School's Out for . . . 2 Weeks

Reed is going to do the Summer program at his preschool again this year but there is a two week break in between the school year ending and summer school starting. I decided to keep Reed home for those couple weeks instead of him going to the day care program. Normally I only have one day at home with Reed during the week and music class is smack in the middle of that morning so we don't get the chance for many other outings right now. We have definitely made up for that over the last week. First up we hit up ImagineU with Auntie M and Baby Ben. I have talked about this place before, but it really is great for kiddos the boys' ages. I was a little concerned that at six months Ben wouldn't have a lot to do, but he loved watching the boys and observing what was going on. It was also great to catch-up with Melissa since we hadn't seen each other for over a month.

Next up C and Tio invited us to 2Xtreme, an indoor trampoline place in Clovis, on Saturday evening. To say the boys had a blast is an understatement and they fully exhausted themselves running and jumping for almost 2 hours.

After being up late and playing so hard the night before the boys slept in a bit on Sunday. I decided to give Jon a break from the chaos that is toddlers and took the kids to a Mommy and Me Yoga class in Fresno that morning. The boys participated quite a bit, which isn't always the case, and after it was over were asking when they could do it again.

We drive by the Reedley Cemetery multiple times a week and recently Reed has had a lot of questions about death, cemeteries, grave stones, etc. I don't have many family members buried in the area but Jon's Grandparents are both buried at another local cemetery. The week prior I had mentioned to Auntie P the idea of visiting the cemetery to let Reed have a chance to see what it was like and hopefully answer a few more of his questions. Paula reminded me that her Dad was always very involved in the Memorial Day celebration every year at the cemetery and it is something she and her sister Margie have continued the tradition of since he passed. I wasn't sure how Kieran would handle it all, but both boys did great. Reed was really interested in reading the names on the gravestones and finding out how everyone was related to him. They both liked finding their Great-Grandfather's American flag in the row of flags that was put out for the event and did stellar sitting through a pretty lengthy ceremony. They were quiet and respectful, applauded at the right time, took their hats off when asked, and were in general on their best behavior. Jon was able to meet us for the ceremony as were Margie's kids and a few of her grandkids (Reed's favorite Megan included). After the ceremony the boys didn't want to leave, chatted up the other kids, and kept asking when they could come back. I think sometimes the importance of certain Holidays is lost on the younger generations (ours included) and seeing the boys take in the seriousness of the day and showing respect for the celebration really did bring me a lot of joy.

Finally yesterday we made a trip out to the Ranch office to say hi to the ladies who we haven't visited in a long time and also to check out the tractors with Tio. The boys each rode three different tractors and probably would have rode all morning if I had let them. We finished up our visit by sneaking some nectarines out of one of the picking bins and chatting about their future as tractor drivers. As if they don't already adore Tio, I think tractor rides move him into an "idolized" category!!!

Lyla is Two!!!

This week was Lyla's second Birthday which meant we got to help her celebrate a couple of times!!! On Sunday Pepe made her favorite dinner, we gave Lyla her gifts, and had yummy strawberry shortcake for dessert. The boys love Lyla so much and are so lucky to spend so much time with her. They were both so excited about it being her Birthday, it was pretty adorable.

Tio's family was able to make it down during the week so Tio and C hosted a Birthday BBQ for Lyla. Nonna, Pepe, Gran, Papa, Grammy, Pop Pop, and Tia T were all able to be there. It was a fun night of eating, playing with the kids, swimming, cupcakes, and present opening. We were there an hour past the boys' bedtime and I think they would have gone all night if we had let them!

Lyla and her Tia Tracy

Pool spectators - C, Papa, Gran, Tia T, Nonna, and Grammy

Sometimes celebrating is hard



Kieran Says April/May 2016 Edition

So I will totally admit this kid's got my number! The other day I told Jon that Kieran convinced me to take him to Starbucks when that hadn't been my plan. When Jon asked me how exactly our 2.5 year old "convinced" me I just couldn't put into words what putty I become in his hands when he asks for something so sweetly and politely. "Mama, we go to Starbucks? I want an egg and bacon and cheese sandwich. Please can we go to Starbucks Mama? You have a coffee Mama? We can sit outside. We go to Starbucks and then the grocery store?" His sweet little voice is just so precious and honestly sitting at a table chatting with this little person will be remembered long past when I've forgotten the unwashed clothes, unpaid bills, etc. of the morning.

After making a quilt for Reed last year to keep at Grandma's house I decided to do the same for Kieran. It took me a while to get around to, but I asked Kieran to choose between a few patterns and he went with a plus pattern for his quilt. I was really afraid if I let him choose a fabric color he would want yellow but I had a few red fabrics he really liked so I was pretty pleased with his selections. The quilt has found its' home at Grandma and Grandpa's house but for the few days it was with us K took it everywhere and absolutely adored it. This made me so happy and since I needed to take some pictures for this post I decided to capture him and the quilt together.

Reed was rushing through counting something and I told him to slow down because he kept skipping 10. Reed replied that "number ten is going eight, you're leaving me behind." To which Kieran responded "don't worry Reed, I got him!"

A police car whizzed by us on a freeway off-ramp with lights and sirens on and quickly turned off onto the surface street. Kieran asked "where is the police car?" It was an off-ramp with lots of fast food places so I told him "maybe he's going to a restaurant." Without skipping a beat K said "he must be hungry!!"

Reed still struggles with putting his shoes on by himself, probably half the time ending up with them on the wrong feet. When one morning I told Reed he had his shoes on the wrong feet, Kieran ran over and said "I have to teach you!!!  That one goes on that foot!"

One of Kieran's favorite things to do is pee outside (such a boy). One day I was helping him with his pants while he went and he stuck his leg out in front him. When I asked what he was doing he told me "See Mom, I lift my leg like Dodger when he pees."

Even though Kieran is pretty much potty trained, I still remind him every couple of hours to try to go. When I asked K if he needed to go potty he replied "I don't need to go potty, I went yesterday!"

While on the drive home from Sunday dinner I asked the boys what their favorite part of the visit to Nonna and Pepe's was. Kier piped up and said "dessert!!!" Knowing we didn't have dessert I asked what exactly was for dessert to which he replied "ketchup!!!"

At breakfast Kieran broke his banana in half. I immediately held my breath because this usually means a meltdown in our house. Instead he declared "banana nunchucks" and started doing karate moves with the two pieces.

We were listening to the song "Down by the Bay" and I kept laughing at all of the "My Mother will say ..." parts and finally Kieran said "this is so ridiculous!!!"

As a reward for going potty K asked for jelly beans and I agreed but was in the middle of cooking dinner so I handed him the Tupperware container and told him to just take two (there were like 8 in the container). A minute later I turned around and there was only one jelly bean left. I immediately said "did you eat all of those?" Kier replied "not yet" in this super sing-songy voice while slipping the last one in his mouth with the most devious smile.

After the jelly bean binge incident I was serving up dinner and out of nowhere K said "I hear voices." I told him jokingly "I hear voices too, what do your voices say?" He immediately said "eat the jelly bean." (to be honest I'm still a little haunted by this one).