Gray Matter

Random Avabelle Sayings

2012-02-04T09:26:00.002-07:00

While laying on my lap watching TV, Ava looks up and says. "Dad, do you know how to speak Monkey Spanish?"

While playing with her brothers. "Ouch my Nuts!"

A day before superbowl weekend, "Anthony we are going to the Sugar Bowl party"

"Can I have a cookie? Because I didn't eat one this morning and I'm not tricking you."

Date night "The Nutcracker"

2011-12-07T03:12:00.001-07:00

So we got out our Christmas stuff and set up the lights and Christmas tree, when i came across a movie we had "The Care Bears Nutcracker". Which is awesome, because Avabelle has really been into the Care Bears lately. Mom had been checking out Care Bear movies for the past few weeks and all the kids have been really enjoying them, even Anthony! Avabelle has been watching the nutcracker none stop now, she wants to watch it everyday, so I thought it would be cute to take her to the Nutcracker.
So about a week ago I told asked her if she wanted to go on a date night with Dad. She was very excited, i told her it would just be her and her "Daddy" She kept asking when we were going. So finally this last Sunday was the day and Mom painted her nails and we picked out a cute little dress and her nice red jacket and headed off to the Longmont symphony orchestra and Boulder theater ballet's performance of the Nutcracker.
It was about a 40 minute drive and she was so cute in the backseat with her little feet dangling out of her carseat and her talking about so many different things along the way. She is so cute talking about the farm and what kind of animals we will have on our little farm as we drove past all the farms out there, it was a long drive by the time we got there her little eyes looked a little sleepy and i was wondering if she was going to make it through the show.
When we got there we got our tickets and they had little nic knacks and jewelry for sale, where she picked out a little flower ring that I had bought for her. And then we went and bought a cookie and sat down on a bench and ate our cookie, she had crumbs all of her little dress, by the time we had finished eating the doors to auditorium had opened and we went in and found our seats. As we sat there she sat up straight on the edge of her seat just looking wide eyed and giddy at all the seats, people, stage and the orchestra tuning their instruments. She pointed out instruments she recognized and asked about ones she didn't know like the harp. She asked what was making this sound or that. We were there a little early so I read the story overview to her in the pamphlet, I thought I was wasting my breast, because she hardly paid any attention as I read.
Finally the lights dimmed and the show had started, she was too short to see, so I put her in my lap and she sat watching the play. I watched her reactions and emotions more than the play and whispered the story line whenever a different scene transpired.
She seemed to really enjoy the show ansat wide eyed and giddy through most of it, I don't think she really agreed with me telling her that Clara killed the rat king with her shoe, she just didn't buy it or wanted him to come back into the play later, or if the Care Bear Nutcracker the rat king obviously probably didn't die. By the end of act 1, her head had started to lean into me a little more and she was on the edge of sleeping, but still watching the dancers, although at the end of act 1 she said Dad are those the angels "Dad" and I was like no I don't think there are any angels, I think those are snow fairies or something. She said again, "I think those are the angels taking them to the Sugar Plum fairy.
The end of act I we went out and ate another cookie, she went and got her Dad a water and I got a brownie, a peppermint brownie, both of us said "Yuck", and she spit her bite out in my hand and said, it tastes like toothpaste, but me not being wasteful ate it anyway I wonder if she is going to not like peppermint as much as me and her grandpa.
Before Act II started we went back in and I asked her if she wanted to recap the act II story since I thought she wasn't listening the first time, and there in the first sentence "The angels" take Clara and the prince to see the Sugar Plume fairy. So apparently she was listening, because there are no angels in the Care Bear version. We watched the second act and she again sat on my lap and about half way through the second part she held my hands and pretended to orchestrate the music. When the Sugar Plume fairy and her three little fairies came out she said, "look Dad there are four" and the people around kind of chuckled. She was so cute she would clap when everyone clapped and she would watch each dance, some of the longer dance scenes she got a little bored on. When it was all done, she smiled all the way and I picked her up and carried her to the car because it was a little snowy.
I asked her if she liked it and what was her favorite part, she said "Yes I liked it very much and the Sugar Plume fairy was my favorite." I asked her if she liked that one or the Care Bear nutcracker better and she paused for a few moments and said, "Care Bears".
On the way home she said thank you and when we got home we had just pulled up and missed the annual turning on the lights ceremony for the block, so all the neighbors were out and heading to the festivities at a neighbors house. So we hopped out of the car she gave me a hug and we got bundled up and headed over to the neighbors for hot cocoa, hay rides on the ATV and trailer and later in the evening Santa arrived in the fire truck and asked all the kids what they wanted for Christmas.
When Santa arrived he gave the kids candy and asked what they wanted. Avabelle asked for "walkie talkies to talk with Sophie" Anthony asked for "Change color lightning McQueen" and Louie asked for "Anthony" he was pretty cute when Santa asked Louie if he had been a good boy Louis nodded his head and said "uhhhhhhhhh-huh!"

O Christmas Tree

2011-11-26T23:22:00.001-07:00

Last night we set up the Christmas tree, the kids helped, Louis was a handful. Anthony was scared to put the ribbon on the top of the tree standing on the ladder even though I was standing with him, so I let Avabelle do it and he cried so I tried to let him put up the snowflake on the top, but he still couldn't but felt better that he was able to get close. Louie kept taking the ornaments off and would bite them, throw them, hide them, break them. We then ran out to Lowes for some parts for my christmas lights outside and took the kids to Toy's R Us. Anthony was easy he liked nerf swords, nerf shield, nerf darts, lego's, lego creationary, lego board games, cars 2 lightning mcqueen that changes colors, slot car race track and some cars 2 wood cars that look like the go on the thomas the train wood tracks. Louis really didn't say what he wanted, but he kept grabbing balls, and he liked this dora xylophone book, I think he may be getting nerf darts since he is the one that chewed up the last ones we had. Avabelle wanted care bears, princess barbies, a nerf sword, necklace bracelet, princess dresses the full size, princess ball, Barbie princess' which is good because I think Rita already bought it.

Later we took the kids to eat because they did such a good job staying by us and not fighting to go at the stores then went home. When we got home it was probably about 8:00 so i made some soy milk tea with honey and got out our camping air mattress's and sleeping bags, those 30 degree sleeping bags that are supposed to be compact was less effective then I had hoped it was about 60 degrees in our house and I wasn't cold, but I wasn't exactly warm either, I would hate to feel those bags in 30 degree weather. Anyway I setup all the beds and bags and blankets pillows, we drank our tea and watched the Christmas Story laying under the christmas tree, the first night we setup the tree we all slept by it. When I was a kid I used to like to get my bed and pillow and sleep by the tree the first night it was set up. It kind of became my own tradition I enjoyed and thought I would share it with my family. Rita bailed out on us sometime in the middle of the night and she took Louis with her, she said he looked so cute laying next to her she had to take him. I admit it was a rough night sleeping in a mummy bag on the floor, the air mattress was great felt warm, but my feet got a little chilled and my arms were just so tight in the bag it was a bit uncomfortable. So before bed we finished watching the movie, Avabelle made it through a good 3/4 of the movie, Anthony made it 99 percent and Louis made it to the end and beyond. He sat up so cutely watching the movie so intently not missing a thing. That was pretty much the extent of our O Christmas Tree night, we'll see how the tradition grows or if it doesn't.

So the next day when I asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas I said random things and Louis kept saying no, no, no, no, no, to everything. Balls, games, cars, legos, care bears, etc. Until I asked who wants a red rider bb gun and he jumpted up raised his hand in the air and said "ME, ME, ME!"

Care Bears

2011-11-26T23:21:00.001-07:00

Lately Rita has been going to the library to pick up Care Bear Movies. Avabelle has been absolutely loving them, Anthony watches them too, but Ava cannot get enough of them. Rita tells me how much she used to love them when she was little. Today we were sitting there and Avabelle had a care bear on her shirt and she said, "Dad, watch this I'm going to lock the door." She then rubbed her tummy and stuck her tummy out and pretended to be a care bear. It was pretty darn cute.

The day

2011-11-12T22:01:00.001-07:00

Today was just one of those days were everything came together and was just a great day with the kids. We started with pancake breakfast from mom. Then went to Anthony's championship football game in the cold wind, but it was still a great game. His team lost, but it was still fun. He has gotten much better since the beginning of the year and today he played so hard and with so much effort I was so proud of him. After football we switched kids with the neighbor Anthony for Emily and then later Ben for Avabelle they played really well with their friends. Rita made applesauce muffins with the girls and played space rocket and taught them about moon walking I was really impressed with her. I put Louis down for a nap, but he got out of the crib, so I told him I would take a nap with him and tried to lay down, but he kept getting up, so i said, "Louis do you want to take a nap with dad or in the crib?",
He said, "with Dad." and then he would crawl up and lay down and pretend to snore for 30 seconds. Then get up needless to say, no nap for Dad and Lou ended up in the crib, where he finally took a nap. Later the boys came over and the girls went over there, the boys played in the jumpy castle and of course some xbox for a little while, but they played well together.

At 5:00 it was our turn to watch the kids for some friends so they could go enjoy a dinner and movie, so we had Shelton, Sophie and Hannah at our house for dinner; they ate chicken nugget dinosaurs, carrots, onion rings and chocolate milk. After that they jumped in the jumpy castle for a little while then we started to play structure games. We all colored this 20x15 coloring pages. Then we went downstairs and they played in the jumpy castle for a little bit when I started to have them line up and would throw them in one at a time. After my arms were tired we went upstairs and listened to party rock anthem about four or five times and all the kids danced, even little one year old Hannah. I started giving the kids tickets for dancing and for carnival games so they could later cash in for rides or do to something fun. So after the dancing we went downstairs and played hoolahoop toss onto the vacuum cleaner if they made one they get a ticket if they made three they got two tickets, that was fun for a little while, then we switched to bean bag toss where the kids had to toss the bag into the hoolahoops for each ticket. So now it was time for their next ride, the "wind tunnel" I had all the kids sit on the stairs and got my leaf blower when they came in I started blowing them while they ran around and I chased them with it, sounds lame, but I think it was actually biggest hit of the rides, except for Hannah she did not like the noise. Next it was on to bowling I set up the pins and they bowled them down winning tickets if they knocked them all down, we also did basketball shooting from where the hoolahoops were sitting and the last ride was R2D2 races, I put one kid in the R2D2 cooler and another one raced beside us from wall to wall in the basement, then the kid that raced rode in R2D2 and the next kid raced, sounded good, but I think the only one tired out was me, I have to work on those games to wear them out. After that we came upstairs started Cars 2 and ate popcorn, hotdogs and apples. I think the kids all had a good time, it was a nice day, one I hope they will remember.

A hard day

2011-10-17T23:11:00.001-06:00

Today was a hard day we had to put Jasmine dog down, she could no longer walk or make it outside. She was an incredible dog and we will all miss her. I didn't think it was going to be as difficult as it was, but we decided to tell the kids about it and Anthony's face was very sad and heart broken, Avabelle did'nt quite understand the concept at first, but after she put her drawing for Jasmine to put in the grave she started to really cry. It was a hard day as a parent to try to teach them about life and death and their first experience with it that they could start to comprehend.
I thoguht I was ready to deal with the loss of Jasmine, but it hit me much harder than I had anticipated. All of the memories and time we spent with her she was such a great dog. I will miss her being overprotective of the kids and how she would get so upset and bark and practically bite me when I she would think i was hurting hte kids when we were playing, even up to her last days she would still get up and hardly able to walk two or three steps she would bark and snap at me trying to protect the kids. It seems like only a few short years when we had brought her home from the farm. Rita and I had picked her up so many years ago she was just a pup and always was special to us from the day we picked her out of the litter. She had her moments like when I had made a hot dog went to the bathroom and came out and just that quick she had snapped up my hot dog and all of the dogs in the package nothing was left. I looked around for 10 minutes looking for my hot dog thinking I misplaced until I released she had eaten it.
She was such a loving dog, you could not pet her for more than 10 seconds without her putting her paw on you or trying to lick you. She was a very dominate dog I never met another dog that took the Alpha dog from her. When we first got her she hated water and had no interest in the ball, but after throwing her in the lake a few times and forcing the ball on her, she had become addicted you couldn't take her anywhere near the water and she would play ball until she could not walk. Even the last year or so she would continue to play until she would get so overexhausted she could't walk for the next few days.
I'll miss her extra eyes watching over the kids I always felt better having her around she had a great intuition and was truly a best friend. She always amazed me with her happiness and cheer and her intuition of knowing things were going to happen before they did. Like going for walks, grammers house, people coming over etc. I can still remember when we first had her my sister drove up from Texas to visit. We were asleep and it was late in the evening like one or two in the morning and she woke up and started sitting at the bedroom window whinning. She had never done this before, I tried to let her out, give her water and she wouldn't shut up I was getting very irritated it had been about 10 minutes and I was standing there next to her saying what are you whinning about when my sister pulled up and she stopped whinning.
One of my favorite pictures was Jasmine sitting next to Anthony for his first birthday invitation she really became such a great dog for the kids, I'm sorry they will not get to know her as well as we had.

Sleep well my good friend rooner dog.

Poop!

2011-09-19T21:15:00.000-06:00

Louis has been doing a great job for awhile potty training. The other morning we were all up and he took off his diaper went poop all by himself and brought us the potty toilet. It was pretty miraculous, of course then we tried to work with him to go and he kind of stopped showing interest. I guess it is Louis' way or no way.

My Sweet Baby Girl!

2011-09-19T21:11:00.001-06:00

So while I was out of town this last week my Avabelle was so cute, before I left she kept telling me how much she was going to miss me and Mom said she kept saying it everyday like 400 times a day. I sure love that little girl she is my sunshine. She crawls in bed with me in the morning and we'll sleep in, while Mom takes Anthony to drop off at Mrs. Tao's to carpool. Although the other day before I left she was not happy with me at all, I don't think Mom helped with that though. I cut Anthony's hair so Avabelle wanted me to cut her hair. Well of course I did. I cut about 1/2 inch off the bottom and the sides, then I layered the back of her hair. We'll when I was done it definitely looked a lot shorter then it was, but it really wasn't that much shorter it just curled a lot more. So Mom freaked out saying her hair was short then Avabelle's crying and saying Dad why did you do that. Finally Mom told her it wasn't that short and Avabelle relaxed a little, but she was still not happy with me. Although I must say it has been a decent hair cut for not cutting girls hair before. It has been about 10 days and the number of tangles in her hair are drastically reduced by 80-90%. I think it still looks cute it curls in the back a lot more and looks less messy. So good job Dad! Although I'm sure I'll never be able to cut her hair again.

Anthony's little girlfriend

2011-09-19T21:03:00.000-06:00

So after the first day of school Anthony told me that a girl asked him to be her boyfriend and he said no. So my great advice was, Son it is okay to have a little girlfriend and it is probably a good way to make friends. So the next day he said he has a girlfriend now. He said she asked all the other boys in the class and they said no, so she asked him again and he said "yes."
Mom says, "She sounds like a fast girl." I probably shouldn't write that incase they end up getting married someday. He does say he is going to marry her. Although Mom told me he was telling her the other day he was playing outside and Sophia was cheering for him and he told her, "Really do you have to do that?" Which is kind of funny because that sounds like something his Dad would have said.

Anthony's little girlfriend

2011-09-19T20:58:00.003-06:00

So Anthony is attending the STEM elementary Science Technology Engineering and Math. He is one of the oldest kids now unlike last year and it has definitely made a difference in his confidence and overall attitude toward school. Last year on the first day of school when Mom dropped him off he cried screaming tried to escape and ran into a brick wall. This year he barely even said goodbye to his Mom and just walked in the room to go sit down. Which was probably a good thing, because Mom was so emotional she had to turn and run out of the building crying and almost ran into a brick wall. :)

On the way home from the airport

2011-09-19T20:52:00.001-06:00

Rita and the kids came to pick me up from the airport one of my favorite things in the world is seeing the kids and Rita when I finally get back into town. I miss them so much while I am gone. After giving the kids hugs and kisses I started driving back and kids were asking what I brought them back. I usually always get them something small like a coloring book, stuffed animal, car, etc. I told them I brought back my dirty laundry. And Anthony said, "What the" and stopped then 2 seconds later as clear as clear can be Louie chimes in, "What the heck!" We all started laughing it was pretty cute.

That is Baby Louie

2011-09-19T20:48:00.000-06:00

We were sitting at the park today in the sand area by the swings and there was a little neighbor girl Katie that was sitting and playing in the sand. Katie is about 7 years old and her friend was there playing with her. We had Louie sitting in the swing and Avabelle was pushing him while we were watching. We overheard Katie talking to her friend, "That is baby Louie. He is a really cute baby, who bites really hard."

Louis the big boy

2011-09-12T22:05:00.002-06:00

Louis is such a big boy. Sunday morning Louis went to the potty all by himself. Without anyone saying anything he walked into the kids bathroom, took off his diaper and pooped! It was awesome. He is doing really well at attempting to potty.
He is so adorable, because when we ask him, "Who goes poop in the potty?" he will raise his little hand and say. "ME!!" He does that with a lot of questions you ask him.
Like, "Who spilled all the dog food on the floor?" Louis, "ME!!!"
Who put the DVD in the trash?" Louis "ME!!!"
He is so darn cute, he is just so unbelievably busy! My busy busy boy.

Wishes

2011-06-12T08:15:00.000-06:00

This morning Anthony told me that he knows where the all the cotton comes from (there are a lot of cotton trees in the neighborhood). So I asked him where do they come from and he said, "From all the people making wishes, just like when you blow a dandelion."

The other night it was bed time and Louis was running around still so I asked him if he was ready to go to sleep and he ran over to the couch and sat down. When I walked over to the couch he had the pillow covering his face and his legs were sticking out of the bottom of the pillow like he was hiding.

Partner

2011-05-08T23:03:00.000-06:00

Today was mother's day and we made cards for mom and bought her some hanging basket flowers. Mom went out shopping and I watched Avabelle and Anthony for awhile. Anthony got to play int he back patio with his four buckets of legos and Avabelle helped me fix the sprinkler pipe that busted this winter. I had to crawl in and out of the crawl space about 20 times and she kept on getting in and out with me, following me to the garage or to the crawl space to cut the pipe, torch the pipe, sweat the pipe, stick a piece of bread in the pipe, fix the old shut off, etc.. One time we were climbing out of the crawl space and she said, "Okay partner let's go get that out of the garage." I thought that was cute, we were a team working on the project. She was so cute it was very dark and we couldn't see in there I had my headlamp light on and she had a little flash light that I gave her. So would crawl in and sit behind me while I worked on the pipe. Anthony came in and joined us for awhile, but I think he got bored and went back out to play legos after about 10 minutes. It was cute though because Avabelle would give me a hug every once in awhile and I would turn around and see her little face light up so bright with the cutest little smile. I told her what we were doing on each step and she listned and asked questions.
Finally we finished and the pipe was sealed and the water turned on. She was excited and happy, but I said, "Well since we did such a good job should we sit here and take a little break?"
She excitedly answered "YES!" So we sat there in the dark crawl space with our flashlights and I pulled out a chocolate milk box and opened it. We shared our chocolate milk and she was so happy and just the cutest little helper. We drank our chocolate milk and she kept smiling and hugging me.
After we finished turning the water valve on in the crawl space I took outside to where the main problem started the pipe outside froze because the shut off valve inside the crawl space had a slow leak, so we went out side and looked at the leak where she sat there again and watched me fiddle up a drip system to keep the water away from the house until i get time to go to Home Depot for the back flow protection housing. I would say we spent a good 1-2 hours on that project and she stuck with me the entire time. It was awesome!
After I finished tinkering with the sprinkler I turned them on in the back yard for the kids to run around in them, 10 minutes getting swim suits, 5 minutes finding sandals, only to spend 5 minutes putting on regular shoes, because the sandals still hurt from the pine needs in the yard, 3 minutes to get the towels all for 35 seconds of running through the cold water! :) Well to be fair 35 seconds was actually probably running through it about 4 times.
Later tonight we went over to our friends Trish and Jerrod's they want to get rid of some rocks in their yard and replace it with nice retaining wall bricks, so we hauled wagons full of rock across the creek, yes across I made a bridge out of wood and we pulled it right over the creek. Anyway while we moved rock Jerrod was watching the kids and apparently he had given Anthony some awesome little Star Wars mini figures and cards and darth vader carrying case, star wars calender and I don't even know what else, a bunch of old star wars stuff from his child hood that he had saved, it was pretty cool Anthony was so happy and excited, he has been CRAZY over star wars lately. He only wants to watch star wars movies everyday, all day, any day. Or play star wars legos on the x-box. I actually made him a land speeder and an x-wing out of legos today and he loved those. Everything used to be cars, but cars are out and Star Wars is in. Anyway, when we had gotten home Rita asked if he would like to thank Jerrod and Anthony answered, "Yes, I really would." So Rita gave him the phone and let him dial the number. I heard him say, "Thank you Jerrod for the Stars Wars stuff, I really like it alot." Jerrod had said something I didn't hear and Anthony said again, "I really like it alot, alot, alot!" And I swear I could almost hear his voice choke up a little I think it was the most genuine thank you I have ever heard from a kid under 10 years old.
Well we got Anthony and Avabelle today, what about Louis? He got to go to the store with Mom today, he took a long nap, ate some Mother's day steak. Then was so helpful and cute when we were moving rocks, we would fill up the wagons and he would push behind as we pulled the wagons. It was pretty darn cute.
And to top of the night after moving rocks at about 8:00 we took the kids and Sophie to baskin robins for an ice cream.
I had a pretty great Mother's day, I don't know how great it was for poor mom, I'm sure she had better ideas than moving rocks for garden beds, but I did ask her three or four times if she was sure she wanted to do this on Mother's day. What a great mom she is.

Haven't posted in awhile.

2011-04-13T10:57:00.002-06:00

Well what is going on lately. Let's see, Louis is still crazy fast and into everything still. Last night he kept getting out of his bed and coming in to the living room and sitting next to me with a big smile. He sat there nicely for about 15 minutes which is a record for him to sit still that long. Anthony is doing well in school and is a great helper, he has been really good about helping me clean up the toy room and his room. He is a great little reader now too. Our latest book adventure has been a Lego Star Wars hardback comic book for kids, I think I've read it about 100 times now so I'm definitely getting my $10 worth. Somehow we went to the store to spend his $1.00 he earned and he somehow talked us into a 1000% markup darn kid, probably because he picked the book over a green light saber, although he was kind of kicking himself later after we read the book the first time, I think he is getting much more enjoyment out of the book though. Avabelle is my adorable little girl and very dramatic overly dramatic sometimes, but she is still my sunshine with her little smile and the way she says "Daddy!" She has really been asking to play pirate adventure again, so I'm thinking we'll do the all day pirate adventure again soon. Speaking of pirates, I walk out of my office into the kitchen and she had the sugar container tipped all the way back and her mouth open! Rita said, just like her dad. I don't know if I tipped the sugar back, I probably did, but I more remember just eating it by the spoonful or hiding it in the bottom of my cereal milk and dragging wet soggy spoonful of sugar after wet soggy spoonful of sugar. Yum!

Anthony and I have been playing Star Wars Lego on the Xbox and he is pretty smart little guy the way he figures things out sometimes. I was pretty opposed to playing video games, but now i'm starting to think it is better than having a thousand plastic toys everywhere that just end up in the trash so video games are hours and hours of entertainment and environmentally friendly! Avabelle I think may be a little gardener at heart she loves to play in the dirt and dig things up, maybe she will be the next Sepp Holzer! The other day I was cleaning up my office and Louis surprised me I have a hole punch machine for binding coil books and I have never used it, but I was standing there and he somehow knew what it was for, he grabbed some paper walked over put the paper on it and started pulling the handle. It was a little weird, how did he know how to use it? I can't remember ever using it so he didn't learn it from me. Speaking of weird the other night he walk up in the middle of the night screaming, I finally got up after two minutes, well probably five but we'll say two so I don't look so bad. I walked to his crib and felt around to sooth him and I felt his feet on the side of the playpen, then I felt down from his feet, down his legs, his back and then his head. He somehow had gotten stuck in a head stand position on the side of the playpen, his feet were not stuck I easily lifted them off the side of the crib and set them on the mattress, but he had somehow laid there with his head down and feet on the side I can't figure out how in the world that happened. Well that is all for now.

It is official Avabelle is growing up.

2011-03-12T07:45:00.001-07:00

So today Avabelle officially asked for a phone. I said, "I'm not going to buy you another phone you have like 16 of them downstairs."
Which she casually replied "Not a kid phone, I want a real phone like Mom's but purple."
I said, "Who are you going to call, none of your friends have phones."
"Well we will get them all one too." as she said smiling.
I guess my excuse of your friends don't have one probably realistically will only work a couple more years. I am not looking forward to this dilemma.

Star Wars

2011-02-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

So we have officially watched all the Star Wars movies with Anthony and Avabelle. Both of them seemed to really enjoy the movies and like to role play star wars and jedi fights, etc. It was pretty funny we were watching Star Wars IV A New Hope and after Luke destroys the death star and there is the big celebration ceremony Luke and Han Solo get the medallions of honor. I asked Anthony what he thought about that and he said, 'Dad how come chewbacca didn't get a medal. He is just standing there like huh? I guess I'll just stand here and not get a medal." Haha I started laughing because he was so serious and yet made a little joke, it really bothered him how poor Chewbacca didn't get a medal. He then pretends to be speaking with Chewbacca again, "Gee I guess I'll just stand here since you are afraid to get hair on your dress or something." I thought that was great.

Tonight

2011-02-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

So for the last few days the whole family has been under the weather except for me and Rita was especially hit hard with some kind of stomach bug today. So after work I played Brikwars with Anthony basically a version of Lego warhammer I guess. But later we finished playing gave the kids a shower and we all got ready for bed. Tonight instead of taking Louis into his room to read his books and then put him down and then come back in our room and read books to Ava and Anthony I read books to all of them at once in our room. Of course I assumed Louis was going to wiggle around and want down and then I would have to put him to bed, but he didn't he sat in my lap and looked at the book as I read them and we read a level 2 reader book which is pretty tough for a little guy to not get bored reading. We then read Flora's (Louis's) blanket and then an alphabet book for Louis. I then put Anthony and Avabelle down and took Louis out, he took a long name today so I let him stay up with me while I washed the dishes, but then I started to feel so bad for the little guy because he just kept looking at the door to our room. I asked him to help and he went and cleaned the bowl and cup off the table so i could put them in the dishwasher, and he went to the door to try and let Jasmine in, but he couldn't reach. So finally I started turning of the lights and we went into Mom and Dad's room. I figured okay, I'll lay him in our bed and when he gets up I'll do the how sad and lay him in his crib, but he didn't wiggle too much, he even sat up to look at his book with a pillow proped behind him. Avabelle started goofing off and Louis had to go check it out, so I couldn't really kick him out of the room for that. So I grabbed a few pillows and made a bed on the floor for Louis thinking all that freedom he would not be able to handle, but he laid down smiled a little put the blankets on him and he stayed on the little pillow bed. Anthony and Avabelle were being very noisy and I thought he had fallen asleep so I turned on the light and he sat up with squinted eyes and looked at me like why would you turn on the light. I turned the light back off and Anthony discovered he had a loose tooth. At first he sounded a little excited, but then this insane panic came over him and he started screaming and crying and would not stop. He said he didn't want to have to wait awhile for his tooth to come back in. I tried to explain everyone in the world loses their baby teeth and the new ones replace the old ones, but he was freaking out for a good 5 minutes crying about losing a tooth. After he finally calmed down all was quit and all of my family was asleep. I sit here thinking what in the world did I start letting Louis sleep in our room as well, but I feel so bad for him since Ava and Anthony are and he is so darn smart I know he knows, he knows everything. We'll see how it goes, I'll let him stay in here as long as he is good and doesn't try to stay up and get into things, so far so good.

Hanging out

2011-01-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a fun day of hanging out watching movies, star wars lego on the xbox and playing board games. I'm so proud of my little Anthony he is such a good reader, we played Apples to Apples Kids for 7+ and he reads a good 80% of the cards. They are all such great kids I love them so much, I already think of how much I'm going to miss their little bodies running around or walking down the hall or running off in excitment to do something silly like brush their teeth.

Boogers

2011-01-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

So I was just sitting here in the living room and Avabelle just ran by to use the restroom, when she should be asleep, but I'm happy she is using the toilet to go potty. Why she has to use the one in the pirate bathroom when there are two bathroom much closer I'm not sure. Anyway, she finishes going to the restroom and as she is walking back, I'm not sure if she is talking to me or to herself exactly, she says, "I'm not going to eat my boogers anymore ... I'm going to throw them on the floor."

Great Whistler

2011-01-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Little Louie whistles while he works. He cracks me up, he walks around and whisltes, just randomly starts whistling. Yes whistles at first I wasn't sure if he was really whistling I would say for the last month, because it was so faint, now I can really tell when he whistles. He cracks me up that kid. When it is bed time I'll say let's go brush our teeth and he will drop whatever he is doing and run to the bathroom to brush his teeth even though he makes faces as though it is torture to brush his teeth.

My Little Picaso!

2010-11-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

When I saw this picture I was so elated and proud of my little Anthony! He is such a great little artist, he loves to color and draw and he is getting so good at it, I know for a fact I couldn't color anything like this until I was probably 7 or 8 maybe even older. This little thing is cool!

My Little Antonio Picaso!

My Kids

2010-11-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Last night Rita took the Anthony and Avabelle to play at some play gym thing. Which meant she left me with crazy boy Lou! We had such a great time, he is such a happy little guy, smiling and laughing all the time. When we play high five and I say too slow or if he hits my hand when I try to pull it away he laughs and smiles so cutely. We went downstairs and started playing kitchen and I was just amazed at how well he played, I pretended to fill up my little cup from the play faucet and drink water and then he grabbed the cup and made the same drinking noises. I would then ask him to get me some more water please and he would grab the cup and fill it up with pretend water. Or if the cup fell on the floor and we couldn't find it he would hold his arms up and shrug his shoulders looking around, but if I say it is behind you, he turns around and grabs it. We made hot dogs and tomatos and he was putting stuff in the little microwave and pushing the button, he knew to put stuff in the stove.
Then the other two crazy kids came home and we all played in the kitchen Anthony was chef and Louis was his assistant, Avabelle and I and some stuffed duck were the patrons. I was pretending to talk through the duck and wave the little hands around and Avabelle was so cute, because she thought that was the greatest thing, her little face was beaming and laughing. And she would tell me Dad you are so funny, or you are crazy or I love you dad!
Anthony is such a good responsible big brother he takes care of his little sister and brother, like when they were both crammed into the kitchen and he was daintily walking around his little brother and helping him cook and playing so well with them. I forget sometimes he is only five years old, because he is so mature and bright he is the best big brother a kid could ask for.
After playing for awhile, I went into my office to shut off my computer and get ready to start getting ready for bed, the 1 or 2 hour nightly event at our house! So I came in my office starting shutting all the programs down and hit the power button when in walks Louis with a little bowl and fork, he stood at the door for a minute looked at me then walked up and handed me the bowl and fork then pointed to the door with a concerned little look. I had to laugh, because he was so darn cute. I walked out there sat down and he started clapping and sat next to me. :)

At least post some pictures

2010-11-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

I figured since I've been really bad about posting lately I better at least put some cute pictures of Louis in his cowboy hat.

The little guy

2010-11-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

I have just been so mesmerized by the little Louis the last few weeks. He amazes me everyday. A few weeks ago we were doing laundry, I went downstairs to get something came back up and he was on top of the tall kitchen table standing up throwing socks off. The tall kitchen table is probably 4' high. He has always been pretty good at stairs, but now he just flies down them, faster than I can walk down. When you ask him to get a diaper and wipes he runs, not walks runs to the drawer and brings them to me, well sometimes he stops and plays a little game of you can't catch me with the diaper and wipes. When people are leaving he will blow kisses and follow them to the door and then wave out the little glass window. He catches and kicks the ball when you ask him too. He laughs and giggles at when I play high five and your too slow. He dances with his sister and brother or when he hears music. He amazes me at all the things he comprehends. It just amazes me how they are all so special and amazing in their own ways.

The Princess Bride

2010-09-18T22:34:00.000-06:00

Today we worked on the house a little, went to soccer and T-ball and also had a birthday party for a kid in Anthony's class room. It was pretty cute, his good little friend Brayden was there, Brayden sits next to Anthony in class. When Brayden showed up Anthony ran over and gave him hugs and was so excited to see him, it was cute, but then I was thinking maybe my son needs more friends because he seems to get too attached to them. Maybe it is better to have a few really good friends than lots of shallow friends? So maybe he is on the right path after all. Anyway the kids had fun at the party and siblings were invited. It was a super hero party, Anthony and Avabelle wore their superman shirts, I wore Captain America and Mom and Louie were Super Mom and Super Louie (we couldn't find a shirt for Louie and Mom wouldn't wear my Mighty Mouse shirt.) Towards the end of the party the kids were playing in a little jumpy castle and Anthony bopped his nose pretty hard, he was hurting for awhile. We left there came home and Anthony put his boo boo pillow on his nose and fell asleep, poor guy. Avabelle, Louis and I went to the store to get some milk, organic milk from Costco, but they were closed so we had to drive to King Soopers. On the way to King Soopers Avabelle asked me, "Dad, are you tired?" I told her not really, but asked if she was and she said no. About one and a half blocks later I heard snoring in the backseat!

When we got home we ate some tacos, Anthony was still asleep, so I brought some trim into the living room and sanded it down while we watched The Princess Bride. Avabelle was pretty into it right away she was very focused on the movie. There was a couple of parts that really scared her, when the eels were going to eat the princess and when the big rat bit "the man in black" She would cringe and get scared and her entire body would tense up, but she wanted to keep watching and wouldn't look away. In one part she was cracking herself up; when the man in black turned out to be the princess long lost love and they rolled around on the ground kissing, she started laughing and said, "Boys don't wear that" It was some kind of frilly black pirate shirt, it definitely looked girly. She is so cute. Mom eventually fell asleep and Avabelle continued to sit up and watch the entire movie, it didn't end until about 9:50. The last 10-15 minutes or so she sat straight up leaning forward, then the credits came on and she layed down and was asleep in 20 seconds flat.

Louis go go

2010-09-07T20:56:00.000-06:00

Louis is so amazing to us both. With all of the little things he does, like getting shoes when it is time to go. Climbing up and down stairs and tables, slides. The way he interacts with the other kids and is so aware of his surroundings and everything going on. You cannot easily trick him with hiding something he wants or trying the old switch-a-roo by giving him something else. He really comprehends a lot of verbal words, like when at the park some girls said bye and he opens and closes his hands. Or how he climbs all the way up the playground and slides down, or how he gets in line with the other kids going down the slide. How he loves to push the other kids on the slide with a huge smile on his face. Or when the kids run around the playground and he starts running after them. He is very interactive with others it really amazes me. Or when I have to change Avabelle's diaper he'll go get one of her diapers. He does so many little things that seem like they are beyond a typical 12 month old baby. I was sitting on the deck with him eating cashews and drinking a drink. When he wanted more cashews or when he was going to take a drink, I could tell him to finish what is in his mouth or put them on the table so he can take a drink and he instantly understood. Or when he was sitting on my lap I asked for a hug and he puts his arms around me and leans his head against me, or when he was walking on the sidewalk and he was moving really quick I thought he was going to fall, I told him to slow down and he instantly started walking slower.

Anthony's Tacos

2010-08-17T07:10:00.000-06:00

Last night Anthony was cute. He had me outside playing baseball at first we were just playing catch. He is getting better at adjusting his glove to the correct position for catching when the ball is coming in various directions. He really liked the high balls, but my arm was getting tired so he said, "If I catch three in a row then you can throw the high balls." So we played for awhile and he would catch three and I would throw a few high balls then we would go back to regular catch after about 40 minutes of catch he wanted to hit. So I grabbed a couple of handfuls of dog food and surprisingly enough he was hitting the dog food occasionally maybe 10-15% of the time. After we ran out of dog food he started hitting the ball, but we were playing three strikes your out and three outs and the game is over. So he had to get 7 hits before he got 3 outs. The first couple of times he got 2 or 3 hits and then he would get three outs. He was so into it, it was really cute. He would tell me let's pretend all the people in the crowds over here and there are saying, "Rockies Tacos! Rockies Tacos!" We played one last inning he had 4 hits, 2 outs and (2 outs that I didn't count. :), He scored two more hits, and then the final hit was a great hit onto the roof. He dropped his bat and started running around the yard like they were bases.

Louis the walker

2010-08-09T13:04:00.000-06:00

So about 10 days ago or so Louis has been taking off walking non stop. I know he has been taking steps for months, but he has really started walking now. Now he walks about 80% or more of the time.

Rockies vs Cubs

2010-07-31T21:37:00.001-06:00

So the Cubs were in town, and we just had to take Anthony to the game since the Cubs had become his favorite team. He is pretty cute he enjoys watching the games on TV with Grandmother. He really likes it when the bases are loaded.

So we started out trying to get some rockpile tickets, but soon found out that the Cubs are one of the most popular teams the Rockies play against and the tickets quickly sold out online. We drove down on the day of the game and the line was around the corner. So we had to get some other tickets and they turned out to be pretty good tickets. We were about 15 rows up from the right fielder along the first base line. The kids were pretty cute, Anthony wore his Cubs hat and Cubs shirt and Avabelle wore her brother's Rockies shirt and Papo's Rockies Hat. We took Papo with us and had Grandpa Rudy drive us to the game to drop us off. The kids were so excited to go, we left poor little Louis with Grandmother and Michael since it was a 7:10 game and we didn't think he would make it through the whole game.

When we walked down to our seats is when I was pleasantly surprised at how good our seats are and thought we had a good chance to catch a foul ball. We sat down and the started watching the game, the kids were a little too short to see the field with the people sitting in front of us, but we sat them in the seats they could peak through. Within about five minutes Anthony saw a vendor selling snow cones and wanted one. I told him he could get one thing from the vendors and I told him to wait a little to see which item he wanted to buy, before just buying the first thing he saw which was snocones. He smiled excitedly that he was going to get something, but soon started to pout when the vendor walked away. He was very upset that he didn't get a sno cone, but I tried to tell him that there were other things I think he would have liked better if he just waited to see what was available. I pointed out cotton candy, ice cream dots, peanuts, pretzels, iceee pops. But he didn't care he only wanted the sno cone, so after about 2 innings of pouting the sno cone guy came by and we bought a couple of sno cones for the kids. He frown turned around and they started eating their little balls of colored ice. That kept them both busy for about three more innings. Avabelle was a huge mess and had sno cone everywhere, the people in front of us laughed at her and gave her some napkins.

The kids watched the game for about 10 minutes and it was the 7th inning, we had taken pictures, looked through the binoculars, went to the bathroom, danced in the aisles. The kids were pretty much ready to go then the Rockies had their crazy 2 out hitting fest. They scored 12 runs in the 8th inning, poor Anthony was not happy his Cubs were slaughtered, but by the end of the game he decided he likes two teams. The Rockies and the Cubs. I was proud of him for not switching teams and sticking with his Cubs still. We did have a pretty close shot at a foul ball, it was one row in front of us and two seats to the right. Even though he pays a lot more attention at home, the kids still had a great time and so did we. It will be a lot of fun to take them again, I think I may have to set up a jar and put some change in it to save some money to take them again.

My teenager?

2010-07-25T10:48:00.000-06:00

So Anthony and Louis just had their birthday. I can't believe how fast they are growing up, Anthony is now 5 and Louis is the big 1. Mom took them out for garage sale shopping while I worked. She found a 20 gallon tote of Star Wars and Indiana Jones Legos for $40 for their birthday, even though we already gave them their presents weeks ago. We bought Louis some little pull train cars and Anthony got a RC car. Anyway, after I got off of work we took them to Dinner at Chili's and had all of our favorites desert the Molten Chocolate. We then took them to Boondocks where Anthony was finally big enough to ride as a passanger in the fast go-karts. I still had to drive, but I think he really had a great time riding and racing the other go-karts, after that we let him drive his on go-kart on the little kids slow-karts, they really were slow. I think his little Jeep probably goes twice as fast, but they still had fun racing against each other and Sophie.

So now that Anthony is 5 years old he has been sleeping in like a teenager. Since his birthday every morning he hasn't been waking up until 9-9:30.

Mountain Climber

2010-07-21T09:44:00.001-06:00

So it looks like we may have a little mountain climber in our midst. That little Louis is amazing at climbing. He climbs up onto the couch, chairs, up the back of the couch, window sills, and he doesn't stop there. He will climb up to a chair, to an table to a window sill to a counter. You will go to the restroom and he is up on a 4' high table with some toy in his hand smiling! This kid is amazing, even last night Mom was holding him and he was sitting there blowing bubbles with his spit. I know a almost 1 year old blowing bubbles with spit is only amazing to a goofy Dad, but this kid really is impressive, it is interesting how all of them impress me in different ways.

Tricked you

2010-07-16T21:42:00.000-06:00

So today Rita was trying to get a copy of my social security card and it was in a fireproof lock box that we had downstairs, but the key was gone. She brought it up and asked me where the key was and I told her I didn't know then she left the box in my office. A few hours later Avabelle came in and asked me what the box was and I asked her if she knew where the key was, she looked at me and beamed with a big yes, it is in the box! I said, great can you show Dad what box you are talking about? She took me downstairs and walked right up to the box we had the lock box stored in and pointed it fell down there and she pointed in the box. So I started emptying everything out of the box onto the floor and looked around the bottom of the box, but couldn't find a key. I looked at her and said, I can't find it Avabelle. She walked up to the box and peered inside a moment then looked up at me with a big smile, "I tricked ya Dad!"

Father's Day

2010-06-21T13:03:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Father's day and it was a nice day with the kids. It started off by the kids somehow miraculously knowing it was Father's day and nobody woke up until about 9:00. That is the latest I have slept in for the last five years, so that was amazing. Then the kids woke me up and gave me my Father's day present a #1 Dad hat and #1 Dad shirt, after Ava told me Happy Father's Day she asked where was my cake? We all ventured out to the kitchen and ate some cereal with fruit and read the paper for a little while. We then got ready and went to Chatfield reservoir. I didn't think Lou was going to like it at all, but I was wrong. He had a great time, he sat in the red wagon eating chips for a good half an hour watching everything. The kids went swimming, kind of. Avabelle jumped all the way in, Anthony didn't venture out as far because the water was really cold. I agreed more with Anthony and barely got in past my knees. They played in the sand building mud castles and wrestling with their cousin Vinny. It was a good day and reminds me how happy I am to be a Father. When it was bedtime I laid down to read them a story and it was kind of late, so Anthony said, "Here Dad, I picked a small book so you don't have to read a long one and can go to sleep."

Bike Freedom!

2010-06-17T08:52:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we took the kids to the elementary down the street. We played baseball or T-ball for about 10 minutes, and it was too hot to play on the field so we played in the shade, but I don't think that was beneficial for the kids to learn how to run the bases. Anthony enjoyed it and he hits pretty well, all though he tries to crush it sometimes and misses the ball. Avabelle seems to get distracted a bit and was far more interested in drinking out of the water bottle. After awhile, we took the Papo home and Mom brought down the kids bikes so they could ride around the race track. It was pretty cute we showed Anthony where he could ride and he was off. He rode around this big track probably six or seven times. Avabelle was struggling at first she would get about 1/3 of the way around and towards one side the hill was a little steep; so she would turn around and come back, but she never quit trying. In face she did that about four times and then finally she just kept going slowly she pedaled harder and harder until she finally reached the top of the back side and then started coming down. However, I think she gets nervous about going down hill so she jumped off the bike and ran with it down the hill for part of the way. It was so cute, they really loved having the freedom to ride their bikes around the track. They would do a lap come back and get some water and oranges. If we could just get a little baby bike for Lou that he could actually ride we would be set. It is amazing how fast Anthony has picked up on riding his bike, he has gotten so good in just the last week riding on two wheels. Although as we were leaving he did learn that turning on sand can be tricky as he took a tough little slide across the school playground because his tires slipped out from the sand, but he did get back on his back.

Rainy Day

2010-06-14T10:12:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we went on a little shopping spree, I don't know how it happened or why, but somehow we went shopping with all three kids. I think it all started with some T-shirts on sale for me and then everyone had to get something if Dad was buying something for himself. Anyway we went to Dick's sporting goods for some Cleats and soccer shorts for the kids, since they are both playing soccer today on the same team. I wish I could see it, but I'm at work. Anyway we went to use the restrooms and it was too late for Avabelle so we had to run out to the car to get a diaper. Mom and the boys stayed inside shopping and I took Avabelle out to change her diaper, when we got the door it was pouring rain outside, so we zipped up her coat and put on her hood then started running through the rain holding hands. When I looked down at her, she looked so cute with her eyes wide open and a big smile on her face it melted my heart. She is such a happy joyful little girl. After I changed her we ran back inside, but not before she made me roll her pants up so they don't get wet in the puddles. All the way running back inside again she had the biggest smile on her face.

Big Lou's first steps!

2010-06-10T07:33:00.000-06:00

The other day June 3rd Louis was standing by a chair and I held out my arms. He turned towards me and with that big happy smile of his raised his hands in the air. I was trying to coax him into walking towards me for a few times and finally who did, one, two then I caught him in my arms. I don't know if it was really two steps or if he was just falling forward, but it was a good attempt either way.

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-02T00:23:00.001-06:00

Snack time

This Memorial day weekend was an adventure packed weekend full of nothing but doing stuff with the kids. We started off the weekend by taking a drive up to Grandpa's cabin. We took Mel and Erma with us. Poor Papo had to ride in the back of the SUV with Rita while Grandmother rode next to me as I drove. When we arrived at the cabin we hung out a little and then took the kids fishing. They were so excited to go before we left they hoped in the car probably 30 minutes before we even had everything ready to go. We drove to the lakes and me and the kids rode with Grandpa without any seat belts, both of the kids couldn't stop smiling riding in the backseat of his cab in the old ford truck. Even Lou was having a great time. I let him stand up on the seat and look out the windows, he would get a little wobbly but would just laugh.

When we made it to the lake we all got out and did a little fishing. I fixed the line on Anthony and Avabelle's fishing poles, Avabelle was done fishing in about 3 seconds. Anthony enjoyed it but wanted to keep casting his line out. He kept casting about 30-40 feet, but about 80% of the time it kept going side ways about 2 feet in from the shore. :) However, he did get some good casts nice and straight, but he didn't want to wait for the fish to jump on his hook, he just wanted to real and cast. After an hour or two we didn't catch any fish and there were no bites, so we packed up and took the kids to the playground. They played for awhile and Louis just went crazy for the merry-go-round. He was kicking his legs and clapping to get on it when Mom would stop riding with him.

Lou saying get me out of this thing.

We then went back to the cabin ate some dinner and packed up to come back home. On the way home Louis literally cried 95% of the drive back. I think he wanted to go on the merry-go-round again.

The next day we woke up early and headed out to breakfast with Dennis who was in town for the weekend. We ate at the armadillo the kids loved the pancakes, french toast and plates of fruit. They especially loved the chocolate fountain. After breakfast we took them to the park for awhile, Louis crawled around and ate sticks, dirt, and mulch so I think he had a good time.

Anthony staying out of the sun.

Cute picture Mom!

After that we headed over to Leonardo or Uncle Ardo as Avabelle would say and Jennifer's house for some yummy lunch. They had a few friends over for a barbecue so we took the kids to the park and Aunt Jennifer came with us, which was great because that meant we all got a kid. They played for awhile and then we let them run through the water spouts. It took them awhile, but the finally got themselves drenched. We then came back and gave them a bath in Jenn and Leonardo's big bathtub. It was pretty cute all three kids fit in the tub.

After that we headed over to Sophie's house for a long evening of tornado style play, they tore the entire house apart with toys everywhere. We didn't leave their house until sometime after 11:00, the kids didn't want to leave, but they were all out within a few minutes of the drive home.

Ava watching Papo fish.

Louis hanging around.

Dad and Anthony

The next morning I thought was going to be my day of rest, so we came down and started watching Star Wars episode I with all the kids, and then Mom decided we were going to go to the zoo. So I packed some Tuna sandwiches and we headed out to the Zoo to meet Ericka and Damion and their Son's Wyatt and Cash. Wyatt is such a great little friend for Anthony he is so well behaved Ericka and Damion are doing something right with that little guy. After Wyatt gave our kids a tour of the zoo teaching them what animals are where and what their names are, we went to all the attractions they had voted for. After a few hours we stopped and ate my Tuna sandwiches, well I guess I ate my tuna sandwiches, me and Anthony nobody else likes tuna I guess. Damion also bought his kids some food, but Anthony ate most of that too. He must have been a hungry boy. After lunch Ericka told me how she asked Anthony a question while he was eating and she said he looked at her and held up one figure for her to hold on, and then after he was all done chewing looked at her very seriously and said, "Sorry, now what was your question again?" Ha ha he is such a great little guy, even when he was eating their kids lunch he always looked at me and asked if it was okay for him to have some and then would say thank you to them. We then slowly made our way out of the zoo and headed home, but then remembered we had to help Grammer with some stuff at her house, so we headed over there the kids took a nap and played with Grammer's toys.

Dad and Lou

We then came back had a barbecue with Grandmother and Papo and relaxed for about an hour before having to go back to work.

Rita throwing the ball two times till it goes in the lake.

Gramps and Avabelle fishing.

Overall I was very happy with the kids, they behaved really well usually when we do a constant barrage of activities they really start to get demanding, but they weren't too bad. Anthony did tell me that I had to read them books before bed in a very challenging tone of voice, so we did have to get ready for bed sit up the pillows get our books and then say the how sad, Dad doesn't have to read books song, which was hard, I hate to not read the books, but don't want them to think they can demand us to jump for them, well at least not all of the time.

Here is a picture of Anthony's car that he said he wants! Like father like son. I asked him because it is like the car in Transformers? And he said, "No, because it is a race car!" I have always been partial to the 70 Camaro/Trans Am model.

Happy Birthday Avabelle

2010-05-10T22:48:00.000-06:00

Today was Avabelle's birthday and she is just the most adorable little thing. She is truly everything and more I could have ever imagined and wished for in a daughter. Her personality is so adorable. On Mother's day she was so cute, she kept saying Happy Mother's day over and over I would say once every hour. So Rita and I decided on her birthday we were going to do that to her since she loved to say it so much. When her birthday came around her mom put up a couple little decorations which she walked right past without seeing them. She stood in the kitchen smiling at me and I told her Happy Birthday Avabelle and she got so happy with the biggest smile. She said, "I love you Dad!" I then took her back to the room and showed her the decorations that mom had setup for her, she was so happy with those too. She would smile so wide her little eyes would close. She asked for muffins for breakfast, but mom couldn't remember the recipe. We gave her some oatmeal and her present that she had picked out a few days ago, a little Barbie purse with a blackberry style phone and keys. She then went to school and we kept telling her Happy Birthday every 30 minutes. She would smile and say thank you in the cutest little voice. When she got back from school she asked me to make her a vanilla steamer, which of course I did for her birthday, and they played outside. We then went for a walk and she rode her bike with Anthony she rode for a couple of blocks, but then she fell off scrapped her chin, because Dad was not doing a very good job paying attention. After that she didn't want to ride the bike so Dad carried it over his shoulder the rest of the walk and all the way back. When we got back to the house we took her for a surprise at Chili's where we ate a molten chocolate cake for her birthday. I had an errand to run so I took the kids with me and by the time we were home mom had made her the applesauce muffins she wanted for breakfast.

Music truck

2010-05-02T21:54:00.000-06:00

The other day I was sitting inside and the kids were riding their bikes outside. I was watching them through the window when I saw an ice cream truck driving up, I thought about getting them an ice cream, but decided not to buy a $4.50 popcicle. As the truck was driving down the hill I stepped outside to sit on the step and watch the kids ride their bike and Anthony looked over at me and said, "Dad we just saw the music truck!" Haha, poor kids don't even know what the ice cream truck is.

That reminds me of just last week we were looking for some place to eat for lunch, we were out and about and the kids were getting hungry, as we drove down the street saying different options. Anthony said, "How about we eat at M's" Rita and I both started laughing, what five year old doesn't know McDonalds. I am proud that he doesn't know it. Not that he has never eaten there, because he has I would say about 5 times we have eaten there.

Tonight I was reading them a book about Dora and the little wishing star, well in the middle of the book it asks and what would you wish for? So I wait for them both to give their answers, tonight Avabelle wished for flowers to give to her friends at ther birthday party and Anthony wished for 59 blankets to sleep with. He loves to pile under as many blankets as I will let him. Some nights he will have a sleeping bag, a comforter, his cars blanket, another blue blanket. I'll look over at him some nights and he'll be sweating, but if you don't give him at least three blankets he gets very sad, so I thought his wish for 59 blankets was pretty funny, because I think that would really be his one wish.

The Big Crush

2010-04-29T23:10:00.000-06:00

So I usually ask Anthony what he did at school and who he played with. When he first started school he always talked about his friend Kyan and Jordyn. Well eventually he started talking less about Kyan and more about Jordyn. Apparently Kyan started hanging around another kid who was not very nice, named Sam. Anthony did not seem to get along with Sam and so he stopped playing with Kyan. But he always played with Jordyn, who is a girl. I always felt like he had a little crush on her, but I didn't want to come out and ask him so I just tried to get him to talk about her and he never told me much other than they played outside or played at the same center.
Well, this last weekend we were in the back room playing Lego's when Avabelle walked into the room and Anthony dropped what he was playing with and just looked at his sister. Then he said, "Wow, Avabelle you look really pretty." and then he said, "You look like Jordyn." and he had this little shy grin.
Chuckling I asked him, "So, you think Jordyn is pretty?"
He replied "Yeah!" then he shrugged his head down into his shoulders getting even more shy.
Next we received Anthony's class picture and low and behold he is sitting next to Jordyn in the picture. He was excited to see the picture and just looked at it, grinning saying, "There is Jordyn."

There was no doubt he had a serious little crush on Jordyn, I was trying to get out of him if she felt the same way about him, or if he just followed her around like a little puppy, but his lips were sealed he wasn't telling me anything to help me figure it out, other than she was really nice. Well, Rita had to go to parent teacher conference and she mentioned how Anthony seemed to have a crush on Jordyn and his teachers said that he definitely has a crush on her. Everyday he watches her and when it is play time he waits for her to pick what center she is going to go play at then he picks. Then the she said, that Jordyn appeared to be clueless as to how Anthony felt about her, but she also said, Anthony has excellent taste in girls, because Jordyn is very bright and a very sweet and nice girl and they play well together.

Then today Anthony had his first field trip and Mom was able to tag along with the class, so this was a great opportunity to see him interacting with the other kids. She said, he was a good kid and appeared to get along well with the other kids. She said she also noticed one time when the kids were all sitting down in a circle, she noticed Jordyn went out of her way to make sure she sat by Anthony and then later when it was snack time Anthony was going to sit in a seat, but saw an open seat next to her and walked all the way around to sit next to her. :) How cute!

My almost five year old son inspiring me to take pictures!

2010-04-20T15:24:00.002-06:00

Today I downloaded my photos from my little camera and someone had gotten a hold of it while I didn't know. I thought these pictures were pretty funny though, I love to see pictures through Anthony's eyes. He takes the most interesting pictures, when I see them it makes me want to take photos. My favorite photo is the last one, yes that is a close up of ran over dog poo!

Yes that is Dog POO!

Avamule!

2010-04-20T07:57:00.000-06:00

About two days ago Avabelle was playing with this large matching puzzle game with 100 pieces, well when she was done she didn't clean it up and left it on the floor. When I came across the mess I told her she needed to clean it up, of course she pouted and cried. So I told her okay you have to stay in this room until it is clean and left her in there. When I came back about 10 minutes later she was still playing around, I checked on her again later and still playing around in the room. After about an hour of sitting in the room not picking up the puzzle I went and checked on her she was asleep. When she woke up we had to leave somewhere so she got off the hook for now.

When we came back I tried to have her clean it for about 30 minutes, but then Louis had to go to sleep so she had to leave the room because that is where the playpen was. The next day basically the same thing, she spent a good three hours in that room throughout the whole day and would not pick up the puzzle. She would cry and whine that she couldn't do it. And for some reason I would have to let her out of the room, like lunch, dinner, Louis taking a nap. But as soon as I would remember I could put her in there I would this went on all day.

Monday rolled around and I had to go to work and she had to go to school so she was free for awhile. When I was off of work I started playing Lego's with Anthony and she was having fun, then I remembered she had to clean up the matching game so off she went! By now she somehow managed to pick up about seven pieces in the box from two days work so at this rate she might have it picked up by her birthday. I would check on her and she would be goofing off, messing up the bed, playing with stuff in the closet, by now the room is just a disaster including the puzzle, when this started the room was clean except for the puzzle.

It was about an hour later we ate dinner and I marched her right back into the room to see how much she finished, nothing not another one added, so I told her okay as soon as she is done she can come out. Then I had to take Anthony to karate, but Mom stayed home so she couldn't get out this time! She cried and ran to the door and it was so sad watching us leave I felt sorry for her. She was saying, I should have started earlier, I should have started earlier. Of course an hour later when I got back with Louis and Anthony there she was in the room, Mom had time to clean the whole house, but Avabelle was still sitting with her puzzle pieces everywhere. I had a craving for some ice cream so I told Anthony to put on his shoes I was going to take him to the store and Avabelle said she wanted to go so I went and looked in the room and said, "Not yet, almost, keep cleaning".

So she actually started to pick them up all while crying and balling like she was in pain, the best part was as she picked up each piece she kept saying, "Owww, Ouch, Owww". It was so painful for her to have to clean up her own mess. After she cleaned her puzzle pieces I told her good job and took my one small victory and helped her make the bed and pick up everything else she had gotten out and played with over the last couple of days.

Busy day

2010-04-17T23:28:00.000-06:00

Today was quite a day. We started with oatmeal and Anthony had to make sure he pointed out that Dad didn't add any sugar to the oatmeal, never mind the fact that when Dad makes oatmeal he doesn't add sugar, but he cuts up a banana and adds a handful of raisins in each bowl, but that doesn't matter because it doesn't have sugar. Fortunately the kids ate it anyway, but they like to make sure to let me know that they know there was no sugar added. We then straightened up Grammer's house a little bit and headed out the door.

Our first stop of the day was Avabelle's dance class, we arrived just in time where Avabelle had her dance lesson. We then went to costco to pick up some photos, soy milk, and diapers. And then we went to Anthony's karate class, but the class was cancelled, (thanks for letting us know Ms. Lorenz) Anthony was a little disappointed for about a whole two seconds, and then he said, "Does this mean we can go to Isaiah's birthday party now?" We headed back to grammer's house changed clothes and went to Grammer's art show at the Adams County Fairgrounds, she got stuck in a bad corner, Grammer has been doing some extra work trying to help out Papa's brother who is an artist with Asperger's. It was cute Grammer was excited to show us a horse that they had for sale there, Rita said she was like a little kid talking about the horse. She was cute, she really wanted to buy this horse and put her on her property. I hope we can find her enough land to have her dream of owning her own horse.

After stopping by Grammer's we went to Isaiah's birthday party where Anthony and Avabelle played with a few of the kids, but it was raining and they all had to stay inside the house. Their cousin Dunnie kept sticking his fingers in the cake and Anthony would ask me how come he keeps sticking his fingers in the cake, I didn't have a good answer, but Anthony minded himself and still didn't stick his fingers in the frosting. Even after a couple other kids joined. He is such a good kid.

After the cake we headed over to Rianne's birthday who was just turning one. Anthony cracked me up, because he hopped out of the car walked right up to the house went inside and started to take off his shoes while we were all still unpacking everything from the car. The kids had much more fun there, because they could play outside. We played games, ate hotdog octopus' and ate more cake. The kids didn't want to leave, but eventually we did. Avabelle was cute as ever going around giving everyone hugs before we left.

On the way home Anthony was talking about when he gets big he is going to move in a new house. I wasn't sure what he meant by this, but Mom caught on. Yeah when you get big you'll have your own house she told him, and then he said, "Yeah, and sister and Louie Lou will live with me!" I thought that was so cute, he loves his sister and brother so much.

We came home read some books, Avabelle cried and whined a few times and all the kids were finally asleep. Mom and I went to watch a movie and about 20 minutes later Anthony comes out telling me he can't sleep. I asked him what was the matter and he told me he kept closing his eyes and he kept seeing the weeble wobble at the Apex center and he motioned with his hands one hand going up and one hand going down. I started laughing, because he was so serious and concerned that the weeble wobble was going to get him. There is a piece of play equipment that scares a good number of kids at the Apex center it is in a tunnel and then one section of the tunnel is like a teeter todder going up and down as you cross it, apparently it is pretty traumatic, especially since we haven't been to the Apex center in over a month.

Big Boy

2010-03-24T20:30:00.003-06:00

Louis is getting so big and he is so unbelievably mobile. He is not even eight months yet and he stands himself up, crawls, grabs everything. Tonight I was giving the kids a bath and had Louis sitting outside of the bathtub and he stood himself up on the side and then kept picking himself up and leaning over to touch the water. He would stick his hand in the water and then get a big grin on his face and look over at me. He then was more and more daring and he actually tipped himself all the way over the bathtub edge and almost fell in the water head first, but I grabbed his leg and stopped him, he looked at me and started crying, I think he was angry at me because he wanted to play with the kids.

Happy Birthday Rita!

2010-03-20T21:54:00.003-06:00

Rita's 33rd birthday is over and it was a good birthday, I'm sure there are different ways to celebrate but I hope she had a good birthday. I just really want her to know how special she is to me and how much her and the kids mean to me. Well, they mean everything to me, there is nothing more important than them. She is a great wife and mother. She is my best friend, she makes everything in life worth doing, without her it would be truly empty. She is my partner and I love to share everything with her; even if it is sometimes chaotic and probably borderline dysfunctional okay probably a little beyond borderline, but that is okay. Just as an example let's take last night we had a slumber party with Jezania and Dizaon, well we started out setting up all the rooms at Grammer's house. We setup Dizaon and Anthony in one room, we put Louis in our bed for a short period, then moved him into the playpen in the other room and then in our room we were going to let Avabelle and Jezania sleep on the mattress' that Anthony and Avabelle usually sleep on. However, when I went in to say good night to Anthony he was sitting straight up in the dark and all I could see were the whites of his eyes. He said, "I don't think I want to sleep in this room." So we told him okay, he can come and sleep in our room on the floor with his sister. Well then poor Dizaon would have been left alone in the orange room, which I'm sure he would have been fine, but we asked if he wanted to come and lay down in our room too, because we didn't want to leave anyone out.
He was so cute he acted like he really didn't want to and said, "I guess I will." Then as he was walking into the room he had a big grin on his face and you could see he was happy to be included. He is still just a big kid, he is a good kid.
So we finally arranged everything somewhat, we had Anthony and Jez laying together and Dizaon was laying on the floor next to the bed, but poor Avabelle was sad she wanted to lay with someone so she started crying. So we had Anthony lay with Dizaon and Jez lay with Avabelle on their tiny little crib mattress' that were laying on the floor. We then told silly bedtime stories taking turns telling each other some story. Anthony was cracking us up, because he was making up the craziest little ideas in the stories. Well Anthony started whining about falling off the crib mattress, so we put Jez, Anthony and Avabelle on one crib mattress then butted the other mattress up against the top of the other crib mattress and had Dizaon lay on one. Then we played a spelling game for awhile until I finally said for everyone to stop talking so we can fall asleep. It was chaotic to say the least and not to mention very difficult to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night trying not to step on any little fingers or toes. It was fun I think the kids enjoyed it and Mom enjoyed her birthday slumber party.
It is in my chaos that I have found my own enlightenment of my life and priorities.

Little Helper

2010-02-27T22:15:00.002-07:00

Grandpa Rudy and I were loading some small stuff from one of the sheds to move to his garage while the house is being built in Castle Rock and Avabelle was outside. She was just being the cutest little thing, she would help carry stuff to his trailer and hand it to me, and I would tell her, "Thank you Mam."
She would reply, "You're welcome sir!"
Then Grandpa would tell her something like, "We wouldn't get anything done without all your help!" and she would get the big little smile.
She looked so cute carrying stuff in her big green puff ball jacket and her Barbie hat and gloves. She was having so much fun helping us and following us around. I couldn't believe how helpful she was it was adorable, especially because normally when it is time to clean or help she runs off or says she is sick. Usually Anthony is a great little helper, but for some reason he was inside running around in his underwear, something about no clean pants or they were all packed or something.

The next day I had both of them help me and they did a good job, I had a bunch of small little miscellaneous items in the storage room that was not huge, but a little too big to waste space putting in a box, so I had them carry all of that up and put it into the storage crates. Anthony really shined he was lapping sister two or three times. He is such a good boy and I had him pack a box with some of my office stuff just to keep him busy is what I had thought, but when I unloaded it to pack it tightly he had packed it really well and it wasn't all the same shape stuff, there was a lot of different shapes. I think he is going to be awesome at Tetris. :)

Chapter 10

2010-02-22T20:37:00.003-07:00

So the other day we went to Mel's 80th birthday party. Anthony had a good time and played with some older boys. Avabelle kept sneaking off into the womens bathroom to sit on the potty, she rarely does it at home, but when we go anywhere she seems to love to want to go in the public restrooms.

Anyway, when we got home Anthony was standing in the kitchen and he was just staring off into space for like 30 seconds. Rita asked him what he was thinking about and he said, "Chapter 10." Rita and I looked at each other quizzically.

We then asked him what about Chapter 10 and he said, "The party."

I then chuckled and told Rita that I think he is talking about the Madagascar chapter book I read to him a few weeks ago, and I didn't think the party was chapter 10. So I told him to go find his book and bring it to me, and when I flipped to the end Chapter 10, which was indeed the end of the book when they have the party after Alex saves them from the "Fossa".

Valentines

2010-02-19T00:16:00.003-07:00

So we took the kids to the store to get each other valentines presents. I wanted the concentrated sugar hearts and Mom picked out her own earrings, so she was easy this year. We decided she would take Avabelle and I would take Anthony and Louis so they could get Valentines for their brother or sister and it would be a surprise. Anthony and I headed towards the toys, but as we walked over we wandered through the school supply aisles and bingo we came across some giant poster boards that had pictures of some fairy land world and then a bunch of stickers to put on it. Anthony liked that for sister right away so he grabbed and carried it around the store. We later ran into Avabelle and Momma so I told Anthony he had to hide it so sister doesn't see her Valentines and so he stood back behind me and put the big poster board behind him the board was too big and you could easily see what it was, but I don't think Avabelle noticed she was too excited to show me Mom's earrings that Mom had picked out for herself. We split up again and as we walked towards the toys again to get another Valentines for Avabelle this time from Louis we came across some pink slippers with hearts on them, they were perfect gift from Lou. I bought her some chocolates and a little princess treasure chest full of different princess outfits.
When we were leaving the store Mom and Avabelle had already checked out and we were just walking up to the cash register when Anthony ran over to say hi to sister and Mom and Avabelle was so excited she told Anthony, "We bought you a ball Anthony!" and her little face squinted with a big smile full of excitement. She made hand gestures of a ball too.
Mom said, "Shhhh it is a surprise you can't tell him."
So she shrunk her shoulders and her eyebrows raised then in a tiny whisper voice she tells him again, "We got you a ball." She said it so low you could barely here her and she still made the little hand gesture of a ball shape.
On Valentines the kids had fun, how come it feels like Valentines turned into Christmas? Anyway Anthony and Avabelle enjoyed the princess outfits because Anthony dressed up like one of the princess and so did Avabelle. Anthony also loves his little ball he got from his sister, it is cool. Dad surprised mom with a little something extra, she doesn't like typical chocolates so I bought her a box of chocolates, double chocolate donuts her only chocolate weakness, well that and molten chocolate from Chili's.

Cute Bedtime

2010-02-14T23:15:00.002-07:00

The last few nights the kids have been pretty cute. I let them tuck each other in for bed and they really liked that. Avabelle can't really shake the blanket out above Anthony, but I let her tuck it under the mattress. Then Anthony will get out of bed and go tuck in his sister. Avabelle will lay there and close her eyes tight and have a huge smile on her face. Anthony will put a blanket it on her and tuck it under her mattress. They are so cute together. Tonight their Mom read them a book so I didn't see if they tucked each other in, but when I came upstairs to tell them goodnight they were laughing and telling each other knock knock jokes. Avabelle doesn't quite grasp the knock knock jokes, she doesn't say the whatever who part. So when you tell her a knock knock joke she says, who's there? And you tell her anything and she will open her mouth and laugh with her eyes closed, like it was the funniest thing. Anthony will try to tell her no Ava you have to say dinosaur who and she will just laugh again. They are so cute.

Dropping Anthony off at school.

2010-02-11T12:46:00.002-07:00

Today I dropped Anthony off at school, I didn't know what time it was so we showed up at 12:00 nobody was there and it was the day of his Valentines Party, he had his little plate of cheeses in his hands and looked at me with a smile. We drove back home called Mom and found out it doesn't start till 12:30, phew. We drove back to school and went in his classroom. He was super cute, he gave his teachers his cheese and then was telling me about the other kids as we walked in. That is Kayin, and that is Sam he acts like a clown, and that is Jordyn. As I was signing him in I watched him grab his name off of the table and put it up on the attendance board, it was so cute because he grabbed his little friends names that were scattered on the board and put them all together.

I can't help it.

2010-01-29T09:32:00.003-07:00

So yesterday Anthony must have felt like a dinosaur or something because he kept biting his sister. I don't know if she was doing something first or if he was biting her first, I couldn't figure it out, I have to come up with some consequence for this behavior especially if it continues. Anyway, we were laying down for sleep and Rita started singing to Avabelle, "Avabelle, Momma loves you, Louis loves you, Dadda Loves you, even Anthony loves to bite you!" And anthony giggled, so I told him that it was funny and he shouldn't be laughing at that, because we don't bite sister, blah blah blah.
He said, "I'm sorry Dad, but my body can't help it when it wants to laugh."
I thought that was pretty funny, so I told him it was a good answer.

Karate Characters

2010-01-25T22:02:00.002-07:00

I took the kids to Karate again tonight and they cracked me up. While Anthony was out on the mat the teacher asked the kids about Sponge Bob and Patrick and how they are good friends and how many of them have seen it. Anthony spoke up very clearly and said, "I watched it at Lexi's house." It has been over 20 months since we went to Lexi's house and that would have been the only time he was allowed to watch Sponge Bob. I couldn't believe he remembers watching it out there. That amazed me, he is such a confident little boy, he always raises his hand and tries to answer the teacher. He does such a good job, because he wants to be caught at the end of class, being caught means you were caught doing something exceptionally well in class. Although it is a little disappointing, because I see him trying so hard, standing still, paying attention, answering questions, and concentrating on his moves, but the teacher gives it to the kids in a rotation order so they all get caught. I know it is good that all the kids get caught, but it is a little sad because if he doesn't get caught I'll tell him he did a good job and he'll say, "I didn't do that good, because I didn't get caught." He amazes me at Karate, the teacher asked the kids who knew how to march in place and Anthony of course raised his hand, which he does whether he knows the answer or not, but this time he surprised me he did a perfect little march, I have know idea where he picked that up, but I was proud.

Anyway, while Anthony was busy surprising me Avabelle was sitting there talking to me about poop and pee and when she goes in the toilet she can go to karate! She loves to sit on my lap and give me bear hugs, and play with my hands singing songs, like head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, while she was singing she would move my hands.

Later when we were leaving Anthony and Avabelle were jumping to the car while holding my hand. I told them we shouldn't jump in the street because it can be dangerous. Avabelle told me, "Dad, I will just jump over the car."
I giggled and told her, "I doubt that you will be able to jump over a car."
Anthony chimed in, "Avabelle, cars are really big."
She looked at me and smiled and said, "Okay I will fly over the car!" You have just got to love their little personalities.

Pirate Treasure Adventure

2010-01-22T14:01:00.011-07:00

So I just uploaded some photos from a couple weeks ago and forgot about the little adventure the kids and I went on. One day we were sitting around painting with water colors and I started to paint a waterfall picture when Anthony said, "Let's make a treasure map!" It was such a great idea, we continued with the waterfall and then we excitedly asked each other what else should be on the map. Ultimately we ended up with the above map. We then rolled it up just like a treasure map and tied a little ribbon around it and put it away. Anthony thought that was great and fun, but I had a little secrete plan in store, but it had to wait until the weekend.

Eventually Saturday rolled around, Rita and Louis went to the store for awhile so the kids and I needed to find something to do and I had the perfect thing to start playing. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but figured we would give it a shot. I brought the kids downstairs, made them clean up their room first of course, and then I got out the treasure map out plus some other miscellaneous toys. Both of them were giggling and happily jumping around me like it was Christmas again, they had no idea what we were going to do and neither did I exactly, but I loved their enthusiasm. I told them we were going to go on a treasure hunt and we would pretend to be pirates. I probably could have told them we were going to pretend to be rocks that had to be very still and they would have been excited, poor kids are so bored I think they just want anyone to play with them.

We couldn't just start out with the map and go on our adventure, we first had to obtain the map somehow. I told them that I was a famous pirate "Gray Beard" and was in search of a crew. I then went into the storage room and found a small velvet pouch and put some coins in it; the coins were sterilized by boiling them a long time ago for the kids to play with for some other game we had played, I can't remember what game. (Hence the need for a blog.) Anyway, I tied them onto my belt and looked around for a sword, but couldn't find one, we have two Star Wars light sabers, but I knew they would need those. It was time to go out to the garage, I found a small 1/4 inch PVC pipe and cut it to about 40", taped the handle and had my sword! It was perfect! Finally we could begin adventuring.

The story went something like this, I had a pirate ship and needed a crew so I started out sailing in my yellow car bed with the kids chair in the front as the sailing ship but with no crew. They of course wanted to jump in and start sailing with me, but I told them to stop, relax and wait over at the table because I was busying playing by myself and 'm pretending I haven't found them yet. As I sat there imagining I was a famous pirate sailing across the oceans with my coin purse full and the salty air blowing through my beard I realized how lonely it was and how much I could use a crew to help with the work. I then grabbed this small telescope that the kids got from Papa Cobb for Christmas, it was perfect for pirating! I pretended to be sailing and spotted some land where I found my crew of swashbucklers and sailors. I believe I made Anthony my swashbuckler named "Anthony the Awesome!" and Avabelle was the sailor, "The Amazing Avarella!" I pretended to walk into a, uhhh, cafe, because my pirates aren't going to be found in any taverns! I asked them how much a day wages they need to be a pirate and I was going to go on an treasure finding adventure, but I was only going to take pirates who knew how to sword fight, so they had to beat me in a duel. After they thoroughly thrashed me with their sabers I hired them on the spot, and we were off to find Pirate Pig who rumors say had the treasure map I be after, Arrrggg!

We then ventured off to a couple of islands with stores, and groceries, and pretend candy land, we found Bearstein Brute, and others that kept leading us on our way until finally we found pirate pig! But he wouldn't give us the map, I asked them what we should do and Anthony said, we should beat him up and take it. I told him we are not those type of pirates, we are good pirates, there has to be another way to get the map. So we played dice! Highest die roll wins, we would roll the dice and count them and they would have to tell me which one was higher and who won, well Pirate Pig won and won and won, until finally I was out of coins in my purse! I had to ask the kids to borrow their coins that I paid them earlier because I had lost all mine to the pig, we started to win some of the coins back and after what seemed like forever finally won the map from Pig!

We then set sail for the island in search of treasure, but oh no on the way we ran into a giant sea monster that we had to battle and shoot with Nerf darts, unfortunately I didn't survive and died, but before I died I gave the kids my Nerf revolver, map and coins. I then sunk into the bottom of the ocean. This made it easier for me to be the interactive characters in the story and allowed them make their own decisions. Well after my death the kids soon found the island and landed at wandering falls. Here they had to gather all of their stuff and walk, so I had them walk in circles for about ten minutes, while I sat there trying to think of something fun to do at the waterfall spot, but ultimately decided wandering waterfalls was just what is sounded like wandering around and ultimately pretty much sucked.

While they walked and walked and walked back and forth around the room I finally said they were on their way to the aborigine village of Tuscan raiders. Where I pretended to be hiding in the jungle and started to throw Nerf darts at them like spears and jumped out to have a sword fight, this was much more fun for them than walking in circles. So we continued to make our way to the village and have sword fights for quite awhile, somehow they always would win, but I would get them once in awhile and they would find a rejuvenation potion of health. Eventually they made it to the village, where they finally explained to the chief they were just passing through and didn't want to fight anymore raiders, the chief agreed, but first made them give him some trinket of peace as a sign of good faith and they then continued on past the village to the razor ice rain ship wreck cove.

Here what we did was get all the Nerf darts together I then sat in the corner lobbing the darts into the air, the kids were supposed to dodge the darts without getting hit, if they were hit 10 times they lost. We did this for a quite awhile, they loved playing dodge the ice shards of terror. I had a good time too, their dodge skills are funny, Anthony would drop into a ball on the ground and duck his head down almost touching his toes with his nose, he wouldn't really see the dart where it was or where it was going he did the same thing almost every time. Avabelle would run around like a chicken without a head, but also unaware of where the dart was coming from or going to land.

After they narrowly escaped the ice rain they stopped at heart tree jungle, here we made some sandwiches and other snacks to eat lunch for lunch. Afterwards I had one more special treat some cordial chocolate covered cherries! Avabelle was so funny, I gave her one and she was instantly saying "Thank you Dad! I love you so much!" and she gave me a big hug wrapping up both of my knees.

After the trees we headed over to the old rickety bridge, where I wasn't sure what to do and we already wandered so I had to think of something else. So I ran out to the garage again and grabbed a 2x4x8 piece of wood and threw it onto a couple of table chairs with cushions on it. I told them they had to cross the bridge without falling into the deep chasm, at first they could barely stand on the bridge, because it was so wobbly from the cushion on the chair, I didn't think it was the safest thing in the world, but I thought it would be a good learning experience. What experience that was I'm not sure, maybe not to trust dad's judgment? Anyway, they would stand on the board and it would wobble, their little knees would shake and they would jump off and say "I can't do it, I can't!". I would hold onto the board for a little extra sturdiness and eventually they slowly built up more and more confidence until they could stand on it, I then held their hands and walked them across and next thing you know Anthony was easily crossing it. Avabelle was still having difficulties, but was absolutely hilarious. When she would cross she would go really slow and if she started to feel off balance a little she would start to hit herself in the stomach really fast. It was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time! Fortunately I have video, it doesn't show her doing the belly tap as much as she was by the time I remembered to get the camcorder, but she was still doing it. Also by this time, Mom and Louis had made it home and joined in the fun too.

Finally we came to skull mountain where we had sword fighting and had to dodge arrows from the skull protectors hiding in the caverns again, both of the kids were scared to go here and wanted to stop playing when we came to this part of the map. I eventually talked them into it. I also took out a small treasure chest that grandpa Cobb gave the kids for christmas, about the size of a coffee cup, it was for holding the pirate scope, but I took that out and filled it with small glass rocks from a fish tank or something. While the kids were playing I hid it in one of the ottomans, and the final test was for them to find it after we had passed skull mountain. So I said, okay now the last thing we have to do is find the buried treasure chest somewhere in this room! Avabelle stopped looked at me and ran over and grabbed it saying, "Here it is!" She had found earlier and I didn't notice. I thought I had it hidden pretty well too. That was the end of our little adventure lasting approximately 5 hours. We started playing at 9:00 and didn't finish until sometime after 2:00! It was an awesome day!

I just like the sound of my voice.

2010-01-20T20:51:00.002-07:00

So when Avabelle is not too tired to fall asleep right away, she stays awake and talks. She doesn't talk to anyone directly, but she just talks and talks and talks. Rita says she reminds her of herself when she was little and I believe it. I can definitely see Rita with a very similar personality as her mom. I don't understand everything she says, because it is seems random. Here is what she is saying right now. "shake, shake, shake, move it, move it, whats the matter, you can't find your broom, I can't find my sister or brother, we were jumping on the bed, my mom is up there see!" "Ducky! I making a snowball. I am going to drink hot cocoa. My dad says I can't shake bacon and turn it tada I made a pancake. Thank you marmar. You wake me with the morning light, Amen. I am making a house your bed looks like a rain forest. i can't do that it is too slippery. I am making a rollllll iiittt, uhh, off. I am playing your belt like a rainbow mom. Yeeeeeehaaaaaw. I have strength in my body, I will make good friends I am a black belt man." And she is still going...

That last bit reminded me of her at Anthony's karate class, where she will sit on my lap and randomly do a hiiiyaa and kick her leg. Then she start to say the karate oath that the little kids say, I have strength in my body, I will make good friends and I am a black belt man" The other parents would laugh.

Madagascar

2010-01-20T20:44:00.002-07:00

Well I haven't been reading that Madagascar book for about 10 days, I have however been reading a different Madagascar book. The complete Madagascar chapter book. It is our first book without pictures, it has about 90 pages and I am pleasantly surprised that he has been so excited about reading it every night. I read one chapter a night. I thought for sure he wouldn't want to read it since there were no pictures, but he remembers what chapter we are on and loves to hear every page. Avabelle, likes to listen too and actually sits fairly still through the book as well. Although she will occasionally get a little distracted.

Karate Kid

2010-01-14T09:13:00.002-07:00

Anthony seems to really like the karate classes he has been going to. He looks cute in his little karate clothes. It seems good because they talk to the kids about things, like respect, self control and friendship. What it means to have good quality characteristics. Plus he gets some physical activity and I think it builds coordination. The other day the instructor asked the kids who their best friends were and they all just looked around at each other and picked someone in class, I don't think they really understood what she was asking. She would then ask why are they your best friend and most of the kids would say, because they don't hurt me? Then she got to Anthony and he just stood there unsure what to say then he said, his best friend was Anthony, there is another Anthony in the class. She asked and why is Anthony your best friend? Anthony replied, "Because he stays on his set point." The set points are the little dots on the mats that the kids have to stand on and face the instructor so they have their own space. I thought that was funny, because out of everything to say that is why he was his best friend. :)

Avabelle really likes to go to Karate and watch brother. She cracks me up, because she will sit on my lap and just randomly she will do a hi-yah and kick her leg. Or she will be sitting there and say the little Karate Credo, "I have strength in my body, make new friends and become a black belt man."

Cute kids

2010-01-10T21:25:00.002-07:00

The kids have been so awesome lately, I love spending every moment I can with them. We let them spend the night at Grammers the other night and I miss them so much when they are gone, it feels so empty without them. We still had Louis, who is adorable as ever, but without all three kids it feels empty I could not be happier that we decided to have three. Hmmm, can anyone say four? :) Nope, not ready for four yet, but I am darn happy with three.
Tonight I went downstairs and noticed Avabelle putting her dolls at the little table we have downstairs in the chairs, it turns out she was playing tea party. It was so cute, because it reminds me so much of something I could see her mom doing. She has the cutest little personality. I would ask her their names and she didn't know their names yet, she had two weird Dr. Seuss stuffed animals and a stuffed pig, pig was named "pig", but she didn't know the other two names. I watched her for a little while longer, and she would take one put it in her little bathing table and another one should would gently lye them down on a pillow and cover them up with a blanket. Then she stopped looked over at me and pointed to the top of her kitchen and said, "We don't climb on top of kitchens." I told her no and that you could fall and hurt your head, so she grabbed one of the stuffed animals and put them up there and said, "She can climb on top of the kitchen and fall." Then threw the stuffed animal off and laughed. She is such a little daredevil, she loves climbing on the highest thing she can find, fortunately she doesn't jump off everything, but she definitely pushes her limits on the height thing.
Last night we were at Patricia's for a birthday party, which i think the kids had a great time, they love playing with someone elses toys. When we were leaving though we couldn't find Avabelle's boot and the poor little thing looked so sad like she had just lost her friend. Everyone looked for about five minutes until we finally bored one of Sophie's slippers to keep Ava's foot warm, Ava still looked sad, fortunatley it was found as we were walking to the car. Avabelle was cute, because she has this adorable little giggle where you can tell it is so geniune and happy.

Ants in the pants.

2010-01-10T21:01:00.003-07:00

So yesterday I spent some time playing games and hanging out with the kids. We started out by playing a game called Kerplunk. It was kind of a fail as a game. I thought it would have been more fun, but the kids didn't seem to like it. You basically set sticks crisscrossed in a small tube, these sticks form a barrier to stop marbles from falling through. After it is setup, which takes about 4 minutes, each player takes turns pulling one stick at a time out. The player with the least marbles wins. Avabelle lost by about 20 marbles, so to make it more fun we switched the game to whoever gets the most marbles, they kind of liked it a little more, but not really.

So I took the marbles from the game and drew a circle on the carpet to play marbles, I said we had to know them out of the circle to win the marbles, but the kids couldn't really roll them hard enough to knock the other marbles out since we didn't have big marbles, just all little marbles. I then had another idea, to play who can roll the marbles into the circle from about 15 feet away. I thought for sure I would easily win this game, and thus was proudly disappointed when I lost repeatedly to Anthony. Avabelle didn't do to bad, but she didn't have the attention span yet. I was so proud of Anthony, because he really rolled the marbles well getting them into the circle and stopping them in the circle without rolling through.

We then put the marbles away and Avabelle went shopping with mom, so Anthony and I played another game, called Ants in the Pants. We played it once before about a week ago, but Anthony didn't seem to like it because he would get frustrated that he couldn't get the ants to jump off the ground correctly. So, we tried it again and this time he seemed a little less frustrated, but he still wasn't getting the hang of it. I tried to tell him different ways, and show him how I did it, but he just wasn't quite there. I finally said some silly thing like, "okay, son you have to put your finger here and pretend he is on a slide like this." Then I began to show him and said, "Top the slide, wheeeeeee" Then the little ant jumped up, he liked that and kept trying over and over.
"Top of the slide, wheeeee", he would say over and over again, I thought he was just being annoying at first, because he said it about 100 times. But he did get the ants jumping and he was very happy. He just kept on doing it and making ants in the pants, we would both celebrate and high five every time he did it. He said, "Okay, how about everytime we make one we high five?" Then he continued to say it and make ants in the pants, I should add he made more than I did and was doing great. So by the time I was getting annoyed with him saying "This is the top of the slide, wheeee" He didn't say it once and looked surprised that the ant still jumped and he didn't say it. He stopped looked at me excitedly and said, "I did it without saying anything." Of course now I felt bad for getting annoyed, I'm just glad I didn't say anything to him about repeating the little saying.
We continued to play for a little while making all the ants in the pants and when we only had a few left, Anthony stopped looked over at me and just had the most incredible joyful look on his face then he said, "Thanks dad, thank you for teaching me how to play ants in the pants." Then he leaned over and gave Louie a big hug, because I was holding Louie while we played. It was one of the best moments I have had with him, just thinking how important it is to teach him how to do things for himself and what a great confidence booster and sense of accomplishment those little things are for kids.

Happy New Year

2010-01-06T10:50:00.002-07:00

We had a little New Year Party get together and the kids were cute, we did a 10:00 celebration. And no the kids are not drinking Alcohol.

It was a very fun night, we had kids running around and poker for the adults. We set up the jumpy castle in the front room and played Guitar Hero!

No More Madagascar!

2010-01-03T22:54:00.002-07:00

So on Christmas we bought Anthony and Avabelle some Madagascar books, because they love the movie, I think this movie has officially topped cars as his favorite, parts one and two. Well I bought them some books for Christmas and Anthony got the movie storybook and Avabelle received the Madagascar reference book with pictures. So I have now learned that when the book says "Movie Storybook" they mean movie storybook, it doesn't look like it will be that long to read, but it is the entire movie. Anthony has been pretty cute about it though, everynight he wants to read his same book. EVERYNIGHT! So I have been reading this Madagascar book everynight since Christmas, which is fine, I read them books everynight anyway, but this book is so long! It takes me about 20-25 minutes to finish reading this book. If I speed read it I can make it in about 15-20 minutes. I have even tried to skip parts of the book, like just read the first paragraph or two on each page and the last paragraph or two on each page, but Anthony busts me if I don't read it all. He will point to the paragraph and say you forgot this part or that part, then I feel bad for trying to cheat him out of his book he loves so much and I end up reading every page anyway. I feel bad for Avabelle, because she seems to get a little bored with it, although her attention will still make it through all the way to the end. He is such a good little guy though, and how cute he is when he grabs his book with his big grin. I'm complaining about how long it takes to read, but I still enjoy it. I just wonder how long it will take until he doesn't want to read that same book?

Santa

2009-12-22T23:20:00.002-07:00

The kids have been really cute this year regarding Christmas. We have the advent calender that Aunt Donna gave them and I filled it with chocolate chips, the kids are so excited to find the chocolate chips everyday and amazingly enough Avabelle has only attempted to sneak in the calender and steal the chocolate two times, once she managed to get at least two chips and another time she just pulled the whole thing down to her eye level.

We made the kids a Christmas letter to Santa and Anthony was very adamant about getting a car garage. He also asked for a few things like Masagascar books, but everytime anyone asked it was also a cars garage. Hopefully Santa will bring him the right one. Avabelle on the other hand not so sure, I have tried to give her magazines and pictures, but she cannot make up her mind on any one thing. I told her Mom that she is turning out to be a typical women, doesn't know what she really wants. :) We have been having this discussions with both of them since at least a week before thanksgiving and not until recently had she come up with something she wanted and actually has suck with it for about 9 days now, well most of the time she will say it, about 80% of the time. Right now the thing she wants most in the whole world is a ball, yes a ball. If I understand her correctly she wants one of those cheap bouncy rubber balls that are a little bigger than a bowling ball. The weird thing is I bought her one a few months back that she absolutely loves, more than I thought she really would have. Hopefully Santa will bring her the kind of ball she wants.

I was at the store once with Anthony and I had asked him if we should get something for sister from him for Christmas, well taking after his father he said, "No we should get me this." and pointed at some other random toy that he really didn't want, but anything was probably better than getting something new for his sister. Maybe next year we'll get him to understand that gift of giving thing a little better.

Anthony was super cute about decorating the tree this year, Avabelle she is not ready to participate in those festivities yet. Although she seems to have some weird craving for Christmas ornaments. One day I was working and Anthony came running in and handed me a little Christmas ornament, that was full of tiny mirrors about the size of an eraser head. Well on this disco ball ornament there was a strand of these mirrors missing, and Anthony said, "Avabelle ate the Christmas ornament." I ran in and tried to check on her to make sure she is okay. I then noticed she was still semi chewing on something I asked her to spit it out and there was a tiny sliver of glass in my hand. I started freaking out of course, but she was okay, we found the strand of missing mirrors, but she did bite of a small piece. Anyway Anthony loved decorating the tree so much in fact he has asked me probably 10 times if we can take the lights of the tree and put up the red lights now.

Although there was lots of excitement for the interior tree, the outside lights ended up being pretty much my job alone. Anthony helped hammer a few stakes in for the candy lights, but found other things more fun.

We also tried some egg nog and it is official none of us like it, we tried it cool and we tried to warm it up, I think i warmed it up to much since the egg nog was a little more solid than before and I think it actually started to cook some of the egg together.

Rita and I also thought it would be fun to make hot cocoa and go drive around looking at lights. We made the cocoa got in the car, I think the cocoa was gone by the time they were buckled up. We started to drive towards grammers house since I forgot the camcorder over there. Before we even left our subdivision we looked back and Avabelle was out. When we got to the place where we were going to look for lights after about seven minutes Anthony asked if we could go home, or if we could go somewhere else. Haha, he really enjoyed them. We looked at lights for probably 15 minutes, when we finally found something that made lights fun for him. We found an elf flying a blow up helicopter with moving propellers. He really liked that, so much so he drifted off to dream about it, because by the time I did a u-turn to go back to the main road he was out.

Cookies, Rita has been really cooking a lot of cookies the kids are loving, but I am not! Since I don't want the kids to eat too much sugar I find myself eating the cookies so they can't eat too much junk food. Although she made some more cookies tonight and they are awesome, I have to admit I have been eating them so the kids don't eat them, but not because I don't want them to fill up on junk.

Blogging

2009-12-22T22:49:00.003-07:00

I have been slacking off on my blogging lately, I'm not sure why, I just haven't had time. Maybe it is because we have three kids within four years! They really do keep us busy.

Anthony is growing up so fast and has literally changed before my eyes. He is such a great boy, I mean he is a really great boy. I could not imagine being more proud of anything in my life than the way he has turned out. He is polite and considerate most of the time. He is geniune, happy, funny, loving, he stands up for what is right, and he is so smart. He is imaginative and loves to play anything with us, as long as we can give him some quality time, it is a good night.

Avabelle oh my Avarella what can I say about her lately. She is just pure sunshine, she has me wrapped around her finger somehow, she changes her clothes about 10 times a day, no exageration, I have clothes everywhere from her, none of the kids can keep socks on longer than 3 minutes when they come in from outside and of course they cannot wear the socks they just wore for 15 minutes, they need new socks. This girl though has so much personality, she reminds me of how Rita would have been when she was little. She is just so darn cute and says the cutest things all the time it doesn't matter how many times she has changed her clothes or left a pee filled diaper on floor somewhere she makes you smile or laugh when you see her.

Louis well he is getting bigger and hates being in one spot, he is always mentally on the go, he gets bored of everything and wants something new, the best thing is something he has not played with yet, if you try to do the rotating toys with him it doesn't work. Now he likes for anyone to walk him around and he constantly tries to grab everything in reach. He still smiles every time you look at him, unless he is crying from being bored. But if you stop and entertain him with a smile, or carry him or give him something new to play with he will almost certainly give you big smiles and giggles.

My biggest regret everyday is not spending enough time with them all. It is so hard with three kids trying to keep up with the house, just cooking and cleaning the kitchen is a huge job, not to mention the laundry that pretty much has to be done everyday, thank you Avabelle. I do not know how many families do it, how can people work until 5-5:30 come home cook, clean, spend time with kids, unwind, get the kids ready for bed, brush teeth, read books, tuck the kids in and still spend quality time with the kids. I get off at 3:30 most days and I feel like I miss golden opportunities with them everyday, I have regrets almost everyday not spending time with them. Yeah I'm with them everyday for many hours of the day, but I regret not making extra time for quality interaction time: like playing pirates, jungle adventures, cooking, camping, good guys bad guys, coloring, puzzles, games, cars, etc.

Avabelle's Dance Recital

2009-12-22T08:18:00.005-07:00

Here is Avabelle's second dance recital she participated much more this time. She loves it so much!

Yummy Egg Nog?

2009-12-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

So before Christmas, I thought it would be a good idea to get some eggnog and drink it with the kids. I remember drinking it when I was a kid and I remember actually liking it, now I'm not a big fan, but I wanted them to experience it. I went to the store and bought some cool whip and egg nog. When I got home the kids excitedly jumped around me as I poured it into some mugs and put it in the microwave. After it was warm I put some whip cream on it and sat down to drink it with the kids. They loved it, and it was better than I remembered, that is until we got past the whip cream. The first part of the egg nog wasn't bad, but I think the bottom half of the cup got to hot and cooked the egg, it was disgusting! It was like drinking partially cooked egg with whip cream! Anyway, I don't think the kids will have as fond of memory of Eggnog as I did growing up. Both of them drank it until about half was gone and they both said it was gross. Here are some pictures pre semi-cooked egg taste!

Westernaires Days with Grammer

2009-11-11T08:06:00.003-07:00

We went to the Westernaires Days with Grammer this weekend where Grammer was in the show as one of the alumni riders. In her younger days she use to ride and compete with her sister in all sorts of events and from what she says they were the best two riders around, everyone groaned when the Strong sisters showed up, because that meant they were going to lose and the Strong sister were going to win the tournament. It was cute to see Grammer so excited to ride a horse and re-live, even if for just a moment, her proud days as a cowgirl. I caught a little bit of footage of her riding in.

The kids seemed to really enjoy it and did a great job, Avabelle really liked the horses. Anthony was funny when Jezania said she wanted to do that (ride the horses) Anthony turned around and said, yeah I already did that and he said it with such confidence. Louis seemed to be more interested in walking around the coliseum than the show, but he did seem to like that. We all had a good time.

Jump Rope

2009-11-02T13:00:00.002-07:00

I gave Avabelle a jump rope that was in the garage today and she started jumping. It was so darn cute I had to record it and post it.

Happy Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T09:39:00.003-06:00

So Anthony wants a lightning McQueen pumpkin and Avabelle wants a princess and Dad wants to do two triangle eyes and mouth. I guess we now know Dad is a push in.

When I was drawing the pictures on the pumpkin to cut them out, Anthony was looking at his Lighning McQueen and he had a picture of lightning McQueen and looking disappointed he said, "Dad what is this on his hood? Why is there a lighning bolt?" He wanted me to carve the pumpkin just like he looks in the picture and not cut corners by putting a big bolt on the hood instead of the whole rusteeze logo.

Still the smiliest kid on the block!

2009-10-27T22:47:00.007-06:00

I just cannot believe how incredibly happy Louis is, he smiles all the time, I mean all the time I have never seen a baby so happy. Don't get me wrong he cries as all babies do, maybe more when momma doesn't hold him all day. The majority of the time you can get a smile out of him in less than five seconds, he even will giggle when tickling him. He is something else. Some photos of Smiley!

That's funny dadda, that's funny.

2009-10-27T22:03:00.003-06:00

So I was walking downstairs and Avabelle was watching TV and as I was walking past the TV Avabelle says, "That's funny daddy, that's funny!" and she gave the cutest little laugh. Then she laughed and said it again. So I was curious to see what was funny so I asked her and she said, "That boy was funny." I had to see what she thought was so funny so I went to the TV and rewound the commercial on the DVR and it was a commercial of a little girl having a tea party in her room, when her mom gave her some popcorn. The dad and older brother walked in and wanted to eat some popcorn, but the little girl told them it was just for the tea party. The next scene was the dad and brother sitting at the little table dressed up in feathers and jewelry sipping tea eating popcorn and Avabelle started laughing again. It was "Funny". That girl is something else.

Best Friends

2009-10-26T10:44:00.002-06:00

Anthony and Avabelle play together so good it just amazes me some times. I think it really helped when Rita and I took a step back awhile ago and said, Okay we have to let them solve their own problems, because we would be so exhausted with their bickering and fighting. Not that they fought a lot, because really they didn't, but it was draining always trying to find out who did what and trying to come up with a solution for it. So recently we have been trying to let them take ownership of their problem and figure out what to do and amazingly it seems to work for the most part. We try not to let them beat each other up or bite, but we also don't want to step in and save them if we see that either. So when they would run up to us crying and screaming he did this, she did that we started to say, "Ohhhhh, sounds like you two have a problem, what do you think you can do?"
Of course most of the time they didn't have a good answer, but they both started to just look at us and then go back to playing like nothing happened. Occasionally they would fight over a toy and that is easy to fix, just take the toy, but sometimes it wasn't that easy and sometimes they couldn't solve it on their own so I would say, "Sounds like you two need a little alone playing time." Then I would ask who wants to play in Anthony's room and who wants to play in the playroom, if they both wanted to play in one room, then I would flip a coin. Gotta love the coin flip, I use it all the time. Who wants to get out of the bath first, who wants to wash their hair first, who wants etc. Anytime an argument starts about who wants this, I just flip a coin. Anyway after about 15-20 minutes of alone play time they are so excited to play with each other again it is really cute. Occasionally they will try to sneak to play with each other, or check on each other, but usually after a little alone play time they play really well together.
Anyway, the moral of the story is they have been playing together much better, both of them seem to be solving their problems. They seem to be sharing more and I almost think more concerned for each other, like I can hear Anthony say "Are you okay, Ava?" If she falls or gets hit by him, I don't know which, but at least they are resolving it together and there hasn't been any scratches, bruises, or marks.
Last night I went down there to check on them and they were so cute sitting in their little kitchen with all the play food on their counter playing together. I mean it is amazing how well they play together, laughing, giggling, playing, imagining, dancing, singing, reading books together I am so incredibly glad we had more than one munchkin because of how well they interact and grow together.

I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!

2009-10-26T10:39:00.002-06:00

So lately Avabelle has been so darling. I don't know where she picked it up from, but the way she says it is so darn cute. And she says it out the blue sometimes, sometimes she says it after you give her something, she will be walking down the stairs and say it you never know when. She will say, "I love you sooooooo much" or "I love you toooo much." She always puts a long draw on the so and the too. She cracks me up with the things she says. Like I was reading her a bedtime story and we were singing the bear goes over the mountain. While I was singing I said, "The bear goes over the ..." and pretended to give her a microphone.
She grabbed my hand and said, "Couch". Also the other day she was sitting at the table and she holds up her fists and says, "These are my uncles." Talking about her knuckles. That little girl has so much personality and is so darn cute just like her mother.

Little Helpers?

2009-10-02T11:48:00.003-06:00

Anthony is always ready to help out Dad around the house, at least as long as it is fun for him. Avabelle on the other hand she doesn't like to help or even pretend like she is going to help. Since Rita has been staying home she has the kids make their beds in the morning and Anthony will make his and Avabelle will say, "Anthony will make mine." So how am I going to get that girl to be a little helper? When we clean up the play room she will clean up one or two toys and lose interest, Anthony will be much more helpful and clean up for awhile, depending on how much he wants to do whatever he is cleaning up for like play with a new toy, or play a game. Avabelle doesn't get motivated by such tactics, if I tell her to clean up and then she can play with something she will just go find something else to play with or make a mess of.

Mother Cabrini Shrine

2009-10-02T11:22:00.005-06:00

So this last Saturday we took the kids to Mother Cabrini Shrine to walk up the steps and see the big statue of Jesus. The kids had a lot of fun and did really well going up the stairs. Avabelle was wearing her squeaker shoes and she disturbed the peace and tranquility of the place, I think next time we'll take her regular shoes. When we were at the top we looked at the beautiful views and took some pictures. Avabelle would say, "I love Jesus." and squeak around the statue. On the way down it was much more slow going since Avabelle seemed a little more nervous going down then up, so I had to hold her hand all the way down. A couple of people brought dogs and the dogs just loved Avabelle's shoes they thought they were squeaky toys. After the trip we came home and ate a big picnic in the front yard, the kids love picnics!

Here are some pictures from the day.

Cars Cars Cars

2009-10-02T09:56:00.002-06:00

So this morning Anthony was on a mission. He came downstairs and said he Dad Cars is a really long movie and then went on to tell me how we haven't watched it in a long time. A little later he asked me why don't want we watch Cars? Then he said, well I'm going to put the CD in the player and watch it. Then he walked off and came back with his backpack full of Cars cars. Dad will you start Cars for me? I need to remember all of the Cars he said in his Lightning McQueen polo shirt. So I finally started it for him, he is so cute with his little ritual when watching Cars. He sets them up on the couch and plays with them as the movie plays, he does their voices and actions to mimic the movie in certain spots. It has been a couple of months since he has watched it and I actually thought he was beginning to lose some interest in them.

Baby Louis is amazing

2009-10-02T09:01:00.002-06:00

So other than the fact that he is just so smiley, happy, and can repeat back coos; he amazed me even more last night. We were sitting around watching TV and set him on his little play mat that has toys hanging from the top. He was laying there and then you could see him move his little arm and it looked like he was trying to grab the toy, Rita and I just looked at him a minute and then he did grab it and he did it a couple of times. When he would grab it he would get a little smile on his face. So we grabbed the camcorder and he did it again for us. I'm sure it is just every parent that thinks their kids are amazing, but holy cow I couldn't believe he is grabbing and interacting with the toys so early at 10 weeks.

Prayers

2009-09-25T21:00:00.003-06:00

The kids saying their prayers and a little extra video of Avabelle saying them again, and I have no idea where she came up with this prayer, but it cracked me up it was the first time I have ever heard her say it and I actually had the camera.

Anthony:

Avabelle:

Avabelle: God is great, something(paperman maybe?), cupcakes make me sick. Amen.

Indoor Jump Arena?

2009-09-16T21:58:00.003-06:00

Some pictures of Dad and the kids goofing off. Notice how excited Louis looks!

So a few weeks ago we had a birthday party at Sophie's house and we brought our little jump arena play, well after we came home instead of putting it back in the shed I set it up downstairs in the playroom. Wow it is a lot bigger than I thought or maybe our playroom is just a lot smaller than I thought.

We set it up and had it down there for a few weeks. Every once in awhile I would go down and get some exercise by jumping in it and making the kids bounce. The kids loved it and would get upset when I would have to stop because I get so tired and sweaty, it is a lot more physical than you would think or maybe I'm just out of shape. It has been a blast, the kids love it in there. Anthony likes to take his cars in there, Avabelle took a nap in there one day, they take their play food in there. They also scream and play like Jasmine dog is some kind of monster and run in there. Unfortunately they coaxed her into the jump castle and she made a good one inch cut in the fabric, but I have some patches I can throw on there so it is not a big deal, but Jasmine is not allowed to jump in the castle anymore.

Here is some cute video of the kids flying in the air!

How to get a four year old out of the bed?

2009-09-16T10:21:00.000-06:00

So it has been a couple of months since Anthony has slept in our bed and he has done a great job transitioning from bed to mattress near the bed. Actually I had no problems at all. One night I set his mattress next to the bed and said he has to lay there. He asked why he couldn't sleep in the bed and I told him he was just getting too big. He then fell asleep and the next morning when he woke I told him he made Dadda so happy that I was going to give him some of his cars back. I occasionally have to take toys, usually cars, when we have problems going to the simmer down chair or timeout chair. When he acts out or fights it when it is time to simmer down I will tell him, "How sad, I guess we'll have to put some of your toys away in the garage for awhile." He usually screams and cries and runs to the chair to simmer down. However, if it gets to the point where I say how sad then I have to follow through and take some of the cars. This works much better than my old method when he wouldn't go to timeout, which was me carrying him to his room where he would have to spend a few minutes and then after he was calm he could than come down and simmer down for his punishment time amount, which is one minute per each year old he is.

Anyway, he was very happy to get some of his cars back, since I usually only give them back when I felt like he has done something to earn them back. He excitedly took his cars and said, "Maybe if I sleep on my mattress again tonight you'll give me more cars Dadda?" Of course I had to tell him probably and ever since then he has been sleeping on the mattress. It is now so automatic now he doesn't even think about sleeping in the bed or ask for cars. I have thought about getting him to sleep in his own room, but I don't mind him sleeping in our room as long as it is not in my bed, plus he seems to be pretty scared to sleep in his own room, so I don't need to force him if he doesn't want to.

Of course what about Avabelle? Well about the same time, I felt so bad for Avabelle because she had to go to her room and sleep in her crib, she always went, but she knew Anthony was sleeping in our room. She always had these sad eyes and looked at our bed like 'why not me?' So I moved her into our room, yes I did it. Anthony sleeping in our bed is all mom's fault while I was on a trip to NJ, but Avabelle sleeping in our room is all my fault. She is not in our bed though, I brought her mattress in and placed it at the foot of the bed.

She is a tough little girl to get to sleep when she has all that freedom she just can't stay still. She is so restless and she tosses and turns right off her mattress. She is still very happy to be in the room though. I think if she gets too carried away one of these nights I may have to tell her, "Oh how sad, I guess we have to sleep in the crib since we cannot sleep on the mattress." It is just so hard to do.

Wait, what about Louis? Well he is sleeping in the bed and he is sleeping next to mom every night. I guess when he gets a little bigger we'll throw another mattress on the floor next to Mom and that will be his spot.

And that is our dysfunctional sleeping arrangements. However, I'll be honest I secretly love having all of them in the same room it is like the Walton's, "Goodnight Anthony, goodnight Avabelle, goodnight Louis, goodnight Ma."

Avabelle Dancing with Ellen

2009-09-15T08:39:00.002-06:00

Here is a video of Avabelle dancing to the Ellen show, it makes me laugh every time I watch it.

I don't like you Dad!

2009-09-08T14:16:00.004-06:00

So last night, after a long labor day weekend full of activities, like movie under the stars, popcorn, playing in the jumpy castle in the basement, drawing, playing with the toys at the store, having a barbecue at Grammer's house, and finally relaxing at home with Madagascar 2, I tell Anthony it was time to go brush our teeth and put on our pajamas. He looks at me and says, "I don't like you Dad." and then his eyes started to tear up and he had this sad little frown.
So I sat down and said, "That is okay my son, I love you know matter what." Then I held out my arms to give him a hug and he jumped in my lap and gave me a big hug.
Then he said it again, "I don't like you Dad!" still on the verge of tears. I asked him what was wrong and he just said he didn't like me. But he wouldn't let go of me, he just kept hugging me. I held him and hugged him for a little while, but we had to go get ready for bed, so I took him upstairs and Mom said he had to take a bath, so I put him and sister in the bath. Once they were finished he ran and put his pajamas on and while I was putting on Avabelle's pajamas he came in there and asked me if I would tuck him in for bed?
I looked at him and said, "Why do you want me to tuck you in? I thought you didn't like me."
He stopped and said, "No, I like you now."
I asked him, "Well why did you not like me earlier."
And he said, "Because you have to work in the morning."
Which makes me really appreciate my job allowing me to work from home and get off at 3:30 to spend more time with him. It is amazing at how fast the time flies from 3:30-9:00 when I'm with the kids, as fortunate as I am, I still wish I could win the lotto so I can spend all day with the family.

Smiley

2009-08-28T22:10:00.003-06:00

Rita had been talking about how Louis keeps smiling at her all the time and, oh he is so cute and he keeps smiling, but every time I looked he wasn't smiling. So the other day I was holding him and he was looking at me and i was smiling and sure enough he smiled. I have noticed it a few times since, and he definitely has a cute little smile about him. It's not quite a full smile, kind of more like a good grin with occassional full smile borderline giggle. Which I believe is amazing for a four week old to be able to smile back when smiled too, yeah I'm sure some will say it is gas, but unless his gas is somehow linked to Rita's smile then I don't agree with the gas theory.

Rita can get him to do it much more than I can, usually when I'm looking at him he is looking at my hair or my hat. He is a cute little guy though, Rita has been doing a great job with him, she holds him 20 hours a day, okay maybe 23 hours. That little guy should definitely not have to worry about the baby abandonment insecurities he definitely knows he is loved and it shows with how happy he is. He has his little cry fits, usually that one hour Rita isn't holding him. :) Rita tries to tell me Anthony and Avabelle were the same way and I just have a short memory, hence the whole reason for the blog, but I think she doesn't want to let go because he is our last kid. That is actually hard to write, I can say it many times outloud but it is still hard to write and kind of sad to think about it that way.

Anyway Rita does a great job with them when they are little; all the kids definitely know they were loved and cared for since day one and I hope they always feel that way and they keep on smiling. Okay the keep on smiling part was cheesy, but that is okay because I'm a cheesy Dad now.

Avabelle's First Dance Recital

2009-08-25T13:31:00.002-06:00

Avabelle has been in Minnie Mouse Dance for the past few months and she had her first ever dance recital a couple of weeks ago. She loves to dance and sing, I always catch her rocking or moving her head when she hears a song or some beat she likes. In her dance class she learned different little things, we can watch her on the monitor, like twirling, spinning, moving her hips side to side, holding her hands up, jumping, and kicking. She always crack us up, because we'll say, "Avabelle show us your kick." and she will usually stop what she is doing and give this cute little tiny kick while saying kick and she'll usually do it a couple of times.
I'm not sure how her dance kick has turned into some kind of karate fighting kick, but she loves to go into the stores and she just cannot resist when she sees a post she has to kick it. Kind of like how a dog goes by a post and has to pee, I think she is marking her territory. Yes I just compared my daughters dance kick to a dog marking his territory. But she really has the infatuation with kicking things in the store.
Anyway, her first little recital it was her and three other girls in her class they all had to wear these little green shirts. There were many other classes that day, so she had to wait her turn, but finally she was on deck they took her into the prep area while another class was dancing. Then her and the other girls walked onto the stage just as cute as could be, they lined them up and when the music started all the girls pointed their little fingers up except for Avabelle. I think she had stage freight, although she didn't look scared at all she just looked like she was watching a movie or something.
Once the music started the three girls around Avabelle started dancing and following the instructors lead who stood in front of them to show them what to do, after a few seconds Avabelle gave a little smile and started shaking her hips a little then she stopped again. She stood still as if she was mesmerized in a trance for about 90% of the dance, every once in awhile she would do a little something. Towards the end she had managed to work herself into the center front and then just stared at one of the other girls dancing with a look of wow you are a pretty good dancer.
All and all it was pretty darn cute, come to find out later the other girls had been in dance classes a couple of times before and this was Avabelle's first class. Well see if she is a little more participating at the next recital since Mom signed her up for dance again. If she is not, then maybe she will be just like her Dad and not participate in stuff like that.

Movies under the stars

2009-08-25T12:15:00.006-06:00

Well I recently purchased a projection screen just so we can watch movies under the stars and this last Friday we finally had the chance with a decent warm night. We fed the kids and cleaned them up, put on their pajamas and then I set up the movie screen outside. The kids were very excited, running and jumping around at dusk just like when we were kids at the drive-in movies and you couldn't wait for it to be dark so the movie would start. We watched Iron Giant, it was a decent movie, but best of all it actually kept Avabelle's attention throughout the entire movie. She rarely watches an entire movie.

As the sky grew dimmer the kids organized how they wanted to sit, and they pointed at the different stars they saw or the occasional airplane, until it was finally dark enough to turn on.
It was still warm outside so even Louis came outside and joined us for a little while, until Momma took him inside and sat behind the screen door just in case mosquitoes were out and about. Speaking of mosquitoes, only a few minutes into the movie I noticed something flying around in the sky. It was a bat! That was pretty neat, we've lived her two years and I've never noticed we had bats, maybe that is why it seems like I rarely get bit by mosquitoes? Anyway the kids were not nearly as impressed with the bat as I was.
The biggest problem I had was the sound system, I had an old computer speaker system with sub-woofer that apparently broke while in storage, because when I hooked it up it didn't work so we had to use the built-in speaker in the projector it sounded horrible (kind of like the old drive-in speaker!) The kids didn't seem to mind or care much, I had a hard time hearing because of all the crickets, the crickets were so loud. Other than that everything else worked great, I'll be working on a solution for the speaker so we can have sound that everyone can enjoy including the hard of hearing like myself.
After the movie had started Momma made some popcorn and gave it to the kids, popcorn definitely tastes better under the stars. She also made us some pop-tarts that were a great snack, she is a good Mom!
We watched the movie late into the night, by the time it was done it was getting a little brisk so I don't know if we'll be able to do it again this summer, but we'll definitely try. Maybe I'll light one of my famous smoke pit fires to keep us warm! Avabelle still talks about getting smoke in her eyes to this day.

First Day of School

2009-08-25T09:51:00.006-06:00

Today was Anthony's first day of preschool, he has been so excited to go. He had been carrying his backpack around for months now. Talking about how he is going to preschool. He had a couple of books, folders and pens in there for awhile and he would just carry it everywhere. Sometimes he would unload everything and put his cars in there, but usually it was just for school stuff. He would take it in the car, out of the car, outside, downstairs, to bed, to play. He never really opened it much, but he carried it everywhere.
Well the time has finally arrived, I hesitate to say finally, because finally for him, but painfully too soon for Mom and I, he gets to go to school and he is super excited. He was standing in line to get into his class room and I asked him, "What are you going to do in preschool?"
He looked at me a second and then looked to the door and said, "Dadda, you need to ask the teacher." We went inside and he was sitting in the circle, the teacher asked if he did the morning question already, Anthony said, "Yes" and then they went to the next kid, but Mom was watching and knows he didn't answer the question so she asked the other teacher, "Am I supposed to answer that question with him?" The teacher told her no and then she said oh did he not answer the question and went back to him to ask him the question. She asked him if he was wearing blue today which he wasn't so they had to put his name on the No side of the board then he went and sat back down next to some other boys. When he was on his way home he told Mom about his day and how he played outside and they told him he had to stay on the road, because he was too fast and about how he had to answer no to the question was he wearing blue. He also told us they read two books, "Why I love me" and "We are all different" something like that, I already forgot the names of the books.

He dressed himself this morning and ate his breakfast then gathered up his real school supplies to put in his backpack. It was sad, Mom of course cried as they walked through the door; not that I blame her, my little buckaroo is growing up so fast. You always hear that saying, "They grow up so fast." I wish it wasn't true, but it is. So I guess the lesson is enjoy every moment and minute with your kids before they are all grown up.

Our first family photo

2009-08-20T14:11:00.002-06:00

Here is our first full family photo!

Great big brother and sister!

2009-08-20T13:59:00.006-06:00

We were both worried how the kids were going to do when Louis was born, well let me clarify we were worried about Avabelle, because she didn't want to have anything to do with having a brother or another baby. However, when Louis came she did a 180 degree change the moment she saw him she was gentle and careful and excited to see him. Anthony was especially cute, he had been so excited the whole pregnancy when he walked into the hospital with Grammer he was so happy to look at his new little brother. Both kids were a little timid, but they both had big grins on their faces. We even set Louis in their laps for a brief second, Avabelle wasn't too sure about it, Anthony liked it but I think he felt like he was going to break him.

But they both continued to show lots of patience and acceptance of Louis since we brought him home. Unfortunately when Louis was a couple days old Anthony, Avabelle and myself caught a bad cold and we all had to stay away from Louis for a few days, that was difficult, because they kids wanted to touch their brother and say hi, but we were afraid of Louis getting sick so we had to be a little stern keeping the kids away. It didn't seem to bother the kids too much they feel better now and are adorable siblings. They will smile and always ask before they touch him and Anthony will get little toys and shake them in Louis' face. I couldn't have asked for a better sibling welcome then what they have done.

Louis has arrived!

2009-07-24T20:37:00.011-06:00

Well he is finally here and I can finally blog about him, I have anxiously awaited his arrival before writing any blogs about him, I guess I was somewhat superstitious about writing anything before he had finally arrived, but now he is here and everything appears to be great. He was born at 9:37 pm on July 23rd 2009 weighing in at, the least of all three kids, but still a very healthy weight of 7 lbs 10 ounces, and measuring a lengthy 21 inches. He was a quick delivery and came out on only a few pushes and he has all his fingers and toes!

He was also the easiest to manage in the hospital, but he slept well and latched on right away. Rita did such an amazing job she is such a wonderful mother she makes me so proud.

Swimming again

2009-07-15T22:17:00.002-06:00

So Momma and I took the kids swimming again and this time my little dare devil Avabelle had gotten over her fear of jumping into the pool, it only took a few days. She had no problems going to the edge of the pool and jumping in with her tube, she must have done it 50 times.

Swimming

2009-07-10T14:33:00.005-06:00

I took the kids swimming yesterday and I think I had more fun than they did! It was great, we slathered up the sunblock, brought towels, toys, and snacks. When we first arrived the kids ran into the pool and started playing. We brought a couple of mini-tube floats that the kids could just fit into. I put both of the kids into their own tube and started pulling them towards the deep end. Avabelle had no problems at all, she just kicked her feet up, started relaxing and soaked up the sun. Anthony on the other hand was terrified, scratching and pulling at my arms and shoulders, splashing water trying to hold his head up. I tried to tell him he would be okay because he is in the tube and as long as he held on he wouldn't sink, but he was so scared of being in the deep end.

After a few minutes of terror he finally trusted me enough that he stopped kicking and squirming and realized I told him I wasn't going to let him drown and I would hold his hand or his tube until he felt safe. We were floating around and I had already let Avabelle go for a while now and she just floating by herself enjoying everything just kicking back. Anthony I held onto and dragged around for awhile slowly distancing myself from his reach, when he would feel a secure and calm I would tell him I was going to pull my hand off for just a second. When I did he started freaking out, kicking and paddling, hollering at me. Finally after about 15 minutes of this, I said I need a new idea to get him to relax and so I told him, "let's race!" He of course was all over that idea, and I said okay you and Avabelle have to race to my hand. I let go of his tube and took a couple of steps back, he didn't even notice he was floating on his own, he started paddling and kicking as if he was trying to race to my hand, instead of frantically kicking of terror, all the while he was laughing at Avabelle because he was winning. Of course Avabelle's short little arms could barely touch the water, but she still kicked a little.

The kids raced for awhile and Anthony seemed very comfortable now in the water by himself. So I figured why stop there? We might as well face that next fear of his, getting his head under water. I started picking Avabelle up out of the water into the air and then let her fall into the pool head and all going under water for a split second. Of course Anthony couldn't stand to not have fun if sister was having fun so he wanted to take a turn after seeing her say, "Again, again, again Dadda!" I grabbed him and threw him into the air and he didn't complain at all about his head going under the water, which was amazing, because he always hated getting his face and hair wet. We did this for quite some time and they both laughed and said, again, again until my arms were tired. Neither of them were coughing or swallowing water.

After about an hour of racing and throwing the kids in the air I decided they probably want to go play in the kiddie pool with the other kids. I took them over there and before we even got there they were both whining about wanting to go back to the deep end, I made them play over there for a few minutes anyway just incase they might have more fun in the kiddie pool. It only took a few minutes until I was tired of some random kid coming up to me and pouring water on my head. So back we went, back to the deep end and played for awhile longer. We eventually stopped and got out to eat some snacks, and then jumped right back in, well sort of. The kids both wanted to jump back in from the edge, but neither could really do it, they both were scared and they both would sit down, scoot into the water, but they wanted to do it again and again and again. Avabelle saw someone climb out of the pool on the ladder and decided she wanted to go up and down the step ladder on her own to get in and out, so she did that for awhile. Then she tossed her tube aside and would climb out and then climb back in completely sinking under the water reaching out for me. I would pick her up out of the water with a big smile on her face.

Finally after being in the pool for a couple of hours it was closing time and we had to get out. Avabelle had a little tantrum getting out and pouted on the cement while I collected all the toys. I thought for sure it was going to be a fight to get her to the car, but I had an idea, do you want to go home or take a shower? She instantly stopped, stood up and said, "I take a shower?" And off we walked into the pool house and took a nice hot shower. I think Avabelle and Anthony had a really good time, they are such good kids and so full of life I love doing everything with them.

Busy little bees

2009-07-08T22:20:00.005-06:00

Rita and I joke quite often about how our kids are spoiled and lucky, how at their age they have already done so much more than we ever did in our entire childhoods. The question is, is it good or bad? Sometimes I worry about them getting into a habit of constant go go go with no time to sit around and truly be bored. I think kids need that boredom to really grow their imaginations. Although we have seen a tremendous social, comfort, and interaction growth in Anthony over the past couple of weeks, I think all the activities and fast paced days have been good for him.

He really has grown leaps and bounds recently and I don't know if it is due to all the activities he has been in lately: gymnastics, swimming, soccer, piano lessons, theater explorers, plus all of the other daily things we do with them. At first he fought with us to go to anything and everything, he pouted and would not participate easily, once he did start participating he always seemed to enjoy it, but getting him started was always a battle. Now he enjoys them all and quickly gets ready and is generally excited to go to anything. Socially he seems to have matured, by him attempting to make conversations with people and he is a very friendly outgoing kid. He has always been a very loving and appreciative, but now he is more communicative. Although he cracks me up, because he loves to talk to people and makes the most random comments, such as, "I have Lighting McQueen shoes", "My dogs name is Jasmine", "We drive an SUV", "I fell on the fireplace and hit my nose", "I drive a jeep like Aunt Jenn", "I have a dog", "My sister hit my dad", etc. the list goes on, you never know what he is going to say. I absolutely love it, he usually will tell me what he is going to tell them first and if I could describe the joy and excitement in his face as he gets ready to tell someone, whether it is a family, friend, his coach, the check out person at the store, you never know who he will get excited to tell something too and what it is he is going to tell them, but he does it with such jubilation and happiness. Usually after he says his comment, he has a little shyness in him, but you can also see him beaming with pride that he told them something. He is such an amazing kid. Avabelle I think was born with this characteristic (talent) just like her mom, she has such a friendliness, talkative, outgoing personality. She already walks down the aisles in the stores and says "Hi" to random people with the biggest smile, she is too adorable, and it makes me so happy to see them both grow into such beautiful happy kids.

Night Owls

2009-07-08T22:14:00.003-06:00

Well here it is 10:25 pm and the kids have been awake sitting in Anthony's room, playing with his Cars! Avabelle was asleep, but of course she took off her diaper and when Mom went to put it back on she woke up, but this time Avabelle woke up terrified of something, (Probably her diaper since she can't seem to keep it on in her crib) so feeling sorry for her, mom let her into the bed. I took a shower and laid down, but when I went to turn out the lights Anthony said, "NO, don't turn off the lights I'm playing cars." I told him that I was going to bed and if he wanted to play cars he could go in his room and turn the light on. As he was leaving sister crawled off the bed and followed him into his room and was seated on the bed playing cars with him. They were laughing and playing for sometime until Avabelle just wandered in our room and crawled over me to lay down and go to sleep, with Anthony following her shortly after that.

Are you kidding me?

2009-06-24T22:25:00.003-06:00

The other day I was working from home and Anthony wanted to play his Cars game on the Xbox 360, I told him he could play if he cleaned up the mess he made in the front room. He had toys everywhere, the pillows on the floor, books, clothes thrown about. He excitedly accepted the offer and started cleaning up, when he opened the door to the downstairs playroom, I knew what he was going to do. He was going to just throw it all in a pile at the bottom of the stairs, so I told him, "Okay, if you are going to clean up your toys you cannot just throw them downstairs, you have to put them away." He just looked at me for a moment and then shrugged with acceptance.
I went back into my office and worked for a few minutes then when I came out he had made a pretty good dent in the mess, still some stuff thrown about like clothes and books, but most of the toys were gone. I opened the door to the basement and guess what, no toys at the bottom of the stairs. Instead he had piled a mass of toys at the top of the stairs! It was about two feet high from wall to wall on the first two stairs, I had to laugh, but then I told him, "No that is not how we do it either, and we have to put them downstairs where they belong, not at the bottom of the stairs.
I went back to work again and then came out to checkup on him. I looked downstairs the toys were not piled at the top, bottom or middle of the stairs, they were not exactly put away, but at least I could walk up and down without falling over toys, I was content. I went back upstairs and told him he was almost done and he only had to pick up the books and put the clothes in his room, then I went back to work.
A couple of minutes later he walks in with his little smile of accomplishment on his face. As I started to walk out of my office I could see pillows from the couch on the floor still. I told him, "Almost done, pick up those pillows and those couple of small toys left over by the wall." and I sat back down in my chair.
He stopped, looked at me then said in a serious little voice, "Come on Dadda, are you kidding me?" The way he said it cracked me up.

50th Anniversay

2009-06-22T16:38:00.011-06:00

This weekend we attended my Nino and Nina's 50th wedding anniversary where we all dressed up and enjoyed the celebration. It turned out to be a very nice anniversary party and we all had a great time. The kids did an amazing job, both of them were so well behaved and did such a good job.
Avabelle was so adorable, I loved watching her dance and socialize with everyone like the party was for her. I danced with her, mom and Anthony (from time to time) all night. She would sometimes dance with brother, sometimes with mom and sometimes with me. She also spent some time wandering around sponging up all the attention she was getting by being adorable as ever, she is such a little sweetheart. She was going around giving hugs and smiles to everyone.

Anthony seemed to have a great time as well he also loved to dance, drink lemonade, play tag, and run outside with the other kids. He came up to me once during the night while I was standing outside talking and said, "Dadda, those boys punched me in the nose."
"Well what should you do?" I asked him.
He replied, "Ummm, punch them in the nose?"
"Okay, next time they punch you in the nose you punch them back in the nose." I said, semi-chuckling. He seemed content with that and ran off seemingly happy. I watched him as he ran off and he ran right up to his cousin Vinny and another older boy I'm going to guess around nine years old. They were standing there talking when Anthony walked up and said something to them, they both looked at him and then he took one big swing right at them. It was kind of far away, so I couldn't tell if he hit them, but the next thing I know both of the boys were holding their noses crying. He somehow managed to hit both of them in the nose at the same time. I went over to apologize and make sure they were okay. I felt so bad, because I told him to hit them if they hit him, but I was also proud of him for standing up for himself too.

Here are a couple of photos of the slugger dancing late into the night after we put his pajamas on.

First Camping Trip

2009-06-12T09:59:00.005-06:00

We went camping this last weekend with Grammer and Papa at Cheyenne Mountain campgrounds near NORAD in Colorado Springs. The campsite was very kid friendly with newly paved roads and cul-de-sacs for the kids to ride their bikes on. The actual site was very well groomed with a metal fire pit and picnic table.

I think Anthony and Avabelle really enjoyed it. Anthony rode his tricycle around the campground and Avabelle was just about an inch short from being able to ride hers. So we took turns pushing her around while standing on the back of the tricycle, she only liked that for about ten minutes and she didn't want to do that again. Anthony however, really impressed me with how much he rode his tricycle. We went for a short walk around the campground the first night we were there and he rode the entire time. Even up steep hills he would try and try, he would huff and puff and you could see his little legs struggling to make it, but he didn't give up. Eventually we had to help him by giving him a little push on some of the hills.

When we arrived back at our camp site the kids really enjoyed just running around, there was a small hill next to the site and the kids were running like crazy up and down and jumping into the tall grasses. They were throwing little rocks and being happy kids just enjoying everything around them.

Later that night we attempted to roast marshmallows around the campfire, this time it was a bit more successful than my last attempt with my wet wood. The kids still didn't want their marshmallows roasted, but Grammer had brought some chocolate and graham crackers so we made s'mores with them and the kids thought they were yummy.

After smores it started to get really dark, the kids played with flashlights for awhile and then put on their pajamas and went into the trailer while we sat around the campfire. Grammer's trailer was very nice and comfortable even though we had both beds pulled out together for enough room to sleep probably six people, Rita slept on one and the kids and I slept scrunched on another one until Avabelle finally was tired of me laying on her and went and slept with her mom.

The next morning we woke up and went for a walk on a little wilderness trail about .5 miles long. Anthony again rode his tricycle this time we brought the dog leash to attach to and pull him when needed. We all had a great time and enjoyed the experience I cannot wait to go again with all the kids.

Campfire part 2

2009-05-29T12:21:00.003-06:00

Last night I decided to break out the little travel barbecue grill that I have and see if we could have a little campfire. It was almost dinner time, so I told Anthony he would need to go and gather firewood around the yard. I swear I must have said that about 200 times last night, every time he would get super excited run off and bring back one little stick. So I told him get like 15 sticks and bring them back, and so he went and counted 15 sticks to bring back. Unfortunately we didn't have very many sticks they were more like twigs, since it had been raining for the last few days they were all still wet, but I figured we'll try it and we forged on. I helped him gather some more wood and finally we had a small little pile.

After we finished our dinner I told him we could light the fire, so I started to light the fire and the kids were as excited as could be. It was really smokey because the wood was so wet, I figured the solution would be the trusty charcoal lighter fluid and dowsed the wood with it so it would burn. Well needless to say the kids enthusiasm soon diminished when they were choking and coughing and crying because the smoke was in their face and lungs. They didn't give up on me though, they stuck around and every time the smoke would blow their way they would cry and hold their head down. Finally after about 10 minutes of smoke signals the fire was burning well enough to see some flame and I figured I could try to sit around and roast some marshmallows.

By now Rita has ran inside and closed the door like I just smacked a hornets nest with a big stick. She apparently wants no part of this and is not happy with my smoke torturing of the kids and the rest of the neighborhood. Darn it, I'm determined to get this wet wood to burn and roast some marshmallows; that is what I'm thinking to myself anyway.

I went and grabbed some marshmallows and started roasting/smoking one. Anthony was excited, and grabbed a tiny little stick about four inches long and stuck his marshmallow on there. I told him he would probably need a longer stick. Earlier that day I shaved three nice long three foot marshmallow pokers to use. So I gave him one of those. He put his marshmallow on there and literally waved it over the fire and started eating it. By the time he had finished eating his marshmallow my first one was finally warm and gooey so I took a nibble to check the heat and it was not too hot it was just a little warm. I gave it to Avabelle who put the whole thing in her mouth and then grabbed half of it and handed it back to me like I just gave her a mouthful of sand! Oh wait, if it was sand she would have eaten it, because she loves to eat sand. So there she is with half marshmallow in her mouth chewy and gooey and the rest all of me and her hands.

By now the wood had finally dried out enough to burn without too much smoke and at this point I'm thinking to myself thank God we are not in the mountains making this mess, what a nightmare it would be to clean.

Avabelle finally realizes that I'm not trying to poison her and finishes eating her marshmallow, I think she actually is starting to enjoy it, now that the kids have stopped coughing and crying from smoke. I then go to make another one and give it to Anthony and he says, "Nope, no thank you, I don't want it hot." I say just try it and we argue for a few minutes while I eat a couple of nice gooey warm marshmallows and Ava has another warm one and probably a handful of cold ones, since I couldn't keep my eye on her. Finally I talk Anthony into trying one that was warm, but was now cold. He takes a bite and gives me this look as if he is going to gag. So needless to say the campfire and marshmallow adventure in the back yard was anything but successful, however it was still fun for me and I had a good laugh from torturing them two with the campfire and marshmallows.

Big Brother

2009-05-29T12:19:00.005-06:00

Anthony was so amazing during Rita's pregnancy he was always so caring and excited for his brother. For example, we have this big photo book of pregnancy with all the description steps and pictures of the whole process. Anthony absolutely loved to look at this book. He apparently found it fascinating, I don't know how many times we would go to bed and he would ask to look through the pages of this baby book. He'd say things like "Look Dad that is Louis." So one night I went through the whole book with him, pointing out the things and explaining what they were and what happens. It was amazing he sat there and absorbed it all in. I told him the steps Louis had gone through and how he developed from a tiny egg and how you could see the little heart and hear it at the ultrasound, and at the time I was showing this too him Louis was maybe 7 months, so I would tell him how Louis' started out and wasn't fully developed yet. Then I showed him how he started to get his arms and legs and then when he started to grow hands but no fingers and how he slowly grew bigger and bigger and how if he came out at 7 months he would have his fingers and toes and look like a little baby. It was extremely cute how excited Anthony was about his little brother. He always loved to rub Momma's tummy and kiss it and lay next to it. He is an amazing big brother. There was one picture in the book where the father was holding his head to the Mom's stomach and had his hand on her stomach and I would often find the book laying open to that page in the book. Sister on the other hand was not so sure about the baby, when we would say things like she would have a new baby brother, she would say things like, "No, no, baby right here!" and then point to herself. Although she did pose for this picture.

Campfire

2009-05-28T13:23:00.002-06:00

So last night I was enjoying the Nuggets game, meanwhile Anthony and Avabelle were down stairs playing for quite some time. As I was sitting there I see Anthony's little head pop up over the stairs and look at me with a smile. So I ask him what's going on and he says, "Dadda, do you want to go camp with me?" Of course I'm thinking ah, the nuggets are on and it is gave 5 of the series against the Lakers, but what the heck I'll go camping.
So I said, "Sure bud, I'll camp with you." and I got off my lazy butt and started walking downstairs and I am so glad that I did. He had set up the cutest little camp circle around a box that was the fire pit. He had all the chairs in the room circled, plus the storage ottomans turned upside down, the play kitchen stool, even the doll stroller all set up around this camp fire. It melted my heart to see him playing so well with his sister and how he had set this up for us to play. I was upset thinking that I almost said no that I was watching the game, and what it meant to him for me to just come down and play for a little while. Anyway we fished, camped, boated, roasted marshmallows and read a camp story. The Nuggets lost and I still watched the last part of the game so I didn't miss anything, but I gained a lot.

Nope, not going to do.

2009-05-11T22:05:00.002-06:00

So the other day I was in the back yard pulling weeds and I was thinking this would be a great time to show Anthony how to pull some weeds and we could bond for a little while. So I grabbed my bucket, weed puller and some gloves and asked him if he wanted to pull some weeds. He excitedly agreed to go and help me, so once we walked over to the weeds I said, ok I'll pull them out of the ground and you can throw them in the bucket. He said, "okay." But after I picked one dandelion out of the ground and I knew this wasn't going to work, because Anthony's eyes lite up to the size of golf balls and I knew he wanted to pull the weeds out of the ground. So I said, and I started showing him how to do it. I said you have to put it on the center of the weed and then push down really hard and lift up the weed. He then started to try to put it on the dandelion flower part and push down with all his might and even tried stepping on it, but he wasn't strong enough to break the dirt. So he started to get frustrated a little, so I said ok I'll push it down and told him to pull it up. I started pushing them into the weeds and let him pull it up, but then you have to hit the top of the weed puller to release the spikes holding the dandelion and sometimes you have to smack it really hard, so he was standing there trying to push the release button, but it wouldn't budge. I told him ok, I'll show you how to release it, you have to hit it and then I told him to hold it and I gently smacked the end of the weed puller a couple of times and the dandelion popped off into the bucket. Anthony got so mad at me that he yelled at me, "Dadda I said you don't do that I was going to do that." and then he said, "Nope sorry, sorry Dadda so sad you are being mean I'm not going to help you. Nope you are mean." and then he ran off and started playing in his sandbox. I stood there dumbfounded, I guess I have to really let him try to do things on his own, but I could tell when he was getting frustrated so I wanted to help him.