Daddy's Gun Safe

Kevin picked up his new gun safe this week and we got it unloaded into the garage (it's gonna take a few extra hands to get it into the house).  After a little struggle getting access into it (long story about "not quite with it" sales people at Big R), we opened it up on Saturday night.  Camden had fun watching Daddy.

She had even more fun playing in the big box the safe came in!

The picture below is probably one of my favorites of her in the last little while.  I'm going to get it printed and hung next to my desk (with my other favorites over the years) because the web just doesn't do it justice.  The boots are one of my favorite parts of all of these pictures...they were next to the door and the first thing we grabbed...but it's classic!

Kevin's favorite part of the evening (besides getting into the safe) was making this video.  All day on Sunday he'd turn to me at random times and say, "Ta-da" and we'd both laugh.  She is such a joy!

Saturday at the "Museum"

Saturday morning before the big party, Camden and I went to town to pick out some new books at the library.  She kept getting confused and called it, "The Museum." Camden loves playing with all the toys in the kids section.  She found a big bear and wanted to read him a book.  So she found the right selection, sat the bear at the table, pulled up her own seat, and read him a story.



She is really getting good at "reading" stories to others.  She looks at the pictures and tells what's going on.  Every story (and sometimes every page) begins with, "Once upon a time...."

There were puppet shows to put on (although Camden used it more like a kitchen counter) and train sets to take apart and put together.

She's can spend so much time moving things from one container to another.  She does it at home all the time and did it with the toys at the library too. 

Finally, we spent a few minutes at the computer station.  Mostly so that Camden could put on the "silencers."  Not sure where she heard that before or even where she has seen them, but she knew what they were and how they were used.

Grandpa's Birthday

Friday was Grandpa's birthday.  On Saturday we got together with the family to celebrate it and Aunt Tammy's birthday (this is Kevin's stepsister).  GaGa made an absolutely fabulous dinner - prime rib, potatos, greenbeans, homemade rolls, and lots of side salads. 

Camden helped GaGa get the cake ready by putting in the candles.

Lots of family came to town.  Raymond's daughter, Shirley, her husband and their daughter Jena (pronounced like my name) came up from Southern Indiana, along with Raymond's other daughter, Cheryl.  Jena is fabulous to have around with the kiddos.

Uncle Brian was there, too.  And Amanda and Haliana (picture coming later).

Camden, of course, wanted to help Grandpa and Aunt Tammy blow out the candles.  She is so spoiled - always the center of attention.

Happy Birthday Grandpa & Aunt Tammy!  We loved celebrating with you!

Score Update

It's now Gina 2, Deer 0...or is Deer 2, Gina 0?  Well, technically, it's 1-1 'cause in the fall, the deer hit me, but on Friday night, I nailed this doe head-on.  She literally jumped in front of me out of nowhere.  The road is notorious for deer and it was a very dark night on a very dark stretch of road.  Thankfully, it appears to all be cosmetic again (deer hair in the photos, so don't scroll if it's too hard to look).

I was grateful that a State Police Officer was passing me just after it happened (I was on the phone to 911) and did a U-turn to help me.  I was glad he was there so quickly because he had to shot the deer to put it out of it's misery.  Ugh!

I was a little sore for the weekend, but nothing serious...besides in the pocketbook with another deductible and the hassle of dealing with insurance.  Ugh again!

Spring is (Almost) Here!

In Lafayette, the signal is the opening of Dog-n-Suds.  But in Crawfordsville, it's the opening day of Dari-licious with 1/2 priced milkshakes.  Kevin always went when he was a kid.  We decided the tradition needs to continue. 

 

Camden and Daddy wait in line...and it was constant.  Everyone and their neighbor comes to this day.

Ordering her own milkshake (chocolate).

YUM!  We sat in the car to enjoy; it was still a little chilly to swing/slide in neighboring Turtle Park.  YUM!

She's a "Casso"

Camden has been coloring a lot lately.  Over the weekend while she was scribbling away, she looked up at me and said, "I a Casso."  I laughed so hard!  One of her teachers must tell the kids they are "Picasso" when they are drawing at school.

We stopped by GaGa and Grandpa's for the evening and Camden got right to work on her next masterpiece.  She has a great set-up on a step ladder that is "hers" while she's visiting.

We played a few rounds of cards and Camden got out her "letters" and joined us at the table.  She must have gotten a little bored with the desktop, because her hands proved to be a better canvas.  Thankfully they are washable markers!

Maybe we should tell her she's a "Pollack," too.

Valentine's Spoils

With the warmer weather this week, Camden has been able to wear her fleece.  It was the perfect Valentine's Day attire.  Even her "lemilade" was in pink mode.



She brought home a bag of treats and cards from her friends at school.

Papaw stopped by in the evening to bring his little valentine a treat.  She ooh-ed and ahh-ed over her card wtih Tinkerbell and stickers.

But chocolate won her heart.  

Sunday with Gramma

We headed to Columbus after church on Sunday to spend the day with Gramma and Grampa.  Camden brought a few toys to entertain Gramma.



Gramma got out some stickers that Camden spent lots of time peeling and sticking on paper.

And noses.

Gramma also let her explore her home office, play with the adding machine, and get wheeled around the house on the desk chair.

Camden loved that she got to wear her brand new pink shoes from "my Carole."  The fit perfectly and completed the pink outfit.

The afternoon was gorgeous...at least 55 degrees...so we took a brief walk around the neighborhood and enjoyed the fresh air.

We came back to the house and played a few games of Yatzhee.  Kevin, per usual, had hot dice and smoked us all in both rounds. 

Even Camden got a turn or two.

Camden refused to take a nap, so after dinner out, we started home shortly after 7pm.  Camden was snoring within 5 minutes.  We got home, took off her coat and shoes, laid her down and she slept until I woke her up at 7am.  It had been a long weekend, but we enjoyed spending it with family!

Penn Station and Starbucks

Camden is big into giving smooches lately, as well as playing with your face while she is doing it.



They didn't seem to mind.  And of course she had fun with her ReeRee.

After yummy dinner at Penn Station, we headed to Starbucks for coffee...and a special treat for Camden.

A cupcake!  Or, more accurately, frosting.  She couldn't be more of her mother's child than this preference!