Happy Father's Day

Today Jenn just gave me the best gift I could ever expect for Father's Day. For a while now I've been trying to swindle Jenn into coming on an overnight at work with me and bringing the kids. Often for one reason or another she can't. However this weekend she was out of excuses so I practically forced her into agreeing to come to Redmond OR tonight. Days ago the flight looked good for her and the kids to get on standby. The situation changed this morning when I checked in at work to find that the flight was sold out. I called Jenn to tell her it was not looking good, but there is always a chance that something would change and she would get on the flight. With the impossible and illogical hope of a child I was praying that she would decide to just give it a try and come out to the airport with the kids and by some miracle (bad weather in the East causing misconnecting passengers) they would all get on the flight and we'd have a great day in Oregon enjoying the pool. Later in the day I checked on the flight during a short stop in Reno. Not only was the flight still oversold but 48 of the 50 passengers had already checked in two and half hours early. Also there was another standby passenger checked in with priority over our family. I called Jenn to have her stay at home but to my surprise she had already loaded the kids in the car and was heading to the airport. After she had to drag two not-so-well-behaved kids onto the airport parking shuttle, through security, to the gate the inevitable happened; the flight left the gate full with Jenn and the kids behind. Well it meant the world to me that she would try and I felt horrible that they had to leave the airport disappointed.

It got me to thinking about all the different ways Jenn puts up with me. My unpredictable job that makes us spend money like we're broke when we're really doing fine, my resistance to internet service in the home, the way I make her drive at 60 mph close behind a semi-truck just to save gas. Me and the kids are so fortunate to have her. Thanks for all you put up with babe. I love you.

The Booger and Pom Poms

Collin and I were watching a Baby Einsteins DVD while Sophie was taking a much neeeded nap (although much too late in the afternnon). After sitting with his fingr in his nose for a few minutes it came out with a booger on it.

Collin: "Whats dat?"

Mom: "A booger."

Collin: "A booger!"

I get up to go get a tissue. Just as I am returning I hear this: "I eat it! I eat it in my mouth, tastes good!"

Mom: "Collin, that is yucky."

Collin: "No, not yucky, it's good!"

Collin cracks me up. It was fun spending some one on one time with him while Sophie was sleeping.

. . .

Sophie has been a little challenging lately and we have been trying to come up with some solutions that might make her behavior improve. One has been to create a schedule for her (putting some structure into her day like she got from preschool). Another has been a reward system. I got this idea from a friend and thought that Sophie would love it. We went to the craft store and bought a jar and some pom poms. Everytime Sophie does something exemplary, she gets to put a pom pom into the jar. Everytime she does soemthing inappropraite she has to take one out. When the jar get full she gets to choose her reward out of several options--this time around, she chose a trip to the toy store.

I gave her the rules and we had some practice scenarios just to ensure her understanding. She was very excited and she then got some pom poms from the mornings activities. After 3 I told that was all for now. She was devastated and started to cry. I explained that she would earn more soon. Ever since, she has been anxiously trying to earn her pom poms--going potty many more times a day than usual all by herself, wanting to eat luch like a big girl when we already ate lunch hours ago, and my favorite "I am going to read a story so that I can have a pom pom." She is even trying to con me into having each activity count as more than 1 pom pom. It is working good for her, but it is good for me also because it helps me focus on the positive things that she does, not just the things that makes my want to send her away to boarding school!

A New Found FREEDOM!

In the past week or so, Collin has discovered a new found freedom. He has learned how to get out of his crib all on his own. It hasn't become annoying yet, it is still pretty funny any time I see him slowly creep into the room we are in. Both Logan and I bust out laughing pretty hard. The first time it happened, it was bedtime. Sophie had gottten out of bed several times and I had just put her back to bed. Collin was jumping around in his crib and I could hear him through the ceiling. The jumping stopped and I was relieved hoping that he had given up and was going to sleep. I then hear a door open upstairs. I was waiting for Sophie to make her way down the stairs telling me that she needed to go potty or that she needed some particular stuffed animal that didn't happen to be in her bed. I waited, and waited. A few minutes later, Collin came creeping quietly down the stairs and asked for some juice. He acted as if this was a totally normal occurence for him. It happened again this morning. He woke up at 6:30, however I do not wake up with my kids before 7:00 if I don't have too. I went into his room and told him we were still sleeping. After staring at me for a few minutes, he layed back down. I went back to bed and enjoyed some additional sleep. At 7:30 Logan and I are still in bed. I am half asleep and half awake totally expecting Collin to yell out his usual "Mommy!" I heard a door open and waited for Sophie to come running in with all of her moring enthusiasm. She didn't come. I sat up and looked out and saw that her door was still shut. Logan mentioned that maybe it was Luke. A few minutes later Collin creeps into our bedroom, "Hi mommy!" We bust out laughing. It is so funny to see him, knowing that he came from his crib. Later this morning, Logan informs me that it is probably his fault that he is getting out of his crib because he pointed out to him that he could do it on his own a couple of days ago and had him do it himself. What was he thinking? Looks like he may need a big boy bed sooner than I had hoped!

Kangaroo Zoo

Yesterday, my good friend Tiff and I took our kids to Kangaroo Zoo. It is a new place in Woods Cross that is full of inflatable toys. We had a blast. Well, I know that my kids and I did. I hope Tiff and Olivia did as well. It was so nice to just get out of the house and let the kids run around crazy. My kids are totally brave and would climb the highest slide with no hesitation. Tiff's little girl, Olivia was also brave as we took her on many slides that I am sure she would never venture on by herself. I love getting together with friends and having a good time!




I was hard to get a good picture when all the kids were constantly moving, so these will have to do. I guess that means they had fun if they were too busy to slow down!

Princess Bike

Sophie has just recently made the upgrade to a real bike. After noticing that her knees hit the handel bars with each pedal, I decided that it was time for an upgrade. She chose a pink princess bike that she absolutely LOVES! She is pretty good on it, although her skills are getting progressively worse instead of better, which is interesting. In fact last time she rode it she ran smack into the mail box because she forgot how to brake. She has a pretty good attitude about it and talks about how she needs to keep trying! I love Soph and look forward to going on some bike rides with her--when she gets brave enough to ride a little faster!:)

Building the bike!

Almost ready to ride--Soph can hardly wait!

And away she goes!

Soph loves her daddy to ride his bike with her--only he can't really ride they are moving so slow. He usually has to sit on the seat and walk the bike!

It's That Time of Year

It's that time of year--time for Lagoon to open for the summer. Sophie has been anxiously awaiting this day since our last trip to Lagoon in October of last year. She has probably asked once a week all winter long if "rocket faster" is open yet. We love Lagoon and are so grateful for our season passes that Logan's mom gave us for Christmas. We have made several visits so far this year and look forward to many more. The kids have the best time and are total dare devils. One of Sophie's most favorite rides is the Tidal Wave. She is by far the youngest rider rasing her hands high in the air with each swing of the boat all the while her bum is totoally flying off teh seat! It is the funniest sight. Here are a few good pictures for our last trip.

Big News!

So if you ask Sophie what is in her mommy's tummy she replies, "A girl baby just like me!" Well, we will have to see--but we ARE expecting! Our family of 4 will soon be growing to 5. We are due in December and are very excited. I had my first doctors appointment a couple of weeks ago which made it seem real. We were able to have an ultra sound and see our tiny new baby. I would have posted the pictures, but the baby was so little--maybe the next ones after some growing has taken place, and it starts to resemble the human figure!