Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert

My sister Amy and I did the Del Mar Mud Run, it was my first one and soo much fun! The very first stop was to get on your hands and knees and crawl through muddy water- we got dirty:) And yes, we did go as nerds knowing all the other girls were wearing tutus and sports bras- but my sister and I just felt more natural in the nerd costume, what? :) BEFORE:

Here we go!!!

AFTER:

Random pic

Happy Friday =)

School Days

I know it is the teacher in me, but I LOVE the beginning of the school year. I use to love getting new clothes, finding out who my teacher was, and what friends were going to be in my class. I always loved school and so far so do my kids. Here is a little update of us: Keia Second Grade -Just officially lost Second tooth. Likes: GYMNASTICS, black bean & cheese burritos, American Girl anything, winning, and wearing running shoes with every single outfit- skirts, dresses, you name it! Dislikes: being forced to eat Spinach daily, that one time in a million that Mattix won't do what she wants, me helping her with her "fashion", no more baby Disney movies

Mattix Kindergarten Likes: hair combed to the side- "no spikey hair", anything gummie, telling on his 2 year old sister for everything, reading, games, and ALL sports Dislikes: anything on his hands, losing, cleaning his room

Kalli Homeschooled :) Likes: to wear anything dress-up, anything she puts in her hair -not what I put in, ice cream, princesses, saying "poop" over and over to make her siblings laugh, the pool, and getting her picture taken Dislikes: not getting her way, not allowed to be involved in a non-2 year old activity, naps or anytime to go to sleep

Knotty Family Photo

Here is our family photo taken at Knotts Berry Farm with Matt's fam. Excuse my scandalous dress, we chose "saloon" theme, I don't know how anyone breathed back then!! We had a great trip and I even rode a scary roller coaster... which may appear on YOUTUBE, because apparently I was screaming so loud (before the roller coaster took off), people were filming me with their phones. I was scared okay!

First tooth

This is a sad picture of Keia because we had just got her ears pierced, but the reason I am showing this picture is if you notice her teeth... she doesn't have any. Keia's first tooth started to barely poke through at 16 months. Since Keia got her teeth so late, I knew that would fall out late...

Here is a picture of Keia taken today losing her first tooth at 7. She was the only first grader in her class who hadn't lost a tooth yet. Matt took out the dental floss and pulled that stubborn sucker out. Later that night I walked into Keia's room and she was in her windowsill looking for the tooth fairy. She told us that the tooth fairy was going to bring her pixie dust...uuuuhhhh?

Been busy at the beach...

random pics...

Mother's day at Mattix's preschool

Keia's field trip to the Wild Animal Park

SURPRISE TRIP TO DISNEYLAND WITH BABA AND GRANDPA BOB

Next up, Summer!!!! Can't wait....

Victory.

There are two things I find the most challenging as a mother: #1-Being woken up in the middle of the night (not good with that) #2-POTTY TRAINING. I hate potty training. I already have my own issues with sitting on toliets, and I don't like messes- especially those containing pee or poop- therefore it really is not a good combo for me. Potty training was a complete disaster with Keia- I did it all wrong- yes we got her potty trained at 2, but it brought out my worst side as a mother. Mattix basically trained himself and was going to a preschool full-time- so a lot of the training was done there. So when it came to Ms. Kalli- I prepped myself by starting her at 1, learning to tell me if she had poo poo in her diaper. I felt it would help for her to recognize that something was in there, eventually she would tell me on her own. Then at 18 months I started getting books from the library about the "potty" and would ask her (usually right before a tub when she was naked) if she wanted to sit on the potty- totally up to her if she wanted to. Okay- so we set the foundation... I told myself to be patient and that I would be nice if she had an accident... we achieved Victory folks- Kalli was potty trained in 3 days and has only had 4 accidents total. She is going poo and pee in the big potty. It was not a fun week of staying home and running to every call for the potty or complete stress in the car when she insisted on wearing her "undies", just prepping myself that she was going to pee in her seat and that it would be okay (luckily she never did). I feel so free knowing this is the last time I will ever have to potty train again!! Way to go Kalli, you are lucky to be getting the nicer, calmer version of me (sorry Keia).

Bud

Mattix is officially 5 (last week). Matt took him mini-golfing and to the movies on his birthday. Things I am loving about this kid is his love for reading, he loves to play games (any game, right now UNO is his favorite), and he loves sports. He is probably my most quiet child and for the most part really easy-going. When he isn't mellow- he is the complete opposite: super hyper and SILLY. He thinks everything is funny (unless in a mood), and he has a great sense of humor. I am happy to see him wrestle with his friends and be a boy, he was so shy for so long, he has really come out of his shell. However, he still has his "ticks"- the current ones are smelling everything and licking his fingers (gross I know!), or you can hear him making a Mmmm sounds every couple of minutes. At this point, I feel grateful that other kids don't recognize it yet, but that day will come. I love this kid and sometimes he blows my mind at how thoughtful and sensitive he is to my feelings- way more than my girls! Happiest Birthday Bud- and of course I am posting this a week late because you are my middle child- sorry!!

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays...

When all three of your kids have birthdays within 3 weeks of each other- there are many parties going on. I have to say, when my kids BEGGED for a Chuck-e-cheese party, I tried hard to convince them to do something else. I am not the biggest fan of Chuckey, it is loud and dirty and money just goes towards winning tickets that earn you a plastic toy to go into our landfills. Whoa- a little passionate there, anywho- I have to apologize to Chuckey, because it was a great party! Everything was very organized, the kids were highly entertained, and it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would have been. Keia and Mattix had an awesome time- especially being able to go into the ticket blaster! Good times!!

DA GIRLS

DA BOYS

Thanks Chuckey =) Onto Ms. Kalli's Big 2nd Birthday!!!

We decided to get her ears pierced for our "big" two-year-old, who has definitely taken on the role of being 2!!! Before

After

We didn't waste any time with training Kalli- today was her first official day potty training- couple of pee pee accidents, but did go poop on the potty!! She loves wearing her "undies"- I'll keep you posted on our progress.

**I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that I literally got to see my kids grow another year.. I feel fortunate for this blessing. I LOVE celebrating the day my kids came to me. LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Happiest Birthday (7,5, and 2- we are getting older)

What we've been up to...

It is a boy thing...

I have to say that I have felt pretty happy that Mattix isn't your usual boy. He is actually quite sensitive, but now that he is almost 5, it is starting to come out more and more. I use to hear all these horror stories about trips to the hospital with boys with broken bones, collecting gross bugs, or getting into fights. I am proud to say that we had our first "boy" incident and it wasn't even that big of a deal. I was signing Mattix in for preschool and right away his two best friends started chasing him around the room trying to tackle him to the ground. I was just about to tell him to stop running (being a former preschool teacher, I know the rules!)- when his friend knocked him into the corner of a table. There was a lot of blood and tears, but overall he handled it really well. I debated even taking him to Urgent Care, but the doctor said it was a good that I did, so that they could clean it well and not get an infection. Since it is hidden on his head the doc said that he was going to glue it shut instead of dealing with stitches. Mattix was so brave and didn't shed one tear for the doctor, I on the other hand was getting nauseous, I am such a wuss when it comes to blood and doctors. Anywho- way to go bud!!