Big Boy!

We weren't able to celebrate Jack's birthday until Sunday because we had such a busy weekend. Luckily, at age 4 he had no idea. The plan was to wait til after dinner to open gifts and have cake with the Shepherds (as it was also Payson's b-day), but I just couldn't wait to give him his gift from grandma and papa O. Jack's DS had broken a few days earlier and he fought all weekend with the girls for a chance to play theirs. So, that is what grandma and papa gave him, and it came EARLY on Sunday morning! He LOVES his new, totally tough DS!

He also got a football, Toy Story flip flops, a firetruck, an outfit, and a cool new car from grandma and papa C!

The girls were eager to give Jack their own gifts. So on Saturday we hit the Dollar Store where Dakota got him a super cool sword, and Rian found a fireman's hat.

Great gifts, a dinosaur cake...

And 2 crazy birthday boys!!!

Happy Birthday to our little man!

3 Crazy Kids

Dakota Wakeboarding

Fireworks

RUN!!!

DUCK!!!

Finding Crabs

Pay attention to Jack's little celebration at the end...

"oh yah, uh huh, oh ya, uh huh"

Already???

First day of school...

This year is really exciting for the girls because they both got their teachers from 2 years ago...Mr. Schooley (Dakota) and Ms. Neal (Rian). These remain to be our two favorite teachers EVER!!! Here's to another great year!

A Special Day for Rian

Our beautiful little girl has turned 8 and was baptized today, August 7, 2010.

Just as Dakota did, Rian wore the very dress that I was baptized in. We had so many family and friends come to show their support. Two extra rows of chairs had to be brought in as the room continued to fill up. We had more than 40 people there just for Rian!

Megan, Chris, Emma and Taylor came all the way from California. Aunt Megan put together a special desert...made to order!

Showered with gifts, including her very own new pair of scriptures.

Cameron Family 2010

How did I get so LUCKY???

Count Your Blessings

" Remember the days blessings...

...forget the days troubles"

So we had some serious car trouble on our way home from Washington. What should have taken us 12 hrs from Bainbridge to Salt Lake City, ended up taking 24. We drove through the night, stopping every 30-40 mins to let the car cool down. Many times I just felt like crying, but my amazing husband was able to find the good in almost every trying time. At our 1st stop we happened to pull over at a mountain top that looked across to a massive, beautiful waterfall. At the next, a gorgeous green mountain view. I remember one stop in particular, around probably 2 o'clock in the morning, where we pulled off the freeway and got out to stretch our legs and rest the car. We looked up and saw more huge, brightly glowing stars in the sky than I knew even existed! Dave and I had lots of time to just talk and enjoy each others company, while the kids slept soundly and cluelessly in the back seat.

"Obstacles are Opportunities in Disguise"

We stayed, as planned, in SLC with friends on Saturday night and attempted to leave on Sunday after letting the car rest overnight. Unfortunately, we only got about 80 miles out of SLC when the car gave up on us again. At that particular point, there just happened to be a Petting Zoo, at a gas station in the middle of nowhere! The kids had so much fun playing with the animals. We then were able to get towed back to a transmission shop close to our friends home. They put us up for another 2 days while we waited on a diagnosis on the car and made arrangements to get home. The kids had a blast with their children, playing the Wii and even tie-dying t-shirts . We are so grateful to our friends, the Baca's, for being so hospitable! But we are even more grateful that we were able to finally get home on Wednesday morning, after pulling yet another all night drive!

Week Three...

Down time...

Sluy's Bakery, Poulsbo. A new "must visit" as far as the kids are concerned. This is also officially my new favorite bakery...the Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls are TO DIE FOR!

Chris took Emma out on the Kayak and picked a Starfish right out of the water!

Really...why take time out to walk all the way to the bathroom?

These boys played so hard, and yet they stayed up til almost 11 o'clock most nights playing their DS's. One of their favorite things to do was jump from the top bunk onto the couch below. In fact, one night as all the kids sat at the table for dinner, the following conversation took place...

Payson: "Hey Jack, you wanna go high dive?"

Jack: (enthusiatically) "YEAH!"

Payson: "Let's go!"

Jacy & Alisa: (simultaniously) "No, No, No!"

Nature hike...

"Despicable Me"

It was rare to find Rian outside, unless it was for a trip to the candy store or a ride on the boat. She much preferred to spend her time watching tv or playing her DS with Cameron by her side.

Jack, Jasmyn & Dakota enjoying the bay!