Santa

After a failed attempt last weekend because Santa had to take a nap and we would have to come back to see him (South Coast Plaza with weekend crowds + 2 tired kids + over an hour wait = disaster.) Last night, after eating dinner with friends, we decided to try Westmister Mall and attempt to take the kids once again to see Santa.
Kaelyn was so excited on the way over. We stood in a short line for maybe 30 minutes. Kaelyn couldn't wait to see Santa and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Jack seemed to be excited too. He kept pointing at Santa and in his talk (grunt) saying Santa. I was so excited because I thought we might actually get a happy picture.
It was our turn, Kaelyn and Jack grabbed my hands to walk up to Santa and the struggle began. With a little tugging on my part I got both kids up to Santa. Jack started screaming as I picked him up to put him on Santa's lap and never stopped. (Can I just say that this Santa was pretty strong. Jack is not easy to hold down when he is crying and wants to get away) I put Kaelyn on Santa's lap and she was a little uncertain. Calling my name and reaching for me. She looked at me with this terrified look on her eyes. Not quite sure if she should cry or smile for the picture. We tried everything to get them excited and smile at the camera but this is what we got. Classic!

Getting over a fear

My brother Cory and his wife, Jennifer, have 2 bunnies. (Max and Maddie) Ever since they moved back out to California, we (I mean Kaelyn) get to take care of the bunnies when they are gone. It has only been twice, but Kaelyn loves them. Jack on the other hand is another story.

We go over there a lot and the first thing Kaelyn does is run into the guest room where they are to go and feed them. For the longest time, Jack wouldn't even go into the room. Seriously of all the animals to be afraid of, bunnies wouldn't be on the top on my list. I just think he didn't like that fact that these small things could move so fast and he wasn't quite sure what they were. So he would stand at the door and watch. Any time that one of the bunnies would hop or move he would turn his head and hide. Slowly we have been working on him and he was actually going into the room but wouldn't touch them or feed them. I was just happy that he was in the room.

Well then on Sunday, we went over to their house for Sunday lunch with the fam. With help from my mom, Muah, he surprised us all! I walk into the room and there standing in the cage, holding out his hand for Max to take a banana chip from was Jack. I think my mouth dropped I was so shocked. I just couldn't believe it. Not only was he in the cage, but he was feeding the bunnies right out of his hand. Kaelyn didn't even do that yet. He had the biggest smile on his face and was so happy. I think he was just so proud of himself. I yelled for Rich to come in and document the occasion.
Here he is petting Max.


It only took him about 4 months, but he is finally not afraid of Max and Maddie!!!

Little faces

Kaelyn is our little artist. As you saw from an earlier post for her birthday party we had a art party. She loves painting, coloring and drawing. She has really mastered the art of coloring. She definitely gets her artistic side from her father. She really only likes to color between the lines (which is unheard of for a 3 year old), But she has been like that for a while. She will come out of Sunday school with pictures, and I can tell when a teacher helped her color her paper. I will see pink crayon just scribbled on the page, like most toddlers draw, and then in another section carefully colored picture with the crayon only between the lines. It is too funny! She is a perfectionist! Here are a few examples from the past few months.
Here she is carefully coloring in little lady bugs and caterpillars.

(No I didn't help her with this one, She did it all by herself)

When I think she was 1 we gave her this little book for her to draw in. It has become her little doodle book. Every page is filled with little drawings. She adds to her masterpieces almost daily. The other day while I was in the kitchen cooking she came up to me to show me what she had drawn.
"Mommy, look at the faces I colored!"


I was so amazed! I kept thinking to myself...did I draw those for her? But I didn't. She did it all by herself. Rich was so impressed when he got home. He couldn't believe it either.

Sunset at HB pier

Last night Rich and I drove to HB to have dinner on the pier at Ruby's with the kids. Kaelyn loves walking along the pier and looking at the waves, which makes Rich very happy. She comments on all the surfers and how big the waves are. Rich can't wait until both of the kids are out there with him. Rich took some cute pics on his phone of the kids and I had to post them.

3 years ago

3 years ago, it was Halloween day. I left work early (thanks to my boss who didn't want anything to do with a tired, pregnant lady). I was laying on the couch watching Oprah, and Rich was in the garage cleaning up. When I went to the kitchen to get a drink and my water broke. I wasn't quite sure what was going on, I still had a month to go in my pregnancy. I had nothing ready. I remember going out the garage and saying, "Rich I think my water broke." Needless to say he was shocked. We packed up our stuff and drove to the hospital. I was checked in and they ran some test. They came back and said nope your water didn't break, you can leave. I was so confused. What was going on. We drove home and I tried to get some sleep. But I knew that my water broke and I was in labor. So we drove back to the hospital. Sure enough, my water did break and I was in labor. November 2nd at 7:45 in the morning Kaelyn came into this world weighing 6lbs and perfect. From that day on our lives were changed. We had this perfect princess to care for and love. It was a great day.



Then I was reminded last night by Rich's friend Garrett, that the first night in the hospital after Kaelyn was born Rich left me and Kaelyn to go to the Lakers Game. Yes you heard me right, he took advantage of his drugged up and tired wife and went to a Laker game. His friends came by to see him and his daughter that night, but he wasn't around. They continue to say that it shows what a saint I am for letting him go. (I don't know about that, I say it was too out of it to realize what was going on). Garrett uses this example to tell his guy friends what not to do to your wife. I just know that it is a story that I won't ever let him live down!!


I still can't believe that it has been 3 years. My little baby girl is no longer a baby. She is potty trained (YEAH!!! Only 1 in diapers). She is my little chatter box. She loves anything and everything girly. Dress-up, princesses, make-up, purses, talking on the phone. She loves to paint and color, and she amazes me with how well she can color. She only likes to color between the lines and use specific colors. She is amazing. She loves to sing and dance. (She takes after her daddy) And loves to be the center of attention. Kaelyn is so caring and sweet. She takes such good care of her little brother. They are so close and I can tell that they are going to be such good friends when they grow up. She is such a blessing to our family. We love her!

The Big 3!!

Kaelyn loves to color and paint. She is our little artist, so I decided to do a painting party for her birthday. We cleaned out the garage and set it up with easels, and small tables and chairs. I had gotten some painting ideas, one with marbles and another with color diffusing paper. I had face paint, but the kids wanted to color all the adults faces, legs and arms instead. All of Kaelyn's cousins and little friends came over to paint. It was quite the site! All these little kids in matching paint aprons creating works of art! There were a lot of proud parents and grandparents! But the party was a success. Kaelyn got a ton of princess dresses and dress up stuff, which made her year!! I don't think we will be wearing anything but princess dresses for a while.

Kaelyn painting with marbles.


Jack painting with marbles and Uncle Cory putting SD Chargers Lightning Bolt on Jack's Face.


Some of the artwork.

Kaelyn's friend Katherine.

Cousin Mia.

Cousin Peyton painting on the easel.


Kaelyn's friend Mia Rose.

Kaelyn's cousin Molly.

Kaelyn's friend Charlie

Kaelyn with her cousins Luke and Owen waiting for the cake.

Kaelyn's cake.

Blowing out candles



I have a 3 year old!!!

Halloween

This year Kaelyn wanted to be a princess (surprise, surprise), So we dressed her up as Cinderella. Jack was a Monkey (Rich's favorite). We took pictures with our neighbors daughter, Katherine and then went over to our friends house in Belmont Shores and walked down their street. Kaelyn got to hand out candy at their house before we took them. She had fun putting candy in the kids bags. (But their were a few "scary monsters" that we had to help with). Then it was Kaelyn's turn. Kaelyn was really excited to say "Trick or Treat" to everyone. The street had a few scary houses that she didn't want to go up to, but as soon as they came out with candy she couldn't get up there fast enough. She wanted to keep going, but it was getting late and she had way too much candy already. So we headed home. She said on the way home she wanted to Halloween tomorrow too!!

Pumpkin Carving

Last weekend we went up to Mua (that's Grandma) and Papa's house while Rich was out of town for his company sales meeting. Kaelyn and Papa carved pumpkins.






Kaelyn told Papa exactly how she wanted to carve the face of the pumpkin, and she even helped to clean it out. Jack didn't want to miss out on any of the fun either. He had to be right in the action, sitting on Papa's lap while he carved the face. It was fun!!

Cousin Mia's B-day Party

Here are a few pics from their cousin Mia's 4th birthday party. I am trying to figure out how do download video of both of the kids jumping in the princess bounce house. When I figure that out I will put it up on the site.












Kaelyn's cookie that she decorated.


























The 3 girl cousins!! Birthday girl Mia in the middle!



















This is the princess bounce house that we had a hard time getting Kaelyn or Jack out of because they were having so much fun. That is when there weren't alot of wild and crazy bigger kids jumping in there.















Jack enjoying some cookie with daddy!

Jack's stitches out

Last night, Aunt Jennifer came over and took out Jack's stitches. He was a little confused why we were holding him down, but didn't even cry. (I don't even think he knew what was going on) Jen and I were a little concerned that he might be a little scared of her because of the experience, but he wasn't. He went back to running around with Kaelyn like nothing happened. Now he has a little scar, but hopefully it will fade away. Thank you Jennifer!!! You are the best doctor we know!

Jack's 1st trip to the ER

So I am sure that this is only going the beginning of many trips to the ER.






Jack was running around the house playing, the next thing I hear is him hitting Kaelyn's doll house. He starts crying and runs over too me. His head is bleeding! I rush him to the ER, Kaelyn in tow . Luckly, Rich was able to meet me there, and Aunt Jennifer was working upstairs in Peds and was able to stop by for support. A few hours later and after being wrapped up and held down, he got 4 stiches. It doesn't look like much from the picture, but he got himself good.

Round 1 goes to the doll house!!!

The Family

So a few weeks ago, one of Rich's friends was out from Chicago coaching in a soccer tournament at Pepperdine, so we met up with him and took him to the beach in Malibu for an hour or so before his game. We took this picture with Rich's IPhone and it was a great pic of the family!

Blogging!!!

So I am finally setting up a website to Blog. My sister will be so proud! But I thought it would be a great way that the family can get an update on what the kids are doing, see updated pics, etc. So here it is!