Only in Southern California!

Yesterday we took the boys on a hike in Rancho Cucamonga Canyon. The hike had some pretty fun spots...like this maze. The boys all made it to the end!We loved watching the boys work together and help one another across the various logs and rocks we needed to cross.Makai loved the hike. Thank goodness for a front pack. He didn't even know we were on a hike. Or he knew and wanted to just enjoy it in his own way...sleeping.We were surprised by how well Kory can balance. He kept up with the older boys with no problem. However, only in Southern California do you find this beautiful background on a hike! The nature was so beautiful, but the graffiti was ridiculous to say the least. I'm afraid all we could do was deal with it and accept it as art!

Trey did a great job in the hike! He got a little grumpy towards the end, but overall he did amazing.

Surprise Visit

Saturday we were surprised to see TJ and Dora walk into our house. We totally enjoyed their visit. It's always fun to get caught up and just sit around and laugh. Trey had plenty to say and sing to them. They even got to see his Buzz Lighyear Underwear. Dora loved Makai. She kept saying, "He's so soft and squishy!" I must admit I love that about him too.

We tried to get a group shot before they left. All the boys agreed except for Trey. He was too busy making a plane with his books. He was so intent on making his plane to fly to Hawaii.

He played till he was all tuckered out.

Thanks for stopping by guys. We appreciate you spending time with us.

Grandma

My grandma is down for a visit. It's her first trip to California since my wedding if I remember correctly...so that's been about 10 years! She's getting really old and her memory isn't as sharp as it use to be to say the least. She misses grandpa so much and repeats herself a lot, but she's still got a knack with the babies. She is so sweet with my boys and has taken to Makai. Makai had a great nap in her arms yesterday. I think she even dosed off for a while with him. A few months ago my boys planted some radishes in my parents back yard. When they heard my grandma likes radishes they went and picked a few. She then told them how she liked to eat them as a little girl. They promptly went into the kitchen unbeknownst to her and made her a radish, bread, and butter sandwich. I must admit I got a great laugh as they asked her several times if the bread was toasted or not toasted, but she never heard them. They just kept looking at me confused when she didn't respond. I told them just to make it non-toasted. She found the gesture sweet although I don't think she ate it. I was so proud of the boys for being so thoughtful.

He's a big kid now!!

Last Sunday Trey came in crying, "Mom, Kory called me a stinky diaper baby!" Well honey you kind of are, I told him. But how about we potty train you on Tuesday! He then went into Kory and said, "I am not a stinky diaper baby. Mom's gonna potty train me on Tuesday!" I had to smile.
Wednesday morning I decided it was time(Tuesday we went to the snow). So, when Trey got up I put him in underwear! He sat on the toilet, but nothing! Then we went to have cereal and yep...he peed! URR! So, I cleaned up his mess and got ready for a horrible few weeks, but low and behold...twenty minutes later--success!! After he went he said, "Mom, now I can call Savannah!!" (Savannah is his cousin that is three weeks younger than him, but has been potty trained for like a year!) He was so proud to tell her! The rest of the day he had 100% success!
Day 2: 100% success
Day 3: 100% success!!
Day 4: 100% success!....
So, it's been one week today and with only one accident I have to say Trey is officially my favorite child! Not really, but we are proud of him. I've also concluded that sometimes name calling is okay.

3 MONTHS

It has been 3 months since Makai entered this family. He is such a fun little man. A little demanding at times, but for the most part--tons of fun. One of our favorite features of this boy are his thighs. I couldn't help but think if someone took pictures of my thighs and put them on a blog for people to laugh at I'd be mortified, but his are so cute!! Our little chubby man laughing for dad of course.

Yes...he drinks cream!

NINE!!

I'd like to thank Aunt Marci for making Tyler's cake for his ninth birthday! He wanted, "A vanilla cake with a paintbrush and Happy Birthday written on it." Not only did she do what he wanted, but she made it look cute!

Tyler said, "Mom, I loved my cake. It was just what I wanted." We can't believe Tyler is 9. How quickly the year went...again!! Tyler is a great kid. Saturday Mammy and Grandpa took him to lunch and then we had a party at their house with all his cousins. Aunt Michelle has a birthday in March as well, so we celebrated with her. She asked for brownies...yum.Monday was Tyler's official birthday. He got a call from Chase and Savvy and enjoyed talking to them and we had cake and ice cream with Nana. Then, we gave him the choice of a family outing. His options: the Aquarium, the zoo, an airplane museum, or sledding. All I can say is he made the right choice! We drove up to Wrightwood and enjoyed a day in the snow. We had the best time. The boys had never been sledding, but have asked if we can go again this week. The weather was just perfect. Although there was snow, it was nice and warm...well, until you went down the hill and got snow down your pants and in your socks. :)

I loved this picture of Monty and Trey. Trey didn't enjoy walking in the snow. He had to hold someones hand whenever he walked. Understandable, as the first thing he saw was Monty fall on his behind!

Enjoying their first ride down a hill on a snow sled!We were so proud of Trey for going down. One time he went down with me and Tyler and when I was screaming he said, "Mom, don't worry. It's fun." (Don't be fooled. He was scared when it was going fast.)

You can kind of tell, but on this picture Tyler had fallen completely off the board and was just dragging behind it! BURRR.

Happy 9th birthday Tyler. We love you. Thanks for being such a great kid and awesome oldest brother. We are blessed to have you!

Homework!

Homework isn't my favorite time of day. The boys just need constant help staying focused. One day however I noticed when I told the boys to go do their homework it was quiet. I walked in to see this. The two boys working hard and sharing my IPOD. Who would have thought. This worked great(well up until I took a picture).The boys just finished their second trimester of the school year. Both earned Principals Honor Roll. We are super proud of them. However, on a sad note Tyler's best friend Bryant is moving back to Mexico and today was his last day of school. Tyler is pretty bummed out of course, so we got a picture of him and Bryant. Here is a picture of Makai...almost 3 months. He's a super cute kid, but irritated when he's awake. I think he's teething. I know it's early, but this kid drools like there is no tomorrow and always has to have something in his mouth. If Tyler hadn't gotten teeth at 4 months I would second guess myself. He is starting to giggle though. Well at least for Monty he giggles. What is up with that!

Hello!?

So, I think I mentioned Makai's 2month well baby check. However, after yesterday I feel I need to write more about it!! Because Monty is in school we are on Government Health Insurance. Because of this I feel I can't complain at all about our Health Care. I'm just thankful that I don't have to pay for it. I didn't realize how thankful until I got a bill yesterday(which will be paid for by California) for $850! Hello! Now, I was there and they seriously didn't do $850 worth of work on my kid.
Now, let me explain a little about the appointment. He had an appointment at 9:30am. We got there about 9:10 because it says to be there 15minutes early to check in. I waited in line until 9:50! Then we sat in the waiting room for another hour and 45min before we were taken to see the doctor. Now, for a mom with three small kids this wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but like I said...I don't complain, I realize this is a service. When I got into the room I asked the nurse how she was and she told me. She was so frustrated because people came in the whole morning without appointments and demanded to be seen. She said the worst part was that none of them were really sick enough to be at the hospital. But, because they have to see them it cause everyone else that had appointments to have to wait longer to see overworked nurses and doctors who were all in a rush. The nurse spent about 5 minutes with us and the doctor about 3. Then they gave him 4 shots and we were on our way.
I guess my whole point is that the answer to this healthcare problem isn't to just give everyone health care. They will abuse it! I am thankful for the healthcare I have at this time, but I sure don't want it forever! I want to feel like because I'm working for my healthcare I have a right to expect more. I don't want to dread going to the doctor. I don't want my doctor/nurses to dread going to work either. I don't know all the answers, but I do feel health care needs to be more affordable. Maybe if it was more affordable people could be expected to pay for it, but how can anyone afford $850 for a well baby check. Oh, and this for a perfectly healthy little guy. What if he'd of had a problem?
Just my thoughts.