Snowed in... says who?!

So I realize I'm WAY late on this post but the it needs to be documented. Our laptop broke and we just got a new one so here goes a catch up blog. Warning: LOTS of pictures. "The blizzard of 2010" as the news stations called it was crazy. My parents were coming to visit for a few days (or so they thought) but shortly after they arrived the snow started falling, airports shut down and we trapped them in DC for about a week and had a blast.

Despite the state of emergency and warning to hunker down for the next few days and stay off the roads we were the crazies that did just the opposite. When we weren't driving in it we were playing in it. People found this odd. As our nieghbor asked when she saw Justin and I tackling each other in the snow "Are you out of your ever loving mind?! That stuff is cold". We didn't mind...

(Yes that would be a plastic bag around his legs. He grew out of his snowpants)

I don't know how this started but from the time Camden could hold his head up he would always lean his forehead against my dad's. It's so hillarious. My dad will be talking to him and Camden just plasters his face to my dad's. No personal space here.

My mom is the happiest person I know. I love being around her because she is always laughing. Camden does this fake laugh that almost sounds like a cough. My mom thought it was funny to do back to him so after a day or so of her being here he would do this laugh every time she walked in the room. It's funny how babies remember and associate things with particular people.Happy Birthday Dad! I'm glad we got to celebrate it early with you here!!!!It was a little errie seeing DC totally empty. We got some pretty cool pictures.

Part Two - Colorado!!

Oh how I miss Colorado!!!! We stayed at my parent's house most of the week but took a few days to play in the mountains at Steamboat. One of the highlights of this trip was skiing/snowboarding. That's right we're a mixed family. Justin skis and I opt for the more challenging sport of snowboarding. We had great powder and incredible scenery. New Year's Eve we watched a firework show on the slopes, went hot tubing and played games. It was a really fun night until about 11:32 when everyone pooped out and went to bed. LAME! Justin, me and my dad held strong till midnight.What would a Searle vacation be without a little chocolate chip cookie cook off. Justin has had this contest with two of our nieces now. His cookies are amazing! Hence why I have him make them at home at least once a week.
Even with being number 28 on the grandkid count our nieces and nephews couldn't get enough of Camden. They thought he was hilarious because all they had to do was look at him and he would smile. That made the kids crack up which only made Camden smile bigger and get more excited. Funny chain reaction to watch.
Justin and Camden have been practicing their stunts to someday join the Ringling Brothers.

Holiday Re-cap

This year we stayed in DC for Christmas and then headed to Colorado for New Years. We had so much fun spending time with the Neumanns, having our own little Christmas and then spending time with the Searle crew. There are way too many fun things to cut out so sorry for the long posts!
Christmas was so much fun with a little one. Although I'm sure Camden loved the paper as much, if not more, than the present itself! He was so cute tearing at the paper, then trying to eat the paper, mad for .2 seconds when we would take it away and then beside himself again with all the colorful paper.

Camden and Justin both got new basketballs for Christmas. Justin is hoping he will dribble before he can walk. No pressure kid!

DC Temple Christmas Lights

Every year we like to go to Old Town to walk around the fun Christmas shops and take in all the pretty Christmas decorations. We had the whole Neumann family together this year for Christmas! It was so great having everyone together. We have loved having Sean and Cambria and Justin's parents live near by. Now we just need to get Justin's little sister Whit to finish school and come back.

Again with the eating paper!Camden got completely spoiled by everyone!!!!!!!!!

We saw a Christmas concert at the Kennedy Center. Camden sang right along... just not in tune.

Santa... I KNOW HIM!

Camden stared at Santa for a while checking him out

Then had to think about his reaction for a minuteLuckily he decided he likes him!

Side note: Santa told me he liked my coat. I'm in good with the big man this year.

Play by the rules

In the Neumann house there are two rules that we stick to when it comes to our Christmas tree..
1. It HAS to be real. No fake trees here.
2. It must be disproportionally large for the room that we put it in. We don't ever get the tree that would fit just right. We get the tree that is way to big for our house and takes up half the room.
Consequently in the process of stuffing the tree in our house, half the pine needles ended up on the floor. When we tried to vacuum up those pine needles our vacuum got clogged and broke. Two hours later and with our vacuum in pieces Justin had successfully gotten the needles out.

The next night (since it was now almost midnight) we got to decorate the tree!!! Camden put his own ornament on.

And was pretty proud of himself

I love you City Mini

There comes a time when you have to upgrade strollers. Our time came when I literally had to lift up the back of Camden's Snap N Go Stroller and side step any time I wanted to turn because he was so heavy for it!! Doesn't make for the most convenient outings. So last Friday we got this little beauty... And then used it that night when we went ice skating and walking around looking at Christmas lights. Da dah!!!

Justin could push the stoller with one hand and still hold my hand with the other. It's a whole new world. Best feature is that it folds up totally flat by pulling one strap in the middle. So while Camden was happy in there we were happy doing this.

And this...
Side note: We did not leave our kid unattended in his stroller while we ice skated. He was with family. Come on people, it's a stroller not a babysitter.
We love you City Mini