Out of the mouth of ... Cam

Just sharing some recent comments/conversations from Cameron. Some of the things kids say are incredible. He just cracks me up!

The other night at bedtime, Hayden jumped up on Cam's bed and was attempting to get comfortable. He walked up to Cam's pillow and starts to lay down right next to his head when Cam intervened: "Uh, I'm sorry, Hayden, but that is NOT an option."

*****

We were driving to Cam's skate lesson and one of the on-ramps to the freeway had a pretty sharp curve to it. Bryan turned to Cam in the backseat and said, "Hold on to your Gatorade so it doesn't tip out of the cup holder." A few minutes later, another curve came up and he told Cam to hang on to his drink. Cam's response? "Dad! Come on! I'd rather not make a career out of this!"

*****

In Kohl's: "I will NEVER do that. So don't expect me to." I turn around and see him pointing at the "fake" picture that comes with a picture frame. It was of two kids laying on their stomachs, with their hands under their chins.

So I asked him, "You will NEVER do what?"

"Lay down in that crap. Especially for a picture."

"Cam, it's a wheat field."

"I don't care. Do you know what kind of stuff lives in fields?"

Mental note: scratch wheat field off of my list for possible family picture locations.

*****

Last night before bedtime, Cameron turns to me and says, "Dad missed out on a LOT tonight." (He fell asleep on the couch for a while after dinner).

"Like what?" I asked.

"You know, lots: "Chuck", a new iCarly, a new True Jackson, Yard Crashers, we had ice-cream, AND we played Mario Kart."

"You're right, he sure did."

"Yeah, HIS loss."

:)

****

Bryan to me after walking in the door from picking up Cam from school today: "Uh, honey .... did you forget something today?" Probably. Chances are pretty damn good. But let me think: Let's see ... dropped Cam off at school, I know he had his backpack, didn't pack him a lunch because hot lunch was corn dogs, he had his water bottle, a check for replacing his library book (apparently it just "disappeared out of his desk") ... think I got everything there, I came straight home, and I know the car is in the garage, so I didn't leave it anywhere, been working all day ... "Nope, can't think of anything ... why?"

"Did you know Cam got out of school early today?"

Shit. "Uh - yep. I did, actually."

Rewind a half hour earlier. Cameron to Bryan today at school when he went to pick him up:

"WHERE have you been?"

"What do you mean? It's barely 3:00 - I'm actually early ..."

"Noooo, you're not .... we were out at 2:00 today."

"Oh. Well does your mom know?"

"Yes."

And rewind a few days ago to a conversation between Bryan and I regarding Cam's cell phone. We got him one last year (a pre-paid phone) to keep in his backpack during skate camp. We felt more comfortable knowing he had a phone and could get a hold of us if he needed, since he was there for 6 hours a day. Charged it up for him so he could take it to the 4 hour open skate session on Monday, and thought about putting it in his school bag, you know ... just in case. But decided against it. Well apparently we weren't the only ones who forgot today (does it count that I knew about it this morning?) ... Bryan said there were about 35 kids or so there. Great. And they don't start calling parents until about 4:00 or so. Great. Think we might be sticking that phone in there ... just in case mom's having one of those days where everything SEEMS to be going too well ...

Happy Birthday Mom!

"As a child, you walked before me,

To lead by example.

As a teenager, you walked behind me,

Looking out for my back
And being there when I needed you.

As an adult, you walk beside me,

So that, as two friends,
We can enjoy life together."

~Author Unknown

Thank you for always being there.
Happy Birthday Mom!
We hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Us

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cameron came home yesterday from school with all the "fixins" from his Valentine party. The decorated white lunch sack with oodles of hearts glued to it. 30+ perforated valentines, (Sports theme was the popular choice for boys, Hanna Montana and Barbie for the girls) with his name and the giver's name neatly written on the outside, folded over and attached with the accompanying heart sticker. Some of the more treasured came with candy or a pencil. More candy than pencils. A lot of candy. Their activity for the party? Valentines for their parents. Love it. Here was Cam's below. It looks like they were attempting Haiku. (The 5-7-5 is neatly written in the left column, and it says haiku at the bottom). Nonetheless, the valentine poem was beautiful. And of course I cried. No surprises there.

And just in case you're having a hard time reading the poem, it says:

Parents are so special.
They make me learn and laugh.
I am grateful for my parents.

This morning Bryan got home from work early and had grocery bags ready to make us breakfast. Such a nice treat for a Saturday since he usually doesn't get home until after noon. It was fabulous. Cameron gave us each a valentine he had made. Yay! I was lucky enough to be one of the recipients of his 2009 handmade Valentines mentioned in Wednesday's post. So beautiful. He had also engaged in a couple of projects with Grandma 'Nise and presented those to me this morning as well. A bowl that he had painted and a necklace that he and grandma made. Normally Bryan and I don't exchange gifts. I consider Valentine's day just another day, and yes, somewhat of a Hallmark Holiday. I love you's are said everyday. Numerous times. It's that simple. He is my valentine everyday. Okay, enough of the cheesiness. Cards, sometimes little notes left around the house in various spots or notes on the mirror written in lipstick exist on Valentine's day. And maybe a can of Redi-Whip every now and then. Too much information? Probably. Anyway, he surprised me this year with a watch, he figured it was either Valentine's Day or our Anniversary next month. My watch had seen better days, so sooner was better than later. It's beautiful. We've got a family dinner all planned out - steaks, sauteed mushrooms, asparagus, and garlic shrimp. I've got a fantastic bottle of wine ready to be savored, and there is plenty of firewood for a nice fire this evening. Not sure any restaurant could beat that, eh?

Happy Valentine's Day to all. Hugs and kisses from all of us!

Spring Teaser

The dog was barking at the front door the other day, big surprise, but I hadn't heard the doorbell or a knock. Then I saw the fluorescent green leaflet sticking through the door. It was a flyer for landscaping and I only know this because of the pictures of the lawn mower and the trees - the entire flyer was in Spanish. Irritating, considering we have a No Soliciting sign on the porch. Apparently this doesn't count? Anyway, the dog goes crazy, it scares the crap out of me because I'm working, and ... she won't stop until she knows the coast is clear. Okay, she's a good guard dog. At any rate, I check out the window, open the front door and grab the flyer that is stuck in the door, and of course it is pouring and because of the wind, I'm getting wet standing under my front porch. I happen to look over at my potted gardenia, and lo and behold ... the dang thing bloomed. Who woulda thunk it? After all my griping about the cold weather and frost! (See Wednesday's post in case you missed that one.) Apparently it wasn't enough to slow this puppy down! Yay. And I could smell it! Double Yay. Can't wait for the rest of them to bloom also! I hate the yards during the "winter". Everything is cut down, all brown, and no color. (No ... it's not always like that, smart alecks. We may be in Arizona, but it's not like our house is stuck in the middle of the Sahara.) Now if only the sun would just come out a bit, and warm things up a bit, we'll be back in business. Anyway, this was a nice little ray of sunshine on an otherwise highly irritating moment!

Pure Sweetness

Is there anything more wonderful than
handmade Valentines?