School Begins For The Cameron Man!!!

I am now the official mom of a kindergartner. My little guy (only not so little anymore) started school on Aug. 25. I was so sure he was going to have a hard time, but in fact I was wrong. Both Paul and I were able to take off a little time in order to get Cameron to his class and make sure he was ok. We park the car, Cameron climbs out, runs to the front gate of the school and then runs for the playground, we waited for the bell, walked him into class and were off. Not a single tear shed by Cameron or mom and dad. Wasn't the case for some other little ones entering school. The first week was hard for him (had a few issues with crying) but I am sure it is just going to take some time adjusting to being at school 5 days a week instead of just the 2 he had for preschool.

One Very Busy Weekend!!!

I know a lot of you can relate to what we went through this weekend, but just wanted to share. It has been one of those weekends where everything gets done in two days and you are trying to make it all work. So here is how our weekend played out. It started with a promised trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for Cameron, which is a two and a half hour car ride (Kids had so much fun they slept all the way home). Next was the 30th birthday party for one of Paul's friends. Next came the 2nd trip to the bay area to attend the home run readers play day at the San Francisco Giants Stadium with a rush of a trip home to make it to Cameron's first year of soccer meeting. So without further ado, here are the photos to go along with our weekend.

So I had to post this picture of Madeline. I am now referring to her as my "little fish'. I was getting the kids out of the bathtub, and had gotten Madeline completely dressed for bed when, of course, the phone rings. I of course answer the phone since it is the husband checking in on us from work. Not 5 minutes go by, when I don't hear Madeline and I find her in the bathtub diaper, pajamas, all of it. Thought you all might get a little chuckle from the pic. I am sure you have all gone through it before. I deal with it at least once a week. At least this time I have the picture to show everyone.

Giants Game!!!!!

The sports fanatics that we are. We can never go a year without seeing the San Francisco Giants. Here are pictures from the game on Monday night that we took.

Drive Safely Please!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon my niece Julia (2 1/2) was struck by a car. By sheer luck the driver was driving the speed limit. Which probably saved my nieces life. My sister was getting ready to take the kids to a friends house to swim, when my niece got away from her, ran between the cars parked in front of my parents house and was struck by the car. She flew about 10-15 ft and was unconscious for a short time. The paramedics arrived, placed her in a brace and got her to the nearest hospital. She was stabilized at the hospital and flown to UC Davis where the have a better trauma center for children. She was released at 2am this morning with some large scrapes a bruises. Thank goodness the driver was going the speed limit. I hope that you all remember that speed limits are posted for one reason, to protect us and others. An extra minute doesn't mean anything if it means a life. Please drive safe out there. I'll get off my soapbox now. Thanks.

A Weekend Away

It has become a tradition with Paul and I that we take off to Monterey, CA for the annual MotoGP races at Laguna Seca. This is also one of Paul's birthday presents since the races always fall on his birthday weekend. This was our third year going and we had a lot of fun this year.

The first year was unbearable considering I was 6 months pregnant with Madeline and they had a horrible heat spell in Monterey that year. Not to mention the 3 hour wait for the shuttle bus to return to our cars and the 6 hour drive from Monterey because of the traffic.

The second year was much better, but still a little warm for Monterey standards.

This year was by far the best (except a little chilly). It never got above 70 degrees while we were there. The race was absolutely exciting this year. The rider we wanted to win (Nicky Hayden) finished fifth, but it was exciting from beginning until the 30th lap of 32 laps. Casey Stoner dropped his bike, picked it back up and still finished in second because of the lead he an Valentino Rossi (finished 1st) had over the rest of the field.

The video is of the start of the race from our grandstand seats at turn 4.

Anyone who is interested in coming and hanging out with us next year is more than welcome. We will get you addicted to motorcycle racing. The sound those bikes make are awesome.

Swimming Lessons

We recently signed Cameron up for swimming lessons. He did a lot better this year than last. He was able to pass his level one and will move on to level 2 next year. He is getting really good at swimming. Might think about him being a swimmer since baseball is not going well this year. Here are some photos I took of Cameron at a couple of his lessons at the college.

Happy 4th

I hope that all our family and friends scattered throughout the country enjoyed the 4th as much as we did. I am very proud of the country that I live in and the freedoms that I am allowed by living in this country. There are great men and women who have given their lives to allow us what we have today. May our Heavenly Father bless those men and women who are fighting for those who cannot do it themselves. I hope that they will be reunited with their families very soon.

It was a very busy 4th, but it was a great one. This is the first year that we have been able to have Paul at the 4th of July parade with us. He is usually working on the 4th so this was a rare treat for us. We caught the parade with family and friends. My dad and mom, our family, my sister Tiffany's family and my good friend Kristen and her daughter Jossalyn. After the parade we headed to my parents house for some Bar-B-Que and fireworks in the evening. Cameron had to warm up to the idea, but Madeline was enjoying every minute of it. I really got some great pictures this year.

Dad is Home

My dad has finally been released from the hospital and is now recovering at home. The Dr. says it will be about six weeks before he can do anything strenuous. Mainly can only do limited amount of walking and no driving right now. I think he is going to drive everyone crazy. My dad has never been one to like being sick. He becomes like a little kid when he is sick. I think that is a man thing. Anyway, they are still sending nurses in to check his vitals. While in the hospital his kidneys began to shut down and his potassium levels were way too low. The kidneys are doing alright, but his potassium levels are still low, hence the nurses coming to my parents house to check on him. It is nice to have him home. Hopefully he will get back to his old teasing self soon.

Cameron's Family Party

We had a small family party for Cameron on Saturday. It was a lot of fun to have the family here and watch the kids run around in the water and the little pool we pulled out for them. They really had a lot of fun in the sun. Eventually they turned the tables on us and started to shoot us with the volcano sprinkler. I wasn't able to get any pics of that occasion because they always had it aimed at me and the camera.

My Little Man is officially 5 years old today

It is hard to believe that 5 years ago today our little man Cameron graced us with his presence. He wasn't the easiest baby to take care of mind you. He always had to be held. If he wasn't being held and he found out about it you would certainly know about it shortly with his wail of a cry. He is the sweetest boy in the whole world. My little cuddle bug as I like to call him. He would love to just spend time cuddling on the couch than doing anything else. He has this whine that would drive a mom crazy, and sometimes it drives my crazy, but it is something that we are working on.

He loved his 5th birthday today. He has asked for the past year that for his birthday he wanted it to be at Chuck E Cheese's with all of his friends there. He got his wish. ( My family has a tradition that we only got friends parties when we were 5,8, and 12. Those being milestones. At 5 we would be starting school. At 8 we would be getting baptized. At 12 it was gaining the priesthood or joining young womens. With 6 kids in the house and most of us shared a birthday in the same month this is how my family got about the birthdays. Really good idea if you ask me. ) When we got in the car after his birthday was all over I asked him what the best part of his birthday was. I figured it would be the presents (most kids answer), but it wasn't. He said it was getting to spend his birthday with all of his friends. The absolute sweetest thing he could have said.

I love my little man and don't know what I would do without him. He always makes me smile and you can't help but melt when you see those great big dimples pop out at you. He is the best big brother to his sister Madeline. He never tries to do anything to make her upset (she takes advantage of him in that way). When he sees her cry he comes and gives her a kiss to make it all better. He is just the sweetest little boy I could have ever asked for.