Thursday, September 12, 2013

life lately




hey girls,

is it just me or has it been crazy lately?
i feel like life is zooming by and there isn't a minute of down time to document it.
we've been busy with kate's ballet and acrobatics class, preschool, the gym [whaaaat?? we're gym rats now??? impossible! but true] and work.

dad has accepted a job with a neurologist here in yuma- he signed a 2 year contract and starts at the end of september.
he likes his job in primary care, but couldn't turn down the opportunity to learn about neurology. [plus a pay raise and better hours were part of the contract. we'd be moronic not to accept]

i recently accepted a part-time job in the LDRP unit [labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum].
i'll be working mostly there with a few shifts a month back in the ER.
i'm burned out. what else can i say?
the ER here is rough. it sucks the soul out of you if you're not careful.
i'm hoping that LDRP will offer some positive experiences.
i've been forewarned [numerous times by numerous coworkers] that LDRP is not all roses, which i know from past experiences.
we have quite a bit bad situations here in yuma: babies born to drug-addicted mothers, teenage pregnancies, and generally uncaring mothers who aren't all that excited to have another kid.
these problems exist everywhere, but are more rampant here.
i'm hoping i can stomach the horribleness i'll see and be able to focus on the happy deliveries of babies born to stable and loving parents.

this time of year is always hardest on us [mostly me].
september is supposed to be about cooler temperatures, crisp breezes, jeans and cardigans.
instead we have temps in the hundreds and we're still hibernating.
i'm a little sick of swimming [did i just say that?] and sadly haven't been in the pool in more than a week.

good news is, "winter" is coming.
october is when life starts getting really good down here.
i'm excited for daily walks and trips to the park and bike rides.
it'll be great to be able to open the back door and let you guys run and play in the yard without worrying about heat exposure.


love you both.
thanks for reminding me what life is really about.
[popsicles and tea parties]

 ~mom.



Thursday, September 5, 2013

sticker charts are the solution to all life's problems



my kater-rooskie kater-rama,

welcome back!
it was a little bit rough there for a bit huh?
thank heavens that rotten behavior is over and done with [at least for now. wish it would stay away but i know better]
in retrospect, i think there was a whole lotta sibling jealousy going on.
mixed in with some emotional growing pains,
combined with schedule changes and the start of preschool at a new school...
that's a lot to throw on a 4 year old.

your dad and i realized that part of the problem was your increasing dependence on the iPad.
once we started limiting your time to a few short periods a day, we saw a marked improvement in your behavior.

we also implemented a sticker chart [which i swear is magic] and i believe it is the key to your turn-around.
you get a sticker for positive behaviors such as listening to us the first time we ask you to do something [instead of repeating ourselves 50 bajillion times] and for picking up your toys, making your bed and helping with evie, practicing your letters/sight words, etc.
we don't take stickers away but we do still take blankies away if needs be.
i can't remember the last time i had to threaten you with the loss of your beloved blankie
[it used to be at least 5 times a day]

once you fill up your sticker chart completely,
you get a new game on the iPad.
this has helped decrease the amount of times you ask for a new game [which used to be roughly 75 bajillion gagillion times a day. see also; in-app purchases are of the devil]


i don't want to toot our horns or anything....
but way to go all of us.
we're so awesome.

just kidding.
[kind of]

i'm just happy you're back to be our sweet, sensitive, fun-loving katers.
it sure is nice to be hugged instead of having a door slammed in my face.


love you more than sunshine kiddo.



Thursday, August 22, 2013

sassy


miss kate:

or shall we say miss sass?

the last two or three days have been... interesting.
you're pushing boundaries like crazy and it's taken all my mothering will-power to not wallop you upside the head.
instead i've been threatening you with taking away your blankies [the ultimate punishment in your book since you only get them at bedtime and you claim you 'neeeeed' them to sleep because your 'head hurts if you don't have them']
yesterday i actually took them away but ended up giving just one [you have three] back to you after you sobbed for 5 minutes in your bed at bedtime.
i figured if i didn't give it to you, you would sleep terribly and there's nothing worse than a night without solid sleep, so i caved.
and i deeply regret it today.
you don't appeared to have learned anything.

if i didn't love you so dearly....

let's just leave it at that.
you're lucky kid i love you so much.



Friday, August 9, 2013

18 months old.


evie roozer:

you love:
pulling hair [anyone's but especially kate's. as you can imagine, that doesn't go over too well]
otterpops
sleeping [when we tell you it's bedtime, you scoops up your 14 blankies and head right into your room. parenting success!]
saying 'ma maaaa. ma maaaaa!!' fifty thousand times a day.
shoes
toothbrushes [i think you have 4 stashed in various places around the house]

you hate:
being told no. [your bottom lip shoots right out and it's the saddest/cutest thing i've ever seen]
when kate's not around to play with/annoy.
eating [for the most part. obviously there are some items you enjoy {see list above}]



 ****
and no, evelyn doesn't have a skin condition-
her arms are splotchy due to numerous sloppy sunblock application.
what can you do when she won't hold still for 2 seconds?



Thursday, August 8, 2013

a failed attempt to expand your palate.



kate:

yesterday i was whipping up some amazingness for lunch
[as is the case every day. i'm a fantastic cook, you didn't know?]
and i put a small portion of a M&M cookie on your plate; hidden among the goldfish, mixed nuts and watermelon, strawberries and carrots [see? told ya]

it took you all of two seconds to realize what i had done.
and then it was hands on the hips and an exasperated sigh with a drawn out 'mooooooom! i told you i don't like cookies!'

well, excuse me kid.
just trying to get you to enjoy the finer things in life.
pardon my folly.


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

a true toddler now




evie

this pic was taken one day a few weeks ago at the library.
because when mama is plum outta ideas of how to entertain the girlies we head to the library.
new books! new toys! oh so exciting!
[it's not really that exciting but libraries always feel a bit magical to me. mostly due to my many good memories of summer visits to the library when i was girl. thanks mom!]

look at that sweet face and those gigantic cheeks.
what an angel's face.
[that kinda sorta looks down syndrome in this picture? maybe just a little? i know. i know. that's terrible to say, but it's a little true]

you hadn't learned the art of a tantrum when this picture was taken.
my, how things have changed.
this week you have perfected that art.
there's the throwing of yourself on the floor, followed closely with two chubby hands shoved into your eyes and all sorts of fake crying that sounds so realistic that every once in awhile you fool me or your dad.
[note: your dad is a sucker for crying and caves waaaaay to easily. i have a feeling you will exploit this many times in your life]
and then there's the thrashing about- legs kicking, butt bouncing, rolling to and fro as only a toddler can do.
you certainly look like a tortured soul.

but we're onto you little one.
we've done this rodeo before and it's not nearly as impressive the second time around.
keep up the good work though.
the tantrums seem to tire you out and there's nothing this mama loves more than extra long naps.

love ya kiddo.
tantrums and all.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

my ballerina

kate-

this summer we enrolled you in ballet and gymnastics classes.
you have loved both but you've declared that you prefer tumbling to dancing.
i think this has nothing to do the actual activity and everything to do with your teachers.
you dance teacher is a little, how does one put it lightly?...... grumpy.
she was most definitely not made for children's classes.

your tumbling teachers were a group of high-school gymnasts and their summer job was to teach classes at the rec center.
they had pandora set to the disney station, were energetic and full of smiles and compliments.
an easy win as far as like-ability.

regardless, you've had fun in both classes and i think we'll sign you up for dance/acrobatic class this fall.
as long as there is minimal/no make-up required and absolutely no booty-shaking involved.
"let them be little" as pinterest says.



Monday, July 29, 2013

scenes from around the house



dear girls:

life seems to be crashing by at a ridiculous pace.
evie, you're walking! kate, you're taking dance and gymnastic classes! good heavens, what's next? driver's ed and teenage pregnancies?? [please no. not ever. please]

i feel as if i'll never capture your childhoods successfully.
i'll never be able to document all the great things you say or the funny things you do.
days/weeks will pass and we'll forget they even happened.
and doesn't that seem tragic?
to let our life pass without pausing to appreciate what a glorious thing we have going for us?

so here we are,
another blog post that on the surface is about nothing.
but really it's about everything.

two healthy daughters who are happy and well-adjusted [a mother's dream come true].
a safe home to live in with a pool to boot.
enough money to afford us a comfortable lifestyle.
love. and really there isn't much more we need.



still love this quote that sums it all up perfectly:

"the days are long but the years are short"

can i get an AMEN?!


also, 
this made me pause and think: especially number 4 and 5

Friday, July 26, 2013

lunch time



well that looks about right.

evie,
your face is covered in chocolate [this is becoming a frequent thing lately]
most likely because i can't get you to eat much of anything except chocolate and yogurt.
oh well, live it up kid.
i'll enjoy it right along with you [nutella is the cure of all crankiness]

kate,
your plate is full of healthy things that you gobble right up.
it's fantastic and makes me feel like a crazy-good mom.
remember when you were a picky eater??
thanks kid for growing out of that stage.
[maybe there's hope for your little sister]



Thursday, July 25, 2013

summertime and the living's easy....




lots of movie-watching and snuggling,
swimming,
long naps,
and pancakes for dinner going on around here.

we're in hibernation mode due to the heat.
i dare say extreme heat is sooo much better than extreme cold but it's still rough on us.
i long for the winter when i can open my windows and have fresh air blow through the house.



and i'm having the urge to cut off all my hair.
please someone talk me down.
summer won't last forever and then i'll regret it.

or will i??


ps. i added june's instagrams to the bloggy, scroll down to see them. [they're after that fantastic and astounding video of our picnic]

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

picnic



one morning in june [when it wasn't scorching hot at 9 am]
i took the girls for a walk to a nearby empty lot that people use for soccer games and softball practice.
we spread out a blanket under a big tree,
ate some food,
read some books,
and enjoyed the breeze.

and of course i made a video of it.

my favorite parts:
-kate stomping on the blanket when she can't get it to spread out like she wants
-evie's face when she barks like a dog
-me stuck in the tree. [i was trying to show kate that climbing trees is fun. #fail]

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

instas


june's instagrams

evelyn loves technology just like every other kid her age. and more scoot-scoot rides.
 more from the shooting range
 sunday morning [that's what 2 hours of sleep looks like folks] and sunday evening [at a friends house]
jank's siestas are all about eating, snuggling and napping. and stickers, pepsi and licorice are staples in our house. 
 those two kids are trooooouble and evie had a rough day- just look at those swollen, tired eyes. 
 splash pads for the win.
 ugh, every morning around 4am i hit my wall. no amount of sugar or jumping jacks can cure it. and late night swims are the best.
 see? i eat healthy stuff. [sometimes] and that kid is just about the best. i really love her personality. 
 teaching evie to walk involves a leeeeetle bit of shoving and stumbling and book dedications- i think they're the sweetest and i always read them. 
 more fun at the library [one of the best ways to beat the heat] and a made bed makes my heart sing
 new pics for the gallery wall and evie stood unassisted for a few seconds. progress!
 just chilling on the back patio, enjoying some grapes apres swim and yet another simple but wonderful backyard picnic. 
 evelyn rue, there hasn't been a stranger yet that's gotten her to smile and our new desk- a craigslist treasure for only $10.
 tea parties while evie naps and my obsession with baskets continues [where else would one hide all the kid paraphernalia??]
 had the back patio all to ourselves [that's what happens when it's 90 degrees at 7pm] and playing peek-a-boo with her curtains after sleeping in until 9am!
 kate 'helping' keep evie occupied, wrestling on her bed is probably not the best idea but thanks miss kate. and this is the evie we all know and love. promise she's not always a surly beast.
 a summer picnic
 babies in baskets never gets old and kate loved her dance class and the ice cream afterwards. 
 ahoy! kate is obsessed with pirates, evie is obsessed with kate. and kate's dance class is at the yuma art center which means great lighting and plenty of space for evie to crawl around. 
 more swimming. what else is there to do besides sweat our faces off??
evelyn rue: loves sweets and chocolate and cards. the opposite of kate and my mini-me in most ways [she even bounces like i do when the food is especially good]. and miss kate waiting for dance class to start.


Monday, July 1, 2013

a letter of thanks.




my dear kate:

thank you for being my rock today.
sometimes evie has fussy days [as we all do] and i hate to admit it,
but i don't handle fussiness as well as i would like.
when i can't figure out what's wrong and she cries and whines despite all i do,
i go positively mad.

i stand in the shower and cry.
i cry for my uselessness.
i cry because i hate that somethings wrong and she's suffering.
i cry in frustration at my lack of ability to handle her crying [now, that's ironic]
and i cry because somedays are just so overwhelming.
and then i laugh and cry all at the same time because i am so very aware at how stupid and irrational it is to cry because a baby is fussy.
oh to have better control over my emotions.


and that was most certainly what our 5 o'clock looked like.


but then you hug me and give me that sweet smile.
your eyes are tight with worry and you look 30 years old.
and suddenly i feel like the daughter and you the mom.
and i accept your hug and somehow i feel better.

i wish i could love you as perfectly as you love me.
you'll never know how much i [quite unfairly] depend on you.
thanks sweetheart.


Sunday, June 30, 2013

kate's bday


a little out of order like i promised....
i finally got around to blogging kate's birthday.
it's nothing amazing, but we had a great day.
to see, click here


Saturday, June 29, 2013

twirling



kate: loves pretty dresses, dancing and bubbles.

me: loves pajamas and hearing my kids giggle.

evelyn: loves being dizzy.

Friday, June 21, 2013

two of my favorite things: evie and ikea




evie rue-

a little update on what you've been up to.
your happiness persists. 
hallelujah!!
you are now content to crawl, explore, play, smile, giggle and [sometimes] eat.
such a nice change from the testy baby you used to be.
we haven't figured out what changed [maybe nothing?], but we're happy with evie version 2.0

you've taken a few stumbling steps and have even stood on your own for a second or two.
i keep wondering if something is affecting your balance [inner ear problems??] and making it hard for you to stand by yourself or if you're just the laziest baby ever.
probably the later. 

kate insists on helping you walk around the house which has lead to many falls and bonked heads.
but she's finally taken an real interest in you so we will just go with it. 
good thing a snuggle with mom or dad and your blankie make everything better.




you still love to suck on the corners of your blankies.
it's gross, but far better than sucking on a finger or a binki.

you're obsessed with the pom-poms and paper lanterns hanging above your crib. 
you love to reach for them and babble at them.
the first thing you do in the morning when we rescue you from your baby prison [aka crib] is point at the pom-poms with your tiny finger and say 'doo-doo'.

you say 'doo-doo' for just about everything. 
still not talking much yet, but that's to be expected from you. 
you have laziness down to an art. 

you love the pool and attempt to drown every chance you get.
i'm half amused/half terrified at your lack of fear.
i have to keep a firm grip on you when we're sitting on the pool steps watching kate do her 'mermaid tricks' because you think it's the funniest game to fall face first into the water.
i scoop you up and the grin on your face is epic.
i love seeing you that happy.


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

mark that one off the bucket list.



to our anonymous friends who own lots of guns:

thanks for taking jank and i shooting.
i know a lot of laughs were had at my expense-
it couldn't be helped.
guns have so much more kick than i expected!
hollywood makes shooting a gun [and hitting the desired target] look sooo easy.
i could barely hit a big dirt hill.
i know i looked a fool, but i had fun.
thank you!



things i learned:
i am still terrified of firearms and the power they hold [mostly due to the fact that i'm the one on the other side of things, trying to fix what a bullet did to someone. i have a deep reverence for how fragile the human body is and how easily our mortality can end]
i like the 9 mm the best.
the 22 was my second favorite.
i did NOT enjoy the semi-automatic rifles- too much power/potential for harm.

i believe guns are a necessary evil in our current world-
i do not believe everyone needs to own one but i think that a basic knowledge of guns, gun safety and the ability to safely fire one if the need arises is important.


and for those of you worried about us taking evie to a firing range,
rest assured she was being held or i was sitting with her on the ground the entire time.
she wore her ear protection almost constantly
[i was surprised she didn't try to remove it more than a few times]

kate was left safely at a friends house.
i wasn't ready for her to see us with firearms just yet.