Cam's 10th Birthday dinner

Each year we let our kids choose what they want for dinner on their birthday. No matter what they choose, whether it's venison and mashed potatoes at home, sushi takeout, or dinner at our local Mexican restaurant, our whole family shows up! Britt's parents and mine join the four of us for a birthday dinner celebration!

This year Cam chose to have dinner at our local Mexican place!

Cam doesn't really care for traditional birthday cakes. Or cakes of any kind, really. He usually asks for a chocolate chip cookie "birthday cake".....this year it was in Alabama colors, of course!

Our Mexican restaurant is so funny. They sing a song in Spanish and usually they just dab whipped topping on your nose. This time.......they went a little crazy!!!!!

They smashed a small plate of whipped cream right in his face! He just sat there laughing! We all were!

I had left my real camera at home, but this was so funny I had to get out my cell phone and take a couple pictures!

He licked most of it off around his mouth, but it took 3 big napkins before I got it off his face! It was in his eyes and he blew his nose and whipped cream and chocolate came out!!!! Cam thought that was hilarious!

My boy had a great 10th birthday. He'll have a party in January (it's too hard to do it during the holidays!) But he got lots of birthday money from his grandparents. He informed me he is going to buy a PlayStation 3 with it!!!! Guess I'm going back to Walmart tomorrow.

Anything for my boy!

Happy 10th Birthday Cam!

10 years ago today......

I became a mother!!!

At 2:55 PM on Monday, December 27, 1999. Cameron Austin was born via cesarean section. He weighed 7 lbs and 15 oz and was 21 inches long. He was the most beautiful baby boy his momma and daddy had ever laid eyes on! (his momma however......needed some highlights, some make up, and a tan!!)


Today my little boy turns 10.

TEN!

I still can't believe 10 years have gone by!

Today Carlie said "In 6 years Cam will be able to drive me around!"
To which Cam responded, "Maybe to school, but that is it!!"

It seems like only yesterday.....

Cam smashing his cake on his 1st birthday.

Cameron's 2nd birthday! He was still an only child back then....for another 4 months anyway!

My little cowboy on his 6th birthday.
We had his party at Nanny's barn.
Cam's 1st horse, Ruby, lived there. He had just learned to ride and begged to have a party there so everyone could see him ride. He didn't even care that we made him stay in the round pen!

Carlie & Cam on his 8th birthday

You make Daddy & me so proud! We thank God for making us your parents. You truly are a blessing. We are enjoying watching you grow into the young man that God wants you to be. I will always cherish those days that you and I spent at home playing Bob the Builder, and watching Blues Clues. I'll always miss the way your said "Rubberband" and "I want to do it again.". But I look forward to the coming years and the things God has planned for you. I'll always be here for you, through thick and thin. And no matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby. The first baby I ever loved. On the day you were born I didn't think I could ever love anyone more. Ten years later, I realize I was wrong. I love you 10x more than I did on that cold December day in 1999.

Happy 10th Birthday, Cam!

I love you forever, Peanut!

Love,
Momma

Backyard Grudge Match

Down.....Set.....Hut!

Looks like our QB is in trouble!

And Bentley gets the sack!!

But it looks like Bentley may get an excessive celebration penalty....
just look at that taunting face!!

That sweet, adorable, taunting face!

Cam escorted his little "girlfriend" in their PeeWee Homecoming during halftime of his game a couple weeks ago.

It was the first time Cam had ever been asked to escort someone. He was a little bit nervous. But a lot excited....because it was her! He won't be 10 until December, yet the boy is starry eyed over this full of personality, curly haired, athletic, adorable, spitfire on his arm!! We'll have our hands full in a few years with this boy!

This is Cam's first "girlfriend". They have liked each other since last school year. And this year they got in the same class! I was a little worried about that. Cam tends to have his head in the clouds when she is around!!

But so far, so good!

And how cute are they??
I know. Very!

She got 1st Alternate. They were all excited!

This little girl is soooo full of personality! Can't you tell? She cracks us up!! It's always been funny to me that Cam likes her. She is so very much like his little sister! ha!

She is holding the half dozen orange roses Cam gave her for homecoming. Some of the customs at their school are a little bit crazy. Girls are expected to give their escorts a candy bag, or similar. Escorts give the girls flowers, not corsages. And sometimes a small gift. We gave her the roses and an orange picture frame we found at Target that I painted cub paws and wrote "Homecoming 2009" on. We put a picture of her and Cam in the frame. It was very cute! And very inexpensive!!

She gave him the customary "candy bag". Not some rinky dink goodie bag from a birthday party...but a GINORMOUS gift bag full of Snickers, Kit Kats, Milky Ways, Twix, and a few other things. He LOVED it!! And he'll be eating candy out of it until Christmas!

It was a really fun experience for him. And made for lots of cute pictures!! Unfortunately, his team lost their first game of the season. For some of the boys it was their first loss EVER! They've been playing for 3 and 4 years and have NEVER lost! This group has won the State Championship every year starting when they were 6 and 7 years old!
But I guess too many of them had their heads in the clouds on Homecoming Night!
Hopefully they'll be back on track and can beat that team in the playoffs in November!
Go Cubs!

I was naive to think we could avoid it.....

If you read yesterday's post about football here in Sweet Home Alabama then you know I was delusional to think that I could avoid my son actually participating in the sport. But a mama can hope, right?

Against my better judgement Cam is officially a football player.

And a handsome one at that! But I am a little biased.

Now y'all know I LOVE football. Love it. Like, an unhealthy obsession. Like get-up-early-and-sit-in-front-of-the-tv-all-day obsession. Of course, that will change now that Cam is playing on Saturdays. We usually go to a few games a year. Looks like that is not an option currently. But I am ok with it. That's what TiVo is for!!! And I can watch college football when my baby is grown!As much as I L.O.V.E football, I'm still not sure how I feel about Cam playing. He wanted to play last year and I said no. Absolutely not. This year Britt and I gave in. And Camis loving it. He's working his rear off out there, but he enjoys it. He has played baseball and basketball before. Never once has he been this excited about playing a sport.


Cam has a history of being a whiner about things. That's just the way he is. Kinda like his mama, once it gets tough, I'm out! He's also never been very aggressive. But with this it's different. He loves getting in there and hitting kids, and even being hit!
He is bruised on his arms and legs. He's sore from running sprints and being hit, but he loves it!! He never complains about practice or how bad something is hurting. He just loves playing football.
Now it's still early. So I am only cautiously optimistic, but I think this may be just what Cam needed!

I'm glad I thought of it.

First Day of School

Another school year is upon us. My babies are not babies anymore. Cam is now a fourth grader. Carlie has moved up to second grade. They are both really excited about this year!

My sweet yahoos!

They picked their clothes out individually. I noticed they "kinda" matched. But I didn't dare say anything. One of them would have surely gone back upstairs and changed clothes! It's not cool to match your little sister/big brother on the first day of school!

My princess in pigtails.
Her idea.
Which was unusual.
But I liked it.
Makes her look like a little girl.
She usually tries to look older.
Which I do not like!

My little man.
He loves to dress like his dad.
He was thrilled to find this Polo shirt.
Britt has the same color!
I love that his eyes pop in this shirt.
I love that he is smiling in this picture.

The kids came back inside for a couple of pictures with our "baby".

Of course, it's nearly impossible to get all 3 of them to look at the camera!

Carlie and her beautiful teacher!
Her teacher was named Alabama's Elementary Teacher of the Year last year!
Mrs. F is quite fabulous!

Look at that precious girl at her desk!

My peanut sitting at his desk. I can't believe he let me take this (not that I asked permission). Probably my last photo of Cam at his desk on the first day.
He's such a cutie.
He was a nervous wreck about his class!

When I picked them up yesterday afternoon they were both bursting with excitement! They had a great day! Both of them really enjoyed their teachers. They each had a few friends in their classes.
Such an answer to prayer!

Much love,

People to People

Cam got a letter in the mail yesterday saying that he had been nominated to serve as a Student Ambassador for People to People in Australia next summer!!!!

We have to go to an informational meeting in Huntsville, AL next month. So I'll have more information after that.
We know that he will have to go through an interview process and submit 3 letters of recommendation before he can qualify for the 2 week trip.
Alone.
Without me.
Oh, my.
Can't we just say it was an honor to be nominated and forget about the trip part?

Hank Parker and Sally

Cam and Britt went to the lake this morning to do a little fishing. Cam has been on this kick about Bass fishing. He has told me all week that he needs a "spinner bait". I think that's what he's been saying, anyway. He describes it as "like a jig, with a little spoon-looking thing on it". Well why didn't you say so, son? That clears it right up!
Does he realize that I don't have a clue as to what a "jig" is???? Apparently not.
Nevertheless, Dad to the rescue. I am told that they stopped at a tackle store on the way to the lake house this morning and bought said "spinner bait". Obviously, Cam was onto something with this "jig with a little spoon-looking thing on it". Because this is the picture they emailed me......Looks like Bass really do bite on these "spinner baits"........He's a regular Hank Parker, isn't he now?

In other news.....
Carlie would like to go to the "name changing place" next week. Apparently, she is not as fond of the name "Carlie" as her dad and I are. She would prefer to be called "Sally". And while we are there could we please change Cam's name to "Conrad"?

She's been watching "The Cat in the Hat" movie again......

The Squeaky Wheel

You know that saying? "The squeaky wheel gets the grease (or oil)." I've heard it said both ways. Well, that is true in a number of ways! I have noticed that there seems to be a lack of posts about Cam on my lovely little blog. It's not because I don't like him! (ha!) I love my children equally. Differently. But equally. When they ask "Mama, do you love me more than Cam/Carlie?" I always say yes.....to both of them. One day they will figure it out.
Strangely....and I think you have to be a parent to understand.....but you really do love each child more than anything in the world. It is amazing, the love that you can have for your own child. It makes you wonder just how God feels about us. He loves me, as messed up as I am, so much that he sacrificed His son for me. Now, I love y'all, but I ain't about to allow Cam to die on a cross for you! I don't care who you are! Especially for some fallen creation that has turned their backs on me! God's love is AMAZING! But that is a whole 'nother post......
I've decided that this post is all about Cam. You see, he is not my "squeaky wheel" (If you keep up with this blog even a little, I'm sure you've caught on to that.) Because he isn't the one getting the "grease" around here I am going to take the time to brag a little (just a disclaimer, he IS my child, I AM biased).
Cam is an all A student. He rarely studies hard, he's just really smart. He catches on to most things in the classroom with ease. So schoolwork is a breeze with him.

being "king of the hill"

Cam is one of the kindest children. He takes time to play with younger kids. When all the neighborhood kids are out playing he will go play with Logan (who just turned 6). He loves to play with his cousin Samuel, who is 4. He LOVES LOVES LOVES my friend Lindsey's son, Braxton, who is 5 and has Down's Syndrome. Cameron always asks if we can see him. He loves Devon, a little boy at our school in 4th grade, who also has Down's. I tell people that I think Cam will have a job working with special needs children. He is WONDERFUL with them.

with Gracie his "girlfriend"

Cameron loves playing baseball. He has been playing for 2 teams lately. The Sonic Blasts, his travel team. And Howell Body Shop, his Alexandria league team. He plays in the outfield on the Blast team. He catches for HBS. This is his first year playing "kid pitch" baseball. He loves catching. I wasn't really thrilled, to be honest, when he started catching. But he loves it. Because he enjoys it so much, he WANTS to be better at it. He practices all the time. It is amazing how much he has improved in just 7 games. (His team is 6-1 btw). And Cam struck out on Saturday for only the 2nd time ALL season!

catching

at bat

watching a high pitch go by

trying NOT to look at me

heading to first after drawing a walk

On 3rd base. He's the "go ahead" run!

Now don't get me wrong. Sometimes I want to jerk a knot in this child. Sometimes I do! And not nearly enough. He can be like any other kids. Mouthy. Lazy. Grouchy. But for the most part, he's a really good little boy. And he is quickly growing up into a young man...too quickly! I'd keep him 9 years old, FOREVER!
I love that little peanut with all my heart! I'm so grateful that God has loaned him to me. And I hope I get to keep him for a long, long, long time!
I'm grateful that I don't have two "squeaky wheels". And I don't ever want Cam to become one. I want him to know that I am proud of him. And he has my attention and love just as much as his "squeaky" little sister!

Comments on my dinner tonight.....

Tonight I decided that we would have hamburger steak for dinner. (NOTE: I have never cooked hamburger steaks before, not on a grill, not in a skillet, nada, ever!) But, I had no desire to have any pasta dish tonight and I had a 2lbs of hamburger meat that needed to be cooked! So...hamburger steaks it was!
I grilled the hamburgers on my cute little Cuisinart grill Britt gave me for Christmas. I also fixed whole grain rice and peas. We sat down to eat. After several minutes Cam held up a piece of his steak that was barely pink. Mind you we are in the restaurant industry. So of course I made sure the meat was cooked hotter than 165 degrees! There was no bacteria in this meat!
Anyway. Cam held up a piece and asked "Mama, is this done?" Before I could answer, Little Miss Carlie chimed in (in her most exaggerated voice)...."That meat might not be done, but this rice is past done! There is black stuff in it! It's burnt!!!" I tried not to laugh.
The child has eaten whole grain rice her whole life! I guess this rice had too much "wholeness" in it! I assured her that her rice was not burned. Unconvinced, Miss Stubborn still raked it around her plate, grumbling to herself about how "it was too burnt!". The whole dinner was frustratingly funny.
I have no idea where she gets her stubbornness. But I am NOT cooking tomorrow night. I don't care what anybody says. Don't care. Don't care. Don't care. : )

"Skeleton Bones" and Broken Bones

Well after a couple of days of complaining I finally relented and took Cam to see an orthopedic. As it turns out, he has a hairline fracture in his left hand. So he has a half cast splint. It itches and drives him nuts! The doctor said the break happened a few weeks ago because it has already started healing. The splint is just a precautionary measure. Of course, it only prevents accidents if you wear it. Currently, Cam is shooting basketball outside...without it. Boys!
Last night while I was on the computer working. Carlie was in the kitchen, alone, and quiet. A very bad combination for that child! I walked into the kitchen and found her sitting in the floor like this!
When I asked her what she was doing she simply replied "I am Skeleton Bones!" She had spent lots of time drawing her bones outside her body "like she saw on Bubba's x-ray". Unfortunately she thought she was using a dry erase marker (like that isn't bad enough). It turned out to be permanent. What else? On top of that today was none other than....Picture Day!! So much for the cropped pants she picked out. She had to wear jeans with the top instead.

Cam's First Buck Deer

Britt and Cam went hunting at their camp in Selma last weekend. They drove down on Sunday morning and hunted that afternoon. According to Cam....Right before it got dark a spike and a six point buck walked out into a clearing. Cam thinks the spike smelled them because he threw up his tail and took off into the woods. The 6 pt was going to run too. But he took two steps and BANG! (Cam's description).The deer dropped right there. Cam says he shot him "just right".

Cam called to tell me about his deer. He was so excited that it was hard to understand what he was saying! I could hear Britt laughing at him in the background. I was getting tickled too. But I don't know who was more excited Britt or Cam!! Cameron said that when he shot that Britt jumped up and nearly knocked him out of the tree stand! The were both cracking me up!

Cam spent most of the summer shooting at birds and squirrels in the yard. Obviously, all that practice has paid off! Last year he shot at a doe about 4 times before finally hitting it! He was thrilled to have killed this one with one shot! My baby has become quite the marksman!

Britt and Cam took the head to be mounted and the rest to be processed. Cam can't wait to get the mount back. He said he is going to hang it in his bedroom. (ugh)
We have always had a "one deer head at a time" rule in our house. Now that I have two hunters I guess we will have to have a "two at a time" rule!!! Lovely.