Snow Storm!

We had our first snow storm of the season and the kids loved it! It was Arianna's first time really playing in the snow and she's a fan.

Cam had no problems shoveling snow on her head...


Cam wanted to take Arianna for a ride!

Gingerbread Houses!

Today I went to Cam's school to help the kids make gingerbread houses. It was a great idea and they really didn't make too much of a mess. It also gave me a chance to see how Cam is in school and to chat a little bit more with his teachers.

A parent or a few parents made the gingerbread houses by using a butter carton as a base then securing graham crackers to the sides and top with frosting (sugar, confectionery sugar, and water). They used a sugar cone as a tree. The kids had tons of candy to decorate with (candy canes, marshmallows, gum drops, mini oreos, licorice, m&ms, etc) and a bag of their own "glue." Cam kept telling me "the candy is for decorating not for eating." Well, until his teacher told him he could eat it. After that there wasn't much decorating going on!

The idea was adorable and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Cam's Countdown To Christmas!

Plymouth's Thanksgiving Parade

We had a great family day at the parade. It was a very long day but everyone had fun! Cam's favorite was the old fashioned cars and Arianna loved everything, especially the music!





The bump on her head, that was a parade mishap. Daddy some how forgot to buckle her into the stroller...She's one tough little girl!

We ended the day with some pizza from Upper Crust, yummm!

The Enchanted Village

Today I took the kids to The Enchanted Village which is now in Jordan's Furniture. I remember going in high school (I think it was high school...) to Jordan Marsh in Downtown Crossing. I have to admit, it seemed much bigger when it was crammed into Jordan's! We got there right at 10 when it opened because a few people had said the lines get crazy. We had no problem at all but it was too early for Santa. Cameron's favorite part was when "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" played because the fake snow (bubbles basically) would come on.


After we walked through the display we watched the Lite Show. Cam was a little skeptical at first but he warmed up to it. Arianna LOVED it! She was dancing all over the place.

In the main lobby there was a big Christmas tree. Arianna was dying to get her hands on the ornaments!

Cam's Special Day

On Saturday Steve and I took Cam to see the Imagination Movers. We told him about it earlier in the week and he was so excited! We were too, we don't often spend much time with him alone. As we were walking through the Common we saw a Policeman on a horse, two of Cam's favorite things! We had a late lunch at Fajitas and Ritas since I've been craving chips and salsa like mad.

The show was at the Orpheum which is extremely small and old. It's definitely not a good venue for a kids show. People around us were complaining that there was no place to change babies. People were doing it on the floor...ewww. The seats are on top of each other too which made it worse since there were kids coughing and sneezing all over the place! The show started late and Cam was watching in awe. After about 20 minutes he started complaining that it hurt his ears so Steve took him downstairs. Of course he didn't want to come back so we left. I was somewhat glad to get out of there but sad he didn't want to stay. The show was a bit old for him since it was basically a concert and our seats were high up so he couldn't see that great.

Overall it was a great afternoon but I think we'll be holding off on shows like that for a few years!

saying "cheeese" as he enjoys some chips and salsa

7 Months

It has been 7 months since Cameron stopped sleeping through the night. 7 very long months. We saw Dr. Ferber two times and it did help at first. He went a few nights without waking up but it was just a few random nights here and there. We've tried not letting him nap, we've tried limiting his naps, we've tried waking him in the morning and nothing seems to work. Dr. Ferber was very firm in his belief of putting up a gate but he just climbs over it. We tried stacking two gates on top of each other and he just screams and screams which causes Arianna to wake up so then we're really screwed.

At first it was monsters, then it was just "cover me up" now it's "cover me up" AND "there's ghosts and a blue tarantula under my bed (thanks Max and Ruby). It has gotten to the point where we just go in and cover him up. What else can we do? We've tried battling with him and it just makes it worse.

We bought him this clock which has an "OK To Wake!" option on it. The round part of the clock turns yellow at 8pm and Cam knows that when the light is yellow he cannot get out of his bed (well he's not supposed to) at 6:15am the light turns green which lets him know it's ok to get up. He was so excited the first night we thought we'd be all set. Nope. He still got up a few times.

Or last attempt is this wearable blanket unfortunately we haven't gotten it in the mail yet. We're hoping it will solve the "cover me ups" in the middle of the night but I'm not betting anything.

His not sleeping combined with pregnancy insomnia = one VERY cranky Mommy. If anyone has any other tips I'd love to hear them. At this point we'll try anything!

Potty Training Success!

Cam is finally potty trained! I have to say, the past week hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I started telling him a few weeks ago that "If you're still in diapers when Santa comes he'll bring you baby toys since baby's wear diapers. But if you wear big boy pants and go on the potty Santa will know to bring you big boy toys." It seemed to work, he would tell it back to us and tell us he was a big boy. We'd remind him that he was still in diapers though! Finally last Monday he told me he had to go on the potty and he did! Once he went that first time it was smooth sailing. He has had NO accidents in underwear. We still put a pull up on at night and for naps mostly for convenience but he has been waking up dry. He hasn't mastered pooping but he'll get there!

We have had to force him on the potty because he'll just tell us he doesn't have to go. He tells me he doesn't go on the potty at school but he comes home dry so he must be holding it. He seems to hold it a lot actually. He can go for HOURS if not most of the day without peeing. I know it's not good so we do force him at times to just sit.

This is a huge relief for me. I truly felt like he was the last 3 1/2yr old not potty trained. With his personality I thought it would be a long battle too but we've been pleasantly surprised!

My next goal is to get Arianna off the bottle!

Cam's 1st Day of Pre-School

My little boy is all grown up! Today was his first day of pre-school. He has been waiting for this day for weeks. Cam didn't sleep very well last night but I don't think it's because of school. He hasn't slept through the night in over a week. When he woke up this morning all he could talk about was going to school and making new friends. Today was the first time he asked if "Aba", Elijah and Landon would be there (how cute!) and I had to explain to him that they wouldn't be there but he'd meet some new friends.

When we got to school the director was there and she remembered him but he was so shy! We walked down to his classroom and found his "cubby" which was labeled Cameron B. Yep there's another Cameron in school. We met his teacher, Miss Bridget, and she gave him a name tag. Each day when the kids come in they have to find the parrot that has their name on it and put it in the tree so the teacher can see who is here. After we did that he ran over to all the helmets. This was another thing he couldn't wait for. There were lots of different dress up helmets and of course he went for the big police one. We stayed for a few minutes then left. Cam did awesome!

Pick up went just as well. All the parents wait in the lobby until the director gives the ok to head down to the classroom. We were waiting and Cam didn't come out! After about a minute his teacher brought him out. The first thing he said was "I don't want to go home!" SUCCESS!! He wouldn't really tell us what he did but he had paint on his shirt and shoe so I'm assuming they painted. Oh he did tell us he fell on his bum! We took him to lunch at his favorite place but he was all over the place. Hopefully he'll settle in soon!

On Thursday the kids will be making "Me Bags." Cam has to bring in 3 items that are his favorite to show the other kids and the teacher more about him. Hmmmm, what should he bring...

"I Too Scared"

This has become Cameron's favorite phrase and our least favorite.
If we tell him to go downstairs and play "no I too scared."
If we tell him it's time for bed "I too scared."
"Cameron it's time to eat dinner." "Nooo it's too dangerous."

He also has quite the imagination. Last night Steve picked him up from my Mother's house and he told Steve he was scared because "there's a blue monster in the bushes with golf balls on his head." Ummm, ok! If it's not a monster it's a ghost if it's not a ghost it's a dragon. Where does he get this stuff? I'm sure it's part of being 3 but I cannot wait for this "phase" to pass!

One Week Until School Starts!

Today we went to visit Cam's pre-school so he could take a look around before starting next week. He woke up this morning at 6:30 asking if it was time to go yet! When we got there he was a little shy at first but he warmed up quickly when he saw all the toys. Cam's teacher wasn't there so the Director showed us around. He loved it! He was loving all the new toys and the huge playground outside. We didn't stay for too long and he didn't want to leave. I had to bribe him with lunch at "the store" to get him out! I'm hoping next week will go smoothly since he's so excited. My little baby is growing up!

Lazy Days of Summer

Last Friday after Cam's last soccer practice we spent the day outside. It was fun watching Arianna explore and try to keep up with Cam.

We call him Shaggy...

Davis' Farmland!

Today was a day filled with great friends, animals, and little moments that make your heart smile! We took the kids to Davis' Farmland wayyy out in Sterling. The weather was perfect; cloudy and mid 70's so not too hot and not too cold! The sun randomly came out during the day but we didn't have to worry about sunblock.

The kids had a blast watching the animals and feeding them. Cam was very timid at first and didn't want to feed the goats. Elijah to the rescue! He showed Cam how to hold out his hand to let the goat come and eat.

This is not a Llama...it's an Alpaca. Who knew?? But that didn't stop Dianna and me from singing "Me and My Llama!"

Cam was feeling very brave and went into the pen with all the goats and sheep.

A baby goat who was just one week old. I can't remember his name.

What's this animal you ask?

This isn't a baby cow, though it did look and sound like one! It was fuzzy and soft and oh so cute! I can't remember exactly what it was but it was some type of goat. The kids had way too much fun chasing the 3 of them that were out of the pen.

Mike & Ike

The 3 Amigos fighting over who gets to drive

Cam's new friend. He loved the fact that the goat was on the chair!

Cam riding the Pony! This is before it pooped!

We ended the day with some ice cream before the long ride home. We'll have to go again next year when the younger kids can enjoy it too!