Melissa’s Blog

Nicole and daddy went to get Starbucks. I loved having some alone time with Justin, we swept the inside of the house just for fun and of course we ended up at the train table. After breakfast dad took the kids to My Gym for a make up class while I went for a run/walk. I must be the slowest runner ever. I felt so bad missing My Gym but I get to go all the time. The kids had fun, they loved having daddy there to watch them. After My Gym I headed to grandma/pa’s with the kiddos. Tierney was there too. Tierney was so cute heading to Nicole, trying to climb on Nicole and trying to put Nicole’s arm in her mouth. Nicole loved helping out with T. Justin loved playing cars. We tried to take a picture of all 3 kids, but T was too tired. Nicole was so tired on the way home but I managed to keep her awake. We had one of her baby dolls in the car and I made it come alive. Nicole and Justin drew pictures for her. While dad was home he put the new ceiling fan in the kid’s room and moved the one from the kid’s room to the office. I dropped the kids off at home and went to get my haircut. It is a little shorter than I wanted but will grow fast. Justin wanted to wash a car so badly, he has been asking for a few days now. So they washed daddy’s car. The kids were pretty hungry and tired tonight. We had an early dinner and then walked to the neighbors with Zoe the dog. We took flashlights and the kids gave Zoe the tennis balls we bought for her. They were so happy to make Zoe happy. We came home and headed upstairs. The kids wanted us to read a ton of books. We actually put them to bed a little earlier than normal.

This morning we were out early. Bagels for breakfast in the car. We dropped daddy with his bike off at work so he can ride home. Then we headed to Newport Beach for a foot doctor app’t for me. They have to cut into my big toe nail but I am going to put it off for a while. And orthodics and I should be fixed. Since we were down in Newport I thought it would be fun to take the kiddos to Fashion Island. The kids loved the koi pond. They loved jumping on the stepping stones. Everytime Justin saw a big fish he squeled. We walked around a bit and rode on the carousal. Nicole wanted to ride the cat and Justin the ostrich. So we had to ride twice since the animals weren’t next to each other. The kiddos aren’t tall enough to be by themselves yet. We watched all the fountains. We went into the pet store. The kids wanted to get Zoe the neighbor’s dog something, so we bought two tennis balls. The kids were so excited and wanted to give them to her right away. We had lunch there. So fun just to hang out with the kiddos. They just shared my lunch and were more excited about the fortune cookie. On the way home we listened to the song Shoe Fly numerous times. Ay home the kids played for a bit then settled in to watch Curious George. We played outside for a bit with frisbees and water. Their pants got soaked so we came in and did play doh! Justin pooped and he got off the potty and said it was in the shape of a J-he was pretty proud 🙂 The kids got out the Easter eggs, I was so tired so I wanted to lay down for a bit. I dropped the kiddos off at Paula’s so dad and I could go out. So nice to be with Bret, just having a nice relaxing dinner. The kids had so much fun. So great that it is working out taking care of each other’s kids. The kids were pretty tired.

This morning we dropped daddy off at work and he is going to bike home. Then I took the kiddos to pre school. Nicole was a little apprehensive about me leaving but she was better than she has been the last few times. While the kiddos were in pre school I ran with a friend around castle park. Then I came home and got ready for our play date. The kids were so excited that their pre school friends were coming over. The kids had a great time at pre school. When I got there they were outside playing the in the wet sand! We had a great play date. All the kids played so well. So cute to watch everyone play, so sad seeing my house get all messed up. The kids played all over the house. So cute watching Justin eat at the picnic tables with his friends, giggling. Nicole was too busy with her friends to eat for a while. Justin interacted with friends more than he ever had. Him and Neela were cracking up over the laptop. Here are some pics:

I let the kiddos watch TV so I could clean up. The moms were so sweet to help me clean up, but they did it when I wasn’t looking. Toys in all the wrong places. So I cleaned up toys for about 45 minutes and it is still not finished. Besides that it was nice to hang out with the other moms and watch the kiddos. I gave the kiddos a bath. So cute Justin puts all the ducks on the boat and brings them to the play ground, etc. The kids also use washclothes and pretend to wrap gifts. Oh at pre school a mom told me two kids were fighting over a square to sit down on and they said Justin got up and said why don’t you share? After bath the kids played naked for a while. They were “exercising” in front of the closet mirror, jumping up and down and just laughing. They played upstairs naked for the longest time, it cracked me up. They pretended to have a picnic and all the empty hangers in our closet are on the floor but that is the price I paid for a little break. Also my two little palm tree towels are wet which I am believing it is from the bath. We played Candyland then headed upstairs. I started going through some of the kids baby clothes so I can put the ones I want to keep in the attic. Oh my goodness, the most tiniest and cutiest clothes. The kids played with money and pretended to feed the animals.The kids played so well together this afternoon and tonight, it was so nice.  It was a big busy day and we are all tired. Oh tonight we were talking about the play date and Nicole all of a suddens says there were 2 Grace’s, one big and one small. Grace and her little sister look so much alike.

The kiddos played at home this morning for a bit. Then we headed to Disney. We got there right when it opened and I can’t believe how many people were there already. We were the first one in line for the rocket ships. We got on it twice so the kids could drive. We also got on It’s A Small World before it got too crowded. It is so fun hanging at Disney with the kids. We all love it-it just tires me out. Nicole has learned how to put on her own jacket-she was so proud of herself and so was I. The kids saw Goofy and Chip and Dale. When we got home our neighbor, Andree was out with her dog Zoe. The kids love her dog. Justin threw the ball for Zoe and the kids just loved it when Zoe came into our house. The kids watched Curious George. I think they are watching too much George as they pretend to be monkeys now. After we went outside to play. Justin drove his car for a few minutes and Nicole and I played catch. Justin joined us too and we had so much fun on the greenbelt, throwing balls, kicking balls, throwing them up in the air…it was a great time. We came in and made dinner. After dinner the kids were pretty mellow. I ran out to the grocery store. Dad and the kids played games, played with money, read books, etc. The kids were really tired tonight.

This morning the kids were up a bit early. They played really well though. We got ready for pre school.Dad and I had an app’t at 9:00 with a financial advisor so dad was home. Dad and I dropped the kiddos off at pre school. Nicole at first didn’t want to go but she did much better today. She seemed so happy when I picked her up. Justin told me he took care of Nicole. The kids made some pretty cool space shuttles today. While they were in school we went to the financial advisor app’t-still don’t know though. Then I went to the gym. Came home and took the bike trailer to pick up the kiddos. It was great they were so excited about going in the trailer. At home they ate a fast lunch and wanted to just watch TV. After TV the kiddos decided they were hungry-they didn’t eat too much lunch. They loved having their own yogurt containers. The little things that make them happy. Then I gave the kiddos a bath. They are really into pouring water from cup to cup and they love helping to wash their hair. I think they just like the bubbles. After bath the kiddos just wanted to be naked for a bit and played cars. They pretended their space shuttles they made at pre school were kites and said blast off and ran around the house. Nicole wants Justin to chase her with the space shuttles. We headed to My Gym for open play. I hope the kids aren’t getting sick of My Gym since we are there a lot right now. It was cute, the kids loved climbing up onto the bar. They would hang there and I would swing them as well. They were really into playing catch with me, it was a lot of fun. The kids amaze me at how well they catch and throw. I needed to run to Cosrco after to get some food for a playdate. I thought the kids would be mellow from being at My Gym, but the opposite happened. They were hyper, running around and having a blast in Costco. Luckily we weren’t in too much of a hurry. After dinner we played trains. Justin wanted us to join him so he came and brought us each a train. The kids are sound asleep right now. And I am off to go for a walk.

We stayed home this morning for a bit. Nicole was so unhappy about going to the workout place, so I wasn’t going to force her. She was ok going in the bike trailer so I spent some time trying to hook it up. No such luck, I need Bret to do it. I thought we were done with the bike trailer but if they are willing to go in it while I get some exercise I am good with it. I hope this phase passes with Nicole quickly as I really want to go to the gym. We headed over to Chick Fil A before My Gym. A few moms and kids meet there before My Gym. The kids had a lot of fun, but mostly with opening and closing the door of the play area. We went to My Gym. It was the last class of this session. They did space flight-it was cute. I even remebered the video camera. After we stopped at Kohls to get some clothes for the kiddos and a gift to bring to Henry when we go to Canada. The kiddos watched some TV when we got home. I decided to take the kiddos to the park, it feels like we haven’t been in a while. The kids wanted to ride their bikes. We went to Blue Gum Park. Scary with the kiddos riding their bikes but they did great. They had so much fun at the park. They were going across what they called stepping stones in the river to save baby jaguar just like Dora and Diego. Both Nicole and Justin decided to be Diego. They wanted to swing as well. Twins are everywhere, 3 sets at the park and we met a new neighbor on the way home that has twins. The kids biked home, Nicole decided when we turned on Monticello she was done biking. We came home and made dinner right away as the kiddos were hungry. After dinner daddy fixed the bike trailer for me and the kiddos played trains for a bit. We built new tracks all over the living room floor. The kids decided they were hungry and wanted a snack. They had some cottage cheese and we read some new magazine they got in the mail. Of course, they wanted it read over and over again. We went upstairs and the kiddos played with money. Then gave them some glow in the dark stickers. We read some books we haven’t read in a while and told stories. Hopefully they will be sleeping soon.

Dad took Nicole to Starbucks and the grocery store as we needed milk. I am always running out of milk. Justin and I played trains. We built tracks and went around and around the track. To my surprise daddy and Nicole bought me flowers. It was so unexpected and made me so happy! After breakfast the kiddos just played. I said I was sad about something and Nicole looked at me and said but we bought you flowers so you can’t be sad 🙂 I decided to go for a jog and dad and the kids played every game we own. They had a good time. Then dad went out for a bit on his Trikke. Everyone always stops to ask him about his bike. The kiddos played. They pretended there was an alligator and for some reason decided it was safe to hide in the laundry room. Plus lots of toys went in there with them. The kiddos played in the backyard for a bit. Justin accidently hit Nicole with a bat while playing T-ball. Poor little Nicole but she is a tough girl. After lunch the kiddos wanted to swing and head out to the front to play. They drove cars for a short bit. Nicole and Justin pretended it was raining and got out their umbrellas. I tried to clean out some toys and put together a basket for Christy from the mom’s club. The kids wanted to watch TV, Curious George, of course. After TV we gave the kiddos a bath. Bret watched for the leak but no leak. We are thinking maybe the kids splashed water out of the side of the tub or something-I can’t imagine they would have splashed that much but the tub wasn’t leaking today. After bath the kids played really well together while we had someone here giving us quotes for some lighting projects in our house. After we headed out, I needed to get a few more things for Christy’s basket then we dropped it off a her house. We took the kiddos to Islands for dinner and came home. The kiddos helped clean up the downstairs and played with money upstairs. We read books and off to bed. It has been about a half hour and I still hear Nicole talking.

This morning we headed to My Gym for a make-up class. The kids loved that daddy was going too. The kids had a great time as usual and we enjoyed watching them too. After we ran some errands. We are working on updating the lighting in our house and need ceiling fans. We successfully bought 3 of them today. 2 for the kids room and the other for the futon room. We are moving the existing fan in the kid’s room to the office. When we got home we played for a bit. Dad worked on looking into the leak from the bathtub while the kids were outside in the back playing. They are really into playing with their T-ball set. After lunch we headed to Huntington Beach. We had a great time at the beach with the kiddos. I made a ton of sand castles that the kids enjoyed smashing. Dad took Justin down by the water and followed the tracks from the lifegaurd truck. They enjoyed watching the volley ball games going on. It was just nice just taking our time and not rushing on to the next thing. There was a guy making bubbles for the kiddos. J&N loved chasing the bubbles and popping them.

We walked up Main Street and just reminsced about when we lived in Huntington Beach. After we did a few errands and then headed to dinner. We went to an old favorite, Harbour House. But it wasn’t as good as we remembered it. After we walked across to see the boats in the Harbor. It is amaxing how the littlest thing fascinates the kids. When we got home the kids played with money for a bit and dad read a couple books to the kiddos. Nicole had a hard time falling asleep though. I hope she sleeps in tomorrow morning.

Well this morning I decided to take the kiddos to Disney. I figure our pass will run out soon so go while I can. It was so nice out so a great day to go. We got there at but by about 10:30 it was getting too crowded. We rode the rocket ships first, one of the kids favorite rides. Small World was open so we went on that. The kids wanted to go again and again on that ride. We went on the Circus Train and headed over to Tomorrowland. The kiddos went on the Autopia. Of course they loved driving. They have been begging me to go on the monorail, so we got on. Their little faces were so excited we were getting on the monorail. We rode it twice then got off at Downtown Disney. Disney was getting too crowded. So we ate lunch then played. The kiddos loved the Lego store and built on the little tables. Justin saw that Legos have trains too so he was just focused on that. We just walked around looked at all the fountains and headed back to the shuttle. We needed to stop at Costco on the way home. The kiddos and I were pretty tired. Somehow they got their second wind and I am still waiting to get mine. They watched TV for a bit. After watching TV I sent the kids upstairs to get a phone. Justin was so excited-Nicole says can I carry it and he says no. It was silly. We talked to grandma/pa on the phone for a bit then headed outside to play. The kids were playing T-ball, they were playing really well. Then Katie, Michael, and Sarah came over. We were babysitting tonight so Paula and hubby can have a night out. The kids all had a great time playing together. They loved playing store and feeding Kota the dinasour everything from money to balls, etc. The girls played with girly things and the boys played with trucks. Nikki and Mikey were playing with the ball popper and loving it, pretending it was popcorn. The house was a mess but the kiddos had so much fun. I am so glad this works out so well taking care of each other’s kids. We put our kids to bed a little late-they must have been exhausted since we had such a busy day. Bret and I cleaned up all the toys and I am so exhausted from the day too!

Nicole was a bit upset this morning since I wasn’t working at pre school. She said she really wanted me to work. I had a hard time this morning leaving her. I talked to Justin about helping his sister. What an amazing brother, he said he would help Nicole in the potty, said if she was sad he would give her a hug, etc. I said show me what you would do for Nicole and he went up and gave her a big hug/kiss. With Justin watching over his sister, I felt better. When we got to school, Nicole said she had to use the potty. I told her I would go with her. I didn’t need to go since Justin went with her 🙂 I hope the kiddos are best friends for life. I talked to Ms Donna and begged her to call me if Nicole was upset. Next thing I knew Nicole and Justin were outside having a great time playing with the cars. I said goodbye and Nicole seemed happy. I went to the gym and stopped to get the kiddos balloons (lightening mcqueen/towater and princess). I wanted to let them know how proud I was for Justin helping his sister and Nicole being brave. When I picked them up I was told Nicole was a little sad but would snap out of it. Ms. Tania said Nicole gave her a dirty look since Ms. Tania was sitting next to Justin at snack-she moved so Nicole could sit by her brother. I love people telling me stories about how Nicole talks to the moms, so silly. I can just picture Nicole talking. The kids were too excited about their surprise to play outside of pre school so we just went to the car. Their faces were so cute, so excited about the balloons. Justin had a big smile on his face the entire way home. We had lunch and the kiddos flew their balloons around the house like kites. Gave the kiddos a bath and had a little flood from the light over the kitchen table. Guess the bathtub is leaking. If we are ever going to have a flood in this house it better destroy the kitchen! I hosted play group. It was fun. The kids all played so well together. Loved pouring water all over the play house. It was nice to catch up with some friends too. I needed some adult conversation. After dinner I needed to head out for the pre school general meeting. Dad played with the kiddos and put them to bed.