Pedicure

And he is off....

 

 

Cameron left bright and early for Camp Casey this morning.  How is this possible?  I feel like he is still my little guy not old enough to do big things like this!

 

Wasn't this like yesterday?

 

 

 

He was excited, happy and really excited to ride on the "comfy buses."  His mom might have teared up on the way over to the school.  I will blame the excruciating pain in my back and not that my boy is growing up right before my eyes!

Melt my heart

 

I found this note sitting where Mitch keeps his keys.  This isn't her best handwriting or best artwork but I don't think you can find a sweeter note.  She is very creative and cute. I love how she did this all by herself.  Natalie is using about a ream a paper a day (I exaggerate but not by much!) creating cutting, drawing and writing.  It keeps her busy in the afternoon while her sister naps and the others are at school.  I love it!



Finaghty's St. Patty's Day Run

 

Our family participated in our annual St. Patrick's Day run.  The weather this year was just about perfect.  No RAIN and not too cold for a March morning. 

 

Julia and Natalie participated in the 1k.  Julia said "no way" to the 5k it is too long and cold. 

 

There were 173 runners in the1k.  Julia came in 2nd and Natalie 14th.  The picture below was at the very end of the race.  Julia almost caught the boy in first and I dare say that if she had been in the very front at the start line she would have had him!  Natalie really surprised me when came through the finish line, I wasn't expecting to see her so soon.  She is becoming quite the competitor!

 

Cameron ran in the 5k.  There were 401 participants in the 5k.  Cameron came in 21st overall and ran a 21:05 (6:48 per mile).  He got first in his age division, got a trophy and a gift card to Jamba Juice.  He definitely has the drive and guts to be an awesome distance runner! 

Cameron got orange running shorts for Christmas and because it is almost impossible to find BOY running shorts these ones are a bit big.  With the Orange shorts, yellow and blue shirts and black socks pulled almost to his knees I would have to say his style come from his FATHER!

 

The last stop on our traditional races is to Krispy Kreme.  Where we eat more calories than we can possibly burn!

The Life of a 5th Grader

 

As a 5th grader you get to go to Camp Casey for 3 days, 2 nights.  Cameron's mom might be in denial that he is old enough to do this!  He got his sweatshirt last week and he is excited!  He leaves in one week from today.

 

Over Mid-Winter Break Cameron had to do a science experiment to show his knowledge of the scientific method and then make a PowerPoint to show his findings.  His project/question was "Does the size of a cookie affect how long it takes to bake?"

 

For the Blue and Gold Banquet there was a Father/Son cake contest.  Cameron was really disappointed when he found out that everyone got an award for their cakes.  He thought his was going to win the whole thing.  The theme of the night was "Passports to other lands"

 

Part of the decorations for the Blue and Gold banquet were fortune cookies.  Natalie got a fortune that said "A big surprise will be coming your way"  For Valentine's Day this year I bought some fortune cookies took out the fortunes and made my own for the kids.  They were fun little things that said: 30 minutes later for bed time, a giant gumball at the store, a ride in dad's bug, good for one Slurpee and things like that.  So when Natalie got her fortune at the Blue and Gold banquet she really thought she was getting a surprise and was sorely disappointed when I had to break the news that there really wasn't a surprise for her. 

 

 

Here is a small video of Cameron sharing his pet for this coming pack meeting

 

Basketball just wrapped up for the year.  Cameron's team was the Thunder and went 8-0.  They pretty much won every game by 30 points.  He is becoming quite the basketball player.  It seems like every year Mitch and I try to decide if putting him in a select league would be better for him but we can never pull the trigger on the level of commitment you have to make to something like that.  We will see....maybe next year. The other week Mitch let him play in a deacon's basketball clinic he was putting on in the stake.  He is only two years away from playing church ball and he can't wait!

 

Report cards came home last week and along with them came this writing assessment Cameron did.  It was so cute!

 

Clifford

 

Clifford the Big Red Dog was at the elementary spring book fair.  The kids were excited to get their picture taken with Clifford but when the lady asked which class the picture should be sent to when they got it developed Cameron was sure to say "Not mine, that would be so embarrassing!" Funny how he wasn't embarrased to give him a hug the moment he saw him. HA.

 

Side note: Clifford was one of Mitch's top names whenever I was pregnant for a boy.  Hmm...I THINK NOT! 

No more training wheels

 

Yesterday the sun was out and I looked at Natalie and said, "It is time, no more training wheels."  It took about 15 minutes and she was off!!  This is nothing short of a miracle for two reasons 

1- We tried all last summer to get her to ride a two wheeler and she wouldn't do it. 2- My back is having major issues and I can hardly walk.  Amazing what a person can accomplish with muscle relaxers!! 

 

But whatever the case---

WAY TO GO NATTERS!!

 This coming summer just got  a lot more fun!!



Queen of ING

Natalie is the "Queen of ING"

Natters came home from school with this crown she made.  They are learning and searching for all the words that have ing in them.  I love how excited she is about school and reading.  The other day while we were reading she told me, Mom I just hate the word "know" it just isn't right, it is supposed to be "no!" Natalie definitely has spunk!

My Inner Child

 

Do you know what happens when this catalog arrives at my house?  All the girls in the house go crazy.  Hours are poured into each page, dog earing them and circling everything that their little hearts dream of. 

 

This time the Easter set in the catalog was more than Natalie or Mom could stand. It was just so CUTE! We just had to get it, so last weekend we went to the American Girl store and brought home our very own....oh and this too: 

 

 

 

 At Christmas time they were discontinuing the doll that I wanted as a child.  I thought about getting her because I have loved her for so long and this would be the last chance to ever own her...just for the inner child in me, but I waited too long and she was sold out.  I now have to live vicariously through my girls :)

 

FYI- This is never good...

 

When it rains it pours....literally.  Good times tonight.

 

Seems like everything we own is breaking.  Last week was stressful.  Mitch's car died and we decided it was not worth fixing and that it was time to get a new car or at least new to us.  We are definitely NOT a one car family.  A special thank you to our parents for helping us out last week when we were in a jam.  This week we are the new owners of a Nissan Versa.  Thank heavens for CARFAX!  We saw plenty of "bad" cars disguised as good ones.  Car buying is definitely not one of our strong suites. 

 

 

A really poor picture of the new ride.

 

Lucy and her "cheese"

 

Lucy loves Handi Snacks.  I means LOVES them.  Everyday she bangs on the pantry door crying for her "cheese."  She absolutely cracks me up when I watch her eat it because she is not done until every last lick is gone.  I made the mistake of running out of the cheese and wasn't able to get more for a few days.  This is a mistake that can't be repeated.  On a separate note, today Lucy picked her nose ate what she picked and then told me "yum."  Not sure what to say about that...

 

 

Lucy Baby

 

 

Happy Thursday