Nostalgia
Every now and then I get hit with a whopping dose of deja vu. That whole I have been right here doing exactly this and I can feel it all kind of deja vu. Having both kiddos has had it occur more frequently as I watch Everett do something and then 
realize it is because I do have a memory of a VERY similar looking Caden doing that same thing. I am drifting a little but I bring up deja vu because occasionally it is a childhood recollection that brings those “I know this” emotions to surface. When that happens it is the bittersweet nostalgia that sets in.
A month ago during another rainy day at home after another sleepless night with Everett I needed to find a new, fun “project” to do with Caden to keep his mind and hands busy without going outside or around town. The pots came out along with the flour, salt, water, cream of tartar and food coloring. Voila! Homemade 
playdough. His first taste experience altogether as a kid and mine as a mom.
As I stirred the concoction together watching it begin to stick a sure sign that it is almost ready to excitement from Caden and familiar smell sent me flying back to Bexley, Ohio circa the early 90s to my grandmother’s kitchen. If there was one treat that my grandma made for us and made well and often, it was homemade playdough.
I can see her apron, her standing over the counter strewn with snacks for us ever so patiently waiting for the perfect time to remove it only to tell us that it was too hot and we would have to wait for it to cool. The warm dough we would squish all over her wood, corner kitchen table in our special stools taking its salty smell and endless possibilities.
If there was one thing Grandma wouldn’t turn down making us,
it was homemade playdough. (and playing cards…and board games…and taking us to the dollar store…and letting us put rollers in her hair…shall I continue?)
Handing Caden his first batch and watching his amazement as we picked colors to mix in and cookie cutters to play with made a part of me want to be right back in my Grandma’s kitchen at that very moment. The kitchen where she tirelessly stirred turkey gravy for Thanksgiving dinner. The kitchen where she rinsed the green beans we had just picked in the backyard to serve with sausage patties and cornbread. The 
kitchen where hours of cards were played, thousands of pennies were counted and countless memories were made next to the radio so carefully balanced with its long antennae so we could turn the dial and tune in to our favorite oldies station.
Nostalgia.
While I couldn’t go back to that kitchen that day I could call my now 90 year old grandmother to reminisce. While I couldn’t go back to being a kid I did have the joy of experiencing it again through my son. While I couldn’t recreate that memory I could create new ones with him.
Whether it be deja vu or nostalgia or peaceful reminders of your past sometimes they do help you make the most of your present!
Bubblies
My son loves bubbles, or as he calls them, bubblies.
In the air, in the bath, on his hands.
He loves them.
So, a belated birthday gift from his Auntie and Uncle in the form of a bubble machine was just what this sick kid needed. Not to mention it saves his parents (your truly) from passing out via too much bubble blowing. Amen.
Got to love bubbles…and dogs that wrestle in the yard.
Paper Boy
There once was a time when the hubs and I used to sit outside on our balcony (that over looks our neighbors) or our back patio (that overlooks our neighbors) while drinking coffee and reading the Sunday paper. (not enjoying the view)
There are many mornings that I miss it.
The feel and smell of the pages, trading sections back and forth and oh yeah – the news. But then I am reminded of what would happen if we still received the Sunday paper.
Our Paper Boy Would Deliver It
(And From What I Hear, Paperboys Don’t Have the Best Aim)
He was so excited to hand Pa Pa the paper and “help”.
Hi- Ho {Updated}
{updated from the earlier post because the end had been cut off}
Friday the 13th Indeed
Earlier this week we sang – “Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Back to the Doc We Go”
Wednesday went a little something like this -
102 Fever & Rising, Hadn’t Eaten Since 8:00 p.m. the day prior. Vomiting, Can’t Keep Tylenol Down, Lethargic, Up ALL Night with Tummy Woes Mess. Crying, Sad, The Works
It felt oddly familiar to what led us to the hospital back in January when he had RSV.
One look in his throat and a “Woah!” from his doctor told us it wasn’t in conjunction with his tummy (good news?) but a big old throat infection. Concerned that his fever was so high still at his age and him being sick again we were armed with Tylenol and Pedialyte to keep him comfortable and hydrated if he allowed it.
Seriously…we rarely leave the house so where this little guy keeps getting sick is beyone me. Apparently its our house.
Not that he sleeps more than a couple hours usually, but the past few days have been back to none at all with a lot of rocking, ssshhiing, crying, patting, and trying to comfort our hurting little boy. My arms and legs are actually sore from carrying and walking him 24/7. Really long days and even longer nights.
Then this morning Caden didn’t eat his breakfast and after playing for a bit kept asking to be held. When asked if he was okay, he said “No.” That’s usually his default answer so when asked if something hurt he said “Yes” and opened his mouth. As soon as he got near me I could tell he was on fire. En fuego if you will.
103.2
Awesome.
You know when your two year old crawls up into your bed and doesn’t play, talk or try to escape he definitely doesn’t feel well. Not well at all. Poor guy.
So Friday the 13th got us, doubling our sick load.
What a year…I mean week.
If anyone wants to send health or sleep our way, we will gladly accept.
Curiosity
The thing about toddlers is that they are always learning.
Always learning means they are innately curious.
Constant curiosity keeps things busy and fresh!
What is behind that lens anyway? (Notice the finger on the lens)
Bravely reaching for that wagging pink tongue.
(Have to no fear, Hannah the lab is friendly)
Limit testing leads to “owys” and bandaged knees.
This fountain is a miniature pool just for me right?
Mama look at these ”flowers”!
Everyone needs a seat, even our friend Mickey.
Look Dada! Showing us everything because almost everything is amazing.
He tested his limits and got up there. Now what?
Curiosity leads to falls, which leads to brushing it off.
Checking out how far down he is. Deciding if he should test another limit.
(Please don’t son.)
Making messes for the sake of fun and discovery.
Childhood curiosity keeps all of us on our toes but it is also such a great “stop and smell the roses” reminder. I could hurry him along or let him be curious to discover and figure something new out. While yes it makes messes or leads to some scraped knees (hard for any heart to handle) it is such a joy to watch him learn. We are just as amazed watching him piece new things together now as we were when he learned to sit up, crawl, walk and talk. Plus, its too darn cute!
Curiosity might have killed the cat, but in this house it just kills boredom.
What was the last thing you were curious about?
Don’t forget to check our Jordy’s New Blog – she has a giveaway too!
Brusha Brusha Brusha
How old is Caden?
So stinking old.
For his birthday Nonna gave him his very own stool.
Thanks to this special “Nonna” stool as Caden calls it tooth brushing and hand washing has become a favorite past time of his.
This Mama is just happy that one thing in this household got easier.
Thanks Nonna!
Chugga Chugga Choo Two!
Chugga – Chugga, Chugga-Chugga, Chugga – Chugga
Choo – Two!
If you aren’t able to tell, we had a bit of a theme this year for Caden’s second birthday. Shortly after Christmas Caden became enamored with trains. Their sounds, the way they connect, the steam, the tracks – Choo Choo! I couldn’t resist how cute and excited he was when he saw a train so all other birthday plans and ideas went out the window to start fresh on the train party he didn’t even know he could have. 
To set the stage and make you feel like you where there, why don’t you first take a look around the party before seeing the birthday boy in action below.
To make it easier on the picture uploading I compiled the pictures into some collages so I will add a little list for you since it is a bit hard to see!
Mantle Decor
Painted Burlap Covered Canvases, Antiqued Painted Family Rail-Road Sign, Fabric Strip Banners, Cardstock & Twine Birthday Banner, Recent Pics of the Birthday Boy, Good Old Fashioned Paper Streamers Twisted & Draped
Lots of Birthday Treats and Eats
Boxcar Brisket Sandwiches, Passenger Popcorn, Railroad Rice Krispies, Choo Choo Twizzlers, All Aboard Lil; Smokies, Conductor Chocolate Dipped Oreos, Steam Engine Seven Layer Dip, Cupcakes, Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Brewsky,
The Treat Train – Coal Car (Chocolate Dipped Peanuts) Log Car (Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Sticks), Taffy Trolley (Salt Water Taffy) Candy Car (Peppermints)
Entryway
1 Year/18Month/2Year Picture Timeline, Conductor Caden Blocks, Striped Paper Straws, Yarn Wrapped Wreath with Felt Trains and Button #2 (Caden glued the buttons on), Birthday Boy Chair, Caden Station-Platform #2 Antiqued Sign
Party Time!
As I began setting various decorations that I had been making out the days leading up to the party it was so cute to see Caden wake up from his nap and get so giddy over the choo-choos that were appearing all over his house.
In decorating slowly he really did get to see everything and be excited about it which was fun for me and less overwhelming for him. We celebrated the Saturday before Caden’s actual birthday and it was a wonderful 
day of friends and family loving on our boy! We are so fortunate to have so many who care about our family and had another great turnout. Since Caden has become a “shy-guy” recently I was a little worried that he might clam up and be upset about the attention but he loved it. Once guests started showing up he giggled, bounced and let out a few excited shrieks. Seeing his friend Dylan and cousins Cathryn, Cameron and Locke arrive were a highlight…until Nonna and Pa Pa came and stole his heart.
Caden was so busy running around, playing on the floor with the other kids, feeding Dylan’s little brother Graham, begging Nonna to hold him and stealing
snacks off of the food table that I barely saw the big boy! Honestly with Everett being occupied by Pa Pa there were several times I looked around and realized I hadn’t seen either of my boys. Too busy having fun to pay attention to Mama!
When the time came for cake Caden was a little surprised that all of the sudden everyone was staring at him and singing to him. Fortunately after a couple of
seconds he got over it without getting shy or upset and thought he should help Mommy get his cupcake…which he then informed me was ”hot” due to the candles. He looks so sad about the cupcake in all of the pictures. “Why must you give me sweets?!”
In true Kazmann fashion, the birthday boy was intrigued by the cupcake yet 
disappointed in the taste. These Kazmann boys don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Maybe that is why I feel like I need to eat every sweet…you know, to make up for them! So he poked at it, played with the candles, tried to use the candles as a fork/spoon and then decided that smashing his cupcake with a fork for a couple minutes was way better than eating it. Once his birthday treat was good and demolished he declared “All done!” and was ready to get back to partying.
Considering all of the things I keep telling you I was “worried” about its amazing I even did a party, but I was also a little worried about present time. If you remember, presents at Christmas was just too much for him to handle. He would become obsessed with whatever he just opened, want it out of the box stat and be done opening presents
regardless of how many were left. Not this time! After one present, Colter handed present duty off to me and as he opened the gifts he would say “Woah! Choo-Choo” “Ohhhh” and occasionally just let out a big sigh. Sooooo cute. I was able to deter him from needing all of them out of the box immediately by taking a couple out and then after he would unwrap I would tell him that we would take it out later but right then he could go pick out another present. The helper in him couldn’t resist 
the opportunity to bouncy run over to the presents choose one and carry it back to me so I could see him open it. It was a quite funny (to me at least) because he was actually picky about which gift he chose each time. The cleaner in him couldn’t stand the paper on the floor and after taking it all the way to the trash can in the kitchen twice I had to turn a large gift bag into a trash bag so he could pick it up and throw it away right then and there. OCD much? Caden was showered with trains. Magnetic trains, plastic trains, remote 
control train, train tracks, train bath toys, train coloring book. Choo choo heaven. The lucky boy also got a grill (more on this to come), clothes, a Mickey guitar (need I say more).
A very Happy Birthday indeed. We can’t thank everyone enough for giving our family and kiddo so much love. He is so lucky to be surrounded by good friends and friends of ours that are like family. We all were reminiscing about how it seemed like we were just together to celebrate his first birthday when already another year had passed. Two years old going on fifteen. I wonder what we will have to turn the house into next year for his birthday…I hope it isn’t Batman’s batcave!
Birthday Breakfast
We had to start off 2 right with a celebratory birthday breakfast.
(He insisted that his Mickey and snuggle bears eat with him. A birthday party breakfast?)
Caden enjoyed the candle so much we had to light it so he could blow it out 7 or so times.
What the birthday boy wants, the birthday boy gets.
He went and grew up too because he was able to blow the candle out by himself which he did not do at his party on Saturday. Apparently turning two allows you to blow out candles like a big boy.