I can't remember if I've introduced our Wee One--Wee Lass of Del Rey our very naughty, slightly crazy, separation anxiety plagued Pomeranian!

She is just too cute!

It sure has been hot here!  Yuck!  But we’ve had a fun week and weekend despite the heat. Thursday I took the kiddos to the zoo for a picnic breakfast.  Yes, you read that right—breakfast!  We left the house at 7 am!!  We got to the zoo when it opened at 7:30 and enjoyed a quiet, quiet zoo picnic breakfast in an empty pavilion.  The lion cubs were out, the gorillas, the chimps, the orangutans, the snow leopard, the tigers, the serval, the rhinos, and we had a front row view of the seal lion area.  We were out of the zoo gates by 10:30 am, right when everyone else was trying to get in.  What a perfect morning!  We beat the heat and the crowd!

Friday we had a great-grandma play day.  We took over great-grandma’s house and made a huge mess and ate a big lunch. 

Saturday morning was pancake breakfast with the master pancake flipper—Dad.  Jaylyn begs for pancakes first thing in the morning on Saturdays.  That morning, she walked into our bedroom at 7 am with a, “I’m awake Daddy!  I want pancakes!”  She has a little internal pancake clock that tells her when it’s Saturday.  And Daddy can never tell her no. 

Sunday was church day as usual.  Jaylyn loves her Sunday school class.  The preschool workers at our new church are wonderful.  Each week they do a Bible story, do a craft related to the story, color, have a singing time, have gym time, and learn memory verses.  I’ve been so impressed!  And the baby nursery is great too.  I wasn’t sure I was a fan of nurseries after our last experience, but the workers and the nursery organization at this church changed my mind.  We fill out all of Jaxon’s info, his feeding times, his sleeping preferences, his eating preferences, and info about his blankie and other favorite toys.  There is usually about one worker per infant and the babies are held, rocked, and played with the entire time.  Jaxon just loves his teachers.  The director of the “baby room” is so sweet and wonderful.  She calls herself the “nursery grandma” and she adores the babies.  I think Jaxon may very well be a favorite because two of the ladies always fight over who holds him.  They call him their snuggle bunny.  Our new church has been such a wonderful change for all of us. 

After church Jaylyn was talking about a mile a minute for a good 45 minutes while we fixed lunch and ate.  She is so funny!  She cannot close her mouth and sometimes I don’t think she even takes a breath.  I told Jaylyn that we are starting preschool this week (more on this later) and she was so excited.  She has no idea what I’m talking about, but at least she was enthusiastic.  She said “Preschool!” and nodded like a wise sage.  Then she said, “I can pick out a different dress everyday!!!”  Ohh……..the bliss of homeschool preschool.  Then she looked at her Daddy and said, “You can pick out a dress too!  But only when you’re older.  I’m older now.”  Ohhh, Jaylyn. 

Then she quickly switched gears and began talking about her Sunday school lesson which was about Noah (they send home handouts for the parents so we can reinforce the lesson—the organization again!).  “Noah obeyed.  Sometimes I don’t obey you and Daddy.  Sometimes I don’t listen and I don’t obey.  But sometimes I do obey!  I listen and obey you!  Sometimes I don’t obey and Daddy gives me a spanking.  Then I cry and I’m sad.  But sometimes I obey!!!”  Whew………..breathe!!!  But she’s listening during Sunday school.  That’s a plus!  Then, Sunday evening while we ran errands, Jaylyn insisted on wearing her pale pink snowflake mittens everywhere.  Nevermind that it was 105 degrees outside.  Nope.  Those mittens were so very important.  She is so funny.  It’s something new everyday!  She keeps things interesting around here. 

And so does Jaxon.  He’s busy perfecting the army crawl and trying to find new and interesting things to put in his mouth.  He’s only sampled several crayons (black was his favorite) and several of Jaylyn’s art projects (he enjoys munching construction paper—it’s fiber though!!).  Ohh, the house will never be Jaxon-proof enough.  He’s also very busy crawling right into furniture, walls, doorframes, and pulling things over on top of himself (child-safe toys that should not do that!).  I call him the “Danger Zone” because everything he touches somehow becomes dangerous.  Never a dull moment!

Jaylyn has such sweet prayers when she will actually say them.  Today I asked her to pray for our breakfast and she cheerfully complied. 

"Dear Jesus, Thank you for our banquid (banquet).  Love God, love others as yourself.  Amen" 

So precious.  She knows her commandments and wants to make sure Jesus knows them too.  I have a feeling He's heard those before. 

Banquet is Jaylyn's word of the week so she uses it whenever possible.  At every meal, "Is this a banquet?"  Sure!  Why not?

The other day, while we were all driving in the car on the way to the library, we were having one of many discussions.  We were talking about some friends of ours that have twin girls.  We had seen them recently and were unable to tell them apart as usual.  Jaylyn had asked one of them, "Who are you?" because she was trying to figure out which girl it was. 

During our discussion, Jaylyn asked us why people were twins.  Hmmmm, good question.  I could have launched into the scientific explaination (if I could explain it, which I doubt I could) but I don't think it would have helped her much.  I instead answered that I wasn't sure why God created twins and that someday she should just ask Him.  So, she did.  Coming from the backseat we heard, "God, why twins?"  I know she was expecting her answer right then.  How do I explain that?  But her sweet childlike faith is so wonderful to watch. 

I saw this poem on another blog today and thought it was such a wonderful reminder. 

I hope that my child, looking back on today
Will remember a mother who had time to play;
Because children grow up while you're not looking,
There are years ahead for cleaning and cooking.
So, quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm nursing my baby, and babies don't keep.

Sometimes I have to remember that the cooking and cleaning aren't really the priority around here.  My house may never be clean or perfectly decorated.  My shorts and t-shirt are usually covered in spit up, drool, or some other unidentifiable substance.  I normally sport the boring mom ponytail and some days my face doesn't see much makeup.  A few days I've even had to go without a shower!!! 

But.........I've been to the park, the pool, the library.  I've been on a walk, a swing, a slide.  I've read 10 books (10 times each), made 9 trips to help with the potty, played peek-a-boo hiding behind 8 different things, cooked 7 imaginary meals, sang 6 rounds of The Wheels on the Bus, changed 5 dress-up outfits, put the dog out to potty 4 times, made 3 meals, painted 2 pictures, and doctored 1 boo boo.  I've given countless hugs and kisses and received many more. 

So when you come to my house, watch out for the princess castle, step over the pile of books, crawl under the tent house, and join us for an imaginary tea party, but wear your best princess dress.

Those are the things memories are made of and the moments that matter most.

Meet the world's newest superhero---Goggle Girl!!!

I just came across some older pictures of Jaylyn that were on my parents' camera.  I guess these were taken sometime in early spring or late winter, but I had never seen them before..........

Pop's motorcycle

Zoe dog

Taking Zoe for a walk

Musical Genius at work!!

Big sister is always taking care of her little brother!!  She's making sure he "doesn't fall over."

He just realized he's being watched..............

I took a little personality test and man, am I boring!!!  I read the description to my husband and he thought it was pretty accurate. 

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done. You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings. Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you. Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy. In love, you are loyal and honest. If you commit yourself to someone, then you're fully committed. For you, love is something that happens naturally. And you don't need romantic gestures to feel loved. At work, you remember details well and are happy to take on any responsibility. You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer. How you see yourself: Decisive, stable, and dependable When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, conservative, and egotistical

Tonight I came across something that was read at our wedding.  This is a Definition of Love:

Love is the desire to share things with somebody.

The longing to share your thoughts, your pastimes, your dreams, your hopes, your ambitions, your enthusiasms, your successes with somebody--this is love; the irresistible impulse to run off and tell somebody, to brag to somebody, to confess to somebody, to laugh with somebody, or to cry on somebody's shoulder.

This is love--the painful realization that you are missing half the joy of a beautiful sunset because he or she is not there to enjoy it with you; that the most delectable dinner is flat and flavorless, unless he or she is sitting across the table.

This is love--the inexplicable urge to reveal your secret thoughts to somebody, to discuss the news in the morning paper with somebody, to read to somebody that fascinating passage you came across last night.

There isn't much excitement or inspiration in anything-planting a garden, painting a picture, building a house, making a new discovery, dreaming a dream, working out a new philsophy, or putting salt on the tail of a brilliant idea, unless there is somewhere a bright particular he or she to thrill with you, to rejoice with you, and to share with you the profits or the plaudits.

There isn't much triumph or satisfaction in winning a fight, a game, a battle, or a job; there is little in achievement or accomplishment, unless there is somebody to share it with somebody rooting for you, somebody to say "I love you."

This is love--the power to enjoy things, to endure things, to work for things, and to sacrifice things together; to dream the same dreams, to hope the same hopes, and to find the same answer to the great mysteries of life. 

This is love--the desire to share things with somebody.

Well, it's been awhile!  I had to take a little blogging break.  Things were just so busy and stressful around here.  This past weekend, hubby took the CFP exam.  That was a LONG test!  He's been studying for over a year.  He took the six classes, the review course, and then the test.  He was so ready to be done with studying!  But I think I was even more ready for him to be done with studying!  Now we just have to wait for the test results.  He should know something in 6-8 weeks.  So, say a little prayer that he passed the test and doesn't have to retake it in December!!!! 

Now that the test is over, we've been enjoying some family time and lots and lots of swimming!  Here are our little pollywogs!

Jaxon enjoying his key ring and floatie

The family

Jaylyn swimming all by herself!!

And Jaxon enjoying the freedom from his floatie 

One of Jaylyn's little chores around the house is to help with laundry.  She takes clothes to the hamper, unloads the washer to load the dryer, and unloads the dryer and puts the clothes on the bed.  Sometimes I let her help me sort the clothes (only when I don't mind the extra wrinkles........)  So, here is mommy's little helper at work.

Cheerfully loading the dryer (hear the sarcasm??)

Now she's helping

Play time in the hamper!

I've received some really great feedback on the WHYS.  So here's our plan for tackling them:

1)  Obedience comes first.  Obey and then we'll discuss why.  For most things, I want her to understand our reasoning behind things.  I also don't want to stifle her natural curiosity. 

So now Jaylyn will come to me, "I obeyed.  What is our discussion?"  It's so funny!

2)  Sometimes she really doesn't need to know the reason why because she's just asking to try to drive me crazy!  So sometimes I just tell her she doesn't need to know WHY, she just needs to obey. 

3)  I realized she was using the WHYS to try to manipulate us and be in control of the situation.  She is asking why, and she already knows the answer to many of the questions!  So, obedience comes first and then our discussion time.  In our discussion time, I ask her to tell ME why she was told to do whatever she did.  Her immediate response is, "I don't know.  Tell me Mommy."  But I hold out and guess what?  She gets the answer right almost 98% of the time.  She really does know why we do the things we do.  This proves that she does, in fact, listen to me!!!  So when I know that SHE KNOWS the answer, I make her give it to me. 

Wow!  What a difference this has made.  No more whiny WHYS and I can tell that she's listening!  And she loves our discussion time after the obedience when she is free to question away.  She learns so much during that time. 

"Because I said so, that's why!"  "Because I'm the mom!"  I so want to use those answers to the endless question of WHY???  Jaylyn just yesterday started asking WHY? over and over again.  "Please put your shoes in your closet."  WHY?  "It's bathtime."  WHY???  "Brush your teeth please."  WHY?  "Finish your dinner."  WHY?  "Don't talk with your mouth full."  WHY??? (as her food falls out of her mouth...........)  Ahhh!  They WHYS are driving us crazy.  How do you respond?  If I ignore the 100th WHY, then Jaylyn will say, "Speak Mommy!  Answer me!"  That's when I want to ask, "WHY????"  I try not to tell her the standard response of, "Because I said so."  But isn't that the truth?  It shouldn't matter why she needs to put her toys away, or why she needs to take a bath, or why she needs to chew with her mouth closed.  She should simply obey, right?  If it were only that easy.......until then, I better have lots of answers ready because I think the WHYS may stick around for a while.

And while we're on the topic of the WHYS, why do we have to buy the latest and greatest most expensive toys for our kids?  They are so easily entertained and can be so creative if given the opportunity.  Today, Jaylyn spent over 30 minutes playing with a ketchup packet.  She named the ketchup packet and had many conversations with him.  Together, they searched for the ketchup packet's mommy (I told her the mommy was a tomato).  Then she followed me around the house with the packet asking me all kinds of questions about what I was doing, but all my answers had to be directed to "ketchup" not Jaylyn.  Then she sang songs to her ketchup and went over to Jaxon to show him the ketchup.  Hmmmm, I had no idea that ketchup packets could be so fun.  Tomorrow, I might give her a mustard packet and see what she can come up with........maybe ketchup and mustard could be friends. 

My husband's birthday was a few days before the 4th of July.  So, we plotted with some of his co-workers and planned a little surprise for him!  My grandma made goodies, my mom arranged them on trays, and we picked up balloons and the goodies and headed up to his work.  We had the stroller, 3 trays of goodies, balloons, a party hat, Jaxon, Jaylyn and her princess crown, the diaper bag, and me.  Boy!  Was that a stressful trip!  But we surprised (and embarrassed) Daddy with all his birthday treats.  And his co-workers enjoyed the mini-cheesecakes, brownies, and cookies.  They were gone before the end of the day.  I would have taken a picture at the office, but as you can tell, my hands were just too full!  So I snapped one as he came walking in the door after work.  Isn't he cute??? 

Happy Birthday honey!!!

Happy Independence Day!!!!!

My mom and baby Jaxon

4th of July Princess

Parade stroller

Ready for the parade

Parade Float (keep in mind this is just a neighborhood parade--not a city parade)

Parade dunebuggy..........hmmmm

And this entry..........I'm not sure what it has to do with the 4th of July......How did they make it into the parade?  It sure is cute though!

The parade was so fun but soooo very hot!!!!

We have a little gelato shop not too far from our house.  Sometimes I wish we hadn't discovered it.  I'm so addicted!  When I was pregnant I craved the Caramel Apple gelato, then it was Cinnamon, then it was the Peppermint, then it was Peach Mango-- now it is Blackberry and I'm not even pregnant...  Jaylyn LOVES gelato and she thinks all ice cream is gelato.  Even Jaxon has had a few tastes. 

We made a little trip to the gelato shop this evening.  It was so good!  As we were leaving, Jaylyn started to get cranky.  Get in your car seat please.  "I don't want to!"  It's time to go home.  "I don't want to go to bed!"  Then she asked for her little computer that she plays with in the car.  We waited until she asked politely.  She turned on her computer and it started talking (keep in mind that this phonics computer is probably the most annoying toy ever invented).  "H says hhhhhhhh.  Press the letter H!"  From the back seat, "But I don't WANT to press the letter H."  The toy was turned off then dropped to the floor.  The front seat was laughing uncontrollably.  It may not sound funny, but at the time it was soooooo funny.  (Bedtime followed shortly after our arrival home.  It had been a LONG day!)

We decided to throw a half-birthday party for little Jaylyn.  She never got a "real" birthday party because we were in the hospital with her little brother on her birthday.  Jaylyn loves art, so we planned a party at the local art center.  I spoke with the director and the teacher and we planned activities.  Jaylyn was sooooo excited!!!

Well, we survived the party and the kids all had a great time.  But I had a few complaints.........First, the room was WAY too small to accomodate 8 kids and their parents (I gave the center the final head count).  Second, the room was dirty and most counter tops were covered with paper or stacks of supplies.  There was no where to put the presents and the finished projects.  Third, the teacher did not interact with the kids at all.  She asked a few questions, handed out a few paint colors, and then stood back to watch.  My mom, my husband, and I had to make sure everyone had paint and brushes.  Fourth, the teacher did not do any of the projects we discussed over the phone.  The kids were supposed to make a mixed media collage and do different types of painting.  She gave them sheets of paper to color and cut up a potato so they could make potato prints using the potato as a stamp.  Needless to say, I was so disappointed.  But at least the kids had a great time, the cake was great, and Jaylyn had a blast blowing out her candle and opening her gifts!

I just have so many disasters in the kitchen.............I borrowed my grandma's double boiler to make some dessert for my hubby as a surprise.  Well, my double boiler fused together, so of course, he knew what I was up to when he saw the double boiler in the sink.  I would have washed it and put it away but I couldn't get it apart!  It was stuck together for hours, and I tried everything I could think of to unstick those two pots!  I did not want to return it to my grandma fused into one big pot.  Thankfully, I searched the internet and learned that if you reheat the bottom pot and throw ice and cold water in the top pot, they pop apart.  But, I stressed all day about those dumb pots and about the fact that seeing them in the kitchen sink would ruin my surprise.  One day, I'm going to break something big, I just know it.................

Thanks to those who have sent me the link to this website. 

After hearing about this site, my husband and I have begun reading through the site.  (He actually read parts of it and I was so impressed!!!)  So, after some long discussions we began trying out some of the suggestions.  Wow!  We must not have green thumbs.  

Now, it probably wasn't the best time for us to just suddenly change tactics.  A few days after we began our "new" techniques, Justin headed out of town.  Jaylyn was not a fan of the new rules or the new discipline techniques, so she has tried to buck the system in every way possible.  She has also tried to test me to see if I'm really serious about everything.  (Yes, I am serious about it, by the way).  So, I know given time, that things will begin working.  I did see the light at the end of the tunnel the other day though................

Jaylyn was throwing a terrible tantrum and I was standing my ground.  It made for a very long 20 minutes while worrying that her screaming would wake Jaxon.  Finally, I wrapped her in my arms and refused to let her go (I was tired of being pelted with toys, taking them away, and dishing out swats).  After a GOOD 10-15 minutes of holding her while she screamed, "Let GO!!", she changed her tune and began screaming, "It's no use!!!!"  Aha!!!  I'm getting through.  I outlasted her on that one.  Amazingly, for the rest of the day she was sweet and compliant, helped with laundry, and picked up her toys. 

Sooo..........thanks again for the website.  It really does work as I've started to notice.  It's just going to take some time and lots and lots and lots and lots of patience.  But we're getting there and things are getting better.  We just have an incredibly stubborn little drama queen on our hands and it makes life pretty interesting around here.