Since Mommy's Been Home

A few days after I got home from Las Vegas we finally got a play structure for the back yard! We have been checking Craigs List ever since we moved here and finally the right structure in our price range! Yeah! The kids love it!
Last night AJ took a nose dive off one of the little chairs out side and it resulted in the bloodiest accident we've had yet. In the picture it's hard to tell that he's scabbed up around his nose and down to his upper lip. His poor lip is cut both from the concrete and his teeth and is pretty fat. Poor guy, I just keep thinking it will make him tough but it's still hard on this mommy's heart!

Happy Fall!

Fall has officially begun! I think this is my favorite season.......

A Conversation with Noah Yesterday in the Van

Noah: When I grow up, I'm going to be a famous hip-hopper.
Me: Cool. Make sure your generous with all that money.
N: OH, yeah. I'm going to buy a house and give it to homeless people.
M: That's great! You could also adopt kids.
N: I will. I want to have 8 kids.
M: Whoa! That's wonderful.
N: Yeah. I want it to be a ruckus all the time.
- Pause
N: and I'm going to live in the jungle.
M: Why?
N: So I don't have any debt.
- A few minutes of me explaining debt and that one doesn't have to get into debt.
N: I guess I mean so that I don't have bills.
M: Well, you'll probably still have a few bills, but
if you're a famous hip-hopper you should be able to pay them. Bills are just part of being a grown up.
- Pause.
N: You know, I think I'll be a famous hip-hopper when I'm nine so I can just spend my money on toys.

First Day of Parent Tot

Elyse loved the "jewels" in the gravel

Picking apples

Kaelyn had to try every apple she picked :)

I can already tell that the girls and I are all going to love this class. When we arrived there were little bread dough mounds at the child sized table and chairs for the kids to "make bread" with, then load into the oven. Next is some free play time with all the beautiful wood toys. We then headed outside since it was a nice day for Circle time which is mainly several songs we sing, then the "blessing", hand washing and snack. Snack is beautifully laid out with real glass, linen napkins, and organic fruit and veggies and our freshly baked bread. We all sat on stumps and had our snack and the Moms do a "Check in" talking about how they are and any parenting issues. After cleanup we picked apples from the apple trees in the yard and then had free play outside. (Next week we use our apples to make homemade applesauce) We closed with the closing circle and song. Very fun! It is a class full mainly of boys and one other little girl who happens to be named Elise!

Reunion & Reintegration

Well the trip has come and gone and I am home again. Home-Sweet-Home! I am convinced that, usually, the amount of time you set for a trip is always just right. I missed Andy and the kids a lot, more than I expected.
Sunday morning when we were packing up to go it became evident that it was time to go home. I am lucky to have had a book to read because as it were, I was the first to arrive in Las Vegas and the last to leave. I read my book as I flew from there to home. I had to wait a few minutes for Andy to get there. When I looked in the van and saw Abigail and Andrew J. I couldn't believe my eyes! It wasn't that they had 'changed' as most people usually say; it was that I was seeing them through different eyes. Abigail looked so mature in the face. AJ was big and looked like his daddy did as a young man. WOW! They were all smiles and so glad to lavish me with kisses, I was very glad to receive them all. :)
We had a nice dinner out and then I was anxious to go home. All was well as we put the kids to bed and the night went well. Andy has gotten a good routine with Abigail, potty at bed time and potty again at our bed time. She stays dry until 6 am! Today my little ones were tired so Abigail was a bit cranky. However we had a great day. I had a hard time engaging. I didn't want to do anything. I am so glad and thankful that Andy doesn't have to go back to work until wednesday; this makes reintegration easier for all of us. Thanks for a good weekend gals, I had a great time!

New Hair!!!

Okay! Here is my new hair cut for those of you who have been waiting to see. It is much shorter than I have ever had before and I LOVE it!!! :)

Our Big Night Out! Hot Mamas!

Thanks for the Limo Tisha!

Hot Mamas!

MEAT!

Serena was our big winner and won $500! and just played a $5! WooHoo!

Playing the Slots

Too tired to play :)

Touring the Strip.......

Pool Side in Vegas!!

MR. MOM

Why is it that kids always get sick when one of the parents are away? I wonder if this little fact is true in single parent families? Well of course the morning Rachel was going to Vegas, the kids woke up with runny noses and coughs, I'm usually the one that is leaving, so now I'm getting a taste of the other side. I would post pictures, because there have been some fabulous opportunities, but Rachel has the camera. Since I'm the substitute Mom, I thought it would be my duty to post to the blog. So far, so good. Kids are still breathing; can't ask for much more than that. My biggest accomplishment so far, has been only using one diaper. I know this sounds terrible, but let me explain. In an attempt to save some money, we have started using our supply of cloth diapers on AJ during the wake hours, so he only needed one paper diaper during the night. Also, Abigail has been needing diapers during sleep time, and I cut those out. Finally, the kids will be introduced to hamburger helper for the first time in Rachel's absence, and I can already see the excitement in their eyes. Enjoy your vacation Moms! -Mr Mom Andy

VEGAS HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to party girls!

CHAAA-CHIIINNGGG!

We had a yard sale this weekend to drum up a little extra cash and what a success! We opened bright and early Friday morning and were out for the morning Friday and Saturday! We got rid of most of our stuff (we had a bunch!) and in the end made over $400!!! Oh-my-gosh! It was a lot of work but so worth it! So gather up all your extra stuff and make some signs... cha-ching!

Nebulizers and Nemo at 4am

So we were up at 3am with Kaelyn and finally at 4 we decided to give her the Nebulizer treatment. It takes between 5-10 min and she finds it initially somewhat traumatic so we turned on Finding Nemo, forwarding through the scene where the Mom and baby eggs get ate, as a distraction. So then for the 5-10 min. she points at the screen and says "ish!" "ish!". Thank goodness for Disney!

As a side note what the heck is up with the kiddos getting sick before Mamas TRIP!!!

Spontaneity

I've always thought of myself as able to be spontaneous. Then I had twins....
Now every outing is pretty planned complete with diapers, wipes, change of clothes, snacks, water, distractions, and whatever other equipment is required...double stroller, wagon, baby sling, balls, sand toys, towels etc.

Today the girls were seeming a little onery and I felt like we all needed to blow off some steam at the park so without even grabbing a diaper we headed out. As we (the girls and I, J man was being taken paint balling by some friends) were driving I decided that going and playing in the sand and water sounded more soothing and fun then chasing two toddlers running in opposite directions at the park.

But I didn't have towels, a blanket, diapers, a change of clothes, swimsuits, snacks NOTHING.

I met a Mom at the park the other day who was saying they just decided to pull over and go to the beach but as they were doing so her kids protested that they didn't have their swimsuits, or aqua socks, or sand toys, or towels. She was surprised by their reaction and thought "Oh my gosh, have I made them like this!" I've often thought of her and related today....I don't want my kids to feel they always need the stuff but that you can just go for it be spontaneous and have fun.

So we did it, we spontaneously headed out, then changed where we were heading and went for it! Now granted I did have sand toys in the car but that was it. Once we were done I rinsed them in the lake stripped them down put on their hoodies and put them back in the car dirty and wet. It was great, we all released some steam, enjoyed the sun and survived without all the "stuff"! So cheers for being spontaneous!

Nine Years of Wedded Bliss :)

Another First in Mothering

I was up hours in the night with a vomiting little girl. This is dis-stressing for a number of reasons. With these little ones you never know when the next vomit is going to be. They are traumatized by it because they wonder what-the-heck is happening. It seems to happen over and over again. In her trauma she hold both hands to her mouth to try and catch the stuff. Etc. I feel sorry for her because vomiting is on my list of things I DO NOT like to do (never mind the, literally, countless times I vomited in the first four months I was pregnant with her!).
So our day has changed. We had a busy day planned... doctor apptment., trip to Costco, getting ready for the garage sale tomorrow. Now it will just be laying around (Abigail) watching PBS and daring to try some food and water at some point. I will try to continue my garage sale prep. Anyway, she seems better than when I put her back to bed at 4 am. I hope the worst is over - so far the count is at five times. Poor baby girl!

baby carrying

Juan is in love with Ducky and Bear. They have been a part of our everyday for a long time now. He has been nursing Ducky lately (from his armpit) and here is is carrying them on his back. It lasted a long time, even when they were hanging more from his butt area.

Happy 8th Anniversary BABY!!!

I love you Jonathan, you are my heart, my shade, my strength.

Olympic Shopping

Shopping on Monday evening of a three day weekend right before school officially starts at the cheapest grocery store in town was not the smartest idea I've ever had.....when you add to that 1 1/2 year old twins one of which screams bloody murder if you try to put her in the cart makes it even more of a not so good idea. But that is indeed what I did last night and so there I was holding one toddler and pushing the other through the maze of other families and carts one handed while also checking things off my list and keeping a running total in my head! If it was an Olympic event I would have taken the Bronze. Why not the Gold? That would have gone to one of the many Moms toting around 4 kids!!!!