Callen the Jumping Bean!

A few months ago I purchased a Living Social deal for a month of gymnastics classes. Anyone who knows Callen knows he loves to be on the move. Doug and I had already talked about enrolling him in gymnastics in January, but I wanted to make sure he liked it before committing to 18 weeks! After taking the class for month, I can safely say that HE LOVED IT! He looked forward to class each Tuesday, and wanted to know when he was going back. It is the perfect activity for him...structure but also the ability to move around and be active.
I was very surprised at how well Callen did in his class. He followed directions and obeyed the teachers each time. He remembered week to week what he was supposed to do...although he never wanted to 'practice' anything at home. He showed great coordination and did things on the trampoline I'm sure I would fall trying to do!!
During the class, they asked the parents to sit in the waiting area and watch on the TV screens or go upstairs and watch through the glass. I realized that many of the parents stayed in the gym and watched from there. Well, I tried to go in and snap a few pictures, but I was quickly told I needed to watch him on the TV! Not sure if he was just following directions or thought he needed to be a TV star...

Warming up

Working on his cartwheel

Handstand

Jumping on the trampoline

                                                                 from his first class

I have more videos, but can't seem to upload them. Stinker! My favorite is the video of Cal doing his gymnastics, but telling me to leave and go watch him on TV or upstairs!!

Our plan is to start Callen in gymnastics in January at Greenville Gymnastics. This four week trial was a big hit, so I'm sure he will enjoy going for an entire semester.

Sky Top Orchard

We enjoy heading to the mountains each fall to pick apples and enjoy the beautiful scenery and often cooler temps! Doug and I have always gone to Sky Top, and started taking Callen there after he was born. It seems like everyone enjoys Sky Top as much as we do, evidenced by the masses of people that show up there each weekend during the fall months. Because of the large crowds and wanting to do so many other things on the weekends, I have started taking Callen up there on my own during the week. We pack a picnic lunch, head out into the orchard to pick some apples, and then enjoy the playground for a while before heading back to Greenville.

Because of our schedule this fall, the first chance we had to get up to Sky Top was last Tuesday. The weather was perfect that day...cooler temps in the morning with a bright shining sun to warm us up by the afternoon. The man at the orchard said there were plenty of pink lady apples (our favorite and the reason we wait so long in the season to go up there) on the trees. Off we went. Cal running ahead and I pushing the stroller (I brought the stroller thinking it would be easier to carry the apples back). Poor Graham went on a bumpy ride to make it to the farthest point in the orchard from the 'store,' and it was all for nothing. There was not a single apple (that had not rotted) on the tree. Cal was running down every isle looking for something to pick. We finally picked an apple off the ground that was in good shape to take a bite and then act like we were picking a rotten one off the tree...you have to have the obligatory photo pics of apple picking!!

Cal dropped the bucket and it went rolling forever away. Making his way back to me!

Enjoying the apple we picked off the GROUND! Not the tree!

Picking the rotten apple off the tree

Graham's first trip...obviously not impressed with the number of apples on the tree

"I just being silly"

I think we may have to try another orchard next year. Sky Top is so convenient but I want Doug to enjoy the day with us but don't want to be there with a million other people. Any suggestions?

Happy Halloween

Dropping in to say Happy Halloween!

I'll be hanging with my favorite fireman and his Dalmatian sidekick today!

We don't really get into decorating our house and trick-or-treating (yet!), but we do like to be creative with costumes for Callen and now Graham. We had intended to make our stroller into a firetruck this year, but that just didn't happen!

Looking back...

2013...Our little 'Popcorn'

2014...Aviator Callen

2015...Dressed up as real life campers and went camping!!

Have a fun and spooky day!

It's That Time of Year

It's fall...the time of year when people start thinking about making pumpkin everything, apple picking, and cooler temps. It also means college football!!! This year's Clemson schedule has been  great to allow us the opportunity to go to Clemson games, but also go camping, shrimpin', and even have a weekend free at home to work on some projects. We've been to all but the South Carolina State game(Callen and Graham didn't make it to the Louisville game either). Callen has enjoyed himself at the tailgates, running around and playing with the big kids. He hasn't done as much tailgrazing this year as in seasons past. However, he thinks going to 'Clemson Tigers' football games are the best. From our parking spot, we can hear the band march through on the way to the stadium. Last game he heard them and about jumped out of his skin letting us know that it was starting and we needed to leave! Too bad his enthusiasm for the actual game isn't as great as it is for the running down the hill!! With Callen's lack of focus on the game and the hot temps, we have spent the majority of the games at our tailgate spot or most recently from the newly renovated Littlejohn.

Here are some pics from the first couple of games the boys went to...

Troy

Cal wanted to spray his hair orange for the first game! He pretty much sweated it out in the first 5 minutes we were there!

Ber and Graham

Playing some football

Attempting to stay cool with the spray bottle

Papa and Graham

Cal and his bucket of snacks (thanks to Ber for that one!) He is literally finishing the bucket of snacks as I sit and type this. Almost 2 months worth of snacks!

Graham's first game

NC State

We went to see the Homecoming floats a day early to avoid long lines. Cal was pumped he was able to wear an orange hard hat

Admiring the Clemson firetruck...or wishing he could climb all over it like the big boys!

Taking a break from the stadium during the NC State game and enjoying running around Littlejohn

We made it back in time to see OT and watch the Tigers win!!!

Introducing Callen to the art of sliding down hills on cardboard boxes. One of my favorite memories of Clemson tailgating growing up.

2 tired boys!!!

Camping at Mt. Pisgah

Last year for Christmas, we bought ourselves a tiny house giant 6 person tent. The footprint of this tent is 10'x10', and is squared up on the sides and top vs. being a dome, making it feel much larger than a normal tent (especially the 2 person tents we are used to!). We also gave Cal a sleeping bag, head lamp, and Thermarest of his own to use for camping. He enjoys the outdoors as much as we do, so we figured it would be best to invest early in outdoor equipment for him so he can get some good use out of it. We've been excited to try out the tent, but have not had the opportunity to go camping since purchasing the tent...until last weekend.

Getting the tent prepped

Laying out his sleeping bag

Getting his air mattress and pillow ready

Doug was itching to take the boys camping. Graham enjoys being outside and has done well on all our hikes, so we decided to go ahead and take him now. Worst case scenario...we pack up our stuff in the night and leave, or one of us sleeps in the car with him if he's screaming and waking up the campground. (Graham has been good about sleeping through the night, so that factored into our decision to take him now versus when he is older.) We stayed at the Mt. Pisgah campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway during our vacation last year. We enjoyed the area so much that we went back last October for an overnight trip. Because of its proximity to Greenville (an hour and a half drive) and being able to get up in elevation for beautiful views, we opted to return there again for this trip.

What a great time. Callen loves helping Doug with all the tent set up. He hammered stakes into the ground, helped gather firewood, and even assisted with sawing of the firewood for a fire. Cal is also working on his fire making skills, but with lots of supervision from dad. He had a big time playing in the tent...you know you have a big tent when your kid can run laps in it!!! If there was dirt to play in, Callen was sure to find it. He had layers on top of layers on top of layers of dirt. But, he was having a blast and that was what was important! Graham did great too. He napped a little bit here and there, but was quite content to sit in his bouncy seat and watch the action. He didn't help out too much around the campsite this trip, but I'm sure Doug and Cal will have him busy working on the next trip.

Hammering in the stakes

Getting the campfire ready

Helping Doug saw some wood

Admiring his work

DIRTY!!!

Happy boy!

Snoozin'

Staying warm

Enjoying dinner and drinks!

Silly boys

As dusk approached, Cal kept asking Doug if it was nighttime yet. He was so excited to see the stars. Doug kept telling him not yet, but Cal continued to ask every few minutes. Finally he saw the first star in the sky!! Pure happiness. Before long the entire sky was filled with stars without any light pollution to distract our view. What a beautiful and peaceful end to a great day.

A dad and his boys

Learning the art of roasting marshmallows

Tasting a 'marshmallow sandwich' (we didn't have enough chocolate for s'mores!). He took about two bites and was done with it. Not his favorite.

It's finally getting dark. Bring out the headlamps

Cal will never smile for the camera unless you are doing a selfie with him...then he smiles nonstop!

Telling Graham goodnight. Cal LOVES his brother

Cal crawled up into Doug's lap and fell asleep looking at the stars. To say I had a happy husband is the understatement of the century. Doug was beyond happy to snuggle with his little buddy.

Two sleeping boys

What a great first camping trip as a family of four. We knew Callen would have a big time, but it was such a relief with how well Graham did. He woke up with chilly hands and feet, but never seemed uncomfortable. He was such a trooper. We probably won't be going camping in the winter (unless we go south), but I have a feeling we will be back in the woods sometime in the spring! Anyone want to join this time?