Holidays

While Grandma Beth was here, we went to the Springs Preserve Christmas event. Of course it was the first cold day of winter. Cameron was excited because we were going to see Santa...plus he loves Springs Preserve. We kept prepping him for when Santa would ask what he wanted for Christmas. All Cameron could say was "toys"...the kid that doesn't want to play with his toys anymore because he is addicted to all things computer/Wii/Iphone.

We kept saying "what kind of toys". He had no clue. So Grandma Beth started trying to suggest things. Of course the first idea stuck...mittens! Seriously?! We live in Las Vegas. What is this kid going to do with mittens. But it was all over...that's what he now wanted. Haha. Every time you asked him what he wanted for Christmas his answer was mittens. However, when he sat on Santa's lap he reverted back to "toys".

They were also doing face painting...so Cameron got his done for the first time. He got a snowman. David said he started crying when they first started painting...our little weenie boy! Haha.

They also had "reineer" rides...horses with antlers. Couldn't get him on a horse, which I anticipated. All I could get him to do was pet it. With him that being adventurous.

They had the whole place lit up for Christmas. And a little train ride that went through some of the lights.

We also decorated the Christmas tree...and Cameron got to do a little one for his room. And there was lots of silly hat wearing!

We had a visitor this holiday season! Santa sent a special friend from the North Pole. If you have ever seen Elf on a Shelf you will get it! Cameron named him Sonny. He was watching over everything and at night he would fly back to the North Pole and report on Cameron's behavior for the day. Then when he came back the next morning he would find a new spot to hang out for the day (on the entertainment center, in a stocking, even on the Christmas tree). Sonny stayed around until Christmas Eve and then he left with Santa. We will see him again next year!

This year Cameron decorated a gingerbread house.

He also made and decorated special cookies for Santa!!



All the holiday excitement is exhausting!



If you know us it's all about the reindeer!

Then just some random shots.

He got to check out the new park!

Attempting to eat with chop sticks. Haha!

And trying on his own.

Happy Thanksgiving

We post poned our Thanskgiving day to the Saturday after. Mostly because we still weren't settled in the new house and needed to do some more unpacking. Then Grandma Beth was surprising Cameron and coming into town to visit.

The night before Cameron helped dad make a cheesecake.

That Saturday morning when Cameron woke up he had no idea Grandma Beth was here. I tricked him by sending him into the bedroom where she was to get me something. He was quite surprised to find someone in there! We had soccer that morning too so she got to see Cameron play.

When we got home we had our turkey dinner and everyone took a nap later that afternoon. Can't leave out the fact that Cameron got to decorate our table centerpiece.

    

 

Then realized I missed some photos of Cameron from prior to Thanksgiving so I will catch them up here. These are at the old house and were taken prior to moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also made another trip to Springs Preserve. This is the first time we took Cameron into Nature's Exchange and really spent some time. They have a program where kids can collect things in nature (shells, pine cones, etc.) and bring them in to earn points. They can then trade in their points to take something from Nature's Exchange. He was so excited about it he wanted to leave and go hiking right then to start collecting stuff. In the meantime, he checked out the microscopes. Our little science boy. He is also our little green boy as he is way into things like saving electricity, recycling, etc. Probably a reason he really likes Springs Preserve.

 

 

Soccer Time!!!

We signed Cameron up to play indoor soccer. We initially took him to their open house because we weren't sure if he would go out and play by himself or if we'd have to do the parent & child class. He really surprised us and went right out there to join in the kids only class. He enjoyed it so much that we went ahead and signed him up for their 9-week session on Saturday mornings.

It is really more structured play time that teaches them some of the skills related to soccer. He is in a class with all 3 and 4 years olds...maybe 8-10 kids when they are all there. Coach Bryan is so good with the kids!! He is not afraid to make the kids behave and does a great job motivating them to get in and play. He really engages with them. Cameron has been having so much fun!

It's hysterical to see them try to run backwards and gallop sideways. They play lots of games like chase the alien and freeze...all the while dribbling their soccer balls. Cameron does a really good job listening to Coach. When they do good all through practice they get stickers on their hands at the end of practice.

This is a picture of Cameron right before his very first practice!



Then some videos of the future David Beckham! Haha!

Fall Pictures

Cameron was so excited to take some fall pictures with Melia. We went outside and he was all about posing for different shots. While Melia was finishing a nap he took a couple by himself. Then when she woke up we did some of them together.

Then he was quickly over it and decided to just take a break on the curb. I think the pictures turned out pretty cute though.

Cute story (parts may be a bit incriminating). It was so windy the night after taking these that the pumpkin he was holding in the first picture blew away. We couldn't find it. Cameron cried and was so upset that his pumpkin was gone. David had to tell him a story that the pumpkin flew away to make it silly so he would stop dwelling on his pumpkin being gone. A couple of days later it showed up on the neighbors front porch down the street. We waited until night and stole it back. That next morning Cameron was so excited that his pumpkin had flown away and then decided to "fly" back to him. We heard him tell the story over and over for a couple of weeks after.

Halloween Time!!

Our Halloween festivities were planned to begin at Springs Preserve. They were having a trick or treat event with games, a haunted hay ride, and a haunted house. The night we planned to go it was so packed!! We got the kids all dressed up and as we made our way to the entrance we were told there was at least a 1-2 hour wait just to get in!! Needless to say we didn't stick around. Poor Cameron was so disappointed! All we really got were photos of them in their costumes.

We were supposed to go with friends so we all decided to go to the pumpkin patch instead. This year was much bigger than last year! They had quite a few rides and it turned out to be a fun night! There were swings, inflatable slides, spinning rides, and a bounce house. The kids had a lot of fun. We then let Cameron pick out our pumpkins for this year.

The next day we decided to carve our pumpkins. I really thought this would be the year that Cameron would participate and have fun doing it. His excitement and participation ended as soon as realized he had to put his hand inside the pumpkin and touch the "guts".

His reaction to scooping the guts.

Needless to say, I was once again tasked with finishing the pumpkin on my own. Maybe next year. Cameron wanted to carve his pumpkin to look like Thomas the Train. I must say it looked pretty good.

I was so bummed for Cameron because he didn't get to go to Springs Preserve when he was so excited about it that I decided to take them back another night. It was still crazy busy, but this time we bought tickets ahead of time and got there right when the doors opened!

The haunted house was was way too busy so we started off our night just playing the carnival games. We then hit up the trick or treat stations to collect his candy. Our last stop was the haunted hay ride. I wasn't sure how he would do, but he really enjoyed it. Even though there were zombies jumping out to scare us all along the ride. We made a game of it so he wasn't scared. Throughout the park he wanted to stop and take pictures with every creature we saw (it was a contest they had going on...all made of recycled materials).

The cactus garden was all lit up.

Monica and I decided to take the kids up to Moapa. They have a zoo small zoo with exotic animals (kangaroos, a camel, zebra, ostrich, etc.). He kept talking about the zebra that was green. Can't tell much from this photo, but it was colored for Halloween. He also got to try to feed a camel. Started off really good and then when the camel went to eat he freaked out and dropped the cookie and wouldn't go back and pick it up...made me do it.

Then our Halloween fun ended with trick or treating!! We went with Monica, Michael, and Ava down in Southern Highlands. It was absolutely perfect because it was not crowded and we got to do traditional trick or treat at people's houses. The kids had so much fun!! They held hands and took turns ringing the door bells.

They were so cute after we were done! They each dumped their pumpkins out on the floor to check out their candy. They inspected it all together then had the best time putting it all back in the pumpkin and dumping it out again. It was a big game. All in all...a great Halloween!