Birthday Celebration with a Mouse and Pizza ~ 2-8-12

Since Michael worked yesterday, we decided to spend an evening as a family celebrating Cameron's birthday. So, we went where we hadn't been before as a family and went to Chuck E Cheese. You know the place with the dancing mouse. Not sure who thought that was a cleaver idea, but they have a thriving business!

 The guys playing our favorite game, skee-ball!

Mouse that Cameron, nor Braydon cared for.

 Off to the races!

Off road trucking!

Daddy taking a turn at playing Whack-a-gofer.

 

 Cameron's turn.

 

 Braydon's turn

 Cameron on the carousel

 More skee-ball!

 Cashing in the tickets. The teenage kids behind the counter don't even have to count the tickets anymore. What a shame!

 While Cameron and I were cashing in the tickets to redeem for a prize, Michael and Braydon spent some more coins in the crazy craft.

 Cameron ended up with 2 tops. 

One of which I stepped on the following morning because he left it by the front door and I stepped on it in the dark leaving for work. Ooops!

Birthday Boy ~ 2-7-12

I made a speedy trip to the grocery store the night before Cameron's birthday. Reason: I forgot to get cupcakes for him to take to school! All year Cameron came home at least every few weeks with some trinket from cupcakes from someone's birthday. So, I would never be forgiven if Cameron went to school without cupcakes.

 

 According to Cameron he had a great birthday and the kids enjoyed their snack.

Michael had to work that evening, so we made a birthday trip to McDonald's.

For the record: Cameron dresses himself and Michael dresses Braydon in the morning. I do NOT dress the boys in the morning. On his birthday, Cameron wore a 'night' shirt to school. Plus it seems as he got red frosting from his cupcake on his shirt.

 

In Cameron's Pre-k class he got his birthday hat. As you can see, it fits perfectly on Cameron's head, but Braydon has a bigger noggin that Cameron. It's a pretty funny conversation we have around the Payne house about who has the bigger head. Seems it's a Payne trait!

Once we got home we got a visit from Nana. She brought Cameron a cake and balloons. Cameron was excited and the boys loved the cake.

Braydon didn't want to wait for me to give him a slice. He decided to dig in!

Happy 5th Birthday Cameron, my sweet boy. 

It's crazy to think that it's been 5 years since you gave your dad and I a ride for the first week after you were born.

Welcome to the world!

 Happy 2nd Birthday!

 Happy 3rd Birthday!

 Happy 4th Birthday!

Happy 5th Birthday!

Super Bowl Sunday ~ 2-5-12

Super Bowl Sunday holds a special place to us. Cameron's birthday is right around the game day. We went over to the folks house to spend our usual Sunday. 

 The boys, as did everyone else, ate until we were stuffed. There is never lacking for food to enjoy.

 Everyone had a blast and some just couldn't hang through the day without a nap or two.

Super Bowl XLVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) chapmion New York Giants and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2011 season. The Giants defeated the Patriots by the score of 21-17. The game was played on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the first time that the Super Bowl was played in the state of Indiana. ~ Wikipedia

Filling big boy skates ~ 2-4-12

Cameron got skates and elbow/knee pads for Christmas. Of course, Braydon wants so much to be a big boy and do the same as Cameron does. We try to accommodate, but sometimes it's quite an ordeal. An then of course we have to settle down Cameron sometimes because who wants their little brother to do everything they do?!?

The stars are bright ~ 2-4-12

For Christmas Cameron received a glow-in-the dark solar system. They are flat and made to be put on the ceiling or walls. We finally had a chance to put them up.

We had to put the sticky tack on the back of each shape which was pretty tedious.

Brothers trying to hang them all up.

Admiring his handy work.

Cameron was a great big brother and even shared some with Braydon for his closet door.

First of MANY School projects ~ 2-4-12

For his daycare school, Cameron had to cover a box for Valentine's Day festivities. Fortunately we had a box and paper. We had to get a little creative on covering it, but it worked out quite nicely.

Pick 'Em Champion ~ 2-4-12

For the past few years the Payne brothers, immediate family, and a few close friends have played in a fantasy football pick 'em league. This year, it was only family. Since I had quite a bit on my plate I decided not to join. But Cameron decided he wanted to play. Well, turns out he's pretty good at randomly picking teams based on their names!

Hard to see, but Cameron got 1st place! That's going to be a hard act to follow. Not to mention next year if Cameron doesn't win, it is going to be REALLY difficult to live with him. He is really starting to realize the winning and loosing dynamics and he absolutely HATES loosing.

A Mound of Laundry ~ 2-4-12

I usually do 2 loads per week of the boys laundry. I try to do a load mid-week and one on the weekend.

 This is what the mound looks like when the mid-week load gets skipped. 

Makes for a rough time trying to get laundry put away.

A Dog and A Lion ~ 1-31-12

2 VERY different kids ~ 1-30-12

Our two boys came into the world so differently. We knew from birth that these two boys would be VERY different from one another. Both boys have their moments. As Michael's mom says it, Braydon is Michael made over. Of course to that I say it's not fair that I have to put up with Michael II.

We have this dare-devil child that will climb on everything.

And then we have this child that is intent on a specific task, and nothing like his brother.

We are taking dibs on which one and when will be the first trip to the ER.

Another Old Man ~ 1-30-12

We've had this old man for over 10 years. He has always been the alpha of ANY group. Before we had kids we always talked about our concern for him around our kids. Much to our surprise he's been great with them. He has only snapped twice, both times as Cameron, because he got his hand towards him mouth when he was eating. Neither time I faulted Bishop for his actions, just his instincts.

Since Oliver passed away about a year ago, Bishop has been lonely. But, the kids are more active with him now and he loves getting scraps from Braydon as he throws them over the high chair. I guess life could be worse.

First day of class work ~ 1-29-12

I spent all day working on class work. It took me hours to get in my groove and read 1, O.N.E. chapter out of a book. Of course it was in between kids, laundry, dog, making breakfast, lunch, and more laundry. After I found my style or working I was able to get a little more done. I also wrote my resume that is not due for another WEEK! Yippee! So, I wonder if the next 2 years will be countless hours reading, skipped showers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, all while facilitating the house from the reclined chair with the computer on my lap and my textbooks on the arm of the chair?!?! Probably so.

Playing and a little Apple fun ~ 1-28-12

The boys and I went to the mall to visit the Apple store. While we were waiting on our appointment we visited the play are in the center of the mall. This is the FIRST time we have visited the play area. It's not for lack of knowledge of the play area. Rather it is because of my fear of all the germs in there. I know you are thinking, what in the world are you worried about? Well, I'd rather not take any chances and invite the germs to have a party at our house. It's a bonus that they re-did the play area recently.

Such cute boys. They actually played without fighting.

Braydon sliding down the slide. It was wide and steep. He slid down like a champ.

We got these gloves a short while ago and Braydon won't put them down.

Why in the world he took off his socks I don't know, but I was cringing.

Then we went for our appointment at the Apple store. While we were waiting on someone to help us the boys played on the computers.

And even Braydon got in on the action. The chair were big bubbles that were round and it was difficult to keep Braydon seated for any length of time without him wanting to slide off and get right back on.