Arthur Christmas

Dan has been working two jobs which means he is gone most of the day.  Often he leaves before the kids wake up and gets home after they are in bed.  So when he got home last night before it was too late, he was begging to do something fun with the boys.

So fun we did.

I was worried how the kids would handle a late movie on a day with no nap.  But thankfully it was a school night and we were the only ones in the theater so I didn't have to worry.

Toothfairy

One of the first Sunday's at church here in Idaho, a sweet lady invited me to come to library with her and her grand kids the following Tuesday.  I was so thankful someone recognized we were new and reached out to befriend me.  Her grand kids have become good friends with my boys and we enjoy doing things together.

As we drive to the library each week, we pass by a dentist office with a lighthouse out front.  Her grandson Caleb always asks if he can go in it.  So one day she called the dentist office and apparently that is where the Toothfairy lives.  They graciously invited us to come take a tour.

It was the cutest little place I've ever seen.  Everything was miniature, pink and full of sparkles.

We got to see some of the teeth she has collected from all over the world before she grinds them up into fairy dust.

Unfortunately she is one busy lady and wasn't there today.  Luckily she had teeny tiny pieces of paper for us to leave her a letter.

Thankful

We love Thanksgiving around these parts and have so much to be grateful for.

I love the silly little crafts my kids create but hate having them around for clutter.  I figure if I take a picture it is just as good as saving it, right?  This is what Jace brought home from Nursery.

This year we had a thankful tree.  Small tags were left out all month and we could write as we pleased.

I am thankful for:

family

a heater in my house and car

my walking buddies

my calling

Dan's jobs

family deserves two spots on my list-especially my parents and little brother

slippers

testimony

Before eating ourselves sick we hit up the bowling alley.

I'm pretty sure Camden and Jace had better scores than most of us.

I have to document this picture because it is a rare accomplishment.  Getting both of my parents smiling a real smile at the same time is something to be documented.  They must really like the bowling alley!  Maybe someday I will get them both looking and smiling, but for now this will do.

Drawing 101

Yesterday Camden asked if he could draw a picture for Dad since he is out of town.  I happily got the bag of crayons and a few pieces of paper, anticipating a little time to myself.  But I had this nagging feeling it was time for a little drawing lesson. 

Up until this point Camden just "scribbled" on paper and when asked what he colored, he looked at me like I was crazy.  I guess I thought kids just magically learned how to draw things. But seeing how I never draw because I lack that gene, why would I expect them to know how.    So I busted out my stick figure skills and told him to give it a try.

Call it sappy but I got a bit chocked up when I noticed he really did learn something from me. So I excitedly asked him about his drawing.

"It's one, two, three, four aliens getting sucked up in that spaceship.  And these(pointing to all the random dots) are Chewie's feets of mud all over everywhere."

And his(ok, mine too) favorite part of this masterpiece was on the back side.

"Look!  It's you having a hard day mom."

Goodbye

Today I loaned a few baby items to a friend for her grand baby who is coming to visit.  I may or may not have smelled them before I sent them out the door.  The scent of my babies is rather faint, probably gone.  It broke my heart.  Before I know it, my 4 and 2 year old will be long gone.

Today at four years old Camden is rather sassy.  He seems to enjoy talking back and not listening to discipline.

At two Jace can carry on a full conversation as if he were an adult. The wheels in his head are just spinning with all the information he is trying to soak in.

Both of them never stop talking.

Camden pointed to a lady in the store this morning and said, "Look, big fat".  It broke my heart.  His innocence was escaping the jar I thought I bottled up so tight.

I have felt somber all day as I realized my kids are growing up right before my eyes.

One Last Picture(cell phone style)

Trick or treating this year was extra fun.  Camden is at such a fun age, he was soaking it all in.  I'm pretty sure it helped having his cousin Jenna confidently show him the ropes.  And Jace was in his own world.

I could only imagine the thoughts going through their heads.  How awesome it is to walk up to any door, knock, say trick or treat, and random people drop loads of candy into your bucket.

I was surprised they waited until we got home to even begin eating their loot.  And they definitely got enough to tie them over until next year.