Just a spoonful of sugar...

Jake doesn't need a spoonful of sugar. He has always LOVED taking medicine.* I have to write this before I forget! Tonight we were kicking a bouncy ball back and forth. He ran at it full-speed and stepped on it instead of kicking it, which landed him flat on his head! It was sad! As I was comforting him, he had to go potty. While in there, he said, "When there's a little boy that falls down and gets a bonk on his forehead (it was the back of his head) and it hurts and he is sad, then you give him the white medicine so his head is all better and he feels all better!" Yep, Children's Motrin--dye free--solves all your problems! So we gave him a little bit for the headache. The funny thing is, about two minutes later, he fell and hit his ribs. What was the only thing that would cure his owies? You got it. The white medicine.

*all medicine except for robitussin...too spicy!

(and no, we didn't give him any more!)

Don't get scared, Jacqui, at DISNEYLAND!

Just for you, Jacqui. Hope it doesn't give you nightmares again. Thinking about you...

Here are some Disneyland pictures. We met up with a lot of people from dental school, but ended up splitting up a bit. It was a fun and very exhausting day! (There may be a lot of pictures. You don't have to look!)

Goodbye, President Hinckley.

It's hard to say goodbye to President Hinckley. He was an amazing man and a prophet of God. I loved him. He was so uplifting and I know he spoke for God. I am so grateful for his words and direction. He was my prophet and I will miss him. I am glad he is reunited with his sweet wife. I will miss you, President Hinckley!

A week ago we were getting ready for church and Jake was putting make up on with me. Yeah, I've told him many times it's just for girls. Anyway, we were about to go, and he casually says, "Well, I look pretty nice with my make ups...but don't touch the make ups, ok? Do you understand?" My masculine toddler. 

When I got back from running on Saturday, Jake said, "Oh, hi, mom! I am happy you are so here! Did you have a good race?" I said yes. He came to hug me and then said, "Oh, you are all sweaty. Do you want to take a quick shower? Maybe you should take a quick shower, mom." Honesty, I love it. 

Speaking of honesty, Jake had his tools this morning and was measuring my back side while I was bending over assembling a toy horse for him. He told me not to move because he was measuring me. I asked if my bum was big and he promptly answered no. Don't know if it was honest, but hey! it made me feel good! Right answer, Jake! 

Gashes and Messes

On Wednesday, Jake fell and split his head open. I must say, I was pretty calm for how much blood was gushing and how many tears were flowing. You never know how you'll react until you're in the moment, you know? I cleaned it up and thought it looked a little deep. I decided I ought to take him to the ER or an urgent care, just in case he needed stitches. I called my neighbor, Melissa, to come watch Alisa and Hallie. I called Scott on the off chance he'd answer, and guess what? He did! It really was a surprise. I told him and since his patient canceled (2 l's?) he met me at the ER. He said it would be fine with a butterfly bandage, so we got some and fixed Jake up. Then the challenge was slowing him down! He was ready to jump and do tricks on everything in sight, with Hallie in tow. He managed not to split his head open again, although he got a few more owies that morning. Pictures to come...

Alisa is now in the army-crawling-exploring-mess-making phase. She has taken down all the dvd's she can reach (and Jake completed the job by taking out the ones she couldn't reach!) and has gotten all the books on the bottom shelf. She empties anything within her reach. It's pretty funny, but a little scary, too. She loved emptying out the bucket that holds diapers, wipes, and baby things like that. We found her hitting a baby nail clipper into the piano bench and then trying to eat it. Time to child-proof!

Vietnamese Ebonics for Jeff...

For you, Jefe.

And let me just add this: If you have never eaten vietnamese food before, go eat some pho. It is sooooo yummy and healthy! Or talk to us and we may just have to make you some with some yummy spring rolls (some call them summer rolls). I am getting a craving...Thanks, Jeff. 

Quote of the day: While I am nursing Alisa, Jake is at the table with his beloved yogurt, and asks, "How are you doin', honey?" Nice. 

Don't Throw a FIT, Jake!!!

Today (and Monday morning) Jake woke up at 4 am and would not go back to sleep! He had to potty, woke Alisa up, tried sleeping in my bed (gasp! I never thought I'd allow that!) and ended up eating none other than his favorite...yogurt...at 5:15 am. Anyway, it's a poor start to my day. Makes me very grouchy knowing I am living on 4 or 5 hours of sleep. 

I gave in to a movie at around 6 am, which is always a mistake. Inevitably, Jake throws a fit when I say no to more movies, which makes me even more grouchy. He did throw a fit this morning about no 2nd movie. By the time Scott came out for breakfast, I was lecturing him on not throwing a fit. We thought he said, "I'm going to throw a fit!" to which Scott replied with a threat for time-out. He insisted he was going to throw a fit, then proceeded to run and kick in the air. He did this a few times before we caught on that he was indeed "throwing a foot" not a fit! Ha! He kept saying, "I'm throwing a foot! I'm throwing a foot!" Very naughty boy. Don't throw a foot, Jake!

Sunny January

[is it really winter?]

We were outside watering and repotting my plants that got violently blown over by the wind, when Jake started playing with the hose. January outdoor water play? Only in SoCal.*

*ok, here and in many latin american countries, and those countries on a different season schedule than us, and probably Florida and tropical places would also be included in this statement if we are getting technical.

[a lesson in manners]

We are trying to teach Jake manners. I mean, he used to say please and thank you and now he doesn't unless prompted. One of the things we are teaching him is "May I be excused?" when he's done eating dinner. He has been ok about it, after we coax him back to the table 50 times first. He says, "Be I excused?" It's pretty funny. Today Scott was tickling Jake on our bed and holding him hostage. Jake got really frustrated and yelled, "Be I excused, Dad!" 

We had Jake by the ankle and wrist and were 1-2-3-ing him onto the bed (swinging and throwing). He took matters into his own hands, deciding he would swing us. Here is the result:

The Bird

I forgot to write this down! I think it was Monday morning. The kids and I had just gotten back from running. I was out of the shower and heard the lawn care guys coming. I went out back to pick up all the toys on the lawn so they could mow it. I was seriously outside for maybe one minute. When I got back in, Jake said, "Hey, mom. There's a bird!" Sure enough, a bird had flown through our open door in the minute I was outside. What?! 

Many of you know, but I do not do well with fluttery things (i.e. MOTHS--yeah, Jacq, you know what I mean!) and this bird was stuck in a corner behind a shelf FLUTTERING. I didn't know what to do! I opened the doors and got the broom, thinking I would hit it out. Then it stopped fluttering and no matter where I swept the broom, I couldn't hear it. I kept imagining me bending down in the corner to look and it fluttering in my face and pecking out my eyes. So, I did what any panicked girl would do. I called my hubby! Yep, that's right. Luckily, he didn't have class right then and was studying in the library, so I loaded the kids up and went to pick up my brave man. He came home and got the bird out...my hero! What a weird day! (And YES, Ash B. you were right about how to spell WEIRD...I stand corrected!) :) 

Still making us laugh

"Here, mom. I have a crumb!" He hands me something that feels like a crumb and says, "It's from my owie." A scab. Nice.

Jake and Alisa are in the same room now (which is going surprisingly well...we think they enjoy the company) so we constantly stress Jake being quiet once he goes to bed. Last night he came to the crack in the bottom of the door and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. I'm talking in the ground!" He listened for a minute and then said, "Hey...I'm hearing you! Dad, I'm hearing you!"

This morning I was nursing Alisa in the rocker. Jake wanted to sit by us. As he started climbing up, he got a shocked look on his face, quickly climbed down, and said, "Alisa stinks! I don't want to smell her!" Yep, poop. Does it every time.

A walk down memory lane...

Jake laughing

Doggie...yep, same one.

?Que dia es hoy?

Ok, I am losing my mind. Our garbage pick-up is on Wednesdays at 6 am, so we always take the trash out Tue. night. Well, it just happened that I was an over-achiever and took it out Mon. Actually, I thought it was trash day the next day. So Tuesday night comes, and I go out and drag in the garbages while I'm out putting something in the car. I thought they were a bit heavy, but didn't give it a second thought. 

Tonight (Wed. night) I took out the garbage and recycling. I was a little miffed when I noticed that they didn't take our recycling! Then, throwing away the trash bag, I noticed there was another bag in there. It was processing while I returned to the house (yes, it took a little while!) and it hit me...TODAY was trash day. What was I thinking????

Mama needs a Love!

Yesterday was a little rough. I slept from about 12-2 am. Alisa woke up screaming (I think because she is sick???) and didn't go back to sleep until 4. Jake woke up promptly at 6 am and was GROUCHY (who wouldn't be at 6 am?!). I was battling to get him to take off his diaper and use the potty. It was rough. Sometime that morning I must've looked about how I felt, because Jake turned to me, opened up his arms, and enthusiastically said, "Mama, I need to give you a love!" He hugged me and told me he loved me. Yeah, it's all worth it!

Jake was throwing some shoes around and I asked him to please stop. He took my by surprise when he replied, "Mom, I listening to you." It took me a minute, but I said, "Oh, you are?" "Yes, I listening to you. Don't touch the computer and don't touch anything, and don't touch the saw 'cause it's sharp..." I said a big THANK YOU for listening and he continued, "Yes, and don't touch anything..." Is that the message he's getting???

I was going to the bathroom and he was whining that he wanted to "hold you." When I told him I wasn't going to hold him while I went potty, he stormed into the bathroom after me and demanded, "Let me in NOW! Let me in here RIGHT NOW!" I said it wasn't nice to talk to me that way (where did he learn that, anyway?) and he said, "This is a big problem, that's what I said." OK, where did he get that?

Aren't these cute? Scott volunteered to take Alisa after she woke up and they both ended up falling asleep again...aw...

Close up of our little chubster

Waited too long to put her down for a nap

Jake and Grandpa Seaman plowing the street during a snowstorm (they live on a private drive out of town). Jake was finally well enough to go outside. BRRRR!

Never-ending Vacation

When we got back from our LONG Christmas vacation (3 1/2 weeks away from home), we decided we hadn't had enough! Scott skipped class (gasp!) to meet my sister, Jacqui, and her family at Disneyland. It was so much fun going with them! Jake was in heaven with his cousins. They fed off each other's energy. Scott and I loved being able to go on adult rides for the first time all year! Indiana Jones is a lot scarier than I remember it! (I mean, for little kids...it's all bugs and skeletons and snakes and nasty stuff). Thanks for a fun time, Jacqui and Jeff. By far the favorite family ride (excluding the little goobers) was Splash mountain...fuzzy picture to follow.

Jake with Livy...making a mess with the red jello. 

Splash mountain--good thinking on the ponchos, Jacq!

Aw...Olivia, Ashley, Ethan, and Jake on Dumbo! The longest line we waited in all together (about 10 minutes).

Here we are waiting for Dumbo! It was long enough to take a picture...

It's a Small World--ridden 3 or 4 times that day. Lucky!