Alumni Game

We went to the annual Alumni game again this year. Blake found (basically swiped it from another kid) this ball to sit on and was clapping very enthusiastically for about 5 minutes. Then he tried to throw the ball on the court, run/climb all over the bleachers, and find little tasty morsels on the ground to eat for the rest of the game. Have I mentioned he's very active?

Campbell & Blake had a blast running all over the court after the game - they worked up quite the sweat - as did Gabe & I chasing after them. It was very weird seeing Coach's kids who are now in high school/college shooting baskets together after the game. I very distinctly remember them when they were Campbell & Blake's age playing on the court during the open gyms and summer camps that I attended when I was their age. Just the thing to make ya feel old, that's for sure!

Gobble Gobble

I love this Turkey that Campbell made. The turkey body is her hand print & then do you see it's smiley face?

Tutus & Boo-boo's

Quite the outfit! Campbell is on day 6 of wearing her beloved tutu from Grammy.

Today she completes the look with purple polka dot pants, pink jeweled tank top & a face full of PURPLE lip gloss. She recently found a princess necklace that has purple grape flavored lip gloss inside. She got it as a party favor from a birthday party a long time ago. She has been getting dressed in the morning before she comes out of her room, which is really helpful, but I'm not there to give fashion advice. However, who am I to give fashion advice? I've worn my new comfy pants every day since I got them WEEKS ago.

Boo-boo bunny to the rescue.

Blake got a little bump on his head today and I can't believe how he was SITTING STILL and holding the ice to his head. I think it was because he was exhausted, which probably accounts for the fall as well. He's been transitioning to 1 nap a day so I've been trying to keep him up until after lunch.

Art, Art & More Art

With a mountain of art work piling up, I decided that I could take pictures of each picture and throw away all but my favorites and not feel guilty.

Campbell admiring her art that I was getting ready to photograph

Posing with Uno & Dos art from school

Posing with Naranja, Rojo & Azul art from school

Now a small sampling of the TONS of Dot Dot art (painting with bingo blotters) that Campbell did this summer at the cabin. If you haven't already received one in the mail, you have a good chance of getting one as I've been using them as Thank You notes.

Campbell's teachers send pictures monthly of the kids at school. I love this one. She's concentrating so hard, you can tell because her tongue is sticking out - a trait she got from Dad.

There is 'free art' time at school where the kids get to pick what kind of art they want to do. Campbell picks out Dora themed art a lot.

This one from late summer I saved because it was one of the first times Campbell drew people. See the big heads with legs coming down?

Another early people drawing. She called it "People in a Magical Town."

This is a precursor to Campbell drawing people. It was the first time she drew something that I could recognize....potatoes. See the circles with dots inside?

Campbell is starting to attempt to write her name. It's at the top in purple. See the tiny 'C' at the beginning and then the "ll" at the end?

Campbell drew the people that live at her house. See the pile of people on the right? That's our family, including all her imaginary brothers & sisters. You know...Alex, Talex, Sissy, Tissy, Pennen, Tennen, etc.

Campbell came home from school at the beginning of the fall very concerned about her new friend, H, who had a scrape on her nose. She had me write a Get Well Note on her art so she could bring it to H the next day. So sweet!

Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus

We went to see Santa arrive at the EP Mall tonight. Campbell was really excited to see Santa come down the street being pulled by 2 of his reindeer. She wondered where the other reindeer were? Campbell got a last minute case of shyness and didn't want to give Santa five when he got off his sleigh. Blake really surprised us - I was thinking he wouldn't really know what was going on, but he was YELLING "ta-ta! ta-ta! ta-ta!" (Santa! Santa! Santa!) louder than any of the other kids.  He was super excited to give Santa a big high five. It was hilarious especially since it was so unexpected.

Campbell waving to Santa. Daddy with tutu hat.

Blake giving a solid high five to Santa.

Turning Point

Not long after returning back to work from maternity leave, I had a turning point in my life that I had kind of forgotten about until now. But, it came up while having a deep conversation with a former coworker the other night over dinner, so I thought I should document it since it had a big impact on our family. 

I told the story of how I was watching an Oprah on Freeganism, where these people got their food from food thrown away by grocery stores - basically food past it's expiration date or produce with minor blemishes. At that time, I was feeling horrible about how little time I got to spend with Campbell. Rushing out the door in the morning and by the time I picked her up from day care and got home it was around 6:00. So that left about 1 hour that I would get to spend with my precious baby every day. It didn't feel right. While watching the show, I had this thought that I would do whatever it took to stay home with my baby. Yes, I would dumpster dive if it meant I could stay at home.

I had worked hard to get where I was in my career and had even gone to grad school, but once I had a baby I knew what I really wanted to do was spend as much time as possible with her. Luckily we are able to afford me staying at home and I feel very grateful about that.

Being a stay at home mom is honestly the best job I've had and I feel like being a mom is what I was meant to do in life. 


And in case you were wondering, (thank goodness) I haven't had to dumpster dive.

Campbellisms & the beginnings of Blakeisms

• A little background: Campbell recently learned how to put her socks on by herself and how to button the buttons on her jacket. She is very excited about dressing herself and has been getting dressed by herself before she comes out of her room in the morning. It makes things so easy when I just have one kid to dress or put shoes/socks/jacket on before we get out the door. She also opens the car door by herself and climbs into her car seat and almost can get herself buckled in without any help. Although she is slow so I have to give her a good head start. So, we were leaving a play date and my friend commented on how it's good that Campbell can get her shoes and jacket on by herself and Campbell said: "I can do everything by myself except drive a car or a boat. My mom thinks it's a big help." Then, before Campbell went to bed we were talking about how old she will have to be before she can drive a car. She said: "I have to be old like 5?" I said: "No, you have to be really old, like 16." And I counted 5, 6, 7....16. She said: "Oh, so you have to be really old like junk?"  

• Today Blake made a verbal leap. Hard to describe, but all of a sudden he started talking a lot more and saying things by himself instead of when prompted. Development is so interesting!

• Blake has been putting 2 words together every once in a while. The other day he said 'ma tetsh up' (more ketchup). He REALLY likes his ketchup.

• And he's starting calling milk 'ma' instead of 'wawa' like he always has. I wonder why he switched it up? 

• Blake sings (kind of) the Clean Up song when we are cleaning up or whenever I saw something about cleaning up....he has the intonation down of "nean up, nean up" 

• Papa taught Blake this series of actions about pretending to throw/catch balls:  an exaggerated throwing action with an exaggerated catching grunt noise, followed by a catching action where he holds his little hands out with the palms up. Now Papa's added the tackle part. So Blake falls down and says something like tackle and thinks it's hilarious when you pretend tackle him.

Preschool

Campbell has really been enjoying school. I don't get much out of her as far as what they do during class, but here are some clues as to how much she is loving it:

• Picking Campbell up from school the other day, she ran to me and gave me a big hug and said this: Oh mama school is the best! 
• Today she ran to me and said: I have the best school in the world! 
• The other day she jumped out of the car at curbside drop off and before I could say goodbye and give her a hug, she sprinted off to the door, yelling over her shoulder,  "there are my friends A & V - I gotta catch them!"
• Pretty regularly she makes sure to give her friend H a hug goodbye. I've heard her call H her "best friend". So sweet and interesting seeing the social development.  

This sheet was sent home the other day. The things she comes up with just crack me up. 

And her FIRST REPORT CARD from the beginning of the year just came home. If you know Campbell at all, the 'P' grade for 'Only talking when it's my turn' is not surprising and perhaps a bit generous. :)

First Snow

I love being cozy at home during big snow storms. Minneapolis had its biggest November snow storm in 2 decades and I missed it! We were Up North & they didn't get that much snow...even worse, I didn't pack winter clothes for the kids so they were only able to play in the fresh snow for a couple minutes. When we got back home, the snow was melting and half of our yard was muddy, but the kids had fun anyway. Although Blake had a really hard time staying upright on the rough terrain being so bundled up.

And a picture of the kids enjoying the fresh snow Up North in their fall wear from last weekend. Woops.

Warm

I wore capris and flip flops today...it's crazy that it's November! The kids and I enjoyed a picnic in the green grass and went to 2 parks. I don't think we'll have many more days like this for a long time. Blake spotted an albino squirrel during our picnic. Good eye Blake!

This picture isn't the greatest because it's from my phone, but love the the sun rays...especially coming thru Blake's curls.

Random November

My babies with their babies. It's funny watching Blake drag his baby around by one limb. His favorite thing to do with his baby is throw it down the steps repeatedly. On the other hand Campbell has always cradled her babies so carefully and acts like a little mama feeding, changing, and putting them to sleep.

Campbell has been very into puzzles lately. This is her figuring out her first 48 piece puzzle. I couldn't believe how she did it all by herself - I swear I didn't help even one little bit. We had never done a puzzle this big before, but she took it, studied it for a while and then was so focused on figuring it out. She didn't even get frustrated. I totally know I'm bragging, but it was amazing watching her complete it.

Blake on 2 phones. He's started to say 'hello' but it sounds something like "a-o."

Bowl heads playing in the kitchen

Campbell came up with this activity - ice skating. Campbell was holding Blake's hands as they 'skated' around the kitchen for a good 30 minutes. Of course though they didn't want to do it anymore when I got the video camera out.

 

 

Blake hard at work. He loves wearing Campbell's Dora backpack (or 'dack dack' as he calls it).

Campbell proudly displaying the fancy outfit and outer wear she chose and put on all by herself - even buttoning her own buttons. From the hat all the way down to her shoes on the wrong feet.