Recent Happenings...

We celebrated Cameron's birthday in between various Christmas activities and friend's parties for both Landon and Austin. We kind of celebrated in stages: Friday night: presents, Saturday afternoon: Key Lime Pie and the Happy Birthday Song, and Saturday night: a trip to Boise with just Cam and I to celebrate.

This poster{s} was from the kids. The kid's are convinced that this is a "year supply" of candy! (maybe it should be a year supply :) )

After a marathon allergy appointment with Austin and {unfortunately} a severe allergic reaction at the office, we barely made it home in time to get to Landon's Christmas concert. Landon was "Country Bob". He did an AWESOME job! After the show, his teacher introduced all the speaking and solo parts. When Landon's name was called his class went crazy, cheering for him!

I love the smile he has on his face. He and his friend are laughing at each other. Landon, really did his best and we were proud of him. I even got a text from his friend's mom during one of the songs.... it looked like Landon was doing a "turtle" dance. She texted me that she was crying because she was laughing so hard at how cute Landon was!

Isaac also had a Christmas concert. He came home from preschool one day and practiced for it. He was excited to sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer while wearing a red nose! He made the nose himself (along with a blue one for when he wants to be a blue Power Ranger)

This was the best picture I could get of him at his party/concert. There were SO many parents there I couldn't even see him singing. It was crazy! He was sad that he only got to sing two songs and he couldn't see me while he was singing. But the PLATE-FULL of treats afterward cured him.

...and now we wait...sometimes not so patiently for Christmas Day...

Last night I took the kids to do a service project. We try to do one every year (actually, one of our family's goals is to do one once a month). We usually donate food to the homeless shelter or put allowance money together to by "toys for tots". This year, I planned an activity for the Young Women in our ward to sing at a nursing home. Since none of the Mia Maids could make it, I decided to take the kids. Unfortunately, Cameron was working during the time they wanted us there.

I couldn't take a picture because I was singing with the kids. Rest assured, though, that they were well received. Isaac wore his antlers from his preschool party the day before and sang with gusto. Austin played Jingle Bells on the piano and sang Away in a Manger, beautifully. Landon didn't want to go, but I made him. He was nervous he'd have to talk to the residents and try to think of things to say. Once he saw how happy the residents were with our songs, though, his heart melted and he was very happy. Ella did her part by clapping after every song. We had the chance to go into some of the residents' rooms and sing to them, as well. One woman was 99 and another was 103. They were SO happy to see us and hear our songs. I was proud of my kids. Their spirits were shining and their sweet voices were beautiful. They were SO SO happy after. They could tell that they made a tiny difference in the resident's lives. This definitely is a good time of year to give service. (I took this picture when we got home - after we ate dinner... :) )

Father's Day

The last time I was in Cameron's office on base I noticed that he has some huge shelves with nothing on them. I also noticed that the only picture he has in there is his screen saver: a picture of all of us in Yellowstone - I was 10 pounds heavier than now {ugh! ella's baby weight HUNG onto me; just finally losing it} - that is enlarged to fit on his GIANT computer screen. That picture HAS to go. And his shelves need something a little more interesting on them then dust.

SO... For Father's Day I framed these pictures for him to put in his office. I'm so so happy with how they turned out...but already itching to take more...never quite satisified with my photo-skills but still learning. I think the photography learning curve I'm on is YEARS long {.ha.ha.} Landon has always been a "poser" for pictures. He cocks his head a certain way and smiles his "picture" smile. He is so sweet and tries to always make me happy. He knows I love a great smile! Austin just wanted to tell jokes. He kept saying, "don't take the picture, I have to crack myself up first!" I love that funny boy.
Isaac has been SO extremely sweet and loving lately. Even in this picture he looks... just SWEET! He comes up to me throughout the day and hugs me and tells me I'm "lovely". When I ask him to do something he usually does it right away... even if he mumbles under his breath, "I can never do anything fun!" Really, he's turned a corner, lately; mellowed out, calmed down, and become quite "lovely", himself!
I couldn't decide between these pictures. SO I printed them both and let Cameron decide which one he wanted (he chose the smiling one)
I love this baby girl. She is talking up a storm lately. We were in Boise last night standing outside of a resteraunt. Ella looked through the ground-length windows at another little girl on the other side of the glass. They were both giggling at eachother and jibber-jabbing. We said, "come on Ella." and plain as day she said to the little girl, "BYE-BYE!!" since then she's been saying bye-bye and hello in the right context and more and more clearly. She seems to learn a new word everday.
She's also really into putting things where they go. She likes to organize. She opens a drawer, pulls everything out, and then arranges it all in a straight line or a neat pile. And then moves on to the next drawer as if she's checking off her "to-do" list. So funny...and exhausting putting it all back all day long!
and of course I gave him an 8x10 of this one:
Today was a pretty good day. My parents came up for the weekend again. We are so lucky to have them and live relatively close to them. My kids need their grandparents. We all do. They make us happy. It will be good to get to Utah to see Cameron's parents again too.
I made my dad's favorite cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I also made some really awesome gluten free pumpkin muffins. I wanted Cameron to have a cinnamon roll before his early meetings at church. We went to church all together. The kids got to sing a song to the dads. I have to say...and I'm really not exaggerating...Isaac STOLE the show. You could hear his voice above all the others. He did ALL the actions - with GUSTO - he had a grin from EAR TO EAR the whole time and an even prouder, cheesier grin when it was over and he walked back to our seats and gave Cameron a huge hug...he was so proud of himself for singing in church. And he loved it...and so did we. So glad he got to sing to one of his grandpas too.
We came home and bbq'd porkchops. Then we sadly said our goodbyes to Alina and my parents. Austin cried for 15 minutes after the boys got back from following my parents car down the block on their bikes. Wish we were closer. Glad I got to see my dad on Father's Day, even though I forgot to give him his card. I'll send it.
I'm happy too that my husband is such a good daddy. The kids, even Ella, litterally stop what they are doing the second they hear the garage door when Cameron comes home from work. They run to meet him at the door.... and they really do "wrap their arms around his neck, and give him what? a great big kiss!" Really. Every day. They also tell me he's cooler than me. Austin says, "you're cool too mom. It's just, well, you have to do TEN more things, then you will be as cool as Dad. And I know you always have all the work to do so you can't play with us like Dad." Really. He said that. So... I'm happy they have him. Happy Happy Father's Day to all our dads.

Cameron's b.day Weekend

I've heard it said that Mountain Home is the "armpit of Idaho" {and not just by me!!}. So, it is even more amazing that this beauty is only less than an hour away from our house.

Cameron's birthday was last weekend and we spent it in a tiny town in the mountains called Featherville. We "borrowed" our friend's cabin and had a great weekend - the kids were bummed that it was just us (we've always gone up there with friends) but after a while Austin said, "Well, actually, I'm glad it's just the six of us. We're cool!"

We spent the first day getting our beds ready, playing in the snow, fixing the snowmobile, making Cameron's birthday dinner: his fave lasagna, and trifle instead of cake, snuggling with stories by the fireplace, playing a little rock band, watching a movie, singing Happy Birthday and watching Cameron open his presents.

We woke up to a TON of snow and it snowed all day. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL... We read a Christmas story by the fire, ate breakfast, and cleaned up. Then the boys all got a LONG ride on the snowmobile. I got a little work done on my 365 book while Ella napped.

This is the back yard of the Cabin. A kid's paradise - well Cameron's too, okay, I love it too!! Isaac can't go out by himself - I don't trust him by the river... but, in spite of it, I could still go up there all the time; it's just so peaceful.

Happy Birthday, Cameron. I hope it was a good one; filled with people you love, things you love, in a place you love....

(and P.S. If you're wondering why I have time to post this on CHRISTMAS EVE, well, I gotta say, I'm quite proud of my organizational skills {today at least}. I have this spare moment because my awesome husband helped me finish wrapping last night, the clothes are packed for our trip to Utah after present-opening tomorrow, the crab is ready to cook for tonight, Christmas is in the works, and there's no stress... it's a first and it feels SO good!)

Last Weekend and OTHER Random Moments

Cam and I got to go on a little weekend get-away last weekend. I'm now a new believer in weekend get-away's - NOT to GET AWAY from the kids but to be REJUVINATED and RECONNECTED to eachother. A night away is the perfect time for us to be away: long enough to get that just dating feeling back {again} but short enough that it's not too hard on the wallet or the kid-sitters. {Cameron's Parents; thank you, again. the kids had fun... and, we stopped over at my parents house for a night too - our kids never knew we were getting-away, they just had fun with their grandparents.}

We stayed at Little America in Salt Lake. I love downtown SLC. It's not overwhelming like Chicago but still PLENTY to do and see, easy to navigate and, since we're Utes and both lived downtown before {and after} we were married, it feels like home.

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We ate at our favorite places: Market Street Broiler and Caputos - if you're a Salt Laker stop by. Seriously. Market Street has the BEST clam chowder {you'd never know it was clam chowder, by the way, just DANG good soup} and Caputos is a little Italian Deli with THE BEST sandwiches on the planet. Really.

We went to a 9:20 movie at the Gateway. I slept through the WHOLE thing - WITH my MOUTH OPEN. Cameron's been teasing me ever since. I was TIRED!!

We tried to go to a session here at the temple but I realized my recomend was expired just before we got to the door. So we went into the remodeled visitors center. WOW. So much to learn about not just Temple Square, but the LDS church, and it's teachings, in general. Very neat. *if you want to know what we do in the temple, the above picture of a plaque from the Visitors Center pretty much sums it up. (want to know more? click here)

This little girl is growing, growing. I took this picture of her and a few days later put an outfit my Mom gave her on. She looked so cute I took some more pictures. I can't help it. I just wanna capture her cuteness!
FYI at 9 months Ella is 21 pounds, loves meat, she's rolling around to get where she wants to go and can get into a sitting position from laying down, almost crawling, smiling ALL.the.TIME. she's turned into a blanket snob - she will only sleep if she has one of her aden and anais blankets, still has only 2 bottom teeth, doesn't want to be snuggled when she's tired - just put her in her bed, loves to sing songs and play peek-a-boo, dances to music

We finally made it to a pumpkin patch - on NOVEMBER 1. We didn't get any pumpkins but we had fun in the mazes and corn "sand" box and this HUGE climbing pile of hey.

We found a little place in Glenn's Ferry with a "micro" hiking trail. Hiking is not the same here as it was in Colorado. We miss it. But this flat trail was at least {mostly} pretty and had other vegetation besides sage brush.

Landon has QUADRUPLED his AR reading goal twice. His teacher can't move him up anymore levels because the subject matter in higher level books isn't appropriate for 3rd graders. He's reading Harry Potter right now. He read the first four books in September and October. (Book 4 is over 700 pages and he got 100% on his reading test - the kid has a brain like a sponge, I tell ya, like his almost photographic memory dad. crazy) I made him take a little "Harry" break and read some other books - He likes Geronimo Stillton but he can read a whole book in a half hour. SO we're on the lookout for age-appropriate high level reading material (any ideas?). He just started HP #5 today.

While Cameron was on TDY, the last week of October, Landon sang in his Chior concert. He was nervous. He asked me to print off the words to Star Spangled Banner and sang it for 2 days straight to practice, so he wouldn't mess up.

Isaac is such a little wanna-be Big Boy lately. He trys so hard to do everything the older boys do. Earlier this week I took Austin to Target to spend his accumulated allowance money. Isaac wanted something SO much too, of course. So he "bought" these gloves with his "allowance" money. Made him so happy. He's been wearing them every day since.

Austin was the Special Person in his class last week. He got to present this poster and be the line leader all week. He picked out the pictures he wanted to put on his poster. He also drew a couple pictures for his class (the triangle picture is a drawing he drew of the mountains we stayed in when we went to Big Sky and Yellowstone - he even remembered to draw a ski trail)

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lots of fun going on around here lately

TEN years. Really.

We planned to celebrate our first TEN YEARS together later in the month. So I kind of didn't think about it much. And in the business and ...well, exhaustion the two of us are calling life lately our TEN year anniversary went almost unnoticed. A bit sad, huh? Don't worry we'll make up for it!

Well, on Monday when I noticed the date {October 4}, I threw the kids in the car and went right to the grocery store to pick up an anniversary card and a pie. {We served pie and apple cider at our wedding reception, so it has become our anniversary tradition.} Cameron brought home flowers for me. And that was that. 10 years come and gone...

So, although that was just a teeny, tiny celebration for a great big {10 years long} life together, it represented how lucky we are to have eachother. So happy that we are dedicated and willing to work hard to make our marriage happy and wonderful. So excited to spend another 10 years together. Grateful for the way we have made a family. Dreaming about the future, enjoying the present, and remembering the past.

October 4, 2000 SaltLakeCity Temple

We went to Jakson Hole for our honeymoon. On the way home we stopped in Yellowstone. I never would have imagined, then, that in ten years time my life would look like this:

Wow, how things change! And I couldn't be happier. (okay, so we won't mention that living in a bigger city would make me a teensy bit happier ;) )
Thank you Cameron for completing me. Thank you for giving me our kids. Thank you for being the hardest worker I know. Thank you for being you. Thank you for the past 10 years. ...love ya...

a {crappy} new summer "tradition"

The Air Force has created a new summer tradition for our family. Once again Cameron will be a couple states away working most of the summer. He's doing a "man-and-assist" assignment in CA. I'm grateful it's not Afganistan or Iraq; greatful it's not a longer assignment. Feeling a bit sorry for myself that we have this new tradition. At least I'm not suffering from morning sickness this summer! That alone will make this summer waaayyy better than last. But, Cameron, we will miss you like crazy.

baseball and other signs of {SPRING}

We have loved being outside lately. Spring and Fall - best times of the year.

Oh my, do they take their baseball seriously around here. Landon has practice three nights a week about two hours each time. Games started on Saturday so hopefully practices will slow down now that games will be twice a week until the end of May.

It can be crazy to haul everyone around, eat dinner, get the kids to bed at a decent hour. But I really love love love watching my kids play sports. I think they need it too. It gives them a goal to work towards. It gives them something to do. It gives them exercise. It makes them happy. It gets them outside. It makes them well rounded. It gives them something to practice together (Austin's age group starts in May). I especially love baseball because it's a sport I'm actually pretty good at. I love playing catch with the kids. And now that they're older and can really play, it's especially fun.

Cameron's been finishing our fence; doing a FANTASTIC job. It's something else the boys can do together. They spent the entire day on Saturday (minus baseball game time) picking up the wood and putting up the fence together.

(this picture is last saturday when they drilled the holes for the posts and cemented them in)

Oh, yes. The kids are into bugs lately. Landon got an ant farm for Easter. He tried to find ants to put in it. He cried and cried when he couldn't find any (we sent away for some...). The next day I went to Target and found these little bug traps in the dollar spot. Got them for the kids. I told Landon to lift up the rocks to find bugs. Surprise - A HUGE ANT hill. The kids have been filling their bug traps up with ants every day since.

In an effort to motivate the kids and give them some one on one time (we're all about multi-tasking around here) we've been giving them rewards for working towards certain goals - when they reach their goal they can do something special with one of us. This time Austin read an entire book with no help to Cameron. So the kids and I met Cam after work and Cameron and Austin went swimming together as his award. (Zac, Landon, Ella and I hung out at the park across from the hospital for a while.)

what day is it again?!

The sleepless nights are getting to me... I've been putting on a brave face, as in telling myself, "this is normal. it'll get better. no big deal." But I'm TIRED! I guess that's why I really have no idea what day it is. I feel SO busy, yet I get nothing done, really. Maybe a load of laundry or dinner or something like that, but for the most part I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Going from one kid to the next and one task to the next, accomplishing nothing. Going through the motions, folks. That's what I'm doing. And in time, yes it will get better ( I know eventually Ella will sleep between the hours of 11pm and 5 am, right?!). But for now I need a nap!

valentines cookies - we did get these made, at least..

Austin really LOVES Ella. All the boys stop and give her hugs and talk to her but Austin, especially has a special bond with her. He changes her diaper (with assistance) and is always there to help with her bath or get her dressed. Austin gets, litterally, heart broken if he can't hold her when he wants to. Cute big brother.

this is the answer I get everytime I find a mess from this boy. most recently: "why'd you color all over the table?" and " why is their sticky finger prints all over the couch?" My next question, "why do I keep asking him why he does these 2-year old things?"

this little girl doesn't love her tummy. But the other day she hung out like this for 20 minutes looking at these "little people"

Cameron, a.k.a. Super Dad, made up for my lack of planning - he took the kids to pick out Valentine's presents (legos, of course) on Saturday. Then he got up early on Sunday and made us all pink heart pancakes - before 9 am church. The kids thought that was awesome.

I've had a lot friends and neighbors bringing treats and meals. It's been so nice. Tons of phone calls to check on me. There are great people here. These are the thank you "cards" I've given back to them. Although, I have some great friends, I find myself missing my "past life" (as in Iowa and Colorado). It's just so different here. Could I still be adjusting to the move? Who knows. I think I'm adjusting to new baby and lack of sleep.

This cute smile makes me smile. I love him. It makes it worth it to go through the motions...