Another Birthday Celebration!

Camden's birthday is just ten days after Alek's, so for a while, our house hosts what feels like one big fun birthday celebration!

Camden turned 4 on March 23rd and that very day he got to take a treat with him to preschool. He wanted to take Skittles. But I thought some home baked goodies might be more appropriate. So we compromised. He took fun packs of Skittles AND mini cupcakes with a Skittle on top of each one. He got a birthday crown at preschool and was thrilled that they sang Happy Birthday to him.

Once Casey got home from work, we let Camden decide what we would do that day. Of course he wanted to open his presents right away, and then he wanted to go bowling. I wasn't sure if he would really like it or not and I wondered if Camden and Alek would get bored, but it ended up being a good choice because everyone had a fun time.

Even Alek had fun. He's pretty tough to carry a bowling ball. Here he is holding my 9 pound ball. (Yeah, I'm really tough)

Then we went to dinner at a fun restaurant that Camden picked, followed by cupcakes at home.

We also had a family party a few days after his birthday where my family came to our house for a little barbecue.   Camden loved having everyone come for his birthday and he loved his cake He had a hard time deciding what kind of cake he wanted. He considered Spider-man, Iron Man, and Transformers and finally settled on...camouflage.

Of all the presents Camden received, I think he liked his swords the best. He loves swords and when we saw the Nerf swords at the store one day, we knew they would be perfect for him. He got one from Casey and me and one from my parents. Everyone had fun with them at the party, in fact, I think the adults played with them more than the kids did.But no one loved present more than Camden. This is how excited he was when he unwrapped the first one.

I love how excited Camden gets about things. His excitement is very contagious about whatever he's doing. And he has THE most contagious laugh I've ever heard.

Here's what Camden's up to these days.

• Camden loves to learn. He knows most of the letters and the sounds they make too. 
• He and Alek are such cute little buddies. They love to laugh and get into trouble together when Jace is at school. But he also adores playing with Jace, and loves when Jace includes him in what he's doing.
• Everything is a game to Camden he has fun no matter where he is and anyone who's around him has more fun as well.
• But he can also be really sensitive and tenderhearted, especially when he's in trouble.
• Camden says his favorite color is, "red and purple...and...and...I love every color." His favorite food is ice cream , and his favorite movie is Wall-E.
• Camden loves animals this year which is a HUGE improvement from last year at this time. He will even voluntarily pet large dogs. It is amazing to see how much he had grown in the lat year.
• Camden has also become very curious lately and wants to know how everything works. I love the questions he comes up with.

I am so glad Camden is a  part of our family. I love seeing the world through his eyes. His enthusiasm for life adds so much to mine. We are definitely lucky to have him. I love you Camden. I still can't believe you're 4!

Happy Day Day!

My "little" Alek celebrated his 2nd birthday last week. We celebrated with a small party at My parents' house it was fun to celebrate with family around. We all had a great time, especially Alek.

We also gave him a cupcake and sang to him right on his birthday since the party at my parents' house didn't happen that day.

 Good thing he had help blowing out his candles. Thanks Jace.

I can't believe how much he's grown up. I still call him my baby but he hardly looks like a baby these days. He's nearly as big as Camden and of course he thinks he's at least as old as Jace. He definitely stands up for himself and doesn't let anyone boss him around, not even Casey and me. And he's VERY independent. The best way to get him to do something is to tell him you'll just do it. He immediately springs into action and says, "I do it! I do it!"

Alek's favorite word is No! This is probably quite common for a 2 year old. But he also loves to say, No Way!

Here are some other things Alek is saying and doing these days.

• He loves to say, "Appy Day Day" (Happy Birthday)

• "Night night, Love you too!" (He says that at least twenty times a night after you put him to bed. He also likes to have his blanket carefully placed on his back and his stuffed frog's back at least twice before falling asleep.)
• He loves to tell everyone bye and follows it with, "love you too." The workers at the grocery store love it.

• He likes to check and see if his shoes have dirt on the bottom of them after taking them off. If they do he says, "Ewwww yuck!" Then he feigns a rather loud gag.  
• Alek loves trains. That's what inspired this cake...
  
   
  
  
• He's always so genuinely excited to see Casey and me when one of us comes home from work and he always loves when his brothers come home from school. In fact, he has really become attached to Camden lately. He wanted to go to primary with Camden on Sunday instead of the nursery. It was really sweet.
• He tries to go potty before taking a bath. Since he wants to be like the big boys he stands at the toilet and pushes his tummy out for a few seconds before saying, "All done!" and jumping into the bathtub. 
• Alek loves splashing in the bathtub and jumping in puddles. He is a huge fan of water. He even likes to drink it.
• I don't think he has a favorite toy right now, as long as his brothers play with him he's happy. But he has a little frog that he sleeps with. he calls it "Ribbit"
• And I can't think of a favorite food for Alek either. I guess as long as it's sweet he's happy. He has a major sweet tooth.

I am so glad I get to be Alek's mom. he is such a fun kid and I can't imagine life without him. Happy birthday to my Baby.

So Much Fun!

(If you click on this picture to make it bigger you can see the ball he hit)

We went out of town for a junior golf tournament this past weekend and I just have to blog about it. Jace played SO well. I have to brag about him a little.

There were ten kids in his age group and he took FIRST PLACE! He's always placed when he's played in tournaments but usually there are a lot less kids in his age group. And not only did he win, but he won by a lot! For those who don't know golf, when golfing 9 holes of golf a score of 36 is par, or a perfect score. Jace scored a 35! and the next closest kid in his age group scored a 45. Also, he was the only one in the whole tournament to come in under par. He blew us away!

It was the perfect start to the golf season. I never thought I would get excited about golf, but now I can't get enough.

Jace and Casey reading the course. I love when they do this.

This was after he made his last putt and he knew his sore was 35. His first under par round ever!

The three winners! Congratulations boys!

Quotes Of the Day

These are all things the kids said yesterday

Jace: That's the longest shortcut we ever took!

Found on the Back of a valentine Jace made at school: I love pizza, pets, wii, and Mrs Cooley. (Somehow no one in the family made the list but his teacher did. What a funny kid!)

Camden: Can you get me some more ice cream you little fatty! (He said that to my dad)

Camden:You have REALLY long arms...so can you reach that ice cream? (He said that to my brother.)

Me: Alek, say Cam
Alek: Cam!
Me: now say din
Alek: din!
Me: Say Camden!
Alek: Bapa !
(We don't know why, but that's how how says Camden every time.)

Me: Alek say happy day!
Alek: No WAY!