It's about time!

We've been busy as usual, but we had no idea HOW busy until we realized it had been over a month since our last post. We've been hiking, chasing Camryn around the house (she's now crawling), and making sure Mason is kept busy seeing dinosaurs.


We went to the Tucson Children's Museum, which is like a mini COSI, and less scientific. He learned about dinosaurs, sea life, and trains. He sat in a pretend fire truck with real flashing lights!



Erika parents were in town earlier this month, during which time we had the pleasure to go see Walking with Dinosaurs, the theatrical production based on the BBC series. We saw actual-size dinosaurs and learned all about them. It was awesome and Mason loved it. Thanks, Nana and Paw-paw!



Camryn is just a dream baby! She's still nursing (kudos to Erika for keeping that up) and getting better with her allergies so she's not so fussy. Her favorite thing to do besides be held by her Mama is to crawl after Big Brother. He's not so happy about that, and in fact has started wetting his pants, we think due to the stress. He does better when you remind him to go potty. He's still a great big brother and says he loves Camryn.


We can see why so many photos are taken of kids in the bathtub. These two have a BLAST together in the tub. They have fun splashing each other and no one wants to get out.



We're still hiking a lot and trying to take Mason more, too. It's harder now that we can't carry him. Last hike to Tanque Verde Falls he wanted to do it himself, though, and got mad when we tried to help him! There has been so much rain and snow on the mountains that the streams are flowing and all the falls are active. It's just beautiful and amazing now. There are a ton of wildflowers, too.


Erika is proud of how she lets her baby girl get dirty. There's nothing wrong with eating a little clean sand so she can explore her environment!


Mason still loves dinosaurs, trains, and cars. He has a little friend who also loves Thomas, so we try to have him come over to play. Mason is very good with other children.

One last picture of Gorgeous.

Loving the outdoors

Life has been fun. We're spending a lot of time in the outdoors. Mason has been reluctant to hike, he's so lazy. He prefers being carried. We're working on him and we'll take a little friend of his with us next time, should encourage him to hike. Erika of course is still hiking with her friends and Camryn almost every weekend. Today she went on a 2 mile hike with 1500 feet elevation gain. So hard, but the view was worth it! She can't wait until Kevin's leg is well enough to go, too.


Camryn at the top of Linda Vista Trail. Note the large pyramid of rocks in the background. This is a cairn that some hikers built to identifiy the end of the trail and acknowledge their success. Thank goodness Camryn's not crawling yet, or it will be more difficult to put her down while hiking.


Today we went to the top of Mt. Lemmon and played in the snow! The men built a snowman while Erika held Camryn and took photos. We did a little sledding with a sled someone lent us. The men had fun, but Mason seemed a little scared. We'll try again next year.


Mason truly was so happy to be up there. And Kevin and Chris haven't had that much fun in a long time.


Camryn seemed fascinated by all of the action. Erika was very happy to have an old pair of snow boots to wear.


Mason throwing a snow ball.


This was a short hike to Sabino Canyon Dam that we did last weekend. It was on a paved road and Mason complained half the time. But there was a lot of water, so it was neat.

Girl on the Go!

Camryn is very eager to move around. She's started getting on her hands and knees and "rocking." She can't sit up on her own yet, but we think she's close to crawling.

Camryn rockin' and rollin'.

More cuteness

Not too much exciting is going on here. We're just plugging along. It seems like someone (or several) has been sick this entire season. Camryn has the worst cold she's had, seems to be a little laryngitis also. She's miserable. The rest of us will be next. Kevin has been Super Dad, cleaning the house and taking care of the kids. He also started a workout routine, lifting weights.


Mason building a train station out of blocks.


We thought we'd try solid foods with Camryn, she was always watching what we put in our mouths. She's doing well, so far, only spitting out 75% of what we put in.

Erika and Camryn went on a hike in the Rincon Mountains to Ernie's Falls. All of the snowmelt and rain has put water in the washes and falls. Erika joined a hiking club so she'd always have someone to hike with until Kevin's leg is rehabilitated fully. They were a great group of people.

Camryn played on a boulder by the falls while we rested and snacked.

Too much cuteness!

It's been quite a start to the new year. Erika caught a cold at the start and worked New Year's day at the hospital. She kindly passed the cold to Mason and Kevin. Mason got a terrible canker sore on the inside of his mouth that made everyone miserable. He wouldn't eat or drink hardly anything, and every time he did there was several minutes of crying. No treatments worked, it finally went away on it's own after 6 long days. Kevin is finally feeling better. He has tried bowling again, but his calf muscle is still painful. But overall we're doing well.


We enjoyed the Buckeyes' Rose Bowl win! Camryn cheered and said "Oops! I did a Michigan in my pants!"


Camryn is developing a wonderful personality. She's rolling all over the place, sleeping soundly during the day and at night. She laughs hysterically every time Mason plays with her. Mason is a great big brother still. He's always saying "I love her."

We went to a friends house and Mason played with their daughter Giselle. They were very cute together and Mason is always so well behaved. They were amazed that the only thing he would eat was the asparagus, and we were amazed the way Giselle ate up all her hamburger. Mason is not a fan of meat.

She thinks her real name is "Gorgeous." I think you can see why.

Mason blowing bubbles at the park.

Camryn of course loves her doorway jumper, though she's not really jumping yet. She just loves anything as long as Mama is nearby.

Budding photographer

Mason has learned how to operate our digital camera and LOVES taking pictures. Composition needs improvement, but his photos aren't lacking diversity. He has taken a picture of almost everything in our house, including the toilets, the walls, the stairs, and every one of his toys. Below are some of the highlights. Mason took every one of these.


James and Gorden racing around the track.


Dada getting ready for the Rose Bowl.


Woody up front and personal.


Mama at work at the computer.


Family play time.

One fun Christmas

What a fun Christmas! Mason was a very good boy and very patient with opening gifts. His first gift was a set of trains and tracks, so all he wanted to do after that was play with those. Everyone else opened a few gifts while waiting. Mason was very polite when he opened boxes with clothes ("Those are some very nice clothes for me."). By this point Camryn was ready for a nap, so we took a break to make waffles on Kevin's new waffle-maker from Nana and Paw-paw (his favorite gift).


Mason loving his new roundhouse with turntable from Nana and Paw-paw. We have so much new train stuff!


Uncle Chris having a good time, too :)


Kevin loves, loves, loves his new waffle-maker!


We're not sure that a 4-month-old baby needs as many gifts as she got, but everyone's thoughtfullness is very appreciated. This elephant from the grandparents is so cute! Uncle Gary and Aunt Susan got her a Baby's First doll (very cute), a picture frame, and clothes. Great-Grandma got her a car play gym, which will be so great since Camryn cries every time she's in the car unless she has toys.


Mason got a lot of wonderful gifts including trains and tracks from Mama and Dada and Uncle Chris and a great set of dinosaurs from Great-Grandma. Uncle Gary and Aunt Susan got Mason a roaring triceratops, clothes, and Disney Cars card games. Nana and Paw-paw got Mason a lot of great interactive learning games/toys including a set of bath-time whistles, building blocks, and bubble makers.


The cutest babies!