Don Pablo's

We decided to go out on Friday night for my birthday.  We hadn't been to Don Pablo's in forever.  In fact when we sat down, we realized we couldn't remember the last time we came...and whether we'd ever been there together.  I'm pretty sure we have, but since we couldn't remember, it's been a while.

Camden liked seeing them make the tortilla's fresh on the griddle.  She especially loved it when they gave her a piece of dough to play with.



It was a last minute decision to go here, but we called Aunt Carole and Uncle Ric and they were able to join us.

Fun times!

Bathtime with Max

It's obvious that Camden loves Max.  But Max is also pretty fond of Camden. Despite how she wallers him, puts him into closed containers, and carries him around constantly, he seeks her out.  Even at bathtime.

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'.