Trying To Stay Entertained...Cold Weather Go Away!

We have been stuck indoors most of the week due to the freezing temps and Ice Storm 2015...this makes for one stir crazy boy (and momma)! Cal and I were able to make it to gymnastics on Monday before the bad weather moved in. Thank goodness for that activity or else we would really be going crazy by now. We have been doing our best to keep Cal entertained with new activities as well as playing things he enjoys. Doug worked from home yesterday so that was also a nice diversion for Cal, and he even helped make a few phone calls and business decisions. 

Here are just a few of the things we have been up to the last few days...

 Running through the house like a ghost!

Boooooo!

Dressing like dad does to work on projects

Knee pads on...check

Tape measure in place...check

 Building forts with daddy

No Girls Allowed!

 Riding 'motorcycles' through the house

I'm bad to the bone!

 Helping daddy 'work'

Yes Bib, I've got it all under control!

Fun at gymnastics...this is an hour where Cal can run wild and play as hard as he wants!

Walking the balance beam

Choosing to play in the chalk and not jump on the trampoline

Starting a 'ta-da' but only captured the hands going up

Running through the mats

Playing in the ice

Playing with his best buddies!

On his belly to eat the ice so he wouldn't have to pick it up with his hands!

Cal has several winter hats he can wear outside. While I was getting stuff for me to wear, Cal reached into my drawer (without me knowing) and pulled out the hat he has on in the pictures. This was my mom's hat that I kept and love to wear. He came running down the hallway with this hat on his head and ready to go outside. I tried and tried to put on one of his hats, but he insisted on wearing this hat. I had to laugh because it is girly and way too big for him, but loved the fact that he wanted to wear my Momma Lou hat!

After all the fun, he couldn't even make it to the crib to fall asleep!

All Boy

We have a large oil tank buried in the backyard that is no longer being used. Our plan is to build a garden this spring off the side of the back deck (over where the oil tank is located). To make sure the ground didn't give way at some point to the rotting oil tank, we decided to have it removed. First thing Saturday morning, the trucks rolled up to the house. We had a dump truck full of fill dirt and and a mini excavator in the yard. We also had one very happy boy in the house on the back deck supervising!

Supervising!

Cal spent the entire morning in the backyard or on the deck watching what was going on. We kept apologizing to the guys for standing over them the entire time. We just knew that we would not be able to take Callen inside while they were there. Cal really enjoyed all the activity and stayed interested until they were finished, about 3 hours later. Once the guys were finished, we asked if Cal could sit on the digger. They were happy to let him, and Cal was very timid about getting up in it at first. Doug carried him and sat with him, and he was still 'shy' about being up there. However, once he and Doug climbed down, Cal wanted right back up. Any shyness he had before was now gone! He climbed right up into the seat, started playing with the controls, and acted like he owned the machine! Cal was climbing on and off the digger nonstop until the guys finally had to move it to pack up. 

Checking out the equipment

Watching the dirt being poured

Lots of activity going on!

The oil tank

Driving with daddy

He's got it all figured out now and doesn't need daddy's help

Once the guys were gone, Doug started packing the dirt to prepare for the coming rain (we didn't want a mudslide in the backyard). Cal was right there with Doug...stomping, shoveling, and packing the dirt. There were several times Cal rolled down the small dirt hill and he even started carrying handfuls of dirt from one pile to another. Before we knew it, he was covered from head to toe in dirt, and loving every minute of it. 

Getting ready to help dad

Need to put on my work gloves

Shoveling

Stomping

He was back out there yesterday doing the same exact thing. He is all boy playing in the dirt and mud. I am pretty sure Cal will be taking a bath everyday this spring and summer...

Rainbow Falls

With the weather not cooperating over the Christmas holiday to get out and hike, we have been looking for a good weekend since. If we've had nice weather, we already had plans to do something. If we didn't have plans already, bad weather was called for. Finally, this past weekend we were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather in Jones Gap State Park. We really enjoy waterfall hikes, but all the ones we have been on lately have ended at a waterfall with no sunshine...leading to a very cold Callen! I had told Doug no more waterfall hikes until the spring and summer, but the reviews on the Rainbow Falls hike had me wanting to go see it. The hike was only 2.5 miles (5 miles total), but had an elevation change of about 1200 feet. The hike up was fairly difficult, especially when you have an extra 30-35lbs attached to your back, but very enjoyable. The views and scenery along the way are beautiful and the 100' falls are amazing. 

View from our lunch spot

Rainbow Falls

Smaller waterfalls on the hike

Cal enjoyed the ride on the way up, stopping only a few minutes for a snack. We wanted Cal to stretch his legs and walk a bit, but he seemed to be afraid of the narrow trail and only wanted me to hold him. Once back on the trail, he passed out in the pack and missed the waterfall and lunch stop. He slept about half way back down the trail as well. Once he woke, we took him out of the pack again to 'hike' in a more forested area. He had a blast here. He climbed and 'jumped' off rocks. He crossed small streams...and then went back to play in the water until Doug took him away because it was too cold! Callen's favorite part of the hike was crossing a narrow bridge. It reminded me of a balance beam, so I told Cal we were going to walk the balance beam like we do at gymnastics. As soon as we crossed over to the other side, he turned around and headed back across. He did this several times before I finally had to pick him up and carry him away from it. We would have been there for at least another 30 minutes had we not picked him up!

Snack Time!

Poor Doug...

Tired little guy...and tired daddy!

Slept right through the lunch break

Playing with rocks and sticks

Walking the 'balance beam' bridge

Enjoying the view of the rapids below

'Jumping' off the rock

Doug and I joke that on hikes before Callen came along that we would see how fast we could make it back to the car. Now with Callen, we stop and let him 'hike' which adds at least 45 minutes to an hour to our trip time. But, it is well worth it to see how happy he is walking in the woods and playing in the water. We want him to appreciate the outdoors and respect nature. Hopefully by taking him on these trips now, he will grow to love the outdoors and find joy in the small things...sticks, rocks, and the sounds of nature.

Taking time to chill!

I keep a running list of places I need to take Cal on rainy days, summer days, or days when we just need to get out of the house. Jones Gap State Park is now on that list. Only a 50 minute drive from home, we will be able to spend a full day there in the summer walking part of the trails and playing in the river. He can get as wet as he wants without fear of freezing!