Let it Snow

Wow! Well, If you read my last post I said that the weather turned ugly Wednesday evening. It started raining about 1am Thursday morning and rained all day. About 2pm Thursday afternoon it got cold enough and rain turned to snow. It snowed the rest of the day and all night and even had flurries until about 10 am this morning. At our house...we ended up with 4-5 inches or so.

View from our backyard about 10am Friday.
Cami in our front yard. Cami wasn't really sure about this stuff. She liked being outside, but didn't like walking in it.

All bundled up.
We decided to go for a walk / bike ride. We dropped some mail off at the mailbox and walked down to the park in our neighborhood. Cami wanted to play on the play equipment until she realized that it was covered in snow. I let her on the slide once...that was enough for her.
Riding her bike at the park
On our way back home.
relaxing on mommy's & daddy's bed watching a movie. In my opinion how the majority of all snowy days should be spent.

River of Lights

Every year starting around Thanksgiving, the Albuquerque botanic gardens and aquarium put on an amazing festival of lights. Set up throughout the botanical gardens are beautiful and detailed light displays. Everything you can think of from Christmas theme lights to animals found at the zoo. Matt and I went 2 years ago...when Cami was still cookin' in my belly.

We went last night with the Archuleta's. We had a great time. Some of it was lost on Lili (almost a year), but Cami really enjoyed herself. On the way to the gardens, we were telling her that we were going to see Christmas lights/Santa lights. She then started saying, "Santa, Ho Ho Ho". Where she got that...we have no idea. It was adorable.

It had been a beautiful afternoon, as we approached evening it got cold windy and a little rainy. So we bundled up.

Outside, waiting for the gate to be open.
The Archuleta's
Nairne and Liliana in front of the Sunflowers

Mommy's being silly
Sweet Gingerbread Girls
Cami riding an ant
Standing on a flat bed truck filled with musical theme lights
Cami and Mommy

We went just in time, considering it has been raining since late last night. Definitely a family tradition that we will continue for years to come.

PGA Awards Banquet

As many of you know, it has been a very busy few weeks. I'll start at the beginning of November. The First week of Nov., Matt was in Boston for the PGA Annual Meeting as well as celebrating his 32nd birthday without his 2 favorite girls. He returned home on a sunday night, his mom & dad arrived the next day and 3 days later he had hip surgery.

2 weeks later was Thanksgiving.

1 week after that, Matt had the Annual meeting for SCAGA, Annual PGA Awards Banquet & meeting and a business planning session.

Luckily we are blessed with retired parents who adore our daughter and are willing to come and hang out with her whenever we need them to! Matts Mom and dad were here 2 weeks and 1 week respectively to help out during the surgery and recovery process. My parents were here for Thanksgiving and the meetings.

Thank you to both set of grandparents for your love of us and sweet Cami girl

The following is a photo of Matt and I all dolled up at the awards banquet. It doesn't happen very often....so I thought I'd share a picture.

Cami's Luggage

Yet Another Christmas Present.

This one is from Mommy & Daddy. In hindsight upon ordering, I should have had it shipped to Matt's Mom and Dad's house (where we will be on Christmas). Instead we will be able to pack her things in it.

She was so excited and knew exactly what to do with her new luggage.

Posing
Filling it with toys
Cheese
Showing Mommy that she can use it all by herself. What a big girl!!!

Love it. It's from personalizationmall.com It is light weight and sturdy and perfectly toddler sized. We will be flying to FL in January ....I'll let you know how it travels.

Goodbye Highchair

Well....Goodbye highchair! I can't believe it. Our baby isn't even 2 yet and she has already graduated out of the highchair. Unreal.

As of lately, Cami has been insistent that she no longer wanted to sit in her highchair, but wanted to join us at the table. So off to Wal-Mart I went and invested in a booster seat. She is thrilled and hasn't missed a beat, literally it took zero time for her to get accustomed to it.

enjoying a cookie her Nana gave her
Big Girl
Talking...what a surprise! :)

Christmas Present from Aunt Karen(and family)

Christmas continues....

Yesterday when we got home from picking up Daddy at work we found a very special package on the front step. Cami was insistent that it be open right away. Really insistent! So while I was cooking dinner (and snapping a few pics) Cami and Daddy put together her new shopping cart!

Cami is posing next to the unopened box
"helping" daddy put it together
reading the instructions (which sounds something like this.... book two daddy food...) you get the idea
Let the playing begin!!!
If this doesn't say... "Thank You Aunt Karen"... I don't know what does!

We took a break in the action to have supper. Then she played with it virtually non-stop until bed time.

Thanks Karen you picked a winner!

the start of Christmas

Christmas has already begun at the Williams Household. Being that both sets of grandparents live out of town Cami is already getting to open and play with her presents.

Libby's parents came up for Thanksgiving. They did Christmas with Cami (pictures coming soon). She got a kitchen, games and a dvd & dvd player for the car. I must say that the kitchen is the biggest hit. She loves it and is constantly cooking food and bringing to Matt and I.

Matt's parents bought her a tricycle. Although we are going to be at their house for Christmas, we opted to get the trike here as it is bulky and would be impossible to get home. So today was the day that Matt decided to put it together. Sorry if the pics are out of order.

Loving it.
trying to figure out those pedals
out and about
giving daddy instructions on proper assembly

Matt's Surgery

Hey Everyone.

Well, we are at the 1 week mark. Matt had surgery one week ago tomorrow. He is doing remarkably well. His pain is tolerable and he is recovering better than any of us expected. He still needs help with certain tasks and will be on crutches for at least another 3 weeks, but we are pleased with his progress.

We are so thankful that Matt's parents were able to be here to help us through this tough time. Matt's dad Carroll went home today, we were able to convince Matt's mom to stay on a few extra days to help with Cami. Matt is planning on going back to work tomorrow, I will be going with him to help him so Cami and Grandma will be hanging out together.

Here Matt is working from home. Busily on his laptop in bed.'

Thanks to everyone who has kept Matt and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Etsy Page

Hey everyone!

Well as most of you know, I have been making bows and bow holders for sometime now. I began making them for Cami and then stated giving them as gifts. I have decided to sell these handmade accessories on Etsy.

Please take some time and check out my shop. Also please pass the word to friends or family that may have little girls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/camillebowtique

Watercolors with Grandma

Cami has definitely been enjoying having her grandparents here from KS. She and grandma have been painting with watercolors and playing with play dough. It has been a huge blessing to have the extra hands around the house while Matt is laid up. Cami is enjoying the extra attention too!

...by the way the masterpiece is now hanging on our fridge

Halloween 2010

What a fun holiday season it is turning out to be. Halloween kicked things off. Our little lady bug enjoyed herself. Libby's mom and dad were up. We trick-or-treated at Daddy's office Friday, went to the pumpkin patch and trick-or-treated on Sunday. Not to mention carved pumpkins and handed out candy to other kids. All and all a great start to many fun holiday memories ahead of us this year.

Mommy and Nana's little shopper. Mom and I went to the mall while they were here. We actually went so I could get my eyebrows waxed. While I was at the salon, mom and Cami were exploring Macy's. Mom happened upon a really good sale. So I met them back at Macy's...needless to say we ended up with 2 bags worth of stuff. As we were leaving Cami decided that she had to carry our bags for us. Yes, we did get several funny looks as my 19 month old was doing the heavy lifting!

Fall Family Photo

Our Newest Family Photo!!!! This is our fall family photo...and don't be surprised if you see this on our Christmas card too.

We went with Libby's parents out to the Bosque did photos. Our very good (and talented) friends the Altman's took our photos. We then 'paid' them with dinner to Outback and had a great evening!

Our little girl is getting so big 19 months old already!

Dixon's Apple Farm

Dixon's Apple Farm. Dixon's is an Apple Farm touting mountain grown apples North of Albuquerque. When I was a child, my parents and I would go every year. I have very fond memories of not only the apples but the experience.

Dixon's is a waiting game. Starting in Sept. you have to check their website and find out when they will be opening. I'd like to say that this is a treasure that I only know about, but that is definitely not true. Thursday was opening day, according to the evening news the wait was 2 1/2 hours on opening day.

A group of friends decided we would all go the same day. In our vehicle, Michele and Lexie & Nairne and Liliana. We met Kaitlyn & Olivia and both livie's grandma's up there as well as the Burgess Fam. Needless to say there were a bunch of kids.

The drive went smoothly until we were about 1/2 mile out, then traffic stopped and we were essentailly parked on this tiny dirt road waiting to get in the parking lot. We drove almost an hour for these apples and were not about to give up now. Not to mention I was driving our new excursion and there was no way I was going to be able to turn that sucker around on that tiny road! After waiting 25-30 to arrive, we were there and saw an even longer line. Here are some pictures documenting the experience. WE had so much fun!!
Waiting to get into the parking lot. Cami and Lexi, we'd all had just about enough of being in the car.

Waiting in line before we got out of line to bag our own apples. Owen, Cami, Lexi and Liliana.

Hanging in the Wagon that Michele brought for the girls. A godsend, when the girls were tired of sitting in it, it doubled as an applecart.

Liliana and Cami posing near pumpkins. Cami called them apples.

Picking out apples to take home. This was so much better than in waiting in line for pre-bagged apples. Cami loved reaching in and putting them in the bag....and sampling.

sampling the delicious apples.

more sampling

After picking, bagging and sampling we sat at a picnic table and ate some of the treats from the snack bar. Apple Fritters....YUM. Overall, we had a wonderful time and were exhausted by the time we drove home. Definitely a great tradition and as much fun as I remember from my childhood.

A few (older) pictures

Cousins Paige and Parker with Cami

This picture makes me laugh. Paige had been doing cartwheels in the grass. Cami was watching her intently. Then Cami bent down put he hands on the grass and stayed there. When she stood up she clapped for herself and the 'cartwheel' she had done.

Aunt Jill and Cami. For those friends and family who always ask who I think Cami looks like...well I always say her Aunt Jill.

Parker driving Cami around in the power wheels. So sweet how Parker is checking on his cousin.

So talented....Cami is playing piano with her feet!

Feeding the cows.

With Papa.

Riding the big John Deere Tractor with her Papa

Taking a bath with sweet Baby Josh. Cousin bath time. Such a sweet picture, by the time we are back together they probably won't fit in the sink together.