Babysitting

Last night we watched our 8 week old neighbor for a few hours while her Mommy and Daddy went out.  The kids were excited and talked about it all day yesterday.  M told me he was going to play Peek-A-Boo with her and K said she was going to sing lullabies to her (and she did).  They even waited outside for 20 minutes, watching for them to walk over.  K told me because she wasn't feeling well she was going to wash her hands VERY well and sing Happy Birthday 2 times so the baby wouldn't get sick.  She always sings that out loud while washing her hands so she knows she's washed them long enough.  I was a little nervous because K talked about giving the baby goldfish crackers but I was pleasantly surprised.  They were so good with her and helpful.  She was a little fussy so while I was getting her bottle ready I put her in the bouncy seat and asked M to gently bounce her.  He did but then he said, "When are you coming over here???  I'm getting worned out already!"  They did everything I asked them to ... I told the kids that I couldn't do it unless they helped me.  It sure was nice to snuggle her after the kids went to bed but I realized one thing ........ I'm NOT having any more kids.  She kept me so busy, I didn't have time to do anything with my two.  That's OK, I loved every minute of it ... I love babies but I'm done. 

Of course, I took photos.  He looks very comfortable in this picture but he held her for 1 minute and asked me to please take her.

K couldn't wait to give her a bottle.  That's what I love about K.  She doesn't mind doing the grunt work.  When the baby spit up, K was right there to run over and get a wipe and clean it up.  She'll help change diapers and throw them away.  Doesn't mind the dirty work at all.  She's the same way with our pets ... she'll clean out the kitty litter box, feed them, clean up after them ... whatever.  On the other hand, M was sooo grossed out by the dirty diaper.  It was pretty funny.

He kept rubbing her head and saying, "It's soooo soft, Mom."  He'll be a great dad someday.

Speaking of great dads ... what should I get Brian for Father's Day?  I can't come up with anything.

Fun with friends

Brian was working and we didn't have anything going on this weekend so I called J's mom to see if we could stop by and take him to the park for the afternoon.  It was M's idea ... he loves seeing J and talks about him often.  While walking to the car, M looked at J and said, "I missed you, J" with the cutest smile on his face.  They have been friends since preschool and have quite a bond.  They ran and played at the park for 2 hours!

It worked out for me too because after the park, I was able to drop the boys off at J's house and take only K to Costco.  We looked at everything and shared lots of yummy samples.  What a difference, only taking one child to the store.  It was quite pleasant. 

While at the park, they talked me into Popsicles.  Of course, he and J got the same ones.  How cute is this photo?

Couldn't decide.  I love this one too.

We had K's friend (L) over the other day after school.  It was her first real play date and she was so excited ... it was her "special day".  They were very busy ... inside, outside, upstairs, downstairs, dress-up, tea parties, air hockey, Littlest Pets, My Little Ponies, grocery store and on and on.  They had fun for sure. 

Giggling.

A cute one of K playing air hockey.

K brushed her teeth with some "NEW toothpaste" the other morning.  She said it was so yummy ... it was a tube of Petroleum Jelly.  Yuck.  I better go and put that away.

She is a walking infomercial ... while walking through Costco today, "Too much stuff ... not enough space."  She had seen the Space Bags.  What a crack-up.

K's been sick and was sent home from school on Thursday after laying on the floor and saying she was tired.  When we got her home, I checked her temp and it was 102.1.  She was puny on Thursday and Friday but is doing much better today.  Temp is gone but she still has a little sore throat.

M's been carrying around a small notebook with him lately and he calls it his journal.  The other day, he took a poll at school about what every one's favorite color was.  Red won.  His writing has improved dramatically when he tries.  He really has to focus and concentrate to write well and even holds his mouth tense while writing.  He wrote out a few Thank You's to give out for his birthday presents.  It was painful and he started whining after one or two ... so if you didn't get one, I'm very sorry.  He is absolutely obsessed with all things Indiana Jones ... even more so than he ever was about Star Wars.  He uses earplugs connected with a cord as his whip.  He's been listening much better lately ... my biggest challenge with him is his eating and how he wants to snack all the time.  It's like pulling teeth to even get him to eat fruit these days.

M still has a few weeks of school left and then starts back in Mid-August so it doesn't feel like we'll have much time off.  I'm going to work as little as possible in July so we can go on a few camping trips and hang out together.  Before we know it, school will be back in and we'll be back to having to go on the weekends.  I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish Summer Break was a little longer.  I may take those words back in a few weeks though. 

Fun around the house

I bought each of the kids a canvas to paint on while at Michaels.  So when the family was in town for M's birthday, we set up outside and let them paint.  They had a great time and I like them so much, I'm going to hang them in the craft room. 

My sister helped them.

K and I got the Easy-Bake Oven out the other day while M was in school.  The old Easy-Bakes worked so much better ... like the ones I used to play with.  (you could get a 3rd degree burn from those, though)

We made sugar cookies.  K was supposed to take one upstairs to Brian but I heard her giggling on the way up.  She said, "I ate his!"  Shocker ... I never would have expected that from her.  Yeah, right.

 

Fruit Kabobs

I have a hard time getting M to eat fruit.  He likes apples, cherries and will sometimes eat berries.  I got skewers from the store and decided to cut up a bunch of fruit and let the kids make fruit kabobs.  They enjoyed putting all of the fruits on and it was the perfect opportunity to work on patterns and mixing different colors.  I think next time I'm going to try it with veggies!!  K ate 3 skewers full!  I hope her tummy is OK.  Note to self ... next time cut the very pointy part off or make it a little less sharp because K poked herself a few times!!  Good times.

M doesn't have a shirt on because he just got out of the tub.  He no longer wants to sleep with a shirt on.  My baby is growing up.

Play Ball

I have so many things to blog about but I haven't had any time.  I've been snapping pictures like crazy with my new camera.  I'm in love.  Sorry Brian.  May 7th was Little League Day at the Rivercats baseball game so all of the kids wore their uniforms and we able to march in a parade before the game started.  The kids loved every minute of it.  We got lawn seats (you just lay a blanket on the grass - so cool), brought plenty of snacks and had a great time until it got too chilly outside.  K and I left during the 3rd inning (thankfully we expected this and took 2 car).  Brian and M followed about 45 minutes after.  It was a good game ... I would have loved to have seen it all.  Hopefully in 2 - 3 years we'll be able to or I think the kids would do fine at a day game.  7:05 start time - too late for my munchkins (thank goodness).

Love, love, love this one.

Go Colorado State Rams.

I think he was glad to hold the banner.

She kept tackling him.  At least they'll touch each other now.

He will pose for my camera without being asked.  What a sweetie.

A few pictures from his recent game.  Sorry, I know I post a lot of baseball pics but I just can't resist - he's adorable in the uniform.

Cool action shot.

K is such a stinker.  She is wiping off Aunt Sue's kisses in this one.

Another one ... he is so fast when he's not skipping!!

Well, I'll post more when I get the chance.  I have at least 6 more things I'd like to blog about.  Brian's been working a 72 hour shift and I start 2 back to back 3p-3a shifts.  Ugghh.  Maybe we'll actually get to see each other sometime soon.  Makes for an argument free marriage, I guess.

The kids have been sooooo good lately.  We went to Discovery Kingdom yesterday which was so much fun (and exhausting).  The best time was riding on the rapids ride.  We got absolutely soaked (not by the rapids) but by the people that put a quarter in and squirt with the water guns.  So wet that the kids had to take their shirts off and just wear sweatshirts.  We've been laughing about it since.  Next time we go, M wants to take a bag of quarters so we can get people back.  Season Passes are the only way to go $49.99 for an entire year.

Mother's Day Gifts

M came home from school on Friday with this letter for me.  It's is very cute BUT it makes me sound like the World's Worst Mother.  Really??  Is that all I do is watch TV and sleep?  (I wish).  Oh, and I only cook "Chikin Nugit's".  Very funny, Mr. M.

Here's the letter. Go ahead and laugh at my expense.

He also brought me a beautiful decoupaged pot with a plant in it.  He was very proud of this.

So sweet.

K brought this home for me. 

I love being a Mom.  It can be so rewarding.  Thanks kiddos for the special day and gifts.  Love you.   

Happy Mother's Day

I'm blessed to have 2 fantastic mom's.  Mine and my wonderful mother-n-law, Carol.  Thanks for always being there for me.  I've had a very restful day.  I woke up (at 9:15 am) to a delicious cinnamon roll, Starbuck's Coffee and flowers from my family.  Then I got to lay around and read the paper and go out to take some photographs with my new camera (until it started raining).  I came home to lunch and Mimosa's.  Yummy.  Then Brian made me dinner and hasn't let me lift a finger all day!  He's currently cleaning up from dinner and making M's lunch.  Why can't Mother's Day be one day a week?  I'm blessed.

I took this picture of my mom at M's game the other day.  I know she won't like it but I think it turned out good.  I love you so much.

I took this picture of the Tower Bridge today.  The kids call it the "yellow bridge".  I love how it turned out and am thinking of printing it huge to put above my bed.  My bedroom is grey and yellow.  What do you think?

After a few shots at the bridge, I headed to the State Capitol.  I was planning to walk around Old Sacramento but it was packed and sprinkling.  The rest of the photos were taken at the Rose Garden. 

Off to relax.

Happy 6th Birthday to M

Well, M had his 6th Birthday Party on Thursday at the Lego Store.  He's been talking about having his party there for 2 years!!  It was a great time.  We had 11 kids (just perfect) and Brian's parents, my mom, sister and niece were also able to make it.  All of M's good friends made it and he even got to see his friend J from preschool.  It was cute to see them together again.  They each got to pick out a small Lego set and work on it for one hour.  M had a tough time deciding (that's his personality) but settled on an Atlantis set just like J picked out.

Group picture.

Working on their projects.

Together again.

A cute picture of K and Grammy playing together.

While we were at the Lego Store, my sister, mom and niece set up for the rest of the party.  It looked great.  Thanks guys.  I didn't want to miss any of the party at the Lego Store and without you ... I would have.

I would have had better pictures but he got embarrassed and was moving his head really fast while blowing out the candles.  Pictures didn't turn out.

Some of the boys checking out what he got.  Cute.

My absolute favorite picture of the day.  Is he having fun or what?  He loves the Remote Control Tarantula.

I love this one also.  He loved the pin I got him 2 years ago at his party so I found a Star Wars one this year.  It says Birthday Jedi Knight.

We opened presents from the family before the party.  He was soooo excited.

Some photos of the kids playing.

M doesn't like frosting so we got him a Cookie Cake.  It was delicious.

M got some great gifts.  He's been so busy playing with all of them that we've hardly seen him.  His favorite thing to do recently has been to pretend he's Indiana Jones.  He wears K's purse as a satchel.  He got some new Indiana Jones items, a red Dual Light Saber, an Iron-Man Mask and Gloves, Lego's, Bakugans, Cards, a Bat-Bag (for baseball), a Marble-Race, gift cards and so much more.

I took this picture a few weeks ago but forgot to post it.

Tomorrow is his actual birthday so I'm taking him to see Iron Man 2 after school.  He'll love it.