Signing

Getting C to cooperate for a video or picture these days is nearly impossible. A few months ago I started teaching C how to sign with hopes that her yelling at me out of frustration would stop. It did, and I'm a much happier mom when I don't have a one-year-old shouting at me all day. I've recorded some of the signs she can do, but she is a little distracted through out the video. Also, "light" is one I had taught her that day...it just hadn't stuck yet.

As some of you may know, Adam was called as the primary chorister at our church. For a few minutes each Sunday he does music time with the 18 month to three year old kids. He takes C with him, and so she's started to catch onto the motions that go along with the songs. She's still a little rough around the edges, but I think it's cute. Um, for some reason I sing some of the wrong words to "popcorn popping." I'm not sure why...I do know the correct words.

Welcome October (and Halloween)

Autumn decided to officially make her presence known this week. It seems like from one day to the next we went from high 70s to the low 50s. Along with that came cloudy skies, a lot of rain and major winds. It's been lovely for staying indoors wrapped in blankets and drinking hot cider. Alas, I cannot happily stay on the couch all day so I've been spending some time creating and putting up Halloween decorations.
Of course, it wouldn't be Halloween time without yummy candy corn and caramel apple suckers!

Second Place

It's no digital camera, teeth whitening, and gas card, but we DID win a $50 gift card to Target for coming in second place in the photo contest! Woohoo! I would have loved a new camera, but since C is in need of some 12 month clothing, and Adam has a birthday coming up, the gift card is actually going to come in a lot handier than the 1st prize would have. So, THANK YOU to everyone who voted for her picture! When you see my baby girl in new clothes you can tell yourself, "She's styling because of me."
Side note: I feel like I used way too many commas in this post.

Call me a nerd, but

I've been listening to this guy all day. His name is Sam Tsui, and after I saw him on The Bonnie Hunt Show, I had to go check him out on YouTube. I have a crush on his vocals, and he makes me want to join an a cappella group.

Sampler

I haven't been the best blogger lately....mostly because my family was sick for the past two weeks so we really haven't been doing much. Here are some pictures of what has gone on:

Baby girl and Daddy spent lots of time snuggling and sharing sick germs.

I'm a big believer that fresh air can do wonders for combating sickness, so we took a little trip to the park one day once Charlotte had had enough of being cooped up.

She LOVES kicking balls around. Do we have a future soccer player on our hands???


Or maybe she'll be a rock climber. I find this girl trying to climb things all day long...and I'm constantly having to "save" her because she gets herself stuck. Her hair is barely long enough to do pig tails. They never last past nap time, but I just can't help myself...

Vote, Vote, Vote!!!

We entered Charlotte's picture into a photo contest and the picture with the most votes wins. First Prize is a digital camera, a $50 gas card and free teeth whitening for a year. PLEASE, please, please click on the following link and vote for #27 - Laura Nelson. You vote at the bottom of the page.

http://www.hudecdental.com/contestgallery.html

Much thanks! I'll let you know if we win.

Camping

We went camping over Labor Day weekend. This is the first summer that we've had enough camping gear to go (thanks to Cassie, Jonny, Mimi and Popie)! It started out a little rough because we had a hard time finding a place to camp, but we eventually arranged to camp at the John Johnson Farm, and it was so nice! Each campsite is big and private. I loved it!

Adam and I set up camp while Charlotte explored the camping chairs and dirt.

Our friends, the Leavitts joined us which made the trip even better! I think Adam was excited to have someone to play ball with (they played catch with baseball too, but I didn't get a picture of that).I had someone to talk to and chase kids around with.
And Charlotte had someone to play and trade sippy cups with.
We ate yummy tin foil dinners, s'mores, and had a big breakfast with pancakes, hashbrowns, and bacon. It was heaven! I love camping food. I also can't get enough of relaxing by the campfire. It was the perfect camping trip to call our first camping trip as a family!

Whoops!

I forgot that I had artichokes simmering on the stove when I left home the other night. When my husband got home later, he walked into a cloud of smoke. Luckily, there was still a house for him to come home to since he got home an hour and a half after I had left. I tried to save the pot, but with no success. Our house smelled like campfire for two days. If anyone got a whiff of campfire at church on Sunday, that was us...