. I'll have to post pictures soon!

Henry: He has been keeping busy this summer with swim lessons and soccer camp. Also, my sister in law and I have created "Land of Cad" camp once a week during the summer and it's been so fun for the kiddos! He is starting to get the reading bug (sometimes it's more of a chore than a pleasure) but it's been so fun to watch him grow.

Porter: Always the imagination, always a good time. Porter is feeling a little jipped this summer since most camps start at 5 years old and he is just missing the cut off. This summer the toddler Porter is long gone and this charming, thoughtful, goofy little soon to be 5 year old has arrived. Such a fun age!

Wells: I'm not sure if I have posted on here before but we have been a little concerned about Wells' speech and pronunciation. Lately tho he has been making huge strides and is really doing well. We are going to pursue speech therapy in the fall with him. He is all about keeping up with his big brothers and trying to be just like them (He ADORES that he gets to be in the BOYS rooms with H&P)

. He also enjoys being the "big brother" to Ruby. Those two know how to push each others buttons too.

Ruby: What a firecracker! Somedays with Ruby I feel as tho I am a first time parent all over again. That girl keeps me on my toes, is super smart, a climber and a feisty little thing. Her words are just exploding and she's close to being at the 'repeat everything' stage. So cute. She's got some pretty cute faces and enjoys knowing she's got her brothers and poppa wrapped around her finger.

Me: I am doing well. This summer has been a lot of fun having 4 walkers and no morning nappers but it has also been very exhausting at times. Sometimes I wish I had more energy and I wish I was more organized (sparkling clean house, no dishes in the sink) but I have to stop myself and realize I have 4 energetic, healthy children and at the end of the day I'm super thankful because I. AM. DOING. IT. I am dog tired at the end of the day but I MADE IT through the day!!!
I have found a GI physician in Indy and have still kept a good relationship with the wellness center in sugar land. It's been a good balance and we are just continuing to keep doing what I'm doing.

Well, that's a good little update on what's up with these Cads!

Wells Grey is 3!

Oh Wellsie Grey-

I can NOT believe you entered into our family 3 years ago! You are such a sweet boy and are full of wonder and excitement. I am so thankful for your health, your role both as little and big brother and your laughter. You are a delight. You still enjoy cuddles and kisses. You are so special to us. We love having you in our family and are so proud to call you ours! 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Wells!! 

Wells is {almost} 3!!

Wells turns THREE tomorrow but this past weekend we celebrated with grandparents and had a great time! We surprised everyone with a piñata and it was a hit!! 

Ruby was quite unsure at how we take things away from her all day long but on Saturday night we handed her a stick and told her to go at it. She had this look like, "You all have lost your minds!"

This kid is so cute and handsome! He is starting to say the cutest things. He loooooves white potatoes and I can't eat them so I rarely make them but recently I made mashed potatoes and he said the cutest thing when he saw them on the table…."Momma! You make mash -tatoes? All by you self? I so proud of you, momma!" So. cute. 

Poppa and Wells!

Ruby enjoyed showing off for her grandparents

Our last 18mo old!

My my my, I can't believe how much time is flying by! (stop that rhyming now I mean it…anybody want a peanut?!?! hahahaha!)

It's really hard to believe we are here with our last baby. 18mo. Such a fun fun age. Except this chick is kicking it to a whole new level.

She is EVERY. WHERE. and in EVERY. THING. It's amazing the difference in personalities in each our children and this girl is very much sugar & spice. She can be the CuTeSt little thing and then you turn around and she's sitting on top of the table….or she will come give you kisses and then sneak away to play in the toilet. It really is amazing how fast time is moving. There is a part of me that really misses the baby stage. This is such an exciting time in a house with a new member of the family and all the "firsts". But, I gotta tell you, I'm really enjoying this stage. All the conversations we get to have around the table every night, hearing the boys negotiating and laughing with each other. It really is fun. Here are a few pictures I got to snap and at the bottom is a comparison of all of the kiddos. What do you think? Do you think they look alike??

Copeland Carmel Cadwallader

Did I tell y'all we got a bunny? We did. Just a smidge early for Easter. Really, we'd been wanting one and Easter was the perfect time to add a little addition to our "farm". She is such a sweet bunny & we really enjoy having her.

Easter 2015

Leading up to Easter was so much fun and we had so much fun talking about Easter and the reason we get to celebrate. Easter itself was a little odd. It just seemed like mass chaos with our little tribe. There was lots of drama and fussing and melt downs and it wasn't really out of the ordinary and more of a typical day but I think Kit & I were hoping for a calmer day. Oh well…someday :). 

Saturday night we got to dye eggs with the kiddos and that is always a fun time. This was something I didn't do as a kid but Kit did and it's been a fun tradition to add in. 

Sunday morning we had me maw's cinnamon rolls & easter egg fruit cups before heading to the early Easter service. It was such a beautiful service! 

 I sure did try for a cute Easter picture and this is what we got. Pretty cute even tho it isn't the best "posed" pic. 

We did not get a family pic this year so selflies in front of the mirror will have to do I guess!

 Friday night we celebrated Easter with my side of the family & my parents did an egg hunt. This year my mom was smart and color coordinated the eggs so they were each searching for a color. Great idea and so fun!

Where are my babies…?

I can't believe my babies are so grown up! I can definitely get caught up in looking through old pictures….anyone else? Looking through pictures I can not believe how grown my babies are getting! I'm currently typing this while Wells & Ruby are napping (thank you, Jesus!) and Henry & Porter are putting together Legos.

I full heartedly believe in the quote, "The days are long but the years are short". Sometimes the days are sooooooo. loooooong. But no more babies in our house! 

Ruby is walking…errr….running everywhere and starting to say more words and is one smart cookie. 

Porter is loving preschool and Wells and Porter are becoming some pretty great friends. Wells is a funny little guy. One word for him:: "passionate".

Henry is doing well in school and making lots of friends and has a sweet heart for sharing with others….

These last 6 years have been fun. and hard. 

I'm loving this stage of everyone walking and somewhat talking.

Looking forward with new excitement of what is to come!

Ornery lil' Ruby...

This chick is super ornery! Talk about getting a workout all day long…she can not be left alone for 1 minute!! Good thing she is a super cutie!!! :)