Bugs, Bugs and Bugs!

Last week, the kids were all into looking for bugs. The got these really cool bug collectors from Jordyn's birthday party. So, they all went out looking for bugs. They found some bugs, mostly dead ones, and added some dirt and grass to keep them alive. They were all jazzed about using the tweezers to pick up the bugs. They ran all around the cul-de-sac looking for bugs. They were even trying to pick up ants to put in their containers. Then when they were done, they tried to bring in their container in the house and I told them they belong outside. They weren't happy with me but I was not about to have dirt and possible live bugs in my house.

YUCK!...a big, black bug.

The boys!

Aren't they just too cute?

Brooke's birthday and more

So, this past Saturday we had Brooke's first birthday party. Grandma and Papa "T" came all the way from Arizona to visit and celebrate with us. I did a cupcake theme for her first birthday along with a big water slide for the kids to slide down and have fun. I don't think Brooke knew much of what was going on but everyone else had a great time.

When it was time for cake, she tried to grab the candle by the flame.

She so delicately stuck her fingers in the cake but eventually she dug in and got messy!

Then when we did the pinata, we kept hearing a ding every time the kids hit it. Apparently, there was some kind of wire in the pinata to make it extra sturdy. Gotta love the real pinatas made at the Mexican party stores. They know how to build them to last!

Brooke and her baby doll while mommy opened her presents.

This was the best family picture at the end of a long day!

Monday, Grandma and Papa "T" left to go home and I was exhausted from the weekend!

Tuesday, we headed over to my friend Ali's house for a swim day. Just as we were sitting down to eat, a 5.4 earthquake hit. Her girls grabbed Garrett and Reese and Ali and I were trying to move Brooke's high chair to the door. Eventually, we got Brooke out and all headed outside. Of course, Garrett didn't want to go back inside for fear that another earthquake might strike. Then he needed to know how earthquakes happen. So, he was obsessed with how earthquakes happen. As soon as we got home, he turned on the news so he could hear all about the earthquake. Then daddy told him about how earthquakes are caused by the two plates underground move over each other. Well, now he wants to see a map of all the different plates in the earth.

Wednesday, I made the kids a snack tray for lunch. I saw this on a DVD for juice plus. The Dr. Sears was saying how he did this for his kids when they were little so they could eat a variety of food and snack throughout the day. On another note, when I called them to eat, I asked Reese were she was and she said she was checking her email. Too cute!

The did good with the snack tray. They ate everything except the celery. The finished the kiwi's and blueberries after nap time.

Another funny thing that Reese said today, Brooke had a poopie diaper and she smelled her butt to check and then she said; "we have a winner." I guess she hears me say that a little too much!

Happy First Birthday!

Last night as I lay in bed, I was remembering how a year ago Brooke was still in my belly and now she is already ONE. I was thinking how fast the year has gone and that my sweet, little baby will now be heading into toddler years. I love you my sweet baby girl!

little bit of this and that

1. The other day Reese went poop and there wasn't any toilet paper for her to use. Well, she comes down stairs to tell me that there is no toilet paper but she still wiped. I clinched my jaw and asked her what she used and she told me the towels in the bathroom. And, yes, the towels are white.

2. Garrett has been fascinated with space. He asks what it looks like and is eagerly awaiting for his Grandma "T" to come and bring her telescope so they can look at the stars.

3. Brooke is now pulling herself up on everything.

4. Reese thinks that Cinderella is going to space and will fly around with her.

5. We took Garrett, Reese and Brooke to a Teppan dinner on Monday.

6. Garrett said the cooking was cool and it was like a magic show.

7. Garrett and his friend Justin have been obsessed with playing baseball in the backyard.

8. The kids and their friends had a picnic in the living room the other day.

9. Reese and her friend, Jordyn, started dance yesterday. They loved it and they looked so darn cute!

10. We driving to Garrett's dentist appointment today and he read the "Welcome to Upland" sign. He said; "we are in Upland, Ca. can we stop and see Ali?" So, after the dentist, we did stop by and visit.

Vacation

Well, we got back from our mini-vacation late Tuesday night. We headed out to San Diego on Monday and expected to stay until Wednesday. However, it was a bit rough with three kids in the hotel room so we headed home early.

On Monday, we went to Legoland. A first for all of us. The kids had a great time but it is much harder to go on rides with three kids versus two. Also, Reese didn't meet all the height requirements so that meant that she couldn't go on all the rides. Most of the rides were only for two riders so that also made it difficult. Legoland did have a wet area and we stopped and let the kids play and get wet. They enjoyed that. We didn't end up leaving until just about closing time which was around eight. Brooke was great, as usual, with no nap but extremely tired.

Kids getting ready to go inside Legoland!

Reese had one ride that was her favorite and it was the fairy tale boat ride. That was the only ride that all five of us were able to go on. She wanted to go on it again before we left but we opted for the small roller coaster. Of course, the little dare-devil that she is, she had her hands up the whole time on the ride.

Garrett and Reese on the Fairy tale story book ride.

Brooke and mommy.

Reese driving her little nascar.

Daddy, Garrett and Reese in a fire truck that they had to move manually. Poor daddy had to do all the work and I think they came in last, but hey, the other three trucks had at least two adults.

Daddy and Garrett on the wave-racer ride.

On Tuesday, we headed to Sea World. The kids really loved Sea World. Daddy was especially excited because we saw a roller coaster that he wanted to ride. We headed over to the roller coaster first, since Garrett was tall enough to ride, and it was closed because they were having technical difficulties. So, we headed over to the penguin exhibit. The kids had a hard time looking at the penguins because the glass was all fogged up. However, there were penguins outside swimming in the water. They enjoyed getting a close-up look at all the penguins. Then we headed over to see the dolphin show, look at the sharks and the manatees.

We then decided that we would head over to the tide pool and sea turtle area, jump on the rapids ride and maybe catch the Shamu show. Well, this was not our day. The rapids ride was also closed and the Shamu show already had a line and the show wasn't for another forty-five minutes. Since Brooke was just about nodding off, we skipped the show and headed for the tide pool. The kids were able to touch star fish and they had a blast.

Reese was in awe of the dolphins!

She said that she wants to swim with the dolphins like mommy.

Garrett and Reese posing with Dory ( the blue and yellow fish from "Finding Nemo").

Mommy's beautiful but tired baby!

The tired clan leaving Sea World.

The kids were tired and hungry, although, they didn't complain as much as mommy did. We headed back to the hotel, ordered room service and decided to pack and head home. Staying in a hotel with a crawling baby isn't much fun or practical. Brooke fell asleep and the kids, amazingly, stayed awake and watched a movie. About half-way home Garrett kept saying that he needed to make a pit stop because he was thirsty. He's been watching too much Nascar with daddy.

4th of July!

Yesterday, we had our 4th of July block party. All the neighbors pitched in and ordered a big water slide for the kids. It was a good thing because it sure was HOT!!! We had an extra hose going to keep the street nice and cool so the kiddos didn't burn their feet.

Later in the day, all the kids in the neighborhood decorated their bikes or scooters and they paraded up and down the street.

Everyone barbequed their own meat and we all did a pot luck for sides and desserts. Then the kids swam and went on the water slide some more.

Later in the evening, some of the neighbors shot off fireworks (many of which were illegal). The fire department came and then then the sheriff. The sheriff confiscated some of the fireworks but, unfortunately, they didn't write any tickets and it didn't deter my neighbors from continuing to shot off fireworks.

We went in early because Garrett was crying and afraid that his house would burn down from the fireworks. Reese, on the other hand, loved the "starworks" as she called them.

This was Brooke's first 4th of July, so I had to put in a picture of our cute little firecracker!

Ten on Tuesday

Here's Brooke on the move on her hands and knees!

1. Last Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, Reese and I were up half the night. She was complaining that her ear hurt. Of course, Aaron was in Armenia so I was exhausted the next mornings. It turns out that she had an ear infection. Her first one ever!

2. Brooke discovered these things called yogurt melts at my friend Karina's house. They just melt in your mouth. She loves them! When we were over at my friend Karina's house, her little girl is 7 weeks older and crawls fast and on her hands and knees. I could see Brooke watching her and trying to figure out how she does it. Well, the next day Brooke got up on her hands and knees and began crawling. Go figure!

3. I turned in my letter of resignation last Thursday. I am officially out of a job. :(

4. My friend, Ali, watched Brooke and Reese while I went and collected the last of my things at work last Thursday. Brooke did not like staying there and she did not like drinking her formula. I guess I will have to start pumping again.

Here the kids made a train out of the diaper box. They had fun pushing each other around.

5. Garrett and some friends were outside riding their bikes and one of the dads brought out a bike ramp. Garrett was so cautious when he would go over it. He didn't understand that the faster you go the easier it is to make it over. He would slow down before he would even get to the ramp. He gets that from his mommy. Then his friend, Justin, was trying out one to the other neighbors' dirt bike and Garrett said; "I don't want him to get hurt. I hope he is careful and that his daddy holds on tight." Garrett said that he doesn't want to try riding a dirt bike until he is about 6 or 7.

6. While the boys were riding on their bikes the girls were pushing Brooke around in her little push car. They would stop periodically and do funny things. I then heard Reese say that they had to go to the next station to do some more exercises. It turns out they were playing "stroller strides".

7. Now, Garrett wants a phone, computer and a desk in his room. He is also obsessed with watching "How it's made".

8. Yesterday, Garrett was telling me all about recycling as I was putting the baby jar into the recycling trash can. He was telling me which things we should recycle and how it helps keep the earth clean. He said he learned it from one of the shows on play house Disney.

9. Out of the blue today, Reese tells me in the car that "Cinderella does have blue eyes."

10. I took the kids to get their 4th of July pictures done today. Brooke screamed because she was afraid of the photographer. I couldn't get one of her smiling and they misspelled "Happy" on one of the pictures and I had to all the way back to get it re-printed. However, Ali and her girls stopped by to drop off Brooke's early birthday present and some sweet treats. Aaron says Ali is so funny because she is always buying our kids' presents. I think she needs grandchildren to spoil but until then I guess she can use ours as substitutes. They love her just as much!

Here I am a year ago...

here we are today. I can't believe she was still in my belly a year ago. It goes by too fast!