Kiddo Update

Last week was Cambry's 18 month check-up...so hard to believe she can even be that old!!! She's doing great, weighs 24 lbs. and is in the 50th percentile for weight and height. She is really becoming her own little person, a very independent one, too. She is soooo incredibly active and really cannot sit still for any length of time. She is into EVERYTHING these days, especially my shoes and jewelry. Everyday she has at least 3 pairs of my shoes scattered around the house and rotates wearing them throughout the day. It really is funny. She loves to follow right behind Colten and participate in whatever he might be doing, whether he wants her to or not. She can definitely hold her own and lets out a shriek if given any help or if her brother is pestering her (it gets pretty loud throughout the day)!!!

She has started talking sooo much more lately, and really is starting to combine words and short phrases. Some of the more recent ones are..."all right, all done, night-night, Rah-lee (Riley), ah-peene (Airplane), ruck (truck), baby, pelow (pillow), milk, ju (juice), where go?, work, brush, shoes, socks, bath-time, bubbles...and many more. Oh and of course NO...that's her favorite by far!!!

It has taken us forever to get her to say Colten, I think she's been trying for awhile now, we just didn't know. Most of the time she would just grin when we asked. Lately she's been saying "Nen-nen or Nen-nen go?" It's pretty cute, just hard to recognize.

She loves to eat, loves to play, loves to snuggle, loves to rough-house with the boys, loves to sleep, loves to be girly...she's a joy and has been so much fun!!!

Colten's back into school and all things boy right now. He had a great Christmas ans was sad to see the season go. He's so clever and remembers anything and everything. He's becoming more and more interested in spelling and writing and does a fantastic job sounding out letters. He's doing great at counting, as well. He seems to thrive in the learning environment.

He has some recent memorable sayings and doings. One day, it was non-stop pestering between him and Cambry and I think it came down to toys being taken away (again). At Cambry's nap time, he ensured me that he would start behaving and would leave Cambry alone while she slept, that way he would stay out of trouble. I just thought, yeah that's a good idea, there's no telling how much trouble you might get in if you woke her up.

A few nights ago, we asked him to get something out of the refrigerator at dinnertime. He opened it and said..."wow it's cold in here, maybe I should have worn my jacket." Caleb looked at me and said "did he really just say that?"

His prayers are usually my favorite though. Most times they go something like this..."Dear God, thank you for our family. Please help us stay well and help our germs go away to people we don't know. Please help get all the bad guys (and put them in jail) and be with the Army guys and keep them safe. Amen." So great, except sorry to those of you we don't know!!!

What fun parenting can be!!!

New Years and Christmas in Llano

We spent New Years eve and day in Llano this year. We had not celebrated Christmas with my family, so it worked out that we could all meet over New Years to celebrate. We headed up to "the ranch" on New Years eve. My parents and aunt and uncle had a double wedding (a few short years ago) and the 31st is their anniversary, so we got there in time for a little celebration. Shoretly afer, they headed out for their annual dinner and movie night to celebrate together, I love it!!! My sister's family and our family headed out to eat ourselves, then back to the ranch for fireworks and ringing in the new year with the kiddos...

the big sparklers were a hit

the boys being boys

Cambry jumped right into the action, she held her own sparkler and wasn't afraid of any of the loud ones

I wish I had gotten a few more shots, but the BIG boys decided it would be funny to light black cats and throw them at Chera and me. So we ended up running for our lives and trying to not get hit...so funny boys, ha!!!

We exchanged gifts New Years morning with my family which is always highly anticipated and so much fun!!!

the cousins before opening presents

with Oni and Granden

what a twosome...

pulling out goodies in his stocking

a book for Cambry

a cow from Aunt Chera, Uncle Ricky, Kalyn and Sheldon

an army base and guys from Oni and Granden

her very own washer and ironing board...so proud of it!!!

the boys as Duke from G.I. Joe

New Years is also my Grandfather's birthday, my dad's father. We had a birthday lunch and exchanged gifts with his side. The next day, my mom's side of the family brought gifts for the kiddos.

helping open one more gift

My cousin Kristi had made sugar cookies for the kids to decorate, boy did they love it!!!
just a little icing...

These two are best buds, they get along great, but they definetly have their moments. They, of course, rough house and at one point each had gotten hurt by the other. After a little cooling off period, Caleb asked Colten if he and Sheldon were friends again, Colten said "yeah, we're friends daddy, but he's still a little mad at me." They are a hoot together!!!
We had a great time with LOTS of family and FUN!!! I guess our holidays are officially over, what a memorable Christmas season!!! A ton of excitement and a little exhausting at the same time....

Christmas with the Chances

I know...I know, post overload, especially for me. I just hadn't realized how much we have had going on and how much I have not posted about...whew, at least Cambry is taking a GREAT nap this afernoon.

Everyone started arriving for the "Chance Christmas" on Christmas Eve, so our family headed over to join in the festivities after our little Christmas. We had planned on only staying Christmas Eve night at the Chances so all the kiddos could wake up together on Christmas morning. We ended up staying all 3 nights with everyone, and boy was it a blast!!!

Uncle Clark with Chance and Colten

The "babies" of the family...Dax and Cambry

The food was great, the games were fun, it was wonderful to catch up with everyone and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. By far, the 4-wheelers were the most fun had, I think...for everyone!!!

Daddy and Colten (with protective glasses, of course!!)

Cambry with Uncle Clark (she loves it and wants to "ride" with whoever will take her)

Even Meme and Daddy Bill joined in the excitement...Meme with Holly

Our family taking a ride together

Christmas morning was filled with excitement. Everyone was anxious to see what goodies Santa had left. The big kids raced to the living room...

Cambry found her stocking and loot

And Colten found his, more Star Wars naturally

Cambry got her very own pink 4-wheeler

Checking his "guys" out

Uncle Clark trying out the dart guns and gearCaleb's new Aggie sign!!!

the Chance grandkids

Cambry with cousin Jade

the rough and tough boys

crazy Jadey...

the entire Christmas gang
We were so blessed to have Caleb's grandmother come this year. She got here early and stayed several days. We all had time to visit with her and she enjoyed watching the kids. I'm sure she was wiped out after arriving at home.

Grandmother with Jade

What a great time!!! We were one exhausted bunch when we got home, but loved being with everyone and spending time together. A HUGE thanks to Gary and Paula for hosting everyone, it was a housefull!!! One more Christmas post to come...our time in Llano.

Christmas celebrations

My office Christmas party was for the entire family this year. We had a fun afternoon/evening of great food, fun games and watching our children play together. Santa made a surprise visit for the kiddos and brought a gift for each of them.

Colten with Santa

Cambry wanted nothing to do with him this time, but loved her new baby doll

All the kiddos...

Christmas Eve morning we had our little Christmas here at home. Colten was VERY excited the night before and took a little while to go to sleep, but was up and ready to go the next morning.

Cambry wasn't exactly sure what all the excitement was about, but had no problem joining in on the fun!!!

Ready, set, time for presents!!!

No way, a new G.I. Joe video!!!

Awww, mommy and Cambry

Colten's gift to Cambry...a shopping cart

She loves it...
A G.I. Joe helicopter from mommy and daddy

Star Wars characters for both daddy and Colten. Colten was insistent this year on Caleb's gift. Caleb had had a favorite Star Wars character growing up and had told Colten about it. Colten decided he wanted to buy the same one for Caleb to have now, but keep it in Colten's room, of course.
Such a silly girl...

It was a fun morning. We got our things packed and loaded and headed to the Chances for our second Christmas...