camera for christmas!!!

We got a camera for christmas yeah! here are a few samples. we had a busy holiday season. Max had a very dangerous bacterial infection in his mouth from a bad tooth. Poor guy, he was in a lot of pain. We had to go to a special dentist just for kids that wasn't covered by our insurance. We were stuck in insurance limbo so none of the medications or doctor visits were covered either. One week we visited the doctors 4x. Once for 104 fever that would not go down, but one degree. They put him on penicillin for the infection right away. Two days later he was covered head to toe in hives. We then had to get the 100 dollar bottle of medicine. His infection persisted and they wouldn't work on him until it was all gone. So we kept being sent home to take more medicine. It looked like a hospital situation, but finally on the last visit the dentist agreed to try and a tense hour later the tooth was out. Whew!! This all was over the course of one month. Lots of worrying lots of pain, lots of crying and lots of money. We had about two weeks to get into the christmas spirit. O and we didn't mention the kitties. We adopted two sweet boy kitties, brothers. We loved them so. Max and Andy however failed to realize that they were not toys but indeed living things that could be hurt and scared. They made it their personal duties to terrorize the cats. There were fun times and at night the kitties snuggled. They seemed to really like it here, but ultimately the boys teasing and the kitties incontinence was just too much for our already wild household. We were just tired of yelling at the boys all day long over it. We gave the kitties back where they were quickly adopted out. Going to wait til boys are school age and we can all be prepared for it. Andy just had his 3rd birthday!!! great weather, great food and treats, great company, it was very nice. We celebrated at a local park that has a playground and tables gazebo etc. Here's some pics please enjoy.

It's been a long time....

Good lord, it's been two years almost since I did anything with this blog. I'm sure no one will even see this because no one will keep looking after two years! We're still here! I guess it's just been crazy busy or ??? Anyway what's new? Well, Caleb is now 9 yrs old!! and heading into 4th grade. He is still a soccer star and doing well in school, although he prefers to be at home watching his shows or playing some sort of sport in the backyard with dad. He has been hangin' with friends this summer which has been great fun for him. He is currently on a big trip with his mom and Cort and others to a family reunion they go to every year in Montana. Also his mom, Carolyn, is expecting a baby boy this fall so Caleb will add a new little brother to his resume! Max is 3 1/2 , still growing and still a big boy! He has grown out of wildness into a sweet , smart little guy. o.k he still has many breakdowns and tantrums during the day, but he listens better and we can actually have some real conversations with him. I guess that's what happens when they get older but it was hard for me to imagine that last year. So instead of being more patient and understanding of stages, i was frustrated and overwhelmed a lot. Max is still not potty trained but has peed in the potty many times now, and we are very excited!! Andy is 2 1/2, and our once chill sweet boy has turned into a wild, crazy, testing beast. o.k he still is super sweet and loves to snuggle and give kisses, but he definitely defines the terrible twos. Having gone through this with Max, i am trying to be aware of stages etc. Matt, is still our hard working bread winner while still being here most of the time to raise the kids with me. He got back into running awhile ago and is fit and trim and still the sexiest man alive!! He just started getting back into soccer. Little Ahni is not here days anymore, she has been in preschool since last sept. and doing great. She grows more beautiful by the day and we miss her now that we don't see her as much. We all still find time to get together though. Clifford (Cliffy) Petroske, Angie and Jarad's baby comes during the day M-Thurs. some half days now. He is just such a sweet and mellow little guy and fits right into our little fam. I don't have any pictures because our camera broke last thanksgiving and we have yet to replace it, but let me tell you he is one cute little guy with super chub chub legs. We all adore him and have loved watching him grow to now a one year old beginning to walk! He will be leaving us soon as well. He will be going to HSU children's center. It is a day care literally steps from his mommy's work. We definitely will miss him but it will give me a chance to get work and also take some time to focus on Max and Andy for awhile. But of course, like Ahni he is family and he'll still be coming over etc. Plus he may still come a day or so, we don't know what's going to happen yet. Anyway I know this is a long blog entry, but it has been a long time so... These past two years have been a huge growing experience for me. I have gone through good changes. I'm ashamed to say it but I was not the mother i wanted to be I was going toward crazy mom and I have a lot of regrets but i have been working really hard on changing me, for the love of my children. They deserve nothing less that the best. Everyone who has kids knows it is very hard and humbling being a parent and it has been very hard for me, but I am hopeful that I can do it, and be the mom i want to be. Here are some pictures, but none since Thanksgiving.....

Trick or Treat!

This year was Caleb's second year trick or treating around the neighborhood(prior to last year he went to the shops on the plaza), and Max's very first! Last year Max was not walking yet, and Andy was in the belly. We started off the evening heading to the plaza with friends Star and Phil with their youngins Araya and Orion, and Joy and Aaron and their little Ani (she comes over during the week). There were lots of kids running around in cute costumes getting candy. As this was Max's first time, he was SUPER excited and laughing and wide eyed. Andy was excited but chill as usual. Then we headed back home where everyone had some din din. Matt made enchiladas and rice. The grownups enjoyed hot cider and brandy and long island ice teas and the kids had sparlking cider. When it came time for trick or treat Andy wanted to stay home, which was unusual. Max and all the kids went charging out. Caleb and Araya and went ahead of us 'cause the little ones were too slow. Max was a bit confused at first, but got the hang of it. He likes going up to people's houses on our walks so.... yeah he liked that part! By the end he was tired and had fallen during one of his exuberant runs between houses, and it was time to head home. the older kids went a little further. We live on a busy street, but a few blocks up on our street is a calm cul-de-sac that we went to which worked out great. Everyone stayed up late (Andy was slap happy) and had a good time. I got a little tipsy which was fun (lot's of time pregers=no drinky). Happy Halloween...next Thanksgiving. P.S in honor of his 10th month birthday, Andy started walking with the push mower today( not totally walking , but still, ahh too fast that they get bigger) Max went as his Super Self, in case you were wondering what his costume was. I was going for something else, then at the last minute added his name and made him Super Max! Caleb went as a knight

...And we're back!

Well, just sitting here while the kids are napping enjoying a chilly gray fall day. Thought I would try to put out a blog page since it has been awhile. Life here is hectic and I find myself enjoying my two favorite escapes whenever the kids are asleep: reading a good book or watching d.v.d s of t.v shows. I was watching Supernatural, now it's Mad Men. My book of choice lately is anything by Alice Hoffman. So I apologize to all those I have been neglecting to contact. Now, on to what else has been goin' down. Let's start with Andy. He is just as sweet as can be, and has now learned to pucker and give kisses. He also likes to zerbert me when he is breast feeding. He just laughs and laughs and does it over and over. He is getting big but still seems small compared to his older brothers, and I always think how tiny he is. He is crawling, crawling, crawling. He has been at it for about a month and goes really fast and laughs and talks the whole time so you always know where he is. He really wants to walk and he is getting close, maybe by 10 months, but most likely a couple of weeks after that. I honestly just want him to stay a baby because he is so sweet! Andy loves loves loves to eat!!! And he loves everything, even fish. He also loves to screech and does so when the food is not at his table that instant! He also hates getting dressed, so that is a squirmy crying mess! Other than that he is a really good mellow baby. Max is getting BIG. He is still 95% for his height, but his weight % is going down because he never eats!!! He doesn't like much of anything and that has my nurturing side going crazy. The doctors say he'll be tall and lean and not to worry, but I still do, at least he has his vitamin gummies. His name fits him because he does everything to the max. He has no fear and just does everything like he is a big boy, wanting to go down the big kids tall slide, jumping off this or that, making us nervous! Since it has been raining here he has dicovered puddles. Grandma bought him some froggie rain boots and we go walking looking for puddles. Max really loves this and gets totally soaked and muddy. He still loves animals and big trucks and toy cars, he also is a big help he is always trying to help me when I clean or am at the store, sometimes he likes to make messes just to clean them up. He is such a wild boy, and yet such a sweet boy. And he loves his brothers. Next, we can't forget to mention Ahnalie. She is with us M-Th. 9-5. so she is definitely part of the family as well as the chaos. She just turned two years old! She is talking up a storm and adds new words everyday. She is also putting words together in senteces. She is so funny because she copies Max so much, even when he falls! She is in love with Matt and sometimes get's jealous of the attention he gives to the boys. The other day she said to Matt, " hold Ani, no Andy" Ani is her nickname. She used to sleep in the room with Max but since she doesn't sleep as long and sometimes not at all, her mom Joy and I thought it would be best to move her to the sun room for naps. This has worked out really well and all kids are napping on the same schedule. Those of you with kids know this is not an easy feat and I thinkI deserve a round of applause.. ha! She fits in real well, getting roudy with Max, dancing and singing to music time and enjoying playing with her favorite toy, a big monster truck. Her biting has all but subsided and timeouts are not as frequent! Caleb is still on the same schedule, here Wed after school 'till Saturday afternoon. He is now in 2nd grade!! I can't even believe time has gone so fast. It blows my mind. He is doing really well in school, not too thrilled about doing his homework, however. He is good at math and reading, and his recent progress report said that he has a caring attitude toward his fellow students. He is currently playing soccer with only one more game to go, and scoring lots of goals and having fun. He is having a little problem with back talk, and still having problems sharing with Max. Other days, though, he is really playfull and loving towards Max. He always is with Andy because Andy had not yet become mobile enough to annoy. Ahh siblings... someday Caleb will appriciate having brothers more, I am guessing when they're all grown up and can grab a drink together and bond as men. Let's see who else, me, well I am still trying to loose weight which is why you see no pictures of me. Yes I am vain. I am sleepless, but my mom comes over in the morning to watch the kids for a couple of hours before our morning walk so I can sleep. It makes huge difference I am no longer evil possed mommy, but nice loving mommy. Always learning, hopefully growing. Having kids will humble you! Matt is making a fire right now, getting ready to read his paper. We all love nap time. Through it all, Matt and I are still in love. Don't get me wrong, there are really hard days but we are getting through, always looking to the future when maybe we can breathe a little easier, and sleep next to each other all night! Bye for now, love you all!