Roasted Marshmallows

In addition to making Carole's Berries, Camden got some much requested time with Hank.  She loves playing fetch with him.

 



Aunt Carole and Uncle Ric also had a nice fire going so that we could roast some marshmallows.  Camden enjoyed taking a turn and Daddy taught her how to keep them light brown and melty inside. Uncle Ric took care of Mommy's desired burnt and melty ones.

Of course the gooeyness was everywhere on her fingers and mouth, but I didn't get a good picture.  She sure loves her time at their home.

Carole's Berries

Aunt Carole helped Camden fulfill one of her recent wishes.  They made chocolate-covered strawberries!

Camden followed all of Aunt Carole's directions and caught on quickly.

It was quick and easy using the bowl of chocolates...and it was a yummy dessert with our homemade gumbo!

Camden was more than happy to lick the spoon!

What a face!  "Yea, that's right.  I got the chocolate and not you!"  She just needs to add a neck roll and a finger wave.

Tayton's Party

One of Camden's school buddies had a birthday party on Saturday.  She was thrilled to go!  It even took her back to her old stomping grounds...it was held at her old daycare (Guiding Light).

 

Tayton just moved to her class this about 2 months ago.  But they are fast friends and both love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Since that was the party's theme, she wanted to wear her Turtle t-shirt.

Of course, TMNT's eat pizza!

She was sure to be up close when it came to cake time!

We almost won the jar of M&M's too.  Our guess was 2nd closest...only 11 more in our guess and we would have taken home the jar of 880 candies!

She had a ball and loved celebrating her friend.

Daddy - Daughter Dance



Camden was so very excited to go to another dance.  To have her daddy accompany her was the icing on the cake.  It was a semi-formal event, sponsored by Tri-Kappa and held at Crawfordsville High School.  Kevin didn't have a suit (and needed one), so we found a stunning camel colored one on sale (!).  When Camden saw him the first time in it she literally cooed, "Oh Daddy, you are just so beautiful."

 



We originally were looking for a green tie to match her polka dots but discovered it is a really odd shade of green.  We found lots that were green, but they just didn't go quite right.  Then we saw the bow tie.  I loved it at the store, but when he put it on, I thought it was the coolest!  They were such a sharp-dressed couple.

 

Camden picked her dress out.  She wore a white sweater over it and it was adorable.  It was a little more chilly (and windy) than I had expected and I wished I had bought her tights, but she survived the brief stints outside.

I loved watching this pair head off and see my dapper husband treat his baby girl with the usual tender, gentlemanly way he does.  Every girl deserves a daddy like this one!



Popsicle Stick Art

Maya likes to do crafts.  Yesterday they were building a popsicle stick flower pot when I arrived home.  

 

Maya is so good at guiding and directing Camden in a calm manner.  It's a good energy level for Camden, who is so naturally bouncy and excited, to be around.

Writing Assignment

Camden brought home this writing assignment this week.  She said she made it up and did not copy what the teacher wrote on the board.   Given the books from school that she is reading to me at night  my guess is this is her own story.

I only wish it was not in pencil and could be better seen.  My favorite thing about her writing lately is that she makes a big circle for the dot on her "i".  Love watching her brain grow!

St. Paddy's Snacks

I love all the holidays - big and small.  I think they all need celebrated, so I offered to send in green snacks for Camden's class.  She has been requesting all year that I make cake balls, so green cake balls it was!  Camden and Kevin even helped me roll them.

 

I used white cake and tinted it with a little green food coloring.  I didn't get a picture, but I used green candy melts to cover them.  I usually like to drizzle a contrast color over the top, but didn't get any.  I tried drizzling the green on one tray of them.  It was pretty ugly...but ugly still taste yummy!

I also like to send in health stuff too, so I made a platter of green fruit.  Yes, I cheated and bought presliced green apples and had Mrs. Barr put them on the platter at school (I didn't want brown & green apples).  I looked everywhere for gold coin candy, but had to settle for gold wrapped peanut butter cups for our pot of gold.  I sent enough for two days of snacking and Camden has reported that everyone loved it!

A Visit to Chuck's

Dinner Guests

Last Thursday, March 6 was GaGa and Grandpa's 32nd Anniversary!  We had them over for dinner on Sunday, along with Paxton.  I forgot to get a picture of our guests of honor! 

 

While waiting for dinner to finish, Paxton and Camden enjoyed the beautiful day outside by rolling down our sloped backyard and playing on the swingset.

 

After dinner (ham, twice baked potatoes, and salad), the two of them enjoyed a game of monopoly while the adults played a few hands of Eucre.

Muddin'

Saturday night we went out to eat and then stopped into Lake Waveland to drive around (gate is free this time of year).  We saw about 20+ deer (no exaggeration) and drove back to the old ATV park.  They are closing it permanently and we didn't even know where it was to begin with.

 

The snow had thawed and gravel/dirt roads were puddle-filled and awful muddy.  Our road came to a dead end and we had to turn around.  Unfortunately I was driving.  I may have grown up in Indiana, but I am a city girl. 



 

When a city girl goes muddin', we get stuck!  Well, I guess that is what muddin' is about - lots of mud slung everywhere.  We would go a few feet and get stuck again.  I had know clue about momentum and not turning your wheel (I'M A CITY GIRL!).

Kevin was getting a tad irritated, I was having a tad bit of fun, and Camden was a tad annoying - sitting in the back telling me I shouldn't have gotten us stuck.

Then I had an "a-ha" moment and realized it was just like snow.  I understand snow.  Shortly after, we were out with a very mud-splattered car.  Lesson learned.  Family fun.

Success!

Maya babysat for us on Tuesday after school.  When I pulled up to our house a little before 6, the two of them were on the front porch wiping the front door window panes with paper towels.  Wow!  I like this girl!  Camden was so happy to be helping and proud of their day together. 

 

They were just about to start a scavenger hunt when I got home.  They had brainstormed a list of items outside (pine cones, sticks, rocks, etc.) and Maya had a little purple bag for them to collect them in.  Wow!  I like this girl!

 

Then I went inside and saw this on the table:



 

Really!  I did a lot of babysitting in my day, but never this organized or planned.  They did this cute craft and Maya even made her pick up her room.

Wow!  I like this girl!

Meet Maya

We've been talking about getting a back-up babysitter for over a year.  Maya is a girl from our small town who we have known a bit over the last few years.  She and her little niece are always at VBS at the church on the corner, she plays with her friends on the trampoline behind us when it's warm, and, of course, we see her at school events.  She is a 6th grader.

 

I have been impressed with her at every encounter.  She is very mature and great with kids.  Her mom suggested that she come over one evening and see the house and get to interact with Camden on her "turf" before she comes over for an actual babysitting gig.

 

It was so perfect!  It was warm enough (and the snow had melted) for them to go outside for a bit.  Camden ran and Maya chased.  They played on her playground.  The did all kinds of pretending. 

Camden is excited!  So is Maya.  Her mom told us that she went to the dollar store and bought some craft supplies/books and made a babysitting kit for days she would be over.  We will probably have Maya do one or two short afternoons after school each week and then use her on weekends or other times that GaGa isn't available. I think it's a pretty good fit.

Harlem Wizards

On a last minute whim, Camden and I went to see the Harlem Wizards play at Southmont.  It was a fundraiser for the athletic department.  A few of the players had been at her school that day and she wanted to go see them soooooo bad.  They are similar to the Harlem Globetrotters, except they play local people and not another team "in on it".  The Waveland 5th grade teacher was on the team, so Camden liked seeing Mr. McVay on the court.  

 

We had just been in town and were on our way home when she brought it up.  Kevin and I had discussed it earlier in the afternoon, but decided not to go.  But we didn't know they had played it up so much at school. 

Camden loved the atmosphere, but didn't really pay much attention to the action on the floor.  The sound system was pretty poor as well.  So when I decided we would head home at half time (already 8pm!) she didn't have an ounce of problem with it.

Before we left, we headed to the souvenir stand where she got a small trinket and a few autographs on her boot (the only thing I would let them write on with a sharpie). 

She loved the evening.  If she were a little older, we would have stayed for more of the action.  I think the second half was filled with more audience participation and even some prizes.  Regardless, Camden declared it, "such fun" so we won't worry about the "short" evening!