Rachel - Jyn Erso / Andrew - Jango Fett / Kendall - Rey / Carson - R2D2
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween from my little Star Wars nerds!
Rachel - Jyn Erso / Andrew - Jango Fett / Kendall - Rey / Carson - R2D2
Rachel - Jyn Erso / Andrew - Jango Fett / Kendall - Rey / Carson - R2D2
Monday, October 30, 2017
Kendall turns 5
Kendall's birthday fell on the week that Molly was at our house, so she totally got the short end of the stick because I was having all sorts of mental breakdowns. In fact, on her actually birthday, that is the day people were coming to see the dog and we/I had already decided to sell her. Happy birthday! Ugh!
She wanted a Halloween-themed birthday, which made it super easy on me. We decided to keep the party small and go to Coconut Cove (an indoor playground). She doesn't eat cake, so she wanted an ice cream "cake" with just vanilla and chocolate ice cream. It was not my best work, but SHE wanted to decorate it anyway with the most random Halloween decorations that we had laying around. And you know what, she was thrilled with it. For her birthday, she got shopkins and lego friends, and a new bike. Brandon also took her to the football game on her actual birthday and she had fun cheering on the Cougars and eating treats!
Kendall is simply the best and a total sweetheart. Here's some fun things about her:
- smart and has already started learned how to read
- fun to be around
- good sharer
- funny
- extensive vocabulary
- sleeper winner most often (the person who sleeps in the longest)
- shouts surprise whenever we come into the bathroom to wipe her bottom
- my only child that has realized that my kisses don't actually help her ouchies
- good at helping taking all the diapers to the garbage and fetching whatever mommy needs
- hates bread and loves chocolate milk (she can even drink it without breathing according to the other kids)
- current favorite foods: corndogs, hot dogs, chicken nuggets only from certain fast food places, smoothies, cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch), very particular about which crackers she likes (right now, it is Chicken in a Bisquit)
- skilled colorer and drawer, but she thinks she isn't very good because the big kids are better than her
- brave in social situations (still prefers a buddy when going upstairs/downstairs)
- great singer
- fabulous dancer
- good sport - doesn't get too embarrassed
- Funny story: she was getting embarrassed at home if we teased her about tooting. I told her to own it and make it a joke and just admit to it. I meant just to our family, but within the hour, we headed to the kids elementary school. Before I could even stop her, she told the principal that she had tooted twice in the car and started giggling! So then we had to clarify that she just jokes about it around her family.)
- Sweet story from a primary leader: We were doing our practice during sharing time a couple weeks ago, and I was sitting in the front. I saw Kendall tap her teacher on the shoulder and she leaned over and said, "Jesus doesn't care about how much money we make." Her teacher said, "That's right, Kendall," and turned back to the front. But Kendall wasn't done. She tapped her again and said, "He only cares about how much we love each other." I was just totally flooded with the Spirit, and it was one of my favorite primary moments ever.
She wanted a Halloween-themed birthday, which made it super easy on me. We decided to keep the party small and go to Coconut Cove (an indoor playground). She doesn't eat cake, so she wanted an ice cream "cake" with just vanilla and chocolate ice cream. It was not my best work, but SHE wanted to decorate it anyway with the most random Halloween decorations that we had laying around. And you know what, she was thrilled with it. For her birthday, she got shopkins and lego friends, and a new bike. Brandon also took her to the football game on her actual birthday and she had fun cheering on the Cougars and eating treats!
Kendall is simply the best and a total sweetheart. Here's some fun things about her:
- smart and has already started learned how to read
- fun to be around
- good sharer
- funny
- extensive vocabulary
- sleeper winner most often (the person who sleeps in the longest)
- shouts surprise whenever we come into the bathroom to wipe her bottom
- my only child that has realized that my kisses don't actually help her ouchies
- good at helping taking all the diapers to the garbage and fetching whatever mommy needs
- hates bread and loves chocolate milk (she can even drink it without breathing according to the other kids)
- current favorite foods: corndogs, hot dogs, chicken nuggets only from certain fast food places, smoothies, cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch), very particular about which crackers she likes (right now, it is Chicken in a Bisquit)
- skilled colorer and drawer, but she thinks she isn't very good because the big kids are better than her
- brave in social situations (still prefers a buddy when going upstairs/downstairs)
- great singer
- fabulous dancer
- good sport - doesn't get too embarrassed
- Funny story: she was getting embarrassed at home if we teased her about tooting. I told her to own it and make it a joke and just admit to it. I meant just to our family, but within the hour, we headed to the kids elementary school. Before I could even stop her, she told the principal that she had tooted twice in the car and started giggling! So then we had to clarify that she just jokes about it around her family.)
- Sweet story from a primary leader: We were doing our practice during sharing time a couple weeks ago, and I was sitting in the front. I saw Kendall tap her teacher on the shoulder and she leaned over and said, "Jesus doesn't care about how much money we make." Her teacher said, "That's right, Kendall," and turned back to the front. But Kendall wasn't done. She tapped her again and said, "He only cares about how much we love each other." I was just totally flooded with the Spirit, and it was one of my favorite primary moments ever.
Puppy Fail
Last week, I experienced an EPIC parenting and personal fail! The kids absolutely LOVE dogs, and they have been asking to get one for a long time. I always joked we could get one when Rachel was 14, thinking that by then, she's be more interested in phones than dogs! When Rachel started saving money for a turtle (I really didn't want a turtle in her bedroom), I joked that we might as well get a family dog. Brandon and I on and off talked about the possibility of it for awhile until I realized that I only had a small window before Carson started getting grabby/toddler-ish. It was either now or wait 3-4 years, and I really didn't know if Rachel and Andrew could have waited. So I started looking for something I thought I could realistically manage (I knew I couldn't do a brand new puppy), so when I came a cross a 4.5 month old mini labradoodle who was already crate-trained, potty-trained, sweet and well-behaved, we went and saw her and felt really great about it.
We surprised our kids and brought her home on Monday! We named her Molly and she was a smart, spirited, curious, and playful puppy. She also required constant supervision, and a great deal more of training, play, research, and socialization than I could have EVER anticipated.
By Friday, much to my shame, guilt, sadness ... I knew in my heart that I could not handle a puppy right now and give her the time and attention she deserved. In my great effort to be a good mom and give our kids a pet experience, I quickly realized that training her to be a good family dog would ironically mean that I would need to neglect my family and the children's needs for MONTHS and the dog would need to move to the top of my priority list. And I knew I couldn't do that, so I posted a classified ad for her. Immediately, I felt a huge weight off my shouldn't, knowing that it was the right decision for me and our family. By Sunday, we had found her a wonderful home - a newly retired couple with lots of land and grandchildren. I felt that I had to move fast before we all got too attached (there were still LOTS and LOTS of tears letting her go).
I have felt absolutely heartbroken and horrible for disappointing the people that I love the very most and for failing at something I thought I could do. However, this experience allowed me to see my priorities much more clearly, and that I really need to focus on the people in my house right now.
We surprised our kids and brought her home on Monday! We named her Molly and she was a smart, spirited, curious, and playful puppy. She also required constant supervision, and a great deal more of training, play, research, and socialization than I could have EVER anticipated.
By Friday, much to my shame, guilt, sadness ... I knew in my heart that I could not handle a puppy right now and give her the time and attention she deserved. In my great effort to be a good mom and give our kids a pet experience, I quickly realized that training her to be a good family dog would ironically mean that I would need to neglect my family and the children's needs for MONTHS and the dog would need to move to the top of my priority list. And I knew I couldn't do that, so I posted a classified ad for her. Immediately, I felt a huge weight off my shouldn't, knowing that it was the right decision for me and our family. By Sunday, we had found her a wonderful home - a newly retired couple with lots of land and grandchildren. I felt that I had to move fast before we all got too attached (there were still LOTS and LOTS of tears letting her go).
I have felt absolutely heartbroken and horrible for disappointing the people that I love the very most and for failing at something I thought I could do. However, this experience allowed me to see my priorities much more clearly, and that I really need to focus on the people in my house right now.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Trip to California
For fall break, we traveled to San Diego and stayed at a beach house on Mission Beach. We decided to hit the beach before Carson learned to crawl and he was so good - he traveled well (probably because I'd go back and sit by him) and he slept wherever we needed him to.
On the way down and back, we stayed in Mesquite to help break up the drive. When we passed the giant Buffalo Bills roller coaster at the California border, we asked Rachel and Andrew what we would need to give them if they went on it. Rachel said she'd need a puppy and Andrew said he'd need a momma kitty who is about to have babies. Oh my gosh! We were laughing so hard (especially since we really are getting a puppy right after this trip!).
We absolutely love the beach and we played there for many hours! It was so nice to be staying right there. We got sand absolutely everywhere!! Brandon also brought his paddle board and he took it out on Mission Bay. We also spent a day at Sea World and it was great because it wasn't crowded at all! It sprinkled on us a few times, but the weather overall was really great.
On the way down and back, we stayed in Mesquite to help break up the drive. When we passed the giant Buffalo Bills roller coaster at the California border, we asked Rachel and Andrew what we would need to give them if they went on it. Rachel said she'd need a puppy and Andrew said he'd need a momma kitty who is about to have babies. Oh my gosh! We were laughing so hard (especially since we really are getting a puppy right after this trip!).
We absolutely love the beach and we played there for many hours! It was so nice to be staying right there. We got sand absolutely everywhere!! Brandon also brought his paddle board and he took it out on Mission Bay. We also spent a day at Sea World and it was great because it wasn't crowded at all! It sprinkled on us a few times, but the weather overall was really great.
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