Every night after bath Gabriella asks the same question.
"see him daddy"
She loves to lay with her daddy before bed. It's her favorite place to be, all snuggled in daddy’s arms.
I hope she will settle for mommy’s arms on Monday thru Friday. It might be hard for daddy since he'll be working. :)
Last Friday Jeff and Brandon went to LA for a Jiu Jitsu tournament. They went with a group from our wrestling team and had a great time.
Brandon did a fantastic job. He took 1st place! I'm sad I missed it, but happy that at least I have the pictures and videos to see.
Great job Brandon. You're a tough little man!
Jeff and Brandon are heading to LA later today for a Jiu Jitsu tournament tomorrow.
This will be Brandon's second tournament and I'm excited to see how he does.
Say a little prayer for them to have a safe and successful trip!
Well, the beginning of a new school year is underway and I am proud to say we have made the transition quite smoothly.
Alyssa loves Junior High! She loves the fact that they switch classes, she loves the fact that they have lockers, she loves all her teachers and she LOVES her new cell phone! My mom and sisters can vouch for that, she is a big fan of texting.
I've also over come another huge hurtle. Alyssa's school is about a block away from Brandon's. They both get out about the same time and obviously Jeff needs to pick up Brandon...so Alyssa is walking from her school to Brandon's. In a group...a pretty large one too. I know, some of you are rolling your eyes at this point. But for those of you who truly know me know how freaked I am about these things. I am aware that I can't keep my kids in a bubble but I'm a believer in not exposing them to unnecessary risks.
Nutcracker rehearsals are under way. I am SO excited for the show. I know it will be fantastic, but more so with my little lady dancing one of the leading rolls.
Brandon has made the transition into 2nd grade very well. I love his teacher and I think she will be a great fit for Brandon. I spoke to her last night and she told me how well mannered he has been. My spawn?! I am so happy to hear things like that, I know he is a good boy, but again, if you know Brandon...well. You know Brandon.
September will be his last month at Tap Out until March. We're getting ready for the new wrestling season! I am SUPER excited for that!
Jeff will start new hours at work on Monday. He will now be working 7pm-3:30am.
He has always worked graveyard hours but the earlier start time leaves me with the full responsibility of the kids activities. Thankfully, I sat down with my mom, both of us armed with our calendars and we have dived up who takes who where and what time. It's literally a full time job getting them where they need to be.
On the plus side of Jeff's new hours. He will get more sleep and he'll be home on the weekends. We won't see but a minute of each other Monday-Friday...but we'll have all weekend together.
I'm hanging on. Taking it one day at a time. I have days during the week when I leave for work at 7:30am and don't walk through the door again until 9pm. My kids are happy though, doing what they love and of course that makes all these long days well worth it.
Oh...and not to leave my Gabriella out.
She is such a good sport about everything. She is just so laid back, besides her every 2 second demands for me to belt out "Jesus Loves Me" and "You Are My Sunshine" she waits so patiently for her big sister while she is at dance.
She is finding her place in our crazy family and testing her limits more and more every day.
So, if you're still reading this...well. Thanks!
Alyssa and Elizabeth have been best friends since 2nd grade.
They do everything together. Lots of phone calls are exchanged to discuss important topics like clothes and shoes, boys and annoying brother stories.
I'm glad they have each other.
Here we go again...
another new school year. Alyssa is now officially in Junior High and Brandon is in
2nd grade. Where did the time go?!
The kids were excited. Not so much for me. Of course I'm having a hard time with the fact that my teeny tiny baby is now in 6th grade. Ok, so she's not so tiny anymore.
I also know how much more crazy my life is going to be with the addition of school, homework and a more structured bed time. All this added onto an already crazy schedule of Tap Out, Wrestling and dance classes. Can you hear me sighing?!
All and all...the prep for today was great, the kids fell back into the routine like clockwork and I must admit it was nice to have sleeping kids before 10pm last night.
I'm hanging on cause I have a feeling this is going to be one heck of a school year.
Wish us luck!
Oh how I love my sweet little Gabriella.
She really is very sweet....most of the time
This past weekend she has really given me a run for my money.
Maybe it was the giant tantrum she threw when we were buying new shoes or the way she ran from me all. weekend. long.
It may also have something to do with emptying two of her dresser drawers and screaming and hitting when things were not going the way she had desired.
Yup...it's official. Gabriella has ventured into the terrible twos.
This is the only picture I have of Alyssa...this is when she was still in the know it all phase...
Yesterday we took the kids swimming at my moms house.
As usual we had a lot of fun. Gabriella seems to be getting use to the big "bath" and was eager as ever to jump right in. With daddy, of course.
Brandon, as you can see from the video below has no fear either. He was doing front and back flips from the side of the pool and out of daddy's arms too.
Alyssa...well. She was grounded. It was one of those days when she knew everything and we...well, we just had no clue. In the end we caved and let her swim too. (I know, I'm so weak!)
"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
--Washington Irving
I have a great mom.
She's actually more like a friend now. I have no issues arguing a point with her or sharing secrets and stories. I think my mom know everything about me.
It's funny, when something happens I always reach for the phone and Jeff will always say "oh yea, you got to call your mom".
YUP..
I share it all.
It's funny how much we depend on her and how much she does without ever batting a eye.
She runs Alyssa to dance, keeps my kids at the drop of a hat, will make emergency runs to Target, Toys-R-Us and Wal-Mart if I realize I'm missing something while stuffing Easter Baskets or Stockings at 2 am. She always comes through when I NEED a Starbucks fix and is always ready and willing to meet me for dinner with overly tired kids. She comes to all the wrestling tournaments and even happily made the 9 hour drive to Winnemucca with me to watch the State tournaments. We're looking forward to next year’s too.
Thanks mom...for everything you do. We appreciate you more than you know!
For the last several weeks Gabriella has been removing her diapers, usually during nap time. Than last week before bath she asked about the big potty but was scared of it's size and odered me to close the lid...and than preceded to potty on the floor. I knew then that she was ready. I'm wasnt sure I was. Gabriella is my baby, it's uncertain if we'll add anymore blessings to the family so for now all these milestones could be my last.
Anyways, on Saturday we bought her a new pink potty. She has been sitting on it here and there, but I hadnt started the "training" process.
Last night she came running in yelling "pee pee" and lo and behold...she did it!
She was so pleased with herself too. She even called Grandma with her big news!
So, here we go...the potty training has officially begun!
I knew it was just a matter of time before I got that nasty summer cold the kids have had for the last two weeks.
It's hit me like a ton of bricks.
To add to my already throbbing head Brandon had a friend stay the night last night.
Thankfully, my dear husband took care of the boys and I retreated to my room (with my Breaking Dawn book) and hid out for the night. Mind you, I had worked all day and straight after work I fulfilled my Monday night dance run. It was well after 8 when I got home.
This morning I feel just as horrible.
however I woke to this sweet scene....
Nothing is sweeter than seeing Brandon with his buddy, especially when they are sleeping!
Here I sit on a Sunday evening. The thought of going to work tomorrow is weighing heavy...I really dislike Sunday evenings.
On a happier note, we had a great weekend full of shopping, UFC, cleaning, laundry and happy kids. (happy kids=happy mommy)
Friday night my mom and I along with the kids hit the super sale at Kohls. You know "the biggest sale of the season"...
I swear they have these sales every other week. Any how, we got the kids a ton of new clothes for back to school and I even got some new clothes for work. It's the little things that make me happy.
Yesterday was grocery shopping. I saved $40 in coupons, thank you very much!
Afterwards Gabriella went to grandmas and Jeff and I along with Brandon and Alyssa went to our friends house to watch the UFC fights.
Currently I am putting away laundry (and playing on the computer)
Alyssa is at a friends house and Jeff and Brandon remained attached at the hips. I think they are playing Ghost Busters on the Wii.
Guess I better run. My book is calling my name.
It became clear to me last night while waiting for Alyssa to finish her ballet class that I needed to have more planned than just waiting in the car and reading.
The class is 75 minutes long...and I emphasize LONG!
I had originally thought Gabriella would doze off into a peaceful dreamland and I could read...
not so much
Next week I will bring a stroller...
waiting....
still waiting...
Not the greatest picture.
This is the group who took part in the Abu Dhabi tournament on Saturday
Brandon in control of his opponent
Team Mica with their medals. Professor Rod is in the middle in red.
On Monday (8/3) he received his first strip on his belt as well.
Professor Rod has a tradition of throwing the kids after they receive their stripes.
It's safe to say Brandon loves training at Tap Out. It's of course a lot different than wrestling but Brandon has taken to this just as well. He took 3rd place in the Abu Dhabi tournament on Saturday, we're very proud of him.
The wrestling season begins again in October...bring it on!
