Flip Flopping

Last week we had a flip flop invasion. I found some SUPER cute flip flops at the dollar store, and got TWO pair, because, who can beat two pairs of flip flops for $2?

Once I had my pairs of flip flops, Cam insisted HE wanted some. I was taken back, because we HAVE tried flip flops on the boy in the past, and he just doesn't get them, or like having the strap between his toes. But he INSISTED, and I relented.

We bought him some cheap pairs from the store that I love, and proceeded to teach him how to walk with these flip flops.

The first time he put them on, I was napping and Steve had to help him. I awoke to Steve's laughter. Cameron was just a *tad* uncomfortable in them. Not only were his toes spread far apart, but his fingers were spread out, down by his side and he wouldn't bend his knees.

After a little training from mom, who had to walk around for a while for him, he has learned, but he's also now complaining of the soreness between his toes.

Such is life, right?

The funny thing about our whole flip flop adventure, Grandma still insists on calling them "thongs." Thankfully, we aren't wearing THOSE kinds of things on our feet.

Learning About the Birds and the Bees

Please don't throw tomatoes, but I haven't educated Cameron (who is 9, but mentally is about 5) about sex. He knows that everyone has private parts that shouldn't be touched or looked at, but he's never had any interest in knowing where babies come from, not even when I was pregnant with Jake.

On Sunday I came home from my parents' house, and turned on my favorite channel, TLC. They were showing a program called "Strange Sex." If I had KNOWN what it was called before I started watching it, I would have stopped watching it while my boys were sitting there with me.

They were showing a woman who was talking about how she was allergic to her husband's sperm, and how they REALLY wanted to have a baby, but it was difficult. Cameron, being the sensitive kid that he is, asked me, "Mom, why can't that lady have a baby?"

This seemed like a good opportunity to share with him the truth about where babies come from, and let him know that I realize that he's growing up and that he deserves to know the truth. So I told him that she was allergic to her husband's sperm, and that when babies are made a daddy gives sperm and mommies have eggs.

He stopped for a second and then he said, "MOM! Chickens make eggs....mommies don't!"

I told him that even though it sounds funny, it's true. Then he said, "Eggs are BIG and HARD!"

Yeah, I probably should have been informing this child a little earlier! ;)

Pillow Talk

Steve's been working late nights this weekend. I've been sick all weekend. It was kind of a rough weekend for my poor little boys. I decided on Saturday, after a miserable day, that I wasn't going to go to church. Cameron, once he heard the news said, "MOM!! That's two days in a ROW!!"

I giggled and said, "No, actually that's two weeks in a row. Good try though."

Can I just say that I'm VERY happy that Cam wants to go to church. I find that a HUGE accomplishment.

Anyway, Steve came to bed at 5:00 Sunday morning. I wasn't expecting him home until 6:30 or 7:00...he was working graveyard, so I knew that he was home early. I asked him why he was home. (I know, nice, right?) He told me that someone came in early so that he could get a little bit of sleep so that he could go to church. I was excited for Cameron to go to church.

We fell asleep.

My internal alarm clock woke me up around 7:00 am. I asked Steve what time it was and he got a little miffed and said, "White milk!"

Um, try that again...

"Steve, look at your alarm clock. What time does it say?"

After rolling back from his alarm clock, he said "White milk oh four!"

After that sweet conversation, I KNEW that man needed more sleep, so I didn't push the fact that I wanted him to take Cameron to church.

Birthday Pictures

Cameron got a cool scooter from grandma, and a video game from mom and dad. He LOVED the scooter, even riding it in the COLD weather. The snot was a'runnin'!

Here's his birthday cake. No, I didn't forget to put frosting in that corner. You want to hear the whole story?? SURE you do!! :)

Two weeks ago, I bought frosting to make his cake look like a big Spongebob. I was going to use chocolate frosting for his pants, and color the white frosting to make the rest of his body. A few days after buying the frosting I noticed it was opened and eaten. I KNOW that Steve didn't do it, and we KNOW Jake can't open the frosting cans by himself yet...so that leaves Cameron.

I told him that if he didn't leave the frosting alone that I wouldn't have any frosting for his cake. I INFORMED him that if he ate the frosting again, I wouldn't frost the cake.

This morning I woke up to find that Cam's face was COVERED with chocolate frosting. I was FURIOUS! I never thought I'd have to follow THROUGH on my threat!!

So, I frosted the rest of the cake for the rest of us (who says we have to suffer because HE'S a pig?) and left his piece a blank spot.

Everyone asked, so I got to tell this story over and over....

When I finally got around to dishing up the cake, and he noticed that I really wasn't going to give him a frosted piece, he threw a FIT!!

I think he won't be doing that again! At least, I HOPE he won't.

Did You Know....

.....that it can't rain on Sunday? It was news to me, and I was educated.
(Happening before church yesterday...)
Conversation with me and Cam:
Cam: "Mom...do you smell the rain?"
Me: "Yeah, it's nice, isn't it?!" (our window was open, letting the HEAVENLY smell inside!)
Cam: "Yeah, but it's Sunday..."
Me: "What does it being Sunday have to do with rain?"
Cam: "Jesus told us it can't rain on Sunday."

Now YOU know! ;)

Pretzels are for Mouths...

....not noses.

Cameron cried to me that something was up his nose, when I asked what it was he said, "A pretzel."

*shock* *laughing*

When I asked him WHY he did it, his exact words were, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Thankfully, Community Care is a good place to take kids with things up their noses. The doctor pulled out a very LONG pair of tweezers and pulled out a very mangled pretzel stick.

The nurse asked if I wanted to save it for the scrapbook....

Um, no thanks, I'll just keep the story! ;)

Um...You Eat What?

Cameron was snacking on some cherry flavored jelly hearts. Now, when I taste them I think they taste a little like cough syrup. So I really don't like them. (My mom has also mentioned them tasting like cold medicine...)

So Cameron was eating away and then said, "YUCK!"

I was a little shocked (the boy doesn't say "yuck" to any kind of candy...) I asked him what was wrong.

He said, "These are GROSS!"

I asked him, "What's wrong with them?"

Cameron said, "Mom, they taste like eye drops!"

New President

Cameron said to me, "Mom, do you know who the new president is?"

Me: "Yes...."

Cameron: "President Monson! I watched it on tv at school today...."

I quickly corrected him, telling him that the new president of the country is President Obama, NOT President Monson. *giggle* I'm sure he was confused for a few minutes!

I do have to say, even though I'm COMPLETELY anti-political ANYTHING, I have been glued to the inauguration coverage today. I hope that the new president can help fix the problems that currently plague our country, I will be praying for his success. And as a note to former President Bush....I appreciate the way he turned over power to his successor. He was friendly and helpful, and even if you don't think his political decisions were very smart or correct, you can't help but admire the way he worked with President Obama in the transfer of power. I truly appreciate the fact that beyond ALL political lines, the man can do the right thing.

Now on to the future.....may it be MUCH better, MUCH sooner! *crossing fingers and praying for success*

The Sun So Rises

The other day I was talking with Cameron, the non-stop chatter-box, and he informed me that he'd stretched. I said that was nice, then he informed me that because he had stretched, the sun was up.

Did you know that if Cameron doesn't stretch, the sun doesn't shine!? ;)

My Son Cracks Me Up!!

Cameron: "Mama, when you're done checking your email, you've gotta feel my tires!"

Me: "Why?"

Cameron: "Because!! They're PUMPED up!!"

*giggle!*

That's EXACTLY why I should feel his tires!! ;)

Other things overheard from the boy today:

Cameron: "Aren't you just SO happy for me?!"

Grandma: "Why?"

Cameron: "Because, Jacob's coming tomorrow!"

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Cameron: "I'm good at Mario Kart....I go off the edge!"

What Do YOU Do As a Family?

I Swear, I'm a Good Example....

I fell asleep during the second session of General Conference yesterday. I had every intention of listening, but I was slightly exhausted from a huge party from the night before....I know, I know, my own fault, right?

Anyway....

I was woken up a couple of times by Cam. Why?

"Mama, stop snoring, I'm trying to listen!"

The Things that Come Out of His Mouth...

Yesterday we went to see my parents and Cam instantly marched up to my mom and asked her how Grandpa was doing. (He'd been feeling REALLY lousy, and had told Cam EXACTLY how he felt.) Grandma informed Cameron that Grandpa was better, and then my son asked her, "He not feeling sh**ty no more?!"

OH MY GOSH!! Now, just for clarification, neither Steve NOR I use this word, so it HAD to have been the DIRECT wording of Grandpa!!

Then today, I told him that his doctor wanted us to take him back in next month to get his second round of Chicken Pox shots, and I guess he'd worried about it. Because, on the way home he asked me, "Mama, am I gonna get Pickin Pots!?"

What is a mama to do!?

SO Proud

I don't feel like I have very many talents, but I'm SO proud that I created this:

Oh, and don't mind the bumpy parts....Steve is hiding underneath the blankets!

I've been wanting to make a King Size quilt to fit our bed for about 3 years now, and I finally kicked myself in the rear, and started to put the pieces together. Unfortunately, when I bought the material, I didn't realize how much I'd need....and sadly, I've run out of material. So when I get more purples and whites, I will finish the top, and REALLY have something to be proud of! ;)

I guess I should add that this is only a PART of the top of a quilt....it's not anywhere NEAR finished, but after sewing for a while, I feel proud to show off my accomplishments! The hardest part of putting this whole thing together is cutting the stupid squares!! Seriously annoying!!

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And another thing I'm feeling proud of....Cameron has picked up a few new words. Every time I hear them I can't help but giggle. I noticed it the other day, but last night he couldn't STOP saying these words! His new words? "Awesome" and "sweet!" He'll be watching TV, and someone will do or say something he thinks is neat, and his response is, "Mama, that's AWESOME!" Or just randomly, "SWEET!!"

The Poison Control Center WILL Laugh at You if....

....you call and tell them that your child just ate deodorant.

I was reminded of this when I was reading the label on the back of a cleaning product the other day.

A few years ago Cameron was carrying around a little container of men's deodorant and making weird faces. I looked at the deodorant and noticed little teeth marks in it. I FREAKED out!! I immediately called Poison Control. I told the woman on the line what had happened and she said, "And...."

"And what?? That's it!"

At this point I could hear her holding back her laughter. She then told me that he will have a dry mouth for a while, and to make sure to push the liquids, maybe giving him some Kool Aid.

Yeah, nice people there....but couldn't they wait to laugh until I was off the phone!? Sheesh!!

Another Good Reason to Buckle Up

A few days ago, Steve drove my parents' exchange student around in our van. Apparently, Cam had to constantly remind Jay, the exchange student, to buckle up. After he reminded him he'd buckle up. I was telling Cameron how impressed I was that he helped Jay buckle up, and he said, "Yeah, because Jesus said to buckle up."

Milestone...Sarcasm

Cameron has a "new" trick! Lately I've just noticed the boy has found his sarcastic streak...hmmmm...wonder WHERE he gets THAT from!! :)

When I take him places, I will open the sliding door on the van, and then close it for him. (He isn't quite strong enough to do it himself.) And when I'm done with his door, I'll walk around the van to MY door. He waits to buckle up until he can hold down my lock! He laughs HYSTERICALLY when he does this!

Where did this funny boy come from!?

(My little brother DID say, that if he didn't get looks from me, at least he got my personality!)

Behind the Times

I'm so behind now, that it's pretty pathetic!!

Steve has been off work for a while, and I'm quite enjoying having him around...if you know what I mean?! ;)

Then I went to see Steve's play with Cameron this weekend, and laughed!

Then found out that the "hot" looking bad guy is really gay! (What a waste of cuteness!!)

I changed my mind about going to our ward for church on Sunday after my little sister begged! (Well, she didn't "beg" so much as she just decided it would be better if we went to my parents' ward!)

Then I have been babysitting a very clingy baby!

And now, I'm trying to catch up.

I do love you all, but I'm just overwhelmed right now!

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One funny story, I was outside with Cameron at my mom's house. He wanted me to lower the basketball hoop for him to play. (It's SUPER hard to get back up once it's down...) I told him that I didn't want to put it back up by myself, and that it was probably a bad idea since if we left it down Grandpa would run into it with his truck.

Cam looked at me and asked, "Which grandpa?"

(Mind you, the boy has 5 grandpas!)

I asked him which one he THOUGHT I was talking about. And he answered, "Grandpa Frei?"(pronounced "free.")

I said, "Well, he could run into it too...."

Then in as serious a face as I've ever seen he asked, "What about Grandma Four?"

Pulling the Santa Card

Do you ever threaten your kids?? I mean, when they're acting SUPER crumby, and ornery?? I admit that I do this CONSTANTLY!

Today, Cameron was literally pitching a fit...throwing things, yelling, screaming, hitting me...yeah, a WONDERFUL day to be a mama. So I swatted his bottom and sent him to time-out. I've been really frustrated with the boy lately, he's been screaming and carrying on like a mad man. Anyway, while he was screaming and throwing things, he banged his glasses into the wall and skewed them so badly that they didn't fit on his head anymore. I was FURIOUS! I attempted to rebend the frames, then I tried to think of a way to get the kid to stop being such a brat. (I don't want baby J to pick up his bad habits...)

The phone was sitting beside me, so I picked it up and began to randomly press numbers, doing my best to make lots of beeping noises, and praying that someone didn't try to call me while I was being a bit evil. As soon as I punched in the numbers I pressed end. Then I held the phone up to my ear, and waited like it was ringing on the other end. (Yes, I'm a mean mommy!) Cam was instantly silent. I asked to speak to the Easter Bunny. Then I proceeded to "tell" the Easter Bunny how ornery and nasty Cam was and that we no longer wanted him to visit our house for Easter. I "hung up" and Cam was looking at me with HUGE tears in his eyes. I then told Cam that if he calmed down, I'd call the Easter Bunny back and ask him to come back. It didn't work! He was back to his fits.

Then I pulled out the BIG guns!! I "called" Santa! The kid was mortified!! I started my conversation by asking how Santa was, then I asked him if he wanted to know what had been going on at my house. But Santa knew....he ALWAYS knows! I said good-bye, and hung up. Cam was much more contrite after I had called the BIG guy! But does it count if you have to pull the Santa card on your child in April!?

Broken Toilets

A few months ago, my mom was having some pretty serious flooding problems with a few of her toilets (yeah, she has 5...SO jealous!) Anyway, when she had a plumber come and look at it, he told her that the valve (or something) was too small, and she needed to replace ALL of her toilets. Not liking the flooding, she had all of them replaced...costing her and my dad BIG bucks! So, now these new toilets work fine, until you flush too hard, and pull the chain off of the valve thingy in the tank. (I'm not a plumber...I don't know the technical terms...) and it seems that EVERY TIME someone breaks the chain off, it's Cameron. Yes, my small six-year-old son is breaking my mom's toilets. When this thing happens to him, he immediately comes to me and says something to the effect that the toilet won't flush, mama, will you come fix it. I'll get up and go to fix the problem, not cursing, but not thrilled that I have to take the back off of the toilet and plunge my hand into that cold water to fix the problem. Yesterday, alone, I had to fix the two main toilets. UGH!

Today I was over at her house again, Steve dropped me off on his way to work, and I was goofing off on her computer when Cameron, smelling like a whole canister of sprayed Febreeze air effects, came to me saying, "Mama, I broke the flusher, again."
I kinda giggled and said, "Again?" exaggerating, making a funny face at the boy.

He turned to me and said, "Yeah, the toilets don't like me!"