Merry Christmas !!!!!

I could not let this month go by without wishing all of you a Very Merry Christmas!
I hope that it is wonderful for you and your family!

My family is doing great, just growing daily. They just do not stay little.

Ashlynn is almost 5 months old and weighs almost 14 pounds (she is not missing too many meals). She has been sleeping through the night for a week now, so that is WONDERFUL!!! As a matter of fact she slept until 9 am on Saturday (of course I was awake at 7)!!!! She is laughing and getting her little "baby" personality. She is a real happy baby! I think she will be a hair twirler like her sister - when she eats she is constantly rubbing her head with her left hand. It is so cute.

Isabelle, well what can I say. She is so smart and cute but boy can she get into some stuff!!! Her favorite thing to do right now is to cut and tape paper. Any type of paper, and lots of it. It makes a huge mess but it keeps her occupied and so I just let her have at it. It drives Clint crazy, though. He asked her yesterday what she wanted for Christmas and she said tape and scissors. She is also my inquisitive child. She has begun asking about Santa. "Why do they look different?" "Why do they wear different clothes and shoes?" "They can't be Santa's elves because they are too tall." And of course, "how will Santa get into our house because there is no chimney?!!!"

Camon is doing GREAT in the first grade. He is reading so well. I can not believe it. He also has made straight A's on both report cards that he has had. He is getting so tall and of course is still so sensitive. Ashlynn had a fever last week and when I told him, he immediately teared up and wanted to see her right then. He was so worried about her.

And of course Clint is fine. We will be married 10 years this coming Friday. I can not believe that it has been that long. Time flies when you are in Love, I guess. I am still thankful everyday (well most days) that God gave him to me!!! He is truly my "soul mate" and I love him more today than ever before! He is the BEST! We will be leaving the Sunday after Christmas for New York City. I finally talked him into taking me!!! I am so excited!

Anyway, this is just a quick update on my family! I hope that yours is doing just as good. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

JESUS is the reason for the CHRISTmas Season!!!

Camon's humor

The other day, my mom and I were shopping and had the kids with us. We were riding in the car, the radio was playing, the kids were talking and playing their Leapsters at the same time (and the Leapsters were making noise). I had something that I wanted to talk to mom about, but it was something that the kids really did not need to know about. However, I thought with all of the noise and distractions, plus if I whispered, then they would never hear the conversation. So, we talked for about 5 minutes. Then, Camon asked a question. (of course about something I had just said). So, my eyes got real big as I made a face at my mom. I tried to get out of it by explaining to him what I was talking about, without really telling him the whole truth (you know as parents we have a license to "fib" to our kids a bit). Well, his questions went on, but he finally gave up. I waited a little bit and then even more softly whispered to my mom, "I did not think that he was listening." To which Camon spoke up, "What do you think I am, my daddy?"

Sunday night after church, we came home and I started feeding Ashlynn her bottle. Camon and Isabelle were in their room getting ready for bed. Ashlynn and I were in the recliner and all I could find on TV was a football game. I am not sure how many football games you have watched lately, but I have begun to notice the outfits (or should I say lack of) that the cheerleaders wear. Some of them should be blurred out of the TV set. Anyway, Camon finished and came in there to give us a good night kiss. As he entered the room, guess what came on the TV - you guessed it one of those cheerleaders wearing barely nothing. Of course it caught his eye. My first instinct was to change the channel, but then I thought I would just watch him and see what he did. Well, his eyes stayed there for quite a bit and then he looked at me with a disgusted look and said, "Does she know those things are hanging out?" I almost fell out of my chair. I laughed so hard, that I was crying. I am so thankful for an innocent child who knows that was not "normal". (I just hope it lasts.)

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY, CAMON !!!

I can not believe that my baby is 7 today!! And yes, he is still and ALWAYS will be my baby!!!!! These past 7 years have flown by and I have been blessed by every minute (good and bad minutes) of his life. God gave me a very sensitive, caring, handsome young man. And I look forward to the next 7 years (and beyond) watching him grow and seeing all of the changes that will take place. Just in the past year, he has lost baby teeth, grown several inches, started sleeping by himself, showering by himself, learned to read, add, and subtract (among many other things), and finally 2 nights ago learned to tie his shoes. (Isabelle has known for a year now - but hey at least he finally caught on - he's not slow, just could care less). And of course, he has learned how to love another little sister (and boy does he do that well). Most importantly, I have seen him come to understand more about Salvation and God's love. Of course, girls are still yucky and mom can not kiss him with lipstick on. I am just thankful that I can still kiss him. Although I know it will, I wish that would never change. He is growing up so fast, I can only imagine the changes that will take place in the next year.












The day he went home from the hospital.













1st Birthday















2nd Birthday

















3rd Birthday














4th Birthday


















5th Birthday




















6th Birthday



















7th Birthday

Isabelle's haircut

Well, Isabelle talked her daddy into letting her get her hair cut. Because of course, "All of my cousins have short hair." Well, daddy finally gave in, so we went last Friday. It is really cute and looks so much healthier, but it made her look 2 years older.














From this............................................................. To this.......










Isabelle and her "short-haired" cousins (minus Jordan, I think she was chasing Camon around)





Some cute things that she has said lately:



First, understand that I am hauling 3 children (2 who are in car seats) around in a Toyota Camry. So, there is no "personal space" for them in the backseat. Therefore there has been a tremendous increase in the arguments that take place between the two older children. Well, the other day, Ashlynn was minding her own business riding quietly in the car, with her eyes in the position of her big sister. Well, this must have irritated Isabelle, because she said (in a very disgusted tone), "Momma, Ashlynn won't stop staring at me." Boy do I have a lot to look forward to...



Then, also on one of our adventures in the car, Ashlynn was quietly sleeping. I just happened to look in the rearview mirror and saw Isabelle messing with Ashlynn. So, I asked her to stop. Well, about 5 minutes later Ashlynn wakes up with this horrible sounding cry. I looked back there and Isabelle had a guilty look on her face. So, I started getting on to her and trying to make her understand that if Ashlynn is asleep LEAVE HER ALONE and let us have some peace. I told her that it was her fault that she woke up. To which she replied, "Well, she was fakin' it anyway."



As I have said before, Isabelle has quite a sweet-tooth. She is addicted to sugar. That is why we have spent thousands on teeth that will fall out eventually, anyway. So, last week we were in the car and she had found a piece of candy in her car seat. Before I knew it, she had opened it and put it in her mouth. I lectured her about asking before she eats candy and AGAIN about what it is doing to her teeth. Well, that does not phase her. She finished the candy and then said, "Mom, can I have some gum to wash this candy taste out of my mouth."



Kids are so cute!!!

New Pictures of Ashlynn

Does she have to become a teenager?

Isabelle has been going through the "terrible twos", the problem is that she is 4 1/2 . I do not know what is going on, but last Friday night she had the biggest fit-throwing, yelling, screaming, kicking, meltdown that she has ever had. And of course we were in public. Then yesterday she did it again on the way to "school". She will ask for something and when she gets my answer and does not like it, she will keep asking and get more and more disrespectful with each request. Until we are both so mad at each other that we can not stand it. So yesterday, I finally decided that yelling, spanking, or giving a guilt trip was not doing the job. So, I told her she was punished from her babies. She could not play with any baby dolls that afternoon. Well, she went nuts. The babysitter could not believe that was Isabelle when we got there. She was hysterical (of course Amy says that she was an angel all day - it is just with me she becomes possessed). Anyway, so last night she had to survive with out playing with any baby's. She did very good, she never even asked to play with them, but did bring up the fact that she was punished several times. At one point, she came in there and began listing all of the things that she could have taken away if she did not behave. She said, "You could take my dolls, and then my colors and coloring books, then my scissors, then my lipstick, my gum, the TV, my Leapster, and you could not let me hold Ashlynn." Boy did she give me some good ideas. But, she was good all night. Then during her prayers, she said "Dear God, I am sorry for hurting mamma's feelings this morning. Help me not to do that again." I teared up. Of course she was probably smiling and thinking, "Watch this. This will get her." Anyway, I think that may have made her think about her actions, if only for one day!!! I can already see her when she is a teenager - whew!

Then, she got a phone call yesterday from her buddy Sydney. Now, I had no idea that kids could be so close to a friend at 4 years old. They are the best of friends and have been since they were crawling - I know you think I am crazy but the daycare used to tell me that they were always together, and while one slept, the other played under their crib until they woke up, and if one was out the other cried all day. Anyway, Isabelle has been having serious withdrawals since I took her out of Preschool and moved her to a home daycare with Ashlynn. She literally cries to go back, and not because she does not like Mrs. Amy's, but because she misses Sydney. Anyway, she called to see if Isabelle could spend the night. 53 minutes later my 4 year old was finally getting off of the phone. They talked like they were grown. "How is school?" I heard her ask. Then, "I will bring two nightgowns to our sleep-over so you can wear one. What else do you want me to bring?" I could not believe the conversations they were having. (and for almost and hour) At one point I went into the living room and she was laying sideways in the recliner with her legs crossed and hanging over the arm. She truly reminded me of my teenage years. I am scared!!!

First Grade !!!

I know, I know, I have been a terrible blogger lately. Camon has now been in school almost 5 weeks and I have not even posted pictures of his first day! Yes, I did take some. But, for the record it was a much easier first day - there were no tears from momma. Although I think I could have if I had hung around much longer. He was not really looking forward to going back, but that afternoon when I asked him if he liked it, he said, "No. I LOVED it!" That lasted a few days and then he started wanting Summer again. He said again this morning, "Momma, I wish this was the first day of Summer." He has a while to wait for that. But, he has not complained about going or given us any trouble. And he is doing tremendous. He told me that first day, "The best thing is that there is no nap (I will remind him of this when he is a teenager) and the worst thing is there is no snack time." The first week, we got home one afternoon and he asked for a snack. I told him just a minute and I would get him one. He said he would get it himself. I asked if he was sure he could get it, to which he replied, "Mom, I am in first grade now - what do you expect?" Then one of the funniest things that week was that he brought home math vocabulary the bad thing about it is that it was just the words with no definitions, but remember I have a degree in Math and taught it for 7 years. And, besides he is only in the FIRST GRADE, right. Well, sure enough there was a word that I was not sure of the definition - "pattern unit" - so as we were reviewing his homework I came to that and paused. I finally had to admit to him that I was not sure what that was. TO which he replied, "That is easy. It is the part in a pattern that repeats." Duh! I thought. Then he said,"I have already learned too much in the first grade." It was so cute. He has actually made a huge turn around with homework. Last year, it was torture. He would go on for 40 minutes about an assignment that might take him 5. But, this year he never complains. He sits down, does the assignment almost without any assistance, and finishes very quick. He is also doing great in school. He has only gotten off of "green" one time and that was for working ahead of the teacher on an assignment. I can not complain too much about that - he is just brighter than the other kids and does not need to wait for them - HA! Anyway, he is having a great year. And, we stared AWANA at our church this year and he is so excited about studying and learning scripture (he said as long as he does not have to get in front of the church to say it). He asks almost everyday if he can practice for AWANA. He is just doing great. I am so proud of him!!