The month of July

I know I am a few days early in summing up July, but I actually have a minute or two to sit down, so I thought I would get a head start.
July has been very busy and alot of fun.
Patience was here until the 16th. I really enjoyed her company, and the house seemed really empty when she left. She was able to get together with some of my friends daughters for some playdates, which was wonderful, as I know she was missing playing with girls her own age. She also spent some time with Claire (my mother in law). The highlight of that visit was that she got to ride a horse! She was a little nervous at first, but Claire said once she warmed up to the idea, she wasn't sure she was going to be able to get her off the horse!
We celebrated her birthday the night before she left. She chose to have shrimp wrapped in bacon, grilled out on the grill, rice and a big salad for dinner. As far as her cake went, she wanted a red velvet icecream cake. I swear, she just likes to challenge me with a cake each year that really makes me step out of my comfort zone in the baking department!
We can't wait to see her at Christmas, and Cameron keeps asking if today is Christmas, because he misses her alot!
Speaking of Cameron, he passed his second level in ice skating. He has decided to take a break from ice skating and we are going to enroll him in karate instead. I hope it helps with discipline and concentration, he just wants to learn to fight. He is such a little boy! He still amazes me with his reading skills, reading anything and everything he can get his hands on!
Reagan is growing in leaps and bounds. She has had both rice cereal and oatmeal now and is becoming an eating champ! We have replaced one meal with cereal now. Next week she starts peaches. WHOOHOOO!!! She tries desperately to keep up with Cameron, and rolls and scoots herself all over the place. She loves being in her walker and can roll herself backwards, getting mad when she back into a wall and can no longer move. We are still working on the sleeping issues...some nights are better than others.

The month of June

I cannot believe the month of June is gone already! It really flew by!
June is always a busy month for us as we celebrate both Cameron and Andrew's birthday in the month. Patience joined us on the 16th and will be staying until July 16th.
Andrew is steadily going thru his classes. He really seems to enjoy being a full time student. He was able to take a few days off last week to enjoy having all three kids in the same place, at the same time. We decided to take the kids to the beach. The two older kids loved it, Reagan seemed to take after her mommy and didn't seemed to be too impressed. She and I stayed on the blankets, and Aunt Em and Daddy ventured into the water with Cameron and Pae.
I took advantage of Andrew being home and went and got my first full body massage. It was wonderful, and one day when I am rich I plan on having them on a weekly basis! :) It was wonderful, and I am so thankful for my friend Jen who had given me a gift certificate that made it possible for me to enjoy one!
Reagan is growing by leaps and bounds. At her four month check up she is 14lbs and 24 inches. She is at the 50 percentile for height and weight and 99 percentile for the size of her head! She is concentrating on putting everything in her mouth! She is working on cutting some teeth, which makes for a very fussy baby. I just hope they come in soon! She is trying to sit up, and enjoying scooting across the floor and rolling over.
Cameron is continuing in his ice skating classes. He is learning how to glide. He is reading everything in sight! We have to hide any bottles on the table at dinnertime or he will spend the time reading them!
He had a great birthday! This was the first year that he really "got it". It was really fun to watch him enjoy his presents, cake and decorations.
Patience has been a joy to have around. She is turning into such a wonderful little lady! Her nose is always in a book! I had gotten her a bunch of the old "Baby Sitter Club" books that I read when I was her age, and she is really enjoying them. She has such an imagination and listening to her and Cameron play together is a real joy!
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

June 15th marked Cameron's fourth birthday. I got kinda teary eyed over it. It seems like just yesterday I was preparing for his first birthday.
What really got me this year was the fact that all of his presents were "big boy" presents. Things like light sabers, a leapster two, and most of all his first "big boy" bike really made the point that he is no longer a baby, but a big boy.
This was the first year he really had an opinion on how we celebrated as well. When asked what he wanted for dinner he replied, "Sloppy Joes, French Fries and fruit salad.". For his cake he wanted a chocolate cake with rasberries....quite a grown up request in my mind!
It was a fun and exciting day. A little bitter sweet for this mommy....

Stories from the mind of Cameron

Cameron has written a bunch of stories over the past 24 hours. Thought I would share. They are written exactly how he told them to me.

The One About The Tree

Once upon a time two boys went for a walk. Then they came to a big tree. The wind was blowing it. And then a storm came up. The boys did not know the storm was coming, then a pirate came down from the sky. Then a storm monster came down from the storm. Then killer butterflies came to attack the boys, but they ran away fast.

The End

The Monster

Once upon a time there were two boys who went for a walk. Then they came to a statue, and the statue was dark and started turning into a dark monster.
The monster started to try to eat them, but they ran away fast. And they went home so no monsters can come and scare them.

That's the End

The One About The Water

Once upon a time there were two friends and some water from rain ran by.
And one of the boys slipped into the water and the boy was sad that the other boy was not here. Then the boy got the other boy out of the water.
And then the water went away and the boys went for a walk.
Then they came to a BIG volcano. One of the boys went into it and then the fire came up and he got hurt. The other boy got him out and put a band aid on his head because his head hurt.

And I think that is the end.

The One About The "Interesting"

Tomorrow a boy went for a walk. And then he saw something interesting . It was a trouble thing and he got into it and he was having trouble. And slowly he talked, "I want someone to help me." Then he shouted "I want a friend to help me!"
And then a friend came to him, and she said, "Hi, oh no, one of my friends is having trouble!"
And she got him out.

And that is the end.

The One About Chicken Knight (this one is based on a picture that Andrew drew for him)

Once upon a time there was a chicken knight and a flying rhino flew by.
The pickle princess was captured by the flying rhino. The chicken knight started to save the pickle princess. So off the chicken knight went. The chicken knight rescued the pickle princess and the jelly bean princess'!
He flew up to the flying rhino and tickled him. And the rhino got tired from being tickled by the chicken knight. And the chicken knight finished saving the pickle princess and the jelly bean princess'

And that's the end.

May...in a nutshell

Wow, I can't believe that May is gone! This month has really flown by and now we are getting ready for the summer activities including a month long visit from Patience!
Cameron really enjoyed his iceskating lessons, and just passed his test on the 29th. He will be continuing his lessons with the hopes to be playing hockey in about a year.
He has also really started to read. He can read the Level 2 Early Readers all by himself. He reads anything that he sees...which makes trips to the commissary very long and quite interesting.
It looks like he will hopefully be starting K4 in the fall at a local Christian school. It is five days a week from 8-11:30. It is a great structured program and I am really excited for him, although I really can't believe my little boy is ready!
Reagan continues to grow and change on just about a daily basis. This past weekend she has learned to roll from stomach to back. She is wearing 6 month clothes at 3 months...I am wondering how soon she will out weigh Cameron! She is sleeping alot better at night and is slowly getting on a schedule during the day.
Andrew is continuing his classes and enjoying them. He has also planted our garden plot, and has spent alot of time digging in the dirt.
In all of my "free time" I have been enjoying my new camera. I got a Nikon D 3000 and love it. I would eventually like to take classes, but that is going to have to wait awhile. I have also signed up to be a Tupperware consultant...so if you need any Tupperware let me know!
This next month is quite full...Cameron turns 4 on the 15th, Patience comes on the 16th and Andrew turns...well, let's just say his birthday is on the 20th.

Cameron's Ice Skating Adventure

Cameron has been taking ice skating lessons the past couple of weeks. Last week was really hard and Andrew had a hard time getting him to keep trying.
This week I got to come for the first time. At breakfast we had a talk about perseverance . When we got to the rink we got his skates on and he practiced walking and falling and getting up.
When it was time for the lesson to start he was a little hesitant, but once he got out there I was amazed on how well he did! Yes, he fell down but he didn't give up! Andrew said that this was his best class yet! After his class he proudly exclaimed to me...."Mommy, I persevered!!!".
And his perseverance was rewarded with a SLURPEE!!!

Welcome to 2010!

Yes, I do realize that it is April, but this is my attempt to catch everyone up on our lives, and hopefully will keep this blog up to date.
We rang in 2010 is a quiet way, mostly do to the fact that we are getting old and midnight just seems to late to stay up! Plus, I was on bedrest, so a wild party was really out of the question! Andrew and I watched Star Trek and drank sparkling apple cider, such party animals!
January was spent shuffling me back and forth to various doctors appointments, while waiting very "patiently" for Reagan to join our family.
February brought record breaking snow fall! We were fortunate not to loose power...however we did loose cable, internet and phone during the weekend of the Super Bowl. I was sad to miss the commercials, but later heard they were nothing special.
Reagan joined our family on February 16th, weighing 8.1lbs and was 20 inches long. It was a picture perfect delivery, and I recovered really well.
Right now we are battling a bit of acid reflux and colicky tendencies, but over all she has brought alot of joy to the family. She is starting to really smile now, and one smile from her makes all the fussiness worth it. I am loving having a little girl...and dressing her up in pink!
Cameron is loving being a big brother. There has been a little bit of jealousy, but nothing bad. He loves to kiss her and make her smile. He took the time in February to basically teach himself how to read and can now read "Level 1" books. We are also working on addition and subtraction. We are looking into preschools for him to start in the fall. He is also taking iceskating lessons. Andrew wants to groom him into a hockey player....we will have to wait and see about that.
Andrew and I are adjusting to being parents of two children. It really is a 24/7 job! There hasn't been a lot of down time...we have been able to go out twice, which has been wonderful. We have been enjoying the hockey playoffs...."Lets Go Caps"!
The next couple of months will be busy. Patience will be coming in June for a visit, and is looking forward to meeting her little sister. I will try my best to keep the blog updated with stories and pictures!