Accident Free

Tyler and McKenna went all day using the potty-no accidents on the floor or in their pants. As we chant at our house, "peepee/poopoo in the potty, no peepee in our pants". I haven't become brave enough to put Tyler in underwears but if this keeps up hopefully soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

Silly faces after washing her hands :)

Wow, I'm on a roll today with posts-but I couldn't go without writing about "My kids".

(MY because something good has happened).

I was in the kitchen making dinner tonight-the girls were out with their Dad and in an attempt to get a smile from Tate I started singing to Tate and bouncing him in his chair, moving his legs in a lil dance and I think I found his song. "In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle, The Lion Sleeps tonight"- Do you know the song?

I think it's from Lion King.

I found his smile, isn't it cute?

Kitchen Progresses

The kitchen has taken another stride as it receives it's 1st installment of cupboard/drawers fronts.

Have a look at the progress:

This cupboard was "claimed" by the kids for Hide & Seek

and by McKenna to store/hide her notebooks and many, many purses

Sleep, Sweet Sleep

Oh Sleep how I've missed it and yearn to be reunited. My days have been spent thinking about it, trying to sneak it in, just to get a taste/glimpse to remember. Tate is almost 3 months old, so it has been 3 months, plus how many months of getting up 2-3 times a night for potty breaks during pregnancy since I've had a "good" night of sleep.

We've been trying to get Tate in the crib at night, in the girls room but with his 2 am feeding appointment he would wake up Tyler and I'd rather have Tate in our room than deal with her crying at that early hour. And then it happened, last week Tate went 5 hrs between feeding at night-but not wanting to jinx or get my hopes too high I decided it was due to his lack of naptime sleeping. It was a few more nights until it happened again, no more 2:30 am feeding he was stretching himself til 4 am.

Tuesday night, oh horrid Tuesday night when Tyler and I were sick, we put Tate in the girls room with the monitor and Tyler slept with us. He didn't stir all night-didn't even eat at 11 pm. At 4:30 afraid he'd be waking up and would wake everyone else up we finally got him up to eat. I know crazy...but fear will make you do a lot of crazy things. Then last night I decided to try it again, so in the crib he went and stayed. I fed him at 11 and then woke up at 6 this morning with a wonderful feeling, it was vaguely familiar, something close to...well rested. Could it be true a full night's sleep? 7 hrs? Oh happy day! And it has been! I've been nicer to my kids, I was showered and out of my pajamas by 10 am!

I'm not expecting this everynight but it's enough to give a Mom a little hope of emotional normalcy. I pray all moms with babies get this kind of break sooner rather than later!

Flu season is back!

It seems like last year I was constantly writing about my kids being sick...this must be my year. Yesterday morning John and I woke with queasy stomachs. The night before we'd had a can of clam chowder soup. When I was opening it, I had noticed that it was expired...not by much and it wasn't bulging and it smelled fine so I cooked it well and we ate it. It wasn't that great but it was dinner. I know I know, not my best move as a mother-it would serve me right to get sick. McKenna of course didn't eat any and Tyler barely touches her dinner these days and at one point I noticed her drinking and then spitting it back in the bowl so who knows if she really ate some or not.

Later that afternoon things were not getting better, but worse...much much worse. I'm also aware of the stomach flu making the rounds and by 5 pm I realized it wasn't food poisoning, but pry the stomach flu as I was achy and FREEZING! Tyler was also complaining by that time and hadn't eaten only her hot chocolate that morning. I HATE THE STOMACH FLU! Who doesn't? Nothing worse than throwing up-I did get lucky in one aspect. Tyler didn't throw up once. Smart girl to starve herself all day-I was too nervous with nursing to not eat. John wasn't a hundred percent but he was a trooper and even stayed home today to take care of us all. Anyway Tyler ended up staying in bed with us last night, John hung in there for a while but somewhere around 4 he gave up and found his way to the Futon in the playroom.

I quickly remembered why we don't let kids in bed with us at night-so much tossing and turning, kicking and lack of personal space. Then there's the worry that the kid is going to fall out of the bed and then the repercussions of then night after. As we were leaving the kids room Tyler actually told me she was going to throw up. She's been back to her normal comical self all afternoon so it was a no go. Then there was the crying and screaming for us to come get her to take her into our room which lasted 45 min.

Definitely glad we're all feeling better-got my fingers crossed that somehow McKenna and Tate were spared the experience.

Tyler 2-Yr Old Check up

Tyler had her 2 yr old check up today. We've been reading "Say 'Ahhh', Dora goes to the Doctor" for over a week now and have the book memorized. Figured she was pretty well prepared yo know what was going to happen and hoped for the best reaction. McKenna has been asking to go to the Dr since we got the book and so we brought her for support and an example. Little did I know she was going to wake up this morning and immediately start telling Tyler she was going to get shots today-Way to highlight the worst part of it McKenna.

Tyler actually did pretty well, although she is only 2 years old and so she didn't want to stand on the scale and pretty much clung to me the whole time. She only cried when they pried her off me to put her on the baby scale and after she had received the 1st shot. She's off the charts in Height at 37.5 inches and in the 90% for Weight at 30 pounds. I honestly thought she was going to weigh more than that because I thought her and McKenna weighed pretty close to the same. McKenna was nice enough to jump on the scale to show Tyler what to do and weighed in at 37 lbs.

Fun in the Sun

So many funny things have happened lately, yet when it comes down to writing them I can't remember anything. SO I'll write about what I do remember-or rather what I have pictures of:


The sun made a brief appearance this week for a few days. McKenna decided to play hookie from pre-school and we headed up to the park in Edgewood for a lil picnic. John was able to join us since he only works half a day on Thursdays. The girls had a ball and for once didn't spend all that much time on the swings, instead they ran around and had Dad help them up into the trees.

Our lil Monkeys

On Sunday Tyler needed her diaper changed. Trying to avoid it she refused both John and I asked for McKenna. We were surprised when McKenna agreed-only because it wasn't poopie. We caught video but through a picture would be more appropriate. The funniest part was McKenna trying to lift Tyler's legs and butt to slide the diaper under. She didn't need very much help and actually did a pretty good job. I think she might have a future here

P-A-R-T-Y

Anyone with kids or who knows a kid or who is still a kid knows that it's all about the party.

Well it's been one party after another at my house this week.

Friday's Farewell Party to Lori, Quinton, Jack, Mitch and Regan who are moving to California :(

Nothing says Party like Tacos & Karaoke

Saturday Valentine's Party Dinner at Ivar's and then onto The Clarion Hotel in Federal Way

John and Tate weren't quite into Madagascar 2

Sunday: Birthday Party for Tyler and Grandpa

Diego Bowling for Grandpa-How'd we know that's what he wanted?

Tate Blessing

With my parents in town this last weekend we decided to bless Tate in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, Feb 15th by his Dad. This was the first time we've blessed a baby in our home ward, or any ward. It was fun to be surrounded by our "other" family and nice to have a friends and a family representative there-Thanks Dad!

Getting Tate ready for church, he was not a fan of the suit

My attempt at a family picture...where's McKenna?

John & John Jr (aka Tate)

Little Man Tate...or Travolta

Happy Valentine's Day

It has been a Valentine's week! Last Saturday our ward had a Valentine's Party where I found myself knee deep in frosting, sugar cookies and supplies for making Valentine's. Tyler and McKenna were very helpful and had a great time making the frosting and cookies. The party was a lot of fun and very well put together by the activities committee. Tyler's favorite part was the icing, while McKenna was all over the place but mostly on the floor dancing!!! Aunt Shelly inspired us to do a few things to keep the spirit of the holiday including making (more) Valentine's.

McKenna had her Valentine's party at school today and made some fabulous stuff-she always comes home with great pictures and crafts she's done.

Grandma Harris arrived last Sunday and has been spending the week with us. I came to the realization that while we survive when Grandma isn't here, I'm just not sure how. We've been having such a great time with her-playing her new knock the cups down game, ponies, dolls, dress up, and even dancing with balloons-

She also makes a fabulous "green drink" that after watching her and Tyler drink for about 6 months I have finally braved trying it and found that I like it. Who knew Spinach and fruit could taste so good?

My sister found the following quote which I really liked, well enough to share!

“You'll discover that real love is millions of miles past falling in love with anyone or anything. When you make that one effort to feel compassion instead of blame or self-blame, the heart opens again and continues opening. ” —Sara Paddison; author

Tyler LeAnn Payne

February 10th, 2007 at 2 am- Our Home changed...and McKenna's world was rocked as she was no longer an only child. It was a good change for us as a family and especially McKenna who was very excited about a baby-as Tyler entered our family.

It was a peaceful, strong and quick delivery-one that looking back represents the kind of girl she is now. John and I both remember she spent the 1st-2 hours of her life crying-with a little raspy old man sort of voice that made me giggle. She's been such a light in our lives- she loves music & singing, the neighborhood animals, running circles around the island in the kitchen, her brother & sister, family & friends, and Dora.

You know me birthday celebrations last at least a week so when the first box arrived the celebration began. Her response to each gift was so cute as she excitedly said, "for me, for my birthday?" McKenna was also excited for the upcoming birthday, a party, cake, presents, what's not to love...other than the gifts were not for her. Luckily Tyler is so good at sharing with McKenna especially when she sees how happy it makes her.

All thing Dora, YEAH!

McKenna and I took a trip to the dollar store to get Tyler a gift. We gave her a few dollars with the explanation that we would be going to get Tyler a birthday gift and that it was a secret and then we "snuck" out of the house. Grandma Harris flew in last Sunday and so she reported that shortly before we left, McKenna came in and showed Tyler the money and told her it was for her birthday present. :) She was very excited and very careful about selecting just the right gift for her.

Lots of Sisterly Love!

Her new favorite camera face

Thanks Kenna for the new jewelry.

Ashley in Washington

Our Dear Ashley came to visit us this last weekend. Well actually she had a track meet at the UW, but we like to pretend it was all for us, so we went up and saw her in action in the High Jump. She wasn't very happy with the results but we thought she did wonderful-and she looked great. It was fun to be there in the excitement of college competition and John found ourselves wishing we had been good enough to compete on a college level.

Tate was excited to meet her :) and the girls couldn't have been more thrilled to have their Aunt Ashley around. We had a great time in Seattle as we stopped at Ivars for lunch and to play with the Seagulls. Poor Ashley had a lot of studying to be done for upcoming tests, we hope she did well!

My Very Own SuperHero!

I've notest a growing number of posts about how wonderful the husbands have been treating their wives. I think this is wonderful and think maybe like birthdays Valentines is a monthly event celebrating love and happiness? Well I am happy to do my own post :) of my sweet love!

I have myself "down" with a really bad cold the last couple of days. Young kids don't understand the need to sleep and rest and having an infant who still nurses at night hasn't helped my recovery process any. John must have noticed the desperate state I've found myself in because at lunchtime he wandered in the door. The girls and I couldn't have been more thrilled. I must have asked him 3 or 4 times when he had to go back to work before it sunk in that he was home for the day to watch the kids.

The weather actually reached about 59 degrees today so he loaded the girls up and took them to the park and then watched them and Tate all afternoon. Sorry I don't have pictures of this good man-but hopefully have left you with warm fuzzies? :)

Here's a lil video of John using his superhero powers to charm our lil Tate'r tot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIiunW9gYiQ

Tate n Tyler

At the request for pictures after McKenna left for school I was getting ready to change Tate's diaper and Tyler came over ready to play. I remembered my SIL Silvia's cute pictures of her 2 boys so thought I'd snap a few of my 2-T's.

Comparing lengths

Keepin her at arms lengths, pry a good idea Tate

So tired and ready for his nap this was his "Go Away Mom" Face