Happy Birthday Kayley & Cole!!

My plans to do a post with pictures has been foiled due to my laptop crashing. I will add pictures later, I promise!

Today my kids are one year older. I cannot believe Kayley is six now and my baby boy is four. That means almost seven years ago I found out I was having Kayley. It was a surprise but so very wanted. After Tyler and I got married we had our tiny, adorable premature baby with trips back and forth between home and the NICU. It was hard and sad but to tell you the truth I don't even remember the bad parts. I enjoyed being home with Kayley and not having to work. I got pregnant with Cole and had a fairly easy pregnancy, I just got really fat! I had Cole on Kayley's birthday (which at the time was so NOT funny) and ever since then it has been a wild ride. And God has provided for me, Tyler and our babies every step of the way!

I'm sad my kids aren't so little anymore but I love who they have become! They are both at the age where I can see each of their personalities. Kayley is sweet and kind but also super spunky and "boyish" (in her words). I've had to explain to her that God made her a special girl who is every bit as awesome as a boy. She seemed convinced. Cole is a stinker who is one extreme or the other. One second he'll be happy as a clam, the next he will be whining and crying and completely out of control! He does love his sissy and likes to bring her ice packs and water when she's sad or hurt. The best part about both kids, though, is that they both love God and sing worship songs all the time!

Happy Birthday Kayley and Cole, I love you!

Ten On Tuesday

1. I spilled a bunch of almond joy bites in my purse (they're like m&ms) and ate them little by little all day long yesterday.

2. The plan is to take the kids to Sea World on Saturday for their birthday because we get in for free! The forecast is rain. Surprise, surprise. What exactly do the storm clouds have against my small children?

3. My kids are totally cracking me up lately. Last night Cole walked into his room at bed time and randomly said "this is impossible!" I'm amazed at the funny stuff they say and do.

4. My back is so sore from sitting all day long. I've never had that problem before! Today I stretched a lot and it seems to be getting better.

5. At my job I've been learning so much about rich people and the way they spend their money. When people have enough money to pay someone to manage it for them, sometimes they really don't have a clue what's going on in their own finances and probably wouldn't notice if a poor soul like myself took some for my own. But we know I would never do that!

I also almost fell on my face carrying three heavy boxes to the post office in my stinkin' heels today.

6. Krista came over for dinner last night and we ate Papa John's pizza (my fave) and talked for a while. I don't see her very often so it's nice when we get to hang out!

7. I really need to take some pictures of my kiddos and upload them. After all, this is their last week of being 5 and 3!!! There's no way I'm going to be the mom of a six year old. Holy moley. I decided that I'm going to do a blog on their birthday with pictures from each year of life for each kiddo.

8. I get my first paycheck tomorrow! Our finances are still so rough but I'm still trusting in God!

9. I entered Tyler's W-2 information into our tax program at work today. Just call me Stephanie Batten, CPA. Ha, yeah right!

10. Last but not least, here's a little bit of Auntie JoJo awesomeness:

Funny Kid

Kayley: "Mom, is that a Netflix you got in the mail?"

Me: "Yes, it's not a kid movie though."

Kayley: "Is it a chick fil a?"

Me: "Bahahahahahaha! No, it's called a chick flick honey."

Ten On Tuesday

1. I'm so thankful I have a job. I'm so tired though. Here's a typical day:

Get up at 6:30. Get myself ready. Get the kids up, fed, dressed and out the door at 7:30. Meet Megan at Mound, throw Cole and the car seat into her Tahoe, walk Kayley to class. Wait till the bell rings at 7:45 and walk to the car. Try to make it to the 126 before 7:55 in order to beat traffic. Sing loudly to my music and sit in awe of the amazing creation that is the ocean along my commute. Get to work, do my thing, answer phones, pretend my feet don't hurt from my heels. Leave between 12:30 and 1. Drive back to Ventura, pick up my kids from my mom's at 1:45, let them run around outside for a bit, have rest time. Play with the kids, do housework, talk on the phone. Make dinner, bathe children, hang with Tyler, convince myself to go grocery shopping, put the kids in bed and crash out on the couch.

And I've only been working four hours a day. Thursday I start working from 9-4. I know moms do this all the time but it's just new to me and it's an adjustment. I'm enjoying working but I do miss spending time with the kids. I'm so thankful for Megan and my mom for helping with the kids. I wouldn't be able to do it without them!

2. Tyler and I spent an hour and a half on Sunday night looking through old notes he wrote to me when we were dating. It was such fun reminiscing about all the time we spent with each other back then. I also came across a journal I kept when I was in primary 4 in Scotland. I went to school with my mum and my wee sister. It's funny to me I talked like that at one point in my life.

3. Speaking of my wee sister, here's a little ditty she wrote about me when she was in elementary school:

"If you were looking at the outside of my sister you woudn't see very much. She is just about as kind as a little raccoon. She doesn't have much sense of humor but sometimes she has just a little sense of humor, but it is very scarce. She wears glasses but just for reading, chews bubble gum and needs to do her homework every night. It is the inside of my sister that really counts. She has a heart as wide at the Rocky Mountains; and inside that head of hers is enough love for all the animals in the world."

I love it.

4. Tyler buzzed Cole's head last night. He looks so handsome.

5. I really want to put Kayley in soccer. She plays it at school during recess and loves it! I'm pretty sure she's slowly morphing into a boy. The whole "girls drool, boys rule" thing really kinda freaks me out. I wonder if I should worry.

6. This Carol Smith character that tried to friend me and my friends just cracks me up. She claims to know some people I went to high school with. Some people really are just crazy.

7. I got a sweater and a matching scarf from Target last night for $6!

8. I've been so hungry this morning and I cannot seem to be satisfied. I lost another pound this week, bringing my total to 14 pounds so far!

9. I went grocery shopping yesterday and Tyler helped me. I love a full fridge and pantry. It makes me happy. Tyler bought sushi for him and Kayley. It grosses me out to see her eat it but I love that she's not afraid to try new things. We went to sushi last week and I did try some. I wish I were less of a picky eater. I had Udon soup that was fabulous though!

10. My feet stink from my work shoes. I'm really a flip floppy kinda gal so it's annoying that my feet are so confined all day long. I need to invest in a good pair of heels.

My kids can skateboard!

We were cleaning out the garage yesterday and the kids got out the skateboard. First Kayley started practicing then Cole did too! I know they are just beginners but I'm so proud! I thought ya'll might like to see the awesomeness for yourselves.

Ten On Tuesday/Christmas Details

1.The kids stayed up at Lisa and Greg's until Thursday. My stinkin' body only let me sleep in one day! It was nice and relaxing and mostly just really quiet. Christmas Eve the kids and I went to our family gathering for a late lunch that was fantastic, then we went to church for the service. It was great, especially because Tyler, Corey and Raeleen were able to be there! Kayley was singing songs at the top of her lungs and the funny part is that she didn't know all the words! After the service we made Christmas cookies for Santa (Kayley still not really knowing if he's real or not) and left them out with some milk.

2. Tyler ended up having the stomach flu (that I have now extracted) and was not well Christmas day. When I got up in the morning Cole had already emptied his stocking as well as Kayley's and gave me that sweet, innocent smile like "what, mom? I'm helping." I made him put all hers back and then he was mad he had no stocking to empty, go figure. After presents we headed over to the parents house and did Christmas there. Then we went home and got ready to go to the Dawson family gathering in Yorba Linda. The food was amazing and the family was great too! My Aunt Michele placed me on her "naughty list" for making her a great-aunt. Geez, sorry Aunt Michele! We got home at 11pm and I was so wiped!

3. I got to see Justin for the first time in a long time. Here he is with baby Zoe (Corey's daughter)! She's adorable with her giant eyes.

4. Cole's Christmas faves are:

Bumblebee transformer
Buzz Lightyear
Transformer car
Toy Story Pj's
Floor mat with streets to run his cars on
All the candy and sweets!

5. Kayley's Christmas faves are:

A baby that says peekaboo while lifting its blanket over it's head
Her Buzz Lightyear
Cole's Bumblebee transformer
Microphone
Policewoman outfit with handcuffs, a whistle, tickets, etc.
Nerf gun that shoots balls

6. I didn't get any pictures of the kids opening presents on Christmas. That was silly of me. But I don't really mind, it's not like I scrapbook anymore. I mean, who has time for that?!

7. I got to meet Josh's wife Krystal this Christmas! I'm so glad they were able to come. She's really nice and meshed with the family really well. Here she is with Josh.



8. Tyler only worked a couple of hours yesterday and ended up hangin' with us most of the day. We took the kids to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs that, due to the current state of my stomach, makes me nacious at the thought. It was ok, the kids liked it, but I'm not sure I would want to see it again.

9. I'm bummed I missed out on seeing Shannon Heer and her family this evening. No one would have appreciated me attending as sickly as I am.

10. I took the kids to Bright Child (a giant indoor play center) this morning and we met Chelsie and her girls there. It would have been more enjoyable for me if I didn't feel like I needed to puke the entire time. I almost pulled over on the 101 to do just that. Thank goodness I made it to my mom's just in time. We spent the afternoon there and then the kids went to Tyler's for a while. The kids are home now and it's off to bed I go!

Monday...

My kiddos are at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Greg's and it's a beautiful thing.

This morning I didn't sleep in. I plan on it tomorrow. I did some laundry and then went to the dentist, who cleaned my teeth for, once again, FREE!! Then I helped my mom set up the bedroom for my sis to come. Then we went to Eggs and Things, yum! After we got back Joanna was here and we watched a movie.

Here's the greatest part of my day: I got home and someone had left a $10 gift card for Vons on my door. I was able to get something from the store that I really needed tonight. I'm so thankful. And blown away at how God is really providing for my every need.

Here's the second greatest part of my day: One hot tub in the complex was shut down, one was cold so Joanna and I ran some hot bath water and sat in it in our bathing suits. I love my sister. Here we are at the tree farm last year. Look how short my hair was!