Ready or Not???

Well, last week my dad was asking me to write a note for my Papy's 90th birthday celebration in Canada... as I was sitting there thinking about how cool it would be to see all my relatives I haven't seen since I was ten and making sure I got to see my Papy again... Cameron said, "Just go!" I didn't argue with him. We have had all these frequent flyer miles (many from Cameron's company, and many from our personal American Express card), like seriously over 400,000 miles. We never use them because we travel with too many people or we plan in advance and it is better just to buy them. So, Cameron came home and booked me a flight, and now, VOILA... the little dude and I are off to Canada for 2 whole days.

It has gotten much more complicated since then... here's what I learned when trying to travel to Canada with a child these days:

• Apparently there is a law that states that all US citizens flying internationally including Canada are required to have a passport; however, with the enactment of this law, there was a mad rush for passports, so they extended the deadline to October 1, 2007. So, I don't have to actually have a passport for Spence, but I have to have proof that I applied for one, birth certificate, and ID.
  
• When you apply for a passport for a minor, BOTH parents have to physically be present (makes sense, but I didn't think of it, and ended up making 2 trips to the passport office).
• Birth certificates cost $15 a pop, and they keep it at the passport office, so I had to go back and get another for him to get an ID and for the airplane stuff. Well, you can get the second for $8 if you buy it the same day, but if you're like me and have to go back the next day, you have to pay the $15 again.
• It takes 10-20 days to actually receive the ID once you have applied for it. Would have been nice to know beforehand?
• You need an actual social security card to get a government issued ID... yep another trip back.

So, it has been crazy, but as of right now, I think we are going to be able to get back in the country. I am excited to visit with family, but nervous that I will get in trouble for not speaking enough french for Papy (I even took some online tutorials this week to review). Eeekkk! I will report on the events next week. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this picture of my little dude eating spaghetti (courtesy of Caroline Photography). You may think this is cute and all, but he looks like this after EVERY meal, so it is hard to take this guy out to dinner. So, good luck to those sitting next to me on the plane. Fun days!

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Cameron had his birthday over the weekend, and it was really, well... quite uneventful. Cameron has been nervous about this birthday, because he says now he's looking back on 30 years, which makes him feel old. He spent the day working, then we went to the Fall Festival at Wasatch, where Cameron worked Camille's class booth for a shift. We went to the Bombay House for dinner with Cameron's family afterward.
Saturday morning we went to the BYU homecoming parade (a family tradition for the past 6 years). Cameron got his birthday present afterward... all he wanted... a day of no family responsibilities. Really, that's what he wanted. He just wanted to work in the yard without the kids, and have no interruption or have to go anywhere. Sad thing was that he got side-tracked helping the neighbors and by the time he got to his project, it started raining, so his day got cut short. He did get a great steak birthday dinner from my mom with brownie sundaes from Anne. All in all, it was a fun weekend. I had to put this awesome picture of Cameron... well... because this is typical Cameron. He was trying the help the neighbors paint with his sprayer... when the sprayer got clogged, he tried to fix it, and the paint exploded in his face. Happy Birthday Cameron, we love you!

We are officially online!!!

Okay... I didn't think I would ever have the time for something like this, but it is so fun to read everyone else's stuff. I feel like I know about what is going on with everyone and I love that. I guarantee I won't be as proficient as Caroline (who carries her camera everywhere), but I will do my best.
Things here are great! We are as busy as ever, but feel that the organized chaos of our schedules and activities are enjoyed by the kids as well as getting them ready for the busy world we live in. Here's a little glimpse into our lives:

Cameron: Working hard, hauling things, weeding, making a huge pile of dirt in the driveway (from where the trampoline just went underground), answering phones, trying to close on properties, trying to finishing jobs, trying to start jobs, picking up kids, faxing, returning phone calls, meeting with clients, driving around, coaching both girls soccer teams, playing on the company softball team, trying to keep his wife happy, etc...

Christine: Taking care of and nurturing 31 curious fourth graders, trying to teach them something, picking up and dropping off kids, doing hair, changing diapers, making lunches and dinner (most of the time), 4 x a week at the gym with my trainer... yep still doing it, listening to the same movies over and over ( I used to really love Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), reminding Cameron of the millions of things he needs to do, trying to sleep, running here and there, and LOVING my family.

Camille: 2nd grade homework, reading, writing, math, helping mom around the house- dishes and laundry are her favorite (no kidding), play dates with friends, playing games on disney channel.com, riding her 2-wheeler (yep, she even learned in one day), tap, ballet, mini company, gymnastics, soccer, swim team, and in her spare time entertain the younger ones with art lessons and pretending to be the mom.

Katelyn: Learning Dynamics preschool on T/TH with her "boyfriend" Tairen, Baby Bulldog preschool on M/W/F, gymnastics (which turns out she is pretty good at according to her coach), combo 2 dance class, soccer with Dad (mostly she just follows the herd of boys around the field), claiming the mysterious colorings around the house were not from her, playing with her best friends, Lucy and Lily, riding her scooter, and showing Spencer the ropes.

Spencer: Eating and eating (he usually samples everyone's food, just to make sure we're safe), running- the little dude is fast by the way, throwing any kind of ball he can get his hands on, getting dragged off the soccer field at every game as he desperately tries to reach his dad (who is on the field with the kids), playing with and hiding trucks and cars, sticking hands in the toilet to splash the water, taking off his diaper and peeing on the floor or just running around while his sisters scream that he is a nudie, sticking his hands and feet into every pile of dirt he can find, sleeping, and best of all giving the GREATEST hugs and kisses.

Whew! I get exhausted thinking about all that I have to do this week, but wouldn't change it. We love spending time together, and try to have everyone at all these things. I'll get some pictures on as soon as I can.