Disney World

WOW where do I begin. We went to Disney World the beginning of December and had an amazing time. It was Steve, Campbell, Grandpa, Auntie Ann and myself. As many of you know I have been there many times and so has Steve but to see it through the eyes of a 2 year old was the best trip ever. Campbell loved Disney World and would, like many little girls, live in Cinderellas castle if she could. Her favorite parts were definitely the Princesses and the Characters. She ran up to each one of them with no hesitation hugging them and of course swapping princess tips with some of them. There were characters she didn't even know yet, she would ask me their name and then off and running for a big hug. She also loved the parades, the singing and the dancing. The animal kingdom has a great live Lion King show that she never blinked during. Some of her favorite rides were the Tea Cups, Dumbo, The Carousel, the Monorail and The Animal Kingdom Safari. We got to meet almost all the characters and get their autograph. Grandpa got her an autograph book which she really got into each time she met someone. I think some of the most exciting parts of the trip were meeting the Princesses of course and also lunch with Pooh, Tigger and Piglet. The electric light parade on the water was very fun as well. She also loved all the wonderful desserts we got every night, it was a chocolate paradise. This was such a special trip and so much better because Grandpa and Auntie Ann were there to share in all the fun. We took a ton of photos so I have just posted a few here and a link to a few more.

Here is a link to more photos from the trip.
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=4256a3aea1e47233&sid=0AaN27FwzYtmLChg

November Catch up

Well I have not been doing so good at updating our blog the last few months so I will try to do my best at a quick recap. We spent lots of fall raking leaves which this year Campbell loved to join in on. She did figure out fast though that rolling in them and using the rake as a pretend horse was much more fun.We had a very nice Thanksgiving with my family and of course ate way to much. Campbell kept calling the turkey a chicken and at one point said Mom that's a big chicken when I pulled it out of the oven. We are of course thankful for all our family and friends and wish we got to see everyone more. Speaking of family, just a couple days after Thanksgiving we got to spend the day with some of my Aunts and Uncles and Cousins (My Dad's Sister and Brother). This was lots of fun because Aunt Jackie brought homemade gingerbread houses for each of the kids to decorate. Just like when we decorate cookies at our house Campbell wanted to taste all the candy before she put it on the house. We had lots of fun seeing everyone and Campbell just loved playing with all her cousins. It was even nice out so they got to go outside. Here is Evan on what I called the death stick (I don't remember its real name). He was buzzing up and down the driveway on this 2 wheeled balance board thing. He even tried to teach me how to ride it, I never got both feet on it at the same time. I decided to pass after I realized the holidays were better spent walking then in a wheel chair.

We also successfully decorated the house. It was cute to see Campbell so excited about her "sock" as she calls it. I tried to explain it was a stocking and she just looked at me and said "Mom its a sock". She also loved picking out a tree and of course the carousel that lights up and plays Christmas music. She tells me everyday that she wants to ride the polar bear. Well part of her wish came true, we went to Disney World and she got to ride the carousel (no polar bears, but there was a pink horse she was very happy with). So that brings us to December and our family trip to Disney. I think that deserves its own post so you will have to go to the next one to find out all the fun we had.

Lots of Pooh

And we aren't talking potty training

Campbell was Pooh Bear this year for Halloween and boy did she have a blast. She was running from house to house yelling Trick or Treat like a pro. She kept having to turn and yell at me "come on Mom lets Trick or Treat that house". There was a reason why she was moving faster then I was, just check out the photo's below. She was so excited to be Pooh Bear she had to announce it to everyone we saw. The surprise on her face when she saw my costume was priceless. At the end of the evening we were sitting in front of our neighbors house talking when she got up and said good bye to everyone, I asked where she was going and she said more Trick or Treating Mom. I just wonder what is going to happen tomorrow when she goes knocking on doors to collect more candy.

The things we do for our kids. I could not see my feet over the stuffed belly and almost fell down a number of stairs. Campbell got around much better than I did.

Daddy even got into the costume and Campbell was so excited to see him all dressed as Pooh.

Sleepover

We had our favorite friends Sydney and Wiley over for a sleepover last night. Boy did we have fun, the three of them kept Steve and I laughing most of the night. Campbell was so excited, it was all she talked about the last few days. The first thing she did of course when they arrived was show them her new big girl bed. The plan was for Syd and Campbell to sleep in her new bed and Wiley was going to sleep in a cool sleeping bag Steve setup for him next to the girls. Well Campbell had to be removed from the room a little after 9:30 when poor Wiley said "Aunt Sue I really want to sleep but Campbell won't stop talking". She was so excited to have her friends there that she stayed up past 11 talking to Steve and I. We had a blast with them and can't wait to do it again soon. Here are a few photos from our fabulous sleepover.

The very excited trio.

Story time with Sydney. Great job Syd!

Snug as a bug in a rug ready for movie time.

Finally Uncle Steve has someone to play Wii with.

Decorating cookies to eat after dinner. You could tell who decorated each cookie, Wiley's were full of chocolate chips and M&M's, Sydney's were pretty with sprinkles and flowers, and Campbell's were bare because she ate all her M&M's and chocolates.

Big Wheels and Big Beds

Well we have been busy with lots of new and "Big" things the last month. Campbell has mastered the big wheel and loves it. She rides her bike around the block now with no help. She has even gotten the hang of steering and thinks zipping down the driveway is a thrill ride. Here is a little video of her when she was first starting to get the hang of it.

Campbell has also gotten rid of her crib and moved onto a big girl bed. She thinks its pretty cool and is actually excited to go to bed at night. As you can see from the photo there is so much more room for her and all her friends. She is going to need a king size bed if she adds anymore animals to sleep with. This has become her new favorite spot to read her books.

My "Tins"

Our good friends Kristen and Naveen had twin boys and last week we finally got to meet them. Campbell is a big fan and calls them her "tins". Kiran on the right and Rowan on the left are as cute as can be. We had such a great time holding them making them smile and tickling their toes...oh ya it was nice to see Kristen and Naveen too. We can't wait to see them again soon.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I can't believe summer is over and fall is around the corner. The exciting part about the end of summer is that means its time for college football season. We are ready for Saturday football at our house and hope the Spartans have a great year. Campbell loves her Sparty dress and ran around all morning yelling GO GREEN GO WHITE!

Family Fun

A couple weeks ago we had some visitors come stay with us. Our nephews came in from Chicago for the weekend and we had lots of fun. We went to the zoo, the park and the highlight of it all was a party with the family at Aunt Jan's house. We got to see lots of Aunt's and Uncle's and most of our cousins. Campbell had such a great time with everyone and talked about her cousins for days after, asking when she can play with them again. I am not sure what her favorite part was, swimming with them or playing ring around the rosie on the trampoline.

Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy was in Michigan recently and we were supposed to go hang out with a bunch of other parrot heads and watch the show. Unfortunately we were unable to go to the concert so instead Campbell and I had our own Margaritaville party at home. She thinks Jimmy Buffet is the best music to dance to, here she is in action.

Little Helper

Campbell has become a great little helper lately and wants to do everything Steve and I are doing.

Steve has been busy with home improvement projects the last few months. He has put in a new kitchen floor, stained all the kitchen cabinets, helped me landscape, and much much more. Well he was finishing up one of his projects the other day and Campbell couldn't stay away and wanted to help. She decided that she would be a big help to Daddy by measuring everything for him. Here are a few of the items she decided needed measuring.

Panda Bears belly

Daddy

She also decided that my butt needed measuring when I bent over to pick something up, that's when the measuring tape got put away.

Steven has had to travel a lot lately so when he was gone on one of his trips we decided to surprise him by washing the cars. This was Campbell's first time at it and she loved it. I still am trying to teacher her that once one side is clean and dry there is no need to keep putting soap all over it we need to move to the other side of the car.

Getting very excited about all those bubbles

Even more excited when I told her she could go ahead and make bubble hand prints on the dirty car

As you can see she really got into it

Green Thumb

The other day we spotted our first tomato of the season. Campbell was so excited to pick it and ran around the yard showing the neighbors and yelling my red tomato. Grandpa of course got his first tomato last week so beat us again this year.....I want a rematch next year Dad! We took it inside where she ate it as fast as she picked it. Here are a few pictures of her in front of her tomato plants...I think we may have to help her pick them considering the plants are taller then her. There are also photo's of her flowers she planted in May in little cups. She has been so good about watering them each day and when they got to big for the cups we planted them in the yard. I think she has the green thumb in the family, watch out Grandpa.

My Slide

Campbell has hit the age where everything is MINE, including the slide at our neighborhood playground. Well Daddy thought it was time that she had one she could really call her own. He has been working hard the last couple weeks clearing a spot for it, cutting tree branches, putting it up, hauling mulch over so its nice and soft to play on and making it just right. The time finally came where it was ready to go and Campbell was more then excited to test her out. Here are a few photo's of her on her new playground in the backyard. Steve has a few more things to do to really, in his words "trick it out", but Campbell loves it and does not want to come inside.

Every good playground needs a turtle sandbox. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Please note the socks and shoes she pulled off 2 seconds after we took off the lid to show her there was sand inside.

She calls this her "belly swing" and does her "superman" on it.

Thank You Daddy! XOXO