And I found you

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Sock Wars

This is one of those silly little stories about my kiddos that no one in the world really cares about...except me, Mike and maybe the grandparents. But I find it funny, so I choose to write it down. I always imagine I'm going to think it is so funny in the future. So, anyways socks. Ava does not like to have socks on her feet. Even in the dead of winter she will run around in bare feet, so it is not uncommon to see socks littering the playroom floor that she has discarded after taking off her shoes. Well, Dawson has taken a liking to her socks. She has neon pink, green, blue, and yellow tie dyed socks that Dawson covets. So, Dawson sees pretty socks on the ground and wants to put them on. I change his socks for him and he runs around in his pretty socks until Ava notices, and wants to wear her favorite, best socks that she has ever had. I think I'm going to have to get Dawson some fancy socks as well.....

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Fall Camp Out Take 2!

Well, we went camping this weekend with Bo, Grandma, Uncle Jason, Aunt Tiffany and friends with their two children.

The campground was having their Halloween celebration this weekend so there was lots to do including pumpkin decorating, ghost crafts, pumpkin bowling, hay rides, and of course trick or treating. There was also a movie played, but it was raining, boo.

Carter and his decorated pumpkin

Grandma took care of our littlest boy

I gave Ava a piggy back ride.

Cute picture, right? Just pretend you don't see the hair blowing into my mouth.

Our campsites, it is sooooo pretty camping in the fall!

Our campground TV

The kids would hear the tractor coming with the hay rides and start yelling "the tractor is coming!" All the kids would race over to the hill and sit down to watch and wave at the people on the hay ride. Pretty soon, Carter started calling it "our TV."

Dawson is able to keep himself wonderfully occupied for hours with some dirt, sticks, leaves and a bus or dump truck. By the way, he is dressed like Elmo in this picture for trick or treating, he just wouldn't wear the hood.

Ava was a princess

Bert and Ernie were there as well!

I put a spell on you dog

Aunt Tiffany and our not yet born cousin ANDREW was there as well! Doesn't she look awesome, despite being almost 30 weeks pregnant?

Mike was still dressed like a naturalist

Uncle Jason sported a beautiful princess crown to everyone's delight. It was his scaredy girl costume, according to Ava.

The boys after our morning hike

Once again we enjoyed ourselves and the beautiful scenery. The kids had a blast playing with each other and kept each other occupied and busy the entire time. Unfortunately we did get some rain Saturday night, but by the morning it was done so we could still enjoy the park a little more.

We also learned the hard way that if you take a baby whose regular diet does not include refined sugar and then allow that baby to each a good amount of trick or treat candy it will be DISASTROUS! Dawson started crying at bed time and I tried sleeping with him cuddling him, rocking him, walking around with him and playing with him, but he would just not calm down. Finally I told him if you don't stop crying I'm going to put you in your car seat. After that he refused to go back in the tent so the two of us hung out in the van while he screamed until about two am when he finally crashed. The entire time I remember thinking about a story my Mom had told me about someone giving me a coke to drink when I was about one and I stayed up all night crying and screaming. So I guess this was my payback!

But despite that hiccup, we really did enjoy ourselves and look forward to coming back next year!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Vest {or Best?} Buddies

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Dawson Boy

Dawson, you are at such a fun age right now. Right now you are having an amazing language explosion and every day I'm learning more and more about this great little boy that I have the privilege of raising. Tonight before dinner you wanted bip {milk} and I poured you a cup. You looked at me and said "dank you mom mom."

Chowing Down at the campground

You are such a sweet cuddly guy who makes me laugh a thousand times a day. Today we were reading a book that has a picture of a little boy running naked down the street. I asked you "What is David doing?"

You looked at me and said "bum, Ava."

Then you proceeded to crack up laughing. You do have a valid point, Ava tears around this house naked about every evening before bath time.

I love reading a book of opposites with you and we do "LOUD, quiet" and "fast, slow" together.

Recently you took a MAJOR liking to trains or as you want to call them "choo choo's." I taught you to say "ALL ABOARD!" like a train conductor and it is so sweet to hear you stumble as best as you can through this phrase.

This little face just kills me

Now that you are almost two you are starting to have opinions, although let's be honest you have always had very distinct opinions about how the world should operate and would protest LOUDLY when things did not go your way. But now you are able to voice your opinions in a way that does not involve screaming, which is just music to my ears. I will always oblige, unless it's something dangerous or breaking my "rules."

You insist: NO PILLOWS in your crib. You DO NOT like sweaters with hoods.

Angel Baby is your constant sidekick, sometimes in your hand, mouth, or even under your shirt.

Love you my Baby Boy!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Fall Camp Out Take 1

Well, the kids had such a good time camping in Bo and Grandma's backyard, we decided to have a fall camping adventure. I invited lots of people, because I wanted to have friends for the kids to play with, and it turned out that everyone wanted to go, just on different weekends. So this weekend was round one of our fall camp out. Saturday was a wonderful day, it was chilly, but with plenty of layers we all stayed plenty warm.

Dockie had a wonderful time digging in the dirt. As I was trying {in vain} to get him to take a nap I realized this boy smells like dirt and chocolate. Yup, the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies were a big hit! After I took his muddy boots off to play in the tent he wanted to run around with no shoes on, silly boy.

My Carter boy

He had such a great time with his friend. I asked him what he liked best about camping, of course he said he liked seeing Danny whenever he wanted.

Daddy was mistaken for the naturalist leading the hike in his camping gear.

Although Ava looks a little grumpy in this picture she was the embodiment of the "happy camper." She had a ball digging in the dirt with the boys and running around with her friend Julia. The most difficult part was getting her to dress appropriately for the weather. Every time I turned around she was taking off her jacket and running around in bare feet.

On the dock, getting ready to fish. Which lasted approximately three minutes.

The boys fishing on the dock.

They also had a good time playing on the playground at the campgrounds.

What a cutie pie. Can you believe he is creeping closer and closer to two!

We played glow sticks and then crashed.

With an electric heater in our tent we were toasty warm and comfy. Unfortunately when we woke up Sunday morning it was COLD and raining. So we left as soon as possible and enjoyed a warm bath, our warm house and a lazy pajama day.

Now we are gearing up for round two next weekend!