Raymond's Accident

Do not scroll down if you don't want to see "gory" pictures.

Grandpa French was burning some trash on Sunday afternoon.  Unbeknownst to him, there was an aeresol can in a bag that he dumped into the fire.  The can exploded in his face.  GaGa called our house frantic and Kevin (who was sleeping) rushed over and took him to the ER in Crawfordsville.  They were able to stop the bleeding, take a CAT scan to check for broken bones, and stabilize him.  However, he would need to go to a bigger (real) hospital for treatment.  They were sent to St. Vincent's in Indy, where he was seen by a plastic surgeon that specialized in the face.  According to GaGa, he had one pretty thick flap which started about an inch below his eye, then a smaller flap under the bigger one, about the size of the bottom of the can. He is swollen pretty badly, including a black eye and hemotoma around his neck.  Thankfully he is not complaining of pain. He also has a hairline fracture on his cheek bone (not much can be done for it).

We stopped over last night to check on him and it looks pretty good.  I was a little worried how Camden would react.  She made him a get well card and gave him a sweet kiss on the non-injured cheek.  She did point it out, but immediately said, "Silly Grandpa" and slapped her thigh.  She thought he looked "funny" not scary.  Last night as she was laying down for bed we talked about him and prayed, she said, "He looked like a cinnamon roll.  Silly Grandpa."  Well, the kid has a point...(see pictures below, if you want).

'Jama Day

Friday was Camden's Christmas party at school. It was also Pajama Day.  We got a handful of free books at the Christmas parade and there were some duplicates.  I took them in on Friday to leave with her teacher.  The pajama clad girls immediately formed a reading circle and dove in.

Camden had to bring a $5 gift for another girl in the class for an exchange.  I found a fun playdough set at Kohl's that, with discount, was under $5.  I also threw in one of the free books.  It was a great gift...and Camden was excited.  I told her what the gift was (but didn't show her) and explained that it was for one of her friends.  I knew that if she saw it, she would want it.  I thought she understood that it was the gift she was GIVING, but apparantly during the gift exchange she was pretty adament that the playdough was HER gift and was fairly aggitated about it.  Her teacher finally got her calmed down and accepting of the book she received and, downtrodden, she proclaimed, "I guess I'll tell mommy I didn't get the playdough."  

I will score mommy points when, on Christmas morning, she learns that I bought 2 playdough sets! 

Our Pink Ballerina

I had my camera in my purse at last week's dance class.  Parents aren't usually allowed in the room, but there were only two kids (usually 6), and both were being pills, so the moms stayed to do some behavior modification.  Before the lessons started (more pictures and video to follow when I have time to upload/edit), I snapped this one of Camden.  She looks so grown-up to me!

Birthday Cheesecake

Kevin requested cheesecake for his birthday, so I made him a Junior's.  Ever since we went to NY city a few years ago, this has been his favorite option when I bake one of these beauties.  Camden helps me mix it up, but only because she gets to lick the beater.

I don't think she could have gotten it anymore cleaner (or her face anymore covered!).

Gingerman Bread House

Camden gets the name a little backwards, but she enjoyed building the house.  The kit I got from Target was the best!  The cookes was thick and the frosting "glue" was very easy to work with - and both tasted good!  

I bought it last week and she's been begging to do it every evening since.  I wanted to wait until Kevin returned from Atlanta, but she had been sick and we'd been at home for two days and we really wanted something to do.  It was a perfect evening activity for us.

She got a big kick out of knocking on the front door and saying, "Anybody hoooommmmeeee?"  I don't know where she comes up with some of the stuff she says and does, but she cracks me up.

Last year we battled the house and the candy. It was such a pain. I can't say enough about how pleasant the experience was in putting this together.  It's not just that Camden's a year older...the adults had the problems!  But she did put every single piece of candy on it.  Very impressed by her patience and ability to complete the whole task.

The only draw back to this kit was the colored frosting wasn't really contained properly to be able to decorate unless you are a real artist.  At least that's what I'm sticking too considering the only part that looks really bad is my attempts to decorate with the colored frosting!

Camden ate the gingerman bread before we could decorate it.  I loved the tree and snowman, too.

Once we were finished, she looked at me, looked at the house, and leaned in for a big bite.  I laughed so hard!  That little mind is always workin'.

Camden Portraits

At the cookie reception, Camden used my camera to take some portraits of everyone around the table.  She did a good job of aiming...and capturing personalities!

 Even a self-portrait!

 GaGa took one too.  It's my favorite.

Christmas Program

Also known as "Camden drives her mother crazy."

I should have deduced from the pictures I took in her classroom before the program what was in store. 



Flying around the room wasn't too bad, plus she sat and did puzzles while other kids were arriving...

and took a decent picture with her friend Kyla...

But trying to get a class shot was next to impossible.  The first one is the best of the bunch.  The second the best of the more typical attempt.

A few of the performance shots make it look like she actually participated.  In reality, she jingled the bells and clapped a few times, but mainly jumped and twirled and rolled on the floor and slid down the steps.

Someone remind me to make sure she is NEVER on the end of the rows in programs.

She did have a full pew of supporters.  Kevin was in Atlanta for work, but GaGa, Grandpa, Papaw and Austin were all there.

After the 20 minute program/mom torture, there was a nice cookie reception.  Camden continued in her performance...acting up, then behaving...

...acting up, then behaving.

Most days Camden is an easy kid and a joy to be around, but these moody/grumpy episodes are enough to make you say, "UGH!"