Happy Birthday Pencer-Poo (Feb 1st)

I found this one among my jewelry pictures,,,what a pleasant surprise


Loves to hide in his room to pout
Still likes to sit in the high chair at Grandma's to watch TV

Never have to force him to wear his sunglasses,,,he knows he's cool

EVERYTHING is either a sword, gun, or whip

Loves his tools

Goofy Kid!!! This is Kitty #2--He microwaved the first one. Daddy's a sucker and bought him another one.

Loves to sit on this couch to eat and watch TV at Grammy's

Again with the sunglasses He would NOT stand any closer to Cam for these pictures--(he's so my child)

Secrets

Peek-A-Boo

One of the sweetest pictures of all time!!!

A Pepsi fiend from the start

You love and adore your Daddy

But Mommy's #1 with you

This one kills me--Sometimes I want my BABY back (only for the daytime though, he's a crappy sleeper)

Such a sweetie!!! Your Grandma and Grammy noticed your dimple about 3 seconds after you were born.

Happy 3rd Birthday Spencer!!!!

Here are some things your mommy loves about you

--You love your lounging clothes (just like your momma) and you change them at least 3 times a day (not like your momma--I do the 3 day thing). But you are so good when mommy tells you we are going out and you have to put on levis.

--You are a headstong, stubborn little boy (although this is a double edge sword)!!! If we can point you in the right direction there won't be anything you can't do.

--To illustrate your stubborness--Yesterday you asked for a whole piece of gum. I told you that you could have half a piece. After much debate, I told you that you could have half or nothing at all. You chose nothing and stuck by your decision. WOW!!! Like I said, if we can just get you on the correct path.

--My day is filled with "watch me mom!!" You want me to watch your every move, including taking a drink from your glass to "I fighting bad guys!!" with your mean ninja moves.

--You have THE CUTEST VOICE EVER. Grammy and Daddy totally agree.

--You love your older brother and love to be with him, but you also have no problem being your own person and liking your own things.

--You will entertain yourself for hours!!! With a few "watch me mom"s mixed in.

--You don't mind being on your own. In fact, I think you like to be with other kids so they will entertain each other so you can do your own thing undisturbed.

--You love to learn from your daddy and "help" him.

--You also love to "help" mommy and are USUALLY pretty good at cleaning and doing what I tell you the first time.

--The thing I love about you most is that you love me so much. I am your world, and you still give me loves and snuggles and I have to hear "I need you Mommy" followed by loves, at least 5 times a day, or I don't feel complete.

--I am so glad you are my son and I hope you will grow up to be my friend too!!!

I LOVE YOU FOREVER---Mommy

Booger Update

Cameron came downstairs 1 hour after being put to bed to "tell you that I put my booger in a kleenex and I want to give you kisses."

After much praise and kisses off he went back to bed.

Cam's Field Trip

Cameron's Pre-School went to the Bean Museum at BYU today (it actually shows animals not beans). Cameron wanted me to come, so I helped drive some of the kids. I haven't been there since I was a kid, so of course it seemed huge. I thought it was very interesting and I think Miss Julie (as well as any Pre-School age teacher) is a saint. She was so patient with their questions, wiggles, and lack of obedience. It made me grateful for my job and that I only have 2 pre-schoolers in my house right now.

My favorite part was during the reptile show, Cameron left his friends and snuggled up next to me. I kept kissing his head and even called him baby (yes Lori, I called him baby). Until he tells me to stop, "baby" is fair game. I know this won't last forever, but I really appreciate the here-and-now of it.

Spring Cannot Come Fast Enough!!!

Tensions are high in the Hall household lately. We need to get outside and get some sunshine. I am not in the mood to tell the whole story, but by the end of the battle between Spencer, Cameron and their Daddy this is how the conversation went

C: I'm so worried about Spencer! don't punish him ( remember he is my sensitive child--pansy)
D: Cameron, Spencer needs to be punished. What would daddy do to you if you said "shut-up" to me?
C: You'd sell me. (stated as a matter of fact--no drama)

I guess all those times when he was little and we threatened to sell him to the gypsies, it really affected him. Who knew?

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!!!

So, I will be adding to the "oh, gross" post. Spencer was going potty the other day and called for me,

S: Mommy I pooped in my underwear
M: Well Pence, where are your underwear? (His pants were around his ankles, with no underwear to be found)
S: I don't know
M: No, really Spencer where are your underwear?
S: Weally mommy, I don't know!!!

This exchange went on for a few more minutes, while I checked the hampers, garbages, even the toilet (you know how much TP 2 year olds use). No sign of his Thomas the Train underwear.

They could be anywhere!!!! Proven by the fact that 1 hour later I wanted to put a video on so I could continue the search.

M: Spencer, where are the DVD's?
S: I don't know. (Here we go again---although he could tell his momma had a short fuse!!)
M: Spencer, find the DVD's NOW!!!!! (his face lights up)
S: Oh, I know!!!! (he runs in the bathroom and sure enough our HUGE DVD case is in the cabinet under the bathroom sink)

I was counting on Nicole finding them on Thursday, but that was a no-go.
So maybe Grandma will find them tomorrow as an extra treat for her birthday dinner.

Magical Booger Art

Artist: Cameron James Hall
Style: Impressionist
Medium: Boogers on Painted Drywall
Price: NFS*
* we might try Ebay--have you noticed the crazy things that actually sell

Despite the fact that we have a box of Kleenex on his bed, our resident artist prefers to add to the Primary/Preschool/Grammy Art that we put on his bedroom wall. Apparently he isn't able to "express" himself enough with the many craft projects he has done. And for those of you who are still reading, I call it Magical Booger Art because no matter how many times I get upset and make the little artist clean the canvas, within a week the art Magically reappears.
As a side note: We only had a small section framed.

Grandma's New Kitchen--In Progress

We are all so excited for Grandma to get her new kitchen!!! She definately deserves it. And as promised it will be finished by Christmas of 2007 (no typo there) :)

Last Saturday I wanted to see the progress on the floor, so after lunch we headed down. Grandpa was drilling in the floor, and kept hitting the nails, so in frustration said, "Damn it!" He quickly apologized to Spencer and Cameron. Spencer wanted to make him feel better, "Don't worry Pappa, my daddy says 'oh shit' " Ha Ha!! I was glad Brett wasn't drinking anything, it would have been a nose fountain.

Some more funny Grandkid stuff!!!

Rebekah called Grandma (from Detroit) and told her that they were having dinner and wondered if she could come eat Mac & Cheese with her.

Alex called Grammy (from California) and told her they were going to the beach today and asked her if she could come. Grammy explained that she was in Utah and he was in California. He responded, "Yah, can you come to the beach with us?"

They just don't quite get time and space relationships. So cute.

Last night I was quizzing Cameron on his scripture reader. I pointed to a picture and he knew it was of Nephi hunting. He knew that his bow broke, but then I asked what happened next, and he said, "Heavenly Father told him not to worry, he can just go buy some food."

Be Careful and Busted

I was doing the dishes tonight and Spencer was running back and forth across the kitchen. He took a pretty hard fall right in front of the fridge. I was expecting tears, so I tried not to let him know I saw (because we all know, if a kid thinks nobody sees them fall, they are magically OK). Instead of tears he said to himself, "Oh, I better be tareful." Cracks me up, because when I thought about it that's what I say to the boys, even before I ask if they are OK. "You boys have got to be more careful!!!" At least I know something has sunk in.

One hour later we were putting the boys to bed and I had to go back into Cam's room for something (he had been down maybe 5 minutes). When I opened the door I saw a flash of green light and very quick movement in his bed. Yup, he was playing with his Nintendo DS. I started laughing and said, "BUSTED" (in a non-threatening way I might add). Cameron burst into tears. Daddy came in and started laughing as well. Cameron cried harder and kept saying, "I got caught!!" We kept telling him that we weren't mad and his DS was not going on the fridge (the magical land where all toys go when little boys are bad). He just kept crying--such a sensitive kid (pansy).

We love our Careful and Busted Boys.

I AM...

CAMERON
I am... a star
I am aftraid of... spiders
I like...to play with Payton
I like to eat...bacon
I don't like to...cry
I know...being good (???)
I want to be a...baby (must have been needing attention that day)
I like to watch... someone do magic tricks
I like to go... swimming (he has had Seven Peaks on the brail lately)
My hero is... mommy (awww -- but only because mommy was asking the questions)
Mommy and daddy fight when... they win (???)
Spencer cries when... I bug him (how true, how true )
Mommy gets mad when... I pee my pants
Mommy's happy when... I love you (suck-up)
What I want to be when I grow-up... a police man
I can't wait for...Disneyland

SPENCER
I am...big boy
I am afraid of...monsters (said with a growl)
I like...Princess Fiona
I like to eat...chicken
I don't like to...(jibberish I couldn't understand) I like to play soccer
I know...kick soccer
I want to be a...kick the soccer (with swinging foot action)
I like to watch...Princess Fiona
I like to go...Spiderman ball (running over to get his Spiderman ball)
My hero is...Batmat!!! (in his deep voice)
Mommy and Daddy fight when...I have a sword and a pirate ship (stated as a matter-of-fact, not a reason why mommy and daddy fight)
I cry when...Waaahhh
Mommy gets mad when...(lowers his head and does "angry eyes")
Mommy's happy when...about Dad (???)
What I want to be when I grow up...a fire engine (yes the actual fire engine)
I can't wait for...I don't know

KAMI
I am..a mom
I am aftraid of... losing someone I love
I like...to sleep
I like to eat... anything I shouldn't be eating
I don't like to...fold and put away laundry
I know... Chad loves me
I want to be...a good mom
I like to watch... my boys play and laugh
I like to go... on outings with my little family
My hero is...my momma
Mommy and Daddy fight when... fight? what? we don't fight
Spencer cries when I... rub lotion on his face
Mommy gets mad when... the boys have accidents in their pant,,,especially after I have asked if they need to go potty (gggrrrrrr!)
Mommy is happy when... there is peace in my clean home!!!
What do I want to be when I grow up... a good person
I can't wait for... the boys' bedtime

CHAD
I am...already tired of Kami's blogging (actually I put that one in,,,his real answer wasn't appropriate)
I am afraid of...aliens (not the illegal kind: they don't scare him, they just make him mad)
I like... spending time with my family
I like to eat... Rice Chex
I don't like to... go to work
I know... my family is awesome
I want to be... a better husband and dad
I like to watch... The Simpsons and Kami sleep (Chad does a lot of the latter. Sleep doesn't come easy for him--poor little bunny)
I like to go... on Pepsi runs to Brookside
My hero is... my wife (suck-up)
Mommy and Daddy fight when... I think Kami has spent too much time making jewelry (what? me?)
Spencer cries when I... I never make Spencer cry, but he cries when Cameron chokes him
Mommy gets mad when...I can't read her brain
Mommy is happy when...she gets to sleep
What I want to be when I grow up...I thought I was grown up
I can't wait for...another baby (yah, 'cause he doesn't have to be pregnant, or give birth, or let it suck the very life from him)

Our Little "Helpers"

Our boys absolutely love to help (well other than cleaning up toys). They especially love to help their daddy with the MANY projects mommy thinks up. They are good little workers and daddy is so patient. Chad loves his time with his boys, despite the common complaint, "Good heavens (language edited for blog purposes) it took me 3 hours to nail in 2 boards." Which is an exaggeration, but not much of one. I just browsed through our pictures and found a few pictures of the boys "helping".

Daddy got free hats and shirts at Sherwin Williams. Woo Hoo, free stuff.

Family Night Fun!! Painting the laundry room. Spencer didn't last too long, but Cameron did a great job. I know we are brave to give painting equipment to 3 and 5 year olds, but my boys (especially Cameron) are freakishly clean and careful.

Spreading Leaves

They LOVE their toolbelts.

Spencer keeps all of his plastic tools in the armoire. They are strewn through the house a lot of the time.

It's a special treat when he gets the real deal.

"Helping" mommy make Cuban Stir-Fry. Yummy. Spencer likes to help in the kitchen more than Cam does (darn those allergies---the kid has a general aversion to food)

"Helping" put up shelves in the garage.

I do actually like their help in watering my flowers. Bring on summer!!

"Helping" load in and spread 2 tons of rubber mulch.

Always mommy's kitchen helper.

We picked pumpkins on a muddy day.

"Helping" Grandpa with the excavator at Brett's house.

I just had to put this one in---Cam asleep with his goggles and weed wacker.

He's even wearing Grampys gloves.

Who needs a snow-blower when you have boys?