Conversations with Cameron

Cameron is going to be 2 on Thursday. It is amazing how much he has changed during the last year of his life. Where did my baby go???? He is such a little boy now and it is so much fun to watch him learn and grow. We have all kinds of little conversations now....he loves to talk. Here's the latest cute interaction with his mom. I brought him into my bed with me at about 6am one morning...he woke up before everyone else. David was already at church meetings (sucks, huh?) and so it was just the two of us. He wanted to wake the other kids up, but I wouldn't let him.

Cameron: "Wake up Kylie and Chad?"
Mom: "No, they need to sleep, you woke up too early!"
Cameron: "Need snack please."
Mom: "You have to wait till the sun wakes up, it's too early for breakfast."
Cameron: "Need snack."
Mom: "Not yet, when the sun comes out we can eat."
Cameron: "C'mon Mom."
Mom: Says nothing.
Cameron: "Come oooooon."
Mom: "Cameron, you have to wait. Mommy is not getting up now."
Cameron: "Oh maaaaaan." (And then he face planted onto the bed, all bummed out!)
Cameron: "Watch a show?"

So cute...he has such a funny personality and can pretty much say anything that he is thinking. He is growing up way too fast! He keeps us very entertained!

Christmas, 2009

Our Christmas family celebrations this year started at my dad's on the Sunday before Christmas. It was a very nice afternoon, especially because everyone was there, including Michelle's boyfriend, Keith, Mary's son, Nathan and his girlfriend, Sabrina. We went to church in our old ward, and it was fun to see a few people we know, though it sure has changed a lot since we left a couple years after high school. The kids always love going to Grandpa's house. We ate and played and opened presents. Kylie's favorite gift was a life-sized doll. She just couldn't put it down...even slept with it that night! We went to the Anaheim Stake's Christmas Musical, which my dad was singing in, but the kids were just too wiggly and loud, so we had to leave. The day was very nice, though.

Christmas Eve began at my mom's house! It was great that our entire family could be there...us, my mom, Angela, Dave, their kids, Ryan, and Michelle! It was a great time and the kids were so cute. They loved performing for us. Kylie and Gabriela started it all off by singing a couple of songs and Kylie did a solo of "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth." TOTALLY appropriate this year! Even Natalie and Cameron got in on the performance!

Christmas Eve ended at David's mom's house in Irvine. We were joined by David's sister Mary, her husband Alex, Alex's sister Elizabeth and her daughter, Miriam, who were both visiting from Mexico City. Margaret always has a beautiful dinner prepared! After dinner, we had a very nice time opening everything and the kids were OVERJOYED to find out that Grandma's gift this year was to take us all to the San Diego Zoo.

Christmas morning was perfect! The kids didn't wake up too early, and once they were all up, it was time to see what Santa had brought! The kids were thrilled with what they got and had a great time opening their gifts. Kylie found a jewelry box, stroller, the Hannah Montana movie, a CD and a few other things. Chad's favorite things from Santa was his Leapster and game, Legos and Bakugans. Cameron loved his cars, a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse radio, and some clothes, but was scared of his Thomas. The day was very nice and relaxing and my brother Ryan and our moms both came to visit for dinner. We all had a really nice day!

Oh, Christmas Tree...

Of course, decorating the Christmas tree has become quite the tradition in our family. This year was no different...we always get a real tree...so we went and picked it out and took it home. David got it all prepared and put the lights on. Then, we got the kids in their jammies, got out the decorations, got out the hot chocolate...and here we are!

Performance Time

With all of Kylie's activities come holiday performances! For the two weeks before Christmas, we actually were VERY busy trying to make all of these performances...it didn't help that three days of rain caused them all to be rescheduled, but luckily we made them all and she had a great time performing. Here are a few pictures from some of the performances!

Kane Dance Academy Holiday Performance Team
Riverside Plaza Shopping Center

Promenade All Star Performance at the
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Downtown Riverside

Scholarship Holiday Performance
King High School

Santa Train

Earlier this month we went down to Irvine Park to ride the train to the North Pole to see Santa Clause. We get to do this with Grandma every year, and the kids are always very excited. It was especially fun with Cameron this year because he is really understanding the Santa thing. He stood there, waiting patiently, for his turn to give Santa his letter - it was really cute the way he was looking at him. We really appreciate Grandma taking us on this trip every year - it is a tradition that we look forward to continuing for many, many years - and it really puts us into the Christmas spirit!

Snowflakes!

The kids had a lot of fun making snowflakes...out of tortillas! It's pretty easy to do, actually, and they taste great, too. We've made them a few times now, and they kids always have fun...who wouldn't with that much powdered sugar!!

Los Angeles Temple Christmas Lights

We started out the Christmas season by taking the kids to see the Christmas lights on the Los Angeles temple. David's mom flew into LAX the Monday after Thanksgiving, so we decided to pick her up and stop at the temple on the way. It isn't exactly on the way to the airport, but we haven't been to the LA temple in a long time now that the Redlands and Newport Beach temples are open, so we took advantage of the opportunity of going that direction. The lights are truly beautiful and it is always a great opportunity to talk with the kids about the temple!

Camerons First Trip to the Dentist

Kylie had a dentist appointment in November and Cameron went with us. She actually ended up seeing a pediatric dentist to discuss future orthodontic work that she may need. The dentist thought that Cameron was so cute and asked if he had come in for a visit yet. I told her that he wasn't even two yet, but she said that she would love to have him come in for his first teeth cleaning. I didn't take my other kids until they were almost three, but since she suggested it, why not?

We went back a few weeks later for Cameron's visit. It was just us, because Kylie and Chad were at school. He was so excited and proud that it was HIS turn. He sat in my lap on the chair very still, with his mouth wide open the entire time. The dentist kept saying how amazed she was with how good he was and how cooperative he was during the visit. It was really cute, she kept telling me that I should have more kids, because of how good and cute they are. (Wish I knew if that was going to happen or not!) Needless to say, he had a great first visit. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera for the first dentist chair picture, but here is a cute one from home right after the visit! Can't wait till next time! (Then I can get the picture in the chair that I wanted).

Awards Assemblies

Kylie and Chad have had an awesome school year so far! They are both doing very well....and we are very proud. At Kylie's awards assembly she received awards for mastering all of the language arts and math standards for the trimester. She actually received all 4's on her first report card (which is advanced) in all areas. It is a challenge to challenge her at school....she is a quick learner. We are greatful for her amazing memory!

Chad received the reader of the month award (and a free book) in November and at the December trimester awards assembly, he received 8 more awards! He was given an award for mastering each standard for Kindergarten for the first trimester, for perfect attendance so far, and for being able to read ALL of the Kindergarten sight words (for the whole year) already! He has started to work on the first grade words....he is very proud, and so are we! It's fun to watch him learn and to see how much he loves school.

Thanksgiving Fun!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year and we celebrated with my Dad and Mary. Thanks for the yummy dinner and treats....it was nice to have all of the family together. We are most thankful for our families! Here's some pics of our cute kids at Thanksgiving dinner.... I think we were so busy taking care of the kids that I forgot to take pictures of all of the adults!

The "kid" table was very exciting and I think they had a good time. We are so thankful that our kids have cousins....what would my kids do without them at family gatherings?

Yes...it was a challenge to get them all to look at the camera at the same time...sorry Natalie!