Labor Day Party

Today Cameron and I made cookies and taco salad to bring to my parents. It was SO much fun. I'm mad that I didn't get any pictures of him in the garden or cutting up the tomato and red pepper. He helped put the cookies on the tray, rip the lettuce up and cut up the tomato and red pepper for our taco salad. It's so fun and important to include him in day to day activities. I know it can be easier to do it myself but it's so much more fun to do it with him.

We went to my parents today for a Labor Day party!! We had a good time and got to see family. I felt bad for Anthony because he couldn't go swimming and he LOVES to swim at my parent's house. Here's Cam and Papa having fun in the pool:

We brought Cameron's little pool with also. My parents only have a small pool that would never fit 4 kids ages 5,3,2,1 in it so I thought I should bring his blowup pool and I'm really happy that I did. Sometimes my parents forget about the bigger kids. They realize things when Bella (my niece) is old enough to need or want it but not in time for Cameron's age to enjoy it. A 3 foot pool is not okay to fit a 1 and 2 year old plus my cousin's 3 and 5 year old but once Bella is too little for it they'll realize it }: I love my parents but sometimes they just don't think beyond my sister, brother-in-law and niece. I feel bad because I now know how my sister-in-law must have felt with my niece and nephew and our kids. Our kids were always given more attention, things and time and now it's totally the same way with my sister and niece and our family. It's sad because I feel my parents miss out on a lot of things especially with Cameron because they never ask to spend time with him or have him come over. They are always busy with my sister and niece and don't think about us. It's not the same but it helps when we've got some great people at church and school who just ENJOY Cameron and the kids and us!! It's not the same as family but it's what we've got!! Alright enough of my rant!! I'm not dwelling(at least for now) and I've got one more pic to show. He was so happy when he got his animal set!!

Kait's first day of school

Well my baby is officially growing up (but she's still my baby!!)

Here's Kait at the bus stop her first day of high school. She's so sweet!! The night before her first day I asked her if Chris could walk her to the bus, at first she said NO but then she said that it would be okay if he just took Tally for a walk and stopped for a minute. I love that she doesn't mind that we are around, sort of.

There she is getting on the bus. I know I'm so lame sometimes but I just love these kids SO MUCH!!!! Poor girl, I'll probably be there taking pictures when she's walking to her first classes in college.

Paint Party

Sorry for all the posts on one day but I'm playing catch up.

Cameron went to a paint party this morning and had a blast, can't you tell?

Simple things in life

I've told people this before but if I could I would live in the 1800's. Life was SO much simpler. We had a blast this morning. We were playing with chalk on the driveway and Cameron found a ladybug on the driveway. He asked me to help him pick it up and we spent the next 45 minutes examing, playing, poking, watching this ladybug.

We had to even draw a picture of a ladybug on the driveway!

I'm hanging this picture everywhere! It reminds me that "kids just need our love and attention"

My little helper (& the kids come home tomorrow!)

I keep singing to myself! The kids come home tomorrow, the kids come home tomorrow! and doing a little dance! I couldn't be happier!!!

It is so easy just to do things myself!! But....WHAT'S THE FUN OF THAT!!! We're making I spy bottles with water bottles. I know I never do everything at one time...........sooooooooo we started with coloring the rice today. I let Cam put the rubbing alcohol and food coloring in the first one and the rubbing alcohol practically took his breath away from the smell that after the first one, I put the rubbing alcohol in the rest (holy run-on sentence, GEEZ). I'd love to fix it but I only have a minute before the little man wants to go to bed. That's as far as we got with our I spy bottles. Now I have to think of things to put it. I've got a rubberband, button, piece of crayon, hmmmmm what else. I've got tonight to think of more. Gotta get to bed, night!

"Zoo Class"

Cammie and his zoo class! I really can't say anymore than what this picture says! He loves his classes! Here he is at the frog class!!

Chalk making/Kids at camp

I really need to come up with some better titles. Sometimes it's just one more thing to put effort in and I just want to have time to post!

The kids are gone to camp for a week. It's really weird not having them around. With only one child around, there sure is a lot more free time to do whatever. I wish this week wasn't so packed! There is so much fun stuff to do and I forget there are only 24 hours in a day! Poor Cam, he loves to just stay home and play but there's always all these chances to fun things and I overfill. Will he be ruined for overscheduling? No, but I need to slow down and enjoy the simple things. This is easier said then done! Our family is the type A personality family and it's hard for any of us to slow down.

Today we had friends over for chalk making! Instuctions on how to make:

Materials:
Toilet paper or paper towel tubes
Scissors
Duct tape
Wax paper
¾ cup warm water
Small bucket or disposable container
1 ½ cups plaster of Paris
2-3 tablespoons powdered tempura paint

Directions:If you’re using paper towel tubes, cut each tube in half. Cover one end of each paper tube with duct tape. Cut as many pieces of wax paper as you have tubes. Each piece should be as long as the tube and about 4 inches wide. Roll up each piece of wax paper and slip it into the tube.Pour the water into the bucket. Sprinkle the plaster of Paris over the water and stir the mixture thoroughly with a spoon. Mix in the tempura paint. (If you’d like pastel colors, you can mix brighter colors of tempura powder with some white.)Place each tube tape side down, on a level surface. Pour the wet plaster mixture into the tubes. Lightly tap the sides of each tube to release air bubbles, then set the plaster-filled tube aside to harden for a few days. Once it’s dry, peel off the tubes and wax paper.

*Alright, we modified this recipe a little. Use 2 parts of plaster of paris to 1 part water. We used toilet paper tubes, plastic egg cartons, and plastic baby food containers to make the chalk. When we mixed it, we used milk cartons and baby wipes containers. We also used liquid tempera paints too.

I'm really mad that I forgot to bring out my camera to take pictures of the chalk making. I get a new camera and stink at remembering to take the pictures! AUGH!!

Great America

What a fun day!! We went to Great America with church yesterday and had a blast! Who knew that an amusement park could be relaxing. It was hot and sunny and hot and hot and hot but we didn't let that stop us. The kids went with their friends to all of the big rides and we (Grandma Roxie came with us) took Cameron on rides. He's only 2 1/2 and he trucked it the whole day! We took him on big rides (The Whizzer) and he also got to enjoy the little kids rides too. Chris took him on some of the little kids rides! It was cute! Grandma had fun riding with Cam too.

We went to my cousin's graduation party at my Uncle Vico's house last Sunday! Here's a picture of Chris, Cam and Ray riding on the golf cart. Chris had a blast driving the golf cart around and around and around. Of course, he was ready to buy one. I'm not sure where he thought he was going to drive it. He told me around the neighborhood and I said what a wise investment (NOT!).

Here's a picture of Uncle Vico, Kaitlyn and Cameron! I've got some great memories of my Uncle Vico's farm. He use to be a vegetable farmer and we would go and help at his vegetable stands sometimes! We even got to go out and pick vegetables too. I wish the kids got a chance to do simple things like that! I know I've said this before but if I could I'd love to live in the 1800's when life was much, much simpler! I know it sounds crazy but just think of how easy life would be. Once you give it some thought, you might even agree!