1st day 4th grade

I talked him out of his pokemon wristbands. He was so excited! When he was packing up and trying to decide what he needed he grabbed his watch that GG gave him in case the clock was busted... so he's ready.

growing fast/ family fun

They grow up so fast. One minute they are sitting up by themselves (that's right he's a sitter!) and the next they're "chillaxin" on there big boy bed listening to tunes...lazy, lounging in there pajamas at all hours of the day...
and challenging authority :)
This is "family fun night," which I am afraid has become something of a tradition. At some point I give up or change the rules because I can't peg anyone (including the four-year-old).
I know they look like easy targets, but you try it.
Camille makes a case for keeping her old flip flops which she dug out of a give away bag.

water skiing girl

Just a typical day on the lake with grandchildren harassing their elderly grandparents (see Dad, I mentioned you)This girl can ski. In all fairness, it would probably be harder to fall than to stand on this cool new ski, but none the less, we were impressed.

She would kick it out to the side to go back and forth. She just figured it out!
Good to know these things work. Even with waves he would just bob along. It helps, I'm sure, that he is naturally bouyant.
I don't want you to see this and get the impression that we spoil him- kissing him and hugging him and the like. This was a rare show of affection, and we explained to my dad that this type of thing will spoil a child... make him soft... oops!

cutie

This is for Grammy and Grandad and Nanny and Paw paw. This is what your genetics look like all mixed up together- not bad...

...but who's going to take the blame for these rolls :)

"Drama King"

I know she looks innocent, but let me give you an example of a night at our house. I was making spaghetti (I'll pause for that to register...) and Camille came to me with a picture she had drawn of a stick figure. She said it was a pic. of Knox and asked if I could write "Knox is such a drama king" to which I said "Are you mad at Knox?"

"No, I am just being funny."

"Is Knox upset about something?"

Exasperated, "No, I am just doing a funny joke!"

Did I mention that I was cooking? So, I penned the fateful words. When I called Knox to the table, he came in full on crying--like a lip quivering squeaking kind of crying--and with a tentative Camille trailing. He said that he had drawn a really good Pokemon, but when he tried to color it in, he messed it up and then he tried to draw it again and couldn't. This plus sleep deprivation is all that was necessary to insight the tears, but he said it was as he was calling out for someone to help comfort him, praying and crying (did I mention he was tired) when Camille handed him her note. He said later that he knew one of us had to have written it and thought we were all making fun of him. Upon hearing this I started to punish Camille, but she had totally lost it. She was bawling. So both kids were absolutely undone. I took Camille to talk to her, but she could only wail. Kap was able to comfort Knox and he pulled it together, but Camille was a basket case. She asked Knox to forgive her and he hugged her and that was the last thing we heard from her for the rest of dinner besides wailing- real and profuse tears. So this is some of how our meal went

Knox- "Camille, I love you. You are my favorite sister in the world"

-Wailing-

"Camille, you know what one of the best days of my life was? It was the day you were born"

-blubbering, uncontrolable crying-

"Camille you will be a lady some day like mommy. I love you. You're one of the only girls in my life"

-still inconsolable-

This lasted for about 45 min. to 1hr. Finally she got control of herself, but was still fragile. I found knox reading her one of her books. They decided to tear up the paper that Knox said "should never have been seen". They did this together, ripping it to shreads and slamming the pieces into the trash bag. These are pic.s of Knox, the accosted, comforting Camille, the despondent offender.

Meanwhile... Max loves his bath!

Look at those rolls. He likes spaghetti, by the way.

Ok! I will create a blog, but as a futile act of rebellion, I have chosen the simplest of formats, so Ha Ha.. Ha Ha.. However, through no form of rebellion and due entirely to my own ineptness all of my pictures are in exactly the opposite order than I intended. So let's consider this a look "back" through this summer starting with our most recent event, Knox's 10th birthday!!!We had a sleepover. It was after the tubing party, but of course those pictures are underneath this one... Are you catching on?

Here we go. It was a lot of fun! What a great group of guys (and Camille- she loves being with his friends)

Grandad, the boat driver, is a good sport. This is the second tubing birthday party we have signed him up for and considering that knox is a creature of habit and has been stitch for halloween for three years in a row, Grandad should get comfortable with these boys in his boat.
We celebrated Knox's actual birthday with grammy, Gandad, Aunt Angie, Uncle Chris and cousin Noah (pictured) at fiesta azteca.
This happened to be the day we drove home from vacation (those pic.s are to follow) We had to stop and buy Bucky shirts for the whole fam.
Oh, we know this look well.
Cousin Noah
Knox ate the cool whip they were trying to put on his nose. I believe his exact instructions for the night were no sombrero and cool whip on his nose or that sort of thing... sorry son
The Mcwhorter summer vacation! This was the coveted top bunk. This is Camille and her cousin Lily.
This boy knows how to play!
This is my nephew Cash. He is a sweetheart like his cousin Max. Have you seen a picture of Max yet. I intended to start with them so look for them at the bottom of this entry. Remeber this immage though, because Max looks nothing like this. Cash is only 7 weeks older than max, but played like an 18 mt old on the beach. He crawled around in the sand, got a tan, stayed out and played for hours. Max, my pale squishy boy barely touched the sand and would inevitably get sand in his eye and we would retreat to the pool.
This is Maggie and Lily and Camille and this may look innocent enough, but it could turn ugly at any point over a shared marker or something. You should look at my sister- n- law's blog for good pictures of well any of us- she has a gift.
Speaking of a gift, this is Kap, Max(better pic.s to come I promise) and "special" Uncle Conn- He loves pictures- pictures and blocks.
The 10 year old- very serious about go karting (it's a word)
We celabrated Lily and Knox's birthday this night on vacation. Now that Knox is 10 I am going to try and not dress him like his infant brother... too often. By the way- this is Max. He is 6 mts.
There they are!
Yes you've seen this pic. before, but let's pretend you haven't
Nanny and Camille. She can swim, but she liked wearing her life jacket.
Here is Knox skiing and just some random summer photos. Obviously these things happened before vacation.

He is the sweetest baby. I am sorry if you have one that you thought was the sweetest. I am sure they would come in a close second.

Oh, back to vacation (I promise to get better at this) This is Max and Paw paw at a safe distance from the sand and water.
Back at home- a makeover.
Hanging out. Does he look scared?
At the pool- just chillin
First teething biscuit.

There was a date this summer, Camille and Daddy. She dressed herself and picked the restaurant and probably orchestrated these pic.s

This is as "up" as she got, but we'll keep you posted.

I am going to do something with this pic. I love it!
On the way to track camp- a summer tradition.

I am afraid he has a lot of this in his future.
summer time! Knox and Noah. I know you can't tell, but I assure you this was a race.
Here we go, we started the summer with Camille's recital. (she's the one on the right- with the obvious and natural ballet ability)
Isn't this little boy cute! When they bowed at the end his little red glasses fell off and he had to gather them off the stage.
This other girl must be doing something wrong, but never fear, Camille will take care of it. That's it you are caught up and in no particular order and I have officially blogged!