Melissa’s Blog

This morning I gave the kiddos a shower. Then we went and got Justin a haircut and Nicole got her hair in a headband french braid. Both kids look so cute. Justin is wearing his new favorite shirt in the pics. I need to get a better pic of the shirt next time he wears it. Also Nikki always looks bigger than Justin in pictures. It is just because she pulls him down 🙂

After haircuts we ran to the grocery store to get a few things. We got home and grandma/pa came over to play. We just stayed home all day. The kids had fun with grandma/pa-usual stuff shows, play cars, dogs, etc. The kids went in the jacuzzi for a while but then there were lots of bees around so they got out. I got some rockets I bought for the kids a long time ago out, the kids loved them. We did it for about an hour and a half out front. The kids chased them and tried to catch them. The kids begged us to go to Burger King’s play structure. We gave in and realized the food at BK sucks. The kids before bed didn’t want books, instead they were drawing with the water pen. The water pen shows the colors. But the kids did go to sleep pretty easily.

Bret was out early this morning to get a ct scan of lungs-just routine to make sure all is ok. Bret left our bed and I got a Justin in the bed with me. We ran over to the kid’s elementary school to register for kindergarten even though we aren’t sure if we are sending them. We were told it was best to register and back out rather than wait. We then headed over to our friend’s pool. There was definitely June gloom but the kiddos didn’t care. Even though it was cool they still went in the pool. A few of their pre school friends were there so it was nice to see everyone. We were there for a long time then we headed to Costco on the way home. The kids saw the Monsters Inc movie on at Costco so they really wanted to watch it when we got home. It was dad’s work from home day so he was home which was nice. During the scary parts (not many in this movie) the kids wanted someone on the couch with them. Dad and I were sitting out back when Nicole asked for someone to come be inside with her, so cute. I made dinner and desert. I never make brownies for my family and plus I really wanted them. We just played with the kiddos tonight, marble race and other toys. Upstairs we read lots of books. The kids were really tired. New record, after weeks of them staying up late we got them in bed by 8:30-woo hoo!

Today was a mellow day for us. Justin couldn’t wait to get his boat in the jacuzzi again. I don’t think he had breakfast until around 10:00. I went for a walk and dad/kids picked me up on the way to the pool. The kids had their swim lessons. They are doing better and better each time. We blew up Nikki’s new floatie. She wanted to jump in the  middle of it-like she learned from older kids. She was a crazy giggly fish. She was doing summer saults in the pool. Justin loved sitting on his kick board AKA a horse. Justin’s goggles keep getting water in them but he won’t let us fix them, ha ha. We had a great time swimming except I got cold. After taking warm showers we headed out for some lunch. Then we ran to the new grocery store, Henry’s to get a few things. The kids watched a Thomas DVD they got from the library. After the kids painted for a while. They got crazy with the paints, painting their hands for hand prints. Justin did the dry erase board for a bit. He made a U shaped pool, so cool and a little jacuzzi. We played some games and dad set up the marble thing. After dinner the kids went in the jacuzzi. They were having such a great time together. Both had their goggles on and were jumping up and down in the jacuzzi, splashing like crazy. After I did some gardening, dad and I spent time with each other on our laptops watching the kiddos outside. We went upstairs. Nikki wanted to play dentist with me while dad and Justin played cars. We read some books and kiddos went to bed. It is so hard not to visit them for a long time and before we know it is 9:00.

So this morning Nikki and I headed out early to beat the crowd to Target. We had a great time together. Dad and Justin met us and we all walked over to Lowe’s. They had a kid’s workshop. Unfortunately I didn’t know we had to sign the kids up online. Luckily we waited and were able to do the project. We had to wait an hour, so we walked around Lowe’s, went to Carters….it was worth the wait. The kids built a monster truck and loved it. After we went to the district. We had lunch. The pizza place we ate at had TV’s at the tables. The kids were loving it. Their eyes were glued to the TV. They were watching channels we don’t get. The district was having a special event. Nikki got a balloon animal doggie. The kids went in a bounce house and watched a really young kids band. We also went into a toy store. Justin has been wanting a remote control boat ever since he drove the boat on the video game at Chuck E Cheese. We found one there and bought it. We thought it would be great to use at Grammy’s pool. We had to get Nikki something too. She picked out a horse on a stick. The horse is pink and his name is Rocky (just like the horse she rode on at the Irvine Regional Park). When we got home Justin used the boat in the jacuzzi but the jacuzzi wasn’t big enough. I was talking to a neighbor and Justin told her on the phone about his boat-he then invited himself over to use their pool. We had a great time hanging out. The kids swam a bit even though the pool was a little cold. Justin drove his boat and loved it. Our neighbors were so sweet and invited us to stay for dinner. And all of a sudden Bret says if you eat some salsa we can remodel a bathroom. He decided how much put it on a chip and I ate it! So yucky but hopefully well worth it. It was so funny though, reminded me how he said we could get married if I ate a burrito. Andree made strawberry daqueries w/ alcohol for us and non-alcoholic ones for the kids.  We had a great dinner and this family (Andree and gang w/Zoe the dog) is so sweet to us and the kiddos. They heated up the jacuzzi for the kiddos and they loved it all warm. Nicole kept on going from the pool to the jacuzzi. We couldn’t pull the kids away from the jacuzzi, so we didn’t get them to bed until 9:15-hopefully they will sleep in tomorrow morning.

This morning Justin and I came downstairs and played Cootie. It is not often I get a child to myself. It was so nice. Then it was all about the pool. Today we went to a friend’s house and played in the pool. The kids had a great time and we stayed way later than I planned. It was a nice relaxing day. The kids played and played. The big pool was kind of cold so a lot of time was spent in the jacuzzi. We all had lunch together. Nikki had fun playing with the 10 month old little girl. Justin was smitten with a 9 year old girl. He kept on saying that girl with the flower bathing suit. He even asked if she could go in our car sometime. Justin was just watching her and laughing at everything she did. We can’t wait to go back. When we got home the kids didn’t want to take a bath, so I threatened to give them a shower with the hose. What was I thinking-thats exactly what they hoped for. So instead they pretty much flooded one area of the lawn and were busy jumping in puddles (naked). I finally got the kiddos into the bath. They took a bubble bath together.

It was just as hard to get them out of the tub as it was to get them in. They got along so well in the bath. Nikki got out first. After getting out Justin said he wanted to be naked and asked if Nikki was naked. Justin wants to do whatever Nikki does. We are trying to work with him to do what he wants not what Nikki wants. We played upstairs after bath. The kids dogs did shows for us. The kids flipped them up in the air (Rusty and Blackie). Then we heard the garage. The kids hid from daddy. We came down and made dinner and the kids watched some TV. Daddy was inside all day so we all went for a walk. The kids rode their bikes and we stopped at the park for a bit. I played doll house and had a tea party with Nikki. Dad and Justin played cars and did a puzzle. Nikki is pretending to be a baby that she saw today. I sang her songs rather than talking to her before bed. Justin was really into looking at the moon. It was a cool moon.

I know it has only been a few weeks since the kiddos have been out of school but I am really enjoying them being home. I have had to be creative to keep us busy but no biggie. Today we stayed at home for a bit then headed to the park to meet some friends. The kids played so well, mostly in the sand. They played with this thing that you pulled sand up and down. They also picked some cat tails and ran around tickling each other with those. It was a nice morning at the park. We came home and had lunch. Then Tierney (AKA trouble w/a  diaper came over). So cute. We put her hair in pig tails and tried to take pictures. She was too busy to stop and smile. She loved pushing the strollers and running down the hallway upstairs. Nicole and Justin were really helpful with her and enjoyed eating T’s pretzels. We played in the backyard with T, she really loves the play house. She was getting tired so I put her in the swing then pushed her in the stroller and she was out. My kiddos watched TV while T slept. The guy came to fix the jacuzzi, yeah! T woke up and slept on me for a bit. After T went home the kids and I went outside, the kids went on their scooters for a bit. When dad came home the kids played Wii then dinner. We went upstairs as Nikki wanted to play Pooh. This consisted of taking all the Pooh stuffed animals out of their caves, then going back in their caves as it was raining in the hundred acre woods. I was being silly and was getting ready to put on kid’s jammies. I decided to put Justin’s on my head and the kids loved jumping up and taking them off. Then they chased me to get them off. Then dad blind folded the kids and they followed his voice. It was a fun and dif’t night. We read books and had long visits. I am beat!

Not a very exciting day but a good one none the less. We went to look at a pre school this morning in Lake Forest. We liked it so now we have to make a decision where to send the kiddos. We have three schools to decide on. Then we went to the bounce house place. The kids had a great time. Justin asked me to slide down with him, so I go ahead and then he picks his friend over me. I was a little sad. Then Justin and I played ping pong and his friend came so he told me he wanted to play with his friend. Wow I am not ready for these guys to grow up. On the way home we went to a children’s resale place. I was able to find Nikki some clothes and Justin found a Nala stuffed animal (Lion King). It was such a good price so I let him get it. Nikki was really sad she didn’t find a Simba. So I let her chose what music to listen to and what the kids had for lunch. The kids played. They watched some TV. Nikki picked Arthur, I  think this is the first time they watched this show. We decided to walk to the library to return books and get new ones. The kids took their doll strollers. Justin put Nala in his and Nicole took Mickey Mouse. Justin put his stroller on the edge of the lawn and said he was mowing the lawn. Nicole was so sad she couldn’t push Nala. Justin did take turns though. Every stop light we got to we switched. I am so proud of Justin sharing his stuffed animal so well. Seriously he is such a nice boy. Dad picked us up from the library so we didn’t have to walk home. It was fun walking but took a long time with the kiddos walking too. We decided to go out to dinner. We went to Woodbury where the kids played on the grass, we played freeze tag and duck duck goose. When we got home we read all the library books. It took a while and the kids seemed tired. We did hear glass break on the greenbelt. There were some teenagers out there drinking. Bret called the police just because of the glass. If they weren’t causing trouble we would have ignored it. It was fun to watch though. Two of the kids were drinking that were 18, there parents had to come pick them up. A girl had cigarettes and she was too young. The police officers actually put hand cuffs on her. Probably trying to scare the crap out of here. Anyway it was fun cuddling with the kiddos tonight. Justin let Nikki sleep with Nala.

Well yesterday was all work and today was all play. I was hoping to make it to Disney one more time but we are blocked out now for summer. This morning we got ready for the cleaners then headed to Blue Gum Park. We had a great time with our friends. The kids played so well, it was great. I was able to sit most of the time and catch up with my friends. We ended up going to Chick Fil A after for lunch with some friends. We rode in our friends car that had a DVD player. Justin and Nicole loved it and were so quiet. The kids had fun at Chick Fil A. I feel like we haven’t been there in a long time. Nikki and Justin were really hungry-they ate and played! We came home to a clean house, love it! I let the kids watch a little TV and rest for a bit. This way they could get much needed rest and I could work on editing pictures. The kids played in the planter for a bit with their magnifying glasses. They were looking for bugs and treasure. We met some friends and walked to pirate park. I can’t believe how long we were at parks today but the kids had a blast. They were playing in the sand and filling up buckets of water. The kids were so dirty from gardening and parks, I couldn’t wait to get them in the bath. Nikki chose to take a bath before dinner. While I gave her a bath dad and Justin hung out. Nikki was kind of mellow tonight. She was tired, even at dinner she was so cuddly. Justin took a bubble bath and stayed in the bath forever. I read to him and Nikki while he was in the bath. Trying to read the library books as they have to go back tomorrow. We all played cars in Justin’s room for a bit then read some more. The kids fell right to sleep.

A much needed day at home of nothing to do. This morning we just hung out at home. The kids and I played some games and tried out Domino’s for the first time. We read lots of library books. The kids scootered around with their new Razor scooters inside the house but then wanted to go out front. That didn’t last too long though. We went upstairs for a little while. Justin played cars and trains while I tried to help Nikki organize all her stuffed animals. After lunch the kids pushed their animals in the swing outside. We also admired our watermelon that is growing and growing. First watermelon I have ever grown, so exciting.

The kids were pretending that is was Christmas. They were busy decorating their play house for Santa. Decorating consisted of using whatever toys were close, jump rope, balls, etc. So cute. They loved throwing their jump ropes on the top of their roof. We did a bunch of gardening today. The kids helped so much. It was really fun out there. The kids pretended my knee pad thing for gardening was a surf board. They got out their goggles and surfed. We had a very productive at home day. I even managed to get the garage cleaned out so both cars are back in the garage. The kids and I went to a pre school friends house to take maternity pics. Justin and Nicole had fun making the kiddos smile and could have stayed there forever. I love to watch the kids interact with one another. Dad mowed the lawn with the kiddos; Justin did the front and Nikki the back. I stayed in the house and got cleaned up for the cleaners, put toys away and get things off of the counters, etc. It seems like every night I say this but the kids went to bed late again but went right to sleep. I am so pleased with how much stuff got done today, tomorrow we play.

This morning Justin was up at the normal time but Nikki slept in. We had to wait for her to get up before leaving to get dad donuts for dad’s day. The kids had fun picking out the donuts-it is not something we do very often. They were super excited to surprise daddy. After a sugary breakfast I was just cranky or something. We were in a hurry to get over to swim lessons this morning. The kids are doing great. It takes Justin a while to get in the water (me too). Justin was so cold but stayed in the water for a long time. The kids had fun swimming from me to dad. Nikki has absolutely no fear of the water or enough trust we will save her quickly if need be. The kids were using their kick boards a lot and Nikki was jumping in and splashing. I needed to go take a hot shower as it was cold for me too. We gave the kids showers and headed home. After lunch we ran to the grocery store as I needed stuff for dinner tonight. Nikki and I shopped a bit while dad and Justin did some errands. Nikki brought her Dopey stuffed animal with her. Then we came home and the kids made some pics for grandpa and we prepped dinner. We got ready for the Brown gang to come over. It was a nice night. Nicole loved having T here and playing with her. I wish I could have another baby as Nicole would be such an amazing big sis but it is not in my cards. Good thing she has T. We had a nice dinner then the kids performed. They did shows and were really into bopping beach balls. I did some gardening tonight while the kids had fun playing with balls in the backyard. Two balls are now in two of our neighbors backyard. Kiddos went right to sleep when we finally got upstairs. I told the kids lets surprise daddy and get ready for bed…so that worked to brush teeth and get them in their jammies quickly. I am pretty tired.