A Rockstar and her back-up Dancer

Honestly, need I say more!!!! They had a blast!

Cayden's Christmas Program

The first and second graders at Cayden's school performed "The Littlest Christmas Tree". They all were great and we enjoyed the 20 minute performance. Cayden even got to sing while marching around the elves.

Christmas Morning

Camrie LOVES her new dress-up clothes from Grandma & Grandpa Butler. They show up at least once a day. She models them and is sure to sing with them on! They are all so sparkly and fun she can't decide and usually changes clothes a few times.















Yes, there really is a Santa Claus. This is all Camrie asked for from Santa (the day after Thanksgiving) and remembered all season long. I heard it was tough to find, but Santa came through in the end!










This is the only shot I got of Cayden on Christmas morning opening his stocking. My goal next year is to get much better about taking pictures and brining my camera with me everywhere we go.

Cayden's Christmas Program

The first and second graders at Redwood Elementary performed "The Littlest Christmas Tree" on December 20th. They were so great. It was about a 20 minute program with singing and speaking parts. Cayden was one of the Christmas trees that got to march around the bigger trees and elves. Cayden is in the brown at white stripes to the left.m,

Family Pix

While we were in Salem we took some family pictures. Yes, we are planning to share but wanted to post a few so everyone could see before Christmas. It was very cold but the kids were troopers

Fun at OMSI

We learned about Penguins & Polar Bears at the new traveling exhibit. The kids got to slide down and "iceberg" like a penguin, compare their foot size to a penguins and look at life size examples of penguins and polar bears.















Cayden loved all the hands on activities at OMSI. He was really impressed with the IMAX movie, "Sea Monsters" and how it felt like we were moving during the movie. He can't wait to go back so we can "just play" the entire day.









Camrie got down and dirty in the Chemistry Lab. We created secret pictures with white crayons and watercolors, we created different colored fire with solutions in test tubes and over a bunson burner. We even created luminol by mixing solutions together. She absolutely loved it and especially loved wearing the pink safety goggles.








Even Ainsleigh (Erica's niece) joined in the fun! She enjoyed running around and especially the under six play area.

Fun at the bank!

Sorry, no pictures. We are heading to Brody, Karee and Baby Ainsleigh's for Thanksgiving so I am sure I will have plenty by the end of the weekend. We are going to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) on Friday and the kids are so excited they are beside themselves. We will have a blast!!!
Okay, for my bank story. Shawn picked up the kids at the end of the day and went to the "Cookie Bank" last week so he could do a deposit before heading home with them. Our business banker (Patty) works in this branch and the kids think she is pretty neat! Patty was on the phone so Shawn told the kids they had to wait. A little bit later he noticed she was off the phone and told Camrie she could go and say hi. Shawn turned back around as he was at the teller window.
The next thing he (and everyone else in the bank) heard was a really loud, "BOO!". Yes, our daughter with the ultimate decorum quietly crept up behind Patty and scared her. Camrie thought it was awesome and has been telling people the story all week.
Try explaining to a three year old why it is probably not a good idea to yell boo in a bank. The logic development is just not quite there. Everyone, of course, got a good laugh and thought she was so cute (which is always so helpful when trying to teach her some boundaries).

Now everyone wipe the smirks off of your face - I was the good kid - Camrie is my sister's payback not mine and I wonder somedays how I got "stuck"(okay, blessed) with her. All though she may very well be Shawn's payback (I have heard that his mom said many times while he was growing up - just wait until you have kids - the ultimate payback statement).

Happy Turkey day!