Great Christmas

Since I'm like 2 weeks short on the Swank Christmas I'll make it short. It was great. My kids got spoiled. We all got tired of the car trip. Hotel pillows stink (but what do you aspect for $49.95). And it's amazing we got it all home.

There were many hot items this year. Cole got lots of good boy stuff. No need to play with sisters dolls where there's Tonka trucks, tow trucks, tractors and remote control cars. He can build a huge garage of bricks for all his trucks. But he and sister have already gotten lots of use out of their new sand table (that I got for a smokin' good deal on line). He's also loving to bang on a new drum which Uncle Cory helped the kids break in.

Sister got many thing to keep her artistic side going. Pens, calendars, draw on ponies, make up and some clothing like any girl needs. She now can wear her bathrobe every evening after baths. And her big group gift of the Leapster with several games keeps getting used. She is still on the first level of everything as she learns more how to use it. Cole of course wants to push buttons whenever she plays it. She is also is sporting the new watch every day and is sure to tell you the time when needed.

It was great to spend time with the fam and get to know the new brother-in-law a little more. Hopefully I didn't freak him out too much by warning him early Christmas morning I'd sick my kids to jump in bed with him. Ah, he'll get over it.

Hiding

Cole has a few favorite games. Being chased aournd the house is his favorite. The second best is "Where did it go?" "Where did it go" has several variations. "Where's Cole?" and "where's Makaila?" of course are the obvious ones. "Where's Froggy?" He does NOT like. After that his games involve either climbing on things or throwing things with the "UHN" sound effect.

Texas sink

This may be so strange that I took a picture of my daughter in a McDonald's bathroom, but I just couldn't believe that there exists a sink in the shape of TEXAS. Look at it! Do you know any other state that can do that?

Lack of holiday blogs

Wish I had a great excuse to my lack of blogs lately, but I don't. It took a week to get ready for the big Christmas car trip, we were gone for a 9 days and then it took a good week to get back to normal around here. And Chad still owes me a car wash for road trip snacks in the car I drive. I am never a fan of putting away Christmas decorations. It's not just the pure fact of what a pain it is to get the wreths and lights into boxes. It's not how our stuff multiplied (without purchases) and we had to use another box to put away that we had taken it out of. It is all that with the big emptiness that comes from my decorated shelves being not decorated, my front window not containing a tree (although thrilled not to have Cole pulling off ornaments all the time), not turning on lights every evening and seeing them in my neighborhood and realizing all the gifts are unwrapped and the anticipation is over. Kind of sad, ya know.

But what was really cute was seeing the kids going out of their way to help Chad put the stuff back in the attic. Makaila wanted to help Chad carry stuff and then Cole REALLY wanted to help too. So we had to take out these bags of lights so there was something Cole could carry (even though they all fit into one big box). He also has had much practice with stairs and Grammy and Grandpa's and apparently that carried over to ladders. So this is the beginning of his dangerous accent to the attic (which he did with NO PROBLEM). Not too excited about this. Good think we don't go into the attic too often.

You are also getting pictures of Chad putting together Cole's new blocks and Makaila playing with her "new" dollhouse via sometime in the 1980's. I had a tough time because I went with the Santa knew to deliver the dollhouse to our house instead of Grammy's since we wouldn't be able to get it home. Then she caught me when I said I one time. Later I fessed up that it really belonged to myself and her Aunt Jamie. Some day she'll hear the whole truth that Grammy had really stored it for like 20 years and even moved with it to like 3 different states just hoping for a girl grandchild who could share the Strawberry Shortcake joy. The house lasted better the actual Strawberry Shortcake doll (she's looking like she has female pattern baldness), but we've got a lot of dolls in great shape. I think Jamie and I enjoyed the Christmas gift because we researched on the web to see how much it would go for on ebay and what the names of those dolls all were. Can I just say that we had like 90% of the stuff out there between the two of us. I can also say now playing with it again I truly don't know how to get those dolls to sit in the dining chair for dinner time without them falling off. These dolls have NO KNEES if anyone has forgotten. And Makaila just thinks it is so funny that I keep messing up and calling Huckleberry Pie "Huckleberry Finn". I guess she won't get that until high school.

Sickos

We've all had runny noses in this house. Makaila started it with Cole shortly behind. I had the sinus pressure headache next, followed by Chad's leaky facet nose. We're a great group, everyone wants to be around us. Makaila is mostly over hers, but Cole is in constant need of a tissue. And you can just guess how any normal 16-month old does NOT like his nose being wiped. Of course being sick means Froggy is working overtime. He goes everywhere Cole does. And with the nose runny and the coughs and sneezes making the nose run more, poor Froggy now has snot crusties added to his usualy funk from being sucked on and loved. Froggy REALLY needs a bath in the washing maching, but I can't seem to sneak him away from Cole long enough to do it.

Christmas party

Last year we had the perfect Santa picture. We went to the mall, waiting in the line and Cole (and infant) woke up just in time to be awake for the picture. This year I just didn't want to deal with waiting in line at the mall, so we went to a Christmas party where Santa would be. Makaila enjoyed all of it; decorating cookies, eating snacks, seeing Santa (after being shy at first), hearing music and stories and making an ornament. Cole on the other hand, mostly wanted to eat. He did go check out Santa briefly (not a big fan) and he liked hearing the music too. But he had a fall out of the chair when he ran out of snacks and I was trying to get Makaila's picture. But he recovered fast. And how sad is it that it is a Christmas party (in December of course) and my kids are totally wearing short sleeves.

Thanksgiving

Here's a little back-tracking. This year Chad's parents came out for Thanksgiving. It was quiet and that was fine. We ate pleanty of food as usual. Chad got to watch at least half as much football as he wanted. And we had one surprise. Snow. We were still sitting at the table after enjoying the food and someone looked out the window and saw it was snowing. So of course we got the kids in their warm coats (for the first time this year) and took them out side to get pictures, I mean for them to see it. Makaila's favorite thing is trying to taste the snow.

My son and his frog

Cole used to love a little mini blanket bear for his cuddle toy while sleeping. But not any more. It is still in his crib with him, just in case he really does want it in the middle of the night or a nap (don't want to mess with what works when it comes to a kid's sleep), but I don't think he really cares. Now he has moved on to his frog. Official name: Froggy. I know, we're creative around here. (Makaila sleeps with Lamby, but Aunt Jamie actually named that one. And I think that was in remembrance of her stuffed animal Lamby Pie)

Cole hasn't ever sucked his thumb or a pacifier. Nope. He sucks Froggy's thumbs. Does a frog have a thumb? Maybe not. But he does suck the inside digit. As you can imagine, Froggy starts to smell after a little boy sucking his digits (both hands) regularly to fall asleep at nap and night time each day. But it is quite hard to get Froggy into the wash because I need to do it when I am sure to get him dry before the next sleeping time. So sometimes I sneak him out in the evenings after Cole has gone to bed and return it before I go to sleep. But of course, often Cole sleeps on his stomach with his butt up in the air and Froggy tucked under him.

Today I could hardly get Froggy away from Cole. Froggy went to take sister to pre-school, went to the gym, played around the house, had a nap and even went to pick sister up from pre-school. Froggy had a busy day. A few rules are that Froggy does not get to go to the high chair with Cole for eating and he has to stay in the car at the park.

annoying

You know what I don't like? Sites that have a "remember me" box you are supposed to check so you don't have to log in every time, or at least not to enter your email address every time but they never seem to remember you any time you check that box. . . like this one for example.

Christmas countdown

My daughter is so excited for Christmas. Her Nana and Grandpa visited over Thanksgiving and she helped Nana wrap and leave some presents for us. That got her quite exicted about Christmas. There were some ornaments we were supposed to open when we decorated. First Makaila kept aksing us to open those. Then she just really wanted to decorate. And as soon as we got the tree, she wanted to bring the presents over and put them under before we even had the lights on the tree! And after some presents were under the tree it was, "I really want to open just one present." Now every day it is when can I have my advent chocolate? Today she even came up to me and said, "Mom, do you want to wait until Christmas to open up the presents or open them before?"

I like in the pictures of getting the tree it looks like Cole and Makaila are in some forest or something. Until you look at the picture that has Chad in it and you realize, "oh, it's just Lowe's".

Being a girl

Makaila told me she liked being a girl the other day. When I asked her why she said because she had long hair she could twirl.

Bee Movie

We took Makaila to her first real movie in the theater. We went to see the Bee Movie. We went to an event that provided pizza and cookies too, so that made it extra special. Makaila looked so little sitting on her knees on the big chair (more like a large office chair). She was excited and I don't think she really knew what to expect. The funniest part was when she told me she thought it was going to be on a big TV and was surprised it was different. I told her that was called a movie screen and she thought it was pretty huge.

Throw up quote

We were driving in the car yesterday and the conversation turned to a friend of Makaila's who had thrown up. Makaila threw up this past spring for the first time at a memorable age. She proceeded to tell me what it is like. In her words, "it starts in your tummy, goes through your bones, into your mouth and then onto the ground." Nice.

Dada bye-bye

Cole said his first 2-word sentance last week. We just said good bye to Makaila and Chad as they went off to a soccer game. I was changing Cole's diaper and he said, "Dada bye-bye" and waved both his hands.

No more thumb sucking!

Yea! Makaila stopped sucking her thumb. We had a "Not sucking thumb celebration". It We went to get some diner food and purple ice cream. Here's us enjoying the noise and food.

Halloween

We had plenty going on this Halloween. We visited the Arboretum, had a community carnival and did some group trick-or-treating with 3 other families in our neighborhood. Cole was a little overstimulated at the carnival, but he enjoyed following after the "big" kids for trick-or-treating.

Dora watch

Makaila has been making her bed and putting pajamas away almost every day to earn a nickle. Then when we saw a Dora watch for $7 we decided that would be a good thing to save money to buy. She started picking up leaves in front of our house to earn $.50 at a time. She kept her change in her purse and slowly we saved enough. We talked about how she was going to pay for it herself and she did. She has worn that thing almost every day since. She also makes sure to show it to anyone she can. She sometimes makes Chad wear his so the three of us will all have watches on. She even went to a b-day party and told me that she was the only kid wearing a watch. She tells us what time it is often.

Kid quotes

by Makaila, age 4.

"It's (going to the bathroom) is better with your shoes on. Because then your pants don't fall off."

Me, "Boy, it's really foggy out here today." Makaila, "yeah, it sure is soggy."

My little helper

Cole really likes helping me around the house. Well, he likes certain household tasks. His favorite is unloading the dishwasher. He loves to take the silverware out. Chad once let him do the more, but after a plate broke we try to keep him only on silverware. He used to hand each piece to me. Some go in his mouth first (I have to wash the measuring spoons several times before they make it to the drawer) and some just to me. Now he actually walks over and reaches over the edge of the drawer to put them in. Just bearly makes it. His other activites are turning on the dehumidifier, taking out my travel sized toiletries and helping me take clothes out of the dryer. The later involves making sure the lint screen is clean multiple times.

Deep in the heart of Texas. . .

It really stinks not having a camera when you are a mom. This week Makaila is doing Texas week at school. Being that we are not from here, we hope she doesn't come home saying "ya'all" already. Tuesday was the first day and all afternoon and evening she sang, "deep in the heart of Texas". No other part of the song, just that. And she was spouting trivia, "Mom, do you know what the state flower is? The Bluebonnet!" So, continuing with the weeks theme, today the kids were to dress up in their Texas clothing. We don't have much to work with in our house, but we did get her in a jean skirt, pig tails (didn't have time or energy for braids), and a red bandana around her neck. But no camera to show you how cute it was. Bummer. But Makaila was sure to tell me that I should look in magazines or the newspaper so I can buy a camera and next time they have Texas week I can take a picture. She seriously said that.

Growing Cole

It is fun to see Cole's little mind comprehending more each day. When we read bird in a book he immediately points out his window where we had watched a bird fly into the tree outside. When I say let's take off your shoes he reaches down to touch them. And he is such a boy. He already loves remotes and buttons. Daddy let him push the button on the wall to close the garage door. Now every time we are coming or going he wants to push the button. And right after we push it we turn and watch the door go up or down. He also loves to grab the remote for the fan for our bedroom and point it up at the fan. He lets us know when he wants a drink because he walks to the refridgerator and makes himself known until someone gets out his water cup. He has now found Makaila's "nummy drawer" for snacks. When I am have the pantry open getting dinner ready he will go to the drawer and pull out something that looks good to him. He isn't saying many words (mostly mama, dada, and doggie) or signs yet, but he is an excellent pointer. I think he is going through a growing period where he needs more sleep. He has been sleeping in until 8 or longer. Of course I'm not complaining about that!

Emergency Room

Well, we had our first emergency room visit for Cole. For some reason I don't think it will be the last.

We were making pancakes and Makaila was up on a chair helping me like she always does. But now Cole has to be up with her. I put Cole on her right between her and the wall so he can't fall down. I was on her left. I pulled the griddle out to put the pancake batter on and I didn't even know but Makaila lifted Cole up in front of her to see. He put his hand flat on the hot pancake griddle. All I know is I heard her say, "no Cole, it's hot" and then I pulled his hand off the griddle. He was of course crying soon after that when he realized he was in pain. He was shaking his arm like he was trying to get the pain off his hand. We feebly got some cold water on his hand because he wouldn't do the ice or cold pack.

So, after a stressful breakfast and getting clothed, off we went to the nearest ER. Chad surprised us and met us there and that helped. His hand has a large bister plus 2 blisters on each finger and a small one on the thumb. Cole started doing better once the motrin kicked in. They wrapped him up with some silvadene and had us follow up with a hand specialist on Monday. The hand doctor said it was healing well and if he didn't mess with it we could not wrap it and just wash it several times a day. But it still looks pretty painful and I cannot imagine washing it after he ate or went outside (for 3 seconds) so we are still wrapping it. Plus Chad had the clever idea of putting an old mitten of Makaila's on over the gauze. So he doesn't mess with it much. He doesn't seem to like to look at the wound (you wouldn't blame him if you saw it). Tonight after bath he looked at the injured hand and then looked at the other hand and then patted them together and then kind of cried. But once it was wrapped he is back to his normal non-stop movement.

Favorite routines

There are somethings I just get tired of doing and truly wonder when it will be over. Then Makaila gives me a little glimpse into her mind and my opinion can quickly change. Every night she likes to race into her bed room with one of us, grab her stuffed lamb and then we have to lie on the floor behind her bed until the other one of us comes in. Then we pop up and yell surprise. This gets really old. We were just together reading on the couch and we're going into her room to pray. Everyone knows we were just together and everyone knows where we are going. No surprises involved, right? The other night we were lying there waiting for Chad and Cole to come in and Makaila whispers to me, "I LOVE this game". How cute is that? So now I have a little more spring in my step as we race to "beat Daddy" and yell surprise.

Future 2-year-old

I have seen a few glimses of how Cole may be as a 2-year old. When he sees Makaila up on the 2-step stool in the bathroom all he wants to do is be up there too. Of course there is NOT room for 2 kids on the top step at the same time, but there's no getting that into Cole's head. The other day he persisted on getting up there. When it was time to leave the bathroom I made him get down too (since he's fallen once and got a forehead goose egg to prove it). He was NOT very happy with me.

Today we had a similar incident with the phone in our bedroom. That is the only phone we have with a cord, so it doesn't get used very much. The kids play with it and that's fine by me. When Makaila is pretending to call various people, Cole is right there beside her pushing the buttons. I think that is why today when I was talking on the phone he did NOT understand why I wouldn't let him push the buttons. He can give the most pitiful faces when he gets a stern NO to something he wants to do.

Crazy kids

It is amazing what kids can do sometime. Cole is just starting to want to do everything big sister does. If we are sitting at the table he will come and try to do pull ups at the tables edge until Makaila lifts him up so he can see (she loves the ways she can help him) or we get him onto our lap. If Makaila is up on a chair helping me cook in the kitchen, he comes over and fusses until he gets to be up on the chair too. And boy does he think he's big stuff when he's up there. Last night Makaila was yelling my name from the bathroom and saying that Cole needed some help. I came in there to find her kneeling on the (very HIGH) counter trying to wash her hands and Cole completely IN THE SINK. I don't exactly know how Makaila got him up there (or what she was thinking) or how his entire body fit in there. Afterwards we had a big talk about how dangerous it was help brother up to the bathroom counter!

Our kids have a favorite evening activity. When it is bathtime they love to get all their clothes off and run around the house screaming. Makaila has enjoyed the running around naked part for quite some time, but now that she is getting Cole to follow her it has become one of her favorite things.

Quote of the week (said during dinner)

Now Mommy, you might already know this, but if you have food in your mouth and you take a drink of water, you get FOOD in your water. Did you know that already?

Bad library day

Normally we go to a children's only library and I can just let Cole roam wherever he wants. I can read Makaila books because there's not anywhere he can go where I can't see him. Our children's library is closed this month so we're back at the public library. Our public library is fine and well-used, but it isn't easy to manage Cole at his age while trying to help Makaila get the books and videos she wants.
Today it was raining so I decided that was a way to get out of the house. Cole of course poops on the short drive over there and I hadn't brought the diaper bag. Inside, Cole just wanted to pull things off the shelves or run away from me. I'm reading Makaila the one book I said I would and Cole falls off the bean bag and bumps his head. His crying is just echoing all over the quiet library. I give him the keys to entertain him and that worked for a while. But when time came to check out the books I needed the keys from Cole because that's where the library card is. He did NOT want to give them up. As I struggle them out of his hands he falls onto the floor and bumps his mouth on the cement. He is in definite pain and crying hysterically. He is bleeding and there is bloody slobber everywhere. He has a little bit of a cold and snot is really flowing now. His loud cry is again heard throughout the once quiet library and I'm quickly trying to check out books without getting his snot and bloody drool all over me (of course he still has that dirty diaper on. . .). Let's just say it wasn't our best library outing.

Haircut

I noticed some hair under the counter in the bathroom the other day. Tonight while I was giving the kids a bath I pulled it out and saw that it was quite a bit. I asked Makaila if she had cut her hair, Cole's hair or any doll's hair lately. She said yes and admitted to giving Cole a little trim. She couldn't seem to remember why she did it or if she knew Mommy and Daddy wouldn't like it. The amazing part is that I didn't notice by combing Cole's hair. Upon later inspection there's a spot at the front and at the top, but some how she did it in a way that it didn't totally stand up or look bald.

corn kid

Here's Cole's first taste of corn on the cob while we visited some friends over Labor Day. I think he liked it and did his best to eat as much his Daddy.

First Day of Pre-school

Makaila has been so excited to go to pre-school. We have been reading books about going to school. We got the new lunch pack and the school supplies. We met the teacher last week. There was some definite shyness, but painting a picture with her teacher helped. Last night we picked out her clothes. I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. And Chad even went to work late to be able to take her to school and meet her teacher too. When I went to pick her up it was fun to see her playing with 2 girls she was already bonding with. The teacher told me the 3 of them ate lunch at their own little table. Makaila had new art to show us and said it was "so much fun". We've been having a little emotional rollercoaster the end of the summer and she is constantly bugging me to either go play with friends, watch a video or have a snack. So, I think Makaila starting pre-school is the right thing for us!

excellent walker

Cole has really got this walking thing down. He can get up off the floor without crawling to furniture. He can walk carrying things. He can stand and drink a sippy cup without falling over. He's made quite a few balance improvements.

He continues his tackling or wrestling crawl over you thing. He mostly likes to do that when we are sitting on the couch ready books. He comes over and says "un" until we bring him up on the couch. Then he dives onto our laps and crawls over us from side to side on the couch. It makes it quite difficult for reading Bible story at night with 3 of us sitting on it and Cole crawling back and forth over our laps.

Makaila did a little dress up when she and Cole did a Saturday morning with Daddy. This is how she dressed Cole.

Cole's birthday

So now my son is both a walker and 1-year old. Sad to say I think that means he is almost a toddler and my baby (probably my last) is not really a baby anymore. But until he says words that strangers can understand, I'm clinging on to him being a baby.

Cole just had his birthday on Saturday. He of course had no clue. But we did go in with a set of grandparents and give him the house toy that he thinks is really cool. Plus I think it is cool with little kids how you can move their toys around into different rooms and they will play with them more. Or put them into the closet for a few months and they act like they've just been given a new toy when you pull it out. Today was the small celebration for Cole's birthday. He ate his pizza, but wasn't as quite into it as sister was on her 1-yr old brithday. But he was digging the cupcake. I think he really wanted another one, but I ignored his grunt and open-handed point across the table.

Good story

Want to hear a good story? No, really this is a good one. Ever been locked out of your house? Now I have. All 4 of us went for a swim at a neighbors house. Didn't have ANYTHING with us. Just swim suits and towels. And of course I decided to just wear a skirt cover up instead of my usual t-shirt and shorts. So we come back from our swim, open the garage door and find somehow the door between house and garage was also locked and neither of us had our keys. Chad is not happy as he's checking all the other doors and debating if he wants to break a window. My daughter is stating some of the obvious questions like "what will we do?" "how will we get in?" "how did the door get locked?" that just make my husband furious in these type of situations. Oh, and did I mention it is dinner time and my kids are 4 and 1? Finally I talk him into getting a locksmith. He doesn't want to go back to the friends' house where we swam and I talk him out of going to the 80-yr old next door neighbors and we walk down to a friend's house with little kids. Of course they happen to be entertaining their family (brother, wife and 4 kids). We're just looking sweet in our swimsuits (I'm even wearing a 2-piece that I never wear and have such a white stomach I probably shouldn't be allowed to wear it.) and wet hair as we crash their dinner party. Luckily my husband makes a good random pick out of the phone book and our locksmith gets to our house in 10 minutes while we mooch, I mean share, our friend's dinner. I've never been so happy to walk into my own house. I would past a pitiful picture of myself and family all wet and sad we can't get in. . . but of course I didn't have my camera since it was in the house.

slacker mama

So I'm such a slacker blogging mama this summer. I have plenty of excuses if you care to hear about them. Oh, of course you do, you're reading my blog. I traveled by plane 4 times for a total of 6 states in 2 months (while my dad hit like 7 countries, but he can get his own blog). I had grandparents and cousins/aunt visit. We had no internet for 2 weeks (an eternity as you know) and my camera was on fritz and not letting me download (or upload, I forget) my pictures. So all that to say. . . Watch out! I'm back. Hopefully. Of course my husband is starting school in a week and he is a big computer hog during school, but that's just part of taking classes in 2007 (glad I'm not a student anymore). Well, enough of these parentheses.

I'm involved in a mom organization this year. Not just involved, but on the stinking board. This isn't any small organization, over 300 moms. And I didn't pick any small position. I'm not the pres or anything like that, but I am on activities. Activities II committee to be exact. Yes, there are actually 3 different kids' activities committees believe it or not. I'm feeling a little presure because I didn't completely realize how big this was. We plan the Halloween Carnival. Definitely one of the 3 biggest family events the PTA has all year. It is freaking EVENT PLANNING. I got stressed out just doing my daughter's 4-year old birthday party and that was in our backyard!! So, as fall is around the corner, so is the Halloween carnival. It may not frightening to the average person, but I have already seen 2 Halloween costumes reminding me that I probably should be renting the bounce house as I type. But enough about stressing me out, let's move on.

cheese grater

Do you ever wonder why we spend money on kids toys anyways? Why do I spend all my time putting back the tuperware and measuring cups? Cole, go find a ball.

changing your prespective

Having kids can really make you look at things differently. I notice pregnant women. I notice moms with babies. I'm sure they were all around me before, but I never really saw them. We look for super green cars, blue shutters, convertables, squirrels, kitties, dogs looking out car windows. Airplanes and helicopters are great. Nature is more apparent as we see flowers, heart-shaped leaves, acorns and "hats", sticks. We pray for the people when we see ambulances and fire trucks. I'm sure as Cole gets bigger we might notice more trains, trash trucks, car transporters and diggers. Sometimes I think it is a good thing that I spend less time noticing someone's outfit or car and now seeing all these other things once hidden in the world around me.

Here comes Coley

Coley Guacamole is just doing new stuff all the time! He has started signing "all done". He doesn't do it every meal, and sometimes you have to really be watching or he will start dropping food off the right side of his tray, but he will tell you he's done. He is understanding more too. Last week he was playing and I asked him if he wanted to go eat lunch. He stopped what he was doing and crawled over to me. He has starting putting things IN now instead of just out. He was putting books in side a container and blocks inside the bus today. He continues to cruise and he is doing it at lightning speed. He is liking to play chase and Makaila will pop around the couch at him or crawl after him down the hall. He laughs like crazy and speeds up his pace. He definitely is saying Dada, although not sure if it is always with a purpose.

Colorado Cole

Cole did great over the trip too. He was sick when we traveled out, so I gave him benedryl and Tylenol and he actually slept most of the flight. He was so hot. But he was ready to explore Grandma's house the next day. The hard part was the stairs. We put a gate up, but if anyone was down in the basement he just loved to peak over and talk to them. He was a champ taking a nap in the stroller for the zoo, naps in the car to go to the North Pole, his afternoon naps were usually later than normal. He didn't really adjust from TX time. He woke up pretty early every morning. He has a cough for about half the trip so that actually woke him up several times.

He did some new things over the trip. He began shaking his head (not for a purpose, just because), smacking his lips, flushing the toliet (or at least trying) and crawling up an entire flight of stairs. He also contined to attempt eating rocks whenever he had the chance. Very busy trip for the 10-month old.

On the return trip he never stopped moving. Luckly the lady next to me didn't mind how he liked to cruise over and put his hand on her knee for support. Several times I had to retrieve him from crawling under the seats. I think we actually managed to sit in a spot that didn't have anything gross on the floor for him to eat. Hopefully we'll be so lucky on our AZ trip.

Rocky Mountain visit

We recently got back from a great Colorado trip. Right before going, Cole came down with a runny nose for 3 days and then he got pink eye. Luckily, we got him started on drops right aways so his eye didn't look so bad during traveling. We had a little airport delay leaving Dallas, but it wasn't as bad as my sister-in-laws so I can't complain. I'm sure Cole had a fever so I gave him both Benedryl and Tylenol. He slept most of the flight although I had to switch his position because he would stretch and hit the arm rest and wake himself up. He was so hot. But after that he survived a short visit to see my Mom's family even.

In Colorado, we did the zoo, 2 parks, Garden of the Gods, the North Pole and a fountain downtown. We spared them of shopping this trip, they had enough activity. Makaila enjoyed meeting her new friends Marley and Mya. Since they are season pass holders (and she is 8), Marley played tour guide at the zoo. Makaila was quite impressed as I heard her say, "how do you know so much?". Marley fed the giraffe's and Makaila and Mia fed the birds. They all enjoyed all the various monkeys and their babies.

Probably Makaila's favorite day was the North Pole. She got to see Santa and ride on all the rides that were just her size. It took her quite a while to warm up to going on one by herself. She loved doing them with Mommy and Grammy. That was okay most of the time, but those small spinny ones were a little too much to be repeated by the adults. The peppermint slide was pretty fun, even for her Mom. We all rode on the train (including Cole and Grandma Maxine). Her favorite ride was the cars she could drive. I think she rode it 6 times. Her and I were coming to an end of the sky ride and Cole had been ready to go 30 min before so I was talking to her about how I think we did everything and we probably should leave after this and she goes, "after we ride the cars one more time. I LOVE that ride!" It was so cute.

Makaila got spoiled pleanty by her grandparents with dippin dots and donuts and ice cream at home to go with her new ice cream scooper. She also helped grammy water the flowers and played various ball games with a beach ball with Grandpa in the back yard. It was fun to see her roll down the same hill that my sister and I rolled down several decades ago.

Makaila, age 4 - creative, but challenging

Makaila has learned how to make herself a sandwich. And she is just so proud of herself. She for the last 4 days in a row because she is so excited about it. On Sunday she even made it for her Daddy since he was home. She loves to help me by cutting up watermellon for dinner. She loves whenever she can mix something or put the ingredients in. (So not like her mom) She wants "fragile" plates like we use at dinner time. She also wants to use the silverware at dinner instead of her plastic Ikea forks.

She likes doing things for herself, like getting dressed. The other night she got herself dried off and dressed after bath while I nursed Cole. She was so proud at how she had combed her hair too. A few times she has picked up her room before bed by herself. Chad and I try to make a big deal out of that one so it might be seen again.

She loves being a big sister. Loves to get toys out for Cole still. Tries to get him to follow her when she wants him to go in her room with her. Closes the door when she doesn't want him to leave. Will pick him up if necessary (much to Mommy's dismay). She still likes getting Cole's bibs out, helping push the high chair back to the corner (we pretend it is a choo-choo train), and gives him bites when I'm not looking.

She can't wait for school to start. Every time we drive by her school she will point it out. She doesn't really need naps, but often tries to take one. And when she does, she doesn't wake up really happy. And that evening is followed by mulitple get up excuses after bedtime. And occassionally we get the "I'm scared" at 5:00 a.m. That's hard when Mommy can't go back to sleep after putting her back to bed and praying with her. Whether there is a nap or not we get the "what are we going to do in the morning?" trying to delay us leaving the room. We also have the tackle and no tackle routine with Daddy. After praying she has to look on her "calendar" and see if it is a tackle day or not. Of course her caledar leans towards more tackle days than no tackle days.

Seattle trip

The kids did so great on the Seattle trip. Both going and coming were two long days of travel (a good 12 hours both ways). We flew, drove, ferried and then drove some more. Makaila did ask us if the ferry (we assume she thought fairy) was a boy or girl before we got to it. Cole woke up each morning at 7 (if you're in Central time), which would be 5 a.m. considering we were on west coast time. Makaila woke up the first morning about an hour later (having a sleep over with Grammy) and Grammy tried to convince her that it wasn't seven yet (the rule at home) and Makaila asked her, "but is it 7 where I live?". Can't get anything by my kids!

On Saturday we went to a brunch and Makaila had been complaining of her stomach hurting her earlier. We thought she was just really hungry or needed to go to the bathroom, but it turned out we were wrong. She threw up for the first time not as a baby outside the resturant. Then she lied down and slept on the floor in the corner. Luckily she was back to herself after that. Cole did well until the yummy pizza dinner and then he just couldn't handle the time difference. Chad took both kids back to the hotel and put them down. The good thing is that our family had most of the hotel and Chad could hang out in the next room and watch the basketball game while the kids went to bed. It gave us plenty of time to play games and hang out with my family in the evening.

Sunday was my sister, Jamie's wedding. The weather was a little cold, but at least it didn't rain! We had our umbrellas thanks to her just in case. Makaila was quite interested to get to see Aunt Jamie's dog that walked with her down the isle. Cole slept through the entire wedding, but woke up in time to enjoy (eat and craw all over the floor) at the reception.

Overall it was a great weekend getting to see a lot of my family. The senery was beautiful and I went to a town I wouldn't have been to otherwise. I got to see 3 of my cousins I don't see very often. The kids did really well for the long travel. As with any trip with kids, we were all ready to be back in our own beds.