Sledding Off the Deck

 Yesterday I spent the better part of Cameron's morning nap packing snow on the deck's stairs.  I was starting to question my sanity after awhile.  There was a lot of snow, and it was heavy.  However, once I got a decent ramp I called Kenzie and Parker outside to try it out. 

The pictures in this post are taken by the kids, by the way.  I had to hold the sled steady at the top for them to climb on, so they took turns at first taking pictures of each other and then they went down together instead. 

 Parker has a cold, and even took a nap later in the day, but during sledding time he was all smiles.

 I was pretty impressed - sometimes they slid all the way to the end of the yard, and they never tipped out or anything.  We finally stopped when we were all wet.

And just for fun, here was Cameron, still asleep when we came back inside!

Christmas with the Arnolds

 Christmas afternoon we drove out to Aunt Caroline's for the Arnold gathering.  Kenzie and Parker were so excited to get yet another present!

 

 I love everyone's expressions!  Parker's Spiderman action figure was apparently incredibly amazing to Camille as well!  Too funny.

 

 Kenzie had been looking forward to croissants for weeks now.  I had to suggest she stop after she admitted she was on her third!

Parker had two chocolate croissants - he might be picky, but hot chocolate and a pastry drizzled with chocolate was right up his alley!

 Cameron got a new hat that Adam picked out for him.  He still isn't too sure about these huge gatherings.

 He snuggled with me while we played Apples to Apples.

 This picture here was actually taken a week ago, but I had to post it because Parker fell asleep in the exact same position on the way home from Caroline's, too.  It looks extremely comfortable, doesn't it?

Merry Christmas!

 Christmas morning started for Parker with the pure joy of finding a stuffed Captain America in his stocking.  (It's his new friend and they even shared breakfast together this morning.)

 My camera didn't focus well for these next few pictures, but you can get the idea.  Parker didn't need anything else once he discovered his light saber. 

 Goofy McKenzie yelled, "Finally!" when she discovered Santa had brought the toothpaste and toothbrush she's begged for.  Yes, that's right, toothpaste and a toothbrush.  They came with stickers, so both now are labeled with her name.

 The dinosaur hats!

 Kenzie hugging her new kitty.  She insisted on watching Aristocats this afternoon so Marie could watch herself. 

 One happy girl with all her loot!  (We had some anonymous people leave packages on our doorstep several days this past week, and Chris and I remarked that the kids wound up with more stuff than they do the years we can get them presents!  They were quite spoiled...)

 Parker was very happy with the swords that made clanging noises, too.  It will not be quiet around here!

Cameron woke up after everything was opened.  He just stared in the front room as if wondering what on earth we were up to.  Next year should be a completely different story!  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

 On Christmas Eve, the kiddos get to exchange the presents they picked out for each other (at the dollar store and the cheap section of Target).  It's always so cute to see how thoughtful they are.

 Cameron just sat there with this expression on his face the entire time.  He's not too sure what in the world Kenzie and Parker have been up to!

 Cameron got Parker a little headlamp like Daddy has.  Parker was very, very excited to strap it to his noggin and run down the dark hall to try it out!

 Kenzie was, as usual, very impressed by a package of shaped erasers from Cameron.

Here is the reason Mommy and Daddy love this tradition.  Parker thanked Kenzie for the Hot Wheels she picked out for him, and Kenzie thanked Parker for the orange whistle.  I didn't even force them to hug, either!  Merry Christmas Eve!

4 Months!

Cameron is 4 months old today!  In an extreme oversight, I had not yet forced him to wear his Santa suit, so this morning was a great opportunity to correct such a wrong!

Kenzie's Dance Recital

 My little girl is way too grown up.  She has been taking clogging and jazz this year with one of her little friends in the neighborhood, and it was cute to watch their little recital last night.

 

I thought this was sweet - Daddy holding Cameron (who had fallen asleep in the van and woke up completely confused!).

 Here's the video of Kenzie's clogging dance.  She starts off second from the right (with the ponytail).  Sorry it is such a big video, it might take a long time to load.  (Also, even though I had nothing to do with the music selection, I feel I should apologize for the horrible country song they're clogging to!  Ugh!)

And here's a video of the jazz dance.  Kenzie is the last one on the right.  The pictures didn't turn out that we took (that camera hasn't been the same since Parker dropped it a few weeks ago...) so I just have the videos.  But McKenzie did well and had fun, so that's what really mattered!

Once There Was a Snowman

 It snowed like crazy here on Saturday, but Kenzie and Parker were thrilled to go outside in it to build a snowman.

 Parker gave the snowman a raisin "bellybutton" but otherwise he mostly ate the raisins himself.  Kenzie found the sticks for arms and took care of the rest.

The finished product! 

How Cameron Wakes Up

The other morning I had to take a picture before getting Cameron out of his crib.  He is so incredibly patient - it was 8:05am, and he'd been awake for a little while, but I was busy getting Kenzie out the door for school and Parker his breakfast.  Cameron just lay in his crib, sucking on his hands like usual, until I could come get him to feed him.  He does that most mornings.  Hopefully I don't jinx it by saying it, but he really is such an easy-going little guy!  (In comparison, Kenzie wakes up with a groan every morning, and Parker's first words are, "But I haven't had breakfast yet!" about 90% of the time.  So, I'm not sure where he gets it!)

Gingerbread Houses

 Last night, while waiting for Daddy to arrive home from seeing The Hobbit, we decorated some graham cracker houses. Most years I buy a little gingerbread kit and let each kiddo decorate half the roof, but this year I figured it would be more cost-effective to buy some candies from the bulk bins at WinCo instead.  Kenzie and Parker both got their own house this way, too, although they used up so much candy in their yards they barely had any for the roofs!  I guess next year I need to get more candy...

 ...here's how Parker held the bag of icing to make his windows!  Also you can really see Kenzie's "fence" of Christmas candycorn (and the reason all the candy was used up!).

 They thought they were so funny -

- which made a cute picture eventually!  Goofy kids.  They sure had fun making their houses, and Parker asked me yet again if it's Christmas now.  (He asks at least once a day!  I guess it's hard when you have no sense of time!)

Parker, My Helper

 Since Kenzie was at school last week when we made sugar cookies, Parker got to be in charge of the sprinkles.  He was very happy to be making cookies to send to his buddy Josh and to his grandparents in Oregon.  (Sorry to the grandparents in Tahiti, but if a simple card took 2 months to get here, cookies would not be worth waiting for!)

 I always like to take pictures of the kiddos helping in the kitchen.  I guess it's nice sometimes to have company (even if right after this picture Parker dropped the container of sprinkles on the floor.  It spun around as it landed, too!  Our floor was so very festive!).

Here's a bonus picture - Parker sharing his beloved blanket with Cameron.  He also later shared his special panda.  Cameron is well-loved by his big brother. 

Haven't Lost Interest Yet!

 Sometimes people ask if Kenzie and Parker still think Cameron's great or if he's lost some of his initial appeal.  This post is to report that Cameron is still the star of the show around here.  Sometimes when I need to get dinner ready I'll bring Cameron into Kenzie's room, where she'll be playing with Parker.  I'll say, "Can Cameron play, too?"  Kenzie and Parker will both stop what they're doing to get a few toys to show Cameron.  I'll come back twenty minutes later and Cameron will have fallen asleep on the floor, and Kenzie has tucked blankets all around him after singing songs to him.  Parker had gotten his pacifier for him and will be whispering to not wake him up.  It's pretty sweet.

So yes, everyone still loves the baby!

"You are Getting so Big, Cameron!"

I was organizing my recipe files and Cameron was just hanging out on the floor next to me.  I heard Parker digging around in the drawers of the table behind me and then I heard him say, "You are getting so big, Cameron!"  I looked and Parker was measuring his little brother.  Just one of those random things I think is cute!