Our New Arrival
Michael December 29th, 2011
We would like to announce the arrival of the newest addition to the Stone Family. Welcome Kane Michael Flowers Stone. He came in on 28 December 2011 at 7lbs. 5oz. 19 inches long. Isn’t he beautiful!
It’s been a while!
Michael December 4th, 2011
Had a great weekend. Gigi came over and helped us get the house ready for our new arrival. Got all the baby stuff out of storage and cleaned. At the end, we decided to burn some of the trees that we’ve collected. The boys had a great time.
Both boys helped stack the wood and were well behaved.
the art of letter writing
Amy April 15th, 2011
I just finished a book that was one of those that I wished could have go on and on. The title was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It is told through letters and it was a joy to read. I find that I long for the time when letters were the main form of correspondance. I enjoy the instant gratification of email and texting, but with these forms of conversation we are continually trying to shorten our words to only letters if possible and therefore miss out. Words are beautiful and gratifying and something I like to sink my teeth into. Reading these letters was like nourishment for my soul. They were uplifting and melodious. Wit seems to be a dying trait. Now people tend to be crass and blunt rather than intellectual in their interactions.
I long for wit and intellectual bantering!
One man’s trash…
Amy April 15th, 2011
Camden has been crafty lately… He did his robot hat first and then made one for Jax. He has decided that his helmet is the first part of his next Halloween costume. I think he looks like a knight, but he insists he is a robot.
Bedtime Story
Amy April 15th, 2011
Ever since Camden has been small we have read him bedtime stories. Jackson on the other hand has never been that interested in sitting and listening to a story. He would rather turn the pages back and forth and then get up and run around. So no night night story for him.
Until recently… He is finally ready to listen to a bedtime story. I caught Mike reading to him the other night. So sweet!
Cherry Blossom Festival
Amy April 15th, 2011
A couple of weeks ago I wrote my sister and told her we were crashing the Cherry Blossom Festival where she lives. Every year we hear her tell us what she bought at the Cherry Blossom Festival and she always promises that next year she’ll invite us. She’s lived there for 4 years of so and so far no invite, so I invited myself! It was a last minute trip and we had fun. We even got to go to the festival at the school where my sister works and the boys got to jump in bouncy houses, ride a train, and get their faces painted by their own aunt. Jax was a kitty cat and kept saying “Meow” is this little tiny high pitched voice. Cam got a mustache and a spider web with a spider. They both weren’t happy when they had to have their faces washed.
Here are some pics…
speaking of stubborn…
Amy April 14th, 2011
by the way, an illustration of what I meant by my strong-willed younger son… this afternoon when I mentioned it was time for naps, Jax said, “no nap!” and then I watch him go into my bathroom and heard the door lock. Guess he meant it. I just had to laugh as I walked off. Shortly thereafter I hear Cam banging on the door trying to get him to unlock it and all I hear in response is a muffled, “NO!”
I did conquer though and he is currently sleeping. 
as far as Cam and taking naps, he is more passive in his resistance. He goes down, but then spends the entire naptime building vehicles and buildings and monsters instead of sleeping. I never tell him this, but I don’t care. As long as I get my alone time, I’m happy.
Nature vs Nurture
Amy April 14th, 2011
I am a believer in nature not nurture determining people’s personalities. And if I weren’t, having kids would have changed my mind. It is amazing to me how you can take 2 children, with basically the same DNA makeup, the same homelife, social activities, etc and have such diversely different people.
When I had my oldest I was constantly on the lookout for the tantrums and terrible 2′s, but they never materialized. At 3 and now at 4 he likes to push me and contradict, but he is still reasonable. His younger brother on the other hand is a mess. He is headstrong and full of himself. He did throw tantrums that I walked around or put him in his room to finish. He completely ignores you until he is ready to acknowledge anything you say. And his favorite word is “NO!”
Cam is always interacting with whomever is available – or not available, but still within listening range. He is constantly talking and discussing and reasoning. He wants to know all about everything and why it is the way it is. Why are things named what they are and he will challenge you if he doesn’t agree with your answer. Jax on the other hand will happily play by himself for stretches of time especially if his big brother is not around and instigating arguments.
And back to nature…. Cam will look at insects and discuss them with you. He wants to know where they live, what they eat, what they do, and why they look like they look. Jax will look at an insect, pause, and then stomp – all action, no contemplation.
Speaking of action, that is exactly what Jax is all about. Not that Cam is not active. Camden runs, plays, tussles with the best of them, but he will stop and walk beside me when needed. Not Jackson. He is off faster than you can turn around. I think part of it goes back to that selective listening.
It is going to be fun watching these two grow and complement each other. They are both so much fun and so much work! And my husband keeps telling me that they remind him of me. Which part? the constant talking or the stubborness. Hmmmm
News update!!!
Michael April 9th, 2011
Oh yeah, and Camden is reading!!!! He is so excited and we are so proud. Wonder what that kid could do if I actually worked with him?!? He’s amazing.
