Our Utah Trek

AJ has to retake his boards in a couple of weeks (he has to retake them every 6 years), so in order to give him a little peace and quiet in order to get some really good study time in, I decided to head to Utah to see my family, because it had been way too long since we've been together. We were originally supposed to go up the first week of August, but Keegan and Camden both got sick, so we had to postpone our little excursion until just this past week. My mom came with us (thankfully), and it was a wonderful week of fun in Utah. All three of the boys did great on the drives up and back, so great in fact that I'm more than willing to do the trip again soon. (Utah, you've been warned)! ;) Other than a few minor moments and meltdowns (Keegan really, really missed his dad and wanted to go home every night, especially after we said our prayers in which we asked that our Daddy be watched over while we were away), it was a great time spent with my siblings and my mom and the boys with their cousins. They got their fill of bounce houses, and dinosaurs and pioneer heritage and just plain old hanging out with family fun. We got to ride trains and see Temple Square and enjoy a typical Utah summer storm (for the 5 minutes that it lasted).

We can't wait to go back!

Two at the Zoo

Time for catching up again, and I can't think of a better way to start than with Camden's birthday. I can't believe the little man is already TWO. For his birthday, we decided to go to quite possibly his favorite place on earth, the zoo. He seriously asks me daily if we can go and see the animals, so it was the best choice. Plus, we got to see some old friends while we were there, which made for fun times all around (the best part for Camden was that it was the second time in the same week that he was able to go to the zoo, and since we went later in the day, AJ got to join us, which is a rare thing indeed). We got to see all of his favorite animals, including the giraffe that he shares a birthday with, as well as some that we don't normally get to see. Since we took his cupcakes into the zoo, there weren't any candles for him to blow out, but he didn't seem to mind so much.

(hanging out at the zoo on his birthday)

Camden is my very stubborn, willful child (and I know that he comes by it honestly), and I have a feeling that he is going to be quite a challenge for me as he grows older. He is exasperating and exhausting and challenging and yet he's also my happy, loving child, who is more than willing at anytime to give loves and kisses. He is smart and he loves to be read to (and he'll "read" on his own), and he is strong and loves to be outside and loves, I mean LOVES, animals. He talks, but not a lot, although he is getting to be more and more talkative each and every day (when you have an older brother like Keegan who talks constantly from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep it's sometimes hard to get a word in edgewise, but Camden is slowly learning to hold his own). He has a love of "Cars" and trucks and anything that goes, and has learned to love "Woody" and "Boo" (Buzz Lightyear) and "Eroes" (Superheroes) because it's what his older brother loves as well. He loves his Dad and he loves Keegan. If he wakes up in the morning and Keegan is already out of bed, he comes into my room and asks where "Ne Ne" (how he says Keegan) is. Once he knows where to find his older brother, his day can begin. He also spends a lot of time during the day asking me where "Dad go?" and repeating that he's at work when I tell him where AJ is. He is learning to tolerate his little brother, and is more than willing to tell me when Hunter is crying or upset, and he always makes sure that Hunter is in the car when we go anywhere before he will let me put on his seat belt. He is Grandma's little buddy (as our recent trip to Utah reaffirmed). He is fearless, and willing to try anything that he sees Keegan doing, like jumping into our friends pool from their spa (which is higher up than the pool), without checking to see if Dad is there to catch him first (thankfully, AJ was and he survived to do it again and again and again). He doesn't like to do anything he doesn't want to do, and doesn't always listen as well as we like him too, but once he sets his mind to do something, he'll do it without being asked again. His laugh is so contagious, and I love hearing him laugh and giggle with Keegan as they play whatever game they are playing. He has a great imagination that he expresses in his own little way, and I can't wait until he is able to vocalize it a little more. He is so opposite of what we were used to with Keegan, and yet I wouldn't have him any other way. I love him just the way he is.


(showing me just how unhappy he was about something...a common look most days and then happy as can be just a little while later)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Camden Man! Here's to many more years of laughter and loves.

"Lost in the circle, beautiful circle, wonderful circle of love"

Sorry for my absence of late. I've been busy taking care of the three greatest little boys in the world. My days are full...sometimes, I'm not sure with what, and I find myself completely exhausted at the end of each day, but I am loving being a mom. Especially because I am a mom to these guys. I love my life.