Category: Cali

    Pre California

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    I went to California last week! I have a deal with myself that if Ben is going to be gone then I can be gone also. So Ben went to scout camp and I took the kids to CA. LaNell came with me because I CANNOT make the drive by myself and we had a wonderful trip minus a few long hours of screaming in the car. Anyway, rewind another week before last week and that is where these pictures are coming from:

    slip n slide

    We had a free Saturday and spent it at home doing a few chores but mostly just being home as a family. The kids did the slip n slide and then took the cold hose in the hot hot tub and played for hours. Rose wore arm floaties and couldn’t quite relax with them.

    floatie Rosie

    Cali loves the camera and she loves swimming

    Packer practicing his snorkel

    The next day we got to pick my niece and nephew up at the airport. Shae is 17 and Braden is 14. They got to go to EFY this year so we spent Sunday evening hanging out with them before they went to BYU for the week. We also spent time with the Nettesheims that night for Ellie’s birthday.

    Taylor, Braden, Brady, Kelsey, and Shaelyn

    Joel took this random pic of Brewer waiting for us to get home Sunday night. He's a good lookin dog.

    A few more random pictures:

    Our backyard Tree that we love.

    Each of our children have enjoyed this swing.

    Rose chewing on a rag - she loves to do this after every meal - weird - but whatever.

    Our cute thumb sucker.

    Summer is going way to fast. It just started but I can already see the end…

    Categories: Brewer, Cali, General, Packer, Raymond, Rose

    Cali

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    Cali is only 3 but she thinks she is the same age as her brothers. She can do almost everything they can do. She had to take her ‘school’ pictures as well…

    what a difference a few months makes! my little 2 year old is now a full size kid. She lost a lot of that baby fat. So Cute. We love our Cali.

    Categories: Cali

    Cali’s First Hair Cut

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    monday April 30, 2012Hair Cut Time!

    Hair Cut Time!

    We got Grandma to grab her scissors before she went to work.

    3 inches off the bottom and Cali is ready to go. I love her blonde hair.

    Categories: Cali

    the OTHER mom

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    I know I’ve mentioned that Cali is my little miniature self. She proved this again this past week when I came down from my shower to find…

    mini me

    Yes, she is playing Hearts. no, that is not a kid game… that is my game! And she is totally in my spot, holding my baby, using my computer… MOnkey see, monkey do – i guess. I thought it was cute.

    she knew she was pushing her limits (not supposed to pick up the baby by herself) and proud that she got Hearts started all by herself

    She reminds me of myself in many ways. She is stubborn and shy and easily offended and don’t dare mess with her when she is tired. She is more into bike riding and sports than her brothers are and is better at it than them. (Had to add that last part in case any of my Bros actually read this!) She is just starting to realize that I ask her to help a lot – she wants me to start asking the boys to do it 🙂 fair enough.

    a few hours and at least one kid dressed later - -she came back for round two

    Categories: Cali

    LOVE when these girls get along

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    Cali is such a good helper and big sister… it is all on HER terms of course but when things are right with these two – things are GOOD. On this day both of the girls went out to ride bikes and when I looked out my heart just melted to see Cali helping Rose ride and have fun. They were both so happy…

    Can you see Cali pushing Rose with her bike?

    they went around and around like this - so cute to watch

    Categories: Cali, Rose

    Toilet Paper

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    OK! where do you find the best deal on toilet paper?? I am asking and wanting answers. Costco? Walmart? what brand?

    TP

    We have been a very moderate using toilet paper family BUT now that Cali uses the toilet we seem to be flying through the paper product. Like all 3 bathrooms are always out. She is such a big girl that she insists on doing the toilet paper herself. Anyway, If I am going to be buying triple the amount of toilet paper then I am going to need to be more conscious of what it is costing and getting a good deal. (I will never go the route of homemade cloth toilet paper that I really did see a show about last week – biggest cheapskates or something like that) But girls are obviously more in need of toilet paper and my girls are starting to grow up so again I ask – – what is the best TP deal out there??

    and some cute pictures of the toilet paper crisis culprit…

    my big 3 year old

    Cali loves to sing and Dance these days - so cute.

    and she still loves to do the "Spirit Cheer Leading Cheer"

    This girl has personality.

    Categories: Cali, General

    TUESDAY SNOW DAY

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    We finally got some snow! The kids have been making snowmen and snowflakes at school in hopes of snow and we finally got an inch or two! so we took that inch or 2 and had a fun few hours. We had snow ball fights and tried out their sled at ‘the corner’. We are ready for more snow, some real sledding, and we didn’t get to make a snowman. (Rose and Ben were in the house napping.)

    Benji was busy throwing snow balls at me so I couldn't get a good picture of him in action.

    Packer trying to figure out the snowball launcher.

    Cali loved the snow - I don't think she has any recollection of playing in it before.

    Categories: Benji, Cali, Packer

    Mandarins

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    I love Oroville Mandarins! I am savoring the bag I brought home from Christmas, tempted to drive out there and get another round of them 🙂

    best mandarins ever!

    a quote from Packer Boy: “corndogs aren’t my favorite thing anymore. It’s mandarins!”

    Rose wanted to ride in this cart SOOO bad - 1/2 hour fit about it - she does not fit no matter how hard she tried.

    explaining to Rose that the shopping cart is only for dolls to ride in

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rose was so mad that she couldn’t fit in Cali’s new “doll shopping cart”. Our grocery store has these exact ones so I think she really knows what they are and assumed that she should be riding in it. Very sad and funny all at once.

    Rose is following her big sisters example and teaching herself how to walk. Potty training and walking are 2 big items on my get done before baby comes list and both girls have decided to take it upon themselves to accomplish their assigned tasks. I have been very tired and worn out so I am feeling blessed that these things are coming about on their own. Rose can walk BUT only if she doesn’t know she is walking. She walks 90% better and more often if she is carrying a toy or ball. I think she’ll be a true walker sometime next week. For now we are trying to video these first steps and get so excited every time she does it. On a side note, Cali is doing really well on potty training. She still has not mastered it and I rarely let her wear her panties BUT she is super close and the fact that I can’t remember the last time I had to change her is a great sign for me.

    our cinderella showing off her latest potty prize

    I had a Dr. Appointment for baby Clyde today. All seems to be well. I am down to 24 days! I am starting to get anxious. Mostly because I am getting bigger and bigger which is more and more tiring and makes for a grumpy mom. I took Rose to the Dr with me because she was up all night needing me to hold her. She has bronchiolitis. Medicine has been started so hopefully tonight we will both get caught up on our sleep. I also had my first round of Braxton Hicks contractions. I have had 4 babies but never the fake contractions. That was kind of weird but also frustrating if they are just fake. More rest and drinking more water seem to have helped stop them. Well, this did start as a Mandarin post, definitely didn’t end up that way… must be late. I’m going to bed.

    Categories: Cali, General, Jana, Rose

    How my 3 year old (dec.6th) Potty Trained Herself

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    Ok – not 100% on her own but Cali took it upon herself to start using the toilet this week. On Monday she said she needed to sit on the toilet and she did several times but didn’t have any success. Then on Tuesday she woke up talking about going potty and she had a very successful day. Wednesday we set a timer and she went a lot with minor accidents. By Thursday she was going in and using the toilet all by herself.  She has an amazing ability to pee whenever she wants even if she just peed 10 minutes ago. Before knowing that trick I offered her a mermaid prize if she peed 3 times – she accomplished that quickly. When I put her to bed I told her that in the morning she could do 3 more pees on the toilet to get another prize. Well, she woke up at 8am and by 9:30am she had earned her prize!

    I had attempted Potty Training 2 or 3 times before this but she never had any success so I never pushed to hard. With the Holidays I decided we would wait and try after that. I was almost ready to make it happen but she has been with her 3 girl cousins that are all in different stages of potty trained and training so it rubbed off on her. I am excited to check this off the list of “Must Get Done’s Before Baby Comes”.

    the princess collection is growing and we have watched the "Little Mermaid" 2 days in a row 🙂

    Now we are working on filling up this chart for a final prize and hopefully she will be 'trained' in her toilet duties by then 🙂

    Categories: Cali