Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card 2012

(Not the best pictute of the card since its from my phone, but good enough to document for my blog book!)

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Happy & Healthy

I think I took for granted having a healthy baby when Camden was little, but after all of Halle's health concerns, I certainly do not with her.  I am so very thankful that the Lord has healed her.  And although eating and her weight is still a bit challenging, her overall health is good and we are grateful!  Yesterday was another reminder of God's provision in Halle's little life. 

 

Halle had a MRI done to check her shunt and to see if it is doing its job.  The doctors expected that by this point her ventricles and other parts of the brain should look normal and we are happy to share that our surgeon reported that her MRI looked "perfect"!  He is pleased with how she is progressing developmentally too.

 

Although it was a very long day for all of us, sweet Halle provided some happy grins at the end of the day!  We are blessed.

Fun with Friends

Saturday night we kept Cambry & Chase for a few hours and the kids had a blast!  I'm so thankful that even at 2.5 Camden has sweet friends that he loves spending time with.

We started off with 3 silly monkeys jumping on the bed!

Then we had a pizza party followed by...

Christmas cookie decorating!

Cambry loved tasting the frosting!

And Chase enjoyed sampling his products.

Camden's philosophy was that you can't have too many sprinkles and evidenced by his finished product below!

Everyone pitched in to get Chase all clean!

The favorite activity of the night was climbing into the attic to "help" Daddy!

Cam's Christmas Parade

On Thursday Camden's MDO had a Christmas Parade and Halle and I got to go watch.  All the classes had made shirts and marched down the hallways singing Christmas carols.  It is so fun to watch him experience new things; when we were leaving he kept asking me where the parade was...he didn't quite get that he was the parade! *All my pictures are bad....my philosophy is quantity if you can't get quality:)

His sweet teachers Mrs. Tammy & Mrs. Ashley

Typical 2 year old class pic

Parading through the halls

The blur is Camden as he took of running to us when he spotted us! 

Of course he had to stop the line to talk to Mrs. Leslie, the director; he adores her!

Christmas Magic

I love impromptu moments where life stands still as you watch your child have pure fun.  Friday night was one of those nights.  Our family went out to dinner and then walked over to a big Christmas tree with music and Camden had a ball!  All the kids were dancing and running; he knew no one when we arrived, but made 3 buddies before we left.  The pictures don't do justice to his excitement.  So fun to watch the joy he experiences in the little things!

My Big Boy

Camden is growing up so fast!  I didn't know that 2.5 year olds were as grown up as he seems.  Here is a look at some of our big boy's activities!

He really likes to help cook, so I've been trying to think of some simple things he can make.  We dipped chocolate covered pretzels last week and he loved them!

Camden LOVES crafts...I am constantly trying to think of quick, easy crafts that will keep him busy.  He especially loves any craft that involves glue:)

We're still working a lot on this skill, but he loves to cut things with his special scissors.  

Last week we decided it was time to rake leaves.  I thought he would play with trucks while I worked, but he really wanted to pitch in and was actually a HUGE help.  Speaking of "actually", it is one of his favorite words right now!

Trying New Things

Halle has been trying lots of new things these days! 

Started rice cereal and oatmeal...she doesn't love it, but she doesn't hate it!

Riding in the jogging stroller sans car seat!

Bottle fed by big bro...oh wait, this didn't work! Camden thought it did though:)

Practicing sitting

Trying out her new to her toy!

Lounging in her pink chair to match brother's blue one!

Starting to scoot some

And of course Daddy likes to make her practice standing!

Storytime

Family Pictures

Our talented friend, Sarah took some family pictures for us a few weeks ago and I LOVE them!  I am so thankful for my little family and love that she captured us so well!  Here are a few of my favorites...

Matkin Family Thanksgiving

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, we headed to my cousin's house in Southlake for a day with the Matkin family.  Natalie did a fabulous job of hosting and we all really enjoyed spending time together...especially Camden; he was in toy heaven!

Halle and Grandmother

The kids had a blast!

The cousins...we missed you, Leigh Ann & James!

The next generation of cousins had so much fun playing store.