Melissa’s Blog

We love Saturdays! We stayed home for a while. The kids sorta sang happy birthday on Alan’s voice mail. Dad and Justin went to Starbucks. We gave the kiddos a bath. Then we decided it was so nice out, so we went to The District. The kids wanted to take daddy car. They love their new boosters.

I took my camera to The District, so there will be lots of new pics today. The kiddos played in the fountain and had a great time. Here are some pics:

We had some lunch at The District then went to Borders and read books. We just played at the other fountain and took more pics.

We came home and the kids played with their Hot Wheel cars and then watched some TV. After TV we played in the backyard. The kids swung on the swings, in their words “we haven’t done that in a while”. They helped me sweep too. We then ran to do some errands. We did bubbles on the green belt, last year the kiddos could barely blow the bubbles. They were blowing them all over, it was fun. Nicole is loveing the gingerbread men from the game Candyland-she even wanted to sleep with them tonight. We read lots of books tonight-kids were tired and went right to  bed.

We changed our plans for the day at the last minute. The weather was so nice I decided to take the kids to Disney. The kids were excited, although I decided to do this while reading books to the kids and Nicole was mad I stopped reading. We packed our lunches and off we went. It was crowded, skipped the shuttle and walked. We managed to play on the fire engines and go in the Tiki room. After we met Vena and kids at California Adventure. We went and saw the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show which the kids just love. After lunch we went on some ride, the caterpillar, some big box hor air balloon ride, ladybug boogie, etc. I think the kids could go on the rides over and over again. We walked over to the pier area and the kids went on the carousal, Nicole rode a sea horse and Justin a fish. But they were more excited to watch the fast roller coaster. The kids really wanted to go on the monorail, so we walked through Downtown Disney (I didn’t know where else to pick it up). But then it wasn’t running. The shuttle ride made up for it though. We got home and I had to clean up my big mess I left from this morning. I caught up with an old friend on the phone while the kiddos watched some TV. Then we headed out again. We met Paula, Krista, and all the kids at the train path. All the kiddos rode bikes together. There were 7 kids, they looked like a biker gang. They got lucky and there were lots of trains to watch. Since I had only been home for an hour I didn’t even think about dinner, so we met daddy at the Marketplace. We played around the fountain for a bit, ate, and then I wanted to run to Carters. Since daddy’s car now has boosters the kids wanted to ride home in daddy car. We got home and the kids were so silly. Running up and down the hallway upstairs naked just screaming. We were laughing-then they pretended to take a bath. Dad went out and met some old high school friends at a bar. I read books and told stories with the kids and now they are sleeping, Justin is snoring. I am exhausted! It was a long busy but really fun day.

The kids woke up and were excited to see their new car booster seats. They love the cup holders the best. It was pre school day! It was my turn to work. It is so fun to be with the kids. I wish I could get a break but I never regret working there. Nicole and Justin are so happy while I am there. The kids wanted to make snakes with me with dot markets. During circle time my kids were hanging out with me. Nicole more so than Justin. They were so excited to share. Nicole shared Justin’s skateboard dog and Justin shared a ball. I had a hard time writing the clues for a skateboard dog. They celebrated Grace’s birthday so the kids got cupcakes. It was such a beautiful day out and was very fun being outside with the kids. Justin and Nicole got all wet jumping in puddles from the water table, all sandy and wet. We got home and had lunch. The kids barely ate it though. Then they played in the downstairs bathroom reading books to one another. They played with their otter puppets and chased one another. I gave the kiddos a bath, they were overdue. They had so much fun playing in the tub together. Then their friend Aliya came over as her mom needed to go to an app’t. The kids all played together. We went outside to play. It was so windy but the kids couldn’t of cared less. They drove their cars, rode bikes, and scooters-very busy kids. We were outside until daddy came home. The kids watched Curious George while we got dinner together. After dinner, we wanted to test out the kids new booster seats. We put them in daddy car and went for a drive. The drive took us to frozen yogurt. So fun telling the kids we had a surprise for them, they could hardly stand it. They were so happy it was frozen yogurt-chocolate was the favorite. They loves their new seats-they seem to work well. A little hard to buckle but easier than moving the big seats from car to car. We went upstairs, read books, and told stories. I made up some silly story and Nicole told me not to tell it again-it was so funny. Kids are sleeping.

I worked out this morning. The kids love that kids club, it is so great. It is always a struggle to get them out of there. So nice. After we stopped at park day for a bit. We went to Orchard Park. The kids had fun, wanting to swing, slide, etc. They love pretending they are Curious George and climb. I got to be the man with the yellow hat. The kids listened so well and got right in the car when I said it was time to leave to go to My Gym. I wish I brought the video camera to My Gym, I keep forgetting it. The kids were all smiles and loved that Neil was teaching the class. They listened really well and laughed a lot. Neil asked the kids what their favorite place to go is and Justin said Chuck E Cheese. And when Nicole was aked Justin said Chuck E Cheese. My Gym has a special of two classes a week plus open gym, so we are there a lot. We came home and the kiddos ate a big lunch. They played with the Chute and Ladder pieces pretending the people were Sally and Billy (just like in the stories I tell at night). We played in the backyard a bit then watched some TV. It was such a nice day out so we met some friends at Hicks Canyon Park. The kids love this park and were on the see saw for most of the time. I remembered their sand toys so they had fun playing in the sand too. We came home and picked up dad to go to a fundraiser at a restaraunt for our pre school. I was surprised that not a lot of people were there. Anyway the kids had a great time walking around The District, seeing the fountains and fireplaces. They were pretending like they were the fire dep’t and putting out the fire. They were so talky on the way home, so silly but loud. Read books, told stories and put the kiddos to bed.

We woke up to it windy and cold. The kids had pre school today. I went to the gym and then enjoyed the house to myself. When I picked the kiddos up, Nicole didn’t want to leave. Nicole is definitely developing friendships which is so nice. After we picked up Bret and went to the post office to get the kiddos their passports. So glad that has been done. We all went out to lunch together. When we got home the kids played a bit then watched some TV while I prepped dinner. The kids were a bit cranky after watching TV. With some mommy playtime they were happy. Nicole put on her Cinderella dress and pretended she was in the story. She lost her glass slipper and wanted the prince (Justin) to find her. Justin wasn’t really into playing Cinderella-he was more into sweeping outside and mowing the lawn.

Nicole wanted to wear her crown, dress, and shoes to My Gym for open play. We went into My Gym with both kiddos in dress up shoes. It was funny. Open gym was fun, the kids wanted to play soccer but never kicked the ball. Justin loves My Gym. They enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with balls. We came home and had dinner and played with the kiddos. Nicole wanted to play My Little Pony and Justin was reading books and playing with big floppy dog. Justin didn’t want to stop reading so he just pee’d his pants, I couldn’t believe it. We played drive thru in the tent room. We read lots of books and told stories. The kids are sound asleep.

I am trying to get in workouts with our busy schedule. I think I figured out how to do it, at least on Mondays. We went to my workout place (can’t confuse it with the kids’s gym). The kids had fun. Justin told the person watching him when they left, thanks Ashley-I love you and will you marry me? It was so adorable. Nicole didn’t want to leave. We met some of our My Gym (kid’s gym) friends at Chick-Fil-A. The kids had fun playing. Nicole almost had a fit leaving as she was having so much fun in the play area. Justin didn’t mind as he was so excited to go to My Gym. The kids had so much fun at My Gym. They did the space flight and the kids were all smiles on it. Nicole loves to follow Luke around in the class and sit by him. Sometimes he is not paying attention and Nicole follows. After I felt like the kiddos needed a little rest, so I let them watch some TV; the usual Curious George and Thomas. After I gave the kiddos a bath. Nicole was pretty whiny in the tub.I am trying to help her not whine but it is definitely work in progress. After bath we had a snack and went outside. It was really cold, but the kiddos had fun driving their cars. Grandma/pa came over as well. The kids were happy to see them and played with them for a bit. The kids played with their chairs and pretended to go to Disney, also pretended that it was raining. I love the imagination. We went and played upstairs for a while then read books and told stories. Justin fell asleep during the stories and Nicole is still awake-ugh.

Bret had to work this morning for a bit. The kiddos and I ran to the grocery store. They wanted to ride in the car cart, which should mean I should shop faster. However, anytime I stopped the kiddos would get out of the cart, then back in, etc. I got so many groceries. By the time we got home dad was done working. I needed to go to Grammy’s to get my camera, so happy to have it back. So we stopped at our favorite sandwich place, Little Pickle, and took it to Grammy’s. The kids played for a while, Justin rode the tricycle. After we headed to a theater in Westminster to see the musical, Cinderella. It was put on by kids. Justin and Nicole seemed to enjoy it but they were getting restless as were we by the end. Nicole was trying to dance on my lap like they were dancing on stage. After we played outside the theater, there was a play structure. The kiddos needed play time and they didn’t mind the cold. They had fun climbing up the slides and going down them too. We grabbed dinner on the way home. Nicole is pretending it is her birthday. We made it worse by giving her a birthday crown. So I think we have sung happy birthday at least 20 times and she pretends we are her candles, so she blows us out. Justin played trains and then we all read books. We headed upstairs where the kids were still wanting to play. They played doctor with us, played in the tent room, etc. We only had time to read two books and tell two stories. Nicole is loving this book called Stellaluna and Justin is loving the Curious George books. Sounds pretty quiet up there. Now I can go download pics since I have my camera back.

This morning we tried to get the kid’s passports but the place ended up being closed. So we went through the drive thru Starbucks and over the train tracks. Justin loves going over the tracks. We got home and the kids played well together. They grabbed their chairs and walked around with them pretending they were at Disney. They went on all the rides, such an imaination. Then Nicole and I went to a friend from pre schools party, Grace. It was at Olivia’s Dollhouse in Tustin. So girly! Nicole was really shy for a bit. Finally I talked her into dressing up, she was Sleeping Beauty. She got sparkly nail polish on but didn’t want any make up. She did get her hair done and she looked so grown up. Nicole was really excited for the tea party. She poured her tea and ate little sandwiches and hot dogs. She loved the desert the best and who can blame her. She got a little of everything, cotton candy, gummy bears, m&m, cake, etc. She saved the wrapped candy to bring home for Justin. Then Grace opened all her presents. Nicole was so excited for Grace to open her present, she held it in her hand just dying for Grace to call her, so sweet. Nicole had a great time and it was a really cute party. Justin and daddy went in dad’dy car-a big thrill on its own. Then they ran some errands to find a new router. They went to Circuit City and Costco then headed to the pizza place. Justin had a blast playing games and especially the driving game. So cute when Nicole got home she couldn’t wait to give Justin the candy and they shared it. Nicole got some makeup and they both put makeup on (Justin you may kill me for writing this). The kiddos watched some TV. After TV, we painted on the easel in the garage. That didn’t last too long then the kids rode their bikes. It was cold out though, so they didn’t ride too long. We gave the kiddos a bath. When we got downstairs we took the huge Kota box and let the kiddos play with it. I had to pretend to be a dinasour. They both started filling the box up with toys, that will be fun to clean up! The kids were starving for dinner, I don’t think either one of them had any snacks today. After dinner Nicole wanted to play My Little Pony, Justin cars. We opened two toys from Christmas, some pop magnetic dart thing and he doctor kit. Who knew they loved playing doctor so much. When we went upstairs the kids were in crazy good moods. We made forts in their rooms out of sheets and read books in the fort. Nicole got stuffed animals to put in the forts. Thankfully the kids went right to sleep tonight. They almost had a fit though when we took down one of the forts.

This morning I was debating what to do, Disney, storytime, etc. Luckily since I couldn’t decide the rain decided for me. I went to my workout place for a quick workout. I am always amazed at how well the kids do at the child care; they are always so happy when I come get them. We made it to storytime at the library. It was cute, all about whales. I feel like I haven’t been able to take them to a storytime in a while. They loved the rain, kept on getting under the umbrella then running in the rain a bit, silly. Vena and kiddos were at story time so we invited them to come play. The kids all ate lunch together. My kiddos were asking for mac and cheese yesterday so they got it for lunch. We are bringing a meal to a friend who had surgery, so the kiddos helped me make some brownies for them. The kiddos wanted to watch some TV, their favorite these days-Curious George. We were in the house all afternoon. I had to make a meal for a pre school friend who had surgery, so the kiddos helped me make some brownies too. Going stir crazy in the house we played Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. The kids did pretty well. Nicole tries to cheat and they have to keep spinning the spinner until they get the # they want. We played trains all around the couch.Well I must have been bored too as I made a huge track around the living room floor, we had fun playing trains. When dad got home we were hiding, the kids love that. We went to drop off the meal I made for my friend and ended up going to Mimi’s for dinner. There was a deaf person sitting close to us and Justin says why is that guy not talking? I don’t Nicole and Justin were interested in my explanation. We go thome and they were fun and hyper. We played drive thru in the empty bedroom upstairs, the kids hid in their tent, and were just so giggly and play ful. They didn’t even want to stop playing for books, so we let them play and only told stories tonight. Nicole asked me to tell stories about her books so it was kind of like reading. They stayed up a little late tonight but are sound asleep now.

So cute this morning, the kids woke up at the same time. All of a sudden you heard Nikki say hi Justin and vice versa. When I read this in time I may say how can that be cute but it really was. The kids were busy using the rocket launcher thing in the house this morning. Too cold to use it outside. I am sure it will be the greatest thing ever when we take it outside. This morning the kids slept in a bit then they had to eat breakfast and off to pre school. I ran to the gym and Coscto. In and out of Coscto within 15 minutes without kids, but I did miss them. Dad stayed home a bit for the life insurance guy to come. I love picking the kids up from pre school since they are so happy to see me and have so much to tell me. We came home and had lunch. The kids didn’t eat too much so they must have had a big snack at pre school. Then I gave the kiddos a bubble bath. They were so excited to have a bubble bath. They pretended the bubbles were snow. They watched a little TV and their friends came over. They played really well. I played football and catch with the kiddos. Nicole swung in her swing a bit. I didn’t plan dinner, so we walked to the pizza place. The kids were in the Bob stroller with their flashlights. So cute to watch Justin drive the games at the pizza place. He is just big smiles the entire time. They played air hockey too. We walked home and the kids ate their dinner in the stroller since they were too busy playing games to eat. Nicole put her baby in her crib (by her bed) and she was a good mommy. She gave her a blanket and turned the mobile on. The kids were pretty hyper tonight. I still hear them talking upstairs, hopefully they will be asleep soon,.