Don't mess with these cowboys!

Since I'm online, I couldn't help but put a few more photos up! I think this happened yesterday... but it happens fairly often here! The only "dress up" that the boys like is COWBOYS! And they LOVE having their picture taken!

I submit the evidence that they LOVE having their picture taken! Can you feel the excitement???

Riley, Carter & Noah

Noah time!

It's a rare day when Noah is the only one awake (as I write this, he and Carter are sleeping soundly and Riley is the one awake -- which is normal at the Darden House)! But earlier this week I had some one on one time with Mr. Noah so I pulled out my die cut machine and let him pick some things to cut. He, being all boy, chose dinosaurs and zoo animals. He even chose the color of the paper - Red & Blue. It was fun to truly enjoy a few minutes of just Noah!

Using his muscles to turn the handle!

punching out the animals!

So proud of his Dinosaur!

Getting started (ok, ok... totally out of order... but I'm not gonna take the time to figure out how to fix it!)

And... the elephant!

Punching out the zoo animals!

future tattoo artists

Well, a few days ago the Darden Boys discovered stamps and that you can make "tattoos." The following pictures are evidence of the occassion! (This experience courtesy of Noah and the Bank stamp that he used to "tattoo" his hand... he,he,he!)

The "tattoo-ing" process

showing off part one of the creative placement!

Quote of the Day: "Look Momma, I did one by my underpants!"

and the WORST mother of the year award goes to...

Before you say... "no, no, no" let me tell you the story!

It all happened on our last trip to Glenwood Springs. The development my brother and his family live in has a pool - complete with water slide. It's not a HUGE water slide, but a good size for a "family pool." Well, as soon as we get in the gate, Riley (the more cautious of the Darden boys) makes a Bee-line for the slide. I, in my wisdom, tell him to wait and we'll go down together. Let me just make this disclaimer: I have not been on a waterslide since before the boys were born and because of that forgot a key part of the waterslide experience - the overwhelming push of the water at the end!

So... back to the story. By the time I make it up the 10 steps (maybe a few more or less, I wasn't really counting), Riley is READY! He's sitting and all set. I sit behind him and we head down the slide. Unknown to me, my brother yelled, "you've gotta put him on your lap" as we were coming down... tooo late! We get to the bottom and Riley is pushed underwater. Riley does not like going underwater or surprises and needless to say... he comes up SCREAMING!!!! My oldest, usually fairly calm, even-keel like his dad, son is SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER! The one phrase I remember most is "I did not like that at ALL, please get me out of here" (hey, at least the boy remembered his manners. My brother came over to try and help... it was a great effort but not well received by my SCREAMING 5 year old!

All this while I am thinking "NO!!!!!!! Anyone but Riley! Now he will never, EVER go on waterslides again - i mean EVER! In fact, he may never go down a slide again."

So, in an effort to calm him, I set him on the side of the pool and waited for him to breathe. When he calmed down, I said "Sweetheart, I am so sorry (meanwhile, in my head, I am hating myself). I know that you were scared but I want you to know that you can go down the waterslide with out going underwater. So, Uncle Jared will hold you on his lap and he will not let you go under! Are you ready?

If you know Riley, you know his answer was "No! I don't want to do that!"

To which I replied "Sweetheart, you can not go play - you can not leave this part of the pool until you try it again." and I'm thinking "I am quite possibly the meanest mother on the face of the planet - but, if he doesn't conquer this fear now, he never will!

His response was not surprising " I REALLY don't want to do that!"

Finally he realized that he was not going to win this one and went down with my brother...
someday we will laugh about this... until then, you can laugh at these pictures!

Trying something new!

We bought a "tag-along" for Riley this spring... today we pulled it out and tried it out.

Riley is VERY cautious and did not want to try it - but we made him try it and after a minute or two he was so excited! Brian rode my bike (with Riley attached) on the first half and I had him the 2nd half. It was fun to have him right behind us - he talked the whole way (not surprising - he is our son!).

It's not easy to make Riley try new things - sometimes I feel so mean - pushing him out of his comfort zone but today is a reminder that it is worth it!

Riley's first time on the tag along!

Pedalling away!

Relaxing in the car after the ride!