The Kindness of Strangers

I just got back from one of "those" Walmart trips. I just needed a few things- my list had only 5 items but they were all needed. I had only one kid but no snacks. I was going to be so quick- in and out! As soon as we got through the door Brielle saw the carts with the big kid seats in front- you know those massive things. She started to cry and throw a fit when I put her in a regular cart so I caved and tried to strap her into the big kid cart. Two minutes into our trip she has found her way out of her strap and is dangerously climbing everywhere- standing on her seat, climbing into the back of the cart, walking off the end into the aisles. I try to make her sit but she screams and throws herself back. I try carrying her while pushing the massive cart but she is screaming and wiggling to get down. I try restrapping her- she gets out! I feel like screaming - I hold it in. I know I look ridiculous to onlookers as I try to scold a one-year-old about sitting on her bottom. Just at the point where I am about to break down- a fellow mother offers Brielle some fruit snacks. THANK YOU kind stranger- it is amazing what a few fruit snacks and some empathy can do. I quickly grabbed the last three things on my list and some impulsive aisle-end Easter candy temptations to deal with my stress and got out of that store. The fruit snacks lasted until the checkout where the kind cashier tried to wave sweetly at Brielle and Brielle yelled no at her and wildly tried to wave her away. Oh the joys of motherhood!

And now a video moment Kevin recorded last night, to remind me how cute she can be...


These days Brielle is very adamant about being independent. As you can see from the video, she wants to do everything her older siblings do. She only wants to sit on a regular chair at dinner, she always wants to drink out of a regular cup. She wants to walk and not be carried. She even insisted today on wearing a backpack like Makenna when we took Makenna to school. She wants to get into the car herself. She even wants to buckle her own carseat- (she can't of course but she does want me to wait patiently while she tries).

She's cute and hilarious but sometimes trouble. So this is my question for any other parent to answer. I can't keep her off our kitchen table. I am pretty sure as I am typing this, she is sitting on it in the other room. She thinks its so much fun to get up there and hilarious when I tell her no and then take her off. I can't exactly baby proof the table to keep her off it- we sort of need the chairs there-- what do I do? Any ideas??? I am contemplating a time out playpen or a squirt bottle (yes I am seriously desperate- stop me before it comes to that- what should I do?).

These are really all mine?

These pictures are actually from a couple of weeks ago - from just before church one Sunday morning. When I was uploading my camera, I found them and just can hardly believe that these beautiful happy faces are all mine. I don't know when they got to be so big.

And when I look at this last picture of Bray and Kenna I flash forward about ten years and picture them as teenagers- can't you see it? I never thought I would be the type of mom to say this but they really are growing up too fast.

High School Musical -The Ice Tour

Jenn and I took Brayden and Makenna to "High School Musical- The Ice Tour" on Friday. I actually won tickets through some website contest. I didn't take any great pictures- but here are a couple of the kids. I love Kenna's expression...I would say mesmerized would be a good word for her. We all had a great time!

Too Young for this

Kevin found this note in Brayden's backpack yesterday. When I asked Brayden about it- he said Laney is just a nice girl who plays with him at recess and he explained that "Yozey" is Yahtzee. Sounds innocent enough, I guess.

Cousins

We are so thrilled to have some family visiting this week. Jeff and Jen are crashing with us for a few days as they trek down to Atlanta. Living here in Omaha, we don't get family visits too often, and I just love seeing the cousins playing together. It reminds me of my own childhood so I am so glad they are getting this visit. The video is just them all playing together- its all so cute to me.

A Toothless Grin

To date Brayden has lost 6 teeth total- 3 of which have come out in the past week. Poor tooth fairy is having a busy week.

A Few Things

Brayden worked long and hard addressing his Valentine Cards. When I went to pack them up I noticed that he had selectively chosen certain friends to whom the term "best friend" should be added to their card. It's pretty funny to me... but hopefully no one gets their feelings hurt :)Unfortunately, the day of the Valentine Exchange turned out to be a snow day, so the new party is rescheduled for today. This year Valentines goes on and on!

This is my new Lucky Bamboo.On Valentines Day Kevin and I had a fabulously fun date complete with dinner, a gift exchange, a movie, hot chocolate drinking at Borders , and even a trip to Walmart (not just any Walmart though- just the fanciest Walmart in town). It was a great date!
And the story behind the lucky bamboo- we went to Westroads mall (you know the mall where last year there was that big shooting- yep we braved it) and gave each other a 10 dollar, 30 minute limit to find each other a Valentine gift. It was so much fun. I got Kevin some fishing tackle that had the "as seen on tv" label- so I knew it must be good :) and he got me a lovely lucky bamboo. And now on to this cutie patootie (I love her expression in that picture)... Monday night Brielle reached the "first asthma attack" milestone. Yes, it looks like she may be following in Brayden's footsteps. We can still hold out hope that this is just a symptom of a virus, the doctor said- but she also adviced we stop renting and just buy the darn nebulizer (dang). Don't worry about her though- when we give her the regular breathing treatments, she does really well and slept all night last night- yeah! Oh and the poor thing also has an ear infection- but yet look at that smile- what a trooper!
Well thats all for now. Hope you all are healthier than us and having a great week!