Melissa’s Blog

This morning Zoe the dog woke us up a little early. Zoe keeps taking Nicole’s lion, for some reason she really likes that toy. Poor Nicole was crying. Dad had to work this morning. The kiddos played and we played games, Bingo and Memory. Justin started his first sports class called All Sorts of Sports. It was all about basketball. He did some warming up, some drills, making baskets, passing the ball back and forth with dad. It was pretty cute. Nicole waited patiently in the stroller and watched. Here are a few pics:

We wanted to see some new housing development that opened, so we took the kids. It was so crowded though and hot. Since it was the grand opening they had ice cream for everyone. Bret still had to work on and off so I decided to take the kids up to the La Habra Museum. On the way there the kiddos fell asleep. So I turned on my music 🙂 We had a great time. The kids went in an old train & caboose, bus, pretended to drive a car and put gas in it, and little race cars. We watched the model trains go around and around. The kids played in the play area for a while. They loved the tree house. They loved climbing up the ladder. By the time we got home Zoe’s family came to pick her up. I miss her, she is a fun dog. The kiddos played in the pool for about 5 minutes then needed to be changed, ugh. I think Nicole wore 2 or 3 bathing suits today. Oh she had to wear her bathing suit to the museum, ha, ha. The kids played out in the backyard and went on the swings. Justin has been so hungry in the afternoon the last few days. The kids had a big dinner then they took a bath. I think the bath mellowed them out as they were tired this evening. I thought they would go to bed late but after reading a ton of books, they were pretty tired. It was nice a little nap today and still went to bed at the regular time. I am tired.

Both kids are back to normal now. We just laid low this morning. Bret took today off since he has to work tomorrow. Daddy set up the zebra tent for the kids outside. They started to bring all their toys out so we brought the tent into the family room. The kids put tons of toys in it and read books in it too. We decided to head to the beach. We had a great time-we didn’t have too much time there but it was just enough. Justin and daddy spent most of their time with their feet in the water. Nicole and I played in the sand. Justin was so excited to go to the beach. There was quite a bit of traffic so we asked him if he wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese or the beach. He was set on going to the beach. After the beach we headed to Grammy’s. Cousin Zach and one if his friends are visiting from NZ. My kiddos loved watching them play in the pool. Grammy also got down from the attic all of Bret’s, Buffi’s, and Todd’s old Fisher Price Little People sets. It was like Christmas for the kids. So many cool things to play with. We had dinner and the kiddos just played. When we got home we threw some balls for Zoe on the greenbelt and then put the kiddos to bed. 9:00 and they are finally going to sleep I think and I hope. I am off to take Zoe for a walk. This will be Zoe’s last night and I am kind of sad, I am going to miss her.

We are taking it easy today. At lunch time the kiddos were still in their jammies. We just played at home. I put a bunch of batteries in Justin’s toys. We played with planes and helicopters (Justin said the game was called no more coins). We parked planes and helicopters by the coins and it was a race who could get to the coin first. Then our planes were roaring down the runway and flying.  The kids threw some balls in the backyard for Zoe too. Nicole sat in the hallway in the sun to warm up. And we read a lot of books. The kids watched a little TV and then we had lunch. Justin is being really silly today, sumnmersaults on the couch, getting on the arm rest, etc. I gave the kiddos a bath. They had a great time in the bath, but they were trying to swim and hop which meant a lot of splashing. Justin picked out his outfit todat which doesn’t match at all. But he was so cute and proud of himself so I let him wear it. Nicole is as usual wearing a bathing suit. We just hung out at home and played for a bit. I had to get out of the house so the kiddos and I went to the grcoery store. They love taking things off the shelves and putting them in the cart. When we got home we took Zoe on the greenbelt and threw balls. I brought the kiddos chairs out and they had a snack while I played ball. Justin was throwing balls as well. I read more books and dad came home. After dinner we went for a family walk, it was so nice out. We stopped at the park for a bit. To bribe the kids in the stroller we let them bring their Leapsters as well. We went upstairs and read books, non-exciting day.

Last night Justin was calling for me, and asked if he could come in my bed. He was kind of awake and acting goofy. I let him come in our bed and enjoyed him being up even though it was in the middle of the night. He is so cute. This morning we went to pre school. I needed to do some work there, the kids played and had fun. We only stayed for a short time. We went to a puppet show with a little magic at Katie Wheeler. The kids loved it, it was so cute to watch their smiles and hear their laughs. Lots of our friends were there. The kids liked the copy cat character and participated in the show as well. I am so glad we went to it, it was great. After we hung out with our friends while the kiddos played. We came home and the kids seemed to not feeling too well. So we stayed home the rest of the afternoon. We played, I painted a little bit, and the kiddos watched TV. Nicole wanted to watch Barney and Justin watched Thomas, so we watched both. After we went outside and played on the green belt, we threw balls for Zoe. I brought out the kid’s captain chairs to let them rest, but no resting for them. They played with Zoe for a bit on the greenbelt. I got Justin with a ball and I still feel terrible. I will feel even worse when it is black and blue tomorrow. He wanted to drive his car so I let him. Nicole drove as well, then we came inside to make dinner. I took some pics of the kids with Zoe:

We finally got some batteries for some of the kids toys so dad put one in one of the trains (caboose) with music. Justin was so excited to play trains and wanted daddy to build a spiral track. The kiddos played pretty well, even raced trains on the floor. After dinner we watched videos of Nicole ice skating to show daddy then the kids watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on dad’s computer. Nicole was really tired so we just went upstairs and read lots of books. The kids went to bed a little early.

Nicole pee’d her bed again. She still had a little fever and was so confused. Luckily it happened when we were still awake so it wasn’t too bad. She was so upset and tired. She slept the rest of the night and woke up as her happy self again. I had to go over to pre school. Nicole and Justin just joined the summer session and played. They looked like they were having a great time. Since I finished up just a half hour before school ended, I just let the kiddos stay. And I joined in on the playtime. We came home and the kiddos had lunch and just played. They pretended to paint the mural, so cute to watch them talking to each other and all about what colors, etc. Then it was bath time. The kids can stay in the bath for hours if I would let them. They were just giggling over squirting the trains-it was funny. Just lots of crayon drawings in the bath too. The kiddos watched Little Einsteins/Barney while I went on the greenbelt to  throw balls for Zoe. Not a very exciting day! We went to the ice skating rink early so Nicole could watch. Justin, grandma/pa, came as well. Nicole was so excited to skate and did really well. I would say the majority of the time she was walking/marching on the ice herself. Nicole may be the oldest in the class.  It was really cute and Nicole was really proud of herself. I got some video as well. We went to dinner after, just got a pizza. Justin was acting a little strange. He said he was cold ad said he was tired. After pizza the kids went into a candy store, so overwhelming they didn’ t know what to pick. They chose lollipops and luckily I talked them into the same ones, so no fighting. The kids were pretty tired and went straight to bed.

Busy night last night-dad heard the kids. He had to change two kids. Nicole was confused and ending up peeing, and Justin’s diaper soaked through. I woke up early to walk the doggie. Then we had to eat and get out of the house, I had a doctor’s app’t. The kids brought their Leapsters and were pretty good. But Nicole was acting a little strange. She did make my doctor a pretty picture. Nicole kept on saying she was cold but still seemed ok. Then I had to do some stuff at preschool. The kids were playing but Nicole said she was tired. Nicole never says this. She felt like she had a little fever, so we left. Her antibiotics ended yesterday so it was weird that she would have a fever. Anyway called the doctor and he prescribed the drugs for 10 more days. He thinks her fever is just due to her ears. After giving her Tylenol she is happy again. I did let her rest and watch TV for a bit. After lunch we ran to Target to get her prescription. The kids were great in Target but it was just a fast trip. When we got home I let them watch a little more TV. We took Zoe out on the greenbelt and threw some balls for her, dad came home a little bit early which was a nice surprise. We played in the backyard for a bit. Justin decided to see what would float again in the pool while Nicole cuddled with me. Justin started tossing the big basketball in the pool and laughing as it splashed. The kids wanted to swing for a bit. They were so cute. I dodged the swings as they were swinging back and forth and they were just giggling. Justin wanted to keep touching the peach tree, so we were calling him a leaf picker. After dinner dad built a spiral track and played trains with Justin. Nicole and I started to play trains but she looked so tired. We sat on the couch and cuddled. We read lots of books. Upstairs we just read more books, Nicole fell asleep early and Justin seemed wild. But like he always does he went to sleep. Now to go watch one show then to bed. When Nikki isn’t feeling well sometimes she is up during the night, hope we sleep.

Every one slept last night-including me. I woke up this morning and took the dog out. I tried to run with her for a bit but she was too into sniffing. A couple friends and I went for a walk this morning. It was really nice. Dad took the kids to Home Depot. He had to replace a bolt in the patio cover. It was a little scary but he did. The kids played outside for a long time. The kiddie pool still had water in it from yesterday, so the kids put all their outside toys in the pool to see what would float and what would sink. They also had fun with ice and watching it melt. We just played most of the morning until the early afternoon. The kids needed a bath so they got into the bath. Nicole didn’t want to stay in the bath too long; she was hoping the faster she got out the faster she would watch TV. The kids watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and played Leapsters. We went outside on the greenbelt and threw balls for Zoe. Bret had a great idea to go to the Old Spaghetti Factory, a little far but it was nice. The kids colored all the way there-they were excited as they had never done that before. We had a great dinner and the ice-cream at the end just made it perfect. We were hoping we would have had time to go to the beach but we wanted to get home at a decent hour. The kids really wanted to go to Lower Peter’s Canyon AKA monkey bar park. So we stopped on the way home. Nicole is determined to do the monkey bars, she was on them the entire time. Justin is getting the hang of it. On the way home, Nicole was busy commenting on everyone, bikers not wearing helmets or shoes. It is so funny as she is one to judge since she went to the mall and other places in her bathing suit. HA HA. Well we have had a hard time getting the kids to bed lately, they are just awake talking and talking. We had hoped we had tired them out at the park. Work for Bret tomorrow 🙁

We all slept last night. Nicole did wake up in the middle of the night to go potty and for the first time she used the big potty. I got up early and walked the dog. The kids loved their decorated bikes, Justin said “woo”. The kids were pretending parade this morning. We went to the parade and brought the bikes but forgot helmets. Luckily we weren’t too far from home. The kids liked the parade, Justin wanted to keep biking and biking. Dad took him to the lake and he biked around the entire lake. Nicole didn’t want to bike anymore so her and I went into Barnes and Noble and read some books. Dad was calling me and Nicole said how about you don’t answer that, she really loves being with me and I love being with her, but I want to be with dad and Justin too. Here are some pics from our morning:

We had lunch when we got home and then Nicole and I headed to Kohls. We had fun together. I let her help me get gas (closing gas tank, etc) and she said we never did this before. She helped me shop and was nice wanting to shop for Justin. We are heading to Grammy’s in the afternoon and Nicole said how about you and I go in mommy car and Justin and daddy go in daddy car. Off to Grammy’s, on the way there we realized we forgot everything. Nicole took her bathing suit but somehow it didn’t make it to Grammy’s. Also we forgot the kids floaties-it has been a day of forgetting. We did stop on the way to grammy’s to get new floaties that we just left at her house. We had a great time in the pool with the kiddos. It was cold but the kiddos didn’t mind. Dad showed the kids how he swims under water, we both jumped in, etc. I had to show the kids I could do it too, so I went under as well. I had trouble with my toe nail still so when I swam the bandaid kept on falling off but I had to show the kids I could do things too. Anyway the kids jumped in a lot with us catching them and with their floaties around them. Poor Justin was so cold but didn’t want to get out of the water. Him and I went in the house to play for a bit while Nicole and dad stayed in the pool. I had fun with the kids playing trucks, building towers, etc. The kids played really well at Grammy’s. We had a nice dinner and somehow it is 9:00 and the kids are finally asleep. That is the only problem when we go out at night the kiddos have such a hard time going to sleep. We are listening to the fireworks right now. Maybe next year we will take the kids. Just not worth a cranky day tomorrow due to lack of sleep.

More sleep needed. Well Bret and I went to bed late last night but then the dog kepts us up. She was really whiney, she stayed downstairs mostly-I think she was hoping her parents would come. My stomach hurt so I was up for that too. Oh well I can sleep when I am dead. So this morning on top of not sleeping too well, I planned to run with a friends. I didn’t want to disappoint her so out I went. I took Zoe with me too; everyone loved her and wanted to pet her. Luckily the run woke me up and I was good to go. I can home and got ready to go to Zoomars with Christy and kids. We all piled in my van. Justin moved to his car seat vs the booster so Lexi and Nikki could sit together. Justin always amazes me with how easy going and thoughtful he is. I am so proud of him. We had a great time at Zoomars but the kids wanted to pick up the guinea pigs and bunnies but they were too wiggly. They really enjoyed petting them and feeding them carrots. Justin was quickly done feeding the animals so he wanted to ride the train. He waited until he could get in the back of the train, the caboose. He loved it, Nicole and Lexie rode in the front. The kids played at the playground for a little bit but it was getting close to lunch. We walked up to where the big trains were and ate lunch. Justin was so excited to see the train and all of a sudden it sounded like one was coming but it was just a truck on the tracks. The kids thought it was hilarous that the train tricked them. When we got home we let the kiddos play with water, Justin wanted the water table and Nicole wanted the pool-why can’t they ever agree?  They were so cold from the water that they wanted to take a bath to warm up. So up to bath we went, Justin stayed in a really long time. Dad and I worked cleaning out some of our crap. I am determined to get rid of so much stuff. The kids rested and watched TV. While the kids watched TV I talked to my friend Kristi. It was nice to catch up but unfortunately her mother in law just passed away suddenly. Just a reminder that life is short and to try and live it to the fullest. We played with Zoe the dog on the greenbelt and threw balls. The kids were running after the balls too trying to beat Zoe. I wanted to run to the mall for a few things, so we just ate dinner there and did a little shopping. Justin was starting to melt down so off to bed. It took them a while to settle down. Now to walk the dog and decorate the kids bikes for the 4th of July parade in Woodbridge.

This morning we ran out to the grocery store to get some stuff for the pre school meeting tonight. The kids and I made blueberry cheesecake bars together. Then the kiddos played a bit. They enjoyed playing with a box thats in the house. We met some pre school friends at the pool. The kids had a great time. I got some great pics.

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The kiddos were pretty much in the water for 3 straight hours. The bottom of the pool must have been rough as there were two spots on Nicole’s feet that were bleeding. She was horrified, poor little thing. I finally convinced her to put a bandaid on and that seemed to do the trick. But she didn’t want to go to the park after because of the sand. It worked out for the better as I wanted to come home anyway. When we got home I had to do a ton of laundry. The kids played balls and got out the Easter eggs, what a mess but it kept them occupied for a bit. We are starting to dogsit for Zoe the dog, so her family dropped her by. The kids were so excited to play with her, they threw the ball for her in the backyard. They helped pick tomatoes, we officially have an abundance. Then they pretended they were going to the workout place and ran around the house. They even said they needed their head phones, silly kids. We had a fun evening, the kids played outside, dug in the dirt, painted with water, etc. I hosted the pre school meeting tonight for the board. The kids were so excited to show their pre school teacher, Ms Donna their rooms and the house, it was really cute. Dad took the kiddos upstairs and put them to bed while we all met.