eight years ago today...

It was eight years ago today that I brought my first child home from the hospital. We were new parents bringing home the much anticipated big, jaundiced baby boy. We'd had our happy little world crashed with the news of the tragedy that had unfolded in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.

I truly believe our personal timing made the attacks have much more personal impact on my heart and my soul. I will never forget this day, these weeks, these months after the horror - the tragedy is etched on my very being.

Here's my boy now, 8 years later - happy and thriving.

Newly 8

It's hard to believe that Campbell is now *8*. Seriously, the time is flying by. I finally believe all of you that have been telling me how fleeting moments are. WOW.

{the birthday boy before school}

So, Cam's 8. We sent him off to school and after school enjoyed a fun couple of hours at Disneyland. WOOHOO! Cam chose to forgo a big birthday dinner (I should say he deferred it. He's still expecting it on Friday night!) for an extra hour at Disneyland. I think he made a fine choice.

First, we ran into California Adventure (we ran because we only had a bit before the park closed at 6pm!) and got fresh corn tortillas at the Mission Tortilla exhibit followed by a ride on TOY STORY MANIA. Andy whooped us all, as usual.

{prepared with 3D glasses for TOY STORY MANIA!}

{look at those healthy tonsils!}

{enjoying himself while taking his score very seriously}

{the C was taken. but, the A was still fun}

We strolled over to Disneyland and enjoyed a ride on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (a contender for favorite ride of mine. LOVE this one!) before the big boys headed onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

{best friends}



{so much love, I don't know how they could stand it!}

Harry and I thought we were better suited for a trip on Dumbo. (Okay, Harry was better suited for Dumbo. I happen to LOVE Big Thunder!)

We reunited for Pirates of the Caribbean where Harrison came off singing "Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me!" and continued to sing it into this morning. Cutie.

Aren't birthdays fun?

An oldie, but a goodie

Here are a couple of old ones...mostly because I am currently unable to upload any new ones. But, also just because they are cute.

Don Henley says it's all about forgiveness...

So, please say you'll forgive me. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the beginning of more regular posts and many photographs. For today, just one.

{Harrison. 21 months old}

Recently

Recently I returned to Iowa for a weekend. It was interesting to say the least. There was family and more family, plus good eats and friends too.

{my aunt teresa and my grandma}

{my aunt gini and the black angel}

those boys and their baseball

Sunday the boys went with the {B} boys to Angel Stadium in Anaheim. They enjoyed a SUNNY day complete with treats and baseball eats. Perfect for a bunch of boys...Yankee and Angel fans alike!

{look behind sawyer. that man is enjoying his hotdog, wouldn't you say?}

Doesn't it look like they had fun?

just one more...

Has it been 20 months?!

Last week Harrison turned 20 months. Big deal, right? Oh it's a big deal...we've all survived, relatively unscathed, to tell the tale...

Right now, Harrison is napping. BUT, he's charming, funny, adventurous and naughty.

He absolutely adores our cat, shoes, emergency vehicles, motorcycles, trains and JOOT. (Juice) He has his own little language that he's really pretty good at using to communicate -- he uses words like "ank ooo" (thank you), "booka booka" (book), "no-no" (pacifier), "beak" (beach), "pica" (pizza), "wee-oh wee-oh" (fire truck, ambulance, police car) and more.

He tests us, to be sure...but he's an amazing boy. Here's who he is, right now.

no-no's, sand crabs and sunburns on the bum!

I really don't have much to say. We've been moving along, keeping all things in check. We're summering and finding our groove. Or, not. Everyone is getting REAL comfortable around here.

Anyway, an update in pics. Just 'cause that is what I do. I don't write witty banter or update you on current things going on. Heck, I don't even watch TV. (And, I use the word heck) BUT, I try to accentuate the positive and raise kids that will, too.

{a 20 month old that still has a no-no. that is harrison speak for paci/pacifier/binky}

{cam is now tall enough to drive/ride autopia at disneyland ALONE}

{the boys slept in a tent in our family room last weekend. harrison, did not. he's a poser}

{this now hangs in my house. see how much I love my husband? because I do think it'd look MUCH better if it were black and gold and said UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. happy fathers day, honey}

{a super fun beach trip was had this weekend. the baby had a great time and loved playing with the trucks. he really liked wreaking havoc on the poor sand crabs pictured below, as well}

{my friend michele taught us about sand crabs. in all the times i've been to the beach (MANY) I've never seen or heard of sand crabs. it was fun and we kept these little grey things in a pail until it was time to go home. then we set them free}

{the big boys had lots of fun playing too. so much fun, in fact, that cam rarely noticed when his pants were down and his shirt was up - resulting in a lovely stripe of a sunburn. the white is quite blinding}

{see how fun this is?}

In other exciting news...there was a small plane crash in our neighborhood yesterday. Across the street from my friend Mindy's house. Her husband, Mike, pulled the pilot from the plane.

You can read more about it here: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-riverside-plane-into-home,0,1761897.story (You can't always believe what you read/hear. This isn't Lake Elsinore! ;) )

Getting back to business

Who am I to slack off on BLOGGING? I mean, really...actually living and MAKING these memories isn't as important as chronicalling them, is it?! Oh wait...I was mistaken. It's MORE important.

We've been going to the pool, Disneyland, the pool some more and fun water parks. That, is more like it!

A little of what we've been up to...more updates to come. (I hope!)

{splashing around outside!}

{guitar hero!}