Thursday, July 25, 2013

Pharaoh's Splash Kindom: Sky Town

My friend, Carly, invited us to go to Pharaoh's Splash Kingdom, an adventure park in our area. Sky Town, a part of Splash Kingdom, is a room full of trampolines. I enjoyed the fact it was SAFE for Trent to run freely without fear of him breaking his neck. This was right up Trent's alley. He LOVED it, Taelyn loved it, and I even loved it. I had so much fun, nearly as much fun as the kids. Of course, I took LOTS of pictures:

Taelyn, Trent and Braxdon playing with a big bouncy ball
I love this picture, Taelyn and Braxdon were resting, having a nice conversation and Trent was trying to get them to jump with him
Taelyn and Braxdon talking
Trent and Braxdon taking a break
Taelyn was so proud of this house she made with these blocks
Trent was more than happy to destroy Taelyn's block house
Sitting in a race car game
Playing with a wheel game
Taelyn and Braxdon playing with a handle. The neat thing about having kids this age, they are entertained by the lights and the noises. We didn't spend anything in the arcade, but spent a good 30 minutes just playing with the handles of the games.
Taelyn and Trent jumping on the trampolines

This was such a fun outing. For $15, we spent four hours jumping playing, building, went on a tour of the water park and had a packed lunch. My babes were so exhausted by the time we left, they fell asleep on the way home and stayed asleep for a good two hours, which is rare now a days. Trent usually sleeps for an hour and if Taelyn takes a nap, its about 45 minutes. Money well spent and we will be doing this again some time soon!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Better Days

After my last post, I have had some seriously good days! Taelyn has been helpful, sweet and even loving. She was absolutely amazing. She's been waking up in a fantastic mood. That's pretty rare for her because she is NOT a morning person. She likes to sleep in and doesn't want to be bothered until she initiates it. She saunters into my room and says, "Good Morning, Trent Michael" (yes, she "middle named" him) then gives him a huge hug and kiss, to his surprise. Then she turns to me and does the same. Shocking! Hey, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if Taelyn is giving out hugs and kisses, I'll take them when ever, where ever I can get them. She never has been an affectionate child, I have to force it out of her, literally, I have to attack her if I want hugs and kisses.

The way she wakes up is a sure indicator of how the rest of the day will be. If she doesn't fight me when it comes to getting dressed, doesn't object to what I prepare for breakfast, and actually eats her food, we are sure to have a good day. I have been praising her about what a good girl she is being and how much mommy loves it when she is so nice to the baby and how I loved how helpful she's been. I make a huge deal about it. When she does something I want her to do, like finish her food, I give her a special treat of one chocolate covered toffee popcorn from Trader Joes. (Yes, it IS as amazing as it sounds.) I am accommodating and attentive to everything she wants to do, I go above and beyond to let her know, it pays to have good behavior, mommy is more willing to do fun things and give more freedoms when she is good. Some call it bribery, I call it an "Incentive Program." Whatever works, especially after the last few weeks I've had, I was really willing to try anything. I have to say, it's been almost 9 days and we haven't had a serious breakdown. I don't want to jinx it, but this time around, I know we are having a good patch and I will not let this amazing time go by without acknowledgement and appreciation.

Trent actually playing with something that is not dangerous
Story Time at the Library
Taelyn showing off her nails and new necklace from Apo
Playing and enjoying my babes

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Rough Season

I started writing this blog right after I published my last blog, but got side tracked and didn't get to finish it. I have gotten a few questions about my last blog. I didn't realize my tone was so melancholy yesterday, but I guess I was. Sorry, this is what's going on:

I have hit a snag in my life as a Mommy. I am in a seriously HARD season right now. I am in tears at the end of nearly every day and I'm counting down the seconds to nap time (if they even nap) and bed time. I hate myself for saying that, but its the truth, I just pray that I survive until bedtime. When I make it, I prepare myself for the next day.

Taelyn and Trent seem to be plotting against me and are finding ways to break me down. Taelyn is almost three and a half and Trent is almost two. So as Trent is about to enter his "Terrible Two's" stage, Taelyn is full into something I just found out about, which is the "Trying Three's" I have never heard of this, but nearly everyone I've talked to has informed me that three is MUCH harder than two. I gotta admit, I was thinking I escaped the terrible two's with Taelyn because she really wasn't that terrible. I also just discovered that the reason they, (not that I know who "they" are) call it "the Terrible Two's" is because, at two is when it begins, it continues sometimes into four. (I'll die!)

I am completely unprepared for what is happening in our house. Taelyn is a good girl, (for the most part). She is obedient, sensitive, caring, and helpful. (When she wants to be) Recently, she hasn't been any of those great qualities that I love so much. Taelyn was always more than happy to help me around the house and with her baby, but lately, she has decided she doesn't want to help me, she doesn't want to mind me, she doesn't want to eat, she doesn't want to drink, she doesn't care that she pushed the baby and hurt his feelings. What happened?? It seriously was a change within one day. I really don't know what is happening, but I don't like it. She whines everything she says. Whining to me is like nails on chalkboard. It hits a nerve, I literally start to twitch. I HATE WHINING!!! Why can't she just tell me in her normal sweet voice what she wants? Its been awful, what's worse is that she has no regard for my feelings, she tells me and the baby to "Go away and leave her alone." She is mean! I know she is a little girl and she doesn't mean what she is saying, but it really doesn't take the sting off of the things she says. She cuts me to the core. I have cried on many occasions, I really don't know what to do about this. I have tried EVERYTHING! She is a very willful child.

With Trent, I am having much different issues. My day with him consists of me protecting him from killing himself. I wish I were joking. He runs face first into the wall and thinks its funny! He jumps from the highest place he can climb and does nose dives. He climbs EV-ER-RY-THING!!! He has scaled the side of our stairs, climbed bookshelves, I catch him on top of tables, counters, chairs, you name it, he's climbed it. Trent gets into everything, he may think his name is "NO" because I say it a million times a day. Just this morning, I was doing Taelyn's hair, I have all of her colorful bands in a medicine container, nice and color coordinated in the separate compartments and he somehow he got a hold of it and emptied ALL of the bands onto the floor. Seriously, there were about a thousand bands on the floor. (That is NOT an exaggeration!) While Taelyn and I picked up the bands, Trent got into our dresser drawers and emptied out all of our clothes, then left the drawers open like stairs and climbed to the top of the dresser, I got to him just as he was about to make a dismount to his demise. As I'm scolding him, this little crazy has the nerve to grab my cheeks and laugh in my face, as in, "Look at me Mommy, I don't care that I scared you half to death, its FUNNY, you can't see that its funny, I'll hold your face in front of mine so you can see how funny I am!" I am NOT amused! Oh, but wait, there is more... As I'm folding our clothes and putting them back into the drawers, I hear Taelyn say, "Don't do that, baby, you gonna get Mommy upset." With a knot in my stomach, I run back to bathroom, to see that he has emptied an entire bottle of baby oil onto the floor and was sitting in it and rubbing it all over his hands, body and the floor . One might ask, why don't I have child proof locks to keep him away from these things? I do! he's mastered opening them! Apparently, they aren't very childproof. (I tried uploading a video of him opening cabinets, but it wouldn't work.) This was just this morning and BEFORE 7am!

I know that God will not give me more than I can handle, but boy, oh boy, I certainly have my work cut out for me. I pray myself through my day. I pray over the kids when they are acting up, especially for Taelyn and her fits. I pray that God surround Trent with a protective force field because I just know a trip to the ER is right around the corner with the shenanigans he pulls all day long. I know, this is just a season and it will pass, I know, things could be much worse, my problems are miniscule compared to what is going on in the world right now, everyone goes through things like this, many other mothers do this everyday, my problems are not that bad, but hey, they are my problems, and this is my blog, so I will complain if I wanna!

PS, I know they will probably read this one day and I hope they do. I want them to know I struggled and survived and did a great job, (wishful thinking, here)

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Beginning Half of the Year

From about December until about June, I have to say, I was really enjoying being a mommy and really enjoying my kids. Trent just turned a year and Taelyn was two turning three. We were in a groove. We were all getting along, the kids loved and played with each other VERY well. Interestingly enough, I stopped blogging during the times that were really great. We did a lot in those months. Here's the past couple of months through pictures:

We went on a Fire House Tour, the kids in the Fire Truck
Taelyn started Ballet and LOVED it!!!
Taelyn and Trent started brushing their teeth by themselves (we still do it afterwards)
Valentine's Day
Reading books is something they love to do together
Playing at the park
Riding dirty with their friends/cousins/neighbors (these kids are all of those!)
They are looking so much alike
They play hide and seek with each other
Trent was making sure I was seeking them
They like to sit and eat with each other
They snuggle under blankets together
We got Disneyland Annual passes and the kids LOVE it!!! This was the 1st time we went.
This was after a day at Disneyland, They had TOO much fun!
Taelyn shares with "her Baby"
They play pretend together. She is "Doc McStufins" and Trent is her patient
They are praying over their pretend pizza
She kisses his "Oh-Oh's"
They always match
Everyone thinks they are twins
They went to a Dodger's Game
They looks so peaceful and loving when they are sleeping. This picture is so precious
We are in a really hard season right now. I wish I could have frozen time for the past few months. We were all really happy and in perfect harmony. Funny thing is, when things were really great, I didn't even notice until things started getting tough. I hate how things work out like that, such is life...

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Chaparrel Lane's 6th Annual Block Party

4th of July snuck up on me this year, I didn't plan the way I normally do, I usually make flyers and put them on everyone's door, but since I was so behind, I sent out a reminder on our block's facebook page and unfortunately, a lot of the neighbors were out of town, so it was much smaller than it was last year.

Our day started off with breakfast and housework. For lunch, we loaded up in JJ's SUV and headed out to Lake Arrowhead for lunch. We ate at Woody's Boathouse Restaurant.

Todd and Taelyn sat with Sierrah and London
JJ and I sat with the boys, Drake and Trent
I enjoyed a super yummy Raspberry Leon Drop
I just love my Sierrah Marie!
There was a bunch of little rides especially made for the kids. This was a dragon swing. Sierrah, London and Trent went on this, Taelyn and Drake chose not to ride.
London was the conductor of this fun Train Ride. Trent, Taelyn and Drake rode coach. (Sierrah was too big to ride with them.)
Taelyn and Drake
All of the kids rode on the swing.
There was also a rickety carrousel, not pictured because we needed to ride with the kids because there were no safety restrains. (NEVER AGAIN for the carrousel, totally scarey for kids and parents equally) After the kids rode the rides, we had some ice cream and then headed home to prepare for the night time 4th of July activities.

We got home at about 5pm. The kids fell asleep on the drive home and slept for a little bit longer. Just long enough for Todd and I to prepare some food. Since it was SO HOT, we decided not to BBQ. I made a refreshing Chicken Salad and a flag fruit pizza. Todd made some sliders on the stove, and neighbors brought food as well. I didn't get any pictures of the food this year, but I did get pictures of the kids:

Taelyn is too cute with her patriotic accessories
She is showing off her nails and her ring
I'm proud I remembered to get a family picture! I still hate myself for not getting a family picture for our 4th Annual 4th of July Party
The girls posed so nicely for a picture....
The boys, not so much!
Another successful and FUN 4th of July Block Party!!! I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!

Trent is 6!!

I blinked and my man turned six years old.  Every year I have had a huge party.  According to Trent, I give all of his friends weapons on hi...