Day 59: Busy as a bee

I noticed that in order to keep the meltdowns at bay with Kwin, he needs to stay busy. Which leaves me exhausted! But we've been playing, and playing, and playing, and playing. So therefore house work has slacked. Lego's, Little People, Play-Doh, Trains, Cars, and then repeat. And lots of coffee! I forgot to take a picture, but I really wanted to make something, and I came up with this cute little bee photo. I like making photos like this too. I do have some of my digital art printed, and it looks very nice. I even used some for the kid's teacher's gifts, for Christmas this past year.

P.S. Kwintyn sat on the potty today, at his request! He tried to go, but only could get a drop out. Hoping this is the start of something good! :) He's fibbed me before.


Buzz, buzz, buzzz........

Day 58: Candy Land!

Today the kids had another snow day, due to the temperature being so low. I've heard from the news that tomorrow might be some record breaking temps! I guess it's suppose to be one of the coldest days, so far in 2014, or this Winter. So not sure what tomorrow brings, if they have no school, then it's tea parties. Chelsea had asked to have a tea party today, told her to wait till after dinner. I kept thinking it was Friday, all day! Frank then says she has to work on homework.......oh yeah! So instead of pulling her set out, I pulled out my crappy so called tea set. Had the milk poured in the little pitcher, and then I see mold spots.....GREAT! :( Tea party is going to have to wait. We did play Candy Land today! It was Kwintyn's first time playing, and he did fairly good. He waited for his turn, and it went well, until I tried to take pictures. They both let their gingerbread men run all over, and we forgot where we left off. Ooops! lol The game went better than I had expected. I didn't think Kwitnyn could sit still long enough, let alone not have a meltdown. It went great! Looks like some more games are in our future!

 
                                                 Playing Candy Land

Day 57: Cat's & Little People

Today, Keagan stayed home from school....again not really sick. He said he had a stomachache & felt like puking. The flu is going around too, so you never know. And one time I sent him to school, when he was complaining of a stomach ache & he puked on the bus. In other news a new stray has come to visit. He showed up Monday evening, and was quite crazy. His poor little nose was red, so I fed him. He would not leave, and then went as what I call Honey Badger, cause this cat just didn't give a sh!t. He forced his way in to my house a few times, and was climbing my door, and windows! I called the Shelter this morning, come to find out he was a neighbors cat, and they just abandoned him. :( They had a kennel for him, so Kwintyn & I took him up there today. I feel better knowing that he is going to be out of this bitter cold. Kwintyn & I looked at the other cats they had at the Animal Shelter today. He enjoyed that, and then we went to McD's for lunch, and then home to the "sickie".

 These past few days I have been playing with Kwintyn a lot, I know that is what you do with you're kids, but he is NOT letting me take any breaks from playing. I enjoy it, but holy moly! You can only take playing with Play Doh, Cars, Legos for so long. Today he switched it up, and wanted to play with his Little People. He will get into a phase where he will get all in to them again. He has also gotten back into his I spy books. He's such a smart little guy, and he talks so much now. We got talking while playing, and he said he wants to go to school, and ride the bus. We then talked about trying to make new friends & sharing, and all that fun stuff. He was excited about it, but then 3 minutes later is having a fit, saying No! Ugh, Toddler's! So indecisive. I'm going to be checking in to things & see what I come up with. He gets so upset out of the blue about things sometimes, like as I was taking pictures of our Little people farm we had all set up, and he was happy playing with everything, as we were pretending their was a field trip at the farm. Well he then gets destructive & trashes everything......he's so stubborn!

              Little People

Day 56: Taxidermy

Today was the first day of Kyle's taxidermy class. I guess since so many kids signed up, they had to do sessions, so this is session two. A great friend has been keeping a squirrel for Kyle, it's been dead for months now, and has been kept frozen. They had to find a squirrel, and then freeze it. I was not allowing a dead squirrel in my freezer!! It will contaminate everything! That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ;P I find stuff like that GROSS!!! I hate fur, and everything that goes along with taxidermy. I just am freaked out about it all, I guess. Which is odd because my Dad, Uncle's, and even my Sister has mounts in their houses. Deer, a Moose even.  I just don't like it. I think it all goes back to that field trip we had in school, I can't remember how old, or what grade I was in, but there were these things that you put your hand into, and then guessed what it was by just feeling it. I remember touching fur, and being so freaked out. LOL Or it could be the time my Dad made me help my Sister gut the rabbit, that he or she shot. I was never a Hunter, I was always the girly girl, but I don't let that hinder the kids from doing things I find gross. Kyle is likes to tease me & tell me all kinds of icky stuff about the squirrel, or showing me his new magazine he got today. I say I don't want to see it when he is done, but you know someone has to be, taking the pictures with him, with it. UGH! haha I'm sure it will look......lovely. I think he should make it a silly squirrel. Like with a mini bike, or a drink in hand. :D But I guess they are going with a "climbing mount". Of course being me, I got a giggle out of the mount.......heeheehee.

Taxidermy

Day 55: Cootie Catcher

Chelsea came home from school today, and wanted me to play Cootie Catcher with her. This brought back lots of memories for me, I use to play this game when I was young, and in school. Was a craze back in the day. :D Tomorrow is Chelsea's 100th day of School, and I have not seen a 100 day project that they usually have the kids do, so I seen this brilliant idea on a friends Facebook, and stole her idea, and made Chelsea this shirt. How cute, right?! Although my rainbow looks drunk. Doesn't have much of an arch to it, oh well! It's still pretty cute? Frank's in town this week, Woo-hoo!! :)

Cootie Catcher & Drunken rainbow shirt. ;P

Day 54: Winter sucks, pass it on...

SO OVER THIS WINTER!! But at least the kids had fun today. :) Our roof needed to be shoveled & so Frank finally got the time to get up there, and get some off. The kids wanted to go outside to see what Daddy was doing. Chelsea & Kwintyn had fun climbing, and sliding down the huge snow mounds that are now almost as tall as our house! Chelsea wanted to make a tunnel, so I started digging. I stayed warm in the process, so it wasn't too bad. Frank got 1/2 of the roof done, so he needs to finish the back end now. I'm so over this snow, more so over Winter! The snow piles are so big, that I looked out my kitchen window, and saw this little monkey looking at me! Can't wait for Spring!

To much snow!!!

                        Peeping Monkey!!

Day 53: BINGO!!

Chelsea wanted to play Bingo, so we played Bingo tonight. Last night we played the Memory game. Keagan & Kyle are staying the night at a friends house, and Kam is just chilling. Just a laid back Saturday night here. It's nasty outside! School was cancelled Friday, forgot to mention that. But it's so windy, and we got more snow. :( We are so over Winter.

BINGO!!!

Day 52: When life gives you lemons....

Ask for a shot glass. Kwin's new thing is to drink from a shot glass. I guess it's a perfect size cup for him! lol I just hate that I have to fill it up so many times. He gets milk in his shot glass, the Tequila is for Mommy. ;P

Pour me, pour me, pour me, pour me another shot of milk, please. Mommy hit me one time. :)

Day 51: Throwback Thursday!

Well I had nothing again, what's new. The kids are just being so awful lately. Not listening, and well that gets old real quick. Especially with the older ones, they need their ears checked again. I really do miss the days when they were babies. I'd rather be sleep deprived than overwhelmed. Heck, I'm always tired anyways. Things just seemed simpler when they were smaller. Now you get attitudes, back talk, sass, and all that fun stuff. Now why did I encourage them to talk again? :P

Look how sweet they were! I wanted to add another picture, but I'm just getting tired. I wanted to add a photo of Frank, & I with Keagan & Kyle as infants, to show how our family has grown. I have a family pic in the hospital with Kameron, Chelsea & Kwin. Crazy to see how big our family got! If I could go back & do one thing over again, I would have bought a better camera. I can't stress that enough!! That is my words of advice to Soon to be Parents, is to buy a good camera, It will be worth every penny spent capturing memories. I have so many that are out of focus, or blurry, and I just get so sad. Here is a few memories for our family. I hope you enjoy them, as much as I do. :)
                                          
   Sweet Memories            Keagan, Kyle,                        Kameron

                           Kwintyn                                  Chelsea

Day 50: Frostbite? You mean an ice tan?

Kameron's hand is looking a lot better! He went back to the surgeon today, was a good visit. Kwintyn was even a good boy, and was asking for his Doctor, by his name! What a little monkey! Ridiculous! haha! We seen a different Dr. today, since they are rotating Dr's. He said his fingers look really good, and that he's not even gonna lose a fingernail!! He can finally stop wearing the dressing around his fingers, since those big nasty blisters popped......PUKE!!! They look sooo much better! They are still red, and you can see the skin he lost, but they did not have to debride it like they thought they might have too. He was just told to keep it moisturized and to keep it out of the cold. And everything thing else that he has heard...for the past 2 weeks! This Dr told him he could run if its above 20 degrees. His Dr. said no outdoors, so I don't know what to do about that one. I asked because it was BEAUTIFUL out today! It was like 42 degrees in some places in town today. I was even feeling warm, and I am always cold. I'm gonna try talking Kam in to wearing a glove at all times. I mean if Micheal Jackson could pull it off, why can't he?! Yeah, that will go over like a fart in church. hahaha He's learned a very important thing, always wear wear proper clothing. That or he's living in the wrong place....but then again he could get sunburn & that can cause problems, so I guess you just gotta pick your battles, or uh, elements properly. :D So happy that he is going to be ok, and just have minimal damage. We all got a lesson in frostbite, even Kwintyn says hands in pocket. :)

                                            Almost 2 weeks after getting frostbite

Day 49: Mom's Busy, take a number.

This Mom is tired, and it's only Tuesday! Go a little easier on me, will ya kids?! You're Mom's getting old. I took a quiz today that was called, How many kids should you have? I noticed the lady's name was close to my Maiden name too, and she calls herself, Crazy Mom. But anyways, I took it, and got the answer 1 kid. You are not cut out to be a Mom. I found that comical, and a bit true. LOL Cause right now, 1 kid would be a breeze, and I'm finding it hard to be Mom today. I even asked the kids if they wanted to trade places with me, and be Mom for the rest of the day. They said no. How did I end up with 5?!?! I know that answer, so.....it's just a rough day for Mom. I know it's the "kids" project, but they like to drive me insane. One of their favorite things to do!!

Day 48: Doctor, Doctor, give me the news.

Kwin's got a bad case of stubbornness! I don't know what started this all. But last Dr's appt. he threw a fit!! I noticed he did SO well at the older kids appt's. He would even get on the scale, and not fight. SO I thought that if I planned his appt. after school, so the kids could go would help. Make it seem like it's not HIS appt. Well that didn't work out so well. The kids had no school today, so I could have made an earlier appt., and only 1 child went with me. It ended it a major meltdown with Kwintyn, and he did everything I expected him to do. They had to weigh me, then both of us to get his weight. No check on his height. We didn't get far into the exam either, and I was feeling defeated, and embarrassed. I'm just glad his Dr. chuckled at my sarcasm, even though most of it was true. Just glad he can be there & laugh about the situation like me. He concluded that Kwintyn is very stubborn, and strong. He is going to check his iron & lead levels just as a precaution, since he is on the slimmer side, and that he is a graze eater. I was fine with that, because I seem to always be concerned on his weight. He's just such a skinny guy, and as Mom, I worry from time, to time about his weight. He did see that Kwintyn's tantrums are just not normal for his age, and that he suggested counseling for me. So that way I can learn to cope & deal more with his behavior. I'm not sure how I should feel about that? My child's Doctor suggesting therapy for me, to deal with him! I gladly excepted, because he is a handful to deal with, and right now.....I'm at a loss. I tried everything I done with the other kids, and other creative thinking ways to get him to listen, and behave. He's a great child, and so these fits come from nowhere. It's like this is his release of his emotions or something? He gets scared, angry, mad, tired, ect., he will just have these huge massive fits! I feel defeated a lot & I'm just so tired. I give in. Even when I put on hard core Mom, and just say bring it, kid. He still wins somehow! Put my foot down, yadda, yadda, yadda. I tried. Plus I was raised that way, so people don't even go there! ;P I have spanked, I have never wanted to spank. But I tried. Did it work? Nope. He just laughed. I'm doing something wrong, I already figured that out. I'm going to look into some play groups, or something along those lines for him, and try taking him to the Library & other places. Maybe just having an outlet will help? But then I am afraid of more outbursts & tantrums when we have to leave, or whatever upsets him. Guess we will just have to try. Let all the perfect people stare & wonder what is wrong with my kid, or why the Mother can't control her child. I make him sound just horrible, but like I said he is wonderful! He just does a Jekyll & Hyde.

I'll start bragging now since that is what most Mom's do is brag. They don't talk about the bad stuff there kids do, or what they lack in an area. Or so it seems anyways. Someones child is always better, and you can always bet it's mine. ;) Hahaha!

Kwintyn is 3 year, 2mos, and so many days old. Yep, had to add in all that. All the good Mom's do.....well they would know it down to the second. But anyways! Kwintyn is a smart little guy. He has a memory like a whip, and remembers things. He can talk fairly well I would say, and he is quite a funny guy when he wants to be. He's full of energy, and brings energy where ever he goes. He's strong, and persistent, and very adamant about things. He is shy, and can be loud, he is fierce, and is mighty, curious, he is just a silly little monkey!!

He's my monkey, and it's my circus so I'm gonna worry about it. But it's not Your monkey's, Not your Circus. So don't worry about it. :)

And yes, he's late on the check up, and he needs a hair cut. Gasp! There's those Mom's again....:P

Edit to add: The Counseling is more for him, not me. So I guess both of us. 

Day 47: Riding in cars with Boys.

Cars, and this road is one of Kwintyn's favorite toys. He got this road mat, and some cars for Christmas, and he loves the road map. He got it from a special friend too, and he remembers what cars he got from her!! He's got a memory like a whip! He likes taking his cars to Walmart, Meijer, Horton's, Pizza, Pet Store, ect. He has certain cars for certain people too, like Daddy's Lincoln, Joe's Truck, ect. They look pretty close to what these people drive too. He's got over 100 matchbox, hot wheels, I'm sure. I hate when he decides to spill them all out all over the floor. He wanted me to take pictures of his cars today, so I made sure to get an arial view too. :)

Playing with Cars

Day 46: Keep Calm & Hello Kitty

Chelsea got some Hello Kitty stick on nails in her stocking, for Christmas and we decided to try them out today. They suck! I told her we needed to buy some glue so they will stay on better. I am hesitant to use glue on her nails, but I'll just use a tiny, tiny bit just to keep them on for more than 1 minute. They are really cute, and came with nail polish, a nail file, and some sequins to use for nail art. I gotta admit.....I want some Hello Kitty nails now, too!

Hello Kitty Manicure!

Day 45: Happy Valentines Day!

I got Kwintyn to sleep, and woke up this morning, and realized I didn't write anything yet! I thought I had already done V-day...oops! Guess it's been a long week! We did nothing for Valentines Day, nobody got anything, and nobody complained either. I tried getting Kwintyn in to his Eligible Bachelor shirt but he wouldn't wear it, let alone get out of his pj's. So it ended up being a p.j. day for Kwin & I. Chelsea wore all pink, with camo pants. I had her outfits all decked out for Valentines Day, red, pink & lots of hearts. I did make a home made pot pie for dinner, and blueberry crisp for dessert, so they all did get some food for the soul. Home cooking is always good food for the soul, especially when Mom makes it. :)

I ended up empty handed for another pic of the day, so I used this heart magnet. Not a good pic, so I prettied it up. This 365 project is just kinda hard. I know I have to start thinking differently, but I come up clueless most of the time. I think what I am trying to do is focus on what the kids have done for the day, and I am not really focusing on much of anything else. I do admit, I really miss doing my random 365 project, but that one got too easy at times, and this is more of a challenge. I already have a few more ideas I could do, and I should do them since some of these items hold some memories. *Light Bulb goes off*

Happy Valentines Day!

Day 44: Math Equations

Again, had nothing for today. I asked Chelsea if she wanted to color, and this is what I came up with. Thought it was perfect since Valentines day is tomorrow. And I did think it would make a cute tattoo?  Chelsea made a really cute picture of an apple tree, so I'm, going to post that picture too. Kids start their Mid Winter break today, and don't go back to school until Tuesday. Keagan is staying till Sunday at his friends house. I was surprised to see him go to a different friends house this time. Kameron had his appointment with the surgeon yesterday, they left his finger alone, as she said there are healing properties inside that nasty blister. He goes back next week for a re-check, I think he's gonna have to go back a few more times after that, too. Kyle had detention this week, and I about killed him. I thought he ditched detention when I couldn't find him. But he said he raised his grade from a D to a B, in an hour, so that made me happy. Kwintyn has been playing with Play Doh & paint all week. Being a little hooligan often. Frank comes home from work tomorrow, and I am relived. I'm exhausted!

These crazy kids got my heart. ♥

                                      Apple of my Eye. ♥

Day 43: Mom. Mom. MOM. MOM.MOOOMMMM

I'm sure you kids will be the death of me. I have already inherited insanity from you. What other shit can you do to me?! Being sarcastic! Well kinda. What a day! I'm just exhausted, and these kids are being little hooligans. And besides I had nothing for the day. They drove me crazy today, so I guess that can be my pic of the day! I guess not crazy, just not listening and that can drive me MAD! Huh?! What did you say?! I couldn't hear ya?! But when I try to get their attention, boy is it a different story!

 If a Woman speaks and no one is listening.....her name is probably Mom. 

 

Day 42: Sweet Dreams are made of this.

The boy's got new mattress sets! We were planning on getting them new beds & mattress' really soon but I got a call last week from Habitat for Humanity asking if we needed a new mattress, or knew of someone who did. Art Van furniture is doing a program were they donate a mattress set for every full mattress set they sell. They said it was free, and everything is brand new and since we are in the good with Habitat they called us. Was incredibly generous for Art Van, and Habitat to do. We really appreciate the thought, and the kindness, and the boys are excited to sleep on a nice, new comfy mattress. Frank is planning of building some beds for them......which will get done when they turn 18.hahaha :P Interested to see what these mattress look like too...they are in the box. O.o Guess they are memory foam too.Waiting on Frank to get home to open & set everything up.

                          Really, Mom?! Really?!

Day 41: Valentine's

Chelsea's Valentines Day party is on Thursday, since they don't have school on Friday. She worked on her Valentines today, and got them all done. We would have mailed out some Valentines but Mom was slacking, what's new though?! I had fruit snacks to go along with Kwin's Valentines & everything, just didn't make the cards out in time. She picked One Direction, valentines out, and Blow Pops to go along with it. Maybe next year I will get creative & make a bunch of cute things I seen on Pinterest.

Update on Kameron, he seen the Dr. today, and he was referred to a surgeon, so he goes on Wednesday to get a debridement done. It's wear they remove the dead skin. I just want this to be over for him, I feel horrible!! He's taking it better than me so far.

Day 40: Student of the Week!

Chelsea was so excited to come home, and tell me she was Student of the Week. She has been saying how badly she wants to be Student of the Week for months now. She started right away, and we just finished up with everything today. She has 8 more pictures she is going in with, and she also gets to bring in a stuffed animal. She earned a ticket for the stuffed animal to come to school, I think it's like a classroom zoo or something like that. I think it's pretty cool that she is Student of the Week, this week. It's Valentines Week!! Although it kinda sucks in one way, because they don't have school on Friday, so she gets jibbed a day.

All About ME!!

Day 39: Frosty 5K Run

Come to find out Kameron did not miss this run like we had thought. He was a late register, but we got up early & got him signed up. He was excited, and this was his first big event run. I felt relieved when I saw his running coach & one of his teacher's show up, I was worried he would get lost, so I asked if he could run with them. This year is Gaylord's 3rd Alpenfrost, and they have the Frosty 5K run, a Polar Plunge, and they also have a ice skate rink set up on the courthouse lawn. The Ice Tree is huge this year! The Polar plunge was VERY amusing to watch, I guess there are people who are crazier than me out there! Kyle said he would have done it, if he knew about it. I didn't know when they did this, so maybe next year, Kyle?

Kameron did AWESOME at the race!! He came in with a time of 24 minutes, & some odd seconds. He placed 2nd in the Male, 18, & under division. I am SO, SO proud of him! He was up against High Schooler's! The day did end horribly though. Kameron ended up getting superficial frostbite, or in other terms 2nd degree frostbite. :( I feel horrible. He didn't wear gloves, and I should have made him. I thought he would be fine with those hand warm thingies, but he wasn't. I had to take him to the Walk-In, and they did nothing, so a few hours later we went to the E.R. because his fingers started to blister. They treated it like a burn, and put some cream, and a dressing on it, and also gave him some very much needed pain meds. I feel so guilty. I guess you always feel guilty some how when you're kids are not well. He's in better spirits, and the pain is manageable right now. He told me this before he went to bed last night, "My friend came in first place, but didn't get a trophy." I looked at him kinda puzzled, like huh?! He then raises his hand up. Haha, what a sport he is!

Running is not for the weak.

                            Should be re-named the Frostbite 5K run. ;)

Day 38: I hope you step on a Lego.

Ugh! What a day! Kwintyn found the Legos, and I have picked them up countless times. Well today he spilled the WHOLE container twice, and the second time was just in spite. He got them taken away, needless to say. You know what a task it is to pick up a million pieces of Legos?! It's not easy. But then I got thinking, and just went and got the dust pan. Much easier. NEVER give a toddler Lego's!! Oh, and as I was cleaning them up, he decides to walk on them, and kick & scatter them around even more....he was pushing my buttons today.

A hallway of Legos

                                              Score 1 Toddler          Score 0 Mom

Day 37: Only boring people are bored.

I had nothing for today. Things just seem to be boring around here, or it's just I'm not thinking very hard, or creative. I guess you don't have to have exciting things happen every day to make memories, they can be lazy days just sitting around. Take Keagan & Kwintyn for example, Keagan is doing his homework, and Kwin is just chilling next to him on the tablet. Chelsea had another fit at dinner time, and had that oh so lovely scowl on her face again. I swear it's gonna stick like that someday! ;) The dogs, well Maggie was a big pain in the behind too! She's learning time out, and if she gets told No a few times, she gets put into the kennel. I wish I could put Kwin in the kennel for time outs too, although he already likes going in to Maggie's so he would just think it's funny. Maybe I should include the dog's in to this project, too? After all they are sometimes more difficult than the kids, and don't listen just like them. I tell Frank there is no hope for our kids, or our dogs, because neither listens to us anyways. We are already ridiculous, so I guess that is better than being boring? Good theory, maybe? Guess I better put on my thinking cap....if I can find it.

                                                     There's no Buddy like a brother.

Day 36: Run, Kameron, Run!!

Kameron is in the running club at school, and I have to give that boy a lot of credit!! He runs out in the snow & cold, I could not do that. It takes a lot of endurance not to give up, especially with running. I would have a hard time running if I tried today. Which is really sad because I use to be in track when I was in school. Kameron ran 4.5 miles today!!!! I was VERY impressed!! I do want to try taking up running again, but it has to be warmer out, so maybe I can be Kam's running partner this Spring/Summer? I just hope I don't drop dead, cause it's been years since I ran like that. He's also been interested in doing some races, so hopefully this Spring & Summer he can sign up for those. He's going to miss one that is for this month, and he was kinda bummed about that. He's such a sporty boy, and I LOVE that!!

Keep Running......

Day 35: CARS!!

Kwintyn LOVES cars, trucks, trains, planes, tractors, pretty much anything that goes. Just like him!! He got this awesome race track for Christmas from his Aunt Sam, Uncle Scott, & Seth. Seth had one, and Kwin seemed to like Seth's. It's pretty cool, I will admit that! I was having fun playing with it myself. I have been meaning to get a picture to share to with Seth, but I kept forgetting to so today I got the picture. :) It's a special gift, and it makes Kwin think of his buddy, Seth. We sure do miss them! Kwintyn thinks his race track is pretty cool.

P.S. Yes, his walls need to be washed, but I just cleaned them last time I cleaned his room. Which wasn't very long ago.


Vrrrrooooommmm

Day 34: Sun, sun, sun here it comes......

I have been in such a funk lately, and I hate, HATE the cold weather so I hate to be out in it. But with some encouragement from some friends, and then seeing the beautiful sun after taking the dogs outside to go potty, I asked Kwintyn if he wanted to go play outside. He was busy playing Playdoh, and eagerly said YES! And so we bundled up, grabbed my coffee, and camera, and we went outside for a good hour or so. I think it did us both some good, as we needed the sunshine, and fresh air. It was a beautiful day out, and with the sun being out it was tolerable to be outside. I could feel the warmth of the sun on my legs, and it felt lovely. Kwintyn had a fun time being outside, he climbed snow hills, and just chilled. ;) I HOPE February is kind to us this year, and lets Mr. Sun come out to play more often. Because it sure as heck helps a lot with cabin fever. I'm hoping he will sleep good tonight, for the past few night he hasn't slept well, and messed his sleep schedule up. Last night he had another night terror, and I knew it was due to that. It's almost 8:30 and he has held up good today. He got up at 10am, and had no nap today, so he should be good & tired. Right now Him & Chelsea are playing & getting along in the Living room, so that also is a fresh of breath air for me. :) I thought by now, he would be cranky & wanting to sleep, but hopefully he can hold off just a bit longer.

Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes!!!

Day 33: SUPER Tantrums

Toddler's Rules of Possession:

1. If I like it, it's mine. 

2.If it's in my hand, it's mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine. 

5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours.

6. If I'm building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it's mine.

8. If I saw it first, it's mine.

9. If you are playing with it and put it down, it becomes mine.

10. If it's broken, it's yours. 

The past 24 hours with Kwintyn have not been fun. He took a long nap yesterday and things were horrible after that. Well I should say horrible after I had him asleep, and then he woke up. He would not go back to bed, and it ended up being a very, very late night....4:30 is when I went to bed last night. I held off naps today, and he is wanting to go to sleep right now, at 7:00 pm. NO way!! You will be up at 9pm!! So now I gotta figure out how to keep this VERY cranky boy awake, & happy till at least 8pm! 

The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe. 

                                                  Crabby but cute!

 

Day 32: Just Lounging Around

Today was just a lounge & clean kind of day. My neck is still bothering me so I'm not up to doing much, so thankfully Kwintyn had a nice long nap today. Grandpa Slack stopped out today, and Keagan made it back from his friends. I was surprised he didn't ask to stay another night, they must have had plans. haha Chelsea played outside for a bit, and in her room, and on her tablet. Kyle went outside & started a fire in the fire pit, then disappeared to his room. Kameron helped do some chores around the house, and has played his iPod. Kwintyn actually wanted to watch more Baby Kwintyn movies, but as I got it all set up, and playing for 3 minutes, he changed his mind, and wanted to watch George. He's also been playing on his tablet today, he has a few car games he likes on there, and a grocery shopping game. He's was playing a Lego game when I took this picture. So we all just been, Blah today. Nothing exciting, but I needed a pic for the day. These Winter months sure do make some lazy kids. OK, I admit I am lazy in the Winter too, can't blame em! But I want some excitement already! This project is starting to make me think. ;P

Lazy 1st of February

Day 31: Home Videos

Posting this late, but we were to busy last night watching home videos, and I watched them late in to the night. Boy, talk about changes!!! Within the first 12 minutes of watching the first video, I was already crying! My boys have grown Oh, so much! And my little Princess too. Hearing their sweet little voices again was music to my ears, seeing them so little lit up my eyes, and I had the biggest smile on my face watching these home movies. I also got angry at myself in some videos. I notice that in a lot of them I was impatient, and I did not let the boys try my video camera out. In a few clips you can hear them ask "Can I try" and I say No, or just ignore them. I also notice that when they were showing off, or would display crude behavior I would also ignore them. I wanted to scream at myself, and say "JUST LET THEM TRY!!!" or "ALL HE WANTED WAS SOME ATTENTION!" But instead I kept the camera rolling at the subject I was taping. I never pull out the video camera anymore, I always forget too. And if I do it's to capture some 1st events like rolling over, walking, school stuff, Christmas, & Birthdays. I never pulled it out to just play, and I think that is why I would get like that when the boys would stick their faces in front of the camera. But now, I see SO many missed memories, and I get so angry at myself for being like that. Sure was an eye opener to me, and surely that is going to change.

We watched a lot of Christmas videos, since that is mainly when I pull that darn camera out! We watched the day Chelsea was born, and some other videos when she was little. And I have to say, she was such a smart, smart toddler!! Her vocabulary at 3 was just amazing! She was 3yrs 2mos old in the video, and Kwintyn is almost the same age as she was in the video, and I hate comparing my kids to each other, but boy she could talk! Kwintyn has a good vocabulary, I think, but Chelsea's at this age she was full of words! I was laughing so hard at her cute comments she would say, and it did bring me to tears seeing her talk in front of a room full of people. I miss that little girl SO, SO much, and it breaks my heart to see how this Selective Mutism just crippled her so much. I will always cherish those precious toddler moments with her. Kwintyn's voice almost sounds like Chelsea's did at this age too. Especially on some words!

Kwintyn was fascinated watching Baby Kwintyn in the hospital crying, his words. :) He had to point out that Mom was in the hospital, and Daddy, Keagan, Grandma, Sissy, Kyle, and Kameron was there. ( He didn't see Sam hiding behind the video camera ;) And that the kids had presents. I explained to him the presents were gifts from him, to his brothers & sister, and that they also got him gifts too. He watched intently when he got his first bath. I think he liked hearing Baby Kwintyn cry. I was sad because I realized I didn't have that many entries of Kwin on video. It went from just a few minutes the day he was born, to his first bath, to 5 wks old, then jumps to 5 months old. I haven't finished from there, so not sure how old he will be in the next clip. 3 years has passed, and he has grown so much too!

Seeing Keagan, Kyle, & Kameron so little again, and hearing their sweet little voices brought instant tears to me. I am just.........speechless....at how fast they have grown up! I wanted so badly to reach through that screen, and just grab em & hug them so tight. Back then I could. Now, two are taller, and outweigh me, and the other is not too far behind. I can no longer pick them up, and just snuggle them, those days are gone. They now can pick me up, but I don't think they would want to snuggle me. Haha That Keagan!! Boy was he just.......crazy! I laughed so hard at his antics, and some of the things he would do, or say. He was a gross kid too! haha! But he also had a sweet side, too. Then there's sweet little Kyle. Just a sweet, soft spoken little boy, and that smile on his face. He was a deviant one too. Oh, and then my little Kameron, the biggest little Batman fan ever! I forgot the way he would say Batman, and to hear that again melted my heart. "Bat-Ay" or something like that. I loved hearing his little speech impediments, even Keagan had some. Kwintyn looks quite a bit like Kam did too. So I can already kinda assume what Kwin will look like, handsome little guy, with awesome hair like his big brother, Kam!

I also got a glimpse of what it was like to have 3 small boys, and a baby girl. I thought my house was loud now, it was LOUDER then, and the house wasn't as messy as I thought it was. I always thing my house is never clean enough, and it's the #1 thing I complain about. But when in all actuality, it's not to bad. Sure there is always baskets of laundry in my living room, and toys may be scattered around the room, and the furniture & walls might not look so nice, but it's not as bad as I thought it was in my mind. Another eye opener there for me. Things don't always have to be perfect. That's gonna be a hard one to work on for me, I will admit that. :/ The boys were full of energy, and so was the house. It was chaotic, and still is at times but I now know that I will never change that. I loved every single one of those chaotic, crazy moments we have had. We also got see our beloved pets, and some people who are no longer here with us. Kwintyn liked seeing the animals very much, and has a better understanding of who Belle was, our old dog who passed when he was 10mos old.

Watching those videos was so very good for my soul, and I think the kids enjoyed it too. Although Kyle & Kameron walked off  after a while, and Keagan wasn't here, but I plan to watch some more with him later. I realized that videos are much more precious than pictures. You can see, feel, hear, and re-live that moment again, and see things in a different perspective. I may have done some parenting wrongs over the years, and we may not have the nicest stuff. But looking at the bigger picture, I saw kids who were happy, and who had everything they ever needed, and who were loved very much.

We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. ♥

                                                         Remember When.............♥