Terrible Two's are a Myth!

For us, the terrible two’s usually start after the first birthday. They should be called Terrible Ones instead. Issy started throwing tantrums after her first birthday too, so now I am just assuming this is that this is how long it takes our kid to figure out that they do have some leverage over us (or do they?)

We noticed these fits a couple of weeks ago. Being that this is our second time going through this, we are “getting better” at this whole tantrum thing…(Ha! or so we think). Actually, the only thing we do is ignore it. Which I am pretty good at.

As you can see, Jax will wait to see if you are looking at him while he has his leg up and he is screaming (again no tears). If you are not looking at him, he stops his whining and leg curl and he looks for Brandon or me. As soon as he spots us, he tries to get our attention so he can continue with his protest. BUT, If we don’t make eye contact, he does eventually give up and finds something fun to keep him busy. Like Sandy!

The fun is just begining!!!

Snow Day

For a week, I almost forgot it was still January. The weather was finally warming up here in Idaho. We had a few days last week with 45-55 degree weather, which is really nice considering its winter. Out of no where snow started falling later last night. This morning the streets were pretty much clear, but the grass was still nice and fluffy.

Issy immediately soaked it up. She ran up and down the street with Sandy, screaming with Joy.


Mouth wide open collecting snow flakes...Pure Bliss!

Jax on the other hand....looked around a bit. felt cold, wet and how unstable the grass was. He hated it. Its not his first time seeing or playing in the snow, so I thought he would love it. Nope. He wanted nothing to do with the cold, wet, stuff. He screamed and screamed (no tears) until I picked him up.

Issy even tried to show him how to roll around like a dog....

Okay, I did finally pick him up. Looking back, maybe he just didnt like the puffy jacket? Or maybe the hat was a little much. hahaha.

Either way, our snow day quickly came to an end, but it was fun while it lasted. :)

Swimming

My sister and I decided it would be fun to take the kids swimming this weekend. This was Jackson's first time at a community pool and I thought he would love truly love it.
Nope.
He cried the entire time he was in the pool. I held him while he got “acclimated” to the water, but he just screamed. And screamed. And then screamed some more. (Notice there are no real tears here!!!) The pool area was really busy, so luckily it muffled Jackson's protest pretty well, but about a half hour later we decided he wasn’t going to stop and had Daddy came to the rescue.

Issy on the other hand was like a tadpole in the water. She even made a little (boy) friend so they got to play and swim together. Here are Jax and Bella sharing a snack as we scramble to get dressed. Jax brought the cheerios, Bella brought her sippy. They were in Baby Haven!
Little does Jax know that it took me about an hour JUST to pack up the suits, towels, changes of clothes and snacks. This does not include the time it took me to get the kids ready, loaded and unloaded from the car. This also does not include the time it took me to stuff my two GIANT bags full of baby/kid gear in to the tiny lockers they provide us at the YMCA. No...I didnt love that part one bit, but for a look at Issy's happy face, I am pretty much willng to fight with those tiny lockers anyday...I mean teenie tiny! Arrrgh!

Night Stand

I have been up to no good lately. I kicked my husband out of "his" garage and transformed it into my shop...a little elbow greese and paint turned an ugly particle board night stand into this....

Not bad eh?

The picture is awful. Brandon works nights, so this picture is as good as its going to get until May when I can get some sun. First of all, the night stand looks white, but its actually a pretty cream color. Before I painted it, I primed it with a grayish blue color so that I could distress it- None of that is really captured here!

Eitherway.....it looks 100 times better than it did a week ago.

I am really happy with it. I deserve a pat on the back. Wooohooo!

Baby Steps **Update**

Can you believe it? Our little man is walking. You can't really see his big smile from my angle, but he is so proud of himself. He is so super cute!




Okay. I realize that my high pitch "mom" voice is some what annoying- I am just super excited. Can you blame me?

Didn't think so...

My Dog Sandy

-Issy

Field Trip

The family "behind bars", notice our sad faces!!!

Inside a cell house, extreemly small cells (usually four inmates per cell)


Issy walking near the Watch Tower!

We finally made the 30 minute trip to the Old Idaho Penitentiary this weekend. We got to visit the high security cells, the old chow hall, laundry work area, the basketball court yard, a tattoo room and even the execution room. Wow. It was very interesting. The warden's home was closed, but it was within steps of the prison. Could you imagine that? My first thoughts would be the possibility of excapes. Yikes! The guards also had a "rest home" of some sort within steps of the prison doors. I am guessing they used that for training or preparation for shift changes etc.

Some of you may think taking our kids to a prison may be a little twisted, but there is so much history there- why not? Issy was soaking it all in. Maybe she will grow up and enjoy history as much as her Daddy!

Haiti

I can't stop thinking about all those people Haiti. My heart aches for those waiting for news from their loved ones.
A co-worker of mine just finalized their daughters adoption in September, it was at this time that they were able to bring her home. Today, my co-worker told me that they found out that the orphanage their little girl was in, was destroyed and one of their little girls nannies killed. The only good news they received was that the children from the orphanage had all been evacuated.

If you can, please help. http://www.redcross.org/

It also wouldn't hurt to hold your kids a little tighter, and give them a few extra kisses tonight.

Baby Steps

Our little Jax is starting to walk. It has only started this week, but already I can see that his confidence is growing. Would I be too daring to say he walks within the next two weeks? Today he took four steps without assistance. I didn’t get an action shot. I jumped up to get the camera mid-step, so unfortunatly I ended up starling him back on to his knees. next time.

Also, I realize that lately all of my post have been of Jax, so I would like to take a few minutes and also talk about Issy. She never fails to crack me up. We were at the front desk dropping her off when I asked if she knew where her class was. I know I should give her more credit, but as a Mother I just have to make sure. She said of course I know but if I can smell Kadens tracks! Kaden is a friend from her class.
Isn't she so cute?

I was lucky enough to get a 11 day holiday break from work. This is our slow time of year, so I used my vacation time and took the time off. It worked out really well since Issy was also home for her Winter Break. I could really get used to sleeping in. I almost cried when the alarm went off at 5:30 am on Monday.

Now we are back to our normal routine.

December 2008

June 2009

January 2010

Starting him early...

Maybe he wont be cleaning the whole house anytime soon, but I will take any help I can get these days. Now, if only my house would stay clean for more than ten minutes :)

I heart books

Today's favorite is:

Mind your Manners by Walter Chandoha (paperback).

I found this little treasure at Goodwill today. The book is old and a little worn, but the message is cute and easy for the little ones to understand- Mind your Manners! :) The photos are of animals doing crazy things (absolutely adorable). It was an instant hit for the Issy who is the biggest animal lover I know!