Week Five - Including alternative punishments

My, oh, my... tough week for us you guys.  You guys have never really been ones to fight with another much but this week you have taken it up a notch.  I mean seriously, what is it... I am assuming part of it is because you are all getting older and therefore have your own STRONG opinions, but seriously can we pipe down a notch PLEASE.  I am tired of being upset.  I am tired of being referee.  And yet, I have a feeling these will be emotions I will be feeling for quite some time.  If we are out and about you guys do pretty well.  But then you get tired.  Well, especially poor Mr. Cole.  I mean seriously, hats off to this kid for hanging with you all as well as he does.  He truly is the most exhausting one which leaves me with very little patience for the rest of you.  So when I am not frustrated with you all, I am feeling bad for you that I have very little patience at the end of the day.  Really, the toughest part of motherhood is not letting the stresses of our adult world and realities affect you all so much.  You do not deserve it.  You will have plenty of your own big world problems you do not need ours, too.  So, here we are, learning, growing and at the same time, trying to make fun Summer memories.  

One of my favorite things about this Summer is dressing Cole just like this.  I love it, love it more than a suit and tie.  I hope he does not grow out of these shoes before it cools down because that will throw it all off.

Monday, I have no clue what we did.  I would assume laundry, cleaning, eating, fighting, reading, writing, coloring, and cleaning was on that list but I do not have a single photo to show for it.  Especially sad considering after FHE, I had a wonderful GNO with some beautiful ladies.

Tuesday I had a Stake Relief Society activity to attend as I was in charge.  Ryan had an audiology appointment I could not reschedule.  Fran and my mom came to my rescue... it was adorable that as I knocked on the door, I could hear all those little Milhoan children exclaiming that we had arrived.  So relieved I did not have to take them with me but poor Fran for having to deal with all the times Cole had to relieve himself.  haha

Grandma Shopping was proud to report that Ryan hears just fine and in fact, he used adult words in part of the testing.  Way to go, Ry.

That afternoon was super fun for Andi as she received her first preschool newsletter of the Year 2013-2014.  We are so grateful for Youngstars Preschool for a plethora of reasons.  The more I hear about kids out there and what they are doing and what they are allowing in schools, the more grateful I am that my kids have these two years to be in a loving, edifying home environment.  They get to go to school and learn and be loved and that is so very important to me.  I am super excited for Andi to have this last year in such an environment before entering the world of public schooling.

Wednesday we swam with our ward, of course, and it was quite a pleasant afternoon.  The kids said it was their best time there and I think it is because they have become more comfortable.  I love all the kids that attend as they all seem to keep an eye out on the little ones and some are so very cute and attentive to them.

Cole and Jackson, true BFF;s.  I mean seriously, these two can make each other feel better in an instant.

Well, if I allow, anyway.  Sometimes I have to force Jackson to back off and let us deal with Cole;s tantrums.  Check out that mean face.

We love the afternoons we get to spend with the Jaxon and Maverick Evans.  Cole just adores Sophie and I just adore Lauren - hehe.

Mmmmm, Lauren and her mad Nordstroms skills

 That night Cory was a stud and watched all my kids while I went to a Paparazzi party.  All those involved were quite happy with this arrangement.

 Friday Ryan got a play date with one of his very best friends, Mr. Carson.  They played wonderfully for hours.

 Jackson created an outdoor picnic but said no girls were allowed.  In response to this, Andi decided to put on all Ryans clothes so she too could be a boy and attend this picnic.

 And Jackson dressed up to be the fancy waiter.

Saturday Andrew had to work again and I had to go to the bank in Acton so I decided to make a day of it.  Luckily Grandma Shopping was free and able to join us for sandwiches and the park.  It really was a beautiful, memorable day.  Grandpa grandpa even came down after his golf game.  The kids were in heaven.

Plus it was cool to check out the new Acton Market (the old one is in the picture on the right - looks so sad).

Worst part of the day is awarded to grandma and what we think was a bee sting.

The timing could not have been any better than to have the sprinklers go on just as all were becoming overheated from baseball.

 

I love these two best of friends.

 We got smart with the second round of baseball to play in the shade.  SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

Grandpa grandpa taking the quick way to the bathroom.

Thursday we had an incident between Andi and Jackson.  I overheard Jackson whisper that sometimes he wants to just kill her.  WHAT.  Oh my this can not happen.  So I called him out and asked him to tell me what he had just told his sister.  He refused for some time and was on the verge of tears.  When he finally uttered the sentence, he lost all composure and cried in part of embarrassment and regret.  At this point I could have yelled and put him in time out, but because we had done a lot of that this week, I had to think of something else.  So, I told him to make Andi a card (because that is his thing.... he does better expressing himself in written language rather than oral) and include ten things he loves about her.  The first four were easy the rest took a good half hour and some tears.

Andi and I also got into a little argument.  I have been asking her to take care of her stuff and to clean up the play room.  The boys are really good about this but she is not.  When I told her the stuff left on the floor would go to some other little girl that was going to take care of the things, she said she did not care.  Well alrighty then.  I cleaned out the room and put the toys to donate in a garbage bag in the garage.  She found them.  So, taking after her brother, she drew me a picture to which I asked for an explanation....

Andi - It's you (insert picture of girl crossed out)
Mom - why
Andi - because you threw away my baby bag that I change my babies on
Mom - because I told you if you didn't clean up, whatever was left on the floor would be given to another little girl that will take care of their stuff.  Why don't you clean up your stuff?
Andi - because it's boring
silence....
Andi runs away with bad picture and then tells me she is going to throw that picture away and make me a nice picture.
Andi runs in with new picture of girl all nice and pretty.
Andi - oops, actually I need to make you arms.  Hehe, I forgot to give you arms.

Week Four - Including Barron children

Bauer James Anderson was blessed Sunday and it was so beautiful.  Curtis has always expressed his testimony and emotions wonderfully so it's of no surprise the blessing was just as moving.  We're so glad we were able to make it there.... especially considering Andrew almost didn't.  He had to work that day so he planned on driving his car and leaving after Sacrament.  Well, his car didn't start and I had already left and was blasting Hilary Weeks so I didn't hear my phone.  Luckily his dad heard his phone and turned around to get him.  Oops!  That afternoon, while Andrew worked, the kids and I joined the Davis' for a luncheon at their home and it was DELICIOUS!  The kids loved their Bauer time.

That afternoon we were so tired from the lake and everything else we came home to and so we vegged most of the day.  Until I decided I wanted some sweet potato chips.  Because I'm hasty in whatever I do, and because I had to kids bugging me as I worked and because I never heard the official tutorial on how to use this thing, I sliced the top of my finger right off.  I FREAKED.  I didn't know if I was staring at cartilidge or bone or what and it wouldn't stop bleeding.  Luckily for me my parents live only 15 minutes away and had no problem dropping everything to come help me out.  The best part about it is they were able to calm down Jackson because he was in hysterics!  I bled for three good hours and it was painful!  See my finger and nail??  My best fingernail might I add :(

 Monday I truly didn't want to do anything.  We were all still so beat and there was so much to do around the house.  The kids became creative and hosted a "talent show" where we had to judge which was the best drawing/coloring.

 I'm so grateful for the "little man of the house" and the mornings he decides to get everyone breakfast.  On the menu that day was cinnamon toast.

 With Jenny out of town we've had the chance to hang out with the Barron kids.  Melanie is a total rock star and fills her mother's shows almost completely so they really don't need us, but it's nice to get them out of the house.  Movies and lunch was perfect Tuesday afternoon.  Yes, Cole dished himself up four pieces.

 We're loving the looks of our new yard.  They're just now allowed on the grass but still need to be easy while it continues to take.  I love the new shrubs in the back, too.

I didn't even know these two ended up in my bed.  Dynamic Duo!

We're so grateful for the families that open their home or rather their pools, every Wednesday.  The kids love swimming and they love it even more when their friends are there.  They're getting so big.

 Because they're getting so big, I'm asking them to do a lot more around the house.  They did an exceptional job on our dining room set - I mean truly exceeding my standards.

 Thursday morning I decided to head to the beach with the Barrons.  Luckily for me Michalle was up for a last minute jaunt to Malibu.  It was overcast but warm enough to enjoy.  The kids love boogie boarding and Jackson thoroughly enjoys soccer with Melanie.  Oh, and Cole, yeah he and Toby are two peas in a pod with their bags of Doritos!

 Michalle has been on the Craigslist lookout for me and my special request.  Ikea Mydal bunk bed TWO of them.  I wanted these because they're low and sleek and I wanted them to match because I'm particular!  SHE DID IT!  I got off the lake last week and saw an email from Michalle with these beds. Wahoo Michalle and then wahoo to my parents for packing up immediately and heading to Torrance to pick them up for us.  Thursday was the first night both were all set up and we're all loving them.  Now if I could find an affordable rug!

PS.  Pretty cool we will have no crib, no toddler bed, no toddler mattress in our home!  FOUR twin beds!!

The kids continued to be creative when I again didn't want to go out.  It's been hot and I've been super lazy since returning from the lake.  SO, they all first dressed in Andi's skirts and then they all decided to be fancy men.  Andi thought she was just like Gagey.  They were super cute.

 Friday night we scored a much needed date night.  Have I mentioned this week has kicked me in the butt??  So grateful to my parents for taking the kids so we could go out.  It's such a mental thing but when they take them over night, I'm able to really enjoy the evening even if we just do dinner and wander the mall.  There's this sense of freedom that is so needed.  Dinner was delicious and cheap and local - seriously love Mom Can Cook.  And after Macy's couldn't help me out with my watch issue, I decided to hit up Sephora for a new lipstick while Andrew got us some Velvet Cupcakes.  YUM red velvet, Eh chocolate salted caramel shin dig.  Such a great night.

This morning Andrew picked up the kids from Acton and I went on a walk for an hour and ten minutes.  I have been so lazy I knew I would kick myself if I didn't go out when I actually had the chance.  It felt amazing to get out there but also hot and painful.  I seriously need to get some shoes.  But man, I need to recommit to cardio! 

All the bunks were assembled but we just now got the crib out.  I thought it was super cute Andi was the one wanting to help dad.  She even carried out some of the biggest pieces to the garage.

 I wish arts and crafts was this cute, fun thing in our home but it's now.  This right here gives me anxiety.  I can't stand the chaos and mess as it goes against my nature.  I try to put aside my own issues and allow this to happen from time to time but it's really not too frequently.  Poor, deprived children!

I was cracking up when Fran texted me to tell me Jake and I are twins - poor guy.  And man, I'm sure he could really use a full functioning thumb :(

This afternoon Andrew and grandpa took Jackson golfing and he loved it.  They went to the Chica course and Jackson got a birdie.  Seriously this kid loves it.  Too bad no pictures were taken :(  After golf we all met up at Chipotle for dinner.  Mmm, mmm.

Here's to hoping next week I have more energy and more desire to get out there and make some Summer memories!