Celebration of Lights

Last night we went on a 3 mile drive through the park at Hartwood Acres and the Celebration of Lights. It was really neat. The kids both loved it and even thanked us for taking them when we tucked them in at bedtime!

Snow Day

Boogie Man

This evening I was tickling Carson on my lap upside-down, which gave me a good view right up his nose! I jokingly asked him, "What's that boogie doing up there?" He replied, "He's in his home with all his friends!" Yummy thought!

Some Recent Pictures

These are pictures I took of the kids when we were trying to get one for Christmas cards last week. Why is it so hard to get just one good picture? Camryn took the one of Carson and me.

A Sick Boy

Carson was up all night last night with a stomach bug. This morning his stomach was growling and he said, "Mommy, my tummy just snored!"

Sharing a Loving Moment

Whew! I have been waiting for this moment for quite some time. Before Dick and Diane were out, Camryn and Carson were fighting every minute they were together. I swear they've added at least 10 new wrinkles and 25 new gray hairs to my head! Just after baths the other night, I captured this moment!

We Are Thankful For...

We're thankful for grandparents that come to give Mommy a break!! It was so nice to have Dick and Diane here for 6 days! Not many daughters-in-law can say that about their in-laws. But I truly mean it! Having them both here to entertain the kids, get odds and ends done around the house, and have a friend to go shopping with was almost as good as a tropical vacation!

We had such a great Thanksgiving week. Uncle Nick and (The Future Aunt) Anna were here for a couple of days the weekend before. Carson was infatuated with Anna! On the way to take Nick and her to the airport, he requested Anna sit by him. He didn't take his eyes off of her for the whole 20 minute trip! At one point he looked up at her and said, "I like your hair. I want to touch it!" She has curls that do beg to be touched, but I'm not sure boys are supposed to say things like that! Yesterday we saw an airplane up in the sky. Carson watched it for awhile and then asked, "Anna in that airplane?" Oh, and when I commented that our house was a disaster, Carson decided, "We go live at Anna's house!" Today when we were Skyping with Ty and Mandy, he would yell for Aunt Mandy every time she left the camera's view! Watch out Tyson and Nick! You have some tough competition!

Broken Bones

I wasn't sure which one of our kids was going to break something first, but if I had to bet, I would have said Carson. Well, I would have been wrong! Wednesday I picked Camryn up from school. Her teacher said Camryn had hurt her ankle at recess, but had been walking on it all day and seemed to be doing fine. She walked home with us and didn't complain or anything. Once we got home, I had her sit so I could look at it. Her left ankle was really swollen and tender to the touch! Jerrod came home and looked at it and said it definitely needed x-rayed. Thursday morning I took her to the pediatrician right away. They sent us to Children's Hospital to have x-rays done. Ten minutes after we left the x-ray table, Jerrod called and said he was looking at them and that nothing looked broken. Long story short, he had some of his ortho friends check out the x-rays and they recommended casting anyway due to the swelling and tenderness, assuming because of those symptoms, she had fractured her growth plate. She is in a HOT pink cast for 3 weeks. It's going to be a long 3 weeks! Poor little girl!

Hiccups

Last night Carson had the hiccups. He said, "Listen Mommy, see, I have the pups!" HA!

Setting Daddy Straight

Last night we went out for dinner. As we were walking back into the house, we heard a train whistle blow. Carson turned around and said, "Daddy, you hear a choo-choo?" Jerrod said, "Yea, Buddy. Do you think it's Thomas?" Carson furrowed his brow and said, "No, Daddy. It NOT Thomas; it's a REAL choo-choo!" We both laughed outloud! (Probably more funny at that moment.)

I love that Camryn still gives me hugs and kisses before she goes in the building. There are all kinds of kids of all different ages out front, and now matter what, she always gives me a hug, a kiss and says "I love you Mommy!" I don't want that to ever stop! Our mornings are usually hectic as we scurry to get everything and everyone together. For some reason that helps to slow everything down and put things back into perspective for the day.

Harlem Globetrotter

The ball really IS spinning!

Last night we headed to Chick-fil-a to see a former Harlem Globetrotter perform. Carson and Camryn were in awe! Carson was smiling from ear to ear and giggling. It was so cute! They each got to spin the basketball on their finger and practice dribbling 2 basketballs at one time. Seth Falcon was the Globetrotter. His 2-year-old daughter wanted to give Camryn the basketball she's holding in the picture. So cute!

Trick-Or-Treat

Finally, I'm getting around to posting Halloween pictures. I guess I just haven't been too excited about them since the kids aren't that in to posing for the camera (Carson especially). He always says, "Please don't take my picture!"

We went trick-or-treating at the shops just up the street from our house. Lots of kids, fun and candy!

Halloween Party

Pumpkin Carving: Round 2

Pumpkin Carving: Round 1

This is what Carson did while we carved. So sweet when he sleeps!

Fall in Pennsylvania

I forgot how beautiful the trees get in the fall! In Colorado we only had Aspens and Evergreens! Such a beautiful time of year!

After Zoo Boo, we went to the park with the neighbors.

Zoo Boo

Sunday we took the kids to Zoo Boo for some trick-or-treating. It was busy, but such a beautiful day! We rode the zoo train, toured the haunted house, and of course, got lots of goodies!

Pitt Game

It was Carson's turn to go with Jerrod to the Panther's game. Jerrod said he was grinning from ear to ear when he saw them score a touchdown!

Trax Farm Fieldtrip

A few of Camryn's good friends:

Piper, Jack and Sonali

Piper and Camryn

Wednesday, October 21st

The rain finally stopped and it was 70 today; Just in time for Carmyn's 1st field trip with her kindergarten class. It was also her first ride on a school bus! I got a sitter for Carson and was able to go along. We went to Trax Farm where the class got to go on a hayride, pick a pumpkin, sample apple cider, get lost in a cornstalk maze, play in the corn bin and eat a picnic lunch. It was a perfect day!

Rainy Day

So, apparently it actually rains here in Pittsburgh. Something we're not used to from Colorado! It's so nice to have green grass and all of the different types of trees, but 2 weekends in a row of rain just isn't fair! This is what we found to occupy our time... We blew pink, orange and blue bubbles and then popped them on white paper. It made neat designs that we turned into cards. More than making the cards, the kids liked seeing who could build the tallest bubble tower!

Hot Cocoa Kinda Day

Two weeks ago (I know, it's been awhile!) we had some COLD days! Carson got into the habit of having hot cocoa while watching "Dinosaur Choo-Choo" (ie, Dinosaur Train on PBS)! YUM!

Date Day Saturday

Jerrod and I took turns taking the kids for a "date" this past weekend. Jerrod took Camryn to a Pittsburgh Panthers football game. She had a great time and was only bored for the 3rd quarter. In fact, Jerrod started walking out with her and then she decided she wanted to stay longer! She always feels so special when Jerrod does something with her without Carson! A few weeks ago, she and Jerrod rode bikes to get sushi upstreet. She still talks about that!

Carson and I headed for the bowling alley! Whew! Not sure he was ready for that. We did a little bumper bowling...yes, the bumpers came in handy for me at least 3 times! He loved watching his ball "smash" into the pins at the end. Even the shoes were exciting to him. I actually learned from Carson that the number of pins knocked down isn't directly proportional to the speed of the ball! Carson actually got a strike with his 2 mile/hour throws!

Simmons Farm

We took a trip to Simmons Farm this past weekend. The kids had a great time chasing goats, chickens and a pot belly pig. The funniest part of the trip was watching Carson with the chickens. He was actually quick enough to catch them and keep them there. It was so funny. He was touching their beaks and combs and they didn't seem to mind. Carson the Chicken Whisper? The main reason for going to the farm was to pick pumpkins. The patch was pretty small and not too exciting. We'll have to look for another one before the season's over.