A play date, a movie date, hot weather and a water slide.

Our friends Jack and Ben came over to play with us on Saturday morning ( they brought their mommy Nicole too ) and after about an hour of playing in the house - we broke out the slip-n-slide.... ( it's SOOOOO hot - I feel horrible for the pregnant mommies especially! )

After getting them all lotioned and suited up - they were good to go. None of the kids quite got the hang of exactly how to do the slide, but they made it work and enjoyed every minute of it....

There aren't many faces in the pictures - but hey - they are action shots right???

( ignore my horrible back yard - it's our fall project! lol )

Before our guests left for the day, we cooled off in the a/c and did a little break-dancing (o:

Seriously, how cute is this picture??? I'm so impressed!

After our friends left, we went swimming for a big in meme & papa's pool.... ( I couldn't cool off for some reason! )

Naps were great that day!!

Later in the evening Kyla and I had a date. We went out for pizza, to the chocoloate store, and to see Ice Age in 3D. I'm so mad I didn't get a picture of her in her 3D glasses.... she kept sticking her hand out to try to catch the "flying" objects! We did lots of cuddling in the movie theater and I got a great good night kiss later in the evening. An absolute perfect date.

On our date

>Picture taking while waiting for Daddy to get home.... I thought this was so creative of them! ( Jack and Kyla )

Sunday was Taylor's 3rd birthday - she had a princess party with lots of princess dresses and a beautiful princess cake.

Strangely Kyla didn't want to go even though I told her about the jumbo water slide and Kade never wants to do anything, so when they both asked if they could stay at meme's house... I jumped on the thought of only having 1 child at a birthday party!!! Perfect right? Nope.

Jack wouldn't go down the slide, and he wouldn't leave my side. I figured he would have had the most fun out of all 3 kids - but without his brother and sister there, he was so clingy and didn't want to do anything. ( side note, he's been off for a couple of weeks now, not eating, sleeping too much, a few other things... I'm going to take him in to get checked )

I left to try to switch kids - but it wasn't going to happen. There was no switching possible at that point, it was all or nothing and I just wasn't up for "all"

Lastly, I would like to end this entry with how much better Robert is at telling stories than I am. I went to tuck Kyla in and she asked:
"can you tell me a story mom? "
Me: "sure!"
Kyla: "just don't make it one of your short boring stories, make it a good one like dad does."

Me trying to be funny made an attempt and when that didn't work, I grumbled:
" Go see daddy "
Robert says: "yah mom, we tell good stories about chickens, and gummy bears, and pickles and flying dragons and stuff."

Well, I swallowed my pride, hit mute on the TV, and listened in. The giggles that came from my princess were hilarious - she couldn't stop laughing and this was making Robert laugh so hard he could barely finish his story and he had tears rolling down his cheeks. Those are the moments that we as parents live for.

I HATE the word 'No'

Hate is a very strong word, and I don't like to throw it around causually, but I stand behind my decision for it's use in this particular case.

There is something about that word when it comes out of the mouth's of your 3, 4, & 5 year old child. Maybe it doesn't just have to be my child, I'm not sure - but I have a feeling that hearing another child tell me no wouldn't quite do to me what hearing my children say it does.

The unique tone and degree of anger, determination, and frustration they ( especially Kade and now Jack ) are able to put into this one, small, two letter word is exceptionally spectacular. Not in a good, impressive way either.

It pierces through my heart and patience like a dagger that takes me down. That one simple little word turns me into someone I sure wouldn't want to deal with.... and yet my children have no problem repeatedly saying it over and over and over.......... AND OVER.

Then Robert comes home and says a simple: "what did you say to your mom?"
Answer: "nothing, sorry Mom." and they stop.
How unfair is that? Mom's get the short end of the stick when it comes to that big time.

I thought for sure I would be the disciplinarian of the family, which I am, but I also thought I would be taken seriously by my children ( or at least by 2 out of 3 of them... I only have Kyla at this point ) I didn't think that Robert would get to be the good guy, and the disciplinarian both equally! LOL It's just wrong. Just cause he works 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 hours a week doesn't mean that I'm not important too right? hahaha

Last night, Jack cried for 10 minutes after I got Kyla and Kade to sleep, and I just layed there next to him. Normally he would quit on his own and just lay down, as I could tell he was tired. I finally indulged him and said: "why are you crying"
His answer: "because I want to lay on that pillow!" ( I previously moved him over 10 inches so I could get into my own bed.... I wont even go into the story of why he was there )
I said fine and I hopped over him to his side of the bed. He crashed on the pillow - then about 2 seconds later his guilt kicked in and he nudged over and snuck me a kiss while my eyes were closed and said: good night mom, I love you.

Kade told me he wants to make me bleed yesterday because I took him out of the playroom where he just got in trouble. Later he came out and his guilt and shame was apparant, so I capitolized on it and asked him if he really wanted to hurt my heart and / or make me bleed. He said no of course not mommy, I love you.

And people at work ask me why I'm always "tired" while I'm here.

I'm not going to re-read this, so for those of you that made it through to the end - I hope it made some sort of sense.

Nicole's shower

Cheryl, Becky, Amber and I were honored to be able to put togeher a celebration of our dear friend Nicole's upcoming baby girl's arrival!

Amber was unfortunately unable to make it as she was out of state, and my camera battery was almost dead - but Nicole and her mom got tons of other great pictures that I can't wait to see.

We had about 25 women over Cheryl's house for an evening of catching up, eating desserts, and drinking yummy drinks. Of course and honoring Nicole and her baby girl!

We had it in the evening to avoid the heat, and the decor was so relaxing, pretty and soothing, it certainly doubled as a girls night out for most of us! Nicole was smiling the whole time, and the guests seemed happy - so that's all that mattered! ( not to mention the great stuff that baby girl summers will be dressed in, wrapped in, carried in, and cared for with! )

Thank you to everyone that came, and lots of love to Nicole and her baby girl - we can't wait to hold her!!

all the pregnant girls!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!


Nicoles mom Joyce and sister Mingie

Megan was quite the photographer and helper that evening!

Amber we missed you! Good thing we have one more shower to plan together!

A wonderful week

Robert's mom Connie, nephew Matt (16), and niece Consondra(15) came from Texas for a visit from the 4th to the 13th.

I didn't get half the pictures that I should have, and I'll be sad about that forever, but the visit was wonderful. They did a lot of Disney visits, we all did a lot of swimming, eating out, bbqing, and just being together as much as possible. We all went to Knotts Berry Farm, and my mom, Aiden & Sydney joined us for an evening there as well.

Kyla, Kade, and Jack fell in love INSTANTLY with their cousins and my heart is extra full of love after seeing how great Matt and Consondra were with my kids. They were patient, kind, attentive, loving, and just great all around! Grammy gave them so much love and someone else to show off too and talk her ear off. Everyone can't wait to keep in touch through texting and lettters and pictures.... until next year when we can do it again. We are hoping too, to add in a flight with all of the kids to Texas at some point next year. We miss them terribly already!

Here are lots of Knotts Berry Farm, and a few random pictures too.

These first 2 pics are of the kids starting at the neon dance / bike /skating show.... Kade kept dancing, but everytime I tried to get a pic he would catch me and stop.

As you can tell, the kids LOVED the cars quite a bit!















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