Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas

Wow, this is going to be long, brace yourselves! I tried to limit the pics. but I had 500 to choose from. Kent went a little nutty with the camera, I guess that's the downfall with digital.... OK, so we are back from our trip. It was wonderful! It was what Kent and I both needed. A cruise is the thing to do to spoil yourself. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. People cook and clean for you! It's the best. We hung out, went swimming, played games, read, went to art auctions, hiked through a rain forest jungle, risked our lives in a Mexican taxi and hung out on a beach where we almost drowned while trying to get to it. All in all it was a very memorable trip!

Some highlights:

1. We got to spend one on one time with Brayden!

2. We got to sleep in and relax, and hang out on our balcony while we cruised through the ocean.

3. We got to eat great food that we never had to prepare. 24 hour pizza, ice cream and (coffee for mom) makes just about any vacation perfect for a kid. Kent and I got to go to the "fancy restaraunt" while Brayden chose to eat with Camp Carnival.

4. Brayden and I got to make a Build-a-Bear, which he has been wanting forever. It was quite a deal on the ship. B named him "Funship Freddy Bear, but you can call him Freddy."

5. We went on an excursion through the jungle, which was quite memorable. Mostly because we were the youngest people on this hike, the average age being 55-60. Women were wearing flip-flops and carrying coach purses with skirts on. Scroll down and you can see a pic. In addition to that, most of the peeps were overweight and very out of shape. I thought we were going to lose a few of them on this 45 minute hike that took all of us 2 HOURS! It was really pretty scary, the tour guide earned his money, he was carrying a few purses and a few people most of the way!

6. We got to swim in the pools on the ship. Brayden was too short for the waterslide, but maybe next time!

7. The one time Brayden came with us to dinner we got to dance and clap and scream/sing!

8. Kent and I played mini-golf on the ship! It was a tad windy, which made it interesting. We ended up tying, but Kent was keeping score,

(I think I won).

9. B got to dry his own hair and style it in our cabin. (It's spiky).

10. We went through the "old market" in Mazatlan, and experienced the locals way of shopping. All the meat spread out over two blocks in the hot sun was enough to make us heave. They have some iron stomachs down there!

1. Yet again, ICE CREAM!

12. Dancing for the animal towels, and the monkey hanging from our lights!

13. Beautiful beaches in Cabo San Lucas. We also got to see Pelicans, and sea lions. This is where we almost went under. Our water taxi took us to "lovers beach." What I didn't realize was that there was no pier/dock. So they just motor on up close to the beach and we were supposed to jump on out. I had no problem with this. The problem was doing this with a 4 year old and two backpacks. Before I knew what was happening a Mexican helper was yelling, "Give me the stuff and the baby." While we're rocking and bouncing in the ocean with the driver screaming at us. In a panic, I gave B to him (B had a lifejacket on) and then I jumped out of the boat and started sprinting after him in the water. An American lady was watching all of this, and ran to meet Brayden on the sand (they were 20 feet ahead of me). Brayden was screaming because he was scared and couldn't see me. By the time I reached them I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. (Kent was behind us). We made it and actually tipped the guy for helping us and keeping all of our stuff dry. What an experience, we had a better plan when we had to get back on the water taxi, it went more smoothly. Live and learn, dumb Americans........

14. Building sand castles on lover's beach. We couldn't go in the water because it was so rough. All the familys there were a little ticked for this beach recommendation. Brayden had fun burying us though.

15. Some rest time back in the cabin after a long beach day!

16. Taking Brayden to camp carnival for dinner.

17. Here are some of the peeps on the hike. Notice the tour guide on the edge of the cliff helping someone maneuver down.

18. Oh yeah, we got to cross this river on the hike, it felt so good! I thought some of the people were going to cry right there on the spot because they had to take their tennis shoes off! We were loving it in our swimsuits and water sandals!

19. All in all, it was a great vacation. Everyday Kent and I would talk about how much we wanted to squeeze the girls and give them kisses. It was especially hard when we saw little girls their age. Brayden even said, "I miss my sisters." Thanks for watching them Auntie Kalin and Tyler!

Now we're back at home and it was like we never left! :)

Brayden's 4 year pics. and Ellie and Danielle's 18 months pics.

I can't believe how big the kids are getting! They each have their own little personality, they are all so sassy, sometimes I want to scream and other times I just have to laugh. Where did they get all this sass...??? I know I am going to be very sorry for all of the eye rolling I used to do... Kent broke me of that habit pretty quickly though.... hopefully the kids won't pick it up. :)

Great-Grandma is 84!

Kent's Grandma turned 84 on Sunday! We had a small gathering at our house, Uncle Kelly and Auntie Sarah are in Florida with the kids, so it was a low key affair. You guys were missed! Brayden drew a picture on G-ma's card of him being angry. I felt like a really good mom, yet again, because that was the morning I didn't think we would make it out of the grocery store alive. ALL the kids were so naughty, I'm pretty sure B knew I was angry most of that morning! Lucky Great-G-ma got a pic. of an angry Brayden!

My pics. aren't uploading, I will post them later.

Singing in the rain

YAY! It finally rained here. Brayden has been waiting for weeks and weeks for a jaunt in the rain. He got a Toys-r-us gift card for his B-day and out of all the toys he chose a spiderman umbrella. Don't ask me why, but he thinks it is the coolest thing ever. He has been wanting to use it forever. Kent and I keep telling him it's not a toy, it's only for the rain. (Because he tends to swing it around and I am afraid he is going to poke someone's eye out, I know I sound like such a mom). :( Anyway..... we woke up Sunday morning and it was raining!! Kent had a football game so I put all the kids in their rain gear and we headed out. Brayden was seriously jumping and singing/screaming he was so excited. We played in the driveway for a while, then ventured out for a walk. It was so cute, B and I jumped in the puddles while the girls watched dumbfounded from the wagon. It was a successful traipse in the rain!

Thank goodness for Date Nights!

YAY! Kent and I got to go out on Saturday. Thanks for baby-sitting Shelbi! I think it was the last time we'll be able to take the motorcycle out, it was raining when we woke up this morning, and I think Fall has arrived! We went for a little ride then went and saw "Burn After Reading." We weren't too impressed, I would not recommend going to the theatre for this one. Although, Brad Pitt did have a funny role in it. After that we took our time strolling the mall and going out to eat and enjoying our dinner leisurely at the same time! It was great.

I realized that this blog has been all about the kids, so here is what is going on in our lives:

Kent: Has been enjoying riding his motorcycle to work everyday (I am wondering if he is taking a LONG way home on some nights). He got to have a guys night out TWICE in the last week. First at a poker party with some friends, then he went out with his group of friends from high school for dinner the other night. AND he helped Bryan with his basement (IDK what they worked on), AND he is playing flag football on Sundays with a work team. No wonder I have been going insane lately, he tells me he never gets to go out. PUULLEEAASSE!

Christy: I have been rather busy lately too, which has been nice. Last week I got to go to a Bunco party (which makes me sound so old), but it was a blast! I have to say, it's a fun game, and there's no strategy involved, so you can sit and chat with adults for hours! Our next one is going to be a Halloween Bunco party with costumes, do you think Kent will join me for this one??? Anyone want to be my date? :) So far I have had to go solo the last two times.

Also, I had my book club on Monday night, which was so fun at Julie's. She is so crafty, she had prizes for us, if we did certain things related to the book we read. Which was, "The Next Thing on My List." I did get a prize, but I'm not going to tell you what I had to do, (Kent thought I was nuts). I loved the book and we had a great discussion, one of my goals is to complete a triathlon next Spring. Does anyone want to train with me, and does anyone have a bike I can borrow? Mine won't cut it.

I also filled in for a friend's outdoor soccer team, but I pulled a muscle AGAIN, so I have to sit this weekend out. I tell ya, once you're old with an injury it keeps re-occurring, what a bummer!

Lastly, tap is back on! Last year I joined my mother-in-law in tap class with her friends. It is one of the funnest hours of my week. As most of you know, we put on a show in June dancing to "Bad to the Bone." I do have it on video and it is quite entertaining, chair props and all. This year we have new songs and some quick routines, I will keep you posted for the showtime in Spring. :) Some of the ladies don't want to perform again, but I say, why are we doing this then? My friend, Leigh, is joining us this year, I am so excited!

That's more than a tid-bit on our lives.... our next big adventure is our cruise in 7 days! I am going with my boys, and Auntie Kalin is watching the girls for us! We love you for that, and lots of other reasons too. :)

Is this time-out or a jumping party?

All right, so it has been one of those days. I think I spent the majority of my day hauling the girls in and out of time-out. It seems to be really effective! They are turning into monkeys and they think it is ok/fun to crawl onto the counter and destroy everything on top. The other day I was drying my hair and Brayden came in and said, "Mom, Dani has a knife." Sure enough, I walked out to the kitchen and she was sitting criss-cross applesauce with the biggest butcher knife we have in her lap. I felt like the best mom ever! Any suggestions?? I have completely moved the stools away and laid them on the floor, which they now stand on, and crawl in and out of. AND.... they get behind the couch and do some rearranging of the blinds and cords (which is super scary)! I am going to have to build a blockade!

As you can see, time-out has turned into a playing/jumping festival. Any other discipline suggestions other than time-out? I am really trying to refrain from beating them.

Just kidding! :)

What happened to my sweet baby boy?

Today was Brayden's first day of his second year of preschool! We were all very excited. He has a new teacher this year, because Ms. Mary retired. Ms. Jenny's new classroom is amazing! The best part for B is the "playground with a twisty slide." He was a little bit clingy when we first got there, but soon he was comfortable and refusing to wear his name tag. This seemed unusual to me, because he is usually a compliant little guy, especially at school! Last year he told me, "I never make bad choices at school, I am a good boy." Well this may be a different year all together....

When he woke up this morning his insisted on not wearing ANY of his new school clothes. The only "fancy" shirt he would wear was one that is two years old (and a little short). I was told he did a good job in school, thank goodness, but when he walked through the door when he got home he had an attitude! This is new to me.... even Kent noticed. He was rather demanding, which I did not take very well. We had a discussion on "tone of voice" (just like my kids at work). "Just because you say please, doesn't mean you are asking nicely." We'll see if it makes a difference. I hope my sweet baby boy returns tomorrow!