The Rader Boys

The First of MANY busy years to come!!

2008-09-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well Todd and I want our boys to do anything and everything that they can. We are enrolling Kale in just about everything and he can then pick what he really likes to do.
The first picture is him at preschool. He is in the 3's room this year and his teachers are Mrs. McHie and Miss Deb. He loves school and the friends that he has made over the past 3 years.
The second picture is Kale at gymnastics. Yes, I have enrolled him in gymnastics, not dancing. I want him to be flexible and Todd said this will help with sports.
The third pictures is Kale at AWANAS or awandas as he would call it. This is at East White Oak. It is a program for kids to learn their bible verses. He loves it and I am a line leader this year so Wednesday nights are Kale and mommy night.
I will try to post more soon!

I'm a big kid now!

2008-07-30T21:13:00.001-07:00

Last week Kale finally decided that he would like to pedal on a real bike instead of a tricycle. We were at Mimi Jan's and he saw the older kids riding and he wanted to also.

So, when we got home and told daddy, he was so excited. We couldn't just go to Walmart and get a bike, no we had to go to Bloomington Cycle. I am really glad that we got him a nice sturdy bike that can grow with him. He was so excited about picking it out and he also got to pick out the cool Pirate helmet.

Now we will just wait and see how long it takes him to break something. Let's hope not!!!

1st Annual Owens Pool Party

2008-07-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

2 Saturday's ago, our neighbors Bryon and Corey had their first annual pool party. We (Kacy especially) had a great time. The kids were invited until dark and then the fun began. We felt like were in college again. It was great fun swimming, drinking, eating and bouncing in the bounce house. We also got to meet new friends in LeRoy and well as spend time with people we already know.

Here are just a few shots from the night.

4th of July Update......Finally

2008-07-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Have been such a bad blogger lately. I hate when I look at everyone else's blog and they don't update, but yet I don't myself.

Well, here is how our 4th of July went.

The morning started out with the Bloomington/Normal Association of Realtors Parade. We ended up winning Best in Parade. The boys got a blue ribbon and big American Flag (mommy was the most excited). After that we went to breakfast with Mimi Vicki and Papa Steve. It was a gorgeous morning.

After breakfast we went and met Mimi Jan and Jack, my nephew, at the new Embassy Suites in East Peoria. We stayed all night there and had a great time. The fireworks were phenomenal and the boys had a great time playing and swimming.

Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th and I will try to be better about blogging.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!

2008-07-03T21:10:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, 4th of July is my favorite holiday. I am not sure why, I just love it! It was also the very first holiday that Todd and I spent together.
I have made a 4th of July card every year since having Kale and the outfit that Augie is wearing in the card is the same exact one that Kale wore his first 4th. I think Augie fills it out a little better though.
Hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th and we hope to hear from you soon!

No pool today:(

2008-06-27T14:27:00.001-07:00

Since today is such a crappy day, I thought I would post about last Friday. Last Friday we met Cally and Adyson at Anderson Pool and spent the afternoon. Kale had a blast going down the waterslide. It is so nice to go to that pool because Kale can touch in all places and he has a good time just splashing around.
This was Augie's first time at the pool and he loved it. He doesn't mind one bit being in the water or even if it splashes him in the face.
Adyson is one little girl who likes to take it all in. She was just walking around looking and everything and checking everything out. She was walking around in her Diva sunglasses as you can see. Thanks Cally and Adyson for a great afternoon and we hope to do it again soon!

Grady's Anyone???

2008-06-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took our first trip of the season to Grady's with our neighbors. Kale had SO much fun riding the rides and Augie had SO much fun eating ice cream. It has become one of his favorite things to eat!
Kale got to ride the bumper boats with dad, a train and his first roller coaster with mom. Augie just watched, but he loves watching Kale and EVERYTHING he does. I hope he doesn't turn out as ornery as Kale, but they both are just sweet little things and as you can tell in the last picture they love each other very much and that is exactly what we wanted from our kids.

Photographer Kale

2008-06-05T21:06:00.001-07:00

Since before Kale was born, he has had a camera in his face. I think for 3 1/2 years he has been a pretty good sport and now he is turning the camera on everyone else.

He knows how to turn it on, take a picture and then show someone. Pretty good for his age.

Sorry Mimi Jan and Kiki, you guys were the lucky subjects. We love you!

Happy (LATE) Mother's Day

2008-05-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

Each year Todd has thought of unique gifts to give me for Mother's Day. My first Mother's Day he got me a charm with Kale's name and birthday on it, last year the three of us went and picked out a tree for our backyard. This year he and the boys got me a new bike.

I have been complaining about how my bike hurts my butt, so he found me the coolest bike and this is how the boys and I are getting our exercise this summer.

I hope to keep more updated.

Open House

2008-04-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am having an open house this weekend and anyone is invited to attend, You can pass this on or bring a friend. If you have any questions please e-mail me at kacyrader@yahoo.com

Hope to see you there!!!

One Nice Day

2008-04-27T20:55:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday was a beautiful day and we finally got to get outside and we had some Mommy, Daddy and Kale time. After church we went to breakfast and then to the park. Kale had a great time going down the slide, climbing and just being out.

After the park, we had tickets to the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal. It was an event sponsored by the Children's Hospital. They had a lot of different science experiments for the kids to do. Kale really enjoyed digging for dinosaur bones and making foam.

Once we left the museum, we went next door for ice cream at Emak & Bolio's. It is a very cute ice cream shop uptown Normal. Outside the ice cream shop there is this cute bench and we were able to take a picture of our "angel".

Hope I will have more outdoor pictures to post soon.

Nashville!!!!!

2008-04-14T15:52:00.001-07:00

Over the past weekend we went to Nashville with our friends Cally and Aaron. Cally's brother lives down there so we a got a great tour. While we were there we got to see the quaint boutiques of Nashville, eat some REALLY good food you can't get around here, see a famous printing shop (Hatch Show Prints, thanks to Aaron) and go to the Grand Ole Opry. Cally's brother got us tickets. We got to sit ON the stage behind the drummer which was really awesome. In the picture that I posted it is hard to tell, but it is Jewel that we got to see perform.

We had a really great time and would love to go back!

Augie all decorated and nowhere to go

2008-04-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I always knew it would happen. Last week Kale came and told me that he decorated Augie. I wasn't quite sure what that meant until I saw what he did. We got some free stickers in the mail that day and Kale found them and "decorated" Augie. He didn't seem to mind since he didn't cry and he tried to eat one.

I guess it is better than magic marker!

I will post about our trip to Nashville soon..........

Happy Easter

2008-03-22T12:16:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Great Easter. We are going to try to dye eggs tonight at our house, but you just never know what Kale will be into.

I have decided to have Easter here at our house and then the women are going to play Bingo. I can't wait. I have never played, but it sounds like fun.

Have a safe and blessed Easter and hope the Easter Bunny hops over to your house.

(I am getting better at posting!!)

Small Group & the Bloomington Prairie Thunder

2008-03-18T20:31:00.001-07:00

We had the exciting experience to go to a Bloomington Prairie Thunder Hockey game this past weekend. I thought Kale would really like it, but I think the only thing he stood still for was the National Anthem. We went with a few of our small group members. We were supporting one of their children's organizations. The organization got money for each ticket they sold and they sold the most and they both got to drop the puck on the ice before the game. Very Cool!

I will start at the top and explain the pictures. The first picture is Kale next to his tile. Before the Coliseum was built, 2 Pals Pottery had a deal that you could paint your own tile and it would be displayed in the Coliseum. Well, we found Kale's. It is the red, white and blue one with the hand print.

The second picture is Todd and Kale just before the game started. As you can see in most of the pictures, Kale is starting that FUN cheesy smile stage. I try to catch him off guard, but it is hard.

The third picture is Kale and his buddy with slap sticks. That was more fun for them than the game, but they are only 3.

The last picture is me with 3 of my small group gals. From the left: Heather (she owns New Creation Fitness, which you can find a link on my blog), me, Jenny and Julie (also Todd's cousins).

We started this small group at the beginning of January and we just love it. All of the people are awesome and we don't know what we would do without them. We always know they are there for us if we need them.

Thanks guys!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

2008-03-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

I know I know, some of my friends think I am crazy, but I just love doing holiday cards and that means EVERY holiday.
I did holiday cards for Kale's first year and so I only thought it was fair to do Augie's first year. I will have to say that I think I am getting much better. I will post the Easter card this Saturday and then no more cards until 4th of July. I know that is very sad for me, but 4th of July is my favorite holiday so I try to get all decked out!
Hope everyone has a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day.

Rub A Dub Dub.... Augie in the Tub

2008-03-02T22:52:00.000-08:00

This isn't the clearest photo ever, but I thought it was so cute. I took it with my phone and yes, I did digitally put the rubber duckie there. I didn't want any obsene pictures on my blog.

Augie is really starting to LOVE his bath. I finally took the newborn sling out and now he just sits and kicks and smiles. He really is a very happy baby! I can't believe he will be 4 months on the 13th. Time sure does fly!

Neighborhood Friends

2008-02-21T20:54:00.000-08:00

When we moved to this neighborhood 2 years ago, we never dreamt that we would have such great friends and neighbors like we do. Everyone is our age and almost EVERYONE has kids. On our street alone the kids under 5 are:

Logan & Parker

Keagan & Drew

Alex & Matthew

Sydney & Brock

Kale & Augie

Dayn

Jack & Emily

Jack, Parker, Augie and Dayn were all born within 3 months of each other. The first picture is of Augie and Jack. Jack was born September 24th and Augie November 13. He lives 2 houses down from us. The second picture is Parker and Augie. Parker was born November 6 and Augie November 13. Parker lives at the end of our street. The last picture is Dayn and Augie. Dayn was born November 16 and Augie November 13 and then Kale's birthday is November 17. Dayn lives right next door.

Marsh Hawk is a very busy street, but is lots of fun and we always know we can count on our neighbors who have also become good friends!

Thanks everyone!!!

Augie 3 months

2008-02-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

Augie turned 3 months on 2.13.08. I forget how fast time goes. He is really starting to get fun. He smiles and laughs and holds his head up really well.

We are still not sure who he looks like (Katie thinks they switched kids at the hospital), but I do know that he is a Daddy's boy. He just loves Todd. We will have to change that. Ha Ha Ha!

After quite a bit of sickness this winter, I hope we are done. Augie had Bronchiolitis and then RSV with and ear infection. Even with being sick, he beefed up to 13 lbs and 22 inches long. We tease him because he has bigger legs than Kale does now. He is sleeping well, only waking up 1 time a night. Todd and I have been taking turns getting up with him and then he goes right back to sleep.

We will keep you updated on the next month to come!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T21:10:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at making my own card. Todd got me photoshop for my birthday and I have been playing around. I don't think I did too bad.

Everyone keeps saying that Kale looks like Todd in the middle picture, but any other time he looks like me. I don't know.

Well, we hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and we hope to hear from you soon!

Our Little Fish

2008-02-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

We started swim lessons about 4 weeks ago. We have
made leaps and bounds since starting at RKSA

(Rob Knight Swim America). They are very strict,

but anyone who knows Kale knows that is what he

needs. There are 10 steps that he has to go through

to become a "Swimmer." The pictures that I have

included show that he got his SECOND gold sticker.

The first one he got made him a Splasher which means

that he can get in the pool by himself, climb the wall,

adjustment to coach and threw floating objects. The

second and latest sticker he got means he is a Bubbler

which means that he can go underwater by himself,

open his eyes under water (they wear goggles), holds

breath and blows out, and can blow bubbles in the

water.

He only goes 1 a week, but we have been taking him to

family swim on weekends and it seems to be helping a

lot. We are very proud of our "little fish" and the

progress he has made!

2 Months!!

2008-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well, Augie turned 2 months on January 13th. Time sure does fly, but we are keeping our hands full with Augie and big brother Kale.
When we went to the doctor Augie was 22 3/4 long, 12lb 9oz and his head was 15 1/2 inches. He is almost the exact opposite of Kale. Augie is shorter and pudgier and Kale was tall and skinner. They both sure do have their own identity.
I posted some recent pictures so everyone can see what he looks like. Augie is really cooing, smiling and just an all around good baby.
We are not sure who he looks like, sometimes Kale, sometimes Todd, sometimes nobody.
We would love to hear your comments.
I am sorry it has taken me so long to post. I will try to be better.
Kacy

CODE ADAM!!!!!

2008-01-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a very stressful and emotional day for us. We were at Walmart after church. Everything was going fine until we had to pay. I thought that Kale was with Todd and Todd thought Kale was with me. Vicki was also with us and Todd and Vicki went running back and forth looking for him. The store put out a Code Adam looking for a 3 year old little boy with blonde hair and a black shirt.

After about 5 minutes, a woman brought Kale in from the parking lot. He said he was out there looking for mommy. What a scary time!!! He just takes off in the blink of an eye. I am thinking about investing in a harness for him.

Just make sure you keep your eye on your kids at all times. I think I do, but there he went.

Brotherly Love

2008-01-05T20:07:00.001-08:00

Once we found out we were having another boy, our hopes would be that they would be best friends. As you can see by the pictures below, we are well on our way.

Kale absolutely adores Augie. He always wants to be around him and has to know where he is at all times. Whenever anyone is holding him, Kale thinks that they are going to take him and he gets really upset.

I know all of this will change, but we are enjoying it now. The pictures below are from when Augie was born all the way up until Christmas. Yes, the one in the crib, Todd found Kale in the crib with Augie telling him about the fish in the aquarium.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year 2008!!!

2008-01-04T20:44:00.001-08:00

2008 has already been exciting year for us. On November 13, 2007 we welcomed Augie Tudeen Rader into our family. He was 7lbs 11 oz and was 19.5 inches long. If you would like to see his newborn photo, you can log onto http://www.bromenn.org/ and check it out.

Once Augie came we had a busy month and a half. YES we did have Kale's birthday party 4 days later. Everyone thought I was crazy, but you only turn 3 once and I wanted to make it special for Kale. We then had Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was once again a great time with family and friends, but busy and tiring, especially with 2 kids to tote around now.

I have decided, thanks to a neighbor, to start a blog. I thought this would be the easiest way for me to update everyone, hopefully on a regular basis and show some recent pictures.

I hope you enjoy and I will hopefully update soon.

Have a great day!!!