Cambree's 3 year Photo Shoot

For Cambree's 3rd birthday, I had Erin Householder take some pictures of Cambree. I think they turned out super cute. I couldn't even choose. I narrowed it down the best I could but i am still uploading a ton of pictures to share. She also got some pics of Ridge and Cambree together and some of me (wasn't planned), but I think some turned out so good. So enjoy!! Thanks Erin, I truly LOVE them!!

I know these first couple look very similar, but I just couldn't choose my favorite

To Dance or Not to Dance...that is the ultimate question

So i signed Cambree up for a months worth of dance classes that started this past Monday. She has taken dance before which was a mom and tot class, and loved it and has talked about it since then so I was anxious to get her involved in dance again. This week is college week for kids and she's in a group of probably 15 3-5 year olds. On Monday, we were signing her up for class and found out it started that day so we were unprepared but stayed anyways. Well she jumped right in with her class. She was excited, enjoying it and so since I was not prepared, I needed to run home to get at least a diaper and drink for Ridge. I left and when I came back, she had been in the hall with the director screaming her head off. I couldn't believe it. She usually handles herself very well without me. So I took her to finish her class and ensured her I was there to stay. 

Well Tuesday came and she was talking about it and excited to go. We got her special dancing shoes and outfit to make her extra excited. Before class she is running everywhere. She is playing with the other girls and really enjoying herself. Class starts, and she freaks out. She insists on just watching. So I coax her finally to go into class if I sit in the corner of the room she is in and watch her. She cries for awhile and then eventually started doing some of the moves next to me instead of with the group. I was frustrated, but at least she was doing it. By the middle/end of the class, she was better. 

Then there's today. I spoke with her for awhile before getting to the class that we aren't going to cry and we are going to have fun. She agreed with me and was telling everyone that she was going to dance class and again acted like she might actually participate and enjoy the class. Again she runs around the dance room playing and laughing with the other girls. Then her teachers walk in the room. This time, it was like a someone had just beat her. She was screaming and thrashing her body everywhere. I was in shock and not sure what to do. I had told her before class that if she was good, we would go to the pool with her cousin. Well I tried to tell her that we wouldn't be going to the pool if she didn't stop. She didn't care. She just wanted to leave. Nothing I said, would make her stop. I gave up and left. She was completely disrupting the class and I was sick of her not listening. The entire way home she kept saying I don't want to go to dance I don't want to go to dance. I don't know if I have ever been so frustrated with her in my life. I had so many emotions building up in me. Sounds silly I am sure, over such a stupid thing, but it really bugged me. Now I am left to try to figure out what to do. She enjoys dance, but there is something bugging her enough that she is scared when it actually comes down to it. My mom thinks its because I left her on Monday that I may have screwed it up and now she thinks I am going to leave her. I don't know. She has a fairytale dance group next week and I would like to hope she would enjoy it but I don't know. Does anyone have any ideas at all on how to fix this? My mom is right that I shouldn't punish her for not doing it, but that is the first and only thing I can think of when she doesn't want to dance.  

AAaahhh!!! It's just been a very frustrating day. To make matters worse, I left a swim diaper on Ridge for naps on accident (since we really didn't go to the pool), and when he woke up 3 hours later, it was just a puddle in his diaper and it POURED out ALL OVER the house and made a HUGE mark on our couch. Then a huge thing of yogurt fell off a shelf in our fridge and splattered EVERYWHERE on the floor, in the fridge, counters, and all over me. I have just had a day. I am so overwhelmed right now. So any words of advice would be great!!!! Thanks

Just some funny stories from the week

This past week, several things have happened that I didn't want to pass up documenting. 

On Friday, Rachel went to get her hair done, so I watched Luke. We decided to go on a golf cart ride. My kids just love to get on there and visit all the local animals. We first checked out the chickens, and across from the chickens is a white horse that we frequently visit. Cambree got out, and got close to the fence. The horse came over and started smelling her hair. She was laughing and I thought it was cute. Then all of the sudden, the horse grabbed hold of a large chunk of her hair and started pulling her up. She started screaming bloody murder. I was in shock at what I was seeing. Here I had Ridge on my lap, Luke was watching and Cambree was getting attacked by a horse. I got up and luckily all I had to do was touch his nose to get him to let go, but the trauma had already been done. She was devastated and I can't say I blame her. Her hair was all wet and matted to her head, really gross. I tried to laugh it off with her and make it something funny rather such a scary thing and I think its worked. She's been telling everyone about her encounter and we've seen several horses since then and seems to be doing ok still. But can you imagine? 

Yesterday we were getting ready for church. I got Cambree dressed and all set to go. Then I started on Ridge. I have never heard of a 20 month old as fashion opinionated as he was being. He had a certain shirt he wanted to wear and it was dirty. So of course I wasn't going to let him. Well he threw a fit. I tried to let him pick out another shirt and he just wasn't having it. He was stuck on that one shirt and nothing else was going to work. I finally got a shirt on him and he walked around the house pulling at his shirt and went to Curtis to 'tattle' on me. Then I tried to put on his church shoes and he refused those as well. He found his new shoes that are still too big for him. I gave into that request since it was still ok looking but couldn't believe his stubbornness over getting dressed. He truly is following after his sister. Just very funny. 

Anyways, I'll get more pictures soon and will have pictures to post, just had to share those stories. Erin Householder took pictures for us last week and am very excited to see how they turned out so as soon as I get those back, I'll be posting those as well.

Pregnancy Update and Cambree's 3rd Birthday!! Lots of PICS...

I'm now in my 33rd week. 7 more to go... This is a picture of me with my two sister-in-laws who are all due within about 8 weeks of each other. Rachel is due in about a week, I am due in 7 and Sara is due in 8. So its a 'rare' picture of us all with our huge bellies. I envy my sister-in-laws and how cute they look this pregnant. They look still so skinny :) 

Rachel Me Sara

Cambree's birthday was the 29th of May but Curtis had scout camp that week and so I dropped off my kids at my parents to get a lot done before the baby came and preschool started again. So we celebrated this past Saturday. She was so excited and it was so fun doing it at my parents. They carried out the same birthday traditions that I grew up with. She had waffles with a birthday candle in it.

Of course what Cambree does, Ridge must do too, so he got to blow out a candle too.

Just a funny picture of Ridge. He has a strange relationship with my parents dog Benji. He can chase him forever in circles, and here he's obviously using him as a pillow. 

Here's Cambree's birthday set-up. 

This is a cake my sister Chelsie made for her. She spent forever making it, and it turned out super cute. Notice how many candles are on it....

My little 'princess' posing before she opens her presents

Okay, so here is my sister Chelsie attempting to light ALL the candles on the cake. There was so many. I said it was in honor of the fact that I feel like she is 3 going on 20 :)

Cambree tried to blow out the million candles, but was getting frustrated so we enlisted the help of the other little kids to help, and they gladly did. 

Then they helped themselves to the top layer of the cake-

Cambree's big gift was a little princess trike that sings. She loves it. 

This is Cambree and Grace (Bonnie Colyar's little girl). They hardly ever see each other but they get a long so well. Here they are looking at some of Cambree's new books and they were so cute to watch. I sure wish we could get them together more. It was fun having Bonnie, Gracie and Tucker (or Sucker how Cambree says it) at the party. 

Ridge trying Cambree's chair out. He looks a little too relaxed. Notice the crossed leg.

And yes, we caved and got one for Ridge too. I know it was Cambree's birthday but I also knew that they would fight CONSTANTLY if I had just gotten one for Cambree and I couldn't handle that. So after the party, we brought it out for Ridge. So they both love the bikes, and love to switch off bikes as well. So cute.

On Sunday, after returning home from my parents house, we threw Cambree a last minute party with the Allen family. My mother-in-law had already made a cake, so I just put on some of the decorations from her other party on it. 

Showing off her presents...

All the little ones were so excited for Cambree's gift. Cambree loved it too. It was a hair kit and cousin Luke and Ridge were all about it. 

Here Cambree is trying out the curling iron on cousin Rylee.

So now my little girl is 3 years old. I can't believe it!! She is getting so big too fast. 

Plinko Anyone?

I've had several people ask me about our plinko board that we are using for our Price is Right Enrichment Activity next week. So here it is. I can't take all the credit because Shelly Howard and her husband actually made the board. I just decorated it. It should be a lot of fun. There's a lot of work going into this but should be worth it.

On another note, my mother took my kids as of last Wednesday for over a week to allow me to get my preschool COMPLETELY ready. Curtis has also been at Scout Camp for the week so I have had the house all to myself. It has been so weird without them. I am getting TONS done but miss them terribly. Thank you mom for taking them for so long. I cannot wait to reunite with my family!!

It was also Cambree's 3rd birthday last Friday. She doesn't know it yet because we were all seperated for her birthday. We are celebrating Saturday with my family and Monday with the Allen's. I cannot believe my little girl is 3. She is getting too big too fast. Erin Householder is taking some pictures for me next week for her birthday and super excited about how that goes. So obviously a lot of pictures to come. 

Bunkbeds and Swimming Fun!!

So last week we decided it was time to set up the bunkbeds and begin the transition for Ridge from his crib to the bunk bed since we didn't know all it would entail. Cambree transitioned herself so we were worried about having to force Ridge over. We decided to get him a tractor comforter in hopes that would make him more excited about a 'big boy' bed. Funny enough, he hated the blanket when he first saw it. I think it frustrated him that it was only a picture and not something he could actually play with. At first he still wouldn't sleep on the bed but after I took apart the crib and made it look unusable, he took to his new bed quite easily. It's weird to think that I have an almost 3 year old and 20 month old in bunk beds. Just doesn't seem right. Now I am dealing with the constant playing at naps and night time since they are both mobile, but it's nice to have this taken care of so soon before delivering. They're growing up so big :)

This past week my in-laws decided to break out their pool for the grandkids to play with. Ridge has been against the water up until now. Hates getting in the jacuzzi or even a small pool. However, he was excited to play in this pool. It's just the right size for Cambree. She can walk around all by her self and she loves it. We spent several hours, several days in it and it was great entertainment. They loved it more with all their cousins sharing in the fun.

Here's the first time in the pool. Even cousin Ecksen joined in the fun. So cute.

All of the Evan's kids and Cambree 

First Time Fishing

Last Saturday we joined Sara and Darren up at Mt. Graham for some fishing. It was the first time the kids were exposed to it and they loved it. They both enjoyed holding the poles and Cambree even caught her very own fish. It was a great, fun day. Thanks Sara and Darren for letting us crash your family day and enjoy that time. The weather was perfect and a nice break from the heat. It was a lot of fun.

Cambree's first fish. They couldn't get over looking at touching the fish. 

Here's Cambree touching the fish. 

Both kids 'fishing' without a hook or bait, but they didn't care!!

Ridge and his Uncle Darren. He loves his Uncle Darren and sometimes I swear he is really Darren's kid. They have a really cute bond/relationship. 

Enjoying a dirty oreo