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kaia loves reading, telling, and creating her own jokes.

gabby loves chicken legs.

 

kaleb loves to nbuild it.

When There is no time to work out...

Have a dance party!! We just wrapped up another sweaty, heart-pumping, exhillerating dance sesh. The cautious  norwiegan (Kaia) was hesitant at first, but eventually busted out her notorious, chest high, scrunched-faced "air-guitar"....it was GLORIOUS!  Kaleb likes to pile laundry on top of his moppy curls and flop around, dancing like a cave man.He also enjoys standing atop of the coffee table with one fist extended to the heavens, proclaiming, "A Ding-Dong!!!!" Gabby sticks to her tried-and-true "egyptian" move, and keeps her eyes squished closed 95% of the time.  I personally witnessed Papa Gene wipe himself down from forehead to stomach with a full sized bath towel, due to excessive sweating!  I demonstrated a few of MY signature moves to my eager young students...the "double knee drop, the robot, the shimmy", etc...We started out with "Hello" by The Beatles, performed by the Glee Cast, then moved on through, "Don't Stop Believin" by Journey, "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles, and ended with something by Lady Gaga...I am currently still panting...we don't half ass it. 

There does happen to be some video footage, which will be added when I get my MAC back in business.

Adjusting to Summer...

Today was one of those days where you look back at the hideous array of behaviors, presented to you, by your kids, and you wonder, "really?! what am I doing wrong here?!!"  

We are trying to adjust to summer, here in week one, and establish somewhat of a schedule.  Trying to keep up with the academics, and the chores, while also trying to take it slow, and stop and smell the roses.  It is not an easy balance to find.  Gabby and Kaleb, especially, need a lot of structure, and oddly enough, they happened to be my two embarrassing, humbling moments today.  

It is really a toss up, as to which issue, was MORE embarrassing and humbling... they were both sooo rich.  Firstly, at the park, when a kind-hearted, eager child wanted to participate in the water gun fight, and picked up one of Auntie Sara's guns, Gabby violently wrenched it out of her slippery hands and then verbally (and probably emotionally) abused her, by calling her a "big fat Mornhog" ??? I'm sorry... what the @# $% is a "mornhog"? And, furthermore, does my 5 year old have Tourettes?  I hauled her little butt all the way out to the parking lot, and let...her....have...it.  Unfortunately, corporal punishment wasn't an option in this situation, being the public nature of the park and the baby Pen pen on my hip.  Because, besides acting dangerously, belittling others is probably the most intolerable crime that one can attempt, in our family.

The second issue arouse when Kaleb, exhausted and hungry, saw an (I'll admit it, pretty sweet)....motorcycle, for sale, at Safeway.  I had been turning the girls requests for toys, candy, and general crap, down right and left, so there was really no legitimate way I could let him get it. When I said no the first time, he went completely limp on the floor of the cereal isle.  This was not too bad; some light flopping and crying is pretty standard for a child who has been told "no", in the grocery store, at the hour of 5 o'clock(again, what was I thinking??). But when I attempted to force him into the shopping cart, he turned quite primal on me... like a wild, ferocious monkey.  He was...grinding his teeth together as he snarled at me, and at one point...he tried with all his might, to BITE me on the hand.  I had to pull his angry head away from my flesh, by grabbing his sweet curls and yanking them back. OHHHH it was quite a scene, and I'm sure his screams could be heard throughout the entire store.  I couldn't look anyone in the eye,  as i walked the isles, with "That child", that child the everyone sees, and thinks, "oh god, learn how to control your kid lady"... with disgust and pity.  

What neither the folks and the park, or the observing shoppers realize, is that both of those instances, have literally never even come close to happening before!  My Gabby is empathetic and kind hearted, and Kaleb USUALLY takes orders like a good little soldier.  But that is why I' m there..so when they step over the line, just a tad, I can reign them in and teach them not to behave like self-loathing, insecure bullies, and wild rabid creatures.

Mother's Day

I was treated to a four star breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh seasonal fruit salad, "tuscan scramble", mimosas, coffee, smoked salmon, chevre, capers and bakery bagels, and three different pastries, first thing in the morning.  I was given several giftcards, which the girls helped Gammy pick out at the mall.  But I must say that my most prized gifts were the hand made items from school.  Pure GOLD!!!!  Kaia signed my card with a little message about always being in her heart....MELT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Playtime with Buddies

Whether it be Cami, Paige, Gabe, Rian & Cameron, Nathan & Simeon, or any other neighbor or schoolmate... they just can't stay away from cuddly baby chicks, the trampoline, cute baby Penny, cold popsicles, and warm, homemade cookies.  Can't say I blame em.

When he isn't driving her crazy...

And ohh does he drive her crazy...not on purpose... just by being himself.  Gabby and Kaleb spend the most time together, and she can only take so much of his screamy, cookie-monster-eating, looney tune antics...before she snaps.  But...when she is in a happy place, and she is feeling inclined to be gracious, she is truly the best big sister to ever walk this Earth.  She reads to him, tickles him, humors him, gets him popsicles, encourages him, and much more.

Walking to School

It's 8:30...and we need to be en route.. but Gabby is still adding the finishing touches to her ensemble and has pungent egg breath. Kaleb needs to lose the binky and the soaked diaper, and trade it for big-boy-wears and crocs. Penny is stumbling around the house in her jammies.  Kaia is in "Kaia-land", without a backpack, packed lunch, "book-in-a-bag", or shoes on her feet, and is in desperate need of a brush through her hair.  This is not a perfectly executed morning, but it is what it is, and it is wonderful.  Kaia helps by taking orders well in the early hours of a high stress morning.  Gabby helps by getting dressed and doing her hair completely on her own.  Kaleb helps by sitting in the stroller and being relatively sleepy.  Penny does the same.  Gabby insists on riding something on the way (a scooter or car), which can slow us down sometimes, and activate the nagging at an early hour.  But the morning jaunt is rejuvenating and I think we all feel refreshed and happy to have each other.  Bottom line.. it's a success if Kaia is neither tardy nor truent.

Kaleb's Birthday Party

We celebrated Kaleb's birthday at the park, with Jon & Megan, Simeon & Nathan, Guy, Victoria & Taylor, Owen & Ruca, Haven, Cohen, and Family.  We got together at 10:30, so the little guys could be as fresh as possible! This was probably our simplest party ever; just burgers,dogs, cupcakes, presents, and goodie-bags.  Kaleb felt SO special. He received a BumbleBee Transformer, a big dinosaur cave set, legos, bug catchers, and blocks.  

Kaleb... "Man-ing up"

Kaleb is really taking this 3 year-old thing seriously these past few days.  He has severed his unhealthy relationship with his diaper, and begun urinating outdoors....he is an "outdoorsman", what can I say?  He likes to go to the same spot each time, which is a patch of dirt in the backyard. One day, I simply encouraged him to aim for the rock, and that did it! Although, sometimes, he just decides to go, like in the Island's parking lot, when he soaked my purse in urine. Heck, we were just thrilled he didn't go in his pants in the restaurant. 

He is also taking his future landscaping career a bit more seriously.  He likes to observe the fellow landscapers in the neighborhood, as they mow, edge, and blow, in the early afternoon.  He carefully watches their technique and tries to replicate it perfectly, with his own mower, edger, and blower.  He likes to call out to them, "HI Dher!(hi there)" and "Hah-yuh-nice-deh!"(Have a nice day).

He has started pulling his own weight around the house as well.  He will clear his plate, without being asked, and throw trash away, if he sees it laying around.  He found empty cracked egg shells in the egg carton and proceeded to throw each of them in the trash receptacle.  I was so proud, that I didn't even flip out over that fact that there wasn't a trash bag in the can.

Some of his new favorite conversational pieces are, "hey mom-mom...watch dis", "I don't like it", "Hey mom-mom...where's Uncle T?", "whuddya dooo-een?", "whanna pay room, mom-mom?", "he-ya go..Hab-it."

Easter Morning Magic

On Easter morning, we got all fancy, went to church, and enjoy easter baskets.  Kaleb REALLY enjoyed the edger from his basket. Kaia created some very thoughtful and creative drawings during the church service, as she contemplated the meaning of Easter.  During the children's part of the service, the Pastor asked the young ones about the meaning of Easter.  After a little boy mentioned "Easter eggs", Gabby called out, "...and how about...Jesus IS RISEN?!".  Then, as the Pastor started talking about spring time, Kaia contributes, "...and also April Showers!".  Finally, after butterflies were being discussed, Gabby asked if they were "amarillo butterflies?".

"Play-Tools" Outside with Uncle T

Kaleb loves to do tough guy stuff in Gammy and Gampy's backyard.  He will harass Uncle T until he agrees to join him.  He loves to use all of Trev's gardening tools and dig in the dirt, while making engine sounds.

Saturdays with Gammy & Gampy

A favorite outing for G & G is the Zoo and Gunther's Ice Cream.  Sometimes, they throw in Fairytale Land, Funderland, and the Ponies, for good measure.  

Early Spring Park Days

 Sometimes a quick stroll over to the nearby park is just what the doctor ordered.  Occasionally, we like to drop in the ducks, in the wetlands, behind our house.