Back to reality

School is back in session, which means life is back to normal. Back to schedules and routine. I guess it's a good thing.....I guess. Leah was happy to go back to school. She thrives on seeing her friends on a regular basis. Ashlyn asked, again, if I could homeschool her. She didn't want to go back. Ultimately I think she would miss being at school if I really did pull her out. But if she gets put in another split level class next year, I might be very tempted to do something drastic. 

Brandon is back at speech and preschool and is loving it. How could he not? His preschool is super fun. He's starting to ask more questions about kindergarten. What it's going to be like? Who he's going to play with? If any of his preschool friends will be with him? (They won't unfortunately. He will be the lone kid at Valley View.) He told me he's a bit nervous. Makes me sad for him. I know he'll do great. I try to encourage him with the hope that he'll have the same teacher his sisters did. I'm crossing my fingers on that one. I'm pretty sure he will though. Even if I have to bribe her with the promise of being her room mom. Haha....

Carter is getting back into his routine too, which means he's napping better again and not putting up such a fight. He's still barking orders at me, but I think that's pretty par for the course at this age. I just keep reminding him to use his manners. He'll get it eventually right???

Leah had a playdate with her little buddy Ashlynn. They of course spent the whole time painting their nails and toes, putting on make up and having a fashion show. So perfectly matched.

Paul and I celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary on the 12th of this month. We went out to The Cheesecake Factory and stuffed ourselves silly. This is a picture of a picture since we were married back in the day BEFORE digital cameras. Or if they had them, no one was using them yet. I must say I still love my bouquet, my dress, my cake, and most of all my man! Lucky me huh! And if you are a "Downton Abbey" fan, notice my bouquet....YUP! Same one that Mary had at her wedding. She copied me. ;-) Ok so hers was a bit fuller, but still, my mouth about hit the floor when I saw it on the show. 

And while Leah is definitely our biggest drama queen around here, she still is the sweetest thing around. Always writing notes for everyone and giving hugs. She's definitely full of life.

Now to just get her to like anything I make. This pizza was made specially for her. She helped me make it too. Pepperoni's....yup....just for her too. Did she like it? Nope! It didn't taste "right" according to her. So last night I tried again. Scoured Pinterest looking for something she might like. Found a bacon ranch chicken pasta. She LOVES bacon. I thought I couldn't go wrong. NOPE!!! She didn't like it. Wouldn't even try it. Spent an hour in her room before I gave mercy on her and let her come down after the fit she threw. I don't recall getting to have an opinion about what I ate when I was a kid. Even the mac and cheese I make isn't always the "right" kind for her. I told her I hoped someday she'd have a kid just as picky as her. She told me I was mean. LOL.....but I kind of hope she does.

Ashlyn on the other hand, as picky as she was as a kid, will eat just about anything I make. Or will at least try it....even if it's not her favorite. She's definitely a pleaser. I'm okay with that though. I need one to humor me right? 

This is her idea of cooking. Playdough style.

Ok, so I shouldn't be so negative about her. She is sweet and adorable and thoughtful. And she doesn't hate everything I make.....just a large majority of it. LOL. She'll grow out of it eventually. Funny thing is she ate the best as a baby. Weird how things change. All I ever hear is how if you feed your kids well as infants and give them a good variety, they will be good eaters. It's been quite the opposite for me I would say. 

Snuggle time with Daddy! Too cute.

Tomorrow is MLK holiday, which means Paul and the kids are home. Gotta think of something super fun to do. We spent most of Saturday cleaning the house and lounging around. And while I would jump at the chance to have a regular housekeeper if I could, it is kind of rewarding to work together as a family to get the work done. Plus I hope the kids are learning a bit about how to respect and take care of their property. So they don't get to college and not know how to clean anything (trust me...I had roommates like that. It was pathetic).

I have to find the positive in spending half my Saturday cleaning right???

Oh Carter

Now everyone knows my little boy is adorable and sweet and lovey (yes I'm biased, but he really is.) But he has a stinker streak too. Couple that with the terrible two's and we've had some major fights. He's also always had a sensitive gag reflex. He use to throw up all the time as a baby, but now he has learned how to make himself throw up. Especially when he's mad. He knows I would have to clean up the mess and I seriously think he does it to get back at me for whatever horrible thing I've done (like make him take a nap. Lol). Well today he was screaming and yelling at me about his nap and starting to do his cough that causes him to throw up (yes I know "the cough"). I walked over to his crib and told him if he threw up he would have to sleep in it because I wasn't going to clean him up (yes I was bugged). And you know what he did? He stopped crying, laid down and went to sleep. Score one for me.

I wonder if it'll work every time. I might have to live up to my promise if it doesn't. Oh boy.

Spoiled

I must say I got pretty lucky in the "Inlaw" department, which is really no surprise since I have such a great hubby. He was definitely raised by great parents. 

We were very lucky to have Paul's parents come out for 5 days this past week. It was perfect timing too. Just as the holiday were coming to a close and not much more was going on, they came to give us one more week of fun before the kids have to go back to school.

And we were DEFINITELY spoiled by them too. I think we went out to eat twice every day they were here. We went shopping, to the movies, took the kids to a bounce house, to the park and had fun at home too. Grammy started to teach the girls to crochet. Leah picked it up in a snap and was making necklaces for everyone by the end of the day. Ashlyn had a little bit harder of a time, but kept practicing after Grammy left and now has a nice long chain herself too. I commend her diligence. She practiced hard. 

Pop Pop did some odd jobs around the house. Had the fire place and chimney cleaned out for us, bought and hung new curtains in the girls room, bought new rugs and towels for the kids bathroom, checked out a leak under our sink and did a few other odds and ends trying to help us be more comfy in our home. 

We also got Grammy (and Pop Pop too) hooked on "Downton Abby". I think we watched two episodes every night they were here and finished the first season before they left. Then Paul had season two shipped to their house, so it will be waiting for them when they get home. 

We are truly going to miss them. Thanks for making the trip out to see us. We sure are a lucky family.

Leah tried to help Carter up this steep climb...

But she just couldn't do it. 

And yes, Brandon is choking here. LOL. But not really. Just swallowed his drink wrong or something and I caught the photo at just the "right" time. 

The girls new curtains. It keeps their room nice and dark in the morning now. Leah even slept in until almost 8 am today. That's HUGE for her.

The girls learning their new "craft". At least someone will be able to teach them crafty sewing things. 

So sad

Paul's parents are in town and we have been having a wonderful time so far. So grateful they made the trip out here. I know it's not fun or easy to travel.

Today we went down to the Glendale Galleria and the Americana on Brand. We did a little shopping, ate some lunch and then me, my girls and my MIL went to see the Cirque De Soleil movie. It was really good. Almost like being at the show. In someways it was better because it was up close. In other ways, you really can't beat a live performance. But it was still, as Leah put it, "incredible"!

Now to the sad part. While us girls were in the movie, Paul and his Dad hung out with the boys. They were at the playground in the Galleria. Carter got turned around for a minute and couldn't find Paul. Well he started crying hysterically, as he often does when he can't find us (I don't blame him actually). The kind of cry that is so sad because you know he's scared. Paul ran over to him but it was too late. He gets worked up so fast. And if you know him, you know that only means one thing ...... he was gonna throw up. Paul tried to pull him to the side but basically Carter emptied his stomach right there in the play area. They had to buy him new clothes and everything. Quite the mess from what they told me.

The saddest part though was tonight when I was bathing him. I asked him why he threw up today (just to see what his answer would be) and he said, in a quivering 2 year old voice, "No.see.daddy". Well that just about broke my heart in two. My poor sweet little boy.

My final Birthday Celebration

I will be the first to admit that I definitely drug my birthday celebrating out this year. Made it last as long as I could. Not totally on purpose, but I'm glad I did. It was fun, and being that I was a bit depressed about turning 35 in the first place, I thought I might as well make the most of it, and celebrate well. 

I couldn't decide what I wanted to do for the longest time, but then remembered how much I love going to plays, but rarely get out to see any. So I thought my birthday was a very good excuse to go. I've been going to the Glendale Center Theater since I was a teenager when I would come visit my Aunt in the summers. I just love that little center stage theater that mostly caters to "the older crowd". It has lots of good memories. So I must give props to my friends who humored me and came with me. 

We saw "Heaven can Wait". A cute little play about a boxer who was accidentally taken from earth before his time. It was a fun show and was definitely made more fun by the company. 

We started the evening out at a little restaurant called "El Morfi Grill". Kind of an Argentina/Italian mix. It was good, but not a huge win over for me.

Then off to the theater.

My silly friends. Entertaining themselves while waiting for the show to start.

I just love these crazy ladies.

Silly Sayings by Carter

I got Carter out of bed this morning and started getting him ready for the day. Grammy and PopPop are flying in today and we have been talking about it with the kids for weeks now. So while I was getting Carter ready I said to him, "Carter guess who's coming today?" He looked at me kind of quizzically like he didn't really know what to say. So I asked him again, "Carter, do you know who's coming to our house today"? His eyes got really big and he got a real excited look on his face. Then in almost a reverent whisper he said, "SANTA?!" I about died laughing. His Grandparents are pretty fun, but you can't beat Santa in a two year olds mind. It was hilarious!

New Year's and Frazier Park

We had a nice New Year's Eve at home with just the kiddos, celebrating with the East Coast. That's the way to go when you have little ones.

We all snuggled up, watched "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" together, had yummy snacks, played a few games and toasted with the Ball drop in New York.

On New Year's Day we headed up to Frazier Park with some friends to find a fun place to take the kids sledding. There are definitely some negatives to living in California, but being able to get to the snow during the winter and the beach during the summer in about an hour each, is certainly not one of them. It's pretty dang awesome actually. And I'm sad that we haven't taken advantage of the snow before this year. 

There wasn't a ton of snow up there. I think it had snowed last week and what we sledded on was leftovers, but it was still plenty for the kids. And it was seriously cold, so we felt like we were far from home. We brought hot chocolate and had cupcakes to celebrate our little friend Timmy's 6th birthday. It's definitely something we will be making into a yearly tradition.

Coloring New Year's signs.

Boy these kids can be LOUD!

Teaching the kids how to do "cheers".

Snow fun with friends!

Brandon threw a MIGHTY big fit about his clothes. Does that surprise anyone. But I told him he absolutely could not play in the snow in swim shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops. Even I have my limits. It was a battle and he spent some time in the car before he decided to get dressed, but this was our compromise. Short sleeved shirt with sleeveless jacket, gloves, hat and snow boots and yes.....you are right....those are pajama pants. It was the best I could get him to put on.

Ahh......some day this will be funny right? Please tell me it will.