Random

Nothing specific lately has been happening. We have been busy, but I guess I can't say for sure at what. Haiden has finally gotten the swing of crawling and has developed his own style of getting around. One knee stays down and the other leg goes up so his foot can help get him to where he wants to go faster. He has figured out how to crawl up the step from our living room into the dining room. Before he would just sit there and scream at you to move him. He LOVES to be by his brother and crawl all over and and even tries to play what Cameron is, especially trucks. Once and a while we'll even here him saying a little brrmmm, brrrmmm sound. He is pretty much on all table food and has not turned his nose up at anything, even chowing down broccoli and corn. He knows the sign for more(clapping, really) and will clap and clap at the dinner table for more ;) I love that he is still a cuddle boy. After his naps or in the morning he is content just sitting by mommy, so snuggly and warm. Less than a month and he will be one year old. He is still my baby. And Cameron has been so happy out and about on his 3 wheeler and snowmobile, sledding or playing in the yard. We have tried to play some board games(with our own made up rules, of course) but he is a boy that loves to build things, tear them down, build them again and ram around with trucks. I love that about him. Life will never be boring or sedentary with him. I looked at him today and I was taken back by how BIG he looks. He is still my baby, too. So here are some random pics of just good ole family fun.

When Cameron is pulling me I always giggle! It's just funny to see my not quite 4 year old driving a snowmobile that he knows more about than me. We had to bring Haiden along for a bit to get him used to what life will be like next year.
Who needs to vacuum after dinner, Haiden has it covered!
Haiden trying to play trucks with the big boys.
A little play time after bath. Cameron usually likes to show Haiden how it needs to be done.
It's hard to see in this picture, but his hair is CRAZY in the mornings. One side is usually sticking straight out. I just can't bring myself to have it cut yet.
I introduced Cameron to spraying whip cream in his mouth. Now I have to put the can up higher in the fridge so he can't reach it!
My baby.

No, No Haiden

No, no Haiden. Keep your food on your tray.

Haiden, Mommy said no, no!

No, you may not have your waffle back.

Kiddie Version

It's funny how things take on a new perspective once you have kids. Like New Year's Eve. Instead of thinking of what to do for Tor and I to celebrate, the focus was how to set up a fun night for Cameron and try to start some family traditions. So we opted for going sledding with cousins, Subway and our own New Year's Party. And honestly, it couldn't have been better. We had our own count down(about 7:30 so we could still get a bath and video in!)

Getting ready for our toast.
CHEERS!!
Now Cameron wants to clink glasses every time we drink.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The dollar store had great little party favors that made the night a huge hit for Cameron. I'm not forgetting Haiden, he just sat back and enjoyed our party parade, cheers and chewing on his hat.
There wasn't anybody to take a family pic so we gave Cameron the camera and this is what he came up with. Not bad ;)

Christmas Day

Ever since I came into the Vruggink Family we have always done Christmas day at Tor's parents. We go there right away in the morning, open stockings, have a great breakfast and then open presents. It is quite crazy with all the grandkids, but it is a great tradition that we all look forward to. Because we celebrate with my family the week before, Torrey and I had Christmas with the boys on Christmas Eve. After a nice dinner, we went to church and then came home to open presents. Cameron did not have much under the tree, Haiden had 2 presents and Tor and I did not exchange gifts this year. Needless to say the whole opening of presents went rather quick! But we wanted it that way so we could surprise Cameron with a big boy loft bed(yes he has been in a crib since birth but he actually loved it!) I'll post pictures of that later. These pictures are of my attempt to get a picture of the boys first Christmas together by the tree(you read the word "attempt" right?) and of Christmas morning. Can you believe it has come and gone already?!
"GIVE THAT BACK!!!"
"What did you say, Mom?"
"How did I get under the tree?!" (Haiden only knows how to go in reverse)
Just before opening presents(yes, that is Cameron actually sitting and smiling nice!)
All the grandkids checking out some cool stocking stuffers.
Story time while the guys cleaned up breakfast.
The moms actually getting to sit!
Daddy and Uncle Trent helping figure out a new Nerf gun.

Let the parties begin!

Now that school is done it seemed that it was time to sit back and relax but so far it has been a crazy week. However, if you could classify different craziness', this actually has been more relaxing not having to rush out of the house in the morning or rush to get things done at night for the next day. We started our the round of Christmas parties with the Roby side first. As the boys get older it seems to get a bit crazier but all still fun! And we have the BEST stockings ever! Donuts and "grandpa's meat"....not much tops that(at least in our family!!) Here are some hilites from the night.

The boys...all standing still for the moment(we told them they could not open presents until we got a good picture!)
He couldn't get them open fast enough!
Grandpa getting very excited about his grill from Cameron ;)
Grayson showing Haiden how things work.
Checking out a new Nintendo DS by the counter--they had to sit here because it was plugged in to be charged and they couldn't wait ;)
SO FUN!!!!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

I always laughed at the little kids who got up in front of church to sing at the start of the Sunday School Program. This year I about cried!! MY little boy was now standing up in front of the church singing. And yes there was a funniest video moment when he has both pointer fingers up his nose but overall he at least did the motions and sang the songs. I just couldn't believe he was big enough to be up there all grown up without needing me to stand by him or sing the songs with him. Even though it was such a short little thing, it's a thing I will remember vividly for a long, long time.

Really concentrating
"lay down his sweet head"
"We WISH you a Merry Christmas!"
Cheering on his big brother

And on a side note we had a snow day today. The weather was not really that bad but it was a day I really needed just to relax and have nothing I "had" to get done other than play and be at home.
Here we are playing restaurant.....at least for a little bit until the plates became a frisbee flying across the living room.

Tis the season......

We have been quite busy around here lately and when I put up my calendar for December I started to get a little panicky about what needs to get done, what I would like to get done and the reality of not getting much on both of those lists accomplished!

Haiden is growing by leaps and bounds. No crawling yet but he is at least lowering himself down and attempting to be on all fours. One leg gets kind of stuck yet. I could sit and say "bye bye" to him for hours just to see his cute little patty wave in the most adorable way!

Cameron is in love with Christmas decorations, trees and lights and the realization that snow is getting closer and closer. And that of course means riding his snowmobile will take on more excitement than simply sitting on it in the garage! Oh dear....

So, tis the season to.....

play in the first snow of the year(even if the sun was not up all the way)

try to get a decent family photo.....we'll keep trying

decorate the tree(even if the ornaments are in clumps, it's the prettiest tree around, and no, I did not make him wear the Santa hat, he was all about getting in the spirit if things!)

try to learn how to crawl(mommy was thinking ahead and didn't get crazy with decorations....great excuse to not get out all those totes!!)

and stack the garage full of wood for cozy winter fires!