Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Children Were Nestled All Snug In Their Beds . . .
Don't you just remember trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve? The only thing better than being a 5-year-old waiting for Santa is getting to be Santa for that 5-year-old and his little brother.
Christmas Eve
We had a lovely Christmas Eve at Cody's Aunt Susan and Uncle Dave's house. However, when Cameron heard that the Santa-tracking radar had spotted Santa flying up from South American, he panicked and insisted that we leave RIGHT NOW. He was afraid that if he were not asleep in his own bed, Santa would fly right by our house. No worries, sweet boy . . . Santa wouldn't do that to you.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23 . . .
. . . was day that started out in a very promising way. We woke up early (as is always the case with two little boys!), had breakfast, and opened some early Christmas gifts from Great Grandma and Grandpa Simpson. With the money they (so generously!) sent us for Christmas, we had purchased tickets for the Polar Express train ride that evening, which would depart from Santa Fe and arrive at the North Pole! We also used some of their gift to purchase matching cowboy p.j.s for the boys (since everyone is encouraged to wear pajamas on the Polar Express!) as well as a copy of the book to read on our way up to Santa Fe. The boys also received new Christmas sweaters, which we thought that they could wear to church that morning. So far so good . . .
In addition to some early Christmas gifts, this was a big morning for Cameron, as he was to play the Joseph in the Nativity play at church. Cameron and Cody left early to help set up, while Gordon and I stayed behind to finish getting ourselves ready. Now, here's where things get interesting . . . Mind you, I had Cameron's Joseph costume at home and HAD to be at church in time for the play. . .
Before I recount the events of the next hour or so, here are some photos to "wet" your appetite . . .
A mass of soggy jewelery and make-up?
Drawers lined up against the wall?
A pile of sopping wet towels?
Wet blankets all over the kitchen floor?
>
Holes drilled in the ceiling?
What on earth could have happened here?!?!? Well, at the risk on revealing myself to be the biggest dummy around (or perhaps just confirming your already held opinion to this effect), here it goes . . . Before getting in the shower, I put a piece of clothing in the bathroom sink to rinse it out. I then turned on the shower. Now, here's where it gets hazy . . . I either forgot to turn off the water to the sink, or Gordon climbed up and turned it back on. (Cody thinks that I should go with the Gordon defense, and to my credit, a couple days later I did discover that Gordon had left a bathroom faucet running, so it is entirely possible that this was his doing.) Anyhow, I took a nice hot shower, but when I turned off the water, I heard water POURING all over the bathroom floor. The clothing had stopped up the sink, and water was running all over the counter and completely flooding the bathroom! All of the cabinet drawers on my side of the bathroom were FULL of water, with makeup, jewelry, and my blow dryer floating around in them. In a panic, I started pouring the water out of the drawers, using every towel I could find to mop up the floor, drying the cabinets, and trying to keep Gordon (who at this point was desperately trying to get me to peel an orange for him - sorry, not now, kiddo) from slipping in the water and cracking his head. As I began to get the bathroom situation under control, it occurred to me that I should check downstairs to see if any water had leaked though. As I made my way down the stairs, I heard water pouring into the kitchen. OH NO. Fortunately, there was no gaping hole in the ceiling, but water was flowing from the light fixture over the kitchen table, and also spurting from one of the recessed light and one of the vents. After several frantic phone calls to Cody, I finally reached him, and he started LAUGHING. To make a long story longer, he raced home from church to find that I had pretty much mopped up the mess, but water was still gushing from the light fixture. He proceeded to drill some holes in the ceiling to see if water was building up any place else, while I threw myself together (with no blow dryer and sopping wet make-up!), put Gordon in his Christmas sweater, and made it to church in time to give Cameron his Joseph costume. Cody stayed behind to make sure that the kitchen ceiling wasn't about to collapse, and made it in time to catch the last last half of the play.
Once the drama was over, and I began to see some humor in the situation . . . I thought about how I might be able to put this event to the "12 Days of Christmas" - 12 gallons of water, 11 holes in the ceiling, 10 different towels, 9 frantic phone calls . . .
The amazing thing, however, is that there was really no damage. Although, my bathroom sink is less than a foot from the doorway into our bedroom, all of the water flowed to the right, completely avoiding the bedroom carpet; nothing on or under the kitchen table or counters was ruined, not even my camera which was being splashed with water; and other than a few holes which need to be spackled and painted, the ceiling sustained no damage. Even my blow dryer and the light fixture still work! Thank goodness for Christmas miracles!
And, alas, Cameron did a fantastic job playing Joseph, and we had a great time on the Polar Express!
In addition to some early Christmas gifts, this was a big morning for Cameron, as he was to play the Joseph in the Nativity play at church. Cameron and Cody left early to help set up, while Gordon and I stayed behind to finish getting ourselves ready. Now, here's where things get interesting . . . Mind you, I had Cameron's Joseph costume at home and HAD to be at church in time for the play. . .
Before I recount the events of the next hour or so, here are some photos to "wet" your appetite . . .
A mass of soggy jewelery and make-up?
Drawers lined up against the wall?
A pile of sopping wet towels?
Wet blankets all over the kitchen floor?
>Holes drilled in the ceiling?
What on earth could have happened here?!?!? Well, at the risk on revealing myself to be the biggest dummy around (or perhaps just confirming your already held opinion to this effect), here it goes . . . Before getting in the shower, I put a piece of clothing in the bathroom sink to rinse it out. I then turned on the shower. Now, here's where it gets hazy . . . I either forgot to turn off the water to the sink, or Gordon climbed up and turned it back on. (Cody thinks that I should go with the Gordon defense, and to my credit, a couple days later I did discover that Gordon had left a bathroom faucet running, so it is entirely possible that this was his doing.) Anyhow, I took a nice hot shower, but when I turned off the water, I heard water POURING all over the bathroom floor. The clothing had stopped up the sink, and water was running all over the counter and completely flooding the bathroom! All of the cabinet drawers on my side of the bathroom were FULL of water, with makeup, jewelry, and my blow dryer floating around in them. In a panic, I started pouring the water out of the drawers, using every towel I could find to mop up the floor, drying the cabinets, and trying to keep Gordon (who at this point was desperately trying to get me to peel an orange for him - sorry, not now, kiddo) from slipping in the water and cracking his head. As I began to get the bathroom situation under control, it occurred to me that I should check downstairs to see if any water had leaked though. As I made my way down the stairs, I heard water pouring into the kitchen. OH NO. Fortunately, there was no gaping hole in the ceiling, but water was flowing from the light fixture over the kitchen table, and also spurting from one of the recessed light and one of the vents. After several frantic phone calls to Cody, I finally reached him, and he started LAUGHING. To make a long story longer, he raced home from church to find that I had pretty much mopped up the mess, but water was still gushing from the light fixture. He proceeded to drill some holes in the ceiling to see if water was building up any place else, while I threw myself together (with no blow dryer and sopping wet make-up!), put Gordon in his Christmas sweater, and made it to church in time to give Cameron his Joseph costume. Cody stayed behind to make sure that the kitchen ceiling wasn't about to collapse, and made it in time to catch the last last half of the play.
Once the drama was over, and I began to see some humor in the situation . . . I thought about how I might be able to put this event to the "12 Days of Christmas" - 12 gallons of water, 11 holes in the ceiling, 10 different towels, 9 frantic phone calls . . .
The amazing thing, however, is that there was really no damage. Although, my bathroom sink is less than a foot from the doorway into our bedroom, all of the water flowed to the right, completely avoiding the bedroom carpet; nothing on or under the kitchen table or counters was ruined, not even my camera which was being splashed with water; and other than a few holes which need to be spackled and painted, the ceiling sustained no damage. Even my blow dryer and the light fixture still work! Thank goodness for Christmas miracles!
And, alas, Cameron did a fantastic job playing Joseph, and we had a great time on the Polar Express!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
And that wraps up the soccer season . . .
Well, we missed the last two or three games due to cold, rainy and/or snowy weather. I think the league needs to start "fall" soccer at the beginning of the fall next year so that the last few games don't take place (or end up being canceled as the case may be!) in December. Oh well! At least the kids had a great time tonight at their soccer party. The very official and highly competitive organization for preschool soccer (i.e. Coach Wall, his teammate Carson's dad) named Cameron Best Defensive Player. Way to go Cameron! He did do a great job of defending the goal whenever the opposing team had the ball.
Click here to see photos of the party.
Click here to see photos of the party.
Christmas Caroling at Preschool
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
A Visit from Grammie and Grandpa
My parents came to visit this past weekend. We all had a nice long weekend, which included making gingerbread houses, riding the tram, a trip to the aquarium, a birthday dinner for grandpa, and more! The boys received early Christmas gifts from Grammie and Grandpa - a DVD of "The Lion King" and the most coveted items on the Christmas list - pirate ships! Click the links below to see photos of our weekend.
Making gingerbread houses with Grammie.
A ride on the tram.
Opening gifts.
Making gingerbread houses with Grammie.
A ride on the tram.
Opening gifts.
A Gift for Mom and Dad
Cameron made us a Christmas gift at school. He very carefully walked it out to the car, because there was something breakable inside, and then proceeded to use all of his powers of negotiation to get me to open it up right then and there. Our conversation went something like this:
Cam: Mom, don't you want to open it right now?
Me: No, I'd like to have something to open on Christmas morning.
Cam: But don't you want to know what it is?
Me: Yes, but I'd like to wait to open it.
Cam: Can I at least tell you want is it?
Me: No.
Cam: Don't you even care what it is?
Me: Yes, of course I care what it is, but I'd like it to be a surprise.
Cam: But mom, you'll be really glad to have it before Christmas.
Me: OK, well, maybe daddy and I can open it up tonight.
Cam: Well, can I give you a clue?
Me: No, I don't want you to ruin the surprise.
Cam: Well, all I'll tell you is that it's somebody that they wanted to kill. Oh, and his mom and dad are in there, too,
Why, whatever could this gift be?!?!?!?!
(In the end, yes, we did open it that night. . . . and we love it! )
Cam: Mom, don't you want to open it right now?
Me: No, I'd like to have something to open on Christmas morning.
Cam: But don't you want to know what it is?
Me: Yes, but I'd like to wait to open it.
Cam: Can I at least tell you want is it?
Me: No.
Cam: Don't you even care what it is?
Me: Yes, of course I care what it is, but I'd like it to be a surprise.
Cam: But mom, you'll be really glad to have it before Christmas.
Me: OK, well, maybe daddy and I can open it up tonight.
Cam: Well, can I give you a clue?
Me: No, I don't want you to ruin the surprise.
Cam: Well, all I'll tell you is that it's somebody that they wanted to kill. Oh, and his mom and dad are in there, too,
Why, whatever could this gift be?!?!?!?!
(In the end, yes, we did open it that night. . . . and we love it! )
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
December has been a fun month as we prepare for Christmas - decorating the house, seeing the River of Lights at the Bio Park, and doing the Old Town Luminaria Stroll. Click here to view the photo albums of these events.
Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
Well, I figured that I had better get my act together and put up a post about Thanksgiving before Christmas has come and gone! We drove to Los Angeles and spent almost a week at Auntie Kirsten and Uncle Richard's home in Pasadena. Cody spent the first two days conducting business in LA while the boys and I played and visited friends. Richard's parents, Kathy and George Farmer, were also in town, and we all had lots of fun, including Thanksgiving dinner at the Ritz Carlton and a visit to the Gene Autry museum.
Click here to see photos from our trip.
This cute photo taken at the park includes many of Cameron's "first friends" - and now their little siblings as well (with friends Sydney and Kasey in the background holding the newest additions - brand newborns Lukas and Lincoln.) We have an almost identical photo of the "original gang" sitting in a row in that same spot, taken in the summer of 2004. Old friends are the best friends!
Click here to see photos from our trip.
This cute photo taken at the park includes many of Cameron's "first friends" - and now their little siblings as well (with friends Sydney and Kasey in the background holding the newest additions - brand newborns Lukas and Lincoln.) We have an almost identical photo of the "original gang" sitting in a row in that same spot, taken in the summer of 2004. Old friends are the best friends!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Art of Writing A Letter to Santa (as Performed by Cameron Lee and Narrated by His Mother)
How to you get a 5-year old to keep his letter to Santa short? Make him write it himself!!! The process will take so long that he will add only the "essential" requests to his letter . . .
First, he must choose the proper writing implements. Cameron started out with a pen, but since he couldn't erase his mistakes, he went for a Christmas pencil. However, when the Christmas pencil kept breaking, he chose a Halloween pencil. But, since he had to erase and rewrite his work quite often, he found it necessary to brush away the eraser shavings. So, he went on the hunt for a paint brush. After searching the backyard (and I have no idea why he thought there would be a paintbrush in the backyard), I found one for him in the craft box . . .
Not being in kindergarten yet, Cameron cannot spell, but he does know all his letters. So, I sat with him and spelled out each of his gift requests as he painstakingly wrote them. . . Upper case "P" (write "P", erase, brush away the shavings, write it again), lower case "i" (write the "i" and then engage in discourse as to how Santa will know which pirate ship he wants), lower case "r" (write the "r", erase, brush away shavings, have mom assure him that we will make a note that it's the Fisher Price one he saw at Target) . . . you get the idea. One of the funniest moments came when he was writing "Dear Santa." I spelled it out for him, "D-e-a-r space S-a-n-t-a comma." He looked at me seriously and said, "Who's Comma?'
And finally, after a LONG time, we have a Christmas letter!
Take a look here to see photos of the entire process . . .
P.S. These lucky items made the cut:
Pirate Ship (Fisher Price one at Target)
Shuttle (space shuttle)
Army Rifle
Scooter
Pirate Book (Pirates of the Caribbean)
and a couple "after the fact" additions, a Transformer and a Drum Set.
First, he must choose the proper writing implements. Cameron started out with a pen, but since he couldn't erase his mistakes, he went for a Christmas pencil. However, when the Christmas pencil kept breaking, he chose a Halloween pencil. But, since he had to erase and rewrite his work quite often, he found it necessary to brush away the eraser shavings. So, he went on the hunt for a paint brush. After searching the backyard (and I have no idea why he thought there would be a paintbrush in the backyard), I found one for him in the craft box . . .
Not being in kindergarten yet, Cameron cannot spell, but he does know all his letters. So, I sat with him and spelled out each of his gift requests as he painstakingly wrote them. . . Upper case "P" (write "P", erase, brush away the shavings, write it again), lower case "i" (write the "i" and then engage in discourse as to how Santa will know which pirate ship he wants), lower case "r" (write the "r", erase, brush away shavings, have mom assure him that we will make a note that it's the Fisher Price one he saw at Target) . . . you get the idea. One of the funniest moments came when he was writing "Dear Santa." I spelled it out for him, "D-e-a-r space S-a-n-t-a comma." He looked at me seriously and said, "Who's Comma?'
And finally, after a LONG time, we have a Christmas letter!
Take a look here to see photos of the entire process . . .
P.S. These lucky items made the cut:
Pirate Ship (Fisher Price one at Target)
Shuttle (space shuttle)
Army Rifle
Scooter
Pirate Book (Pirates of the Caribbean)
and a couple "after the fact" additions, a Transformer and a Drum Set.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
October Photos
Well, it has been a while since I've updated. We have a new Mac, and I've been reorganizing my photos. I am working on a new blog site which should be very easy to use with our new computer, but I am currently trying to work out some glitches. In the meantime, here is the link to our new web gallery, where we'll be posting photos. I'll be back with some blog commentary as soon as I get our new site "glitch free."
Enjoy the photos.
P.S. We also had a big family reunion in October, and I will have photos from that as soon as I gather all the good shots from everyone's respective cameras!
Enjoy the photos.
P.S. We also had a big family reunion in October, and I will have photos from that as soon as I gather all the good shots from everyone's respective cameras!
Friday, October 5, 2007
A Visit from Old Neighbors and a Drive to Sandia Crest
Well, it has been a couple weeks since I've updated. Here are a couple photos from a September 25th visit from our old neighbors, Mitch and Evelyn, who were in New Mexico for a few days. They lived two houses down from us on Forbes Avenue in Lake Balboa, CA, and were wonderful neighbors. Mitch offered Cody lots of valuable advice (and tools!) during all of our remodeling projects.
The next photos are from September 29th, when we drive to the top of Sandia Crest just for the heck of it. The view are beautiful, but once we arrived at the top, the wind kicked up, the temps dropped considerably, and it began to rain, so needless-to-say, we didn't stay long!
(Click on photos for a larger view.)
The next photos are from September 29th, when we drive to the top of Sandia Crest just for the heck of it. The view are beautiful, but once we arrived at the top, the wind kicked up, the temps dropped considerably, and it began to rain, so needless-to-say, we didn't stay long!
(Click on photos for a larger view.)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Five years old, already?!?!?!
Monday, September 10th, was Cameron's 5th birthday. We can hardly believe that he's five-years old. As I told Cody, five is half way to ten, and in one year, he'll be a third of the way to eighteen (and we'll be a third of the way through raising him.) Yikes! OK, I'm getting a bit carried away, but still, I cannot believe how big he's getting. At least he missed the September 1st cut-off to start kindergarten, so I have a whole year until I have to deal with that!
Anyhow, here are some photos of the birthday boy's big day!
He woke up to a couple of gifts waiting in the kitchen, a new fish tank all set up and ready for the Betta fish of his choice, and a pirate's costume, purchased with the birthday money that the "Great Simpsons" sent him. Our little buccaneer has spent his playtime "roving" the neighborhood dressed as a pirate! We hope that the costume will still be intact by Halloween, so that it can serve double duty.
Cameron took "C is for Cameron" chocolate cupcakes to Pre-K, and directly after school we went to the pet store to choose his fish. The photos don't do it justice, but the fish is really pretty. Cameron asked me for some good fish names. I suggested Jonah or Poseidon. Cameron decided that Cowboy was more appropriate. So, Cowboy the Betta Fish it is!
After a birthday dinner at Dion's Pizza, Gammie and Boppa came over with some gifts. Cousin Haric sent a cool light saber and a Buzz Lightyear toy. Gammie and Boppa gave Cameron two very cool books, one about Insects and one about Pirates, as well as a "vintage" Fisher Price record player on which to play his daddy's old children's records. Cameron has been listening to Winnie the Pooh, The Wizards of Oz, and other records all week long! After presents, we enjoyed Gammie's famous Mildred's Peach Pie.
Grammie and Grandpa also sent a package in the mail - a Michigan State sweatshirt and an Etch-a-Sketch. I'd say that Cameron made out very well for a 5-year-old boy!
Anyhow, here are some photos of the birthday boy's big day!
He woke up to a couple of gifts waiting in the kitchen, a new fish tank all set up and ready for the Betta fish of his choice, and a pirate's costume, purchased with the birthday money that the "Great Simpsons" sent him. Our little buccaneer has spent his playtime "roving" the neighborhood dressed as a pirate! We hope that the costume will still be intact by Halloween, so that it can serve double duty.
Cameron took "C is for Cameron" chocolate cupcakes to Pre-K, and directly after school we went to the pet store to choose his fish. The photos don't do it justice, but the fish is really pretty. Cameron asked me for some good fish names. I suggested Jonah or Poseidon. Cameron decided that Cowboy was more appropriate. So, Cowboy the Betta Fish it is!
After a birthday dinner at Dion's Pizza, Gammie and Boppa came over with some gifts. Cousin Haric sent a cool light saber and a Buzz Lightyear toy. Gammie and Boppa gave Cameron two very cool books, one about Insects and one about Pirates, as well as a "vintage" Fisher Price record player on which to play his daddy's old children's records. Cameron has been listening to Winnie the Pooh, The Wizards of Oz, and other records all week long! After presents, we enjoyed Gammie's famous Mildred's Peach Pie.
Grammie and Grandpa also sent a package in the mail - a Michigan State sweatshirt and an Etch-a-Sketch. I'd say that Cameron made out very well for a 5-year-old boy!
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