Go Gators!!!!!!

My husband is a Gator fanatic. 3/4 of his clothes have some type of Florida Gator symbol on them. Chet has reason to be proud this football season. His beloved team has made it to the Championship game for the 2nd time in three years. So to support my eternal companions passion, we will be proudly displaying a Florida Gator background for the next month.

Will this bold display of affection tilt the scales in their favor at the Championship game. Who knows, only time will tell. But I will be able to hold my head high and say that I did my part to send good luck their way.

In a few weeks, if you happen to hear large bouts of screaming vibrating our house. No worries! we are all safe. Chet will just be doing his part to coach and cheer for his favorite team.

FACEinHOLE

I saw this funny find, on a friends blog and decided to try it out. I know, mean right? Putting Chet as a sumo wrestler. Oh well! you have to get your kicks some how.
Create your own FACEinHOLE

Christmas 08'

Christmas was white, peaceful, quiet, and plain old lovely. Although we missed our extended family immensely, it was nice to have our own little Christmas snuggled by the fireplace. Christmas Eve was spent across the street at the Kearsley's House. We can always count on the Kearsley's to become our family during the holidays. Christmas day was spent just with the family. Here are are few shots of the festivities. We tend to get caught up in the action and forget to take really great pictures, but any picture is a good picture at Christmas.

Good morning Alyssa

Good Morning Peyton


Time to Check out the stockings.

Camden did more chewing then looking.

Exactly what am I supposed to do with this stuff?

A babies paradise!! Yum! all that paper.

No! this is paradise. ( No worries the wrapper was on )

The boys, starting the assembling of bionicles.

At long last, her precious American Girl Doll.

We let things slide a bit at dinner and allowed Camden to snack on peas and stuffing. He was thrilled.

7 Months

Wowsers! you'd think we were in an Indy 500 car race. The time is zooming by so fast, and Camden is already 7 months old. So Buddy! what have you accomplished in the last month. Let's just say, more then I have accomplished in a year.


Advancements in food:

• Bottles alone were not cutting it. We had to up the antsy and dive into real foods
• We started by mixing applesauce into your oatmeal, Yum! apples and oatmeal are my favorite too.
• soon you were gulping up, bananas, peaches, pears, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, and the occasional prune. They say you are only supposed to introduce one new food every two weeks. Sorry little man! I am much too impatient for such nonsense, and I must add, so are you. You took to eating a variety of food, like a fish to water.
• It wasn't long before you decided to try a few crackers, and bread. No allergies yet! I am knocking on wood as we speak.
  
  

Personality:

• You are a hoot. You love to laugh and do it often.
• You love to pretend to be shy. I'm not complaining. I love it when you snuggle your little face into my shoulder. The best part is, we discovered that if we hand you off to someone else, you really don't fuss. Hence the phrase "pretend to be shy".
• You continue to sing yourself to sleep. I don't know what you are saying, but keep it up buddy. Whatever song it is that you hum to yourself each nap, and night time is working.
• Now when you get angry, or just want someone to pay attention to you, you throw your arms to the side, lean back and grunt. At first we thought this was a new way to go to the bathroom. Nope! you want someone to look at you and we usually do. The best part, when we do look. you give us a huge smile and start to laugh.
  
  
  

Physical Strengths:

• AND HE'S OFF! you are mobile. You may not have the crawling thing completely down, but you certainly get around. Rolling is still you strong suit. you roll everywhere. However, in the last week you have begun to army crawl. Strong arms and one strong leg push you around the floor with ease.
• You still love to sit up and play with your toys. you have become such a pro, that we did away with baby tubs and sink baths, and you now rock out in a full size tub. Splash away monkey!
• You have great dexterity in your fingers. You are already mastering picking things up with your thumb and pointer finger. Your favorite thing to pick, Rice Krispy cereal.
  
  
  

( driving a car is so much work )

Favorite Songs:

• A big Hello
• Icka Dicky Do
• Tiny Turtle

Favorite Books:

• If you were my Bear Cub
• SMILE
• Touch and Feel Animals

I haven't weighed or measured you since your sixth month check-up. But I do know that I had to pack away 3/4 of your clothes because they were too small, and my arms are getting tired more quickly now days, when holding you. Camden you are my sunshine. Thanks for bringing joy to our family.

Snow! The finale

This is my final entry about the great Northwest Snowfall of 2008. Even I am tiring of reading about it and writing about it. It has been exciting, and unexpected for this area. It has made me long for the comforts of my parents home, where we usually witness such whiteness. And it has flooded my memory with times of childhood bliss. I only hope that this White Christmas will cement fond memories for my kids.

It snowed the entire day Saturday and into the night. Our poor little car was buried. Only his shiny tires and tip of his nose remained.

While we slept, the snow turned to freeze rain, creating a centimeter thick layer of ice on top of the mounds of snow. It took great effort to break through the ice to measure the depth of snow. You can see the shards of broken ice lying on top.

Our little kids picnic table looks so fragile amongst the blanket of snow.

Our BBQ had a cover on it. However, during one of the evenings the wind was so forceful that it tore the cover off, and left the BBQ to freeze.

Our other picnic table created levels of drifts.

Frosty the snowman, knew the sun was hot that day

Thursday brought a warming of sorts, to the Portland area. Unfortunately our snowman didn't survive. He toppled over and then was grotesquely ran over by the van when Chet left for work. No worries! Just one more thing for the kids to do.

Alyssa mourning the loss of Frosty

The rebuild

Peyton came up with the brilliant idea of shoveling all the snow towards Alyssa, to give her easy access and assist in the rebuild.

He is sad looking, his helmet is on backwards, and he has lost two layers, but welcome back Frosty.

Camden got a kick out of watching his siblings at work.

All I want for Christmas

All he wants for Christmas is his two bottom teeth. Actually I have been amazed at how quickly his one tooth is already growing in. He just lost it . And now a mere 2 weeks later tooth number two has exited the mouth. It looks like the tooth fairy will be providing Peyton's spending money this month.

A Mann's man

Here he is. Our new little Nephew. What a little chub-a-lub. Check out the double chin. We're so glad you are finally here. Hopeful we'll see you soon!

The three mini Mann's, and the three most handsome nephews every.

A little daddy love.

Sorry Co! It was the only pic they had of you. You still look beautimus.

Another Bundle joins the family

I just wanted to put a huge CONGRATULATIONS! out to my Sister Colleen and Brother in law Kingsley. My new Nephew was born only moments ago. I don't have any pictures yet, but I do have a grateful heart and sincere eagerness to see the little man.



Basic Info:

Name: Reichen ( Ry ken ) Gunner Mann
Weight: 8 pounds 13 ounces
Height: 23 inches

He is no doubt handsome, bright and cuddly. Welcome to the family Reichen. We love you already.

The week before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house
Every creature was stirring, because school was out.
The stockings were hung by the chimney all neat,
In hopes that they soon would be filled with a treat

With mom in her footsies

And some cold arctic wind

We all settled in for three weeks with the kids.

When out on the road there arose such a clatter
It was all the cold cars starting up with a sputter

I zoomed to go plug in the car with no fear.
But wait, this is Oregon, they don’t do that here.

The fluff on the lawn, the house and the trees,
Swirled into my nose as it flew with the breeze.
When What to my wondering eyes should appear
But a white covered tramp, and three kids in snow gear

They played the day through in the neighborhood court.
Went sledding, threw snowballs, and built a big fort.

And I heard them exclaim, as they came in for the night.
Tomorrow let’s have an even bigger snow fight!

( I just realized that Camden kind of looks like Winnie the Pooh )

Schoooools, OUT ! FOR! Winter?

It looks more and more like the kids are going to enjoy an extra week of Christmas vacation. Monday and Tuesday's school day have already been canceled, and another storm system heads in on Wednesday. Not that they mind. The have been content to spend upwards of 4 hours at a time, frolicking in the bitter cold wind and sliding on ice. Although Peyton did happen to mention that he hoped he didn't miss the book exchange on Thursday. We'll see buddy, we'll see.

Just don't eat yellow snow son. That's all I ask.

Peyton trying to slide without a sled or a hill.

Now Alyssa has the right idea!

Don't event think about it little girl

There you go. Throw the snow at other children. Leave mommy alone.

Crazy Monkey! Like I said, trampoline best investment ever.