The list....

I know all of you moms out there have similar stories to these, but I have decided to keep a running list. This way when the kids grow up I can show them how much they owe me and when they have kids they will understand why payback is such a B****! :)

1. Today Dani shoved about $4.00 worth of quarters into my tape deck in the van. I had a roll of quarters that I have been using to tip my barista. I looked down and there was one sticking out of the deck thingy. Dani (from the back seat) yells proudly, "My do that Mommy!" I guess I will no longer send them downstairs while I quickly gather everything we need for the outing! Good thing we don't listen to tapes!

2. Ellie was screaming 25 minutes after I put them into their cribs at nap time. I went in there and she was IN Dani's crib with her! Apparently she scaled the ends of the cribs and wound up in her sister's bed. This wasn't the problem though, she left her "nai nai" blanket in her bed. I guess it is most definitely time for the big girl beds! Of course this happens when Kent is out of town for two weeks!

3. During nap time I was reading in my room, trying to regain some sanity (is that even possible?) when Brayden starts SCREAMING from the bathroom (which is right next to the girls room where they are napping)! Great, I get up and race into the bathroom. He is sitting on the toilet and he said, "Mommy I have owie poops." Seriously, I calmly say, "I'm sorry, what would you like me to do?" He says, "I don't know, but it really hurts!" I say, "Ok, well just sit there and hopefully it will feel better soon." Come on, what are you supposed to say/do? I also added, "Do it quietly, your sisters are sleeping and I don't want them to wake up yet!"


what will be next.....?

My Brayden Boy

I just have to make a note of my little boy. Funny things have been happening and I tend to forget right away what they were.

Last night Kent made us a BBQ dinner! The kids and I came in from playing outside and sat down to eat. After a few minutes Brayden said, "My tummy is really hungry!"

Me:"Good thing we're eating dinner right now."

A few minutes later

B: "My tummy really hurts!"

Me: "Maybe you should try to go to the bathroom, maybe it will feel better then. Maybe you have to go in and toot."

B: In utter disbelief, "But MOM I haven't even eaten any beans yet!"

After a few minutes in the bathroom he decides that is not the problem, he needs to lay down and rest. This may have been the first time he has ever suggested this. I am mildly concerned and I go lay down in his bed with him.

Me: "How does your tummy hurt? Do you feel like you're going to throw up, or is it just big owies?"

B: Calmly says, "It feels like the bones are poking through my stomach. I am pretty sure that is what is happening."

Shocked by such a great description, yet more concerned about how badly his tummy hurts, I tell him it's a good idea to rest for a while. He decides he should do some puzzles while he rests. After the puzzles are complete, he comes out of his room, sits at the table and finishes his dinner, like nothing happened. Kent is pretty sure he just had a big TOOT!

B is also very into "making projects." He is constantly creating something. We got teddy grahams at the store today and there is a recipe for a teddy smoothie on it. I told B we could make one for breakfast in the morning. He insisted that we make a "note" and put it on the counter so I don't forget. (Apparently he has picked up on how forgetful I have become, especially about these important things)! He had to write out "teddy smoothie", and then list all of our names. He said, "Dad will have to make his own note and his own smoothie, if he wants one." I guess he knows there's no way we're getting up early enough to have breakfast with Daddy!

His imagination constantly amazes me. The best gift I can give him is an empty toilet paper roll. His eyes light up and he yells, "Thanks mom!" Then he runs off to invent something new; a rocket an airplane, binoculars......I love my boy!

Go Go Gadget arms!

Notice the pile of dress up clothes in the middle of the room (ignore the huge messes everywhere else). This is where the stuff was that ended up in their cribs!

The girls were in time out the other morning, for unrolling a WHOLE roll of toilet paper and putting it in the toilet. So fun to scoop out wet, soggy toilet paper. They were in their cribs for quite some time. I took a shower and tried to decompress, then got dressed and went to release them from their cages. I couldn't believe what I saw: Two cribs full of dress up clothes, dolls, blankets and treasure boxes. They had been busy! When I left them, their cribs were empty (no toys in time out). The question is: Do they have Go-go Gadget arms, or did they crawl out of their cribs and back in again? All of the stuff was in the middle of the room on the floor (big surprise). How in the world did they get to it? Is it time to move to big girl beds? I hope we have a few more months before they are free!

A couple of side notes:

1st: All the moms out there.... what do I do with their hair!?! It is awful. I want to grow out their bangs so I don't have to deal with them, but the mullet mess is driving me crazy! Do I cut the back to even it up, kind of like a bob? Any suggestions on hair clips/bows that stay in their hair? They yank out EVERYTHING! If they can't get it themselves, the other one will help!

2nd: I just have to make a note of this for myself because it is so funny to me. Today I asked the girls, "Who made this mess?"

Ellie: "Dani do that!"

Dani: "Ellie do that!"

Great, they are two and they have already learned to lie?

Our own version of Jack Ass!

I have had these pics. for a week and I have been debating on whether or not to post them. This has to be some of the worst parenting that I have ever done.... but it was so damn FUNNY! We were playing in the back yard last weekend and the kids brought their bikes back there. They were riding in the grass and eventually either Ellie or Brayden took a bike up the hill. I think it started with just the big wheel, which worked well. It's low to the ground and very stable. With only one big wheel they had to take turns, so eventually all of the different kinds of bikes were rolling down the hill, sometimes with kids on them, sometimes without, and SOMETIMES with kids partially on or partially off. :)

I think everyone knows about how I laugh inappropriately ALL the time! Brayden was the first to wipe out. It was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. He completely flipped over, landed, and the bike came crashing down. I did pause long enough to make sure he was ok, then I couldn't control myself. Thankfully Kent had just made them put all of their helmets on. I thought they were fine without them since they were on the grass, but I hadn't factored in the bike slamming down on top of their heads.... After I gained control of myself, (it was a good few minutes) Ellie came barreling down the hill on the trike. Well, this was a bad choice because it is a wee bit top heavy. She totally bit it, and Brayden started laughing and screaming, this got him in trouble by Kent. Kent said, "Brayden it's not nice to laugh at people when they fall, just because Mommy does it all the time, doesn't mean it's ok." This made me laugh even more! Meanwhile, Ellie is lying on the ground pinned under the trike. (She turned out to be just fine.) I think cautious Dani was the only one who didn't crash and burn, she fell a few times, but nothing extravagant. :)

I looked over at Kent and said, "This is pure entertainment, I don't think it's very good parenting, but I haven't laughed this hard in a long time." Eventually we had to tell the kids no more, and put the bikes away. Maybe another day..... I will keep you posted, especially if I can capture a fall in action!

Dani hangin' out at the bottom of the hill where it's safer.

Brayden after a successful ride down the hill.

Ellie safely at the bottom.

Our Shelbi is all grown up!

Today Kent and I attended our baby-sitter, Shelbi's, graduation! I can't believe our little girl is all grown up. She has only been in our lives for two years, but it seems like she has always been a part of our family. I can't believe we only have two more months left with her. I am so excited for her and the new chapter she is beginning in her life. She is an amazing person and she will do wonderful things with her life, I can't wait to see the person that she will become.
In August she is moving to Bellingham to live with my sister, Kalin, and four other room mates! Kalin and Shelbi met in Florida when we convinced both of them to accompany us on our first family trip, when the girls were six months old and Brayden was 3. They instantly hit it off and have kept in touch ever since. I think moving to B'ham will be a great adventure for both of them, I can't wait to hear the stories that they will have to share! During the graduation ceremony I got a little teary eyed (mostly because I realized just how old I really am) thinking about how much my life has changed since my graduation day. I love my life and all the experiences I have had to get to this stage. I am so grateful for all of my wonderful family members and friends that have shaped me into the person that I am today. I couldn't help but think of all of my 'couve girls and how we have remained friends throughout these last 13 years since graduation!

Here's to lots and lots of wonderful years to come for the new graduates and us oldies!

Bunco Luau!

What a fun treat! We got to go out on Saturday night and play with our friends. Stephanie and Keith hosted a Bunco Luau party. These peeps are so fun. Everyone had to wear Hawaiian outfits, and some people really got into it!

Party people and Kelly and Kent ready to start rollin'! Kristin and Saundra

Kent and Christy

Saundra and Jason

Kelly and Sarah

Kent, Stephanie, Amanda and Saundra during an intense BUNCO round. I won two prizes, which made the night even more fun! I walked away with $30! $10 for rolling the last BUNCO (I got 3) and $20 for third place! It was basically a free night out, I paid my baby-sitter with my winnings!

Good times at Riverfront Fountain!

YAY for the sun! After Kent got home from work on Friday we took his mom to the airport and headed downtown. We had a nice (food court) dinner, where there was no screaming from our kids! :) Then we headed to the family bathroom. I have to say this is one of the best ideas ever! I never would have given it a second thought, but when you have three kids and two parents these places are lifesavers! Plus they were bouncing off the walls with excitement, so that added an extra challenge. Kent and I were able to get the kids in their suits and lathered with sun screen in record time! This is my new favorite pic:

The family bathroom. I am trying to convince Kent that we need double toilets like this for potty training the girls. Maybe I will just camp out downtown at the mall during the potty training ordeal!

All lathered up and ready to go!

Brayden is so excited he is jumping around like a monkey, that wasn't at all embarrassing!

The cutest little bums ever! (Dani's hair never got wet).

Ellie hit the ground running, right into the HUGE fountain! I was shocked the pressure from the water didn't knock her over. She was whipping around the big kids, screaming and laughing and splashing. It's so fun to see your kids so excited about simple things!

Brayden trying to warm up for a minute. Dani was thrilled to just watch everyone and splash once in a while.

When we got home the girls saw the "new" bikes I got for them the night before. On my way to book club I passed a garage sale. I saw bikes and I jumped out. (We only have one big wheel, and the girls are constantly fighting over it). I got two trikes for a $1 each and the big wheel for $5. Money well spent! They are all thrilled!

What a fun evening!