Little Boys

Campo handed me a bracelet I had left in the car and told me that when I wear it I will look very beautiful!

Awwww...sons - nothing like them!!!

They melt your heart - then they turn around and hit their sister and the magic disappears!!

I Am NOT A Democrat!

We're enjoying some downtime here at Wheelbarrow Manor. It's nice to be home with no where to go. There is still a lot to do though. I have to get the playroom ready for Santa and grandparents to load us up with a new bunch of toys! We are very blessed!

We got Big Bear and Me Too up at 2am last night to see the eclipse. The red moon was really neat! Big Bear is very interested in anything science-y.

One of the best things about being home is getting to spend time together like we don't get to do when school is in session and we're rushing around from here to there. Sometimes this means some interesting conversations. I would like to share one I just overheard!

So Big Bear, Me Too and Campo were in the other room. Apparently Campo said something and Me Too was arguing with him...nothing new there...and Big Bear told Me Too that she was being a democrat. Me Too yelled at Big Bear and said, "I am NOT a democrat." Big Bear answered, "Well you won't let Campo think what he wants to think. That's being a democrat."

I was literally crying I was laughing so hard. I don't think she really did know what she was saying but it was still SO funny!! And very close to the truth as I know it!!

Election Day...And Night

Sorry I've been MIA lately. No major excuses besides just, well, life!! Sometimes it just gets the best of me! Let me fill you in on what's happened with Kenneth Sheets and other stuff!

Election Day 2010 - POURING rain...and I was standing out in it. I was a poll greeter for Kenneth Sheets. Myself and a candidate for judge would stay in our cars until someone would arrive to vote and then we'd jump out with our signs. After lunch time I decided to leave since traffic was slowing down and my car battery was dead! I got a jump and finally got to go home, take a shower and get warm thanks to my mom picked up my kids at their respective schools. Thank God for her that day or I don't think I would have ever warmed up.

Now you would have thought that I would be exhausted after that, and I was, but election day adrenaline was pumping and I was ready for the Dallas GOP party. We headed out to the Hotel Palomar where most of the Republican candidates set up camp to watch election results. We got there and found Kenneth's suite where spirits were extremely high as the early voting totals had come in and Kenneth was winning! We tried to temper ourselves a bit because there was a long night ahead and anything could happen. At some point we all made our way downstairs to the big party. I have never felt anything so electric. The energy in that place was unbelievable and even now, several weeks later, I'm getting chills as I type! I have never experienced anything like it and don't even know what to compare it to!

As I stood there looking around and taking it all in, Kenneth's campaign manager Ronda showed me her cell phone. There was a text from their consultant informing her that 5 of the "deathzones" or areas that would be tough for Kenneth to win, had gone his way. He said that it looked like Kenneth had won. We are all screaming!! As much as we believed wholeheartedly in this man, he was a relative unknown running against a well liked two term incumbent and no one really knew how it would go. We headed back up to the suite to wait some more for results to keep coming in and to let Kenneth get his thoughts together for his speech. Once the concession phone call came through, we all headed back downstairs and Doug and I got to be up on the stage with Kenneth and all his supporters and staff as he made his victory speech.

It was one of the most incredible nights of my life. I will never, ever forget it. I can see how people get lured in by the energy and excitement of politics.

In other news...Big Bear had her Pinewood Derby and won an award!! A separate post will be coming with pics and more details. Let's just say, I've never seen a smile that big!! Me Too turned 5!!! A separate post will be coming on that too. Her birthday party is this weekend so I'll wait until I have those pics and details. She has strep throat right now but started antibiotics today so I'm hoping she'll be up for having the party. I'm hoping that I am up for having the party as my throat is suspiciously getting sore and throughout the day I have felt worse and worse. Luckily, Doug off early tomorrow so if I need to run to the doctor I should be free to do so! Campo is chugging along! He is turning 3 in just a few weeks - acckkkkk!!!!

Oh and I started working with my first Handwriting Without Tears client. I did his evaluation and report and am now tutoring him once a week. He is a 3rd grader and I'll have to admit I was quite intimidated by the thought of working with a 3rd grade boy at first. But, after I left the house yesterday, I texted my husband and told him that I hope Campo is JUST like this boy at that age. He is very well mannered, very sweet and very cooperative. And his mom emailed me this morning and said that when his dad asked him how it was he answered, "Kinda fun". I'll take that!!

That's it for now!!

Fair Fun!

We made it to the Texas State Fair last week! It was super fun! The girls decided they wanted to ride their first roller coaster. It was a little one in the kiddie ride section. We thought it would be little and slow enough that they would have fun. Boy were we WRONG! I was watching Campo ride another little ride and could hear poor Me Too's screams over the very loud rides. Doug finally gave the ride operator the cut off sign. Big Bear got off the ride and immediately said, "Never, ever again". Me Too didn't stop crying for about 20 minutes. She said that she did NOT like the fair at all. Once she started to settle down she did mention that some cotton candy might help her feel better. It did the trick!

It was actually heartbreaking for me. I am terrified of rides. I was very hesitant to let them go on the rides in the first place but everyone else seemed to think it was fine. So to hear those screams of sheer terror just made my stomach do flips. But...all in all, everyone survived and my children now know that roller coasters aren't for them!

Other than the ride disaster, we had a wonderful time. We had yummy food and saw lots of animals. The best activity was actually the only free one! It was an exhibit called Little Hands On the Farm. The kids enter a farm yard and are given an apron and a bucket. They go from building to building doing different activities such as feeding the chickens and gathering an egg or milking a cow and getting a carton of milk. By the end of the exhibit, they had a bucket full of items that they "sold" at market. They were paid some funny money which they then took to a little store where they could "buy" some snacks. It was precious and the pictures are adorable!

Campo on a very slow ride that did NOT scar him for life!


The awful dragon roller coaster that terrified my poor girls.


Campo loving the car show!


The family with Grammy and Big Tex!


All of us in front of Big Tex!


The family in the animal building!

The kids at the Little Hands exhibit!



Feeding the chickens!

First Day of First Grade!

Big Bear had her first day of first grade yesterday! She was so excited - I thought she'd never fall asleep on Sunday night! She finally did and was up early Monday morning. Doug got to go into work late so we all got to take her to school for her first day.

After dropping her off I had to rush straight to my school for First Aid/CPR training. Uggghhh!!! That is NOT a fun day - let me tell you! Campo and Me Too went to babysitting with the other teacher's kids.

Needless to say, it was a LONG day for all of us. We basically came home and all crashed until I scrounged up enough energy to order some pizza!

I'm so glad that Big Bear loves her teacher, her class and her school! I think it will be a great year. Now, if I can survive this week of classroom prep and training, we'll see how the year will shape up for the rest of us next week!

Oh...and...guess who is room mom for Big Bear's new class????

Sardines for School Lunch?

I have the world's pickiest eaters. Big Bear has even been in therapy to help her overcome some sensory integration issues that have kept her from being able to enjoy food. Last week was her last session. She's come SO far! But I'm nervous about life after therapy! So, I'm trying to get creative! I've always been intrigued by Bento lunches - a Japanese style of packing lunches with food made in cute shapes and things. Plus, the push is on from the school to try to have trash less lunches as much as possible.

So in my searching - I found this cute blog called What's for lunch at our house? with a fun giveaway with items from a website called Mimi the Sardine! She has really cute place mats, or "smacemats" as Campo calls them, and other things like Bento boxes, tablecloths and aprons! My kids are obsessed with "smacemats". I'm hoping to win the giveaway though because I usually only get them at places like the Dollar Store. Check it out!

Saying Goodbye

Tomorrow is going to be a very sad day for me. It is the last day of the summer session at the school that I teach. That part actually makes me happy! But, I have to say goodbye to two teachers who I will miss a great deal. One in particular I have known since I was in first grade. We were very good friends my freshman and sophomore years in high school but then went out separate ways as we made new friends in different groups. After high school I never really saw her but would run into her mom or get a Christmas card and knew what she was up to. I knew she was the assistant director at the little day school where I now work. A few years ago I called her to find out information about sending Big Bear there. From that phone call, not only did I end up sending Big Bear there, but I also ended up finding a job I didn't know I was looking for! I was still struggling with the fact that I wasn't a stay at home mom and desperately wanted to be one. But this job, teaching at this school, afforded me the next best thing...a job but one in which my children were very near by while I worked. Anyway, my friend is going to work full time. All of her kids are in school now and her family needs the extra income. I am going to miss her so much. What a blessing it has been to reconnect with someone from my past at this time.

I really enjoy teaching pre-K. I know it is not my forever job...however, it is my wonderful, couldn't have asked for a better situation for now job. My kids are down the hall from me all day long. I know their teachers very well. I know all the kids in their class because I pass them in the hallway, peek in the classroom, and even sometimes get to share library or playground time with them. I can watch them during the day when they don't know it - eating lunch, interacting with their classmates, sitting in group time or laying down on their nap mats. This brings me to the really hard part of tomorrow. It is Big Bear's very last day ever in preschool...in the school where I am so close to her. She will never walk into the school with me in the morning. I'll never peek at her in her classroom again. I won't pass her in the hallway anymore. I won't know her classmates or teachers as intimately as I do now. She is going off where I can't be with her. I can't hug her when she's having a bad day or smile while watching her practice for the Christmas program. I know this is supposed to be a happy time...she's so happy and excited about it. But I'm just not...I'm so, so sad. Nothing will ever be the same. I know in my mind that it has the potential for being much, much better but my heart is so sad right now at the fact that it won't be the same as it is now.

Here are some pictures from her very first day at our wonderful school...

This is from her second year there...although it's obviously not a first day picture. I don't have any and I'm not sure why! I know it is a horrible picture but it has her brand new backpack...you can see the box in the background. So it's close enough to the first day?? I know - it's awful!

And from the first day this year...

Next up...first day of kindergarten pics!

In the Wheelbarrow Again!!

Campo went for his 18 month appointment on Thursday. It was one of those appointments where you leave with your head spinning and your stomach feeling sick. I felt that way when I left Me Too's appointment where they said she had to have her adenoids out...turned out to be no big deal but at the time I all I heard was the word SURGERY. And that word scares me.

Let me give a little background before I get to what we were told on Thursday. Campo was sent for his first swallow study when he was 13 weeks old. The reason why is that he had basically been congested for his whole life! Literally! First we suspected reflux and treated that. Reflux got better, congestion didn't. Then it was suspected that he had an allergy to cow's milk and soy...he did and other symptoms improved but the congestion didn't. He also had a lot of trouble with nursing and then taking a bottle. Feeding times were a battle. He'd take a few sips, pull off and cough and cry. Here is what I wrote about how we did feedings back then...

He would start to eat, pull off and scream, choke and cry. Feedings would take forever because we'd have to get him calm, put the paci in and then once he was going on the paci, we'd stick the bottle in his mouth. He'd go for a little bit and then start the whole thing over again. Aggravating! For him and us!

So they sent us over to have this swallow study done and I thought it was all a bunch of baloney! Who had ever heard of such a thing as a problem swallowing. Turns out...there is such a thing and Campo has it! When he drinks, instead of the liquid going straight down, it shoots out to the side and sometimes he even aspirates it (it goes into his lungs). You know when people take a sip of something and start coughing and they say it went down the wrong pipe...that is what happens to him. Every time he takes a sip of something it goes down the wrong pipe. We've been very lucky that he hasn't had any further problems from it like chronic pneumonia. So since he was 13 weeks old we've been thickening all of his liquids. The thickener we use is expensive as well as just being annoying to always have to have anywhere we go and to make sure other people who are taking care of him understand how to do it and the importance of doing it. Then when he started drinking out of sippy cups it became a whole new issue of finding a cup that didn't have too fast of a flow and once we did, making sure we always have a cup with us wherever we go. He can't just pick up a juice box and have a sip. We've gotten adjusted and used to having to do this. However, we kept being told he's most likely outgrow it. But this last time we had a swallow study the doctor walked in and said, "Oh wow - this is a big one. We're not used to such big ones in here". My reaction of course was to worry - is there something wrong? Then a couple of friends and family members asked how long he was expected to be doing this...I wasn't sure. So I started to wonder if there was more we should be doing, someone else we should be seeing about this, therapy, etc? So my main objective going into the 18 month appointment was to get answers to these questions.

Our beloved pediatrician, Dr. Durso, who we have seen since Big Bear was 2 weeks old had left the practice to work at Medical City Hospital where I have had all 3 of my kids and where we've been for RSV, swallow studies, Upper GI's, and even ear tubes. The nurse practitioner we see had told me that Dr. Durso would be filling in that day so I made sure that Campo got in for his appointment to be able to see her. She walked in and the first thing she said was that she had seen his name come up a few months ago for a swallow study and began asking me about what was going on. She also was surprised that he was still having to thicken his drinks and felt that he should have outgrown it. After discussing what all had been going on, she recommended that he have an MRI to rule out something called Arnold-Chiari Malformation. Arnold-Chiari malformation is a rare genetic disorder in which parts of the brain are formed abnormally. Malformations may occur in the lower portion of the brain (cerebellum) or in the brain stem. If he does have it, chances are he'll have to have surgery on his skull. There's that word again...SURGERY. And this time...on my baby's SKULL!!!

The MRI is scheduled for Friday the 24th. He has to be put under for it and I'm not crazy about this either. So that is where we are right now - playing the waiting game. I am always commenting about how fast life goes these days. It seems like we move at lightening speed and I'm always wondering where the time went. But right now it feels like time is standing still. Everything has just stopped. I'm at a crossroads. One path leads to everything being just fine (besides probably having to take Campo to therapy sessions to strengthen the muscles) and the other leads to everything being really scary! But I have to wait to see what path we'll be heading down. I have to wait until next Friday for the MRI, then wait for the doctor to call with the results of the MRI...if he has this strange thing we'll probably have to wait even longer to get to see a specialist, then wait to see what they say...it goes on and on. And in the meantime, I am stressed and worried but trying not to be until there is something definite to be stressed and worried about!

I know we are supposed to be still and know that God is God and that He is in control. That sounds great to say...it is VERY hard to do in a situation like this. But I'm trying, I really am. The past several months in my prayer time I've been getting the message over and over to be still, to rest in God...I think it has been preparation for this. I would appreciate your prayers that I can accomplish this. I would also appreciate anyone who knows anything about Arnold-Chiari Malformation (some call it syndrome?) sharing your knowledge with me!

In the meantime, we're back in the wheelbarrow again! Sure hoping for a short ride!!

VBS+First Day=Crazy

Today was the first day of VBS for us. Big Bear has been the past two years and knows the drill but it was Me Too's first time to go as a true VBS'er instead of hanging out in the nursery. Campo, of course, is putting in his time at the nursery. And last, but not least, I did my part as a volunteer. Truth be told, I don't know who loves VBS more or gets more excited about it, me or the kids. It really is a lot of fun. You always get to meet new people but what is more fun to me are my VBS friends. There are certain people that I only ever see once a year at VBS. Some I look forward to seeing, others I forget about every time until I see them. So fun! Me Too and Campo had a little trouble at first but quickly got into the groove...Campo even got comfortable enough to drink some bubbles! And no, he's not burping bubbles!

What was really fun was getting to see Grampy. He came over to speak to the kids at the end of the day and the girls really got excited to see him!

Here are some pics. Notice how unhappy Me Too is at the pictures with Grampy. She was tired and hungry at the end of the day. She really did have a good time!

VBS 2009

Splash...No Swim

We were invited to go to the KC pool with some friends of ours today. The KC pool is a big deal. If you are a Knight in that council (I think that's the word...) then you belong to the pool. This is a different council than our parish one. This one is several parishes that go in together. (I'm probably not explaining it right...my hubby isn't a knight so I'm not up with all the lingo). Lots of neighborhood people want to belong there because it's really nice so they stay on waiting lists for years until they get that lucky phone call. We've never gotten on the exclusive wait list because even if we got that lucky phone call, we wouldn't be able to shell out the cash!

Anyway, the kids were so excited. I was so nervous. I wasn't sure how keeping up with 3 kids at the pool was going to work...especially now that I have a toddler. My girls haven't started swimming lessons yet and we don't go to the pool much so they aren't very good swimmers. You can imagine my relief with both Big Bear and Me Too were telling me that they only wanted to play in the kids pool. The KC has a really great kids pool with a big shade over it. It slopes down and the deepest part is only a couple of feet. There is a lifeguard right there too which makes it nice when you're trying to look in several different places. We've taken Campo swimming over at my mom and dad's house as well as just the little pool out in the backyard...you know the little blow up kind...as well as had a sprinkler on. He will have NOTHING to do with any of it. He cries when I try to put his hands or feet in the water to splash, he cries when I show him the sprinkler, and he even cried watching the rest of us swim one day until someone took him inside. He loves baths so the only thing I can figure out is that the pool/sprinkler water is cold and he must not like that. But, I feel like I have to keep trying so at one point today Me Too and the family we went to the pool with all really wanted to go to the big pool. So we headed over with Big Bear throwing a tantrum the whole way because she just wanted to stay in the little pool. I got in the water with Campo and he started screaming his head off. Me Too got in and immediately started screaming her head off. And Big Bear was already screaming her head off on the side of the pool. We were quite the sight! I tried to calm everyone down but they just all started screaming louder so we went back to the baby pool and stayed there the rest of the time. My kids just really aren't pool kids. It's my fault for not exposing them more...I'm just really not a pool mom. Oh well, my only hope is lessons which we'll be starting soon. Maybe that will help all of us! But, for now, we'll just stick to Big Bear and Me Too mostly just splashing in the tiny pool in the backyard or going to the spray park.

I look at it this way, at least I'll save money! It cost me $12 to get in...and all they did was splash! But, at least I got a little sun and some time to chat with my good friend!!

Big Boy Haircut!!

Campo got his first haircut today! He looks like such a big boy! And he was so good! The girls got cuts too. Check it out!

Easter Stuff

Finally, Easter pictures! My Lent was good - not great, not bad. It could have been a lot better I'm sure. I went to the Holy Thursday mass and Good Friday service which usually blow me away but didn't this year as much as usual. I wanted to go to the Easter Vigil but circumstances that happened earlier in the week all sort of snowballed into a situation where I just couldn't make it. On Thursday night after the mass I got home and crawled into bed. Just as I got super comfy and started thinking about how happy I was to be there, Doug ran in and said he had cut his finger and needed to go to the ER for stitches. I called my poor dad who was just wrapping up...not only from the mass but wrapping up his day which had started with a 6:45am men's prayer group. Yikes! Of course, later we realized that there were a couple of other people we probably should have called but Grammy and Grampy are the first ones I always think of and the ones who would need the least instruction as to the care of our kids and where to find things in our house etc. So off we went to the ER and got home around 2am. Now I do not do well with lack of sleep and that proetty much just ruined me for the next few days.

We decided to go to 7:30am Easter mass after realizing we would only be getting to mass about 30 minutes later if we wanted to get a seat at the 9am. It turned out to be one of the nicest Easter masses I've been to since I've had kids. We weren't squeezed in and it didn't last super extra long because the crowd for communion wasn't too long. The kids did great. Me Too got very upset though. With her bottom lip sticking out she told me how sad she was that the shepherds put Jesus on the cross and that he was dead - she's 3, okay, give her a break...she knows more of the story than some! I told her no, we were there to celebrate that he was not dead anymore, that he had risen! But we were sitting in the front row and she looked up to the huge crucifix hanging high in the middle of the altar and pointed and said, "No, he's dead". I tried telling her that it was just there to remind us of what he did to take away our sins. Well, there was no convincing her otherwise and how do you explain that one to a 3 year old?

The only bummer of the day was the pouring rain which caused us to abandon the girls' sandals (which took two trips to get the sizing right) for tennis shoes with their nice dresses. Oh well! After we got home from mass we had cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs. It was all dark outside from the rain and inside the house was warm and cozy and breakfast-y smelling. It was lovely!! The kids found their Easter baskets and we all got naps in at some point.

Late in the afternoon we headed for Grammy and Grampy's house where we had a lovely dinner and more Easter basket surprises!

Here are some pictures!

The Campo Shuffle

Campo likes to do this funny little dance. He walks forward and then shuffles backwards over and over again. We caught it on video yesterday...for a little while until it seems he got annoyed with our snickering at him!

Saying NO!

I know at a certain point children start saying "NO" to everything. Actually, I should say, I know at a certain point children start saying anything at all! This is not the case with Campo yet! However, he has started shaking his head "NO" in response to a question...any question actually...and it has the whole family in stitches!

Here's what I mean!

Freaking Out Update and Kindergarten Round Up!

Well, not only did I survive the kindergarten picnic last Friday (read about my freak out here), I also survived Kindergarten Roundup this past Wednesday...but not without water works of course! It's been a trying week around here!

The picnic was great! Luckily it wasn't slated for today...yucky, rainy, cold...and was on a day that had exactly the opposite weather...warm, sunny and beautiful! Me Too had strep throat so she stayed home with Grammy. It was very strange going to a family event without a member of the family and I kept telling everyone that there was one more! The bubble machine was a hit but didn't work exactly as I had planned. The kids did swarm our area, but Big Bear, who is very happy playing by herself, was off running around other places! One mom did ask me if I was the one who brought the bubble machine but I really didn't need it to meet anyone. Since everyone there was pretty much in the same boat and since the express purpose of the event was to get to know people, everyone was pretty friendly and open. The most important thing was the Big Bear had a blast and left more excited about kindergarten than before...if that is possible!

Next was Kindergarten Roundup on Wednesday night. Grammy helped out again by keeping Me Too and Campo so that Doug and I could concentrate on the information that we were given. And boy, did we get information! It was a little overwhelming. Also overwhelming was seeing my Big Bear leave in a big group of other future kindergartners to have story time in the library. As I watched them line up and leave the cafeteria, it hit me hard and strong that this is really it...the thing I've been dreading since the day of her birth...kindergarten is almost here!!

Here are some pictures from the picnic:

Big Bear running in a game of tag!


Campo had a blast at the picnic.

Except when someone started getting too close to his french fries!

And even daddy had a great time on our blanket with the kids!



Oh, and someone had asked about the bubble machine...Target...$8.99. Here is what it looks like...comes in different colors.
The genius of it is the way the bubble blowers are positioned inside there. It causes it to blow out tons of bubbles at once! And since you don't have to hold it...no yucky bubbles on your hands! Yay!


Not good for the bubble machine are rocks inside of it. Thanks to the kid at the picnic who caused us to find this out! Luckily, daddy fixed it!!

Blogging Break...Over?

Well, hello friends. I've been away. It wasn't intentional. I just stopped. It just was fun, I had nothing to say, I stressed all the time over what to post...blah. So, without even making a conscious decision, I just stopped! People kept asking me if I had quit blogging and I just told them no, I was taking a break. I was accused of letting Facebook take blogging's place. Not the case. Facebook is jut a lot easier to keep up with - just little quick hits here and there instead of having to sit and think about exactly what I wanted to say. But today it happened...I missed blogging and wanted to do it again. So here I am. And we'll just see what happens!

Everyone is doing great. Big Bear is getting really excited about going to kindergarten. After a long discernment process - lots of prayer, research and counsel, we have decided to go to our neighborhood public school. While I am sad that our kids will not attend Catholic school, we are very at peace about our decision. For a couple of weeks, Doug and I were both feeling really moved in that direction but hadn't shared our thoughts with each other about it. One day he came home and said that he felt so drawn to the school every time he drove by it and I told him I felt the same way and at that point we felt really sure. We are very excited to meet lots of new people. This Friday we will go to a picnic for incoming kindergartners and their families. Big Bear and I have also been attending a little program at the school for incoming kindergartners. So far they have gone to a music class, an art class, a PE class and to the science lab. They met and took pictures with the mascot from the high school. The superintendent even came to speak to us one day! Here is a picture of her in the little tee shirt she got from the school.

Me Too has gone from being a little toddler with hair sprouting out unevenly all over her head making it always look messy and disheveled into a sweet, adorable little girl who is very popular at school, not only among her classmates but her sister's as well. She has quite the temper and is extremely stubborn...although she balks at being labeled as "stubbord". On the other hand, she is the most loving, snuggly little thing I've ever known. Every morning she comes and climbs in bed with me and cuddles up so close. I cherish those moments and hope they never stop. I tried to find a recent picture of her by herself but could only find pictures of her with her siblings. That kind of sums up Me Too. She's all about her sister and her brother.

And, last but not least, Campo! What a fun little guy he is becoming! He has such a funny and sly sense of humor. He is loving and sweet at the same time that he is rough and tumble. He loves to play with his sisters and lights up when he sees them. In the past couple of days he has found his voice and babbles nonstop. He loves to "talk". Campo has a funny quirk when he sits down on a step or in a swing or his carseat - any type of seat where his legs hang down. He always crosses his legs at the ankles. Even when he sits on the floor...one leg goes over the other. And when he sleeps at school, he goes in a swing with both hands behind his head and legs crossed. He looks like he's lounging in a hammock. Too cute! Here he is playing outside last week.

Campo Turns One!

I know, I'm way behind in updating lately! Campo turned one about a week ago! I'm finally getting pictures up! Better late than never I guess. Doug's family has an annual family get together for Christmas and it happened to fall on Campo's birthday this year. We decided to make it a Christmas/Birthday party. It was a lot of fun for us to celebrate with the extended family. It's sad to say but we only see most of the people who were there once a year at this party. They are Doug's cousins and their kids. Anyway, Doug's mom and aunt got a bunch of Thomas the Train decorations and a big cake. There were tons of presents, lots of commotion and tons of love for Campo! He was the hit of the party and everyone just adored him! Here are some pictures!

From Campo's Birthday

Dino Bash!

We had Big Bear and Me Too's birthday party today! It was a Dino Bash. There was a dinosaur bean bag toss, dinosaur dig where they dug in sand for dinosaur eggs with tiny dinosaurs in them, a bounce house, dinosaur craft (Christmas ornaments and dinosaur bead necklaces), a pinata (guess what, a dinosaur of course) and lots of other fun! We had a great time. Here are the pictures!

Dino Bash 2008

Me Too Turns 3!!

Me Too had a birthday yesterday! She is three years old! I can't believe it. We had a little impromptu party for her last night. It started with let's just have some pizza and cupcakes with Grammy and Grampy and before you know it everyone from both sides of the family were here! It was great! We had so much fun and Me Too got lots of great presents - mostly coloring related because that is what she is so into right now. What we did not get lots of were pictures. For some reason, most of the pictures turned out very dark and you can hardly see anyone! So, here are the two we have!




Campo goes to the Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) doctor today to see what is up with his ears and maybe find out if he'll have to have tubes or not. The girls went with Grammy to have a fun day which is nice because Doug is very sick with whatever we are all passing around. Maybe the quiet will help him get to feeling better.

Campo is walking all over the place these days. It is so cute. Here is what it looks like!

From 2008-11-12

I had a parent teacher conference for Big Bear this week. They let us know how they're doing in relation to being ready for kindergarten next year. Until I worked in a preschool, I never realized how much you have to know to do well in kindergarten now and how many people hold their kids back an extra year to be ready. But they said that Big Bear is more than ready and will do great. She is doing well academically, but more importantly to me, she is a really good kid at school. They said she pays attention, doesn't follow the other kids if they are doing the wrong thing, she is polite and well behaved. I was glowing after that report. What more could a mom ask for? Now we just need to decide where she'll actually go to school! We are trying to decide between public school and Catholic school. It is a very tough decision and there are pros and cons to both. We can't seem to get going either way so it's time to start investigating a path and see where it leads us!

So, overall life is good. The big glitch is the job/financial situation but we're just leaving that up to the Lord and trusting that everything will work out...well, I'm trying to do all of that anyway!!