Bunch of Random Updates

~Trent was super sick for about a day and a half with a fever of 105.9.  He was acting as if nothing was wrong.  If he wasn't burning hot, I would have never known he was sick.  I took him to the doctor and they told me, it was Roseola, after observing him for the following week, I don't think he was diagnosed correctly.  He was fine right after the initial day. He never got a rash, or acted as if he wasn't feeling well. 

~Taelyn got a fever of 104.5 about three days after Trent.  It lasted about 12 hours.  She was fine as well.  Whatever virus they were fighting, it came and went quickly!

~We went to Yucaipa Regional Park with some friends

 ~Trent started gymnastics at My Gym

 Little monkey swinging from the rope

 ~Taelyn started Ballet and Jazz. This is Trent watching her.  For some reason, all I have is videos of Taelyn from class, no pictures :(

 

Grammy and Grampy came for a visit.  They brought Taelyn a puzzle

 Grampy getting some Taelyn snuggles

 Trent got his hair cut.  He did really well.  We gave him some grapes and he sat perfectly still. 

 

Trent looks like such a big man with his hair so short.  His little baby curls are gone :( 

 

~We went to visit Todd's Aunt, Uncle and Cousins in Costa Mesa, this was one of the two pictures I took

 This is the other picture I took that day.  Trent with his cousin's helmet on

~We had a yard sale last Saturday.  Obviously, Trent was super helpful

 ~Tylia, Taelyn's bestest friend, came over for a visit after the yard sale.  I think they are ready for football season

 When Tylia left, we went to the Drive-In Theater with the cousins to see Planes

~For about a month now, Taelyn is no longer a thumb sucker!!!  You have no idea how happy I am to report this.  I despised the fact she sucked her thumb.  Not only did she suck her thumb, but she also would bite her nails.  I was going crazy trying to think of ways to get her to stop.  I used every trick in the book, lemons, hot sauce, gloves, tape, I even used Mavala Stop (really bitter tasting nail polish) That didn't work.  One day we were at my mom's house and Taelyn asked her to paint her nails and so my mom said that if she stopped sucking her thumb and biting her nails, she would paint them every time she saw her... by golly if that didn't do the trick! Taelyn stopped that very second.  Her desire to have pretty nails and toe nails outweighed her desire to bite and suck her thumb.  She has amazing will power for a three year old. 

~For the past four days, I have been feeling pretty crumby.  I don't know what is wrong with me.  I am tired ALL. DAY. LONG.  I wake up tired, I feel like I am a zombie for the whole day and as soon as the kids go to bed, I crash.  I have zero energy.  I am light headed with a nagging headache that won't go away.  It's not like a migraine, more like a throbbing feeling in the back of my eyes that is never ending.  I would like to go to the doctor, but unfortunately, I don't have anyone to watch my kids while my husband is at work.  Being a stay at home mom, I don't really get any time away, so I sit in a funk, trying not to lose my patience with my kids, who seem to think I am a human jungle gym, I drive them to their various activities, and just soldier up because I have no other choice.  They don't understand that I don't feel well.  Like every season, this will pass. 

~Yesterday's So You Think You Can Dance is over, so Taelyn is now crawling on top of the laptop, trying to get my attention.  I guess my pity party is over.  Tomorrow will be a better day, I'm sure.  As for today, I think I need to go to Urgent Care.   Until the next time I have a moment to myself....

Nine Busy Summer Days

Last week was a super busy week. We did something EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!  Starting on Sunday of last week, we went to church, had lunch at home, napped and then met up with the Thompson's at Splash Kingdom.  These kids had a blast!

 The Thompson's on the Lazy River

Todd took Trent on the Lazy River (Taelyn didn't want to go)

Taelyn chose to hang out with Mommy

They enjoyed walking on the splash pad

Todd is such a big kid, he was excited when the bucket dumped all the water on him and the kids enjoyed watching from a safe distance

Leaving the park, Taelyn and Trent were holding hands.  I love catching sweet moments like this

Monday: We went to Costco, hung out at my mom's house, came home for naps and when the kids woke up, we went to Victoria Gardens to have dinner with Marco at Lucille's.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of our day. 

Tuesday:  We went to the Beaumont Library for a FREE children's carnival.  It was super fun for the kids.  There was a magic show, a hula hooping station

A Play-Doh station 

A table full of Mr. Potato Heads to play with, a bubble making station, snacks, face painting and many other games.  The kids had a great time going from station to station and playing.  We came home for naps and while the kids were napping I started making cookies.  Trent woke up to the smell and came downstairs to join me.  This is what he was doing:

I swear, I spend most of my day trying to keep him from harming himself.  He climbs on EVERYTHING!

I made the cookies to take to the Redlands Bowl to watch The Sound of Music. Our friends and the Redlands Christian Center were ushers and invited us to have dinner and hang out.  Taelyn was being silly with the donation buckets

Of course, Trent does everything his Ate Taelyn does

Silly girls, bucket heads

All of the kids after dinner

Wednesday: We went to Yucaipa Regional Park

My little water Tunk

Taelyn was getting brave and going in to about her neck!  I snapped this picture as she was walking out

We met up with our friends Jessica and her kids (laying in the sand in the background) and Anthony and his daughter Mila (pictured) Carly and Braxdon were with us also, but for some reason, I don't have any pictures of them.  :(

These were the only pictures I took all day, I must have been out of it. 

Thursday: I met up with my friend Lea and her daughter Brooklyn at Story Time at Smiley Library and then we went to Chick-Fil-A and had lunch while the kids played in the play area.  Taelyn traded in her book for some ice cream, as you can see, she was loving it!

After nap time, I busted out the baking soda, vinegar, food coloring and eyedroppers.  This was Trent's first time playing with this and he made a mess, but he loved! This is such a fun and time consuming activity.  The kids enjoyed it, they are working on their motor skills (working the eyedropper) learning colors and learning about the chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar.  Of course that is for when they are much older, but I did try to explain how when you put two chemicals together to get a reaction.  They didn't care at all, they just loved the fizz. 

Friday: We didn't go anywhere on this day, but we had lots of visitors.  The kids played outside with Geoffrey in the morning while we waited for Kaleb, our Godson and and his baby sister Kendall. 

My nieces, Maila, Maya, Leah and nephew Allan also came over.  I had SEVEN kids total from 10am-4pm.  The kids all played great together.  The girls played "Dress Up"

Kendall was so cute as Princess Aurora

When everyone left,  I went to Crossfit Covert to get my WOD on.  When we got home, the kids played outside and by bedtime, I was spent!

Saturday: We woke up super early and went back to Crossfit.  After, we ran home so I could shower and get dressed.  We stopped at my mom's house so she could hang out with the kids for a little while.  After we left my mom's house, we went to our friend, Allison's, 8th birthday Luau. 

Taelyn loved the flower head band

Trent has a thing with Hula Hoops

Watching Allison blow out the candles

Trent was playing with the pool toys

After the party, we went home to meet up with Daddy so we could go to dinner with the Thompson's.  We went to Claim Jumpers and after, the kids played outside until it got dark. 

Sunday: We went to church in the morning, then after church we went straight to Loma Linda to visit my sweet Sorority Sister Tekura.  This woman is such a true testimony!  While pregnant, she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she underwent Chemotherapy, had surgery to have lymph nodes removed on July 20, on July 30, she was told she was cancer free!! Then just four days later, she had an emergency c-section and Lacey Lin is here and she is PERFECT!!! I am just in awe at how she was able to get through this and have such a positive outlook, according to her, it was nothing but GOD, so all I have to say to that is PRAISE HIM!!! 

 Beautiful Lacey

 After the hospital, we ran to Costco for a few things.  I met up with Carly to get a pedicure while Todd took the kids home to nap.  After naps, we met the Sanders Family at Victoria Gardens and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. 

 Trent and his Shenanigans, when we were wrapping up dinner, Todd took him out of his high chair and he disappeared! We all were frantically looking around for him and we heard a faint little giggle, we look over about 10 feet away and this little boy was in the WINDOW!  He is out of control, I swear, I have no idea where he came from! He is always up to something.  He thought it was hilarious that we were having a heart attack looking for him. 

Monday: I woke up and went to Crossfit.  Todd got the kids dressed and ready while I was gone.  They are currently at the movies watching the Smurfs, while I am sitting here writing this blog and watching The Real.  Its a silly day time talk show, but I really enjoy it.  Sorry for this beast of a blog post, but I just can't believe how much we have done in nine days.  I try and stay busy, but I think a day where we do absolutely NOTHING is in our near future, just not tomorrow, I plan on doing the $1 movie at Krikorian and getting my hair done, I'm really excited about my hair appointment.  Summer will be over as soon as I know it, so I want to remember all of the fun things I do with the kids. 

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!

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

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)