Happy Birthday Cami

Today my baby turned 4! She would say that she is a "big gurrl" but she'll always be my baby.

She has learned a lot in the last year.

She loves being outside and is the only member of our family who actually enjoys camping.

She loves dogs now. Just a few months back she was the most scared kid I have ever seen.

She has lost her "lazy shoulders". She used to slouch when she didn't get her way.

She is the best little skier and she is braver than I will ever be.

She still loves to cook and she really enjoys helping with cleaning. If I don't let her help clean toilets she is mad at me for days.

Her brother is still her best friend.

She has a Sweet and Sassy little attitude (Sweet and Sassy is her favorite salon). This pic was from her very first hair cut.

She loves tea parties and all things princess, fairy, Barbie or Princess Lea.

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Food: Cheese with Chips, Crab Cheese Wontons

Favorite Songs: Single Ladies, Almost There
(from The Princess and the Frog), You Say He Just a Friend, Pants on the Ground

Favorite Friends: Lilly, Savannah, Alex, Mary

Favorite Toy: My puppy and anything fancy

Favorite Shows: My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Olivia, Phineas and Ferb

Favorite Movie: The Princess and the Frog

Favorite Thing to Do: Play with my Mom, Dad, and Cal

We love to play with you too Cami! You are such a sweet, sunshine girl!

Love you, Mom, Dad and Cal

Mrs. Auger

Can you believe this lady retires tomorrow?

After years of "this is my last year" she is finally going to do it. I can't imagine how many kids she has influenced over the years. I distinctly remember things said by my sixth grade teacher.

These kids loved sharing your spotlight.

Congratulations! We love you! Job well done!

Cal's New Best Friend

Yet another "I'll never do that" done this year.

First it was Facebook. I had to join for business marketing reasons.

Now this . . .

We have heard for years how much Cal wanted a dog. He tells us he wanted one "his whole little kid life" and that his dog will sleep right in his bed with him. Cami has always been a little scared of dogs but has recently been coming around to like little ones.

On May 8th, while both kids were at birthday parties I drove down to the Colorado Puppy Rescue adoption event and picked up this guy. Cam and I had picked him out of about 20 puppies online as our favorite but the kids had no idea. Cal was absolutely in shock. He kept saying "This is our dog???" Cami on the other hand was super excited.

After much name discussion we decided on Phineas because he likes to chew on aglets. Check out Phineas and Ferb on Disney Channel if you have no idea what I am talking about. On one episode, Phineas and Ferb put on this whole Aglet Awareness campaign so it was pretty hilarious when Cal turns to me and says, "Mom, he's eating your aglet!"

So far, we have lost one pair of purple mary jane crocs, one aglet, and many hours of sleep but how could we pass on this pure joy?

Seriously, the kids didn't even ask to turn on the tv for a couple of days. More pics and more of what Cami thinks coming when I download my other memory card.

Cami's New Ride

Today was the day. You may remember this

http://camandkelskrewe.blogspot.com/2008/08/spider-bike.html

Cami finally reached the $20 amount. Saving was tough for her too. This morning the first thing she said when she woke up was"Can we go and get my bike yet?"

So, this sleek, pink Barbie bike has pink and purple streamers and even a bike for a Barbie, or Jasmine, since she doesn't have Barbies yet.

She got really good at pedalling in just a few minutes.
And, of course, she couldn't wait for Cal to get home from school to show it off. He was really excited about it too. He's such a great big brother.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Are these my kids?!?!?

So I am thumping through my December issue of Southern Living when I see this . . .

What? How did someone take this picture of my children and submit it to Tollhouse? Not any clothes they own but that could have been changed right? Cam and I keep looking at each other and the ad. We keep asking our kids if they baked cookies at someone's house???

Because It's Swinter

So today is the last day of summer 2009 and this is what it looked like outside. The kids drank hot chocolate and turned on the fireplace.