A slight replay of my own childhood story

This video reminds me of something that happened when I was a kid.

My mom HATES crickets. I remember her spraying bug spray every night outside her window because they kept her up during the night. When I say HATE, I really mean it. So, one day there was a cricket in our house and Mark (my stepbrother) and I decided we would take care of it for my mother. Instead of using bug spray, we found a rock (approx. 1/2 lb) and we decided that we could kill the cricket by dropping the rock on it. Great thinking for 8 year old brains right? Except that we dropped it on the carpet and didn't realize that the carpet pad would make the rock bounce back up into the air. Right into the glass coffee table. Now it didn't break the top into a million pieces but until the day my parents got rid of it, it had a huge circle dent/crack/rock impression in it. And the cricket lived another day too!

A cue from my cousin

A couple of my cousins write blogs as well and we all read each other's. So I am taking a cue from Jamie who had this on her blog awhile back.

The kids were filthy and had scratchy throats so I figured, kill two birds with one stone hence the popsicles in the bathtub.

Brock has a fan

Today at school, Brock was chased and teased by a new girl named Ashley. She really likes him and they played the entire day together. Brock told me that she is his friend and he had fun today. The teachers teased me that Ashley was going to be my daughter-in-law. Funny how that starts already. Ashley had been saying goodbye to Brock everyday for two weeks now and I guess she finally got the nerve up to just chase him. Too cute. (I figured I should write this down so it will embarrass Brock when he gets older...just doing my mom duties. :)

A penny is worth a lot more than a cent

For about 4 weeks straight, Brock would cry each time I would drop him off at preschool. For no apparent reason. We are talking full on SOBBING. I spoke with all his teachers and they couldn't figure it out. They each took him aside and asked if a kid was hurting him or if he was scared etc. Nothing. Nothing had changed at home, no schedule changes or anything. It was very confusing. I was starting to get very annoyed with him because he is 4 1/2 and this was a little ridiculous. I had started telling him that I thought he was crying because he was tired and then he was going to have to take a nap after school. Well, that didn't work either.

Well, one day as I was driving him to school, I literally had a brilliant idea. A true light bulb moment. I found a penny in my car. As we pulled into the parking lot, I told Brock he could have my special penny if he didn't cry today. He said ok. As I got him out of the car, we made a wish on the penny ("I wish for Brock to have a good day at school, not cry and think good thoughts etc."), each of us air kissed it and then we put it into his shoe where he could feel it each time he stepped and he would know that Mommy & Daddy loved him and that we were coming back to get him. He hasn't cried since. A little teary at the most, no sobbing. YIPPEE!!

And get this. I attend a Mothers of Preschoolers group once a month. Lynzy loses it each time I put her with the preschool class at the church. Without fail. Cries almost the entire time, clings to one teacher, doesn't always participate etc. Last Friday, Lynzy wanted a special penny. I said ok. We went through the same routine that we did with Brock and it worked. She cried only for a few seconds and off she went playing. It's been a wonderful trick! Use it if you need it.

We are not a "PC" family

We just aren't. And that makes for some funny stories. Keep it in mind as you read.

1) A couple of weeks ago we were all sitting around the dinner table. We were talking about how Wesley used to say "he's a girl," and how Steve used to have him say it all the time. Pronouns are tough for little kids and Brock & Lynz are no exception. So during this conversation I asked Lynzy if she was a boy or a girl. She said she was a girl. She then told Steve, Brock & Wesley that they were all boys and I was a girl. Then she took it a step farther and said (as she pointed to each of them - Steve, Brock & Wes) "Him has a penis, him has a penis, and him has a penis." We busted out laughing and I asked her "Do you have a penis?" She responded, "no, I have a gina." (pronounced the same as vagina without the va.) Which made us all laugh again because Wesley used to call it a gina when he was little. It's now the word we use for girl privates.

2) Lynzy and I are a little outnumbered. Only by one when Wes is around but believe me when I say, it changes the dynamic around here. And the topic of conversations and what makes kids laugh changes with the amount of testosterone in the house. So you can imagine that passing gas is absolutely hysterical here. Lynzy now thinks so too and has been able to pass gas on her own command. And then calls it "Burping out my butt." Which quite frankly is funny to me. She also recently showed her new skills at our local Michael's store. She and Brock were along the back aisle and proceeded to "burp out her butt" at each aisle break and laugh hysterically. She had me and Brock giggling all through the store. (and I don't even like bathroom humor.) I was afraid she might have an accident but she somehow controlled it. I think I have lost my little girl. She might be a tomboy yet.

Butterfly ride

After we walked, we went to ride the kid rides at Balboa Park. Wes, Brock, Lynzy and I rode the super fast carousel (I almost got sick.) The train ride was a hit and Steve, Grandma and kids rode that around the track.

And I took video of this cute little ride on butterflies. They both loved it and it went around a lot of times. The first video is of them going around. The second is super short and has Lynzy giggling. Super cute.

March of Dimes Walk

On April 25th we walked at the March of Dimes walk (March for Babies.) My mom came into town for the walk and to play with the kids. Each time I do this walk I think that so much time has gone by since our NICU days that I won't get emotional but each year I cry. In fact, I'm tearing up as I'm writing this post. There are so many babies born premature and for a lot of them, the reasons that they are born early is a mystery (ours included.) Some families have t-shirts made up for whom they are walking for or in honor of. I was doing well until I saw a mom and dad with one stroller. Their shirts had pictures of two babies and the caption read, "In honor of... and In memory of..." I felt so horrible for this family that they only got to bring home one of their babies. The reason we walk and fundraise is because we remember our days at the NICU and it's a very good reminder to us that we are EXTREMELY LUCKY and blessed. We have our healthy children and we have a good life. Thank you to those that donated to our walk. We greatly appreciate it!





Paulina, Fayline and Brock - We met the girls and their parents while we were at the NICU together after Brock was born. We have remained in contact and we usually see them at the walk or at b-day parties. These girls were just as small as Brock and look at all of them, healthy, happy kids.

Easter Egg Hunt

Bear with me. It's been awhile since I've posted but I have pictures so here we go!

Easter Egg Hunt at the park down the street. So much fun and well done. They had easter egg hunts for 1-3 year olds and then 4-8 and no parents were allowed to help the 4-8 kids. But boy can those parents scream at their kids. The video of Brock hunting has one dad yelling at his kids to get the eggs, right there, no there etc. Isn't it supposed to be fun? Both Brock & Lynzy had a blast and I think we will go again next year.