Year in review....

As I sit here and think about what a crazy year 2008 was I can't believe it went by so fast...Probably the fact that I was pregnant for the majority of it but I have to be thankful for what it brought to our family... here are the highlights...

January~ New years day is Carson birthday, (he turned 1) I feel sorry for him, one week after Christmas. I found out I was pregnant. Cole and I went to visit Tom in Denver. We had a blast but Cole came back really sick... That doesn't make for very fun plane rides... I laso coached Soccer for the school that I teach at, so fun.

February ~ Kind of boring... Tom was still in Denver and I was coping being with the boys all by myself and having No ENERGY!



March ~ Daddy's home!!! This was actually the longest he has every been out of town.. 5 months total, made me appreciate him even more. I also have a new found respect for those who serve our country and miss out on all the things that are the most important. Carson started crawling! He actually started the day Tom drove home from Denver, for us that was such a cool milestone. He has had so many issues because he was born so prematurely that it was nice to see him progressing slowly but surely.



April ~ Um..I turned 30? Yup 30! Really 30? Don't feel 30.. My wonderful husband surprised me with an amazing trip to Palm Springs, even though the surprise was ruined even before we got down the driveway (love you Christina). I got to have a spa day with my best friend and another amazing friend, it was so much fun having a girls day. It was a great weekend and I can't wait to do it again. Cole played T-ball, even though most of the time he was more interested in the planes that flew by he did have fun. Oh and we learned we were having a girl... Wow what a month.



May ~ Tom and Cole celebrated their birthdays... I can't believe that Cole is 3. He gives us a run for our money.



June ~ We went on vacation with Tom's family. We camped just outside of Yosemite and had so much fun. Kyla went with us, which is always a huge help, especially on a 6 plus hour long car ride. We went fishing, hiking, swimming and got to explore Yosemite in the Summer. I have always gone in the Fall and now I know why. It's REALLY busy. And you have to worry about bears and such. Oh and Cole played basketball. It was really HOT!!! I might rethink that this year. Tom coached him and did a really good job.



July ~ HOT!!! That's all I really remember about that month.



August ~ HOT!!! And Camryn Geneva Elizabeth Cook!! WOO HOO! She finally made her appearance August 28, 2008. She weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. She was a good baby from the start. (and still is) She has been such a fun addition to our family..with all of her squeals and laughter.



September ~ We went to the beach. Yup, Camryn went on her first camping trip when she was barely 1 month old. I was worried at first but it worked out just fine. We go to Coronado in San Diego every year and hope to keep the tradition going.



October ~ Grandma Knight passed away :( and Carson started walking :)



November ~ Not much really went on... Just Thanksgiving and the norm.



December ~ Tom and I got to tailgate and the USC/UCLA game with some great friends. We had fun! I had to go back to work :( Sometimes life just doesn't allow you to be a SAHM. Like the fact that if I didn't work my family wouldn't have benefits. Oh well...


Well looking back I have to say this has been a cool year, full of new adventures and happiness. I wonder what the new year has in store for us.

December and so forth...

My three babies... How can you not love those baby blues?

I feel sorry for girls when he gets older...

Just beautiful...

Yeah! Finally a good picture with them all looking...

MOM!!! This doesn't fit me at all...

Yup. SNOW!!! And in the desert of all places...

Who are you talking to?

USC/UCLA game... Tailgating is so fun, but oh so cold and early!!!

Some conversations of late....

Cole ~ "Oh no Mom! My eyebrows are broke."
Me ~ "What do you mean my eyebrows are broke?"
Cole ~ "I want eyebrows like yours"
Me ~ "Oh buddy..your eyebrows are blonde and you just can't see them."
Enter Christina...
Cole ~ "Auntie my eyebrows are broke (sadly)"
Christina "Oh Buddy I'm sorry. Where are you going to get some more from?"
Cole ~ "I want green ones from Target."

Um...Maybe I go to Target too much.
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Cole ~ "Hey Mom Where's my hat at? I can't see it."
Me ~ "Uh...On your head."

Really? WOW... That's early to have senior moments.
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Me ~ "Hey Cole Grandma Lupe wants to know what you want for Christmas."
Cole ~ "A motorcycle.'
Me ~ "Something other than a motorcycle."
Cole ~ "Um....(long pause) maybe a motorcycle. Yeah a motorcycle.

Hmm. Maybe he didn't understand the question.

Random Cuteness

She has the most beautiful lips...

I love watching her sleep...
Looking like Daddy...

Carson loves hats!!!

Goofy...


Her new face...

Me just playing with some new things I learned from the camera....

~Just a sidenote.. Cole has been boycotting the camera lately.. Too many other things to do.

Little Screamer

We all thought Cole was the loud one... Boy, were we wrong. Camryn is actually so loud Cole says "Mom, sister is making my ears hurt." She has a really high-pitched scream but the thing is she does it even if she is happy.... I personally think it's cute. Watch and see... Oh and she LOVES talking to herself....

Elmo Live!!!!!

Tom, Cole, Carson and I had the amazing chance to see Elmo Live! This was called Elmo Makes Music and it was wonderful! I thought at first that the boys weren't having fun because they were just sitting there and staring, not getting involved, but they were taking it all in. The first part of the show was all the shows we know and love from Sesame Street and the second part (which was my favorite) were songs that the "big kids" would know... Here are a few of my favorites...Sorry about the picture quality, I figured out that cameras like LOTS of light!!!

This number was my favorite...Bert as John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Too funny... All the kids loved the "bubbles" (aka disco ball) that were everywhere... Elmo's World!!!

I just love Grover!!! But why would they use a blue background for his musical number? You almost miss him.

This was Cole's favorite...He loves Cookie Monster and "C is for Cookie"...

Opening number...

The boys got to experience Cotton Candy for the first time...

My only complaint about the show was that the only times it played was on Tuesday or Wednesday at 7pm...I thought it was a little too late for such little kids. it didn't end until 8:45. There were kids dropping like flies everywhere. I hope that this experience fosters a sense of trying new things in the boys and that singing and dancing is such a fun way to learn things.

Nine lives...

So I was taking advantage of an amazing day and cleaned out the Suburban. It needed it desperately. I finished, locked the car and went inside to start on the house. As I came out to empty the trash this is what I saw.... I have, on numerous occasions, found Tux in situations that if I would not have done something out of my routine he would not be with us any longer. He is going to get himself into real trouble one. I wonder how many lives he has left?

Normal occurances at our house...

Life is so hard huh? Just taking a bath....

And finally....

Cole asks to hold "sister" quite often (which I gladly let him do because it gives me 5 mintues with 2 less kids hanging on me) so Tom and I thought we should try to get a group kid pic. This has never happened... Cole ALWAYS trys to put his arms around Carson, which he visibly fights everytime, and then Cole gets bored or has some silly face to make. So sadly we have never gotten a decent picture with all 3 of them...Note the progression

But you gotta love them I guess for all their differences and what they bring to your life...

Three year-olds

We always wait patiently (or not so) for their first word. To see what they are going to say. To revel in the joy that is a talking. babbling, expressive child. This is what talking leads to...

"Mommy why you have a stamp on your back?"

"Brother...I tell on you"

"Why? Why? Why? Why?" Over and over and over again

"Mommy.. I not your friend! Never, Ever!"

But it also leads to...

"Thank you Mommy for a yummy dinner."

"I love you Mommy"

"Mommy...sister likes me huh?"

"What ya donin?"

I have two more children that have yet to master the skills of communication and I just can't wait to hear what they have to say...

How cute is she? Sorry, crazy mom here....

Just happy as can be...

This one's for you April...

Carson's newest word is "Cheese"

Halloween...I'm a loser. She had no costume.

Campfire at the beach...Great memories.

Cole actually loved the beach this year and askes at least once a week to go back...I wish buddy.

It took Carson a while to get used to the sand...

Camryn sleeping at teh beach... Loves the beach just like mom.

My life by the numbers....

10 ~ The number (may be more) of diapers I change a day
9 ~ The number of times in a day that I argue with my 3 year old. We totally have the same personality so it happens a lot.
8 ~ The number of times a day that I sweep my kitchen. Yeah I'm a freak.
7 ~ The Number of times a day I call my husband because I simply HAVE to tell him something right at that moment...even though it really could wait.
6 ~ The number of times a day I wish there was just more time in the day.
5 ~ The number of people on my family. I never thought that could have been possible.
4 ~ The number of times a day I look at my daughter and have to fight back tears.
3 ~ The number of children Tom and I have..They totally out number us now.
2 ~ The number of little boys in my family who melt my heart at least once a day.
1 ~ The number of lives that I would never change for anything.
My life might be crazy and tiring but it all adds up to the same thing.... Happiness.

SOOOO..Let's give this a try.

So...I don't really know if anyone will read this or really care but I am going to try this blog thing and see what happens. My extended family seems to be really involved in this and it seems a fun way to keep in touch. We shall see.