Happy 1st Birthday Camden!

How did this......

get to this......

before I could even turn around? It is crazy to me that Cam turned 1 today. What a great little boy he is. I am so lucky to be his mom, and to have those beautiful blue eyes staring at me all day long. This boy loves his brothers so much, and loves to try to keep up with them already. Honestly, he really gives them a run for their money when he comes after one of their toys. It's kinda funny...

He is always aware of what is going on around him, and isn't afraid to tell you what he needs. I think it's funny now, but the faces he pulls at you when he doesn't like something that you have done or taken from him are hilarious! He loves to dance and clap, and climb stairs. And he almost has blowing kisses mastered. Thank goodness he hasn't quite figured out my impromptu gate we have going right now...

It's not really a secret that I was disappointed when we first found out there was ANOTHER boy coming to our house. BUT, let it be known how smitten I am with him, and couldn't imagine having a GIRL around our house. I love you Cam!

Here is the birthday boy after his cake....




He gave me one of those famous scowls when I took it away...

Slacker Mom

Yes, these pictures are from the end of May. I can't believe that I let June go by completely without one post...but then again I can because that is my life lately.....

Here is Ethan with awesome teacher Jana on his preschool graduation. I'm so glad she is my neighbor, because Ethan really loves her a ton. She had a cute graduation ceremony with the kids in their caps and gowns, marching in the room and announcing the class of 2024. That seems so far away, but like everything else, it will sneak up on me. Remember that Prince song, "1999" and how long away that felt?

Here is Ethan with his buddies, showing us their best superhero moves.

I'm so glad we have a street full of boys to play with and be friends with.

Next up, we sold this bad boy and traded it in for a mom mobile. I now drive a Suburban. We hated to see this car go, but after listening to Cam scream 7 hours to get home from St. George, we knew it was time.....

This boy is going to be 1 next week. How that happened so fast, I'm not sure, and I'm really not ready for another opinion on everything that I do, but I know it is right around the corner...hang on!

This boy is doing awesome. He is asking all the time to play with friends, and loves to be with his big brother all the time. He gets really sad when Ethan leaves him at home with boring old mom...

This boy is a great helper all the time. And all he wants to do is spend time with friends. Sometimes it feels like I have a 5-year old teenager.

It has been really nice to see these two getting along and, I don't want to jinx it, but they actually SHARE and play a sharing game. Like I said, I don't want to say too much about it, it might ruin the good thing we have going.

This dad kidnapped me on Sunday, arranged babysitting for all the boys, and took me to Park City for our first night away from all 3 at the same time outing. And let me just tell you, we could have used about 6 more days of that. It was so nice to carry on an adult conversation, do what ever the adults wanted to do, and just be together. I was always hesitant to go away like that, but hesitate no more. We are doing this more, and for sure before another 7 years is up.

And the above picture is to document how everyone looks right before bedtime......

Memorial Day 2009

We packed up the car and headed south this year for Memorial Day. What an adventure. We wondered how many times we would tell each other that we need a bigger car, and I am pretty sure we lost count by Monday afternoon. Ethan and Aiden were champs in the car...thank goodness for technology. Camden, however, was another story. He did not do well at all, and pretty much cried from start to end going down and coming home from St. George. It was a miserable 6.5 hours for us. (It took that long because of the MANY stops we made to try to get him to stop. Plus there was always that traffic thing...) It was fun to get away from the every day surrondings and swim or pretty much do nothing. The boys loved having my brothers dog, Ruby with us. She is a good watchdog, and took great care of them. We went on a hike, and at the top looking into Snow Canyon, she got nervous because Scott was standing close to the edge with Aiden on his shoulders, and she did not stop barking at him until he moved back. Good times, and thank goodness no stitches this time! The bonus for me was the fact that after 2 years of restriction, I threw my butt on a motorcycle. It was pure heaven.

Cam's first dip in the pool. He LOVED it!

The giggle twins. This is my sister, Lynell with Aiden. I think he liked the hot tub more because he could stand up in the whole thing.


My boys after a quick trip around the block.

Good snuggles with my dad.

Isn't he cute?

Where in the crap did the last 5 years go?

Ethan had a birthday almost two weeks ago. (I'm really a slacker, I know.) I cannot believe that he is 5 and getting ready for kindergarten. I always thought I would be happy to send my kids off to school, but I must say, I'm not happy about it at all. I know that I still have a few months, but I can't seem to get it off my mind. Anyway, the birthday was great. In fact, he loved it so much that at the end of the day, he asked me if since we were having a party the next day, would he be turning 6? I love this little boy, who is growing up rather quickly. I love being his mom and friend. He is a great kid. We had friends (including a couple of very brave girls) over for a party on his birthday, and family over on Sunday.

There was mass chaos during present time...


Showing off his water shooter from his friends.

The one with the pink bows is Taygan, his favorite girl. (Next to his mother, of course!)

The whole group. Those two cute girls were awfully brave, and didn't know how to take these crazy boys!

Such a fun group of friends! I love that our street is smothered with boys!

Mr. Grabby pants. That would be blue frosting all over his face. Could you resist those sparkly blue eyes??? Yea, me neither. Or Aunt Nee.

Showing off his new remote control car.


To top off the night, Aiden decided to sneak over to the neighbors house and sit on the sprinklers.

Gotta love being a kid!

Mom's day off

So, today was like any other hectic day at my house. I have to admit, I have been really spoiled since Aiden started preschool and I have had 2 days with one child who just happens to take a nap at the same time the other 2 are away. It has been really nice, but on the other hand, it really makes Tuesdays and Thursdays extra hard for some reason. And, if any of the other moms who read this are like me, I really start out the week strong, and by the end, I'm dragging. My patience is near the end, I'm tired, I can't figure out why my house is still a mess, even though I KNOW I cleaned every day....you get the picture, right? And as they get older, my boys really have learned quickly how to push my buttons. That was today. Hectic. Until...the phone rang and it was my mom on the other line. Asking if it would be okay with me if she and my dad took my big boys to the mountains with them for a day of fun, WITHOUT MOM, and they promised to bring them back extra tired. My first reaction was, "Are you kidding?" "Did I hear you right?" Then it was, "How fast can I get them ready and out the door?" This sounds like a great plan to me!

I love my boys with all of my heart. And, like most moms, I don't take enough time out for ME. This day was just what we all needed, and I am so grateful for my parents willingness to take them out for a day of fun. I had a great day. Suddenly the schedules I follow on a daily basis got thrown out the door, and I found my self at my best friends house for lunch. We laughed and laughed, and I enjoyed myself so much. Camden really enjoyed and needed the one on one time with mom, and was happy to see his brothers, but found himself fighting for attention really quickly again. Ethan LOVES to go to the cabin property with my parents. There are fish galore, moose to find, and the rhino to ride in. Aiden loves it all too. And, I was happy to have them back, muddy faces, shirts, boots, and all.

If I were a good mom...

I would have remembered to charge our cameras the night before Easter. Yea, that was plural on the cameras. Video camera not charged. Still camera not charged. So, Camden will just have to take my word that he had a great first Easter. We hunted for eggs like never before. 6 different times to be exact. I have candy coming out of my ears, and I really don't need it all hanging around my house. I think I might be a favorite mom this week with friends because I am passing out the goods without a fight. The big boys had chocolate for breakfast on Easter morning. They were in heaven, and in some ways it was a good thing that we had Stake Conference that day. (No sugar buzz to fight off during sacrament meeting...) We were blessed and happy to be reminded of the real meaning of the day. Seriously, if I see one more plastic egg.......

Chase is Tres!

Happy birthday Aiden! I love you more than words. I'm so glad that you got to have a fun day with your dad and brother and you have officially entered the big boy club. I am so proud to be your mom and so proud of you. You sure keep me on my toes...but I wouldn't have it any other way. I know you will be doing a lot of growing up this next year...I pray that it goes slow. I'm not ready for you to grow up. You are special...and thanks for making me special.

Love, Mom