"Ou-side...peease"

The past few days we've had gorgeous weather around these parts. Clear blue skies, sunshine a shinin', fall leaves falling, and the like! The previous weeks of rainy days were definitely beginning to get to us all!

Well...now that we've got our wonderful, and oh so useful fence, I've been giving the little man a bit of freedom and independence (so he thinks) when it comes to the great outdoors. We strap on some shoes, throw on a sweatshirt, and out he goes. One nice thing about our house, though there are many, is that every part of the backyard can be seen from at least one of the windows inside. This allows Kallen to be the curious and inquisitive little boy he is, and me to have peace of mind that he's safe. He may eat mud, squish bugs and throw rocks, but at least he's not running out into traffic or wandering down the street to the neighbors!!!

I was able to be a little stealth by peering around corners, and leaning off the edge of the deck to catch the little man in action...notice the dog wont leave his side...

Then he caught me

Not Enough Hangers

I came home this afternoon from a wonderful play date with the neighbors and found 2 big Rubbermaid containers on the porch. What was in those containers you ask...GIRLS CLOTHES!!!


My friend Laura, mother to 3 adorable little girls, and 1 handsome little boy is no longer in need of pink. You see...after 3 girls, they welcomed a little boy into the family this September, and as her girls grow out of their clothes, I've been blessed enough to receive them! When Kynlee was born, Laura brought over the first Rubbermaid full of clothes, and now 2 more!



We are blessed beyond words, and can't express enough how much we appreciate your generosity. Thank you Laura!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Here are some pictures from Sunday's trip to the pumpkin patch!

Happy Birthday Josiah

Today is my nephew Josiah's 1st birthday, and while we would like to be celebrating with him, we'll have to settle for online birthday wishes instead!


You see, my sister Danielle (Dani to those of you who haven't called her "Danielle" your whole lives) and her family are currently in another part of the world. They left in January of this year when little Josiah looked like this:



Now the little man isn't so "little" anymore as he celebrates his 1st birthday!



Danielle, Joey, Josiah and new baby (due in a couple of weeks) are coming home in December and I CANT WAIT to see them. We love you guys and miss you tons. Happy Birthday "chunk"!

A Brother's Love

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Kallen and I take a "Water Kids" swimming class together! After I had Kynlee, I thought it would be a good idea to do something with just Kallen. Something that didn't involve stopping and taking care of Kynz when she needed me, and since we've taken swimming classes in the past, I thought it was the perfect thing to continue! We're fortunate enough to have a lot of family around, so the grandma's take turns watching Kynlee during the lesson so I can focus my whole attention on Kallen.

Well...this last week, it just so happened that both my mom, and Kevin's mom were out of town! My brother came to the pool and helped out on Tuesday (Thanks TJ), but instead of asking him to do that Thursday as well, I asked my friend Brandy! Of course she agreed, and all was hunky doory!

As Kallen and I were dropping Kynlee off, and getting ready to leave, I handed her to Brandy and proceeded to grab Kallen and walk out the door! He instantly started crying, saying "noooooo, my sissy," while reaching out towards Kynlee!

I was trying to calm him down and get him all excited about swimming, but to no avail. He just didn't understand why his beloved sister wasn't going with us. I got him in the car, kicking and screaming, and drove to swimming class...surely he would calm down eventually...right???

Well he did calm down, but not before repeatedly asking through tears and sobs "sissy go bye bye too??? Peeeaaase."

I'm happy to report that once we were there, we had an excellent time at swimming, and the joy on Kallen's face when we arrived to pick Kynlee up...was priceless!!!

A Messy Job

We haven't actually started "potty training" Kallen per say, because I really want to make sure he's ready before I go through the headache of it all. We have a little potty chair, talk about it while changing diapers, and openly allow him to be there and involved when Kevin and I are using the restroom (he flushes for us, and washes his hands with us, etc.).

He has in fact successfully used the potty chair on a couple of different occasions, simply because I "caught him in the act" and got him to the bathroom in time!

He turns 2 in a couple of weeks, and that was going to be my "hard core" potty training starting point. I've heard when they're ready, they're ready, and the training process is relatively "easy". If you push it too early, it either takes a lot longer, or they tend to refuse the process all together. Not sure if that's the case, but we went with it!

Anyways...yesterday I was on the phone with Kevin and looked over to notice that Kallen had taken off his diaper. Okay...no big deal...When I get off the phone I'll put a new one on him (he's past the "get a diaper on him quick" age...I thought). Not even a couple of minutes later, I see my darling son squatting in the corner...pooping. AHHHH..."I pooped" he said. I instantly hung up with Kevin, grabbed Kallen and helped him continue the task at hand in the appropriate place!

He went, we cheered, and then the clean-up began. Sorry to be graphic...but at least it was a log, not a blob! It was at that point I realized that he is definitely ready to begin this whole process, and I mentally prepared myself for the messy job that is Potty Training!

A Fake Out!!!

I am someone who loves having fruit out on the counter. I love the "homey" feeling of a basket full of fruit...what I don't love however, are the wonderful flies that hover around said baskets!!!

Well...when visiting my aunt a few weeks ago, I noticed a grand basket of apples sitting atop her counter. After taking a step closer I noticed that those delectable delicatessens weren't apples at all, but merely Styrofoam imitations. Turns out those beautiful imitations were from the local "Dollar Store"...who knew!

I quickly made a trip to our own Dollar Store where I too found some apples for my own basket! They look pretty real wouldn't you say...So real that Kallen brought one to me this afternoon and this is what it looked like!

Uh...you can't eat those buddy!

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

Last night at 9:40 pm, my cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby girl...

Avree Jean

6lbs 13 oz

19 inches

She is gorgeous, and if I could figure out how to get the pictures off my phone, I'd share her with you all! Congratulations Derek and Aubree...I can't wait to meet your precious little one!

Deceptively Delicious

* I had to add a little disclaimer, that I'm not a fan of deceiving my children. The idea of a little added nutrition in fun and unique ways, is why I like this book...not because I'm "hiding" something from the kiddos!

This summer, I was looking through a Fitness Magazine, and this small little add caught my eye. It was for this book "Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good food". The basic premise, is that you puree different vegetables, and include them in your every day cooking. That way, kids who don't like to eat their veggies, in fact eat them without knowing it!

Kallen doesn't eat much, but one thing he does eat is his veggies! He'd eat a plate of fruit and veggies way before meat and pasta! Although he doesn't mind his veggies, the idea of finding additional ways of incorporating healthy food into our every day meals, was very appealing! The sample recipe this little add gave, was for Macaroni and cheese cooked with summer squash!

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni

Nonstick cooking spray

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 cup nonfat (skim) milk

1/2 cup butternut squash or cauliflower puree

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (about 8 oz)

4 oz. (almost 1/4 cup) reduced-fat or nonfat cream cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp pepper

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander.

2. While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vegetable puree, cheddar, cream cheese, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

I instantly went down to the local Borders to buy myself this wonderful book, only to find that it hadn't been released yet! I then went on Amazon.com, pre-ordered it, and waited for my copy to arrive!

Well, I was recently on a Tevo'd Oprah watching marathon...and there it was. Jessica Seinfeld and her wonderful new book Deceptively Delicious! Wow, I simply stumbled on this book, and there it was on Oprah!

I got my copy, devoured all it had to say, and can't wait to start pureeing veggies of my own. Check it out at http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/

Happy Birthday "Bapa"!

Today is my dad's birthday, and I wanted to give a little "shout out" to him! Well actually, Kallen does:

We love you, and Happy Birthday!

Hands

3 months...wow, has it really been that long already? We've had our little (only because she's the youngest, not because she's actually little) princess for 3 months now, and it seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

She's finally getting to a stage of development where she's really trying to communicate with us. She's constantly cooing and giggling, and definitely lets us know if she's been left "alone" for too long! I have to say I'm having so much fun with her right now. The great big "squished" smile she gives me when I get her up every morning, starts my day out just right!!!

Her latest thing is the fascination with her hands. I remember Kallen "finding" his hands, but I never remember such an intense interest in them. I took about 6 pictures this afternoon before I actually got one where Kynlee left her hands at her side!

Kynlee

Kallen

At Last!!!

Once upon a time our backyard was blessed with a seasonal "creek". Now, that darling little "creek bed" was filled with blackberries, shrubs, and the occasional tree.

As much as I love blackberries, I don't love them in my backyard...so, we cleared them out...

and made way for the culverts.

Then we filled in around that culvert,

only to have it washed out that winter.

Once things dried out a bit...we tried it again!

Then came the patio,

the fence,

and finally...the grass and bark dust!

Yes...All that's left are a few finishing touches on the "dry" creek bed, some plants and shrubs, and staining the fence!

It's been a long process, but I'm so thrilled with the outcome!!! Now lets just hope the culvert holds up this time!!!

Meet Dave!

Ever since the "package" incident at MOPS, Kallen has taken to stuffed bears, dogs and miscellaneous animals as his own "baby".

Walking around shhshhhing them, patting their bottoms, and rocking them to sleep in Kynlee's swing. Well...that got me thinking about the old cabbage patch dolls that I had when I was a kid. Maybe it was time to bring one home for Kallen.

Well...Meet Dave.


My mom found one of our old dolls and brought it over for the little guy...I know...A doll for my son...But if you saw how he takes care of "Dave", then you'd know why!

Now "Dave", you might be thinking...who came up with Dave? Well...It just so happened to be the first name that Kallen said. We were asking him about "Joe, Charlie, Frank, Buddy, then Dave"..."Hi Dave" he said, and there you have it!

He hasn't quite figured out that Dave can't do everything with him, but he's trying! Today Kallen and Dave colored together...who knows what it will be tomorrow!

I can see clearly now!!!

So...Here's my new "baby":

I've been wanting this camera forever, and after my sister-in-law came over with hers...I could wait no longer. It's my birthday present to myself...just a couple of months early!

Now, this thing has so many more features than the other point and shoot camera that I had...that it's going to take me a while to get used to the wonderful things it can do. For now, a picture is worth a thousand words!

I took these pictures back to back in the fully automatic setting on both cameras!

Old

New!!!

Okay...so as I look at these posted, it's hard to tell a difference, but trust me there is! My biggest complaint with the old camera was the artificial look it gave pictures. The lighting was never right, and either the flash was too bright, or too dull!

Not with this bad boy! Have I said yet that I LOVE THIS CAMERA!

I'm sure the kids are already getting annoyed with the camera shoved in their face, and I've only had it 1 day...I just can't get enough!

This is the "cheese again?" look that I've been getting this afternoon. I think he's had enough of the camera!

Sniffles & Tears

After more than two weeks of continual sneezing, coughing, and 3 boxes of Kleenex, I decided to take Kallen to the doctor. I was pretty sure they would just send us home with the normal "it's just a cold, wait it out" prescription, but instead we got "amoxicillon". It seems to be that the little man has a sinus infection. At least now there might be an end to the snot!!!

On another note...I'd like to send out a blessing over all you moms and dads who've had to deal with colic. Now...I'd like to clarify and say that neither Kallen or Kynlee has had colic, so I don't truly know what it's like...but if last night was even remotely similar, than my prayers are with you all. Here's how our evening went down: All was well in the house. The kids were fed, naps were taken, and toys were being played with. Then Grandpa and grandma came over to see the kids, and things went downhill from there. (not because of gma & gpa of course...having company just added to the LOUD chaos!)Kynlee began to get fussy, then fussier, then the fussiest she's ever been! She began screaming at the top of her lungs in a high pitched pain filled tone. There was nothing we could do to console her. She wasn't clenching her fists, or pulling her legs to her chest...and her abdomen wasn't even tight. She was just fired up! It was at least an hour of these non-stop tears before I finally gave her a bath (which always calms her down) and put her jammies on for bed. She hadn't eaten since 4:00 in the afternoon, but she was too upset to eat. After sitting in her room, trying to rock her, and bawling myself, I decided to swaddle her up tight, shut off the light, and pray for her little eyes to close and for sleep to be upon her! Thank you Lord...she fell asleep, and all was quiet again.

I have to admit that I laid awake all night waiting for her to wake up, and the tears to begin again. She woke at about 4:30 am (since it had been 12 hours since she last ate), I fed her, put her back to bed, and tried to enjoy some sleep myself! No more tears! Huh...Let's hope we don't have another evening like that! And to all you parents who've had endless nights like that...God Bless You!