A pictureless update

For some reason I haven't been taking many photos lately, but I did want to write a couple things here, more for documentation than anything else.

~ The biggest news first. We bought a house! At the beginning or March we happened upon a house that looked vacant, but not listed and no for sale signs out front. We mentioned it to our realtor and he called us 3/15 and told us it was a foreclosure and was just listed. We went that night to look at it and put in an offer. This was a Tuesday night at about 6pm. By Thursday the bank approved our offer. By Friday we had to have our earnest money in, inspection was this Wednesday the 30th and it passed with flying colors. A few small things need to be fixed, dishwasher, garage door etc. Nothing my handy man can't take care of. We should close 4/13/11 and move in by May 1st.

~ The above comment leads me to my next . . . PACKING. For the THIRD time in 18 months. It will be our last..... Please and thank you. I am bound and determined to be packed by the 15th since we will be leaving for Hawaii for our 10 year anniversary, a trip we will make without kiddos, Sniff Sniff... OK, YIPEEEE!

~ We bought a used Jeep in an effort to get down to one car payment. Currently we still have 2 car payments and a used Jeep...... Anyone want to buy a Toyota Venza!!!! Please and Thank you.

~ I just want to also say that we have such amazing friends. I can not remember a time in our life that we felt so loved and taken care of, with the huge exception of the Anderson's of course.

~ We are blessed to have the Papa and Grammy so close, so close that the boys can direct me from our house to theirs no problem. Which of course CAN be a problem if that is not where the destination really needs to be. Tears and shock and awe mixed with "But we love Papa!" usually change the intended destination.

Doesn't seem like much of an update but it is keeping us busy.
I will try to post pictures of the house and kiddos soon.

Happy BIRTHDAY Buddy!

I happened upon these videos taken in 2009. Carter was 2 1/2. His best buddy Dane was turning 3.

Now that best buddy is turning 5. I just can not believe it. Where has the time gone, we've moved apart but distance can't break this bond. 

Happy Birthday to an unbelievable Buddy! So happy you are getting to be such a big boy. 

We love you.

March 2008

Where have the last 3 years gone?

Sunshine Sunshine, Where for art thou Oh Sunshine.

Exactly One year ago today, we were living in Tucson. This was a typical day at the zoo. Bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight. Short sleeves. in fact, if you look at the boys cheeks it was pretty warm. I remember Carter saying that the elephant's ear was hot.

I miss this one thing.

2 years ago today.

I can't believe how much has changed in the last 2 years. 

I can't believe how grown up my little Cam has become.

I came across this video taken exactly 2 years ago today, He's just so stinkin' cute I couldn't resist.

One thing that hasn't changed completely is that he still loves to eat!

Who'da thought?

15 years ago, it was simply Jeff, Dan, Dave and I. Best Friends, well the boys were, I was the added tag-a-long. But now we all have babies, and there are 2 more wives. We went from 4 to 10 in a matter of 15 years. It feels so great to see all the kiddos playing together while we chat. Forever friends.

First Soccer Practice

The Boys started their 1st soccer practice on Tuesday. 

They were very excited to get to wear shin guards just like Daddy. 

I'm pretty sure we just started another line of Shepherd boys playing soccer.

This week, practice was held in the gym at Silver Lake Elementary.

Carter was the only kid who would respond to the coach when talked to. he did all the dribbling when asked and participated in everything.

As usual, Cam, is very coordinated and listened very well to the coach. Even though he is the youngest in the class, (yes, Mommy lied about his age to get him in, he is 2 months too young really.) you wouldn't know it. He keeps up and boots it harder than most.

Comeback?

Okay, so maybe I will just make a comeback. You see, I am computer illiterate my friends. WordPress supposedly user friendly, yes, kinda. Having a hard time loading photos and the fact that I get massive amounts of spam. Like 40 hits a day. I mean, I LOVE comments, but not those related to male enhancement drugs and the latest vacation rental. I want to hear from my friends, those that follow my family and it seemed that I got more "real" traffic here on this site. I know I'm such an attention hog!

So maybe, just maybe I will continue my blogs here instead. It might take awhile since I started work at the hospital in November I have yet to find a "normal" rhythm. I'm tired all day, wired all night. The kids don't know whether I'm coming or going and I cherish the evenings snuggled next to my hubby versus sneaking in at 3am. Just wait and see.

Valentines

Since Valentine's Day was a Monday and I had to work, Jeff and I celebrated LOVE day on Saturday.

This being our 15th Valentine's Day together, we celebrated with dinner and a movie which is typical.  

What was not typical was the gift giving. Jeff surprised me with a Gym membership..... but I wanted it. So it wasn't in bad taste. But it is kinda funny he gave it to me on Love day. "Here honey, I love you but get into shape for our trip to Hawaii!" Oh yeah, that's how he sweetened the deal. A trip to Hawaii in April for our anniversary. I'm one lucky girl.

P.S. My trainer's name is Mack. (Really it's Kelvin.) But he tries to run me over like a Mack truck. Hence his name.

Carter writes his name . . .

All by himself! I was very proud to find this scrawled on his chalkboard. He has been working so hard at his name and he finally got it all by himself. I wasn't even in the room when he did it and he didn't feel the need to even show me. He is growing up so fast! Make it stop. 

It is also cute to here him write the letter R. 

He says out loud, "A line, add a belly up top, and kick his leg out. "

Just a Reminder

Hope my child looks back on today
and remembers a Mum who had time to play
There will be years for cleaning and cooking
But children grow up when we are not looking
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
Because babies grow fast, we learn to our sorrow
So settle down cobwebs, dust go to sleep
I’m cuddling my baby, and babies don’t keep.

This picture sits on our desk, it is a constant reminder to me of how fast time goes by.

It feels like last week, Erin was visiting, we sat in the backyard and took photo after photo of Carter’s smiling face. It was FOUR years ago already. Time is fleeting……

Cubby at 4.5 (almost), A little Taste of Heaven

Cub,
You are my “just one more” child. One more show on the computer, or at Grandma’s/Auntie Erin’s, one more piece of candy, one more bite of my food, one more minute, one more toy, one more hug, one more story, one more….. Some days this makes me crazy. I say, “enough is enough” to which you usually reply, “it’s never enough!” You have stunning vocabulary and communication skills.  My recent favorites have been, “Mom, do you know where my breathing apparatus is?” – “Don’t worry Camden, Santa’s suit is fire retardant.” – to easy your brother’s fear of Santa igniting on his way down the chimney.  - “Seriously, let’s get to the next exhibit.” – when you got bored at the zoo. “When we get a house can it not have neighbors down stairs?” – Which broke my heart because you have to be quiet due to the noise sensitive neighbors. My personal favorite happens to be anything that you starts with, “Well, ACTUALLY…..” as you try to talk your way into something.
I just can’t believe how grown up you sound every day. You are loving school, and were disappointed I kept you home today because of your cough. You know 16 of your letters, and have a little trouble with the ones that sound the same, D, G, P for example F, J, K, L, N, U AND Y also had you stumped today. I refuse to compare you to other kids at your age, you excel in vocabulary, concepts, imagination, coordination, and I know that your letters and reading will come with time. At the start of this year I am pretty sure you knew the letters C, A, R, and S by site so considering you have quadrupled that I am very proud.
You are so very affectionate, you rub my back from time to time, snuggle like crazy, always climb in my lap for story time. Hugs and kisses every time we leave, you love Gram and Papa, Auntie Erin, Uncle Matt and Baby Oliver. . . his parents too. The list goes on and on, you will hug and kiss everyone.
Carter, you are definitely the leader, which comes with being the older brother I assume. After all, I am the older sister and I remember Auntie Erin being my shadow too. You “boss” your brother to no end. “We are playing fireman. Now stop, we are playing a game, no now stop we are going on an adventure, now tie this, stop that, go here, dance!”  Cam must feel like a puppet, you never do it to be mean, so I am reluctant to use the word “bossy”, you just want your brother to play with you and be near.
You love to be tickled, don’t prefer wrestling to Camden’s chagrin, and you don’t seem to have any favorite meals lately. In fact, eating is more of a chore for you than not. “I’m done” is often heard about 4 seconds after prayer. You do like edamame, and toast with jam. Steak, mashed potatoes and certain vegetables make you gag. You just cannot swallow them so I don’t force it. You also still suffer from reflux but limiting dairy helps a lot. A simple cough can turn into throwing up which you just look at me with your doey eyes and say, “Mom, I am throwing up now, okay?” You don’t even cry, just puke, wash your face, rinse your mouth, and go play. So TOUGH you are! You do love chocolate which you get from your Daddy. A single piece of chocolate can change your whole day. “Tastes like heaven.” you say. Funny, because MY heaven on earth is your laugh, your smile, your cute ears. Your constant hug and kisses. Your, “I missed you mom!” when you find that I am home after a night at work.

Boys - Camden

Every month or so I used to write letter to the boys about what they were doing currently, what they liked, struggles, accomplishments and so on. I seem to have lost track of time and it’s been too long since my last Boys post.
Camden,
My quiet comedian, you love to wrestle, kick a soccer ball and play fireman with your brother. You love to have all your gear on and take it on and off to go into the fire station (the couch) the firetruck (my bed). You are currently moseying into our room at about 4am every morning saying a ghost is chasing you. You hate the dark and have to keep a light on to fall asleep, which aggravates your brother to no end. Your covers have to be tucked into the sides of your bed just so. You know all your letters and know which animal starts with those letters, like Z is for Zebra. You love to eat . . . spaghetti, carrots, grapes, blueberries, character fruit snacks, whatever is at eye level in the fridge which you help yourself too, but still ask if it’s ok before you start eating. You bow your head to pray, close your eyes, and sing “Day by Day, For Thy Remembrance and For This Food.” Your laugh is contagious, deep and so from the heart sometimes my eyes well with pure joy at the sound. You have started to say things like, “Stop antatanizing (antagonizing) me!” only toward your brother, “Hey dude”, ” Tuna Melt with blue Cheese” to describe something yucky. “Choooka” – which we are unclear on the definition of but seems to be your own swear word. “Caaaarteerrrrr!” with an emphasis on the “ter!” if you are frustrated. “Just come on already” if you can’t do something your self and need me but don’t want to come ask me. You love to watch videos of Handy Manny, Word World, Mickey Mouse, Geo tracks. You no longer sleep with your Cars. You are now on to the “guys” that go to your firehouse, space shuttle and Batcave. They are kind of like superheros, have interchangeable helmets that you love and will sob for sometime if one is left in the car and we won’t go out to get it. The apartment life is hard for you and your “walk like a herd of elephants” feet. The words, “Please stop pounding” mean very little to you, as they should at 3 years and 2 months of age. You seem so tough that I am amazed at tender moments when I get an unsolicited, “I love you, mom.” You process everything in your head first and can sense feelings very well. You wear a size 4 already, the same as your brother. A size 9.5 shoe and with all your eating you are even out growing those. You are a light in the middle of the dreariest day.

A Real Winter

After being in Tucson and Vegas for the last 9+ years we welcomed this winter with full joy.

We commandeered Papa's snow shovel and paraded around their yard until our noses were numb.

  

We (ahem, Carter) decided to learn to snowboard, on a skateboard. 

He agreed to wear his helmet, so fine I guess. I didn't think he would actually be able to stand up on it. 

And then he did this....

 . . . and this . . . 

We made Papa a sign.

Happy Winter!

Christmas. . .

That's right, these pictures are from Christmas TWO THOUSAND AND TEN. Bad Mommy. Bad, lazy, perpetually tired Mommy. To be honest I thought about bagging the whole post. But eventually this blog will be part of a baby/growing up book for each of the boys and I would feel bad if I just deleted pictures that were some of their first memories. I mean, they'll remember this, right?!!

Fun with the cousins at Kyle and Kari's.

The necessary Santa picture. We waiting in line at Alderwood for 15 or so minutes. They boys didn't want a picture, they just wanted to give Santa their lists. But we managed to get a couple smiles anyway!

Christmas morning 2010.

Our tiny apartment. 

The boys asked a million questions about how Santa would get down that small chimney. 

Magic we said.

I remember that we were not allowed to have a fire either. 

Someone spots the presents!

Carter is going into "overload mode" So excited, can't get any words out. 

Can't do anything but dance in place while he tries to take it all in.

New Bibles and Hymn books. Cam was so cute. His very own. 

Then over to Grammie and Papa's house for more fun and family.

And the funniest part of the night, Mom's reaction to a new camera. . . you'd think she won the lotto.