Point Definace Zoo, Tacoma

Pictures totally out of order. Too tired to be witty or formulate coherent thoughts regarding our day. Went to the zoo with Erin, Shanda, the boys, Paula and her girls.

Then to dinner after the zoo with Dave and Elise. 

Cool view of the zoo entrance.

Dave with Cam at Dinner.

Paula and I at the zoo.

Mr. Monkey, aka ooooo-ooo-ahhh-ahhh!

Carter and Halsey checking out the monkeys

Could those eyes get any bluer?

Hand holding. Carter, Halsey and Alyssa.

Carter is done hand holding, the girls were not.

Camden was out.

Kind of like this tiger.

Something was pretty interesting.

 (and the boy in the background thought Carter was pretty interesting too.)

More hand holding at the otter exhibit.

Pictures from our day

Carter's very serious tractor ride.

Cutie Pie Cam, sitting in the field just hoping someone would pick him up.

"Ok, seriously guys, PICK ME UP! or I'm gonna cry"

"That's better, even if I am being carried like a giant sausage"

"Even better, a tractor ride with Grampy"

Carter Kisses

Camden Kisses

"Am I cute or what?"

Carter's "tack toe" ride

Figuring out how to ride all by himself.

Auntie Erin love

Looking for Crabbies

"Got one!"

Dinner with Kalia . . . and her parents too.

Dan and Kalia.

Camden loved just staring at her.

Shanda and Camden.

Shanda and Carter. Carter is mid action of frantically saying "Mommy sit, mommy sit." I had to get a picture first, then I sat.

I seriously can't believe that 10 years ago, Dan, Dave, Jeff and I were basically the "crew." Now there have been 5 additions to the gang.  Michelle, Kalia, Elise, Carter, Camden and a thousand miles have changed things a bit.

So Daddy doesn't forget what we look like . . .

We went to a place called Country Village on Friday. I used to work at a pottery shop there and at that time there was no kids stuff to do. Mostly antique shops and boutiques. Now there is a train, guess who wanted to ride it? Mommy and Camden!  Carter not so sure.

In every picture, Carter looks like a dragged him on and he isn't and wasn't very pleased initially. Of course, after we got off, he wanted to ride "choo choo" again and again.

He actually held onto his little shirt the whole ride, like it was saving him from something.

Camden's happy smile, just look behind the binky!

Auntie Shanda pushes Carter on a very heavy carousel.

Camden and Papa.

For Carter

Carter calls this the "who who" song. He points to the ipod and commands "who who daddy" He literally will listen to it 20 times in a row and still freak out when it ends... "moosic go, moosic go?!"  Don't worry Carter, it's on repeat, give it 2 seconds.

I thought I was sick of it, then he left town to Seattle for a week. Now I listen too it 20 times in a row, and when it ends I think... "carter go, carter go?"

Love you buddy.

Uncle Jeff  aka "Daddy"

A Wedding in our future . . .

Nope, Jeff and I are not getting remarried. Kari, on the other hand, has just announced that she is marrying "Ki-yow" (Carter's version of Kyle). Another April wedding. (Ours is 4/21) A good month to get hitched.  Congratulations are in order. Forget the love birds for now, I am congratulating myself, as Kari has already called to say "help! with planning the wedding" - My absolute favorite thing to do - I am beyond excited. Jeff is apprehensive as it will probably mean hole punching and gluing invitations and a lot of recruiting him for grunt work. Okay, now I can say, "Congratulations to Kyle and Kari" I just said out loud, "Kari Ann Hanks!" That sounds so weird! Go to "Soon-to-be MRS. Kar Kar" blog to see a beautiful ring.

This weekend

A couple snapshots of the boys from this weekend.

Carter in his conductor hat, he played with his trains all afternoon.

Outside today, only 90 degrees, Jeff was doing lawn work and 

Camden was enjoying the activity.

Carter helping his Daddy with the yard work.

Taking a break from the hard work.

Yeah! 

Cam's daily work out

No No baby!

Carter is always trying to tell Camden, No! No! I have no idea where he gets it from.

Please excuse the awful camera work, the audio is funny though.

For those of you not familiar with Cubby talk, I will translate,

Carter: Silly Baby, Silly Baby. SILLY BABY. Hi Baby, Baby NO! NO! Baby NOOOO! Carter's! (Our cat walks by) Thus the Cat noises you now hear.

Camden: Tries to put 4 raisins in his mouth.

Me: No! Baby.

Camden Scootin'

Randomness

Nothing great to post, just the usual happenings around our house.

The boys watching Jeff mow the lawn. Carter was shoveling outside and Jeff started the lawn mower, Carter hightailed it inside away from the "tooo wowed mowwa" 

Camden waves to his Daddy.

So I had some raisins sitting on the counter for a salad I was making. Next thing I knew the raisins were gone. I looked from one counter to the next and no raisins. I even looked back in the cupboard and then realized I didn't misplace them . . . they had been stolen. There was only one possible thief and he was outside . . . chomping down. But he assured me, "I sittin down Mommay" so I guess that makes it ok.

Sunday morning before meeting, all smiles. (Minus a confused looking Camden)

Carter's new trend, upside down shades. he calls himself "coooo dute" when he wears them.

The 4th of July

We had a great time at Lyle and Karen's for the holiday. Camden loves to "chill" in the 110 degree heat with Grandpa.

Camden sits at "Carter's table" for snack time.

Cooling off in the kiddo pool.

Blowing Bubbles

Bocci Ball

My Favorite YouTube

9 months

Prince Camden,

Every month passes faster than the one before. Fitting that you turn 9 months old on Independence Day. You are becoming more independent every second. You have now been in this wide world longer than you were inside my belly. This month you have grown leaps and bounds. Starting with "commando" crawling last Monday. Timid at first and a little agitated that you couldn't keep up with your big brother. By the time you reached one room, Carter would be back in the other and this caused you great concern.  Now you go from our bedroom to the kitchen in seconds. You discovered that cat food looks appetizing, luckily I discovered you before you tried it. You were told "No No!" for the first time the other day, when you scooted to the lamp cord. This broke your heart and you hid from Daddy. This broke Daddy's heart. Quickly forgetting, you didn't avoid him for long, you are buds again and I wish we adults had that same quality to love again so quickly and without reservation or memory of past hurt feelings. As of today, you are trying to pull yourself up on tables. You are trying new foods. Bits of banana, bread and Gerber snacks. Still just 2 teeth on bottom to chew with, but 4 are coming in up top. This has lead to some sleepless nights. Daddy loves to cuddle you back to sleep. We agree that these times will past shortly so we soak up as much of that lovey time as possible, even at 3am.  Today at Grandpa and Grandma's we got your little matching swim trunks on and slathered you in sunscreen. You splashed with Daddy and Kari in the pool. Bree tugged you around in your floaty and you rested your head on the side with pure content.  When Daddy handed you to me, you reached out and I cuddled you in your hooded towel for a while. I wish that moment could last forever. The smell of your sun kissed skin and need for a hug was priceless. At 9 months old, you are charming. You flash your blue eyes and my heart melts like a Popsicle on the 4th of July.

I love you more everyday,

Mommy

23 months

Cubby,

Will you really be 2 years old next month? Is that the point I stop telling people how old you are in months and switch to years? You are x years old? Years my little Cubby? It shows. You are a little man now. You can express almost every wish and want with words that I understand. I say to you, "Use your words, not your whines when you get upset" and you slow down and tell me what you need. Something like, "Juice pees, tank eww, elcome Cawter." All in one sentence. You play with your trains and have started to set people in the seats and take them on, "tips." Where did you learn to take these little people "shoppin"? What will they buy on your "shoppin" trip? "Tweats, suckers, chocolate milk, froggies, fip fops (flip flops), Thomas trains," - all your favorite things right now. Maybe you will take them to get their hair cut. Something you ask me to do almost everyday. You like when I style your hair "pikey" and then show Sandy at daycare your "cool dude" hair. Carter, you are my little helper and follow directions very well.  You can understand reason and consequences. Last week was the start of "Sorry" You broke Daddy's laptop and refused to apologize. In fact, you would say, "Nope!" and turn away when asked to say sorry. It took an hour and 15 minutes but you finally caved in. Now, a week later, you give kisses and apologize without reservation. You play peek a boo and bounce Camden in his Jumperoo just for the fun of it and not because I suggested it. You discovered that you love to play air guitar on the broom and sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Star. You ask for people by name, "what Papa doing?" "where Byin go?" "Cammen wake up." My smart little man, you can say most of your ABC's and also count to "leven" (11) all by yourself. I remember counting the days till you arrived. Then how many days old you were, then months, soon I will be counting years.   Yesterday, you were running "suppy fffast" and I told you to slow down, to which you replied, "Ok, Mommay!" Could you do that with your little life? Could you slow it down for me? Could you stay 23 months old forever?

Love you silly boy,

Mommay