First Day in Utah

After getting home from Banks Lake we did some laundry and headed out to Utah at 3 AM Saturday morning. Cameron did pretty good on the loooooong drive; he watched DVD's, (rough--what happened to I-spy?) listened to books on CD, slept, played with his new Pokemon toys, ate a lot of junk-food, talked our ears off and tried to get out of his seat belt every 10 minutes. We arrived after 14 hours and little Dallin was so excited to see Cameron. I was so tired on Saturday evening and all day Sunday that I forgot to take pics. Luckily, my sister Teri was on the ball so check out her blog: lifeasathompson.blogspot.com

What was your favorite part?

Banks Lake

Coulee Playland 

Electric City, WA

I've been going to this exact campground since I was 13 years old. My dad still vacations there every summer. Cameron & I were able to spend 6 glorious hot days there this past week. It's not really camping...the bathrooms are right up the hill ( less than 20 feet away), it's a grass campsite not dirt and the lake is right out our back window. I love it here and so does Cameron.

Cameron always asks me what my favorite part is...so I asked him:

"I skied"

"When I went to the store"

"I got a new truck"

"I watched people wakeboard"

"I swam"

"I watched people jump off rocks"

"I body surfed"

Here is our fabulous vacation

Hotel Jones

I thought when the tent box says sleeps 4 to 5 people that we would be good...not when you add a queen size air mattress.

View from our back window

Tent City

It seems my dad invites half his ward to come camping...it's great for Cameron to have all these friends to play with. As of Tuesday the count was at 95--WOW!!!!

Cameron loves to ride on the boat...and if allowed would be out there all day long.

Steamboat Rock

a great place to rock jump

Cameron gave it his all...if anyone has a good program that splices videos together I would love to hear about it. I have one but when I upload them to blogger or to youtube it screws it all up. HELP!!!!

Last year was the first year we had the skimmer...Cameron wanted to go first but no one knew really the best way to use it. So, they sunk Cameron. From that day forward it freaked him out. I bribed Cameron with 3 Pokemon toys and look what my buddy did...

Grandpa helping Cameron ski

"I did it mom now let's go buy my toys" We suppose to leave at 3 pm to head home but Cameron could not wait so we left at 12:30.

Body Surfing

On our way home we stopped at the Dry Falls...this place use to be the world's largest waterfall until there was a huge flood and it dried up the falls. Cameron thought this canyon was the coolest thing ever!

oops...still learning

So, I posted a vertical video (I'm a pretty princess) the other day and I just watched it and the whole thing is not there...well, the funny part is missing. Let's try this again!!!!

Where did that come from?

Yesterday Cameron & I headed to Fred Meyer to grab a few things and we decided to rent a Pokemon movie (his favorite thing right now). While walking to the video store I stepped a few feet in front of Cameron and he was jabbering away behind me when I heard this horrible head hitting metal sound. I turned around, Cameron was on the ground screaming and he had scrapes on his knees and a baseball size lump on the side of this head. Let me give you a better visual: You're walking along not paying attention, feet are in motion, you are abruptly stopped by a big cement block (the block at FM in not flush with the sidewalk but sits up on top) it thrusts you forward you fall to your knees on top of the cement block and then your head meets the metal post...ouch!!! Needless to say Cameron had a headache all day and Children's Tylenol was not helping. My little guy was pretty lifeless and not hungry (maybe this is why he did not like Kung Fu--ok??) He fell asleep about 7:00 and woke up with a huge headache I decided it was time to take him to the emergency room.

I was in the middle of my Pampered Chef party and luckily my friend Jolene was there and decided to go with me. When the nurse asked him how bad it hurt he said, "really bad," she then said, "Oh, that's a 10." The lobby was full and I was for sure we were going to have to wait forever but they took us right back.

Sometime blankie comforts better than Mom!

They did a Cat Scan which came out fine...mild concussion.

I thought everything was going to be fine...however, Cameron threw up on the way home and then woke me up at 4 am with a headache and a stomach...he has ran a temp of over 100 all day. Silly me, he had the flu and was suffering from that last night and I thought it was from his head injury. That's why I'm not called Dr. Mom!!!!

Kung Fu Fighter

A flyer came in the mail about Kung Fu lessons and I thought this would be a great venture...hmmm??? Before you sign-up and they take your money they give you 2 free private lessons. I thought great but it was way toooooooo much info for Cameron, "Yes Sir, No Sir, Where do I sit Sir?" When I asked Cameron what his favorite part was he said, "Nothing!" What part did you like the least, "all of it." He did say he wants to go back on Monday just to watch the Little Dragons, I'll keep you posted.

Walk'n

Cameron has been asking to walk in the woods by our house for weeks...I'm a chicken (I know me a chicken...pretty shocking) and won't go in there by myself. So, Vicki wanted to walk it before she took her young woman this week--PERFECT!!! Saturday morning at 8:45 we were on the trails...I was only jumpy for the first 10 minutes and then I chilled out. Cameron was in heaven and Vicki only scared him once about a bear!

Cameron got "all sweat" so we tied his sweatshirt around his waist, he thought that was pretty cool since his Grandma wears hers that way...nerdy!!!!

We found a very cool tree slide...it's been along time since I've adventured out in these woods but this must be new...hmm?

I made it look much more exciting then it actually was--lol!!!!

Soccer Camp Day 5--I'm a pretty princess

Before you watch this video I need to explain...I taped the video vertically on my camera, not thinking obviously that it would play vertically (I don't have a fancy camera like my brother Steve where it turns it for you on the screen). I've spent hours since Friday (today is Sunday) working on my error; Google searching, trying different programs and finally found a program that would turn my video around. Well, as you will see in a minute or two it did not work--well, on my computer it's right side up but not here...HELP!!!! I had to put it on here...it's another soccer warm-up game that lasted 45 minutes. Cameron was done 15 minutes in.



This must be a Brit thing: When the kids are not listening to Coach Spike and Coach Andy they make them hold hands and skip around singing, "I'm a pretty princess." This is a big waste of time because the older kids think it's fun. Well, some of the parents got together and thought it would be fun to have them dress like princesses.

To finish the week off the coach who had the least amount of points (after the coaches challenge) got drenched by all the kids. Coach Andy lost but I think Coach Spike rigged it. All in all this was a great week...looking forward to soccer in the fall.

Spray Park with Josie

The weather this week has sucked. The sun has peaked out each day at 6 pm!!! Nice! Today we finally saw the sun at 10:30 am and so it was time to head out doors. There is a spray park in Auburn (highly recommend) that Cameron wanted to go to. We called Josie to see if she could go and off we went. They had a blast!!!!

They spent the first 20 minutes drinking the water and spitting it at each other...love germs!

It's raining it's pouring, mommy is snoring!!!

Water got boring and these two busy bodies started to explore. Not sure what he was so excited about!!!!!!

Then they found "Fluffy." They named the squirrel and then chased it all around. They even attempted to pick it up several times. This is how the conversation went; Me: Guys, that thing will bite.  Cameron: Fluffy won't bite.  Josie: She is so cute.  Finally, Fluffy got smart and headed up a tree.

Soccer Camp Day 4--Sticky Brownie

So, each day has been a different theme...today was Sticky Brownie Day. I suck as a mother--I remembered at 9:30 and was not about to cook up some brownies. This is how it would have gone...9x9 pan, Cameron takes one and I eat all the rest. HOLY COW (literally)!!!!!! The coaches made up some story that in Europe they have sticky brownie contests...and people put a sticky brownies on their forehead and see who's can stick  the longest--ok??? 

Cameron and Coach Spike getting ready to play Crab & Shrimp

Rules of the Crab & Shrimp game: Crabs must stay down like a crab, (this is what set Cameron off yesterday...he wanted to walk, "my crab is too slow") and try and get the shrimp's ball. Shrimps must stay within Coach Spike's Stadium and stay away from the crabs. If they get caught them the shrimp will become a crab. Cameron is happy as long as he is winning.

Soccer Camp Day 3--Crazy Hair & Hat Day

I wanted to spike Cameron's hair with colored gel. I called around and found some at the local Sally's. When I asked Cameron to run to the store with me he melted down and said, "I don't want to change my hair. I don't want blue hair." So, luckily other Grandma bought Cameron an elf hat during Christmas so we used that. Saved myself $6.99!!!!

Had a rough day today...Cameron kept wanting to quit. Nothing seemed to be going his way. I'll have to think of a new strategy for tomorrow.

Soccer Camp Day 2--Crazy shirt & ball day

I guess soccer camp has a theme each day...today was crazy shirt and ball day. Cameron wanted to color his ball and draw a picture of Coach Spike--then I used some puff paint (I didn't realize they made that stuff still) and decorated a shirt. I tired to get Cameron involved with this project but he was having no part...he did finally draw Coach Spike. As soon as got to the field he ran right over to Coach Spike to show him his cool ball and t-shirt and the arrogant Coach was unamused. What a let down--for me; Cameron of course was on to bigger and better things. Stay tuned tomorrow is crazy hair day & crazy hat day. How do you have crazy hair and wear a crazy hat? Doesn't the hat defeat the purpose of the hair?

They play little games...this game was called "army men" if you get hit with a ball (which the parents were kicking at them) you are dead...I shot this killer ball at my son and welted his leg. Despite the injury Cameron followed the directions and fell to the ground. Cameron should of received an Oscar for his performance.

Cameron, what was you favorite part? "we were playing a fox game and the huskies were trying to get our tails (the tails were a shirt hanging out their shorts)."

FHE Puppet Show

FHE is always interesting around here. Usually Cameron wants to lead the song, say the prayer and do the lesson--it's like a little one man show. He has improved...tonight he said the opening prayer, Grandma lead the song (popcorn popping), I gave the closing prayer and we all shared in the lesson. Unfortunately you will not see me on tape...and the heavy breathing in the background is me trying not to laugh.

Memories

Calling all Memories!!
So here is a fun new blogging game:

1. Leave one memory that you have of us together, as a comment on my blog. It can be any memory!!!!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Soccer Camp Day 1

What an eventful first 20 minutes.

9:05 Cameron walks over and says, "Mom, I quit." Not to sure what that was all about but he attempted to pack his ball and head for the car. Then after I bribed him (I know I suck) he headed back to the field.

The guy in the yellow is Coach Spike he is an exchange student from Whales, "Mom, he talks so cool!"

9:10 Cameron lost his first tooth (FINALLY). It was way ready yesterday but he refused to let Uncle Steve yank it out. He runs over and as he his handing me his tooth, with blood on his lips he says, "Look Mom now I get money!!" Steve told him yesterday that the tooth ferry would give him $10 if he let him pull it out. Hmmm...the poor tooth ferry is going to be visting around here--I was thinking a dollar sounded good. I guess Cousin Kensie's teeth are worth more.

9:15 first trip to the bathroom

9:17 first water stop, "Mom, I'm all sweat."

9:20 my batteries died...I'll try again tomorrow!

Say Cheese

Taking family portraits is always a challenge especially when you have little ones. We were so spoiled when Christi worked for Picture People, we got such a great deal...now we have resorted to JcPenny. Last year when we did this the photographer was annoying and the kids were everywhere--luckily the pictures turned out great. This year the kids were great but Cameron's smile was obnoxiously weird--in every photo. Here is the best we could do!!!!

Of course when it's time to ham it up by yourself and McDonald's in on the line he does a pretty darn good job.

Aren't we cute????

I want to marry you

Cameron tells me on a daily basis that he wants to marry me. I've tried to explain to him in many different ways that it doesn't work that way.  I even had my dad talk to him and he just told Cameron that it would be like Grandpa marrying one of his aunts--thanks Dad like he understood that and I got a gross visual. This morning we were talking and again he told me he wanted to marry me...after a long discussion I let him know that when he turns 14 that he is going to hate me (I was a beast at that age so I know what is coming one day). I'm blogging this so I have proof in 8 years of what he said, "mom, I will never hate you...you are my best friend. I will always love you." 

Bug Safari

I heard about the Bug Safari from my Aunt and was way excited to take Cameron. He loves bugs, to pick them up, study them, read about them and kill them. I want to first say the two of us had a blast yesterday but I will not recommend this place to anyone. I learned a big lesson I should of called first and inquired about this place: it was a one room safari (not much bigger then my room) with maybe 15 tanks of bugs (the website claimed there were 40 different species), we were there for 10 min and it cost $14.00!!! I'm totally smiling right now because this is how things usually go for me. Well, since I had just paid an additional $14.00 for parking and we had only used 10 min of our 2 hours we went out adventuring.

Gift shops usually throw Cameron into a tail spin and of course you enter and exit the Bug Safari through the gift shop. He did great, we played with a few things and left...I escaped without getting sucked into spending money on some dumb toy--YIPEE!!!!

We headed up the hill to Pike Place Market, checked out the golden pig and watched the men who are on Free Willy (one of Cameron's favorite movies)  throw the fish.

Then we walked around Seattle and Cameron kept yelling out, "I love New York City!" We watch too much TV and he associates tall buildings with New York. We headed down to the water front and rode the Carousel.

SMILE!!!!!!

Oh, and here are more attempts of taking those stupid self-portraits (nice bra)!!!!!

Success, I finally did it!!!!!

Today was fantastic...Yes, I did get suckered into buying a toy gun for $3.99, "but mom it's a pirate gun and I don't have a pirate gun!!!!!"