Perspective

I read this on my girlfriends blog and had to re-post it...
Thank you Cami for making me think!

What does this say?

Godisnowhere

Did you read, "God is no where"

OR

Did you read, "God is now here"

We don't always see the same thing or in the same way as other people. It all depends on perspective. And we all have the power to change our own perspective...no matter what the situation is

Cousins!

Yesterday was a fun filled day with family! It was Julio's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIO! And so we all got together at my parents house. We had intentions of taking pictures of all of the cousins together, but that just didn't happen. We did take a couple of Taylor and her cousin Kara, who are 3 months apart. They will have fun growing up together!

After the gathering, we headed to Chuck E Cheese with my brother and his two kids. They had a blast! Since it was raining, everyone in Santa Clarita had the same idea and it was packed! Katelyn loved shooting the basketball (I think she will be my sports lover) and eating pizza! The highlight of the night was when I won 300 tickets on a game! The best part was watch Katelyn freak out when the tickets just kept pouring out of the machine! She was so excited and just kept screaming! We didn't have time to get her a prize, so I will take her when it's less crowded to pick out something.

After Chuck E Cheese we headed back home and Katelyn played with Logan and Emily until 9pm (past bedtime and she loved it!) It's so fun to watch Katelyn play with the older kids and try to keep up. It's great because it encourages her to talk more and act more mature. Grandma did story time and the kids acted out the 3 little pigs, which was adorable! Katelyn insisted on being the big bad wolf, and got a kick out of blowing the houses down.
It was a great day spent with cousins, and reminded me of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful and supportive family

Random

Taylor is already 5 months old! I can't believe it! She is officially rolling over all by herself, and I think she is starting to get teeth. She was sick all last week and is finally feeling better...even when she was sick she was trying so hard to smile and be happy.

Katelyn loves to push her sister around the house in her stroller. The other day she smothered Taylor with hugs and kisses and said "I love you so much Taylor!"...oh, it was priceless!
And last week Katelyn got her "haircut", by my friend Melissa. She actually only got her bangs trimmed and the back was cut even (not even 1/8 of an inch cut off!) I don't know if it's her official first haircut, because she still doesn't have enough to cut and actually save for her baby book!

Am I crazy?

Katelyn BEGS me to watch TV ALL day long! I don't want her watching TV all day (all though it makes my life a whole lot easier), and try to get her to do other things with me. But she will just throw a fit because she wants to watch a certain movie or TV show. I am fighting with my daughter because she wants to watch TV, and I am afraid she is watching too much of it! I catch myself in this battle and ask myself, "I am arguing with her over something that will keep her entertained while I take care of Taylor, clean, etc." Am I crazy? Plus she didn't take a nap today and it has been raining for 4 days, so she is a little crazy!
Speaking of rain, it is supposed to rain even more so I thought I would share some fun indoor recipes. I decided to make Peanut Butter play dough, homemade finger paint and Knox Blox (jello squares) with Katelyn. They were all a hit and kept her entertained...
Here are the recipes for you to try:

Finger Paint:
1 C Flour
1 1/2 C salt
1 C HOT water(add more if you want it more runny)
Food coloring

Edible Play Dough:
1 C Peanut Butter
1 C Corn Syrup
1 1/4 C. Powder Sugar
1 1/4 C. Powder Milk
Mix Together and play with on wax paper

Knox Blocks:
4 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin
3 pkgs flavored gelatin
4 C boiling water

Dissolve Knox gelatin in water. Let stand, Don't stir. Add flavored gelatin. Pour in 9X13 pan. Chill

PS. I am still waiting for you guys to comment with some good recipes for me to try:)

Pics from Kidspace

Here are the pics from our trip to Kidspace....it was fun, but would be better in the summer.

New stuff on the blog

FYI-I have added two more sections to my blog...
"Food For Thought"-An inspirational thought that is on my mind and that I think is worth sharing
"Recipes"-I have been on a hunt recently for GOOD and EASY recipes that don't have a ton of ingredients. I found an amazing cookbook where all of the recipes have 5 ingredients or less! And the are good! So, I am going to post yummy recipes that are great! AND, if you could comment with your favorite easy recipe that would be greatly appreciated! You can never have too many good recipes! Heather, I am sure you have tons, since you made that cookbook:)

Long weekend

It has been a LONG weekend...On Thursday, Marci and I decided to attempt to take the three kids (all under the age of 2 1/2!) to Disneyland by ourselves...and it was awesome! The kids were great (we were mostly worried about all of the time in the car, but they did great) and we had a blast! Plus it wasn't crowded so we could just take our time and actually do the things that you never get to do there. We are so glad we went and will definitely do it again. It was actually easier than trying to entertain the three off them all day in the house!

Then Friday morning, both of the girls woke up VERY sick with colds and fevers. NOT FUN! So, after three long days and nights the girls are feeling better. Taylor just has that horrible cough that wakes her up EVERY hour in the night and won't let her nap during the day! This too shall pass though, right!

This morning we decided to get out of the house...Katelyn was begging me to go for a ride in the car...she had cabin fever bad! We went to Kidspace Museum in Pasadena with Marci, Julio and Jordan. It was fun, but unfortunately it was raining so we couldn't do most of the stuff since it was outdoors. We will go again when it's warm and the kids will love getting all wet! I will post pictures later after Marci sends them to me...I just wanted to take advantage of these 5 minutes that I had to write the post!

Can't a girl get a break!?

Last week was crazy, and then there was today...
My day started at 5am, when Katelyn decided it was time to wake up. I told her she could lay in bed with me QUIETLY and watch tv, so she wouldn't wake up her sister (Taylor is in my room). Well, or course she immediately ran over to Taylor and woke her up-Ugh! So I started getting both of them ready, got myself ready and fed them breakfast. Then it was time for me to head off to work, and my mom wasn't back from the pharmacy yet...then Katelyn had a total meltdown. She was a pill from the moment she woke up (because she woke up at 5!), and then she lost it when I told her that I had to go to work. It was one of those throw yourself on the floor, scream so hard you are about to pass out and then start lashing at anything within arms length, kind of tantrums. I was about ready to lose it, so I put her in the bathroom and let her scream it out. And she did. My mom walked in the door and I said good luck and ran out, leaving my screaming child behind (I am so sorry mom!)...and I was late to work.

After work I went to a couple of stores, cleaned, did laundry and cooked dinner. All along, asking Katelyn every 5 minutes if she had to pee! And of course she still won't tell me when she has to go, so if I don't put her on the pot, she just goes in her pull-ups. She must be so tired of me telling her NOT to go in her diaper, because she made up a song! She started marching around the house today chanting, "Pee Pee in the toilet-Yes Yes! Pee Pee in the diaper- No No!" This was my comic relief of the day!

Taylor would not take a nap this afternoon, and I was so tired of bouncing/swinging/rocking her I was ready to poke my eyes out!

So, it's FINALLY bedtime, and I finally have both of the girls bathed and asleep...Ah, moment of silence. I then hurried and got in the shower, because I now have zero time to do that in the morning. As soon as I got wet and put shampoo in my hair, Taylor starts SCREAMING! I jump out, dripping wet with soap and run to her crib and pray that if I just put her binky back in her mouth she will fall asleep-nope. I pick her up and start bouncing her around the room, praying that she won't wake up Katelyn. I finally get her down AGAIN, and jump back in the shower.

I had to sit down and vent this all out because I think I am going mad. But now I feel a whole lot better. Now it's off to try and pump some milk (I better get some for tomorrow because Taylor will NOT drink formula!), and then off to bed to get some sleep before Taylor wakes up to eat at 1am!

Yay for Good News!

So, as many of you know I lost my cell phone at Disneyland about 2 months ago...not fun! I got a new phone, tracked down most of my phone numbers and moved on...then my mom got a phone call today from Disneyland's lost and found and someone turned in my phone and they called my mom. I couldn't believe it! And they are shipping it to me and paying for the shipping! I always knew I loved Disneyland, but now I really do! And thank you to the nice person who turned it in!!
Here are a couple of random pics of the girls I took this week...

This is a typical morning at our house...the house is a mess, I am trying to do Katelyn's hair and I have plopped Taylor in one of those magical Bumbos, and of course I have not showered or done anything for myself. My mom saw this and just had to take a picture. I guess it will be good to show the girls later.


I just love this picture...it's right before bedtime










This is how Katelyn sits on the recliner to watch TV...weird I know







The happiest baby in the world! She doesn't sleep through the night and has a hard time staying asleep, but I forgive her because she is so happy throughout the day! When she is overtired she doesn't get cranky she gets giddy! She laughs at nothing and everything. When I am frustrated at her because she won't go to sleep and I am swinging her, desperate to get her asleep, she just looks at me and laughs! Tonight she peed all over herself and thought it was the funniest thing in the world-man I wish I had a video camera! Oh, I could just eat her up, I love her smile!

What a week!

This week has been a crazy one! On Thursday morning, right before I was about to go to work, my dad had a minor stroke. It was really scary and we had to call the ambulance because my dad could not move or talk. He is still in the hospital and hopefully will be coming home today. Thankfully, he is making a great recovery and hasn't had any long term damage done. He is back to his normal self, except he still has verdigo really bad and cannot walk by himself. We are hoping that will go away so he will be able to function and drive normal soon. Today we are supposed to get the final results from all of the tests they gave him. It was a very scary wake up call for all of us. Another reminder to me of what is important in this life and how our lives are so fragile and can change or be over any time. I love my father very much and don't know what I would do without him. These experiences help remind us to not take life or relationships for granted.
Hopefully next week won't be as eventful! We are still moving forward with the potty training thing. Katelyn will pee in the toilet every time I put her on it, but she hasn't figured out how to tell me when she has to go...I just keep putting her on. It takes so much time! And if I let more than an hour go by she will just pee in her pull ups. Oh well, it will happen eventually, right?

The Middle of the Week

It's only Weds, but the last three days have been eventful. On Monday I got really sick with the flu:( and that has not been fun! And then yesterday I started really potty training Katelyn and putting her on the toilet every hour. She has been doing really well...we still have a way to go to be potty trained, but at least she will pee in the toilet and loves to do it! She does her potty dance every time she goes and runs around the house naked singing "I went potty in the toilet!" Last night she went poop in the toilet! I never thought I would ever be so excited about a human pooping! It was monumental! Katelyn was so proud of herself and had to tell everyone that she did it!
Today I started working at the elementary school again part time. It is going to be really hard to go back to work, but the hours are great and it's a great job since I have to work. And I am so lucky to have my wonderful mom to take care of the girls while I am gone. I was really worried about leaving Taylor with a bottle because she has refused to take one. But, she took the bottle today! Miracles do happen!
So, that has been my week so far! Tonight we are going out to Moorpark to celebrate Emily's birthday...Happy Birthday Emily!

quick question...

How old were your kids when they stopped taking a nap? Katelyn tried to stop when Taylor was born, but after a week of leaving her in her room for hours she finally went back to a nap. Now she is 2 yrs and 7 months and won't take a nap again...is it time to give up the nap?

Sisterly love

Today was an amazing day...Taylor laughed at Katelyn for the first time! Katelyn was acting crazy and rolling around on the couch and Taylor just looked at her and started laughing so hard! She would not take her eyes off Katelyn. Then Katelyn realized that Taylor was watching her and continued to perform and make her laugh. I wish I had a video camera...it was such a precious moment! Their first real interaction with each other. I could just see those two girls growing up together giggling with each other and being best friends.

I just finished an amazing book called "The Power of Intention" and there are several things that really made me think, but here is just one of the quotes from the book that I have been thinking about nonstop:
"You didn't come forth into this world to suffer, to be anxious, fearful, stressful or depressed. You came from the God-consciousness of JOY. Just watch little babies. They've done nothing to be so happy about, and they have no goals other than to expand, grow and explore this amazing world. They love everyone and they're in a constant state of LOVE. How could they possibly be so joyful and easily pleased? Because they are still in harmony with the God who intended them here; they have no resistance to being joyful. You don't need a reason to be happy; your desire to be so is sufficient."
We are born to be happy and if we aren't happy then it's because we are choosing not to be the way we are naturally intended to be...
I thought this was so enlightening and a great reminder to me!