A Week In The Life of Cami...Day 2

*I'm really not sure how this picture missed last nights bunch...but it reminds me of how graciously she tolerates my 3 girls! Today I had to talk with them about sharing her! Around this house she is the baby doll...(and Queen, I might add...but you already knew that!)

*Last night was a little rough, but Heather got the brunt of it. Cami was up 3 times in the night and I didn't hear a thing because Heather insisted the monitor be turned off, "because she didn't want us to hear her sleeping..." How do you hear someone sleeping anyway??

*Still full of smiles and hugs in spite of a rough night...

*Yes, we have her do chores, including throwing her own soaked diaper away...I love watching her walk...Anna, she walks exactly like you!

*Coffee table art--we taped a bunch of paper to the coffee table and let her have at it...she did a great job until she started to eat the crayons (and Polly Pocket clothes and pennies)...I thought you told me she doesn't put things in her mouth anymore! :-)

*We tried 2 times today and I was sure she would go...she drinks a ton throughout the day--no wonder her diapers are so soaked in the morning!

*This picture really doesn't do justice...the house really is a mess until she goes to bed. I have forgotten what it's like to have an almost 2 year old around!

*The day started with..."Cami, no stairs! Girls, get to work! Cami, no stairs! Girls, get to work!" Then came Duct-Tape-Down-Time! Never heard of it? You should try it sometime! You can't really tell that she has duct tape strapping her to the chair. I was careful not to get it on her skin. Just kidding...I used it on my girls instead! :-)

*Hannah had to have 100 pennies for a project of some kind in Biology and Cami's reaction to the sound of money was incredible! She could not stuff those pennies in her pockets fast enough! Very cute!

*Favorite Toy: Little green bucket from IKEA

Favorite Food Today: "Cake" that's what she called banana bread and I had to hide it because she was becoming, well...ballistic because I would not give her another piece; Craisins (thanks for sending that huge bag--another cause for ballistic behavior as well as a HUGE craisin diaper blow-out right before bed!); and Milk--pretty much what she survived on all day long. Do you have 13x9x2 pans of cake laying around your house a lot, for her to want so much !?!?!?!?!

Favorite Word: Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!! But a little more forceful today! :-) Oh yes, cake was high on the list as well.

Favorite Memory: She was a little fussy today for a short time...I thought she would want one of the girls but she wanted to cuddle with ME! That made my day! :-)

Reality Check: I get nothing done with a 2 year old around...by the way when was the last time you gave her a bath?? :-) I probably should have one of the girls do that tomorrow...

A Week In The Life of Cami...Day 1

Dear Dan and Anna-
We will try and stay faithful to this over the next week so you'll have a daily update on how Cami is doing. Happy Anniversary and have a relaxing and restful vacation!
Love-
The Williams Family



*Dropped off at 7:00 a.m. obviously excited to be here...and promptly began to explore!

*The diapers did not fit her baby, but Hannah and Heather tried them on her...just a little tight!

*She may have a life-long aversion to oatmeal and strawberry yogurt from here on out...someone who ought to know better (that would be me...) didn't let the oatmeal cool off long enough to prevent permanent damage to the tastebuds!

NOTE: Tastebud test done after dinner tonight...Picture her little pink tongue feverishly licking an EXTREME SOUR WARHEAD...Taste buds are just fine! :-)

*Received many, many hugs and kisses alllllllllllll day long and had to pry her out of one of the girls' arms tonight just to get some for me!

*Terrorized Peppie pretty much all day long...

NOTE: Much to my surprise she remained in this ONE outfit until bed time...I was sure the girls would change her outfit at least 2-3 times from the mounds of clothes you sent...

*Sweet picture! She played with this Cami-friendly Nativity Scene for quite sometime...the same one the girls played with from about her age.

*Hannah was teaching her how to text...not really--she was a major distraction (in a good way) and the girls hardly completed any of their school work today! Oh well...there's always Christmas Vacation!

*You were right, Anna! She is picky when it comes to eating...I tried to disguise broccoli with cheese and she very carefully picked the cheese off and ate it. Caley tried to get her to eat it, but with no luck, as you can see.

*Naptime went well...she fell asleep right away and I had to wake her in order to get to Hannah's swim meet on time. She did great sitting with Heather for 2 hours while I timed. She was a hit with several of the girls on the team. This picture was taken at 8:00 p.m.--I was worried that she may not go down based on what you had told me, but she fell asleep right away...no fussing at all. We'll see what the night holds..at least Heather will be there to cuddle with her if needed.

*FAVORITE WORD OF THE DAY: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

*FAVORITE MEMORY: She had us laughing so hard at dinner...we were asking her open-ended questions and she was actually answering us with her language--it was amazing! It was as if she clearly understood what we were asking and was equally sure we understood her answers! We did not...we were in tears from laughing so hard! Great ending to Day 1!

Precious Baby Girl Born...15 Years Ago

Hannah was born 15 years ago today! She doesn't look anything like this 3 month old picture... :-) I do have to say that she has been such a blessing and joy in our family. But to think that this was already 15 years ago is amazing!! These years have flown by with her and I am so thankful for all the pictures and hours of home-video we have. Sweet memories with many more to come! We dedicated her to God when she was born and continue to release her into the Father's hands, because you see, one would think it's easier to let go as they get older...I find myself wanting to hold on tighter, knowing that each year brings me closer to having to release her completely. Oh, I know I'll never stop being her mom...but those that have experienced the wonder of teenaged girls know what I'm referring to. There's just something special about a relationship between a mom and her daughter...what a blessing!

**Happy 15th Birthday, Hannah Lynn Williams!!!**

Corn Cob Cutting...

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. And yes I AM yelling...


Recipes...they are useful to a certain extent. Usually, when I try a new recipe, I follow the recipe exactly how it is written the first time and then I modify it or completely chuck it--never to use it again. This was one of those that I should have chucked, but it was easy enough to modify--and very tasty. Notice how nicely the kabobs are put together in the picture. Easy, right? Wrong!! Especially when it came to cutting corn cobs into 1 1/2 inch pieces!!! THIS WAS NOT EASY! And I have since modified the recipe and roasted the cobs right on the grill--no cutting involved. Notice I attempted to use 3 different knives and I was sweating when I was done and my hand hurt so badly that it took a few days for it to feel "right" again! By the way, the 2nd time I prepared this, I tripled the recipe and put in way too many roasted red pepper flakes--I guess you don't need to triple those! Burning mouths, lips, teeth and nasal cavities completely drained. And yes I did make my family finish all the food because there was no way I was going to waste such yummy food...even if it was too hot!

Free...

We found the FREE rock...Russ posted an ad on Craig's List and some guy was beggin' him to come take all the rocks we wanted off his property.

We had the FREE labor...Kyle helped with a load.

Hannah and Russ worked together finding a creative and FREE way to move the rocks from the side of our driveway to the front of the house.

What a great idea!

If you ever drive by our house you will see that it is unfinished. Russ calls it an "eye-sore". I say we just need more FREE time, which won't happen anytime soon...

Sleeping Bag Wars...

Our kids have grown up having sleeping bag wars. Bailee Vollmar was introduced to them not too long ago. You'd never catch me having them...way too claustrophobic.

Strawberry Pickin' June 2005

Here's the picture I was talking about. They all seem so small! And it was only 4 years ago.....

Jeremy Abbey, Hannah Miller, Jessica Abbey, Caley, Heather, Matt Miller, Hannah, Emily Abbey, and Brian Abbey