Another Birthday?!?

Are you tired of all the birthdays around here yet? We cram 'em all in at once at this house. It is super fun to have everyone's birthdays and they are all a blast but sometimes we think it would be fun if they were a little more spread out. Today Camilla woke up and said, "whose birthday is it?" 

Our dear Aaron finally joined me on the 32 year old bandwagon this week. Poor boy had to begin his day with jury duty..lame but luckily he didn't get picked and was back in time to meet us at the library and have lunch. Then his special day looked a lot like mine. We picked up Carson from school and went to our favorite pool. Then we went to Hopdoddy's for dinner, this time with the kids. They were in heaven. 

I asked Camilla what a special present would be for Daddy. She was thinking and I told her to think about what Daddy likes and what he would want. She said, "Daddy likes to play with me so he likes all the things I like. He likes to play in the dollhouse and play games and jump on the trampoline, that's what Daddy likes. 

And that is just the kind of Dad Aaron is, completely devoted to his kids. 

So we let the kids get a drink at dinner (a very rare treat, the whole thing I suppose) and Camilla was loving it. She stole Aaron's root beer and just went back and forth taking drinks from both drinks. We finally had to take them away, the drinks and her ketchup because she was eating that too. 

Happy Birthday Aaron, we love you so! 

Kindergartner

I'm not ready for this, I'm not ready for this. My sweet angel boy started school today. Real life, all day long, year round school. Oh how I will miss my boy. Everything in life is more fun when he is home with us and nothing is more work. What are me and the girls going to do all day without him? Carson was so excited to start school today. He was counting down the days and couldn't wait to go. We had to wake him up very early to get started (um real life means waking up very early) but he was perfect. We had waffles for breakfast and the whole family shuffled out the door to take him to school. 

He went into his class perfectly and sat down and started doing his work. His teacher is very nice and we feel so lucky he was placed in her class. She sent a few emails out today to let us know that everything was going well. I spent the day so sad and counting down the minutes until it was time to pick him up. I so wish we could have watched a video of him during the day. Aaron and I just stood outside the window to his class watching him. We so love this boy. 

After we all picked him up (we were those parents standing right outside the door waiting for him) we went to Marble Slab to get ice cream and hear all about his day. Okay so in truth we got very few details but we did get some and he said he was happy and really liked school. I guess we will let him go back then. 

Everyone enjoyed the ice cream! 

End of Summer

So we finally made the difficult decision on where Carson would be attending school this year and it will be at NYOS which is a charter school. NYOS runs on more of a year round schedule and school starts this week. We realized Saturday morning that it was our last weekend before Carson starts school, like real life school. Our world is about be turned way upside down. So we headed down to Dallas for the weekend. It was a quick trip but we packed in as much fun as we could. We went straight to Adam and Cassie's house on Saturday and spend the night with them. The kids played and we went to the park, then out to dinner and enjoyed the cooler weather. Then on Sunday we went to church at our old ward in Frisco. It was so fun to see all our old friends and Carson loved going to class with his BFF Britton. Then we drove to Arlington and spent time with my family. Stephen and Abby were in town and we had Sunday dinner and played games. Then on Monday we did Hurricane Harbor all day. Oh my I don't have enough pictures of this day. The kids had so much fun. Carson could have lived there. He never wanted to stop going on rides all day long. He did any ride that he was tall enough for. He went on the big slides and tube slides and flew off into deep water and then popped right back up and swam to the ladder. He was so much fun. We went on the lazy river again and again. Camilla loved going on the lazy river and playing in the kid's section. She was laughing and swimming and went on the slides over and over. She went hard for about 5 hours and then was ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house with me to feed Brooke and rest for awhile. Carson went right back after a short lunch break and stayed until it closed. 

Here are the only pictures I took of Camilla playing with Grandpa, she was in heaven. 

Kim and Eric came up as well to see everyone. Everyone loves baby Jackson:

We came back to a lot of work, school supply shopping, uniform shopping, and check ups before school starts. Carson had to get 2 shots and asked Daddy and Millie to hold his hands so he wouldn't be scared. 

 I went to meet them with Brooke after the appointment to do some shopping and they were both happy as can be drinking Jamba Juice smoothies. 

Happy Birthday Camilla

I can't believe my sweet girl is 3 years old. Oh how I love my Millie girl. You just can't know how much joy she brings to my life. Whenever Camilla wakes up in the morning or from her nap in the afternoon my heart skips a beat and I can't wait to hold her and snuggle her while she wakes up. We tried to make her birthday special and include all her favorite things. Millie loves being the center of attention so it worked out perfect. :)

When she woke up I was snuggling with her on the couch telling her how excited I was for it to be her birthday and I had planned to tell her all about the day she was born, etc. Everyone else was still sleeping. She looked right into my eyes and said, "where's my presents?" Love this girl. As soon as everyone was up we let her open her presents, one from each of us. 

Carson got her a light saber, it was a big hit!

Then we got her all ready, a pink birthday girl shirts, a pink tutu skirt and she let me put her hair in pigtail braids. I can't believe I can put her hair in braids. A year she couldn't even get a ponytail. Her hair has grown so much. 

She wanted to go to the 3 year old class at the gym so we headed that way first. The teacher told me she was so excited to go to class and announced to everyone that she was "thwee" and "I go to class with my brother." Then we went to the bounce house, another Camilla favorite. She had so much fun. 

When we got home we had a package waiting from her grandparents in Russia and that was awesome, another present!

For dinner we went to Chuy's, Millie's choice (influenced heavily by her older brother). Then all she wanted was pink cupcakes. 

The night was finished off with a movie in bed. We had such a fun day.

Camilla is the source of more joy and more frustration that I have ever known but I so love her spunk and sass. She is such a good big sister to Brooke and idolizes her older brother, anything he does, eats, etc. she is doing the same. Camilla weighed in at 30 lbs. and is in the 45th percentile for weight and 75th for height at 38 inches tall. She doesn't walk but prances most places and loves to sing and dance. She loves to play with her dolls and babies and to read books snuggled on the couch. She easily makes friends and defends herself very well. She wants to say the prayer all the time and often says very thoughtful things. She is still not potty trained, I am turning that job over to Aaron. She loves candy and wants to eat it all the time. She says the funniest things and talks all day long. The other night while changing her diaper:

Me: "Camilla come here so I can change your diaper."

C: "No you can't change my diaper."

Me: Frown

C: "You can if its true love." 

Happy Birthday Camilla, we love you a million billion. 

One Year Older and Wiser Too

I had such a fun birthday this year, this one will be tough to beat. Aaron knows me so well, he knows I don't need fancy presents at all but would rather just have a fun, relaxing day. It was just perfect. I got to work out for as long as I wanted without interruption (blissful), then after pancakes for breakfast we all went swimming together at our favorite pool of the summer. 

Then it was a nap in the afternoon (completely uninterrupted again) so nice. Then we got the babysitter and went to Town Lake to go Stand Up Paddle-boarding. It was so much fun. We had never been before and both thought it was a lot of fun. We never fell in and Aaron was really speedy and had to wait for me a lot. We also just laid out in the water relaxing. 

Then it was off to Hopdoddy's in downtown (my favorite burger joint) for cheeseburgers and french fries. Then we came home to have cookies, ice cream, and watch The Good Wife in bed. I sure love my sweet husband for such a fun day. The kids loved that I had a birthday. Aaron asked the kids to think really hard about presents to get me. Carson said, "maybe new running shoes." Camilla said," I give her Camilla." Love these kiddos. 

Lately

We went to Kim and Eric's house to visit baby Jackson and everyone loves him. The kids loved playing in the swing in the backyard. Can you believe these cool summer nights? We have lucked out on weather this summer. 

We got bunk beds for the big kids... finally. So sweet Brooke has moved into her own room and sleeps in a real crib instead of the pack n play. I hope that C and C can share a room again, so far, so good. They love sleeping in the same room and talking at night. 

Happiest, cutest, sweetest baby in the world. Loves her baths. 

We have been making fun summer treats. Here we made some yummy chocolate popsicles. The kids were beyond excited to make these and eat them. Brooke loved them as well. 

Fourth of July

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the fourth of July? I think it just might be my favorite holiday. Every year we have so much fun and the kids enjoy it more and more. This year we made our annual trek out to Blue Hole. Aaron got there very early to secure us spots at the park and the best table in the shade. While he was gone we made and tasted a lot of cookies.

 Our friends all got there early and brought lots of food and family. After we were all set up, the kids immediately wanted to get into the water. We were soon playing catch and eating snacks. 

Yeah pretty sure Brooke is completely done with baby food. :)

Both the kids loved jumping off the decks into the water. 

Two faces we know very well. 

Aaron showing up the teenagers on the big rope swing. 

And my favorite part this year was Carson going on the small rope swing over and over and over. He did awesome.  Later he even did the big rope swing, he is fearless. 

We spent a lot of time swimming, laughing, and playing games.  

I did the big swing too, although its hard to see me. 

We were so worn out by the time we got home and took baths so we opted for sparklers at home instead of a big firework show. I missed the fireworks but the kids were just as happy with this. 

Happy Independence Day. I am especially grateful for a country where I enjoy so many freedoms as a female and where I am free to worship and learn as I choose.