Santa 2012

The big guy got the best from both kids this year.  We tried the square in Fayetteville a few weeks ago but Santa apparently had the night off.  We made a quick sojourn to Tulsa this weekend and we did some quick research on the best Santa's in town.  Then we settled for number 3 on the list because it was where we were headed :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Campbell!!!

Today our little girl turned three.  She's been ready for this day for quite a while.  Every toy she saw she wanted for her "Dirthday Darty" and she's been showing 3 fingers for awhile  waiting for someone to ask her how old she is.  "I'm two but I'm gonna be this many."

The big day was today but the party was last weekend.  All of her grandparents were able to be here.  She was so proud her friends were there.  She took Emily to each of her grandparents and introduced her.  A week later she still wears the crown everywhere she goes.

Here is the full gallery...

Hopefully she'll survive

The way the past week has gone​ Campbell may not survive to her 3rd birthday.  Yes I'm aware it's only a month away.  To sum the past 2 mornings up; today Cam was taken to Stephanie's house in her pajamas, without her hair washed, and without a thing to eat for breakfast.  She was forcefully cleaned from her pullup and force was also used to brush her teeth.  

For whatever reason this is the week she's decided to test her independence.  She wants to get out of bed on her terms.  She wants to get dressed on her terms. She wants breakfast on her terms.  Unfortunately, her terms are when it is time to walk out the door to get everyone to their destinations on time.  ​

Monday started with a little static and her up at 6AM.  Tuesday was a battle that was so exhausting we got a sitter that night to go have beers.  Wednesday she refused breakfast and clothing only to relent and get dressed from her underwear in our driveway.  This morning we didn't fight her at all. She refused clothing-fine. She refused food-fine.  ​

Of course it went to hell in a handbasket as soon as I put my backpack on. I dropped Noah off in the parking lot instead of the dropoff line so he wouldn't be embarrassed by the screaming 2 year old in the backseat.  We had to pull off the road so I could tighten her seatbelt she was trying to fling herself out of. She was exhausted and out of breath when we got to Stephanie's and of course she ​refused to go in so I carried her like a football to the door.  She hid her face in shame from Stephanie and I sat on the couch with her until she calmed down.  We had a long talk (the 3 of us) and I left her clothes with Stephanie.  She and Jenna had a talk on the phone afterwards about how to handle transitions if this happens again tomorrow.

Of course if it happens again tomorrow, ElDorado and Texarkana may have a new resident.​  She better be glad she has those eyes.​ That's what keeps lions from eating their young.

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Natural Falls 2012

On Sunday afternoon we really needed to get out of the house.  Cam and I sat at home all day Saturday and that night we should've gotten out.  As it was we chose to have a family outing Sunday after church.  We were on a time crunch to get Noah back for choir practice so we stuck close to home.  We headed across the Oklahoma line to Natural Falls.  It's an easily accessible paved trail down to the base of the falls so it was perfect.  The kids spent some time ​on a playground afterwards while Jenna and I sat on a bench. It was Campbell's first waterfall to see and she ooooo'd and ahhhhh'd. 

Day of the Pumpkin-Updated

We could not decide how to spend our Saturday together.  The decision to get out early wasn't going according to plan.  At our house, we rarely have a plan and when a plan goes awry it tends to make a grumpy bunch.  Finally Jenna, told us to put on clothes and we headed to a pumpkin patch.  It turned out to be a fantastic day.​

UPDATE​

This page now links to a gallery page instead of the gallery being within the post.  Hopefully this will speed up the site a bit.​

Battle Up Amanda!

Cancer sucks. It doesn't care who or what you are.  It doesn't care about the color of your skin or the size of your portfolio. It also doesn't care how loved you are.​

​Tomorrow my aunt Amanda begins her battle against ovarian cancer. There are people I fret over. There are people in this world I worry about.  There are people I pray for. Amanda's never made the list before.  Funny thing cancer.

She has surgery tomorrow from 4-730​ at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, OR.  She has setup a website at akrportland.com to keep family and friends updated.

Amanda's most visible trait has always been her most beautiful; her strength. I've never met anyone as strong as her.  She's never even bothered to knock the dust off after being knocked down.  She just gets up and walks on. I think cancer picked the wrong fight.​

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Jordan's in ElDorado

Holly came home from Arizona this past weekend.  It was the first time we got to meet Malia.  When they came to visit right ​after she was born, Campbell was sick so we weren't able to make it down.  This time they came during the weekend of Arkansas/Alabama.  She apologized they coincided but I assured her this wasn't a big deal.  It was like I was prophetic because it couldn't have been less of deal and I'm glad I missed the game.

The kids played well.  Campbell and Jon Isaac were able to interact much more than the last time they were together.  Even then they mainly chased the bigger kids or played by themselves. Noah and Jana were...Noah and Jana. It's like there were no other people existing in the world.  They remind me of twins finishing each others thoughts.  When you ask one of them what they are doing, they look at each other and I swear there is a silent dialogue between them getting their story together. ​

We tried to take a picture of all the kids in their Razorback garb.  I took 70+ photos and not a single 1 has all 5 kids looking at the camera or with their eyes open.  Go figure.  

I know it's exhausting to tote 2 small kiddos across the country to see people they don't honestly know very well but it's awesome Holly is able to come as much as she does.  She almost comes as often as we go to ElDorado​.  Over the past 2 years it's more since she comes for 1-2 weeks at a time and I have a 3 day limit going anywhere away from my house.

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Labor Day 2012-City Museum

For the second straight Labor Day weekend, we traveled northeast to St. Louis to visit the DiCarlos.  We left after work and arrived late but there was no time to catch up on rest as we were off this morning to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis.  It was one of the best museums ever for children.  There were multiple levels both indoors and out.  The rooftop was closed due to rain so no ferris wheel and crazy bus hanging off the building.  The place is highly recommended.  You can tell by the pictures, I was in charge of Noah.  You've never lived until you've tried to scale 40-50 foot scaffolding holding a camera and chasing a fearless 6 year old. ​

P.S. This is the type of post that made me change the website again.  I love the idea of a gallery within a post instead of making so many stand alone galleries. Enjoy!​

So much trouble

I'm not sure how she gets so much...girlier every week. Cam has now taken to caring a purse with her everywhere "like Belle!"
This morning I dropped her off and she sashayed into Stephanie's house showing off her purse. Stephanie asked her if anything was in it and she whispered behind her hand "I got paper towels in it" then dropped her hand and smiled big at sharing her secret.

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