We're Still Alive

Hey everyone! I've been looking at the pictures I have on the computer here and have come to the conclusion that we need to take more! I've got some random ones of kids with blocks and Katelyn's pony on the kids table, I know I didn't take that one, and lots of the children in their swimsuits. Some of them are the kids with "the babies" that I used to babysit. They're pretty funny.

We're joining with a couple families for Thanksgiving this year, so there will be lots of photo opportunities there. Kyle will be the oldest kid there, but only by a month. I got suckered into doing the turkey for the event, so I'm freaking out! I got some tips from one of my visiting teachers today, the other one is the one that chickened out and asked me to do it! She's excited to see how it turns out, I'll bet! Anyway, it'll be nice to not be by ourselves this year.

The kids finally got their school pictures back today. They turned out alright. I guess they told Kyle to not smile because he crinkles his eyes shut when he smiles too big. So he's just showing his bottom teeth. Katelyn's smile looks just like last year, not quite there. She says she is, but I've seen better! They both have very cute clothes on, and they stayed clean! I can't ask much more than that, can I? They're going to help me get them into Christmas cards for everyone after Thanksgiving. Yay for a project!

Planting Season

This was a great family project we did a while ago. The kids had lots of fun being allowed to get a bit dirty. I think more time was spent on choosing what to plant and where it would go, than on the actual planting! I'm happy to report that seven of the ten types of seeds we planted did very well, some too well. They started to choke others out. Then we put a friend in charge of them while we were gone and everything died. We were very sad and will try again--without the dill, I think.

Katelyn's 5th Birthday

Katelyn was such a princess for her birthday! That hat was worn until it died. She had it all, including the cake, which we will never order again! Being a Summer Birthday, she didn't have the turn out we'd hoped for her. She didn't seem to mind and was happy to have a very decorated playdate with one friend.

Kyle's 6th Birthday

Better late than never, right? Kyle had a pretty great birthday. We had a little party for him with a couple of his friends over. It was still a bit wild, but nothing like last year! He was so excited for the Spiderman theme and getting free-reign with his birthday cake. I don't know if I'll be up for a party by myself this next March. I've always had Brad here to help me referee!

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. My very grown up MotorCross Racer thinks he is going to be a NASCAR Driver when he is big enough. He says he wants to drive car #8. I wished him luck with that. I don't think that particular driver will be turning over his car to Kyle anytime soon! The super, adorable flapper dancer loved her costume, too. We researched online the correct hairstyle for her feather because she had to be perfect. She is so bossy! I don't know where that comes from... A big Thank You! to Great Aunt Caren for the gold beads and pink feather boa, they were exactly right for the time period we were going for. And the colors were perfect. Katelyn was a very happy girl!

Zoo Trips

The zoo in Boise is tiny! I think we saw everything in a little under two hours, going at negative two miles an hour! They had lots of animals and you can get much, much closer up to them than in the Portland Zoo. The only thing that wasn't there--elephants! They are Kyle's favorite animal and all we could find was a little misting fountain thing by the giraffes. We knew we were going to the Portland Zoo the next week, so we were able to calm him down.

They did not disappoint there! We went into the feeding area and watched one adult elephant in there blow air on the hay near the window so it would come toward her. Then she could reach it to eat it. The kids thought that was the greatest thing, and I must admit I was impressed as well. We were a week or two early for the big dinosaur exhibit, so we were bummed about that. And they don't do the Birds of Prey show anymore! What has the world come to?!

We have a zoo here, but it's about a two hour drive. Maybe a little less. I'm comfortable driving around Fort Bragg and all over Fayetteville, but I'm not brave enough to go farther than that yet! Too many dumb drivers out there. Of course I'm a great driver....

Trip to Idaho

We were able to make a trip to Idaho, while visiting in Oregon, last May. We stayed about a week and spent a couple of those evenings with the great grandparents. I don't think the kids have every been around a dog that small. Kyle loved the shop out back and got to watch part of a project while there. Katelyn wanted to pet every cat she saw at grandma and grandpa's house, no easy task! It took quite a bit of bribing to get the kids away from all those adorable kittens roaming around. There was a large park about a block away that we all played at (yes, even I did the swings). Next to that was a train yard. I thought Kyle's eyes were going to pop out of his head! We were able to walk right up to them and get some information on the different uses of the different cars. It was like Christmas morning times 5 for my little boy! I didn't think he could get any more excited. Until we went to the zoo later in the week. I'll get those pictures up tomorrow.

Family Photos

In May, the entire Campbell family was finally together after a couple years, in fact. We were able to get family pictures done with everyone and as individual families. They all came out lovely and the ones of the grand kids are especially cute. The woman that came and took them was a true professional! The last time we had a family picture, it was out-of-date in a little less then six weeks, when Katelyn was born. These ones will have been good for a whole year, exactly, until Julie and Tim add to their family! (When I saw these, I started to cry! My family is so beautiful, and then there is me! I know what I'm working on before the next family gathering!)