Cayucos, California part 2

The last two days were beach days.  The water was so cold but with the wetsuits the kids didn't even know it.

Trev and Jason buried the kids. KK is waist deep in dirt but loves it.

Aidan is buried waist deep and at first loves it but....

when he realizes he can't move or get out he freaks outs. 

Jason told Aidan he had to sway his hips back and forth so he could free himself....this is KK showing Aidan how to do it.

We covered the kids in dirt.  Aidan was made into a "batman"

and KK was made into a "mermaid".  She was very persistent that she needed a bra. 

At night we built a fire and this is Corbin thinking he is helping. Right before this Corbin was running towards the water.  He would get close enough and then sit down to play in the swallow water.  He didn't care that it was freezing.  He loved it.

Corbin wanting to get the fire.

Aidan was to scared to go boogie boarding so he would only get on it when Jason would pull him around in the shallow water.

Daddy helping KK to boogie board.

Most of the time at the beach Aidan was running around playing by himself.  I love his energy and imagination.

Chilling and enjoying the beautiful weather

Mommy and Daddy about to go boogie boarding

It was so cold but so much fun.

As soon we drove away, the kids wanted to know when we were going to go back.  

I hope sooner than later.

Cayucos, California part 1

We went to California on a vacation.  Trista and Jason have a beach house there and they invited us to come with them.  The first two days were rainy and cold so we did as much as we could.  

We went to a little aquarium.  The kids were able to feed the seals fish.

We went down to the beach just for a few minutes.  The kids climbed this rock and where almost thrown off it cause it was so windy.

This is Uncle Jason .  You can tell his is a dad of 3 and is used to being a pack mule.

We went down to Elephant Seal Beach.  All the Elephant Seals come and hang out there. We saw two seals "getting it on"...lets just say it was very interesting.

Corbin thought they were very interesting.

 

Even though the first two days were very cold, we still had fun.

Aidan 3 1/2 years old

Aidan is 3 1/2.  He is a very energetic boy.  He is always moving and usually is in his own world.  He will talk and play by himself.  He comes up with the funniest things to say.  I am always laughing when he is around.  He also will make up his own words.  Me-tosh is his new word and Trevor calls him that now.  

I love this little face.

He is such a pretty boy.

He looks so tough yet not in this picture.  He is so proud of his T Rex hair.  Just today someone told him he was a cute kid and was going to be a ladies man when he grows up.  He said, "Ya I am cute.  It's my T Rex hair."

I love those beautiful eyes.

I love this smile.  This is a smile of a boy who knows he is about to get a slurpee.

This shirt has a funny story.  We went to Target early so we could buy Aidan an under shirt.  He only had white and we needed a grey shirt for the pictures.  I was walking up and down the aisle picking up all the grey shirts so I could find the one that would look the best under his shirt. I was leaning towards one with a monkey on it but when Aidan saw this one he held it up and said this one.  I tried to get him to pick the monkey one but he would not budge.  He wanted the shirt with the girl kissing the boy.  He is so sensitive and loves anything lovey dovey. 

I love my sweet boy!

Valentine's Day

I always like to make holidays special.  I want my kids to have memories of fun holidays. This year we did a Valentine Scavenger Hunt.  It started with everyone getting a special note with 14 reasons why we love them.

Then they were sent around the house looking for their clues.  It ended with them finding their Valentine gift.  KK got ICarly, Aidan got Smurfs and Corbin/Dad got Muffets in Manhattan.

I got a dozen Winchell's Donuts.  My absolute favorite.

  

 We ended the day with a steak dinner (KK and my favorite) and some chocolate covered strawberries.

I love my little family and am so blessed to have them in my life.  I hope they know how much I love them.

New Rules/Chore Chart

Our old Good Choice Charts were not working so I had to make some changes. We are now using our TV time as an incentive.  I have been wanting to find some way to limit their TV watching and it is something love so I thought why not.  

They automatically start each day with 2 hours of TV.  Each TV represents 5 minutes and if they don't follow the rules they lose 5 minutes of their TV time or 1 TV.  That way they have a visual aid of where they stand.  If they want to watch TV they can look to the board to see how much time they have left. It has worked so well.  Before if they whined or threw a tantrum, nothing would bring them out of it but now if they start I remind them what happens to TV for kids who whine or don't listen and almost instantly they stop. 

We also started a Chores and Good Choice Jar. Everyday they do all their chores they get a marble.  They also get a marble when they make good choices.  This way through out the day I can look for ways to praise the good things they do.  When the jar gets full they get ice cream.  They have to work together to fill it up.  It truly makes them happy when I tell them they did something good or nice and they get to put a marble in jar. 

Our house rules established as a family.

 

I hope this continues to work good because I am not very creative and I am not sure what else there is to do.

Valentine Heart Project

We had Gianna over for a slumber party so we thought we would make a project.  Since it was close to Valentine's Day we made a heart family.  They are people made out of only hearts.  I stole it off another blog.  

They turned out really cute and the kids loved playing with them afterward.

Random Corbin Pictures

My baby is already 15 months old.  

I love how he smiles behind his pacificer.

He always sits on his knees like this.  I love it!

Eating popcorn with all the kids.  He will sit and watch the movie as long as he had popcorn.  If I don't give him his own bowl he will cry and grab for one until I do. 

Again him smiling behind his pacifier.

He is starting to walk pretty good.  In the house that is all he does but when we are outside he wants to crawl.  He is still very much my baby and I for the most part I love it.

Annabelle's 1st Bday

Baby Annabelle turned 1.  I can not believe that she is already one.  She had a princess themed birthday party and KK was in heaven.  She got a princess crown which she has been wanting for a while.  

This is all 6 grand kids on the Waite side.

This is all 3 princesses

I loved this picture of Indie trying to steal Annabelle's crown which she wasn't letting go with out a fight. 

Happy Birthday Annabelle!!!