"Hi" and "That"

Camryn started saying "Hi" to everyone and everything about a month ago. At first we thought it was just a coincidence, but it's clear now she knows what it means and when to say it. I love that her first word is a greeting. Her new word now is 'that' ... it sounds more like 'at' or even 'hot' sometime. She will point at things and say 'that'. It reminds me so much of Will. His first word was 'this', like Camryn, he would point at everything and say 'this'. Like her brothers and sister, Cam makes sure she gets her share of attention and is the race for being the loudest. She enjoys yelling at the top of her lungs just to hear herself. She loves the reaction she gets out of everyone especially when we are at a restaurant trying to eat dinner. It's lovely. Here she is waiting for dinner last night at McAlisters. You'd never know she's got a cold, hasn't been sleeping and has been running a fever off and on since Friday! She's still my happy, sweet baby girl!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

It feels like it's been raining forever. Ma, Katie, Camryn and I spent the better part of the day yesterday out in it running errands in preparation for Katie's 5th Birthday Party next weekend. One of our stops was Wolfe Camera to see if they could recover the pictures from my Nikon memory card, they were able to get most of them. It was the best $40 I've ever spent! I'll be getting more pictures of our trip up here soon. By the end of the day yesterday we were soaking wet and cold to the bone. That didn't stop Kate from enjoying the enormous puddle that gathered in our driveway. We have a drainage problem that needs to be fixed, but we need it to stop raining first. Of course the kids would prefer we leave it the way it is so they can continue to play in it.

Maine Vacation

We are back from Maine. Despite a stomach bug that hit three out of the four little ones, it was a great trip. In addition to visiting with family and friends and meeting the newest addition to the family, Maya Ann Dries, we enjoyed the last of the snow in the Lake Region area. From sledding and skiing, to visiting a sugar house and lunch at Damillo's, we stayed very busy and the week flew by. Unfortunately I think my Nikon erased my memory card, leaving me with only a few pictures taken on my point and shoot. I'm very upset by the whole thing for as you know I'm a bit obsessed with pictures ~ I had some great shots on there! I still holding onto a small amount of hope that I may be able to recover those pictures, but it's not looking good at the moment. I will take my camera to Wolfe tomorrow to see if they can help. Keep your fingers crossed!

Kate with her newest cousin, Maya

Kate, Sarah and Ben ready for a ride ~ they LOVED the snowmobiles!

Cam visiting with Meggie.

Speed Racer Kate was more interested in going fast than learning how to ski responsibly!

Will was all about the "JUMPS!" ~ Jon took him over a few when I wasn't looking!

Ben is really skiing now. It's amazing to watch him. Jon was able to take him alone one day and they got to spend the entire day at good ol' Shawnee Peak. By the end of the day Ben was riding the quad and skiing from the top! Black Diamond and all!! Amazing ...

From Snowmen to Sprinklers

Last Monday it snowed. Today it was 80 degrees. I can't say that it makes any sense, but I'm certainly not going to complain about it! It was a little warmer than I like for my run this morning, but otherwise was a perfect day. Tomorrow will mark the third day in a row with these warm temps, but according to the forecast they will be gone the day we board the plane to head north. Camryn took a three hour nap while I played outside with the kids this afternoon. The kids kept complaining they were hot and wanted to go swimming. The pool is still way too cold for that, but it didn't stop them from asking every two minutes. Mr. Invention Ben pulled the hose to the playhouse to make a waterslide, which of course just turned into the three of them spraying each other with the hose. They were cold, wet and muddy by the end of the day, but they certainly had fun! After dinner Jon took Kate to speech while the boys and I hunted for rocks and dirt for Ben to bring to school tomorrow ~ Camryn helped too.

Captain Underpants!

Will is potty trained. Even as I write it I can't believe it. A couple of days ago he started asking to use the potty to poop, and now he's in underwear full time. I didn't do anything to 'train' him, I let him take the lead and I followed. I was able to convince him to wear a diaper to bed the last few nights. I'm afraid if he were to have an accident at night it might send him right back into the Pampers. He's been accident free so far, even in two long car rides. Our next adventures will include hitting as many public bathrooms as possible. If he's anything like Ben and Kate were we'll be checking out bathrooms at Harris Teeter, Target, the gas station, Kate's preschool, Ben's school and any persons house we happen to be in. It all part of the process I guess. Will is very proud of himself and insists on showing all of us what he's done in the potty. Dinner has been interrupted the last few night to go check out his latest creation in the toilet. Very nice. So far Ben and Kate have been very supportive and excited for Will, it won't be long though before they tire of looking at his poop.

Camryn has also taken notice of what the 'big' kids are doing. Her latest trick is putting things on her head, like she's trying to dress herself. It's so darn cute how proud she is when she gets something to stay up there. Here she is with Will's 'big boy underwear'.

March Snow?!?!

Snow in March in Charlotte is unheard of, but here it is March 2nd and we have snow. HAD snow I should say, most of it is gone by now, but it was fun while it lasted. After two straight days of rain, snow was a welcome change. The rain turned to snow about 6:oo last night. Jon and I headed for the hot tub after the kids went to bed to enjoy the beauty of the flakes coming down, it was so pretty we just had to wake Ben and Kate to show them. So at 10:00 last night I woke them up, changed them into their swimsuits and headed out into the storm. What fun we all had! The kids, although a little tired at first, thought it was the coolest thing to be up that late, sitting in a hot tub while it snowed and snowed and snowed. They went right back to sleep afterwards and were ready to go out and play in it first thing this morning. What our backyard looked like after two days of constant rain. We were very happy to see it start snowing!

10:00pm enjoying the snowfall.

Will loves snow!

Kate making a snow angel.

Toothless.

Congratulations to our good friends Mal and James! Thayer Parkington was born today making Kerris a big sister!! We are so happy them and can't wait to see them all very soon!

Snow Days

My computer is still on strike, so I am begging, borrowing and stealing Jon's every chance I get. Tonight my goal is to get some recent pictures. We've had quite interesting weather over the last couple of weeks. It snowed last Wednesday and then was in the 70's three days later, but hey, that's why I love North Carolina. Here are some recent pictures:

Will had so much fun playing in and eating the cold white stuff.

Ben getting ready to nail me me with a snowball ... I hid behind the camera so he wouldn't do it!

The kids trying to get a snowman built before it all melted.

Kate says she LOVES snow and wants it to snow everyday except on the days she wants to swim in the pool.

Camryn enjoyed her first snow as well, but preferred playing inside.

Camryn is pulling up on everything. The stove is one of her favorite places~ she loves to play with the baby in the glass door. She will pat the baby, kiss the baby and just today started clapping to the baby.