Camden turns 3

Today was Camden's third birthday.  He was happy to be three and told me he looking forward to being four so that he doesn't have to take naps anymore.  He frequently tells us that he is not whining and doesn't need a nap.  To which we respond, "when you turn four you can skip your nap."  We had a low key day spend at home.  Camden got a few presents from us that included a light saber.  They boys are excited to be able to have light saber fights now.  We end the day with a party filled with some of his best friends, the neighbors! We had them over for cake and ice cream and despite us telling them not to bring gifts, the generously brought them anyway.  Camden was overwhelmed with all the love and attention.  Thank you to our neighbors for all the fun!  Here are some pictures of our day.

Happy Birthday Camden Parker!  We love you so much and hope you had a wonderful birthday!

The last of the first haircuts

 Today we had the last of our first haircuts!  I can't believe Callan is old enough to get his first haircut.  We tried a new place since we haven't ever been fond of Lollipops hair salon.  We went to Cool Kids Cuts and were very impressed.  Also the cut cost $8.  The stylist did a really good job and they have a lot to distract kids with.  Callan was less then impressed with his cape, but after a few minutes he calmed down and sat really well.  They were playing Madagascar on the TV and the other boys were playing with toys they had.  I kept a lock of his hair for the baby book.  This is one more step out of babyhood and into toddlerhood.

Callan's 15 month pictures

Here are just a few of some of the amazing pictures taken by Curt Brinkman of lifesastoryphotography.com 

He was able to capture Callan just as his is right now.  He is growing so fast and I really wanted to capture him as a walking toddler before he starts to change too much.

this is what the end of a photo shoot looks like at our house

if i had more room i would have posted more of these, i love this action shots!


(make sure you check out my other two post from today.  all this pictures from this post  might have  pushed down my other posts)

a special birthday lunch

Today Camden got to have his own special birthday lunch with grandma Ellen.  She took him to story time and then asked where his favorite place to eat was.  He said grandma's! So my mom made him macaroni and cheese for lunch and then make him a cupcake that he got to decorate.  I also forgot to mention their trip to party america so he could pick out a balloon.  He of course picked out the Kung Fu Panda one.  He had a great day, and loved the one on one time he had.  Here are some pictures of his day.

the lunch he wanted (he wanted this over McDonalds)

Ready to blow out the candles

devouring the cupcake

showing off his birthday balloon

Trip to the SAC museum

 Last Sunday we took a trip to the SAC museum with our neighbors.  The kids got to see a lot of big airplanes, motors, space crafts and more.  They were a little young to really appreciate it, but the got to see the size of some of those planes which was impressive.  After the museum we went and ate at Around the Bend steak house that was in South Bend Nebraska.  We had a good time with our friends and kids were worn out when we got home.  Thanks for the invite Thobers!

Camden, Carter and Emma

sitting on the back wing of an airplane

ridding in a play tank

working at the control center

cam flying a plane

at the end of the day

Tonya and I with little Ava

A week from H-E- Double hockey sticks

Well as you know from my last post Carter had his tonsils out.  Even though we didn't think it would be a breeze, we also did not anticipate how bad it might be.  Lets just say that the total number of hours Carter and I slept was an average of about 2 a night. Not to mention the lost sleep Chad had as well, and even Camden some.  Carter was up every hour to two hours crying and upset.  The night time was the worst, I think due to him being a mouth breather and making his throat that much  more dry.  But after surviving an almost total nervous breakdown, we made it out in one piece.  Carter finally turned a corner this past weekend and I could probably say that today he is back to "normal". He was such a trooper through all of this, and took his "yucky" medicine without a fight.  For feeling so bad, and being so young, he really has been brave and we are proud of him.  He went back to preschool on Monday and I think the normal routine helped everyone in the family.  We want to thank all of the people who called to check on him, or stopped by, or gave him a gift.  It was all very nice and much appreciated.  Also thanks to my MOPS group for all of the extra prayers.

Carter pretending to have a sad, sick face while standing next the balloons he got from the Niebuhr grandparents and  our awesome neighbors the Thobers!

Since we have stuck close to home I don't have a lot to report on the last week or so.  I will give you a few updates on the kids.

Carter has said several funny things lately.  One night he asked me if what I Chad had was "beard".  We didn't understand at first and then he said can I drink some of your "beard".  Then we realized he was talking about beer.  He also asked us when he was going to be 6 at the same time as Will, Xander and Grace.  I told him that he will never be 6 with them because they are older than him.   Then he said but Will, Xander and Grace got to turn 6 together.  So I had to explain to him what it meant to be a triplet and that aunt Erin had them in her belly at the same time and that is why they got to be six together.  Carter has been asking a lot more in depth questions about the world around him.  He is also becoming extremely independent.  I feel like there is not much we have to do for him anymore.  He taught himself how to zip up his coat which he was really proud of.  

Camden has also taken pride in being more independent.  Even though he fights you when you ask him and he says "i can't do it" when you make him, he does it.  When he accomplishes something he is proud of himself.  He has also been really good to Callan lately and making sure he has toys and stays out of trouble.  He had the joy of being on the top bunk over the last week and a half and loved it.  The boys decided to switch places and are enjoying their "new" beds.  He was pretty "go with the flow" during Carter's recovery which was nice.  He also enjoyed the all the movies he got to watch as well.  His favorite toy right now is his Tigress (from kung fu panda) figurine.  He is getting excited to be 3 on Sunday, and can't wait for his Kung Fu Panda birthday party this summer.  

enjoying the tag readers

Callan is still our little ham.  He is finding new things to get into every day.  He got his eighth tooth on the bottom left canine I think.  It didn't seem to bother him too much.  He also proved to us that he is capable of going up and down the stairs so we were able to do something we have wanted to do for a long time. That is to take down our gate!!  It feels liberating.  This means Callan has gone up and down the stairs at least 50 times a day.  He also likes the freedom to play down stairs, which is not the best for me, but his brothers usually watch over him.  The other day Carter called me down because Callan had something.  When I went down he had old, chewed, gum in his hands.  He found it in the trash.  Luckily it didn't make a huge mess, but made me more leery of him being downstairs whenever he chooses. Falling and doing some sort of bodily harm is a daily oc around here. He has also let us know that he wants to be a big boy and do everything the big boys do.  He LOVES standing on the stool in the bathroom to get his hair combed and his teeth brushed.  He will willingly do it every time.  He also doesn't want to be left out if the other boys get a snack, or a dessert.  He wants us to know that he needs it as well.  He also wants his own tag reader.  :)  I will post his 15month pictures later this week.  They are super cute!

 trying out the stairs

 look mom, no gate

looking rough around the edges

My new little fish

Last evening Camden had his first swimming lesson!  He has been swimming with us as a family before and he has always had fun, but isn't a fan of putting his face in the water.  We thought for sure there would be tears and resistance but our little boy said he was going to be brave, and brave he was.  There were no tears, and lots of smiles.  He had a great time at his first lesson.  He didn't do a whole lot, but he did put his face in the water to blow bubbles willingly and also went under twice.  He also went down the slide which is a must for all of the kids.  We were very proud of our little Camden for taking on something new with a great attitude.  Here are a few pictures of his first day.  Carter is next to him with the yellow cap on.