First Sleepover

The cousins had their very first sleep over yesterday. I was so excited.
Camden loves having a play mate. And Paris loves crafts! Camden enjoys being around during the crafts, but doesn't quite understand how to do them. He spent a lot more time eating the antlers we made than really appreciating them [;


We began the night with our Christmas Crafts. The kids decorated antlers and ornaments.

 Paris is so cute to watch decorate her things. "Next PIECE" she says again and again. And then every once in a while she pauses to say "OOOOO PRETTY!!". I love it.

Next we baked some chocolate chip cookies which the kids enjoyed munching on. 

Then we settled into their pjs and I TRIED to get them to sit still for a picture. 

Which of course only resulted in them dancing to the music that was playing. 

So I sat them on the couch attempting to MAKE them sit still

But very quickly it became a jump on the couch and die of laughter picture. I couldn't even bring myself to stop them--they were cracking up!!

After all the jumping I gave the kids their sippys and let them play in the playroom for a while just the two of them.

Then we settled in to watch the Polar Express. 

Camden lasted about 20 minutes just walking around the family room and occasionally stopping to watch the movie, then he crashed and we put him into his crib. Paris fell asleep RIGHT at the very end of the movie. She excitedly said "CHOO CHOO" many times throughout the movie. I carried her to bed and both kids slept in to almost 10am today!

We had a fun Christmas breakfast this morning which included Santa and Snowman themed pancakes, eggs, and strawberries. (All sleepovers include a lot of sugar right....??)

Then the kids played for a bit in the playroom again as Garth and I packed up and cleaned, then we got them ready and headed to the mall to see Santa where we met Anna.
Paris was so excited to see Santa, but I think she was even more excited to see her momma!

Camden LOVED SANTA.
He ran straight to him smiling and talking and just jumped and jumped in front of him waiting for him to pick him up. Maybe I should be a little concerned my child has no concept of stranger danger!

Overall I would say it was a very successful first sleepover for these cousins! Camden adores having friends to play with so I was excited when Anna agreed to let Paris sleep here. Although I am not sure if they could have had more fun than I did.
We will have to do it again sometime!!
This is one of those things that make living near family so great!

Breathing Easy

I am loving this age of Camden's. It is so fun.
He is into everything, mimicking me like crazy, and just really taking in the world.
His personality is shining through. He is loud, quirky, bold, sweet, and SMILEY.

I think partly I am loving this stage because I feel like I'm no longer holding my breath.
Camden's health problems and questions and concerns I feel like always had me holding my breath.
Someone would tell me "oh he is fine" but doctors always had something they were concerned about or wanted to "keep an eye on".
Camden has had neurology appts, sick appts, well checks, therapy evaluations, swallow studies, EEG's, pediatric gastro, etc etc etc. Each time there have been red flags, concerning things, and things we need to medicate him for.
Finally this past round of appts each doctor has said with a smile "I won't be needing to see him back again unless something changes, he looks good!"
Oh those doctors smiles make me so happy! I usually get the concerned strained expressions where they are trying to not worry me too much but also trying to be honest with me.
My happy baby's body has finally learned how to take in this world and keep up with his ever going mind!

There are many moments I laugh at him and I am filled with a sense of gratitude. He is healthy, he is thriving, and I am just enjoying him. I'm not guessing, questioning, scared... I'm just a mom raising a boy who is my entire world.

Love it.
I know I probably talk about this a lot: his health, my peace or my worry, but there really truly are days that I just feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for finally getting to feel like a 'normal' mom.

Our family has been doing well.
We are always busy but I feel like we are generally busy doing things we are happy to be doing.
We have two custom signs we are currently working on for some customers--so exciting to get to share something Garth and I enjoy doing together with other people.
I have been playing with my camera often--I'm a little obsessed. It's a work in progress.

Garth is a busy bee, but he is a good man and always finds time out in his day for Camden and I.
Today we packed up Paris and Camden right after Garth got off work and headed for Golden.
We took a little trail that begins in Down Town Golden and works its way up further into the Mountains.
It was beautiful, and though our time was short it was nice to enjoy being outdoors with our little family.

Paris enjoyed pointing out all the dogs and ducks, and Camden barked at all of them. Which sounds like "ah ah ah". More like a monkey than a dog, but we understand what he means!!

I feel like every weekend we go do something different. Whether we go to the city, the mountains, a park, the zoo, etc etc, I seem to fall more in love with Colorado the more we explore.
We don't know how long we will be here, we know we have 3 years here but who knows after that.
I'm trying to soak it all up!

So this past surgery was one of the best things that has happened to me ever! One, because I am no longer in pain. But  more importantly two, because it allowed me to take a step back.
I decided to put less pressure on myself, and I feel I have been succeeding in that. I've stopped glorifying a "to-do" list and the act of being busy, and I've started just slowing down and allowing myself to let the unimportant things go.
I have created a loose schedule to keep me from doing TOO much in a day for the world and TOO little in a day for the things that matter in the eternities.
It has only been a short bit but I can already feel how much joy it has allowed me to feel each and every individual day.

Anyways, that was my short little update [:

Here are pictures from our nature walk in Golden today.

Pumpkin Patch

Today after the afternoon session of conference our family headed to the Pumpkin Patch along with Anna and Paris.
I wasn't expecting so many little adventures at the pumpkin patch but it was so fun!

Garth had to leave early to attend priesthood but Paris and Camden enjoyed running around together and especially loved all the animals.

So Camden and Paris went on their first Hay-ride today!

 

Searched for pumpkins

Met a lot of animals they have never been around before

Rode a cute little "train"

 Bounced in a bouncy house for the first time ever, and Just explored!

Oh and did their first corn maze ever