Bad Girl

I've been a very, very naughty girl this week.  I ordered this!!!!

A new camera ... it's the Canon 50d.  I've been thinking about getting it for a long time and just decided to go for it.  It arrived in the mail yesterday and although I haven't had much time to play with it, I am completely in love.  My Rebel just didn't seem to be performing as well as it used to.  I LOVE taking pictures and I use my camera almost everyday ... money well spent.  I am the family historian you know, LOL.

And because I got a $400 rebate on the Canon Pixma Pro9000 Photo Printer ($449.00), I bought that also.  How could I not right???  An awesome photo printer for $49.  It will print photos up to 13" Wide.

Off to go play with my new toys ... should be doing housework.

Daddy time

K loves to spend time with her Dad.  I snapped this picture of Brian reading to her the other day.  I can honestly say he is the BEST Dad I've ever seen.  (as you can see though ... he doesn't always have the best fashion sense ... he dressed K that day)  Thank you Brian for all of the things you do ... we love you.

Green Eggs and Ham

Hike to Fairy Falls

On Sunday, I got together with my old friends/co-workers from Woodland Memorial Hospital and went for a hike to Fairy Falls in Spenceville.  I haven't seen them in probably over a year but it was just like old times.  These are my true friends.  They were there for me for the most important events in my life.  Planning my wedding, buying our first house and the birth of my children.  We are all in very different stages in life (some of them have grown children and even grandchildren) but get along so well.  I am going to make a real effort to get together with them more often.  We had a great time ... it was about a 5 mile hike and the weather was gorgeous ... 80 degrees.  Here are a few pictures.

A day at the park

Yesterday after the kids got out of school, Misty and I decided to take the kids to a new park in our area.  I snapped a few shots of them because although we hang out a lot, I have very few pictures of all of the kids together.  We had been there for 2 hours before we knew it ... the park is awesome.  It was a fun afternoon/evening for all (and made the day go by quickly).

Yeah ... a good one of all of them.

A and K.  Cute one.

I'm on a blogging roll lately ... aren't I.  Well, the sleeping situation with K has been going a little better.  She definitely has a few OCD things issues at bedtime.  She always has to give you a hug, then a kiss and then she has to say goodnight first.  ALWAYS in that order.  You can't mix it up.  You have to say goodnight exactly how she says it or she'll say it again ... and again.  Then she'll say, "See you tomorrow".  You have to repeat it (the same way).  Now it's gone on to where she'll say, "See you first" (I repeat it).  "See you second" (I repeat), "See you third" (I repeat), sometimes you'll get another "See you tomorrow" or "See you in the morning."  If you don't say it exactly how she says it ... anxiety.  What's next???  Are we going to eventually get to "See you tenth???"  I hope not.  Her idiosyncrasies worry me a little.  I'll say whatever it takes to get her to go to bed.

Fun with the girls.

Now that the kids are getting a little older, Brian and I have been able to get out and socialize a bit.  I forgot that these pictures were on my little camera until the other day.  Back in March, I went to the Bon Jovi concert with a few of my friends from work.  It was a blast (from the past).  LOL. 

While the kids were at Sue's (my sister's house), Misty and I went to BJ's for dinner.  It was nice to be able to catch up and enjoy a quiet meal and a few adult beverages.  Here we are enjoying our um ... water.

Kyla's 1st Gymnastics Class

K had her first day of Gymnastics Class on Monday.  I was worried because she seemed anxious about it and didn't even want to put her clothes on.  I finally found a shirt she would wear ... her Disney Belle shirt and off we went.  She cried on the way and said she didn't want to go.  I think it was because she didn't know what to expect.  When we got there, Jimmy (the Coach) said she could go and jump on the trampoline but all she wanted to do was sit on my lap.  Totally out of character for K.  She saw a big rope that she wanted to swing on and asked Jimmy if she could.  Jimmy helped her get on the swing and she had a big smile on her face for the rest of the time.  She loved it and did EVERYTHING he asked her to do.  She gave it 100% for sure.  I loved every minute of it and can't wait to take her back next week.

They did some stretching before class.  She definitely doesn't get her flexibility from her mother.

OK ... so she's cheating a little bit.

Love this one.  This was the smaller of the ropes.

She jumped on the vault and went into a somersault.

She even pointed her toes.  Love it.

The big finish ... ta-da.

Learning how to fall so she doesn't break anything (like her wrists).  Put your hands across your chest!

I can't think of what this is called but I thought she looked pretty good.

More somersaults.  She did a good job on this one.

They have a giant foam pit underneath this bar.  She hung on the bar and then let herself fall.  I wanted to try the swing and swing into it.  Can Mom's take gymnastics also?

It was nice because there were only 2 kids in her class so he was able to work with her a lot.  Plus .. you know how boy crazy K was.  She listened to everything he said and did exactly what was asked.  He played around with them and made the class so much fun.  She basically got 55 minutes of exercise.  By the end, her arms were as weak as noodles.  I can't wait until Brian can come and see.  M wants to try it also.

Jabber

Well, K and M sure have been saying some funny things lately and before I forget, I wanted to blog them. K's favorite thing to say when she really wants something is, "I'll be your best friend!" She also gives you a cute grin with it. Well, it was funny at first but now it's getting a little annoying. She says it for everything! Well, the other day, I asked her to do something and then gave her the ol' "I'll be your best friend" line. Well, she thought about it for a few minutes and then said, "Ummm, I have a lot of best friends." What a stinker. She's been a little more challenging lately with fits and power struggles. We also had a few VERY rough nights. She didn't want to stay in her own bed and was getting up either before we even left the room or 1 - 2 minutes later .... for hours. I didn't let me kids sleep in our bed while they were infants and I'm sure not starting now. Brian and I had to try some tough love and put a child doorknob lock on her door for about 5 minutes. Let me tell you ... it scared her and she stayed in her room after that. We have since started a reward chart for staying in bed (Granny is going to give her $10 at the end) and it seems to be working pretty well. She has also stopped eating!! Sometimes she'll hardly eat all day. She complains that she's hungry all day and will ask you to fix something specific but once you give it to her, she eats about 5 bites and talks about how full she is. GGGGRRRRR. Bugs the heck out of me.

M told me the other day that his toy Fire Truck is "All jacked up!" Made me laugh out loud for sure. Gee, I wonder where he's heard that before? He also told me today that "In-N-Out Rocks!" That's my boy. So M no longer wants to be a Firefighter or a Paleontologist ... now he's going to be an Archaeologist like Indiana Jones. Let me tell you ... he is OBSESSED with all things Indy. He loves to put his Indiana Jones Hat and Gun on (through his belt loop) and run around the house while humming the song. M's quite challenging and high energy also. He loves to argue with me. If I were to say the sky is blue, he'd for sure say it was another color but my absolute biggest frustration is that he doesn't listen to me. (I'm sure I'm the first parent to ever say that, right?) I have to repeat myself no less than 3 times for every single step. M get out of the car on your side, get out of the car on your side, get out of the car on your side and so on. ALL DAY LONG. Today, I started making him ask me for everything 3 times. He didn't like it. This might work.

Don't get me wrong, my kids have tons of wonderful qualities and I realize how blessed I am ... it's just been one of those days.

He's doing so well with his reading.  I can't believe it.  This evening we got a blanket and laid down on the grass in the front yard and read book after book and he surprised me so much by the words he knew.  He is understanding blending now.  Like I said ... he argued and argued with me about how he didn't want to eat dinner (In-N-Out) and read books in the front yard but 5 minutes after we got out there he told me what a good idea it was and how nice it was to be out in "nature".  We read several books and he was begging for more.  He loves to read books before bed but I have a hard time getting him to sit down and read with me any other time of day.

K's doing well in school also.  She loves it.  Last week she learned how to write her name.  I've been trying to teach her for a long time but she didn't want to try and kept saying she couldn't because she was too little.  Workbooks ... no problem.  She loves them.  She realized that her best friend from school is writing letters because she gave her a birthday card and has been motivated since.  Boy, was she proud and yelled it out when I picked her up.  They other day she practiced writing letters on a white board but was easily frustrated.

M's Favorite Toys - His Indiana Jones stuff and his Light Sabers.

K's Favorite Toys - Her Littlest Pets and her Little Pony's.  She also loves Board Games. 
Both kids still love Play-Doh, coloring and Moon Sand.

M's Favorite TV Show - He's on a Scooby-Doo kick again but also loves Kid Vs Kat.

K's Favorite TV Show - She loves Curious George, Tom and Jerry and also Kid Vs. Kat.

M's Favorite Food - I would say Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.

K's Favorite Food - Hands down ... Macaroni and Cheese.
For snacks, their faves are donuts, cookies and ice cream.

Their Favorite Books - Bad Kitty Gets A Bath and Happy Birthday Bad Kitty.

Well, will write more later.  I'm exhausted.

Happy 4th Birthday to K

We celebrated K's 4th Birthday last Monday.  Because the kids' birthday's are so close together, we alternate each year who gets to have a "big" party.  M's going to have his party this year at the Lego Store so we decided for K's Birthday, we would take a few of her friends to Build-A-Bear Workshop for a small get together.  We took her best friend from school as well as 3 of our neighbors.  K was so excited for her party, it was all she could talk about for 2 days before.

The morning before her party, K helped me make rainbow chip cupckes with strawberry whipped frosting.  Yummy!

Tinkerbell Cupcake Toppers.  The boys didn't want to eat the "girl" cupcakes although M did but without the frosting.  He doesn't like frosting.

She opened the presents from the family before the party.  She was so stinkin' cute ... "This is what I always wanted.  Thank you so much.  I love it."  With just about everything.

I was so shocked when he got in there to take a picture with her.  NEVER happens.

A few pictures from Build-A-Bear.

K and her bestie.

Boys will be boys, right?  M made a Darth Vader Bunny and A made a Obi-Wan Kenobi Panda Bear.  Of course, they had light-saber fights.

 So adorable, aren't they?

My good friend and neighbor Misty and A.

Opening presents at the party.

Blowing out her candles.

This was totally un-prompted.  So cute.

K named her Jack Russell Terrier, Sweet Puppy Pup.  I guess he will go well with Puppy-Doggy 1 and 2.  All of the kids from her party made a wish on an embroidered heart and they were all put in her dog.  I thought that was neat.

Gold Country Camping - Part 2

On Friday morning (the kids slept until 8 am ... it was glorious) we packed up the camp and went to Black Chasm Cavern for a tour.  It was a 50 minute walking tour of the various formations.  It was very interesting.  The temperature in there is 57 degrees year round.

The kids loved gemstone mining and with the purchase of a $6.99 Ore Bag found quite a few gems.  Brian and I enjoyed this as much as they did.

"Wow, look at this one!!"

K was sure determined.

Gold Country Camping - Part 1

We recently got back from camping in Amador County.  We had great weather, a nice campsite and the kids had a great time.  What a great way to spend spring break.  On Thursday we went on a tour of an old gold mine.  Let me tell you ... this was right up M's alley.  We rode in this car thingy down into the mine.  That night Brian asked M if he remembered how far we went down into the mine.  He quickly said, "550 feet."  He is his father's son and has such a memory.  I've been getting so many questions from him lately.  "What is gravity?  What does paradise mean?"  Why is there 2 types of crying?  Happy crying and sad crying."  And on and on.  He's a sponge.  K especially loved riding in the car and pretended she was on the Indiana Jones ride and raised both hands up on the way back up out of the mine.

They aren't looking but it's still cute.

"Cheese."  Safety zone.

She tried to sit on his lap but it was too hot.

Panning for gold and gems.

M was so excited that he found something on his very own.

And so did K.

The kids wanted a sourvenir so they got a little microscope to look at their gems.

K didn't quite get it at first.

 

Silly boy.  He put K's sunglasses on ... trying to be funny.

S'mores time.  Camping is so much fun.

K's pouty face.  We see this face a lot ... anytime she doesn't get what she wants.