Happy Birthday Brandon!

Not sure what the heck was wrong with my camera....Zach had it before I started snapping and changed some settings on it...shocking I know...

So here are some photos from birthday fun for Brandon's day...cake with the kids and dinner at home tonight...fun day and weekend as a family...can't beat it. Brandon and I went to dinner at the Riverwalk Friday night...awesome food and restaurant. Had a nice night together and liked the sitter...lets hope she comes back and we can do that again soon. We talked about making it a monthly date and just work around her schedule, so we will see what she says to that. I think Brandon had a good day...I know the kids and I did. :) Happy Birthday Brandon!!

He and Erin had fun playing with the blowers....
He had a lot of fun I think....
April this one is for you...if you remember dinner in Ft. Worth a lifetime ago, this will make you laugh out loud. We miss you!

Canyon Lake Lights!

Saturday night we took a drive north to Canyon Lake. It is a beautiful area that we have heard a lot about and hope to go back again....apparently it is a military R and R spot, like the one we used to go to in Mountain Home. They had a great Christmas Light show there that you drove through and at the end got to see Santa. The kids loved the light show and I have to admit, it was a great one. We saw a bunch of deer running while there too and that was a bit highlight...my kids are more used to seeing stray coyotes, so seeing deer was a much happier animal to find on the side of the road.

I hope in the spring we can go back up there and enjoy the beauty of the area. They have tons of places to stay, camp, vacation, etc. I think it would be a lot of fun. Some photos of our trip. Erin of course wouldn't look at Santa much less sit on his lap. Zach was first in line. :)

Telling him what he wants for Christmas...a Wii, Telescope and Shake and Go Freeway. Same items for last 6 months...he also put in a good word for his sister. This kid is amazing.
Loved the Arizona themed light display...my favorite of course.
Very pretty and the back drop was the lake...
Super excited in the car.
Ready to check out the lights!

Christmas stuff...

Last night was Zachary's Christmas program at school. It was actually held at the high school and they had all 6 kindergartens and one 4th grade class sing together...then you left after your child's portion and the next grade and parents came in...interesting concept for schools so big. It worked well actually and we enjoyed the show...perfect length for the performing kids and the people watching. Erin loved it...she was so proud and excited. Zachary did really well and had a ton of fun too. I loved watching him and even teared up. So much fun to see him so excited and engaged. He had a rough start to the week and has had a great week since.

Erin at his show...

His side of the stage...if you click on the photo to make it bigger you can kind of see him...Child number 8 from the right.
Bigger shot of the stage and group.
Zach with Santa last weekend at the Children's Museum. I think he likes him. :)
Today was his holiday party at school in his class. I went early and had lunch with him...brought chick fil a...I am a good mom I know. He walked in with a boy that he had trouble with earlier in the year...they asked if he could sit with us, the rule is you can have one friend sit with your parent for lunch. So I said sure and it was a very nice lunch. We all talked and the boy was quite nice to Zach. Surprise! I then ran two quick errands and came back for the holiday party. Yeah! He was excited to see me and I was thrilled to be able to spend that time with him. He did really well and had fun doing the crafts. I like his teacher a lot and had a nice time getting to see him in his element and get to know his friends more. I stayed until they did the eating of tons of treats...I headed off to get Erin from her school. She had pajama day. She wasn't too sure of it this AM and cried when I told her it was time to go to school. "No Mommy...I no wear Pajamas...I need get dressed!" Good thing she had fun once she got there.

We have a holiday party with my playgroup next week and I am excited to see how he does with the kids. I would love to start having playdates for Zachary with some friends. I think it would be fun for him and help me see how he is doing in that social arena.

Big plans for the weekend...Date night! Brandon's birthday is Sunday, so we are heading out Friday night for a date at the Riverwalk. The kids will have a new sitter...fingers crossed. She came highly recommended, so I am hopeful this will be a good fit. Sunday Brandon is getting a massage for a gift. I think we are driving to the light show at Canyon Lake on Saturday night with the kids. So fun stuff.

Not much else to report...I am excited for the holidays and to enjoy some time with the kids home together. My goal...potty train Erin. We will see. :)

The W in Christmas....

A cute little something to help keep us all in the true holiday spirit!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The "W" in Christmas - Author Unknown

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year.
It was an exciting season for a six-year-old.
For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."
I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.
Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher.
She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation.
All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.
Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down.
Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.
As I waited, the students were led into the room.
Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor.
Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love".

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W."
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake.
But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W."
Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

" C H R I S T W A S L O V E "

And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence...
Humbled by His love.

May each of you have a Merry Christmas as you reflect on His Love for us. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Rough day....

Well yesterday was a bit rough around here...Zach has had an off week in my opinion...much more out in left field and more behavioral issues than we have had to deal with in a while. Trying to narrow down the cause, but really I am not seeing much to send me in one direction for an answer. He has been yelling at me a ton, talking back, refusing to do things, not using his words well or often when he is upset and overall behaving more like the age of his sister than himself. Before church yesterday he was just a mess...got very upset with me when I was trying to simply ask what we should do for the day. We had several things on the list and it was clear we wouldn't be able to do them all, so why not just try let everyone have a say and decide that way. Well he got upset, didn't understand me apparently and began to just scream at me. Thankfully Brandon was home and jumped in, because it is tough to always be the one getting the attitude and then handing out the punishment.

We then went to church about an hour later and he swore he was going to be good, he was excited to go, etc. UGH. Erin sat in my lap the whole mass. She smiled and waved at the baby next to me. Got down when we stood up and stayed by my leg....the best she has been yet. Zach was all over the place...laying down, pulling on the kneeler...humming loudly...touching me or Erin all the time...Brandon was done and told him he needed to talk to him outside for a minute...just to remind him of how to act. He yells, "Don't Spank Me Daddy!" Oh goodness...poor Brandon turned red and I could tell he wanted to crawl in a hole. Funny thing is I am more the spanker or heavy hand if you will...They came back in and we finished mass...had plans after but decided to head home. On the way we asked Zach why he behaved that way and got a bunch of excuses, no apologies and a lot of attitude, tears and hysterics. Brandon and I have rarely been on the same page, much less chapter when it has come to parenting Zachary. That child has tested us and our marriage in a lot of ways. He is a challenge in the discipline area for sure...You never know if he gets it, if it is too much or not enough, he over reacts or under reacts...on and on. Well yesterday we didn't speak...we walked in the house and both did the same thing...it was pretty drastic, but also amazing that we both were working together so well. We went to his room and cleared out every single toy. We left only his books, but did take his prized atlas. He cried so hard and screamed at us to give it all back...then he was going to go to the store and buy more books. It was pretty awful, but necessary. We through the toys and put a big pile for goodwill and thrift...others went into a toy closet that we are going to buy a lock for this week. We told him he has to earn back his toys with good behavior. In reality some of them he doesn't even play with...I think he just likes to have them in his room. He will be getting new things soon...we hope Santa can still come by the house after this weekend...and some he had outgrown. It was time for some to go and more importantly it was time for some tough love. He needs to know having toys and getting to play with them isn't an automatic for him or for any child. Most kids have much less than him and a lot have nothing at all. That he needs to respect us...Brandon, myself and Erin all have feelings and needs too and we can't always give up for him...some times he has to do things that are for our benefit. AKA - Sacrifice. Perfect day in church for this as it was the reading on having more than you need and sharing what you have with those that have nothing. Insert the ahhhhhh music!

I ended up taking Erin to a birthday party last night that both kids had been invited to...a lady from the play group...I was struggling with this...taking her and not him was a bold move and one that did get him to think. We made it clear that Erin was going because her behavior was good and his was not. Thankfully hers was beyond good yesterday. It is like she knew. She had a blast at the party too, which was good. She has never done anything like that, going to a function without Zach. He teared up as we left and told her to have fun and when we got home asked her how the party was...she ran in and couldn't wait to tell them...I jump bouncy house, I eat cake, I play friends...she was quite proud of herself. :)

I hated yesterday and I hope he follows the steps today to earn a toy back. He had no tv last night or this AM and no computer... have been hard core...He yelled at me this morning again and I am trying to remind myself this is all for a greater good...stay the course. Easier said than done. I hope he has a good day...I hope he realizes the meaning behind what we have tried to do...

His ABA therapy evaluation is next week...couldn't have come any sooner. We will work on switching speech and OT most likely after the new year...too much going on right now.

I have a huge list of new years resolutions to work on as well and will post those up here soon as a reminder to me and maybe some of you will hold me accountable. :)

Here's to a better day and some positive changes around here!

Gearing up for the weekend!

I am glad that Brandon stayed home and didn't go TDY this week...just makes life more chaotic and the weather out west was a bit crazy. I know he was disappointed because he was looking forward to Patch Night at Edwards and seeing his friends. You won't hear me ever be sad to miss a chance to go back to Edwards....just saying!

Had a good week so far...got lots of shopping and errands run yesterday...always fun and easier with just me to look after. :) I love having everything I need so close and then chance to have a day to run around and get so much done. Ah, heaven.

We went to a new friends house (met thru the playgroup I joined) for a playdate after school. Only 3 moms were there including the host, so a nice small group...loved that. Kids had fun and it was nice to be out of the house. Got home and realized none of us had been home all day and it was ten till 6. Good thing I got McDonald's on the way home. Erin requested Nuggets and Wench Wies. So that was easy enough for me.

We have been last minute invited to 2 birthday parties this weekend. Saturday at 3 and Sunday at 4...wow! We will see if we can make them both, but would be nice to try after 4 years living somewhere and going to close to none, it is fun to be included.

I was invited for another girls night out...seriously? Tomorrow night with some of the AF wives I met last weekend. They are going to a parade of homes and then dinner...sounds fun and I am excited to get to know them all better...seems like a nice bunch of ladies. Brandon has poker Saturday night...so we are busy with things and it is fun to say that. The next few weeks are full of fun things too...Zach's Christmas program on the 16th at the local high school....Christmas party on the 17th. Erin isn't having a party, so thankfully I won't have two in one day like I did last time. Yeah!

She had a great day at KDO yesterday, stayed all day and was in such a great mood when I got her. Love that.

Then it will be Christmas!!! I can't believe it is so close. I am halfway done with my Christmas cards, super behind! Oh well...they will get out eventually! Off to work on my long to do list...

Smiling faces!

Just wanted to share some sweet smiling faces of my beautiful babies with you. I love being their mom! This is how we find Zach most days, checking out Weather.com on my computer! He is such a smart and handsome boy....And Miss Erin...oh that child can light up a room and is so lovable.
So there you are...some happy, smiley faces on this cold day! Lots of love!

Chilly weather!

Wow it is cold here. Almost noon and temps still around 40...I am cold. And it is windy here today, so that makes it extra cold. Good thing I scored some cheap winter coats for the kids during Cyber Monday sales and they arrived this week! I was so used to the cold and wind in CA, that I always had the coats, hats, fleece, etc ready for the winter months...I wasn't as prepared this year. Oh well...we are good now. I am being super lazy today and just cleaning the house...I have no desire to get into a car and run errands with a two year old when it is this cold...I know that some friends, like April, are laughing because 40 would be a heat wave for you. Laugh away Mrs. Alaska!

Zachary has had a bad cough for a few days and when he is not 100% healthy we all hear about it. He is a bit of a complainer. :) He also tends to have less than desirable behavior come out when he is sick...so we are dealing with that right now and I am trying my best to be understanding. He tried to get out of going to school today, but I knew I had to send him or else he would try to stay home all the time when he is a little sick. His teacher called this AM and said he was doing fine, so he will stay for the day unless she calls me back...Erin seems to be the same...using that shampoo on her and hoping the yuckiness goes away soon.

Went to see New Moon Monday night with my playgroup ladies...it was good and I am glad I finally got to go and see it...my favorite book of the 4, so I enjoyed it. It is a nice group of ladies and I am glad I joined this group. They have a book club, starting Bunko and do a Mom's Night Out once a month. It is also a very active group that does playdates all through the week, so you have ample chance to go and be involved in things.

Not much else going on...working on Christmas cards to get out in the mail by the weekend and finishing wrapping the gifts up. I am excited about Christmas this year for sure.

I am off to clean some more...yeah! :)

Weekend...

We had a good weekend here, hope you all did too!

We went out on a date Friday night...whoo hoo! We were lucky enough to have gotten an offer from Brandon's best friend from college to watch Zach and Erin...he is in town for 4 months doing training here. So we were very appreciative of the chance to get out and go to Brandon's work Christmas party. Got to meet some new people...I have been completely out of the AF loop since we moved here...ate some yummy food and saw a comedian. It was fun. Saturday we tried something new...took the kids to the Majik Theatre here in San Antonio. We was the Best Worst Christmas Pageant Ever. It was super crowded so our seats weren't the best...the place is very cute but had no ushers...so seat yourself doesn't always leave people's best manners to do the job. The kids loved the show...we managed to stay the whole time and both kids did well...Zach really enjoyed it and asked when we can go back. Big yeah! We had a movie night at home that for Brandon and I...Four Christmases....not my favorite. So any netflix suggestions would be welcome. Since it is hard to get a sitter for us we are going to try to commit to having a movie night at home once a week for Brandon and I...so we need ideas!

Yesterday the boys went to church together at the 8 AM service...I woke up with a bad headache so stayed back with Erin...then we headed to IHOP for breakfast...it was packed! Then off to the commissary. I usually only make there once a month, so when I go, I go with coupons in hand and a list. Erin passed out in the car on the way there, so she and Brandon waited in the car while Zach and I shopped...it went well for most of the store, him reading items off the list, checking them off and us chatting about things. He was being very good. Then he started to cough....Zach is one of those kids that continues to hack and hack and gags himself. Well this day was my lucky day as he vomited on me in the baking aisle. Poor kid was so upset and yelled, "I want to go in the car, I am coughing and sick." I told me to stop and understand we can't leave yet, I had a basket full of groceries. I grabbed my phone with my non vomit hand and tried to call Brandon to come get him at the front of the store...well before I had a chance another shopper and mother yelled, "Everyone get away from that child, he's sick and contaminating all of us." I just stared at her in disbelief. What mother especially at a military store does that? I quietly told her, "No, he isn't sick, its not like that, he just gagged..." Before I could finish my sentence she again raises her voice, "He sure looks sick to me and I think you should have stayed at home with him instead of dragging a sick child throwing up to the store to get the rest of sick." Really? Did that just happen to me? I know I should have yelled back, flipped her the bird or thrown the vomit still in my hand at her, but I didn't. I hate vomit and was ready to puke myself, so I just took off Zach's coat, wiped the vomit in it and proceeded to get him to the nearest exit. I was done. He cried and that only made it worse for me and him. I was amazed that anyone at a military store would see a mom alone and not simply assume she was alone because she had to be. How did she know my husband was in the car and not deployed. Don't people need to eat even when they have a sick kid? Haven't we all taken our sick child or sick self to a store out of necessity...haven't we had moments in stores that are awful and not foreseeable. UGH! Then the checkout lady topped my day be totalling my bill before I got all my coupons out...I was really done.

Luckily the rest of the day was okay and quieter.

I did have a not so fun morning taking Erin to the clinic...she has a "rash" on her scalp that has been there about 2 weeks now...doctor thinks it is seborrhea or cradle cap. So we will treat for that for now, but sadly it might be ringworm...just can't tell. UGH! I am done. If she has that I am done....I had that about 10 years ago and it was awful, lasted months and really took its toll on me. The only way she would have gotten is from KDO too, so I am just really done. Lets hope it is the first choice and goes away soon with home remedies. FINGERS CROSSED PLEASE!

While there I spoke to the referral people in tricare about our ongoing issues with Zach's therapy here. He has been going to one place for OT and Speech for a few months and three times now we have dealt with issues with his referral and them not notifying us until it ran out and then it being difficult to get another approved. Never had this issue in CA. Also I am a bit frustrated with the people there and their lack of information they provide me. He goes in the back of the office with the therapist while Erin and I wait out front...he does an hour of combined therapy and then comes out...no information ever shared about what he did, how he did or things to work on at home and school. I ask them each time and I get that he was fine and they will see me next visit. So...I am going to switch providers. I am usually not good at things like this...I like what I know and stick with things...but to me this isn't what we should be getting. I want feedback, I want ideas for things to do at home, I want them to be giving me more than that. I found a place that had a ton of great feedback and working on getting an evaluation set up there for him. He has done so well, I refuse to drop the ball on therapy, especially when he gets nothing at school other than speech 2 days a week for 15 minutes. So...I need good vibes on this as well...

I am off to finish my washing...all the sheets this AM...never fun to unmake and make beds and a crib, but has to be done, right?

So there is my recap.

Fun stuff...

I have to admit, there are things with each age of children that are fabulous and then those that are, well, less than fabulous. Age Two for example, tantrums and meltdowns are not so fabulous But the things that are...well the list is a bit endless. I actually loved this age with Zachary. He had a rough few months before he turned two, but most of two was good...three was a different story! Erin is full of spunk and has her moments, but for the most part she is a doll. She is my little buddy for sure and everywhere I go, she wants to go. It is pretty difficult right now t do some things because she is having a lot of separation issues with me. I am trying to remind myself that one day in the not so distant future, I will beg for these moments back. It is amazing that she is already 29 months old...she is talking so well and making observations about things all the time. She is funny, animated, smart, sweet, loving and adores her brother, her daddy, her dog, and me. She loves her TV too!! And of course Boo Bear. She loves to play with play dough, paint and draw. Playing dress up is a daily things here and hysterical to see the outfits she comes up with. She loves her little people...plays with them every single day! She is starting to enjoy her Kids Day Out more and more and I think she is making friends. She had a play date here yesterday with a playgroup we joined and it went really well. Her shy side is still there, but I think she is learning that it is fun to play with others and mommy is still going to be there when it is done!

I spend so much time on here often talking about the ups and downs with Zachary that I forget to drop the comments about this one...for that I am sorry to her and everyone who wonders why I don't mention her more. I am beyond blessed that this little surprise came into my life right when she did. She really made all the difference to our family. A blessing in so many ways to each of us. Some days I kiss her so much I worry I will kiss her skin raw. I love her laugh and her sweetness...she is just a wonderful child and I am so blessed I was lucky enough to get to be her mom....My Erin!

Her new attempt at smiling for the camera...done with an enthusiastic CHEESE!