Updates and Photos

I finally downloaded some pictures. Here is our life from the last few months:

My in laws visited. Here is my MIL making bread with the kids.



Then my brother in law visited with his wife and my niece, Claire. Here are the three kids:



A few weeks later we took our kids to a nearby farm. Here is Ainsley with a baby pig.



And Brandon with a goat.


And Ainsley riding a pony.


And Brandon riding a pony. (The pony rides were $4 per child, people. I am posting the pictures!)
Then we picked peaches - after all, it was a peach festival.


Then it was Brandon's last day of kindergarten. He got the "milky way" award for most creative and imaginative.
Then the kids all sang/screamed out the lyrics to 4 songs.


And we got a new puppy!!! She's a mastiff - her name is Maya.



Here she is meeting our other dog - Kali. (the stupid, but lovable daschund). Kali wont be the bigger dog for long!(Please ignore my filthy area rug. I didn't realize how dirty it was til I looked at these pictures)

I'm Six Now, Mom

Little boy - you are six years old today - and, already you think your whole world has changed.

"I'm six now...I don't have to hold your hand in the street."

"Six year olds go to bed at 8:00, not 7:00"

"Six year olds can have candy whenever they want, mom."

"Mom, when I turn 6 1/2 I'll be in high school."

You are growing so fast, but are a study in contradictions. One minute you can take on the world, and the next you are scared to go to sleep.

This year has changed so much - you are in school now, and doing great. You are everything I hoped you would be - and I am so proud of you! But, don't be in a hurry, little man- take your time with growing up.


I loved watching you with your friends at your birthday. It was so cute - the way you all said "dude" after and before everything else you said. You forgot all about us, and were focused on your friends. You are a sweet, smart, amazing boy - and I am so glad to be your mom.

My Baby Girl

You turn three today - baby girl. Even though you still tell me that "i two anna half!" when I ask you how old you are - I know the truth. You are growing up before my eyes. You came into my life quite unexpectedly and continue to surprise me everyday. I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a little girl, and love how we are starting to do girly things together. Here you are - as you turn three:



Sometimes you don't look quite so precious:

But you'll always be my baby

What I did on my summer vacation

I've been gone for a couple of months - taking a little break from blogging. Here are some upcoming posts I would like to write:

• Why my whole family had a mustache at the cabin.

• Brandelion's first day of school - guess who cried?

• I'm twice as busy at work because everyone keeps quitting.

• How to get heat exhaustion by drinking too much water when moving a family of four all by yourself in 110 degree heat (subtitled, how to get your wife to come home early and drive you to the doctor)

I guess I'll leave for now with a couple of shots of Drama Queen who has been quite a trooper through all of the recent changes. I wish I could fall asleep like this!

Kindergarten Blues

My baby starts KINDERGARTEN in the fall!!!

Ok, I already knew that, but, last night it really hit me and AtHomeHubby. It made me think back to the first day we had to put Brandelion in daycare when he was eight months old.

We had visited the daycare several times, and we knew he would be fine. I thought I was okay, and the first day I arrived a little early and got him settled in. I headed home to change and get ready to go to work and school, and as I got out of the building

I. Lost. It.

I stood in the parking lot of the daycare BAWLING, and wanting to go back in to get him. I made myself get in the car, and by the time I drove the 10 minutes home I had cried so hard that I had a migraine.

I called in sick to work, and just stayed at home for the day while my baby was at daycare!!!

My mom called me later in the day, thinking I was at work. It turns out that she had sent me flowers at my job because she knew what a tough day it was going to be for me, her baby.

Peace Out,

Working Gal

He's Moving

This was too traumatic a couple of days ago when it happened, but now it is funny.

AtHomeHubby and I have really laid down the law about the rules in the mornings because of this and this. The deal is that if the rules are broken, no TV for the day. Hard to believe that AtHomeHubby signed on for that, but he is a glutton for punishment. The rules for Brandelion include - no food without asking permission, he has to stay in bed until 7:00, and he can't go outside.

This was tough for him for several days, and he lost a lot of TV privileges. On Tuesday, he informed AtHomeHubby that,

I'm moving to Nana's! You're too mean, and she's nice.

He then started crying, packing, and called me at work to say goodbye. It was horrible. I felt really helpless, but AtHomeHubby persisted that this was "good for him" and "it will make him appreciate us."

Then, AtHomeHubby told Brandelion how much he would miss him, and how we would all cry all the time if he left.

Brandelion finally relented, broke down and sobbed, and has been the SWEETEST kid for the last couple of days.

Even though, at the time, I thought AtHomeHubby was being WAY too heartless by just letting Brandelion pack, etc....

Here goes....

I hate to admit it....

He was right.

A little bit, honey, just a little

A few months ago, Brandelion and I were having one of our Sunday afternoon, just me and him trips to the grocery store. I try to do this a couple of times a month - I like to have the time alone with him, away from his dad and his sister. I always try to make is special (usually by buying him something - I am not above bribery) and always tell him how much I like it when it is just me and him.

We had just pulled into the parking space, when he hit me with it,

Mom, when I was a baby, how did I get in your tummy?

*PANIC ALARM goes off in my head....desperately trying to remember all of the so-called parenting books I had read. I'm sure this was a topic, but my mind is going blank!!!*

Then I remember the standard advice: Just answer the question at a level he can understand and don't give him too much information.

So I answered the following way,

When a mommy and daddy love each other very much they make a little tiny baby, and the baby grows in the mommy's belly.

Whew, that wasn't too bad, let's hope he doesn't ask (1) how the baby is made or (2) precisely how it gets in the belly.

He replies, How did I get out?

Well, sweetie, when it was time for you to get out, Mommy went to the hospital and the doctors, nurses, and even Daddy helped me push you out.

Then, in the sweetest, most loving, and slightly shocked voice,

DID IT HURT?

In my head I'm thinking: "hell yes it hurt!! Like nothing else. In fact the only thing that has ever hurt worse in my entire life was giving birth to your sister! And the stiches, oh, the stiches I had!"

Instead I said,

A little bit, honey, just a little.

It was a dark and stormy weekend

We had a rough weekend. It rained/drizzled both days and was cold (for Phoenix). Saturday, neither AtHomeHubby or I felt like even leaving the house - so we didn't. Cabin fever was rampant - AtHomeHubby slept until noon, after a long Friday night shift at the restaurant. By the time he got up - I was pretty frustrated with the kids - needless to say, we were just glad for bedtime.

Yesterday was better - we went to the gym (I haven't lost any more, but I'm holding steady) and the grocery store, watched football, AtHomeHubby went to work at 5:00, I made chili - and, OH YEAH - DramaQueen became obsessed with the potty.

We bought a kid sized potty seat for DramaQueen, and also put her in pull ups. She really seems to like the following pattern.

1. Put on new pull-up
2. Play for a while
3. Go potty in the pull up
4. Declare that she needs to go potty
5. Sit on potty
6. Declare, "I POTTY!!! Yea!!"
7. Flush lots of toilet paper
8. Repeat

I think she actually went once - but, as AtHomeHubby put it when he checked - too much toilet paper to be sure.

When we went through this with Brandelion - he was in daycare, and, to be honest, they did most of the work for us! I guess we're on our own.

Another milestone

Two days ago DramaQueen wanted to sit on the potty (we still need to buy a kid sized potty), so she sat on the big one. She promptly pooped and was very proud.

Time for us to start the potty training. She seems even more ready than we are.

And yes, this was yet another (albeit icky) milestone I missed because I was at work.

Once again, commence guilt.

Ready to grow up

This story comes from AtHomeHubby last night after Brandelion earnestly talked his ear off about growing up. This is going to be a long post. Indulge me. The conversation began with

Daddy, does everyone have a last name?

AtHomeHubby patiently explained that yes, we all do, and was then peppered with questions about what everyone's last name is. Then the little one asked,

When I have kids will they have *insert last name* as a last name?

OH MY GOD!!! He just realized (or at least vocalized) that he may, someday have children!!

Then it got pretty serious,

Daddy, when I have kids will you take care of them?

No, son, you'll be a grown up then, and you'll take care of them.

But I don't have a job.

You will.

But I don't have a car to go buy groceries.

You will.

Will I live in this house?

Well, you can, but you will probably have your own house.

**crying** DADDY - I don't want my own house, I don't want to lose you....DADDDDYYYY***

(insert a bit of working gal jealousy here - I was never mentioned. Commence guilt.)

Can I live next door?

Sure

Where will I work?

I don't know, what do you want to do?

I can be a cook at *insert name of restaurant where AtHomeHubby works part time*!

(working gal recalling cute saying: Brandelion used to say, "I want to be a COOKER!")

Sure son, you could even be a chef, and OWN your own restaurant.

Like the pizza restaurant we go to for lunch sometimes?

Sure.

If I have a girl, I want to name her Ainsley (Drama Queen). And if I have a boy....I don't know - what should I name a boy, daddy?

You can figure that out later when you grow up and get married.

Who am I going to marry?

A girl.

But will I have to kiss her? That's gross

(score 1 for team No Kissing)

Maybe when you get older you will want to kiss a girl.

I don't know....

I tell you what, why don't you just focus on being 5 for now. Then next year you can think about being six.

Then the funniest moment:

Daddy does Claire have our last name?

Yes, she is my niece.

Your NURSE! How can she take care of you - she is just a BABY!

My little man is growing up. I am so proud of him, but it also really pulls at my heart strings. He takes everything very seriously, and I realize how observant he is. This made me realize that I need to keep his world as child like as possilble, and keep all grown up issues (like money, stress, etc) out of his earshot.

Kids are so absorbant, I think sometimes we forget.