The Run Aways

Two weeks ago I had my first experience with my children "running away". Let me tell you, it was SO funny!

It all started one day after school. I was on the laptop doing some online banking and was just about to get off as Benson needed to be fed. Marshall came up to me and asked if he could watch some basketball on the laptop (something him and Irish do on a regular basis...usually at breakfast time). I told him that I didn't have time to set it up for him, that I needed to feed Benson...AND that he hadn't earned it. Well apparently that was just the 'end of the world'. He got all pouty and whined "I hate this word" (I'm assuming the word he wasn't liking was 'No')

I replied saying "I'm sorry hunny, but you haven't earned it & I need to feed Benson" He stomps his foot, has his arms folded, and with a scowled look on his face and says "I'm so mad, I'm going to run away"
Me: Run away!? Where are you going to go?
Marshall: I don't know, I need a bag

So he goes around the house looking for a bag to 'pack' some items. He comes back into the living room and starts putting some toys into it.

I continue to ask him questions that will hopefully get him thinking and maybe realize that running away isn't the answer

Me: Marshall where are you going to sleep?
Marshall: By myself
Me: Who is going to feed you?
Marshall: I don't know, I'm just going to run away

He goes up stairs and comes back down with a stack of P.J's an puts them into his bag. Meanwhile Paisley is beside herself. In tears, crying "I don't want Marshall to leave". I'm trying to console her, and let her know that he's not actually going to leave...and then all of a sudden a switch flips and She's going with him! So now she's looking for a bag. I ask the kids if I should give away their bunkbed, toys & other clothes...you know...since their running away. Marshall told me no, because they weren't going to run away forever!

As Marshall is getting his coat on he tells me "I have some of my toys, pajamas & my boots in case it snows"
I ask him "Hunny, where are you going to go? How are you going to keep warm? Who is going to feed you? Who will tuck you in tonight? Who is going to sing to you at Bedtime" He pauses for a minute and then tells me that they are going to run away to Mary-Pats (Our Grandma friend & neighbor who lives kitty corner to us).

Since they said they were going to go somewhere in particular I decided I would let them 'go' and hopefully get this whole running away thing out of their system.

I watched them go over to her house. Marshall knocked on the door, no answer, knocked again, no answer....put his bag down and knocked on the door a couple more times. They then walked down her side walk and around the side of her house, at this point I could no longer see them. I thought to my self 'oh I hope they aren't going to just sit there and wait for her to come home'!

After a couple of minutes they come walking back around the side of the house and look like they are heading home...when who comes driving down the road!? Yep, Mary-Pat! Great timing! They see her and turn around running back to her driveway.

I start laughing to myself just thinking of what Marshall is going to tell her, how he'll say it and what her reaction will be! I give them a couple of minutes to go inside and then give Mary-Pat a call. Luckily she's laughing at the whole situation as well!

Apparently Marshall told her that they were coming to live with her!! Told her what days he goes to school, when he needs to be there and when he needs to be picked up! I tell her that I'm just in the middle of feeding Benson and I'll be over as soon as he's done!

Not too much later I see Marshall running back to our house. He bursts in the door and says "I forgot my backpack...and I need to get Paisley's coat" At this moment I am trying so hard NOT to laugh! How cute & funny is it that he came back to get his backpack!? And with that he was gone back over to Mary-Pat's!

Once Benson is finished We get our coats on and head on over to Mary-Pat's. When Marshall sees me come in the door he just groans.

"Mooooom, what are you doing here? I told you that we are running away for two sleeps and then we will come back home"

I told him "I came to talk with Mary-Pat and then we are all going home" He wasn't to pleased with the fact that I said we were all going home. I think he honestly thought they were just going to live there for two 'sleeps' and then come back home. As if Mary-Pat could just drop all her plans for the next two days and take care of them.

When we finally did go home we all had a nice chat about how we don't run away from our problems. Instead we need to talk about them, because running away wasn't going to fix anything.

Not that I can 'blame' this whole thing on a book...but I am! I blame a book on putting the idea of running away in his head. Not too long before this whole incident we read "Just So Mad" (one of the Little Critter books) throughout the whole book the critter wants to do certain things and he keeps being told 'No' by different people. So in the end he says he's going to run away. He packs some snacks and I think some toys and is about to run away when his friends show up and ask him to play. After reading that book to the kids I specifically mentioned how it was so silly that the Critter was going to run away just because he was upset...apparently Marshall didn't get the Memo!

All in all everyone involved (except the kids) had a good chuckle over it! They haven't mentioned running away again...yet!

First Digital LO

We recently bought me a laptop so that I could start Digitally Scrapbooking. I haven't had that much time to sit down and really play around with it, but what I have started doing, I have enjoyed! This past weekend a few of my sister in-laws, and friends got together to craft! I brought my laptop! Let me tell you, it was SO much nicer to only have to bring ONE item...instead of multiple boxes/storage containers with all my scrapbook supplies. These are my first two LO's (Lay Outs) that I have completed!

This is my very first lay out...I'm not extremely happy with it...but I don't think it's horrible either. I know I will get better at it over time...going from paper scraping to digital almost feels like starting over...You have to learn how to do everything all over again, become familiar with all the product you have (you wouldn't believe how many FREE digital supplies there are out there, it's awesome!!)

This is my second Layout. I like this one better! Perhaps because of all the coordinating paper? Or maybe because it's all about Miss P and her silliness :) (I think if you click on it, it will open to the correct size...that way you can read about each picture!)

She can take care of herself

Our Paisley is a little firecracker, she definitely keeps me on my toes! She is a determined little girl who knows what she wants, and is going to let you know it... I didn't ever experience "wardrobe malfunctions" with Marshall when he was her age, he could care less what he was wearing!

When we found out that our third child, Benson, was a boy, both Irish and I thought "Ohh good, Paisley will be well taken care of! Two brothers to protect her"...Well I found out the other day, that she may be the one doing the "taking care of"

Paisley, Benson and I were picking Marshall up from school. Marshall was distractedly (it's hard to stay focused when the hallways are crazy with kids here and there) putting his papers into his backpack, and suppose to be switching his shoes...all the necessary things in order for us to go home.

A little girl in Marshall's class who was about 10 feet away starts saying "Martian, Martian, Martian" not in a rude or teasing way...just somewhat chanting it and moving closer to him while doing so. It took a couple minutes, but she eventually made it over to where Marshall was standing. The whole time Marshall was just holding his backpack, semi-smiling...not seeming bothered by what this girl was doing.

So It's Marshall, Paisley and this girl standing in a circle. The girl continues on with her chant "Martian, Martian, Martian" Meanwhile the girls Mom or Daycare Provider has told her that it's not nice to call people names and that she should stop.

By this time Paisley is looking at Marshall, and then at the girl, and back at Marshall. I could just see the wheels turning in her head "she's calling you Martian, are you going to take that, what are you going to do about this" when all of a sudden she just flat out punches the girl in the arm!!!

I was so shocked! She's not usually the hitting/punching type! (although she has been hitting back lately.)

I quickly knelt down to her level and tell her that we do not punch, and tell her that she needs to say  sorry to this little girl! (I think the little girl was just as shocked as I, but she didn't cry or act hurt in any way, she just stood there looking at Paisley) I was trying really hard not to laugh as the image of Paisley punching this other girl kept replaying in my mind, the expression on Paisley's face was priceless!

After about 10 minutes Paisley finally apologizes, in a somewhat acceptable tone.

Lucky for me the Mom/daycare provider didn't seemed to bothered by it as she said when I apologized to her "It's okay, she sorta had it coming"

...Would you judge me I told you I was somewhat silently cheering inside!? I suppose I don't have to worry about this one being bullied...and hopefully she's not the one doing the bullying!!

I am Mama hear me roar...

...Or watch me break down a door!!

This incident in which I'm about to share with you happened about two months ago...and yes, I am just NOW sitting down to add it to our blog...I've been a little busy, it's quite the adjustment handling three children, and half day kindergarten.

On August 15th I was getting ready to go down to Utah with some of my family, for a funeral. Just Benson and I were going. That morning when Benson went down for his nap I let Marshall and Paisley play the Wii and I took that opportunity to have a shower.

In times past this has worked just fine. If I didn't get a chance to shower while Irish was home, I would wait till the baby was napping & put a movie on or let the kids play the Wii. This day was a little different!

I was almost done, when Paisley comes into the bathroom and announces that she wants to shower with me (nothing unusual, this girl LOVES water. I tell her to hurry, as I'm almost done & have a little more packing to do. So she gets in, we lather her up, rinse her off and get out.

Just after we turn the water off I can hear Benson (2.5 months old at the time) screaming his head off! I quickly grab my towel and rush off to get Benson....only I can't, because my bedroom door is locked!! It's not one of those locks that you can stick a bobby pin in either, it's a key lock. We have the key for the door...but yep, you guessed it, it's IN my room. I turn back to Paisley and ask her if she was in my room, to which she 'nonchalantly replies, Yes.

I call Irish at work, in a panic. I don't know what to do. Our poor baby is screaming hysterically on the other side of that door & I can't get to him. I can't get the ladder and go through the window A) I don't think the ladder is even tall enough B)...umm I'm in my towel!! We quickly realize that the only way to get in the room is to break down the door. I hang up, telling him I'll call him back if that doesn't work.

So I put my hip check into action!! I felt like a Mama Bear, there wasn't anything that was going to get between me and my Baby!! Good thing it was an old door, as it didn't take too long. I was so relieved when I got through that I didn't realize until after I had calmed Benson down the damage I had done.

A Mama has to do what a Mama has to do...right!?

Needless to say, I had a talk with Paisley about going into other peoples rooms & touching things that aren't hers...for I think the millionth time (and I'm sure it won't be the last)! 

Good news is that we now have a NEW door on our bedroom. It too has a lock, but one that can easily be opened from the outside by someone who knows what they are doing (ie: not children) should a similar situation occur.

Like Pink Much??

This girl doesn't just like Pink...she LOVES Pink ...can you tell?!

She chose her own clothes this day!...Sometimes it's just not worth the fight...you have to choose your battles, right!?

I can't remember why she's so pouty in the picture...but for most of the day she was pretty happy in her pink getup!

It's not my birthday

...well actually dear, yes it is!

Today is our little Paisley's THIRD birthday! How time flys!! I can not believe she is three already! She has been so excited for her birthday to come ever since her brother and two cousins celebrated their birthday's in May and June. I almost think Marshall was even MORE excited than Paisley was. Every day he was ask what day it was on the calendar, and then count to see how many more days it was until Miss P's birthday.

On Sunday he came into mine and Irish's room and the first thing out of his mouth was "Today is twenty two, tomorrow is twenty three and Tuesday is twenty four...PAISLEY'S BIRTHDAY"Each time Marshall would mention something about her birthday, she would get all excited, jump up and down and say "Yay, my birthday"

So naturally thinking, we all thought she would be excited when she woke up today and we announced that today was in fact her birthday!

The kids woke up and went downstairs where Irish was already eating his breakfast. He wished her a Happy Birthday and she replied "No, it's not my birthday, I can't see it!"

I didn't know about this, so when I came downstairs I scooped her up in my arms and wished her a happy birthday, to which she replied "It's not my birthday" All morning she got upset if we told her it was her birthday...wierd I know!

By the end of breakfast time, she was saying "It's not my birthday, we have to eat lunch first, then it's my birthday" and technically she was right, since she was born after lunch time!! (smart girl)

Anyways we had a fun day with our little Princess!

We had some fun with our friends at the spray park. 

I made Cake Pops for the first time, they were a hit with the kids ;)

 Marshall and Paisley got to watch a movie later that after noon

  We had homemade Oreo Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

She opened her gifts

She got a new hat from Dad (Red Sox of course)

 

 and a Melissa & Doug Puzzle

ANNNNND we went on our very first family bike ride!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart, We Love You!!! xox

Potty Training

In all honesty, potty training Paisley has been 100 times easier than it was with Marshall. It could be the fact that I was not eight months pregnant trying to squat down in a tiny little bathroom for "hours on end", or it could be the fact that she is a girl...and apparently girls potty train faster than boys, OR it could just be that she is that awesome!! :)

Back in February Paisley was showing interest in the Potty, not only did I think she was a little young, but I honestly did not have the time! We (the kids and I) worked every morning at the Gym, and I did not think it was fair to her to only 'potty train' half the day...as I could not give my whole undivided attention to her while at the Gym. So we had the portable potty out and available, and she would use it before bed, and baths.

At the start of July I was working much less, and it worked out that I had 6 days off in a row...I thought "it's now or never" so we went for it! And you know what?! By the end of the first day, she was rocking it! She told us every single time she had to pee!! I could not of been happier! Mentally I was in it for the long haul!! She was doing so well that I didn't even think she would need a chart!

As much as the #1's were making it into the potty, the #2's were not. Which I understood, I didn't expect it to happen over night. But after four weeks of cleaning up poopie panties, I was spent. Each time we would transfer the log to the toilet, explain that this is where we poop, NOT in our precious princess panties. Each time she would say "Poop, potty, no panties"....but would continue to poop in them.

Although I tried to pay attention as to what time of day she would release the torpedo, she started going at different times every day...I think she caught on to what I was trying to do!

SO finally I made a Potty Chart!! It seems to be working VERY well! We've only had it two days...but those two days she's made it to the potty! Better yet, today she TOLD me she had to go!! (day one was luck, Marshall had just finished and I told her that it was her turn, stuck her on and she went!!)

...In fact I think I owe this success not to the potty chart, but to Marshall. We had been explaining for a while now that Daddy poops on the potty, Mommy poops on the potty, Marshall poops on the potty AND Paisley can too! So yesterday, I took her into the bathroom with Marshall and "made her watch"...I think the light bulb came on!! :)

Here are a few pics of my little girl in her big girl panties...I believe she was trying to take her shirt off...but just couldn't figure it out. 

Oh and if anyone knows how to add a link or something for an excel and/or a pdf document, let me know...I was trying to figure it out so I could add the potty chart if any of you Mom's venturing into this stage wanted to take a peak at it....maybe I will just have to take a picture of it! :)

She Loves it!

Sooooo just like I thought, I could NOT wait until Miss P's birthday to give her the new purse I had just finished making her! I mean come on, do you really think I could wait three whole months?!?

This afternoon, just before lunch I revealed to her 'the purse'. At first she smiled, held it, looked at it...and didn't quite know what to do with it. Then I showed her that she could carry all sorts of things in it! She seemed to immediately know just what she wanted to carry around with her!

 Yep her puppy and her baby!

 Trying to put the baby in by herself... :)

I'm so glad she loves it! I get this wonderful feeling once I have completed something...especially if it is something for my children. I get an even more wonderful feeling when the child loves/appreciates said object!! Today my heart was filled with joy :)

And yet, my heart sunk when Marshall came up to me after Paisley had received her new purse and asked in the sweetest little somewhat disappointed voice "Do I get a new bag to carry my toys in Momma?" Ohhhh I felt so bad! I gave him a big squeeze and asked "Would you like Mommy to make you a special bag so you can carry your cars around?" His eyes widened, and a grin appeared on that handsome little face of his and he replied "uh-huh". SO I gave him another big squeeze and told him I would make a bag just for him! Now to find some cute, affordable BOY fabric!!!

Cute Little Purse

For a while now I have been looking all over blog land and in different sewing magazines to try and find a cute little purse to make for Miss P! For some reason I have just now come to the realization that she does not have any girl toys. Okay maybe she has ONE, her pink tinkerbell cell phone, but that is it!

After she was born we didn't buy any new toys, so she has just played along side Marshall with his Cars cars, Toy Story Figures and his basketball.

SO for Easter, the Easter Bunny brought her a cute little baby doll!! Now I am 'stuck' in 'high gear' with the thought that she needs girl toys!! She now has a baby, but she needs a purse, a stroller, a cute little necklace, more hair clips/flowers, a blanket for for baby...etc!

Well Yesterday I finally found the cute little purse I want to make!!

It was SO SUPER EASY!!! I made it in two nights, I could have made it in one, but I took a break to have some snuggle time with my love!

SO here are some pictures of Paisley's new Cute Little Purse.

 It's just the perfect size for someone her age, I can already see her holding it on her arm!

 I free motioned quilted the purse (only the 2nd time I've done this)

...She is going to love this! I'm really not sure if I can wait to give it to her for her Birthday (July)...so she may be getting a 'Just Because I Love You' gift tomorrow :)

Now GO and make one for a lucky little girl in your life!

Miss P's Quilt!

YAY! I finally was able to finish Paisley's quilt! I had the top part all done and ready to go before Christmas, but I was waiting on some fabric for the back. I got the fabric and just kept looking at it. I just couldn't bring my self to cutting it up, it was so darn cute! I then decided to just go buy a flat sheet from Wal-Mart and use that as the back. I found the perfect green sheet, best part...it was only $9!!

A couple of weekends ago my wonderful Mother In Law helped me pin the top, batting and bottom piece together. ALLLLLLL last week all I wanted to do was SEW this quilt together....but I could never find the time!
SO finally this weekend I was able to machine quilt the entire thing. Now please don't look toooo closely as it is anything but perfect....BUT it was my first time machine quilting (besides 'stitching in the ditch")...I wanted to try something a little more 'adventurous' this time around.

Paisley even helped with the binding!
SO here it is!!

 Not the clearest picture, lighting wasn't that great, but here is Miss P cuddling with her new quilt!

 Checking everything out!

I must say, I am VERY pleased with the End result....the hardest part was putting it in her crib...I just wanted to curl up with it! Next quilt I am making for me! :)

While the Cat's away the Mice (mouse) will play

...OR while Mom is in the bathroom...Paisley will climb up onto the table!!
Seriously this crazy little girl  is a monkey!! I thought I could go and "talk" to Mother Nature for a quick second. Wrong!  I come back into the kitchen only to see this!

I asked Marshall how she got up there, but he didn't know. I asked him if he helped her, and he told me no.

Apparently all she wanted to do was help Marshall with his 'marker stick'...what a nice sister!

I love my kids! It's so awesome to see them playing together!...Even if it means that one little monkey makes it onto the table! (I guess she did climb up there all by herself! Irish saw her do it later again tonight!)

hazardous to their health

...Okay so maybe not to their health...but for their well being!!

So as you know Paisley is now up and walking everywhere! (click here to see the video) She was...(key word *was*) doing good, no falls, no trips, no bruises...until day nine of walking....day nine, and ten were not that nice to my Paisley girl. In two days this is what my little girl managed to have happen to her

My poor girl! I felt so bad for her!!

Now take Marshall, he's been walking for over 2 years...you would think he'd get the hang of it by now...it must have been one of those days. On the same day that Paisley got her first two 'beauty marks' Marshall got one of his own, it wasn't too bad. I think I just like the story that goes with it!

 

We (Marshall and I) decided that we were going to go and clean the van out (believe me it needed it). Marshall was walking to the van with garbage bag in hand. Just like a true boy he was caught up in his 'day dream', swinging the bag up and down in the air, while twirling in circles. I tell ya, it takes talent...but he twirled right smack dab into the middle of a tree! Poor boy, he was totally taken off guard! It took everything within me not to chuckle out loud!

I am happy to say that since these incidents, both of my children have been doing very well in the walking department :)

on her own two feet

So Miss P is walking now, and loving it! In fact she starts to 'cry' when I pick her up as we are leaving work because she would rather walk the long long hallway. BUT since her brother is a lot faster than her and likes to "wait for Mom outside"...as in outside the building...we have to 'book it'.

Here are her first steps. (not her very first, as she did those on August 28th, and then didn't take anymore until October 3rd! (this video)

I love watching this, i think she looks like a little drunk person...but the cutest one you ever did see :)

One for the baby book

Okay, so I am aware that it was just good timing, and nothing really that Paisley did knowingly...but tonight my little girl (10 months) POOPED on the potty.

It was bath time, Marshall was all done and I just put Paisley in. She started playing and splashing like she usually does...and then she sat there very still! All I had to do was look at her face and I knew what she was about to do! Without thinking I grabbed her and sat her on the potty. I told her "no pooping in the tub missy" and she actually kinda giggled! She sat on the potty for a couple minutes...and then she did it! I was so happy!

Too fast!!

It's crazy how fast your little babies grow up! Our Paisley girl is already 6 and a half months! She a rolling machine, she giggles at most anything and usually greets anyone with a big wide contagious smile! (...unless you have a big bushy beard...then she's a little hesitant!!)



This week she is now 'sporting' TWO new teeth!! Her first tooth cut through on Wednesday. I could see the second one and didn't think it would take that long for it to follow suit...but I didn't expect it to pop through the very next day!! So our little girl cut her first two teeth in two days! Now that's what I call "gettin' it done!"

I'm sure she is quite happy to have them through now, cause let me tell you the past week has not been to pleasant...for her or myself! It's so hard to see them in so much pain! She would usually have an okay morning, but come afternoon and evening...she would be hurtin' pretty bad.
These are some pictures I took of her in the morning on the day she cut her first tooth (i LOVE the lighting that window gives into our living room!!)

I feel my tooth!


I'm a poser


I can fly!


...Mom your making me sick with all these pictures!! (sorry I just could leave that one out!!)

Lil Miss P

I had the opportunity this week to get some pictures done of our little girl! I must say I am so impressed with them. Mandy did such a great job! I've always been interested in photography, but seeing her able to do this in her own home, gave me such ideas!! I'm so inspired! I want to go and take some photography courses now, and start something of my own! Maybe I'll finally put my college days to good use!! Even if it's just the fact that I can take better pictures of my own children it would be worth it to me. Like they say - a picture is worth a thousand words!!

Well here are a few!!









for the rest of them go to my Facebook or click on this link

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136023&id=502431061&l=118e1697c2