We've Created a Monster

I stopped on the way home from work to get a side of white rice at our local Japanese Steakhouse to have with a stir fry for dinner.  Since I knew Camden wouldn't be thrilled about the dinner selection (she loves all the veggies raw, just not cooked), I decided to treat her to a sushi roll to go with her plate of veggies.  And since I was getting one cheap roll for her, I thought I'd get another cheap roll for Kevin and I to share. 

Sweet Potato roll (!) and Veggie roll (cucumber, avocado and carrot).

Needless to say, when Camden saw them, she claimed them both for her dinner!  Kevin and managed to snag a few individual pieces before she finished them off!

Easter Egg Hung

Lake Waveland had their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday afternoon.  It was cold, but we had a beautiful sunny sky.

Camden continues to be the most excited child at these kind of events.  Her enthusiasm is one of my favorite things about her.  Others always comment about her "energy", but I think she is just happy and likes to express it!

The fire engine horn has sounded and the truck just comes into sight.

We move to a different spot to get a good wave in.

And a hug.

Then off to the field with the other 5-9 year olds for our hunt.

It lasts all of 3 minutes (tops!) but she has a good bag full of eggs and is happy.

Carnival Auction

Another part of the fundraising at the Spring Carnival was a live auction for Classroom Baskets.  Each grade picked a theme and parents sent in items to be included in the basket that matched that theme.  In the middle of the carnival, one of the local auctioneers auctioned off the baskets. 

I had helped put the baskets together so I knew what was inside, but Kevin and Camden scoped them out that night.  Camden had her eye on the 5th grade basket - Disney!

Kevin and I agreed on our limit and Kevin joined in the auction.  We won it...and for $20 less than our limit!  As you can imagine, Camden squealed and jumped!

She also stayed up late to wait for me to get home so she could dig in the basket and discover all her new Disney stuff.

There were several movies (none of which we had), lots of puzzles, a few games, a lithograph (with certificate of authenticity), the premier planning guide book for 2015 (will come in handy for our DisneyWorld vacation in October), a $30 Disney gift card, and many many more trinkets.  Including a new waffle iron, so we decided that Olaf waffles were on the menu for Sunday.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?"

Gramma Wins!

One of the events at the Spring Carnival was a drawing.  Camden sold tickets for $.50.  With a little instruction, she did a great job calling or stopping by her grandparent's houses to sell these chances.  Her sales pitch included possibilities of winning local restaurant gift certificates or even a hundred dollars.

Kevin and Camden checked the prize board all night and found out that GaGa had won a Jimmy John's sub sandwich.  After they left it was my job to check.  When I got home, I told Camden the news...and she immediately got on the phone.

Gramma Pat won one of the Grand Prizes - $100!!

Spring Carnival

Saturday night was our school carnival.  The PTO puts it on.  I was in charge of the food, but the whole committee worked HOURS on it.  I think we did 10+ hour days on both Friday and Saturday.  I, literally, couldn't move on Sunday morning my body ached so badly.  But it was a big success...and fun for all!

Kevin hung out with Camden as she enjoyed the night playing games.

(and, yes, we have another fish!  Our last one was with us for 3 years and finally died last month.  This new one - Ruby 2 - seems to be a hardy one as well.   She was forgotten in the truck overnight and was still swimming strong this morning - UGH!).

Kevin did lock her up twice.  It cost $.50 to put some one in jail and $.50 to get out of jail.  You were given a cup and could beg for one of your friends to bail you out (or you could do your 2 minute sentence and get out free).  Kevin said it was the best 4 minutes of the carnival!

Little Leopard

The circus was in town last night and Kevin took Camden.  More pictures will be posted later, but I had to capture a few shots of my little leopard.  The face painters at this circus do these amazing face paints in about 3 minutes.  Kevin had a meeting later that evening, so I picked Camden up.  I'm horrible with lighting in pictures, but knew that the evening sky was perfect for some outdoor shots.  I simply wanted one or two pictures on the "good" camera (and not Kevin's IPhone).  I took those...and Camden requested a photo shoot.  That NEVER happens!

I happily obliged as she led me around the yard doing various poses.  I love my simple front picture.

But her action shots are so much better.

 

California Roll

This girl loves her sushi.  She now orders the California Roll as her meal.  She has been trying more adventuresome ones off my plate and is realizing she may like other ones as well - spicy sauce, shrimp, yami (sweet potato), and even tuna have gotten the thumbs up.

DQ 75th Anniversary

The temperature in my car read 75 degrees.  Kevin had gotten a call to come in early for a derailment.  So Camden and I decided it was a perfect evening for a much needed haircut (her) and a free small soft serve ice cream cone from Dairy Queen (both of us).  We had such a fun, laugh-filled evening together.

 I did have to pay for the sprinkles, but they were a necessary addition!

Grammy Time

Grammy's roommate at the nursing home gave Camden this beanie baby cat on our visit on Saturday.  It has been her constant companion ever since.  Maybe we can get rid of the real cat and dog now! Hmmmmm....

Swim Party

One of Camden's classmates had a birthday party on Wednesday night.  While it might be odd to be mid-week, it was perfect in all ways because it was a pool party at the local High School.

Camden was excited all week and couldn't believe when it was actually Wednesday.  She eagerly carried her present (and swim towel) in!

Jozee turned 7.  It probably makes her one of the younger kids in the class as well.

Camden had such fun at her "swimming lesson" pool.  There were probably 20 kids there (about 1/2 were from her class).

Emery and Camden enjoyed going down the slide over and over and over...

The kids got about an hour of swimming in before it was cake and presents time.  Jozee is really into Monsters High.

Camden was super thrilled to have Jozee open her present.  You can see her fingers going crazy (one of her many signs of excitement).

Camden got home and immediately went to bed.  You can't beat an hour of good swimming (we may have to hit a few more open swim nights).