Diamondback Nights

We're fully in the swing of D-back season. In fact...it's more that half over. Today the cuties and I napped, made dinner, and went out for ice cream. Then - they wanted to pose for some pictures. They love being models. And, I love watching all of their poses. They are so stinkin' adorable!

First Day of School

Wow...the summer F-L-E-W by. Literally flew by!! The kids have been sooooo excited to start school.
New clothes - check.
New clothes washed - check.
School supplies bought - check.
Backpacks ready - check.
Haircuts completed - check.

School started for us in Gilbert on Wednesday, August 10. Wednesday began with Bryan running to grab eggs at the store so we could make pancakes for breakfast. By 7:30am, everyone (including me) had showered and were dressed. Lily wanted curly hair - so I turned on the curling iron. Brady wanted "cool hair" - so I got out the gel. By 8:10am we were ready to go and the kids even had a hot breakfast! (this is a big deal since they are normally stumbling out the door with cereal). Of course - I had to snap a few photos before we left. On Pinterest - I saw this idea to take a picture on the first day of school every year with a sign that says, "First Day of..." Well - I just happened to find a free downloadable template on HowDoesShe and I printed them off at Kinko's. I only wish I had this a few years ago when Brady started Pre-K. Oh well....first borns, we get jipped :)

After pictures, we headed over to the sitter's house so that we could drop off Charlie and walk from there to school. The sitter lives very close to the school - so we all (Bryan, Brady, Lily, and Me) walked with the sitter, her husband, and their kids to school.

When we arrived at school - I wanted one last picture of two of the Cuties before they went in. Brady was so embarrassed, but he played along. The four of us walked to find Brady's teacher's sign on the basketball court where they line up every morning. What a change from last year. He was so excited and such a "pro." He literally dropped his backpack and ran off to his friends. What? We didn't even get a picture of him in the line. We pretty much had to chase him down to say goodbye (yep, just what every kids wants - their mom and dad yelling out their name to give them a kiss). :) We then walked Lily over to the Preschool drop off area and waited. And waited. And waited. I guess the buses for some of the Preschool kids were running late. The teachers did NOT want us to walk in with the kids (boo!) and so we said our goodbyes outside the school. Lily could have cared less - she was so dang excited!

The school year has begun.

Sunday at the Park

Unedited

Edited

One of the absolute greatest things about our house is that there is a park literally across the street. The cuties love it. I wish I could say we made it over there more often than we do - but, when we set out for our  20 yard walk to the park...the cuties dance around like we're heading to Disneyland. 


This Sunday it was just me and the Cuties. The Hottie was working a Dbacks game. I brought my camera. Or, rather I lugged my camera, wagon, cuties, camera bag, baby doll, snacks, burp rags, and a scooter to the park.


I love this picture. It's nothing that special...but, it really tells so much about my cuties.


First, Brady is in the stage where every single pair of pants he has has some sort of hole in it. And, this one is no exception. He is also wearing his gray vans and boy oh boy does he love his vans.


Next, I'm thinking that Charlie has just about the very BEST cankles I've ever seen. I could just gobble those feeties up. 


Lily is barefoot. She takes her shoes off anywhere. The car, the house, the park, stores...anywhere. She just likes to be comfy. 


Another thing I love is the matching skirts the girls are wearing. I picked up these beauties at Target for pretty much pennies and they are so cute. I love that they're matching. We don't have too many matching outfits over here - but, when the girls are matchy-matchy...if makes me all giddy.


You can't see it...but, Lil and Brades are holding Charlie's hands and helping her "walk" through the grass. She's not really digging the feeling of the grass - but, she loves playing outside and being with her brother and sister. 


All that from a picture of feet.


Oh...and the grass is green. (I did make it a bit greener) but, there is no snow, or rain, and the look of the grass just reminds me that the weather is absolutely perfect right now. Do you think it's possible to ask for a raincheck on summer and just to extend the spring a little more?

No Cavities

The Hottie took Brady and Lily to the dentist for their bi-annual checkup. He'd never been there before now. The results....


NOOOOOO CAVITIES!!


The Hottie says Dr. Quackenbush is hilarious. And, not just his name. The visit went down like this:
7:15am - Appointment time
7:19am - Arrival (oops, they were late)
7:23am - Brady and Lily were called back for their cleaning. Bryan walked them back and waited.
7:23am - 7:55am - Brady and Lily were brushed and flossed and cleaned and fluorided (yes that's a word)
7:55am - Dr. Quackenbush gives the good news to Brady - NO cavities!
7:56am - Dr. Quackenbush tells Lily that she has beautiful teeth and no cavities. Then, Brady says...."Really? Cuz she never brushes her teeth!" Dr. Quackenbush and the Hottie laugh.
8:00am - the Hottie swings through Dunkin Donuts


Yep...dentist followed by a donut. That's how we roll.

Mom and Photographer...It's HARD!

I SOOOO don't think I can do a photo shoot with my own kids. It's rough being the mom AND the photographer. At least I've got one great model. He listens, smiles...and never complains. I think he likes it!

Lily on the other hand...does absolutely ZERO listening.

And, Charlotte...well - she just goes along for the ride. If one turns out great...it's a miracle. Usually it's either great of Charlotte and not so great of the other two. Or vice-versa. See below.

But, for some reason - THIS one is my favorite. Totally my kids.

Bieber Fever

A couple weeks ago, the Biebs joined our family. Lily got a Justin Bieber doll for her birthday. Oh boy - did Brady know who he was. As soon as she opened it, Brady yells, "that's Justin Bieber!" Lily kept calling him Ken. It was so cute. Of course, Lil now knows that he is Justin Bieber. Tonight, as I was putting things away - I walked into Lily's room and saw this.

There was Justin...just chillin' with his guitar and headphones. I guess the hottie cuties have got Bieber Fever.

It's 7:10pm

And, Lily is already asleep! Seriously....our party animal has been falling asleep at 7pm EVERY night! Ever since her bout with RSV last week, she's been a sleeping machine.

All this sleeping...while Charlotte plays. Of course, with her tongue hanging out!

In the meantime...Brady practiced for "his commercial."

Do You Think My Kids Play Hard?

Shoes - hand me downs in PERFECT, TIP-TOP shape. Lily wore them one time with her Christmas dress and tore them to pieces. There are literally holes in the shoes.

Pants - UGH!! Little boys and their pants. There are 5 other pairs of pants just like this one. Holes in every left knee!

Seriously...there is no sense in spending good money on clothes with little boys and girls!

Camping

The kids have been camping for the last few nights...

in the LIVING ROOM!

While cleaning out the garage this weekend, Bryan found a tent that Brady was gifted awhile back and set it up for the kids to play. Well...they've been loving "camping."

Yes, I know it's a school night.

But...it's making them so happy.

We can't help it!

Definitely comfort camping!

Just When I Can't Handle AZ Any Longer....

The Hottie is out of town. Boys' camping, fishing, & Paintball trip. Yesterday's weather was super, super faaaaaaantastic! It was overcast and warm...but, NOT AZ warm. It was set to be even better today, so Ash and I decided to take the kids to the zoo. We picked up my mom and all 8 of us headed out to the zoo. We arrived at 10:15. Met the iguana at 10:30. Walked to the monkeys and saw a few animals along the way. Arrived at the monkeys at 11:00. Booked it out of there and made it to the car at 11:15. Total time in the park...1 hour. OMG was it hot. We were dripping. The kids were wiped out.

What were we thinking??!!

Funny thing is - it wasn't even 90 degrees. It was just so hot. And sunny. And humid. Gross!

Then - being the geniuses that we are - we decided to take the light rail to downtown Phoenix for some lunch. You know...when you're super hot, might as well wait in the sun to take the light rail. After an exciting (yes, the kids loved it) ride to Phoenix, we exited at 3rd and headed to the Arizona Center to find some place to eat. So sad...almost everything has closed down. We ended up eating at Hooters. Yes, you read that right. Us girls took the kids to Hooters. We ate, cooled off and then made the dreaded walk back to the light rail. We arrived back to the car at 2:30. We were exhausted.

It's days like this during the 2 hottest months of the entire year that I wonder what the heck I'm doing in Arizona. Normally, it's right at the end of the summer when I just can't take it anymore. Today was one of those days.

We made it home, fed Charlotte, and relaxed on the couch. I put on a pot of water on the stove to make mac and cheese. (yes, we're super gourmet when the Hottie is not home) and then the thunder began. It was awesomely loud. The kids loved it. Well....Charlotte slept through it - so I don't think she really cared. Then the rain started. Pouring rain. The temperature had dropped a bit and the sun was still out, but hiding behind the gray clouds.

I looked outside and the view was incredible. The way the sun peeked out from some of the clouds as the rain literally poured down in buckets was amazing. The color in the sky was a gray-ish yellow. I begged the cuties to run out in the backyard and play in the rain. They thought I was crazy. So I went. And, they followed. And, pretty soon they were dancing around and around and laughing and jumping and having the best time.

Thank you monsoons...for restoring my faith in the AZ weather. In just about one short month, we'll be having some much better days. And those days will last for about 8 or 9 months. Couldn't be better.

Momma's Big Helper

Brady L-O-V-E-S, Loves Charlotte.

He loves to help.

He is the perfect age.

He is so gentle and loving.

(not that Lil isn't...but she's a bit excited aggressive)

He helps by feeding Charlotte.

Sometimes.

When he's in the mood.

Other times...his arm hurts.

Lil tries...

But holding her is enough.

Tonight 8:05pm

Happy 4th!!

Happy July 4th!!!

Love,

The Campbell Cuties

Marriott Photography

A long, long time ago - I married the Hottie (9.5 years-ish). Marnee Marriott did our photos for the event. We loved them. Luckily....she is still crazy busy in her business and has only become even more amazing. She took some photos of our cuties....

Now...we just have to figure out what we want...this is the hard part!

Thank you Marriott Photography - YOU ROCK!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Do you ever play Rock, Paper, Scissors???


Apparently...Brady just learned about the game at school. He tried to teach Lil. This is what we heard..........

Brady: 1-2-3
SILENCE
Brady: What's that?
Lily: A bouncy ball.
SILENCE
Lily: A bouncy ball wins.
Brady: Stunned Silence (and that my friends is totally NOT normal)


Oh, Lilbugs...I guess she made up her own rule.
Too funny!

Red Car

A little over a week ago...

I rear-ended another vehicle.

Yes.

Me.

NOT the Hottie.

Me.

Totally my fault.

Well...I do secretly blame the new AZ resident (from Colorado, also named Dawn) that I hit from NOT pulling forward even just a few inches when the light turned green as we were waiting for the oncoming traffic to pass so we could each turn left.

But...still...TOTALLY my fault.

Luckily, I have rental coverage.

And, a very low deductible.

And, I work at the drop off/pick up location.

It's very convenient.

Last week, I picked up the rental.

A red, Nissan Altima.

With Nevada plates.

(why is it that 90% of the time I get an out of state rental wherever I go?)

Sorry...I definitely digress.

The cuties...

L-O-V-E, LOOOOOOOVE

the rental.

Head over heels.

Seriously.

I do love driving a car.

Much speedier than my van.

REALLY good on gas mileage.

Maybe I'll swap with the Hottie when I get the van back.

When I picked up Lily from Ashley's last week,

she ran out and screamed - "I love you red car!!"

Seriously. Not kidding.

Then she says, "The red car is the coolest."

She's certainly going to be upset on Wednesday

when the van returns.

The Cuties also continuously...

and I mean continuously tell me how to drive.

Back seat drivers at ages 6 and 3.

"Stop, Mom" and

"Go, Mom" and

"Slow down, Mom" and

"The light is red, Mom" and

"The light is green, Mom" and

"Good job, Mom" and

"Don't crash, Mom"

are words I hear multiple times a day now.

And, my favorite from Brady....

"Mom, you're a good driver now."

Thank YOU, Buddy...

I'm glad I have your 6-year old approval.

Too funny!

But seriously...

Red Car...we will miss you!

Tintless windows and all!

A Common Site At Our House...

Here's Lil...but, this could really be either one of the cuties.

Slide Whoops...

This:

And This:

Proceeded by this...

Just in time for her 3rd birthday.

Lots and Lots of Decorating

No, not of the house.

Cookies. Gingerbread houses. And, more cookies.

What a busy, but fun weekend!!

Saturday, the Cuties hung out with Ry and Jake over at James and Kate's house. There they decorated (and ate) lots of cookies and a few gingerbread houses. Stacey was WAAAAY smarter and bought the houses already pre-made - just add that candy. Ashley and I had to first assemble the houses, then add the icing, then add the candy. The assembly went quicker than expected...but, while the kids were decorating...the houses began to fall apart!! No worries - we got them reassembled. Whew - catastrophe averted!

Sunday, the Cuties went to my parents house for an afternoon of cookie baking and decorating. All the kiddos were there and while they baked with Nanny - we snuck out for a movie with my Dad. What fun...for all of us! When we returned, we found the kids all wearing the cutest aprons and decorating away. SO CUTE! They finished the day by writing out letters to Santa and Nanny is sending them off tomorrow. The Cuties lists are as follows:

Brady...basketball hoop, basketball, skateboard, football guys, basketball players.

Lily...pink princess bike, stroller and baby.

Soon we'll see just how good they were this year!