Happy 3rd Birthday, Camden!

We've been on the road since Sunday and just got home...but I wanted to hop on and post my favorite picture from 3 years ago today when we welcomed Camden Raye Haile into the world.  Our life is so much richer because of you.  Happy Birthday to our baby girl!

Keepin' Cool

Since the weather has been miserably hot this week, Camden, Kevin and I headed to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday afternoon for some cool fun together.  While she mainly likes the rides and the playset/slide, Camden tried her hand at a few games.

She and Kevin had so much fun on the "roller coaster."  I think I saw the biggest smiles on this one...our little daredevil!

Kevin even taught her to raise her hands when going down a big hill.

The jeep is another favorite ride.

Kevin also enjoyed a few games on his own.  We had such a fun time together!

Montgomery County 4-H Fair

We wanted to get at least a brief stop at a 4-H fair this year.  The heat has been miserable and our schedule has been busy, so we decided not to go to the Tippecanoe Fair this year.  Instead, we headed to our county's fair on Sunday evening.  It's much smaller and has no rides, but Camden wanted to see the animals.  In walking through the barns, we found some money ($17) on the ground.  We tried to turn it in, but the officials said there was really no way they could get it back to the rightful owner and told us to keep it!  We bought Camden a snow-cone to celebrate our windfall.  She choose orange and green.  I think it's her favorite summer treat ever.  She slurped on it for 45 minutes or so and downed every last ounce.

No More Monkeys...

We spent some time on Saturday at GaGa's since several family members were in from out of town.  Amanda and Hali were there and Camden really likes having a young cousin around to play with.  She showed Hali how to jump on GaGa's bed.

Despite the tears in this picture, Hali actually did enjoy the bouncing...she's just a little bit of a mama's girl and didn't like that her mom wasn't in the room.

Camden tried to cheer her up!

Later that day, Camden decided she'd hang out with the big girls and made herself at home on their bed to watch a movie.

Yup, She Was THAT Girl!

Thursday night was the final program.  GaGa, Grandpa, and Papaw all came.  Camden posed for pictures and was so excited to sing for everyone.

The evening started with saying the Pledges.

Next, the younger kids did their singing.  Granted, Camden was one of the youngest kids at VBS.  But she could hardly contain her excitement.  She was everywhere on stage!  She danced before the music started, she repeated everything the teachers said, she got everyone, "ready." 

She even lifted her dress...several times!

Yes, our daughter was THAT kid.  The one everyone actually enjoys more than anything else at the program, but it's because she is entertaining everyone in everyway but the way she is supposed to.  Oh, well.  She was having such a good time.  We laughed right along with everyone.  It really was joy and life.  

After the magician, who was the main program, they gave certificates to all the kids who attended.

More than anything else, Camden was ready to pick up her backpack of crafts and have some cookies and juice!  But we tried to sit patiently and watch everything else.  Wow...and this is just the beginning of many more school/church programs!

VBS - Recreation and Puppets

Recreation class was very hard with the little ones.  Especially because it was so hot.  I took over a couple of times and pulled some games out of my back pocket.  I may be a little rusty, but I still know how to keep a group of kids engaged in SOMETHING!  All of them loved running around and on this evening, they had some water balloons and buckets of water to do various relays.

We also always had a snack and Bible lesson each evening.  But the highlight for everyone (kids and adults alike) was the puppet show during closing program.  Three of the teens put it on and did a great job.  All the kids would scream with excitement as they popped up to "tease" them as everyone arrived back into the sanctuary.  But they always calmed down to hear what they had to say.  Camden still talks about the puppets.  Definite high point!

VBS - Arts & Crafts

The kids got to do several cute crafts during the week.  Most were too advanced for the little ones to do, but with assistance everything got done.  Camden liked being able to put on stickers, color, glue, and cut. 

This picture frame project went fairly well because she could peel the paper off the back of the stickers and put them around her frame.