Parenting Lessons

Parenting Lesson #4812

When you realize that your typically vociferous 2 1/2 and 1 year old are playing quietly alone....they are up to no good!!

While left alone to what we thought were playing nicely together, they were busy rubbing diaper rash cream all over EVERYTHING!! The good thing about diaper rash cream is that it seals and protects, so rubbing from the diaper wont wipe away the cream and their cute little bottoms stay nice and protected. Well the cream does it job regardless of were it is applied, so getting this off their pretty little faces was not an easy feat. Brianna even had it in her mouth....This is Andrew's look of "what...I didn't do it"

Parenting lesson #7521.2B

A child learning to walk should wear appropriate shoes.....Not those cute little sandals, that go great with her new dress.

Meet Brianna's new bump. While walking outside, looking oh soo cute, Brianna tripped and landed flat on her fore head. She gave us a good scream and then was off playing, this time shoeless. It was quite a bump, it had all the little marks from the concrete embedded in it....and quite a scream, neighbors came out to see what had happened.

Her reenactment of the scream....fortunately for you, you cant hear it!!

Easter Morning!!

We had a nice relaxing Easter Sunday. We all decorated eggs the night before, Brent and I hid them around the house for the kids to find in the morning. They both got really excited looking for the eggs. Even Brianna would find an egg then take it to her basket...The weather was a little cold and gray so all events stayed indoors. I was bummed Brianna wasn't able to wear her Easter dress. I did eventually put in on for pictures but with tights and a turtle neck.

Potty training is going great. Andrew hasn't had an accident in days....so I've resumed fluids and going places....he has no fear of public restrooms....he's better at it than me. Didn't think potty training was suppose to be this easy, but it's been a lot of fun. He gets a real kick out of the song and dance we give him every time. He also puts a sticker on the "potty chart" which comes with a BIG surprise at the end, he filled it up soo quick I had to add more squares. Brianna's his little personal cheerleader. She runs to the potty with him yelling "Pepeee..." then when he's done, she comes out clapping and screaming for him. We started him with a peepee treat everytime he went.....so now he asks for a peepee treat when he has to go...

Coloring eggs...wasn't a lot of fun for them....all they could do was watch!!

Chilly Easter Morning!!!

Costa Rica Trip!!

We're home from our fun filled trip.....lots of exciting news to talk about.....We all had a great time! Kids did beautifully on all flights, such the seasoned little travelers. Not only on different flights but traveling all over the country...they were soo happy and well behaved...On one flight the business traveler behind me complimented the kids on how well they behaved, it's always nice to hear it from someone else....We are very lucky to have such great babies!!

Well the first part of our trip took us to Guanacaste which is the northwestern part of the country along the Pacific Ocean. Half that time was spent up near a volcano "Rincon de la Vieja" there my brother his fiance, Brent and I went to the hot springs. We went by horseback which was an adventure. There we pretty much just laid out, drank, and relaxed in the hot springs. The next day we did a canopy tour...which is basically putting your life in the hands of cables and you zip line across the tops of the trees, to enjoy the beautiful scenery, I didn't get to see much, but from what I heard it was an awesome view. The kids stayed with my parents and spent the two days at the pool they had a blast. They both LOVE the water.
After the third day we drove west and hit up "Playa Hermosa" which translated means beautiful beach and it was just that. It was a small little bay with not a lot of waves, just enough to enjoy the water. Brianna loved the ocean, the sand and everything that came along with it. Andrew HATED the ocean and the sand. He didn't want to get his feet dirty so he would pretty much just lounge in a beach chair until we took him to the pool....where he was the happiest. After two nights we went home, Brent left and then the kids and I went to Quepos to see Toto. There we just laid out on the beach or at the pool. Then back home to finish up our vacation. Needless to say we all had a great time. Time flew by and it was hard to come home.

BIG NEWS: Yes Alan is engaged to a great girl from Australia, she was tons of fun and the kids loved her. Andrew is FULLY potty trained and talking like crazy. He actually potty trained himself. One day he decided no more diapers and that's been it since. Our sweet Brianna has developed into a little flirt, she gives her "pretty eyes" to all the guys. It is too cute!! Drives Brent crazy but I love it!!

Well that about sums up our spring break....Enjoy the photos!!!

Bia and kids at Rincon de la Vieja

Nana loving the sand

Andrew not soo much....he played neatly in the sand

WOW check out the gorgeous.....blue ocean!!

Our big boy is growing up too fast!!

Sweet Nana walking like a pro!!

I Love this Picture....

Not just anyone can sit in Toto's chair....

Nana Enjoying those crazy Costa Rican roads!!

I attempted to get "pretty eyes" on camera but it's much better in person.

Pizza Nite....or as Andrew calls it Pi-tat

Loco Bud!!!

One More.....

I just wanted to get one more update in before we leave on our BIG trip. We are all going to Costa Rica....We leave Saturday and Brent will be home the following Sunday, the kids and I will stay one more week. We are all soo excited. Going to travel and see parts of the country we've never seen before, going horseback riding, laying out on the beach, all that fun stuff!!! Cant wait!!

Anyways, our babies are doing great. Andrew continues to talk more and more. We are working on counting, and now he can count and recognize up to number 4. He wants to count everything. It comes in handy because he's willing to help around the house if numbers are involved. I've been keeping him busy by going on lots of play dates at the park. He's really starting to socialize, and have lots of fun with the other little ones....especially because they are all girls and all want to play with him. They are always bringing him his cup, and chasing him everywhere. Cute to watch them.

Brianna is walking more and more everyday. She wants top keep up with all the older ones. She almost completely walking everywhere. She's still a little unstable but looks soo cute and still like a zombie. Andrew wishes she can walk and run like him, so he'll grab her hand and take off. She does a good job in keeping up. She might even skip the whole walking and go straight to running. Between the two of them, they sure keep me on my toes.

Brent is doing great. Work is keeping him super busy. He's working late days and most Saturdays, so he's really looking forward to our little vacation.
I'm doing good, had a dr's apt the other day for headaches, and turns out I've got the typical migraine, tension headache. Never really believed migraines existed, until I got one. Should be pretty easy to control, I got a prescription that I take when I feel them coming. Other than that It's been pretty quiet around here...
Hope everyone has a great week....

Hanging out at Grandma's and Papa's house!

Enjoying the great weather outside!

Crazy hair in the tub!

Dinner at the Oasis....we were blessed with a beautiful sunset!

A Little Bit of Everything

Well I got the first ticket I couldn't talk my way out of, now my late nights are spent sitting at the computer and taking a Defensive Drivers Course made for dummies. You have to spend a required amount of time on each page usually about 5 min some more and some less. Every page contains about 30 seconds worth of information....the rest of the time I just watch the clock tick away....Mandatory 6 hours....that's crazy...But it gives me Blog time.

Haven't done this in a while, so here's a little from Brianna's Big Day, our trip to Disneyland, California and just hanging around the house!

Papa and I took the kids to Tom's Farm, this was the hit of the day. A crane that you can operate for about 1 min at $0.50....Good thing I brought my quarters!! Andrew loved it, Brianna just sat back and watched.

Disneyland was a BLAST!!! Andrew was a little scared on the kiddie rides, but loved the petting zoo, race cars and the big boat. That's all he talks about anymore. Brianna loved looking at everyone, she just laughed and screamed at everything.

Brianna's birthday went great, she ate her cake like such a little girl, we had to get Andrew in there to show her how it was done. And then she was a mess!! She loved every minute of it!! Then came the presents....she had more fun with the the cards and ribbon than what was actually inside! Thanks again to everyone

tired after opening all those presents!

I had planned on putting more pictures, but time has taken over, so til next time....

I do have to thank Aunt Assie for ALL the great pictures!!

Brianna is ONE!!!

I learned to laugh and squeal,

then sit and stand,

Now I can walk if you hold my hand!

Look out world I turned ONE!!!

The real fun has only just begun....

Here are just a few of Brianna's birthday pictures....Hope to get the rest out before the end of the week. Brianna was the sweetest little princess on her big day! Surprisingly she loved being the center of attention, and went with who ever was willing to lend her a finger. We had a great time in California, Thank you to everybody who celebrated Brianna's first birthday with us! It was a very memorable day, one that we will never forget.