Haircut

Mackinna got scissors for Christmas.

Lucy

It just occurred to me that I haven't mentioned Lucy yet, until that previous post- where Mark left his beer unattended to scold his dog. The week before Christmas we got a new addition to the family. Mark waited in his car over night at the Animal Welfare Society to ensure that he got one of the puppies available when they opened at 11:00. Arriving at 12:30 put him second in line, but it was good enough to get the puppy he had his eye on. Lucy is a lab, golden retriever, Australian shepherd mix. She's 11 weeks old now and she is a handful, but she's pretty darn cute isn't she?

More

Today Mark is watching the Bills lose to the Patriots and drinking a beer. When he got up to scold his dog for chewing something, Kaden just stole the unattended beer bottle and took a sip. When Mark took it back from him, Kaden furiously began signing "more" "more" and pointing to the beer bottle. He really rarely busts out the signs, but I guess he really liked the beer...

Christmas

We were lucky enough to have all the Campbells together at our house the weekend before Christmas. Our gift to Grandma Campbell was a photo shoot so she could finally have a picture of all of us together- something she's been trying to get for a while.

All ten of us on the front porch. It was pretty cold- like single digits!

Grandpa and Kaden opening gifts

Kaden got a ball! The kids loves balls!

Kaden saying cheese while showing off his new musical sit & spin

Christmas Eve was at my parents' house with all the MacKinnons. Kaden and Dylan played trucks for a while. How cute are they? I love Dylan's Santa suit.

Bampy with all three great grandchildren

Mackinna and Jada had the best time playing together all night long. They never stopped, even for a minute. They were enjoying each other so much they didn't want to eat or even open presents. Don't they both look so beautiful?

Christmas morning- checking out gifts from Santa.

Kaden's tool bench

He starting banging with the hammer immediately

Mackinna's "heavy baby that sits on her hip"

Christmas day- opening gifts with Dylan, Uncle Shawn & Aunt Jill.
Check it out- Jill just started a blog for Dylan.

Pride's Corner Nursery School Holiday Sing-along

Mackinna did such a great job at the sing along. Not an ounce of stage fright. In fact it was the most brave I've ever seen her at school.

She was really glad to have Grandma Campbell, Unkie and Jen there. She kept waving to them.

After the show we went downstairs to share some snacks with the other families. Kaden especially liked this part. Here he is with chocolate streaming down his face.

Mackinna and her friends Grace & Nora.

Holiday Sing-Along video

She still doesn't really talk at school, but Mackinna sure can sing!

Mini

I've got a lot of photos to post and Christmas stories to tell, which I hope to get to this weekend, but for now, I just have a share a little Mackinna story.  

At lunch yesterday Daddy sat down with this huge heap of baked macaroni and cheese and Mackinna commented on how much was there.  Mark replied, "yes I'm a piggy gut"  (this is what we always used to call her).  Mackinna said, "I'm not."  I agreed and said that lately she's turned into such a skinny mini.  Mackinna's response- "yeah like the mini waffles"  I kind of laughed and agreed and she replied, "what? its true Mommy."

Nap time

... In the car.

Babysitters

Well we just left the house to head to my work Christmas party. We
left the kids in the hands of Grandma Campbell, Unkie and Jen... Apparently the best babysitters ever because those kids didn't even pretend to care we were leaving. We didn't even get a goodbye out of Kaden and Mackinna's was half hearted at best. Hopefully bedtime goes as well as our goodbyes!

Intermission

Notice his tounge.

Seasame St Live

Well since we still don't have power, I'll post a preview of our trip
to When Elmo grows up. Kaden started clapping as soon as we sat
down. He loved it.

Kaden stories

Its seems for the first year or so of this blog, posts consisted of funny Mackinna stories and pictures of baby Kaden.  It occurred to me this week that this baby isn't really a baby any more because (among other reasons) now I have funny Kaden stories.

Here a couple of recent big boy Kaden tales:

When I was bringing Christmas decorations down from the third floor, I can across one of the potty chairs and decided to bring it down, so Kaden could at least start getting used to seeing it around.  The other day when I was in the bathroom, Kaden followed me as usual and was in need of a diaper change anyway, so I took his diaper off and put him on the potty.  He sat there and grinned ear to ear.  I asked him if he had to pee or poop and he started grunting and scrunching up his face.  Then he got up and walked over to the toilet paper, ripped some off, wiped himself and threw it in the big toilet.  He's got it down- all except that middle part, of actually going to the bathroom.

After dinner each night Mackinna is required to bring up her plate, so last night, I asked Kaden if he could at least bring his fork into the kitchen.  He picked it right up and marched into the kitchen.  (as naughty and into everything as he is- he is always an excellent helper when asked)  The next thing I know I see Kaden opening the silverware drawer and he throws the dirty fork in there, closes it and walks away, quite proud.

LL Lighthouse

Mackinna at LL Bean today

Fishin'

Kaden at LL Bean today.

Playing with Unlces and Grandma