Grandma turns 90

My Grandma turned 90 this weekend. We had a big surprise for her with all 3 children + spouses, 7 grandchildren + spouses and 8 great-grandchildren getting together for the weekend. This is pretty good considering we live in 5 different states and Dad was coming from Guatemala. We bowled, ate, talked, took pictures and did all but the bowling again. It was so much fun to have all the cousins together for the first time in 13 years.

Boys will be boys Part2

I love watching my son play. Something is just so great about this age. And there are just somethings that boys do that little girls would never do.

Take yesterday for an example. He took out every ball he has in his room (a good 15 or so) and they were all over the place. He was taking them one by one, getting a running start and throwing them into his closet door to see how they bounced off. There were many ooohs and ahhs when some of them bounced really well. A girl wouldn't think of that game on her own.

Then we were at the park. We met a friend and they both brought little soccer balls. After tiring of actually playing soccer (shooting into the little goal we brought and yelling "goooooaaaaalll!"), they were throwing them through some monkey bar rings. They added another guy playing with them with his football. They didn't talk at all, but everyone knew the game and they all took turns throwing. They would even get each others balls and bring them back. Then another boy came to the park. The four little boys (ages 2-3 1/2) started playing football. No, really. Okay, there wasn't any plays or tackling, but they were tossing the ball around to each other. The two oldest of the group were more skilled at tossing and throwing. But Cole's friend would give him turns to throw. Whenever their was a stray throw, they all ran after it. Again there wasn't any fighting and there wasn't any talking. But the boys were red-faced and having a blast.

Today I was in Cole's "house" in his room. He was Larry the mailman (yes, we actually know the name of our mailman) delivering me mail and picking up my letters to send. Of course he had to take a break from delivering mail to fix my house. He got out his tools and sawed, hammered and screwed the door so it was all fixed.

He also has just discovered many vehicles he has had for a while. But suddenly he loves his Tanka dump truck and his blue tow truck. He drives them all around the house and loves putting things in them.

I also think it is amazing that where girls may have a automatic interest in Princesses, boys gravitate to things like Spiderman. The only Spiderman thing Cole has is some slippers, yet he loves to play he is Spiderman and point him out whenever we're out shopping. How do they just know to like superheros?

Saturday clothes

My friend Wendy is really good at not caring what other people think and letting her kids wear whatever they choose. I am not so good at this. I admit to accassionally caving to the pressure of wanting people to say, "how cute are your kids!" and forcing my oufit choices on the kids.

Often I work on Saturday mornings. When the kids are having their daddy time, Chad does not feel that same pressure. We're lucky if a brush ventured near Makaila's hair on their Costco, Home Depot or REI outings. Here are some Saturday outfits. Cole would wear sweatpants or shorts every day of the week if I let him (takes after his Grandpa T). Makaila is trying to make a statement with her flowered leggings, pink and brown stripes and tea pot shirt. No need to teach her about a "pop of color". She's got plenty of pop. But it looks like her hair got combed this week. :)

In-n-Out

Yesterday Cole is talking on a play phone and tells me they're going to go to In-n-Out with Kate and Ryan (their cousins). In-n-Out is only in CA, parts of AZ and Las Vegas. Then as we're having dinner he continues to be disappointed that we aren't going to In-n-Out. Don't know what made him think of it, we haven't been there since February.

random toys

You're thinking to yourself (if you have kids that is), are we playing I Spy? No, we're not. These are just all the random toys my son was playing with in a 2-ft space between my dresser and the wall. He saved them there for me when he moved on to something else.

The Master's

The Master's Golf Tournament is on in the other room. I'm listening to one of the funniest conversations. These are some of the parts I can hear.
Chad, "Get in there!"
Makaila, "why would it be dancing?"
Chad, "Oh, some people say the ball is dancing."
Makaila, "What is the water called?"
Chad, "A hazard."
Makaila, "What is the sand trap called?"
Chad, "A bunker."
Makaila, "But don't you want Tiger to win?"
Chad, "But I like them both"
Makaila, "Cole sure is taking a long nap. . ." (she was told she couldn't eat some Easter chocolate until her brother woke up)

Easter 2009

Here are some pictures of our Easter. We dyed our eggs yesterday. This was the first year Cole was a part of this. Makaila is still a little fuzzy about the concept of the Easter Bunny. She says she knows that it isn't real. But then she says, "hey, you had these eggs" when she sees a recognizable egg in her Easter basket. Let's just say we're still working on the reason we personally celebrate this holiday.

Today we had an Easter egg hunt in the greenbelt with some neighbors. It was surprising how the eggs actually hid pretty well in the tall patches of grass. It also is amazing how quickly the 11 kids found all the eggs.

Kaboom

Last night we has some pretty good storms. Cole had woken up at 3 a.m. because he couldn't find froggy and a storm followed. He spent time off and on in our bed for the next 2 hours whenever the thunder was coming. One time I told him he could come back if it started to thunder and make a kaboom sound. He came in and told me, "Mommy, it kaboom". How can you refuse a kid like that from coming in your bed?

Froggy mishaps

Yesterday we had a new one. Froggy got a bath due to him falling in the toliet. Neither Chad or I was with him when he went to the bathroom. But somehow, Froggy took a swim. Luckily, Cole wasn't too upset when he had to use a substitute to sleep with for nap time.

Dora

All this time I thought my son has been calling Dora, "Dora, Bora". It would make sense to me, it rhymes. He says "owie, bowie, tu-tu, towie" for no reason. But my daughter just informed me that Cole is saying "Dora explorer". And I think she's correct. Dora is an explorer. Hmmm, it actually makes MORE sense that way.

Makaila quote

We were talking about a boy in Makaila's class who still sucks his thumb and the teacher tells him to stop. I was thinking she should have empathy for this since she too was a thumb sucker and had to work at it to stop. I reminded her how it was hard to stop. Her response was, "it's like drugs." Apparently kindergardeners do pay attention at Red Ribbon week. Sucking your thumb is like drugs, it's hard to stop.

Little Boo-Boo issues

Don't know what is up with my kids lately. Chad and I were wondering whose children we had this weekend. Ours occassionally fight, but not too often. The last 3 mornings we've had to break up a fight before 7:30 in the morning and on Saturday there were actually TWO by that time.

When we were last in Arizona, Cole started calling his Uncle Keith "Little Boo-Boo". Don't know where it came from, but he did. Since he doesn't get to see Uncle Keith very often, he has started calling Makaila "little Boo-Boo". It doesn't really mean anything. It's not a good or a bad thing. But for some reason Makaila does NOT like it. She has repeatedly asked Cole not to call her that. Now we're at the point where we have to discipline him for doing it.

I'm hoping that the fighting is a really SHORT phase that goes along with Cole's strange CRABBINESS that's been happening this past week. One day last week I just felt like NOTHING was making Cole happy. Hoping that will be soon a far memory.

Spring planting

Yesterday we did our annual flower planting to beautify the front of our house. Really, just once a year. Neither of us really have a green thumb so it is just dumb luck if something grows well for us. I am always a little sad how it looks so colorful up close, but from the street you can't see much of it. Well, hopefully when those flowers get as tall as they are supposed to get. I think the saddest part of the whole thing is how sore my body is from one day of working in the garden. Darn Texas soil. At least the kids had fun playing with the worms and roley poley bugs we found.

quotes

Latest cute kid quotes.

Makaila says, "this is SO fiction. A tomato, talking?" when I put in the Veggie Tales Easter video.

Cole says, "I like it when you run with me" after convincing me to run across the parking lot with him. The same morning he was shooting or throwing balls around his room and I heard him say, "Awesome!". I guess that's what happends when there's an older sibling!

We were talking about a girl the same age as Cole that didn't talk as much. His response was, "I talk LOUD."

Good day

I love my job most of the time. The full-time Mom/Wife one that is.

Cole and I had a pretty usual morning. After dropping Makaila off at school, we went for a walk. He watched the Wiggles ("Iggles Ideo" when he says it) while I showered. And then we went to Barnes and Noble's for storytime. We came home with coffee and chocolate milk in hand. When we walked in the door for lunch, Cole goes, "it's a good day". That's right, Buddy - no accidents, no tantrums, no yelling, a little exercise, a shower, some books and a little coffee. . . it has been a GOOD day.

Alignment of the planets

Okay, I don't believe in astrology stuff, but if I did I would think the planets are all aligned tonight. We just had a great evening. Chad was home today due to spring break so we ate an early dinner. There wasn't any stressful dinner prep because I thawed out some chili I made a few weeks ago. The kids both ate well. We went on a walk around the block and the weather was perfect. There wasn't any bugs. There wasn't bad humidity. Neither kids complained about being tired. The kids didn't fight. Cole was making the whole family laugh. It was a really nice night.

Of course then time to get ready for bed came and 10 minutes into that both kids got really grouchy as a sign they were both tired and needing sleep. . . but that's okay, it was bed time.

I don't have all the answers

Sometimes kids ask thought-provoking questions. Sometimes they ask things you have to look up and get back to them on. Sometimes they ask you, "why is pee pee yellow?" and "why isn't it green?" Hmmm. Just because you're a parent, doesn't mean you have answers.

I love the recession

I love the recession. I live in a city full of money, nice houses, nice cars, going out to eat and paying other people to take care of your stuff. But we are a family trying to make it work on one main income, so I can stay at home with the kids. I clean my own house, cook my own food, paint my own nails, wash my own car, my husband mows our lawn, I skip highlighting my hair and my husband even shaves his head to save a buck. My “Mother’s Day out” is going to my church for a few hours of an event with childcare.

And now, suddenly I don’t feel like the oddball. Everywhere I look there is something on SALE. Every time I turn on the news it is telling me how to “Survive in ‘09” with money saving tips. It is suddenly TRENDY to be cheap!! For a family that is always looking to save some money, it’s great! Keep those money saving tips and sales coming! And can you give me a few more good coupon sites? And hey, do you have any more good coupon sites?

I hate the recession

Can we talk about anything else on the nightly news other than the recession? The weather? The sports? Entertainment? Politics? Okay, maybe not politics because that brings us to Obama's plans for the recession. Strife in Africa? War in Iraq? Anything else?

I'm not trying to have a calloused attitude towards those out of a job. I feel horrrible for those who have lost a job. I feel bad for those that are currently afraid of losing a job. I don’t want to look at our 401K’s or miniscule college saving plans we have for the kids. I am saddened by those in our family that will have to work longer than they expected because their 401K has really tanked. But most of all, I am just plain TIRED about hearing how BAD things are.

Maybe because that little part of me wonders if they are continuing to make things worse by constantly talking about it. By constantly telling me how people are losing their homes, I don't want to spend any extra money. By fixating on the downward spiral of the stock market, I start to wonder if they have scared everyone into pulling their money out of their stocks. I agree that we as Americans overspend and it's good that many are trying to change their habbits, but so often I think the media can expedite the downward trend. So let's hear some encouraging story about a family who has adjusted to the recession and is doing well. Let's hear more about some small businesses that are thriving. Let's hear those stories about someone who lost his job and is going back to school for something they've always wanted to do. Can we see a half full glass Mr. Newsguy?

Sleep Walker

As I sit here working on a photo album at 9 pm, my daughter walked by me in her pj's carrying her stuffed animal and pillow. She didn't look at me at all. She walked into the kitchen and sat at the kitchen table (where her brother usually sits). Chad walked over to her and asked her what she was doing. She mumbled something and he asked it again. She replied very loudly, "Nothing!". After her not wanting to go back to bed, he offered to carry her back to bed and she agreed. I don't think she'll remember any of this tomorrow.

grape-ez

Cole is so cute in how he talks right now. His vocabulary is expanding all the time, but his pronunciation still needs some work. He gets really frustrated if we can't understand what he is staying. Especially if we're riding in the car and he can't show me what he is talking about. He will just say he's wearing "acket" a bunch of time I think he means jacket, but it turns out to be chapstick. That kind of thing. The s and k/c sounds are hard for him when they are on the front of the word.

His name is "Tole" and his sister is "Mataila"
"tuddle" for cuddle
"who" for shoe
"hock" for sock
"ing ong" is sing song

I don't know where he picked up his plurals. Instead of adding an "s" to things, he added another syllable or an es/is/ez. Like when you change kiss to kisses. But he does that with everything. He likes bubble-ez. He eats grape-ez. His rib-ez are tickelish. He wants to put on shorts or "hort-es". When it's time to go we need "hock-es" and "who-as" (socks and shoes). We point out the "blossom-ez" growing on the trees.

We were driving by kids at PE playing soccer. Cole tells me they have a hoccer ball and that we have lots of "hoccer ball-es". I said "yes, we have lots of soccer balls". The funny part is that then he goes, "you say hoccer balls and I say hoccer ball-es". I didn't know he knew the difference.

Lesson Learned

Do not let a 2-yr old drink 16 ounces of lemonade in 45min. Yesterday it was a really nice day. I made the kids lemonade to drink after school. Cole just chugged the first 10 ounces down. So I gave him a little more. And that too was gone before Makaila finished hers. Apparently a 2-yr old's bladder can't hold that much liquid so quickly. We proceeded to change pants and underware 5 or 6 times in the next 2 hours. Twice he just peed on the kitchen floor. At least once he successfully made it to the bathroom. All the other times we were either heading to the bathroom or in the act of pulling pants down when he just couldn't wait. Again and Again. We were down to his last clean pair of underware. Really, he is potty trained. He really well, only has an accident every now and again. He can make it through a nap dry. But NOT after the lemonade. There was NO control what-so-ever.

I pledge, never to give a 2-yr old 16 ounces of lemonade again.

Falling. Again.

Yesterday, the same day I wrote the blog about my kids falling out of their chairs, Makaila fell out of her chair at dinner. Yep, just flinging her arms around and the momentum carried her right out of her chair. I really hope she masters the act of sitting before junior high.

Squirmy Wormy

At what age to kids gain the ability to SIT STILL while eating? It is unbelievable sometimes. Both my kids have it, Cole worse than Makaila of course. Both kids have actually FALLEN out of their chairs, on to the floor in public restaurants. Makaila just did it at a buffet in Vegas. Yep, she was sitting there on minute and look up to see her going down to the floor the next. I think she was more embarrassed than anything. Cole on the other hand often crashes into things when he falls so he gets a few bumps or bruises. I just am waiting for the day that we can make it through a dinner (at home or in public) and I don't have to tell one of my kids to "sit down on your bottom".

Froggy and Lamby

These may just look like ordinary raggedy stuffed animals to you, but they are very important to the sleep of our family. Lamby has now been with us almost 6 years. And she's showing her age. But hasn't lost her ribbon. It once was yellow. Froggy has been washed much more than Lamby. But Cole used to suck on Froggy. . . and when he'd have a cold it would really get gross.

Makaila claims that she doesn't really need Lamby anymore. It is okay if Lamby just sits beside her bed. But every night she is lying on Lamby somewhere in the bed. Cole claims no such thing. He needs Froggy for all sleeping situations, after any injury, whenever he needs consoling, for night time Bible story and often just for car rides. The killer for him is when he's being disciplined for something and he can't have Froggy during his time out.

Last night I was awakened at 4:40a.m. because Cole woke up and couldn't find Froggy. I remember some similar times when his sister was younger. Chad thinks our son needs to decrease his time spent with the Frog, but I disagree. He will grow out of it eventually, and I'm not ready to give up one of the last little things about my son. So, we will try to remind Cole that Froggy doesn't get to play outside or be near food so we can try to make him last a little longer and continue to take both Froggy and Lamby on all our overnight trips.

In these last pictures, you can see how Froggy is often carried, Froggy joining in on the wrestling action and Froggy trying to ride a horse.

Wiggles

I love that my kids love to watch the Wiggles. Cole is totally into them. He checks out his Wiggle Video (which sounds like "Iggles Ideo") from the children's library. He asks for them to put it on at the gym. He loves to yell "Wake up Jeff!"

Makaila is of course past this stage. But if brother gets his turn at choosing the video, she will be up there dancing with him.

Rise and shine

During vacation, Cole found a love to crawl in Mommy and Daddy's bed first thing in the morning (he was sleeping next to our bed). The problem is, it kept getting earlier and earlier each day. It got so I would have to tell him, "it's still night time. Go back to your bed". Then he'd be back around 6 (at home he was sleeping until 7:30 before the trip).

He is sleeping in his big boy bed this past month and now he is trying this at home. Since we got back from vacation, he's been waking up around 7 and going first thing to Makaila's room and getting into her bed. Kind of cute, so we haven't done anything to stop it. Sunday morning I heard them talking in her room about 10 minutes before I usually wake them up for church.

Makaila tells me that Cole first came in there when her clock said 2 and while he was there it turned to 3. Yes, as in 3:00a.m. Then she tells me he went back to his bed for a little while and came back in again at 4. 4:00a.m. She said he fell asleep and proceeded to sleep diagonally and be a bed hog. He stayed in there until they woke up. Her bed is a twin bed. (the picture above is them in his bed, but I didn't have a picture in hers)

Boys will be boys

So this is an example of what Cole does to entertain himself while I'm emptying the dishwasher. And this video is after he fell off the couch one time onto the wood floor. That right there is the difference between boys and girls. If Makaila fell off at that age, she'd be done. She wouldn't try it again for a few months. Cole, he just needs a hug from mom and to cuddle his frog for a few minutes, then he's right back to jumping.

Valentine's Day

What in the world is this? Okay, first turn your head to the right and tell yourself it is a Valentine's present from a Kindergartner. (sorry, the blog apparently things this is upright and I can't get it to rotate) Yep, it's a heart. I've been told I can put candy in it (maybe 3 pieces?). Makaila was so proud of it. She made it at school. Clay, "from the world" she kept telling us. We're not actually sure what that means. She made the heart and then got to paint it herself. And she told me many times that she made the dots with a dirty pencil.

Anyone ever see that episode of The Cosby Show where one of the kids makes a heart ash tray that Cliff says if he did smoke he'd want to stop after looking at the ash tray?

Wrestle time

Ryan and Cole really like to get their wresting in whenever they are around each other. And if Chad or Keith are nearby, their wrestling will take place all over either daddy.

Move it, move it

After seeing Madagascar, the kids all love singing and dancing, "I like to move it, move it". Come on, you know you want to sing along. . .

Las Vegas

So here's some pics from our trip to Las Vegas. It was a good trip. We hit the Shark Aquarium, children's museum, rode the monarail to various casinos, went to the M & M store and went to Circus, Circus. The kids woke up early each morning (why is that always true on vacation?) and had lots of fun playing in the closets of the time share.

Freezing Rain

Last week we actually had a day of school cancelled due to freezing rain. The roads where horrible. It didn't get above freezing until the afternoon and even then there were slick spots all over the roads. Now, I am one of those people who really likes to leave the house every day. If we don't have anywhere we need to go then we'll head to a playground outside or at the mall or the pet store to look at the animals. Just somewhere to go in our morning. I hate days when my car is in the shop. So how did we survive the ice day? Quite well actually. We stayed in our PJ's a really long time. The kids had a lot of fun with flashlights while I vacuumed the entire house and couches.

I did my Tae Bo video and we made a fort (no Tae bo picture, sorry to disappoint)

We had a picnic lunch

And the kids went out side for a few minutes at a time to break ice sickles and play with the ice.

Overall it really was a nice day. Of course, wouldn't want two days of cancelled school in a row mind you!

Skippyjon Jones

If you've never read a Skippyjon Jones book, this won't mean much to you. For those of you who have, this is my kids doing their best Skippyjon Jones accent for saying Pinata.

Ode to the birthday guy

My husband makes me laugh. He often wears short-sleeves on cold days and long-sleeves on warm days. He procrastinates doing projects around the house. He’s gotten cheaper with age. He is motivated. He has trouble saying no. He goes to bed late and has trouble waking up in the morning. He loves bread and cheese. And free t-shirts. He is the best father I know. He will make pretend birthday presents, eat raisins (he doesn’t like them), wear dress up hats, roar dinos, zoom cars, read books, change diapers and give baths all for his kids. He tries to teach his kids things whenever he can - math, big words, about soccer, etc. He will not spend money on himself so there is money other places for the family. He works really hard. I'm sure he misses some of his leisurely Saturdays before having kids, but he doesn't mention it. He takes the kids to Costco so I can work on Saturdays. He is a great person to be married to and I can't believe I've known him for 15 years!

big boy bed

We finally got Cole his big boy bed this weekend. Now this is just the first week, so the matress is sitting on the floor. Hopefully he'll get used to it and we'll raise it up on the frame. There is also his crib right next to it. That is just in case he isn't staying in his bed. Not that I really expect to have to put him in it, but the threat is powerful. He does love it. And so far he's sleeping well in it.

Bad hair day

Kids can sure make you humble. I was having a bad hair day the other day. This one side of my hair wouldn't cooperate. I even wet it down and tried to blow dry it again. But it did not help. I picked Makaila up from school and before we made it in the house she goes, "Mommy your hair is sticking out on this side." Nice.

Teeth

Yes, here is yet another picture of Makaila after a lost tooth! This is number 5. She finally lost this one at school and came home with the coveted tooth necklace. No corn on the cob at our house.

I'll stand

Sorry to disappoint you in lacking a picture (give me a break, there are sickos on the internet), but Cole has reached another milestone. He peed on the toliet for the first time standing up. Yep. Such a big boy. We were headed to the bathroom to go and he said, "I want to stand up." I asked, "like Daddy?" He said, "Like Ryan." (His 3 year-old cousin). Later that day he realized the similarities of how he and his father can do this activity. Daddy got a voice mail message of the new feet.

Big boy bed. . .almost

Part of what got me on the organizing spell is the big changes in Cole's room. It's time to move on to a big boy bed. He's already shown us once he can climb out of his crib. He's woken up in the middle of the night crying to go to the bathroom. It's time. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm a little sad about this whole big boy bed thing. Now don't get me wrong, I am happy to use the great quilt I bought on clearance. I know he will love the cars and construction trucks on the new sheets. I know he will love having a big bed like his sister and especially that we can all come sit on his bed to pray for a change. But, this is one of the last big steps from baby to toddler. He, most likely, is my last baby. Moving from the crib to the bed is kind of a good bye to that. Someone once told me as a parent you recognize all the first, but what often slips by unnoticed is the lasts. Last diaper to change. Last time you feed them babyfood. Last time you lifting them up into their car seat. Last time you tied their shoe. I know, I'm not usually a sap about these kind of things, but I moved past the infant car seat and breast feeding without problems. I was trilled to end the baby food for table food. I didn't postpone his first haircut or remorse the highchair leaving. We potty trained when he was all ready. And now the crib will be gone. So, when Chad didn't want to go to the bed store this week so he could watch football, I didn't fight it. Let's keep him in the crib another week. He can still feel like my baby for another week. Maybe I'll be ready by then!

Starting off the New Year

Since I have kids January seems to be the time each year that I get inspired to do some major organizing. Let's move things around, throw away all the happy meal toys, lend out some baby toys, see what we need to donate and/or throw away, and buy a few organizing tub/bucket/hooks to make it all work. I try my best to put these great toys in places the kids will remember they have them and maybe think about playing with more. I will try to move all the art supplies into one place instead overflowing out of 4 different areas of the house. I will try to get my husband to pump up all the flat balls. I've been to the Container Store, Walmart, Target and Ikea. I've finally put those little dividers in my junk drawer. And I do feel happy when I look at it. How silly is the fact one organized drawer can give me a little joy because I can find a pen easily?

Is that like us as believers in Christ? Do we need to organize our hearts from time to time? Do we need to purge what isn't useful any more? What happy meal toy junk am I holding onto in my life? And how come it is so easy to see it in other people, but so hard to see it for ourselves. I know those things my husband or one of my close friends needs to work on. But what about me? Are the splinters blocking my view of the planks? What great toys do I have in my life that are gathering dust? Am I using my home to be hospitible to others? Not enough. Am I selfishly using my time? Yes.

I must say that Cole's room is making progress. The new storage unit looks beautiful in his room. The art supplies are almost all corraled. But Makaila's room in need of work. I guess that is part of our humanity. Whenever I feel I get one room under control, another is calling me for more work spent cleaning, perging and organizing. Or maybe God is the one doing the cleaning, perging and organizing. I guess I'll try to not fight the change too hard.

IKEA

We just went to IKEA today. Cole was taking about it before we went. I couldn't figure out if he was saying, "good idea" or "right here". It turned out it was "go Ikea". I like taking the kids to Ikea AND it stresses me out too. I get stressed out about how they want to sit on everything, lay on every bed and try to turn on every fake TV, computer, DVD player, lamp, etc. I know this is a store that it is okay for them to do these things, but it just takes us a LONG time to get through the store and I don't want to waste their shopping energy before we even get a cart! Plus I still am afraid they will break something. I tried to check them in the kids' club place and Cole wasn't tall enough. So annoying. He just ALMOST reached the green line with shoes (it's supposed to be without). The lady could have looked the other way and let him in, but she wouldn't budge. So I had to deal with my two kids armed with pencils going around writing on all the cardboard. If you haven't noticed, there's A LOT of cardboard at Ikea.

I got the shelving stuff I want for Cole's room. Makaila's toy organization will have to wait for another day. We still have to get a bed for Cole and hopefully we can get that this weekend.. We'll probably go buy him a mattress set this weekend and just get the cheap bed frame. I did find one bed I liked for him, but we're not sure it is necessary right now. I've already sent Chad up to the attic with a bunch of trips for baby toys and I've got another bag of toys to go up and a larger bag to go to donate or trash. January gets me motivated for organization. I've even told the kids we're taking a break from happy meals for a while just so I don't have to deal with the junky toys! Just call me organization mama! Hope Chad comes home with energy to put together our new shelving unit!

where key goes

My son is really into pointing to and telling me all the places "where key goes". There are more places than you think. Doors of course. Locks. His favorite is the toliet paper roll holders in public rest rooms.

We went to the gym the other day. When I picked him up the babysitter told me he had gone to the bathroom. He came to her and said he need the key. She looked at him funny and he said, "I have to go pee pee." He knew that the kids' bathroom at the gym is locked and they have to give us the key every time we need to use it.

Cole also is really good at recongnizing my car. When Makaila was little we got our SUV and we called it the new red car. She was into learning her colors and so she pointed out all the other red SUV's on the road. Now, boys and girls being different, Cole points to SUV's and says, "like Mommy's car". It took me a little while at first to realize how accurate he was because he's pointing at small SUV's of different colors, but the same make and model. Even the other day he said it and I was looking at this white Lexis small SUV. I was trying to be nice and saying, "yeah, that's kind of like mommy's". A minute later I realized that in front of the white Lexis was our SUV.

My son

My brother-in-law got a new camera for Christmas and he's taking lots of pictures. This is one of my favorites that he took. It just really shows Cole's smile and his joy. He is a happy kid with one of the best belly laughs. I love it every time I get to hear it.

Guitar Hero

Okay, this is the proof. I was totally hooked on Guitar Hero over our visit to AZ. A little Eagles. A little Bon Jovi. A little Smashing Pumpkins. A little Cold Play. We don't own any Wii, PlayStation, or Nintendo of our own. None. And there's really not any plans to get it in the future. But now that I've played Guitar Hero. . . hmmm. I like music. And although I've never had dreams of being in a rock band, I do like combining music with trying to master the game concept. I even got Rachelle to play (they own it and she had never even tried it before) and that was amazing. Of course Keith's favorite picture is of Rachelle and I playing while all the kids are watching us. Now, if I could the version that has more Monster Ballads from the Big Hair Bands. . . let's just say I better start saving my monthly budget now.

Polar Express

So, I'm back tracking a bit. I just wasn't into the blogging mood back in December. Too much going on with the holidays and all. Now, I'm trying to start the New Year off right. Okay, so New Year's resolutions don't mean a whole lot to me. But I am working on my anual organize toys and throw out all the happy meal junk and stuff from birthday parties my kids haven't played with for over a month. But I digress. Back to the blog.

While my parents and Grandma came to visit we went to the Polar Express. Now, from what I hear, they do these at many train stations over the country and this one wasn't the most authentic compared to the book, but it was still a fun thing to do. But the day we had bought our tickets for, ended up being one of the coldest of the year! We froze walking to and from the car, it was freezing to go to the bathroom (even though they were indoors) and even waiting in the tent for the train ride, it was darn cold. But the train was fun and Santa stopped by to see the kids. Grandma also got chosen to help the man make a horse shoe.

Hike in AZ

While in AZ we went on a great hike for the entire family. Do I sound like one of the radio commercials? Fun for the whole family? Anyways, we took up the jogger stroller for the boys to ride in and for carrying lunch. We had great weather. We made it up to the top and the dads and kids climbed over the rocks to check out the small waterfalls. We had a picnic before returning, which made Grandpa Rev (the family picnic lover) happy. Bella (the new pug puppy) came along too and Kate and Makaila enjoyed taking turns walking her. Although this was an almost perfect day, it wasn't injury free. Ryan pinched his finger, Cole fell off a rock and banged up his chin and Kate had a minor fall trying to catch up to Makaila and the dog on the way down hill.

Toothless and proud

Over vacation Makaila lost her third tooth. And her forth! While visiting the fam in AZ, her front tooth was so wiggly I couldn't take it anymore and I just had to pull it out. It bled a lot as you can see here in the cup and the bloody smile. That night she bit into a hard piece of chocolate on her yummy smores (done in the back yard of Villa Suprise a.k.a. the Baker's House) and loosened up a bottom tooth. The picture with the fake glasses on shows both teeth gone. She was thrilled to get to show her teacher and classmates when she went to school. Although, I hear there's a little jealousy from her friend D in class because he really wants to loose a tooth and hasn't lost any!

Cole the tool man

The last few days it has been bugging Cole that there is an old nail sticking out of the wall in our guest bathroom. Today, after asking me about it for the 10th time, he decides to go run and get his hammer from the tool set he received for Christmas. He comes running back with the little plastic hammer. I lifted him up so he could tap at it. Love it.

big truck

As we're all in the car driving to the airport yesterday, Cole says "Hey guys, look at that big truck." It was a semi. I just thought it was really cute that he called us all "hey guys".