22/365: Who Needs A Snowboard?

Not us!  Cameron really, really wants one, but for now we just used the lids to a couple of plastic storage totes.  It did the trick and we had a ton of fun.  During our visit to Nana and Grampa's house in Gilford to watch the Patriot's playoff game, Cameron really wanted to go outside and play.  I am every conscious of the amount of time my kids spend indoors versus outdoors.  With Wii and Nintendo DS I am fearful of one of my kids falling victim to the indoor epidemic that is infecting our country's children.  Unless it poses a threat to their safety, any time one of my kids asks if they can go outside to play I answer with a resounding and enthusiastic "Yes!"

On this particular day I hesitated because I only had snow pants for Cameron.  I was afraid Olivia would be sad if we went outside without her.  Shame on me for not being completely prepared, but Grampa saved the day by offering to play Candy Land with baby girl while Cam and I played outside.

The first thing we did was completely and totally mess up the pristine snowfall across my parents giant yard.  It was a ton of fun!  Cameron could not stop laughing.  We walked his name in the snow and made some snow angels before he asked if we could go sledding.

All the sleds were brought to our house, so we had to improvise with the lids to plastic storage containers.  After a few times down the hill I decided to try standing.  Cameron thought it was pretty cool and we snowboarded together for the next 45 minutes.  I think Cameron needs a snowboard!

Take your kids outside!

13/365: Baby, It's Cold Outside

The temperature has dropped significantly in NH over the past few days, which means it finally feels like winter.  The kids have been resisting putting on winter gear because it just hasn't been necessary for most of December and January.  Until today.  It was freezing!  And of course, today was the day that the bus forgot to show up and we were standing outside for twenty minutes.  We made the most of it, as we always do, and I got to spend some quality time with my kids.

I am a fan of winter.  I love the stillness of it all.  It is just so beautiful!

And speaking of beautiful, my children.  They bring joy to my life every single moment!

Here is to another four months of winter in New England.  Prepare yourselves :)

Tomorrow we try out our snowshoes!

9/365: I Am Amazed

My son can read Magic Tree House! He is in the first grade.  It just amazes me at how much he has learned since starting kindergarten.  I am a little sad, though, because I know the time is coming when I don't read to him anymore... sigh.

7/365: Put Me In Coach

I suck at taking photos inside of a gym.

But, Cameron loves playing basketball and I just had to document it.

5/365: My Daughter Cracks Me Up

My daughter has toys, but she prefers to play with things that she finds around the house.  Tonight, while I was getting ready for bed, I glanced at my bathroom shelf and found this.  My knitted headband wrapped around a Willow Tree figurine.  I knew right away it was Olivia's doing.  Before finding this, while I was lying in bed reading books to the kids, Cameron asked if magic is real.  I said, "Yes, magic is real.  You two are magic.  Do you know how I know?  Because every time I look at you it makes me smile."  It's true.  These kids make me smile all the time, even when they are not in the room.  I am truly blessed.

Day 314 - October 12th, School Days

Cameron loves school.  He is an active participant and eager to learn.  He and Olivia have taken to playing school in the evening before dinner.  Cameron is actually teaching her math, and I think she is understanding it.  It is pretty cool to watch!

Day 171 and 172 - Cam's New Do!

Day 172 - Cam is such a cool kid.  His hair is usually on the long and shaggy side.  He has got some great curls and I have a hard time having them cut off.  Today we saw one of his friends with a cute little hair cut and Cameron decided he wanted his hair cut short just like it.  I don't really stress about hair because I have discovered that it grows back :)  He is very excited about his new hair style.  He didn't want me to wash his hair because he was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it just like the hair stylist did.  I think he looks so handsome!

Day 171 - Over at Project365 I titled this photo "I Have No Interesting Title for This Photo".  It's a lilac.  What more can I say?

MUD!!!

We made mud yesterday.  The photo club I am a member of meets tonight and our theme for the month was mud.  I couldn't find any interesting mud, so I decided to let the kids make some and play in it.

If you have time (and believe me, I know how precious time is), head on over to Gilford Clickers and see what my friends have posted.  :)

Day 151 - Opening Day 2011

Saturday was opening day parade and ceremony for Laconia Little League.  Some of the younger players wore their cleats to walk.  I wouldn't let Cameron because I thought he would be more comfortable in his sneakers.  He was not pleased because he loves his new cleats.  The players who are in their 6th or 7th year of Little League would agree with me though.  All of them had their comfy sneakers on.  I took this photo during the Opening Day ceremony:

Now that's what I call comfort!  I'll call this my 365 photo today, but let me show you some of my son, because that is why I went :)

OK, so my kid is not in this shot, but you get the idea of the parade.  I wish I had gone to the top of the parking garage and got a shot of the length of the parade.  It's pretty impressive!

Cameron started out in left field.  He has already improved from his one season of Tee-Ball.  He knows that even if he is not fielding the ball he should be backing up third base or backing up the infield play.  He is catching on!

This is one of Cameron's four coaches.  They are all fantastic and doing a wonderful job instructing the kids through every part of the game.  I am impressed with their kindness and patience.  Olivia took this photo, by the way.  The girl has got talent!  Time for her own DSLR?

Cameron got to be catcher.  As he was coming off the field I asked him to stop so I could take a photo.  The coach laughed and said, "He's in there somewhere!"  Do they make this equipment any smaller?

Olivia was thoroughly entertained and entertaining during the game.  I am saving those photos for tomorrow.

Day 148 - Did We Just Skip Spring??

I'm not one to complain too much about the weather.  I do live in New England, so I am used to crazy weather changes.  It snowed on Saturday and was 40 degrees.  Yesterday it was hot, humid and 80 degrees!  Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  I'm trying really hard not to complain, but is Spring becoming extinct?  60's and sunny with a cool breeze.  That is what I remember Spring being like.  Please come back Spring.  I miss you dearly.

I had a really hard time choosing which photo to put on here for my 365, so I will bless you with the top three.  (OK, it's five, but the last one is a collage so I am counting it as one)

My kids donned their summer clothes today.  In fact, I switched all of our closets and put our Winter coats away.  Olivia comes to all of Cameron's baseball games and she has such a fun time.  She plays with Nana and Grampa, runs around in the grass and helps me to take photos.  Toward the end of the game she put a blanket down and posed for me.  She had her hands under her chin as her pose, but my favorite one is when I caught her in-between poses.

Earlier that day we played outside with Grampa.  The baby got to enjoy some fresh air with us.  Cameron just adores this little guy.  I wish we would be around longer to see him grow.  

Cameron got his first hit in his first game of the season.  His first two at bats were unsuccessful, and he was getting a little discouraged.  Then he connected and he was so happy.  The first baseman for the other team, Sam, was just as happy.  The two just smiled and giggled at each other.  Then Sam started to knock on Cam's helmet.  It was funny to watch and to photograph.  The two had never met but you would never have known you were watching their very first interaction.

Now, do you see why I had such a hard time choosing??

Chalk Art

Even with the husband away all week I managed to get the kids dressed, fed and ready with an hour to spare before the bus came on two separate days.  I even fed the dogs and took them out, did laundry and dishes before 8 a.m.  It's days like those that I feel like a Supermom (even though I am far from one!)

On those days the kids and I went out to play at my parents house before school.  My Dad has an old RV that belonged to my Uncle who was a hoarder.  It is filled with stuff that the kids think are treasures.  One morning they found a bag of decorative river rocks.  They started out just making snowmen and faces with them, but then the creative juices started flowing and this is what they ended up with.  Can anyone tell what it is?

"Spring" Ball

Cameron is playing baseball this year.  It is strange not calling it "T-Ball".  He has graduated to coach-pitch baseball.  He is one of two six year olds on the team.  The rest of the kids are seven and eight and really really good.  That is not to say that Cameron is bad, he's just six and doesn't have as much experience as the others.  I know in a couple years he will catch on a little more.  It's fun to watch the eight year olds who actually know to cover bases and lead and some of the other rules that are lost on the younger kids.  Cameron was hesitant about playing this year, but once he got there he remembered how much he loves playing.  Damien and I do not try to push sports on our kids.  We play catch and help him hit when he is into it, but as far as rules and "drills", we know to not pressure him.  He will like it or hate it and I don't want it to be because of us that he hates it.

My Sweet Boy

I am so far behind in commenting and looking at other 365 blogs.  I have a ton of photos that I want to post of my beautiful family and our goings-on, but life just seems to take over.  Next week is school vacation and I don't watch other peoples kids on Monday and Tuesday.  Those two days just so happen to be my husband's days off, so I have a big date with my computer (and a couple of doctors, but that's a whole different story!)

First, Day 141:

Dance class was yesterday.  I thought I would have another really sweet photo of Olivia in her dance clothes, but Little Cameron comes to dance class too.  He spends the 30 minutes rolling on the floor, watching the girls dance and wishing he could join them, creeping on all the little sisters of the dancers, causing trouble and sitting in time out.  He's a sweet kid, and I love him like he is my own!

Then, Day 142:

Olivia is tired of me taking pictures of her.  Her new thing is to try to look as terrible as possible when I am taking pictures, but I still think she's cute.  Plus, this will be a great one to pull out and show her prom date, bwa-ha-ha-ha!

Last, for now:  My Sweet Boy

I found this when I was looking at my list of posts.  My sweet boy, Cameron.  I never got around to posting this back in March.  No time like the present!

I have so much to say about this kid that I am at a loss for words.  I find it so hard to express myself sometimes.  The other day (March 11, 2011)  I was helping Baby's mom to the car with all the baby stuff when out flies this kid in a ski helmet, winter boots and butterfly wings.  I laughed so hard I almost cried!  He just comes flying out of the house, runs around us and the car, and runs back inside the house.  The thing is, I knew exactly what he was doing.  One of his new favorite animals is the Draco Glider, a lizard he learned about on PBS.  When I saw him, I knew that is what he was trying to be.  So cute.

Cameron is such a funny kid.  Sensitive, kind, and oh so funny!

Day 121 - A Big Long Blog Post

I'm packing a whole lot of stuff into day 121.  Once again, 365 has taken over my blog, so I feel like I need to bring it back to its original Sweetness every once in a while.  Fasten your seatbelt, you are in for a long and bumpy ride today :)

Day 121 - Inside-Out Pajama Night

Cameron says that if you wear your pajamas inside-out and put a spoon under your pillow, there will be no school the next day.  So he heard from a friend today.  We are putting it to the test tonight.  Damien is trying to counteract our efforts, but we think we will prevail!

 

Tonight we had a special out to dinner treat at "Friendly's".  We had so much fun being silly and eating ice cream!  Olivia is putting on her "mad face" for the camera.  She's pretty good at that one!

So here is where the post gets "bumpy".

Yesterday was a tough day for Olivia after dance class.  While I was preparing lunch she was full of questions.  Some days there are so many questions (and yes I feel terrible about what I am going to admit to you) that I answer without really hearing the whole question.  Before you submit my name to "worst Mother of the year", hear me out!  This usually happens after the 100th question, while a baby is screaming, or I am cleaning up dog pee, or I am digging a spoon out of the garbage disposal.  This is usually when she asks the. most. important. question. of. the. day.  Of course, I do not realize this until it is too late.  I have already answered.  Damage is done.  I can only move on to damage control.

So, what was the most important question of the day today, you might be asking?  Here it is:

Olivia:  "Mommy, do polar bears die?" 

I know!  Doesn't seem like such a big deal, does it?  I didn't think so either, but here is my response  (mind you, I am fixing lunch, trying to quiet the barking dogs and warming up a bottle for the baby at this particular moment):

Me:  "Yes, polar bears die."

Again, I know, it sounds innocent and it is the truth, but it goes downhill from here.  I promise, I won't interrupt anymore.

Olivia:  "They do?  Do all animals die?"

Me:  "Yes, anything that is alive will eventually die."

Olivia:  "Why?"

Me:  "Well, it's the circle of life.  Plants and animals live and when they die they nourish the earth so that other things can live."

Olivia:  "Even people?"

OK, I'm going to interrupt again.  I realize that that last question was the most important one of the day.

Me:  "Yes, even people."

I know!  Terrible, right?  So matter-of-fact.  A reality check right in my soon-to-be four year old's innocent little face.  OK, you can submit my name, I'm a terrible mother!

What is worse than this response?  Well, the fact that I didn't even realize the impact until I joined her at the table a couple minutes later and she was staring up at me with what I can only describe as complete and total fear.  

Me:  "Are you OK?"

Olivia:  "Sit next to me, sit really close to me."

So, we are eating in silence for about a minute and then she puts her head down on the table.  She says she is full and she is tired and she doesn't feel well.  I'm thinking she has the virus that had me the past few days so I jump up and wash her hands and take her to the couch to snuggle.  I tell her it's OK, we can rest and cuddle and she will feel better soon.  I turn on PBS and we are snuggling really close.  I'm listening to her breathe and I feel her start to cry.  She says she is sick a few more times and I'm still thinking she is getting the flu.  Seriously, I felt like crying the past two days, so I was feeling her pain.  Finally, after about ten minutes of this she sits up and says:

"Mommy, I'm not sick.  I don't want to die.  That's why I'm crying.  I don't want to die.  I don't want you to die or Daddy or Cameron or Nana and Grampa or my friends or anyone to die ever."

Of course, then I started crying too.

I tried to console her and I started to talk about God and Heaven, but she did not want to hear it.  She was sick with worry.  I could see it in her face and hear it in her voice, "I want to always live here in this world, forever."  I was at a loss.  Talking about it made it worse, so I just held her and told her I would keep her safe.

I checked a book out of the library called "Lifetimes" about the life cycle of all things and how all living things have beginning and an ending, and in between is living.  Each lifetime is unique depending on what or who you are and what happens to you in your life.  It explained the lifetime of an oak tree, a vegetable garden, rabbits and mice, butterflies, birds, fish and people.

"Sometimes, living things become ill or they get hurt.  Mostly, of course, they get better again but there are times when they are so badly hurt or they are so ill that they die because they can no longer stay alive.  This can happen when they are young, or old, or anywhere in between."  She stopped me here and could not listen anymore.  She just does not want to hear about it. 

I think she wants me to tell her that she will live forever, but not forever in Heaven, forever here on Earth.  She wants me to tell her that everyone she loves (which is a lot of people) will live forever.  I also think that at her age, she does not understand the concept of time, so to her a long time could mean tomorrow.  Someone, please tell me where this fear is coming from in my almost four year old.  I am truly at a loss.

Cameron's Day Continued

On Saturday, Cameron got to spend some time alone with Damien and I.  Our day began at Cam's favorite breakfast restaurant.  The chef will make a pancake in any animal shape he wants.  This day he chose a cheetah.  In days past he has asked for a shark, a velociraptor and a tiger.  He started eating his pancake too quickly, so I didn't get a photo.  I did take photos of his drawings and his thank you note to the waitress.  We also saw a lady with a dog in her purse.  It was a spectacular breakfast!!

After breakfast we went to the arcade.  Cameron has so much fun whenever we go, but things were different this time.  He was not interested in any of the games where you win tickets.  He focused on the old arcade games like PacMan and Burger Time.  We played some car racing games, a little air hockey and then he rode on the bumper cars.  The room with the old arcade games had 80's music pumping through it and red lights in the ceiling.  I decided to give all of those photos a little editing to fit the mood.

Cameron really enjoyed his day.  Later that night we had friends over for dinner and he got to play with his old preschool friend, who is now a friend of Olivia's.  It makes it a little difficult for him, but without Olivia there, she was all his!

365 - Six!

Day 31

My baby boy turned six today!  There is not a whole lot I can say about Cameron that has not already been posted here.  He's energetic, sweet, kind, loving, and generous.  He loves his Mama, and loves to push my buttons.  He has gotten quite good at it, actually :)

Of course I remember the day he was born.  It was our best New Year's Eve party ever!  I also remember a family member telling me the next day about his birthday being so close to Christmas, "He's going to get screwed on his birthday."  I laugh every time I think about that comment.  What a silly thing to say about a newborn baby, first of all, and second, I don't think Cameron has ever felt "screwed" because of his birthday.  Quite the contrary actually.  His birthday is celebrated too many times to count.  He celebrates before Christmas at school, he celebrates on his actual birthday, we celebrate out in NY sometime after Christmas, and then we have a kids birthday party for him two weeks after his birthday.  I think he's pretty lucky.  Not to mention, there is always a party on his birthday.  (He'll appreciate that when he is older).  If the meaning of "screwed" is that he won't get a ton of presents, I guess this is true.  But this would happen if his birthday is in June too as we feel the celebration is more important than the stuff!

Today we celebrated Cameron's birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's.  Cameron had so much fun, as did Olivia and the adults in company.  We ate pizza, played games, rode on rides, opened presents and won a lot of tickets so we could pick out some junk from behind the counter.  Wicked cool junk!

Happy Birthday Cam-a-lam-a-ding-dong!  We love you and we are so proud of you!

Happy New Year!

Soccer Boy

Yesterday was Cameron's first day of soccer practice.  I just adore him in his little soccer shorts and socks.  This year Gilford has enough kids for five teams.  It should be an exciting soccer season!

He does really well dribbling the ball.

I bought myself a planner.  With school, soccer, dance class, my work schedule, my husband's work schedule, my husband's football games, play dates and family events, I really need to stay organized!  

Oh The Places You Will Go

It has been almost 6 years since the day I first met my beautiful boy.  I loved him before I met him and I have loved him more every day since then.  Even though we have been preparing for this day for the past few months, it seems it has still taken me by surprise.  I woke up at 2 a.m. and looked at my sweet baby boy and got teary-eyed.  

December 31, 2004.  New Year's Eve.  The night he was born.  Will I always remember that day like it was yesterday?  Because it really does not seem like almost six years ago!  He said his first words, took his first steps, got his first bloody injury, learned to use the potty, told me he loves me, and went to pre-school.  Then, all of a sudden, he is buckling himself in and out of his car seat, riding a bike, golfing, reading actual words and getting on the bus to go to Kindergarten.  He's my baby, and he's going on a bus to school!

This boy does love to learn, so I know he will be amazing at school.  He is fascinated by animals and asks me questions all the time that I just can't answer.  His favorite animal right now is the shark, but ask him which one and he is torn between Hammerhead, Great White, Tiger, Mako and Bull sharks.  School will suit him and that makes me happy.  

Cameron absolutely adores his family.  He adores his sister and takes special care of her.  He is excited for her to go to his old pre-school and even made her a card for her first day.  Cameron also loves making friends.  Every place we go, he asks if there will be kids there.  He is never shy when meeting new people and I can't wait to hear all about his new friends at school.  

Oh, the places you will go!  But I do wish you could stay little forever!

My Beautiful Boy

        This is my beautiful boy.  He is my sunshine.

I just cannot believe that in a couple weeks he will be starting Kindergarten.  

Such a sweet boy, this kid.  He makes friends everywhere he goes.  I mean everywhere!  I am not worried at all about him making friends at school.  I'm more worried about me.  I am going to miss this kid so much.  We have been together every day for the last couple of years and I have no idea how I am going to feel having him gone for such a large portion of my day.  

*Sigh*  I know I have to let go.  But he just makes it so darn hard.

His beautiful smile, his wavy brown hair, the way he remembers every little detail about every little thing, his snuggles, his energy, his laughter... 

The other day I took these photos while he was telling me a story about the brown recluse spider.  He was so funny because he just kept telling the story and didn't stop even though he was completely annoyed by the fact I was continuously taking photos!

        

Oh boy, you are one cute kid and I am one lucky Mama!