August - October Update

Kai's first day of pre-school.

On Kai's first day of pre-school she walked right in the classroom, sat down & asked if she was going to get a snack & water... Just make yourself at home! There were a couple of things that happened that made me decide to pull Kai from this pre-school. Luckily it only cost $40 for 2 months... And it was too good to be true!

Kade & I had lots of time to spend together while Kai was in school. It was so nice to run errands with one kid for a change, but I did miss my Kai Kai!!

Brock & I had painted Kade's room & our room, but we used a super cheap flat paint & Kade took no time to destroy it. We... I mean I repainted both rooms & did some minor updates. I sanded & painted Kade's bed black, made some curtains from fabric I found at IKEA, bought an area rug at Target for only $15 & did some fun "pop art" posters on his walls. I'm looking for a graffiti artist to do some work if anyone knows one, please let me know.

Oct. 3rd was Kader Boy's birthday. We didn't do much of anything. He opened his Lightning McQueen toys & ate cupcakes... sorry, frosting. Since I've decided not to take the kids to the dr anymore unless they're sick, I can't give any growth updates other than he's growing & got a big head. :)
We went to the State Fair a couple of weeks ago & we used the Dart/TRE park & ride. The kids were really excited about riding the train, but Kade cried like a girl as soon as we got on it. Let's see... what else happened??? Oh yes, Kai peed her pants on the train & since I didn't pack a change of clothes, she wore her pee pee pants the whole 2 hours we were at the fair (don't judge). Brock was more bothered by it than Kai was.

Brock was pumped about his fried PB & J sandwich!

BOTH the kids (even Kade) loved the petting zoo. There were some animals there that you usually don't see at a petting zoo... zebras, a giraffe, Chinese cows & llamas.

We headed home, took the Dart to the TRE station for the last leg of the trip home. After 20 mins of waiting for the train to take off, we finally asked when we would be leaving & found out that it wasn't scheduled to leave for another hour & 15 mins. I guess everyone needs a lunch break, but why did it have to be when my kids are ready for a nap? I'll plan better next time... we all have things we need to work on!

Our playgroup went to the Pumpkin Patch last week. It was probably the most stressful time I've ever had with my kids. They were both all over the place & I could not keep up. They had a really good time & that's all that matters.

Brock's sister Brittany, our nephew Brayden & Brock's dad came to stay with us for a Tae Kwon Do tournament Brayden had in Fort Worth. Brayden won a first place medal in the sparring/fighting portion of the tournament. We were so proud of him & super nervous the entire time he fought. The kids had so much fun with Brayden & would not leave him alone when he played his video games. Kai followed Brittany around like she was her new mommy & she was so upset that they had to leave. It was so nice to have family visit.... hint, hint

Other important things worth mentioning:

* A coffee shop owner in Alabama is selling my wall plates in her gift shop.

* Brock passed Part I of his Boards & started Tri 5

* Kai is officially potty trained! It only took 3 days... lucky me!!


We will be posting some videos soon

Brock & I are regular concert-goers now! Last week we were finally able to use the Michael Buble tickets I bought in February. I love Michael, but I LOVED the opener! The group is called NATURALLY 7. They are amazing!! They make all the instruments vocally; I've never seen anything like it. Check them out on YouTube some time. And then this weekend we scored some tix to Rascal Flatts...
I LOVE RASCAL FLATTS & have been dying to see them in concert for about 5 years. It was the best concert I've been to yet. It was AMAZING!!

Here are some of the videos we've captured recently:

Kai's First Soccer Game

Post Game Interview

Kade drinking his milkshake like a puppy

Watch Kai at the end of this video... I wish I had had the camera on her the whole time.

From the movie Shark Tale, Oscar says "Old School"

Kade is our Pony Boy

Like father, like son

So Much To Post... So Little Time

I'm a horribly, terrible person... & a liar! I still haven't taken any pictures our "updates" to the rental house. I've been so busy working on my Etsy stuff, playing the roll of single mother (Brock is working so hard at school) & I decided last minute to take 2 online classes this 2nd summer semester (which started last Tuesday). Here's what we've been up to since our last post:

Kader-boy had his 18 month check up (at 19 months). It actually turned out to be a horrible experience for me! Brock & I have gone back & forth about vaccinations lately & I was unexpected confronted by our pedi about getting him ALL his shots that he was due for. Needless to say, I cried... All I want is what's best for my kids. I don't know for sure that vaccinations are good for them, but I KNOW of the possible side effects & its a scary deal.

Anyway, Kade is growing so fast & he's the funniest little thing (I use that term lightly). He's just now making out words you can understand; like: belly button, nose, mouth, pee pee, momma, dadda, water, please, thank you (through his nose), yes, rock, powder, baby, milk & moon. He loves to find airplanes in the sky, playing with cars, wrestling with Kai, jumping on the beds, dancing, destroying anything he can get his hands on & playing outside. Kade's the pickiest eater EVER! He will only eat corn dogs, hot dogs (no bun), mac & cheese, PB&J sandwiches (no crust), spoonfuls of PB, Ritz crackers (must have 2 in his hands at all times), bananas, pizza, cheese & everything breakfast. Here are his stats:

Weight 30lbs 5 oz (85%)
Height 34 1/2 in (95%)
Head 49 cm (85%)
But the craziest stat to me is that he wears a size 10 shoe (Kai's in a 9 - just for a reference).

Kai is STILL sneaky & like her momma, loves parmesan cheese. On this night, I was cleaning up after dinner & didn't realize that Kai sneaked off with my Sam's size parm cheese. This is what I found.
And she didn't care that I was in there or that I was mad at her. While she & I were standing face-to-face discussing the issue, she stepped back & took another "drink".
The white layer is what was vacuumed up.
I was making Paula's mac & cheese & gave the kids some noodles to play with. Kai ran into the kitchen & said, "look momma, I'm a goat." ????????? You're guess is as good as mine!

Recently we had a few rainy days; luckily, months ago I bought the kids rain boots. Kade LOVES playing in the rain.... I mean MUD!
Our "BIG" girl just turned 3... I can't believe how old it makes me feel to say that. Brock had an extended weekend because of the 4th of July holiday, so we made a road trip to SA. We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese & Kai had a blast!
Although, I'm not allowed to call her my baby girl anymore (her rule), that's what she will always be to us! She always keeps us laughing with her funny comments/questions, she loves her little brother & will not let him go to sleep without several "hugs & kisses", she's very helpful & listens really well (almost all the time), she loves ALL animals, watching movies, wrestling with Kade & playing with her daddy. Kai is also a picky eater! She'll eat everything Kade eats & french fries, oatmeal, bagels, apples, & chicken nuggets. Kai hasn't been to the pedi, because I no longer see any reason if we aren't going to vaccinate, so I'll need to update her stats another time.
Here is a card table & set of chairs that I bought for our new BUNCO group. I painted them & recovered them with a vinyl table cloth (see below).
This was our first get-together. We had so much fun!! Oh... that's our kitchen & dining area... Maybe I'm not such a horrible person after all.
On our way to Kai's first soccer game, we drove past this guy walking his 7 dogs (there's a little chihuahua on the far right). It was so amazing drove drove past again to get a picture. You can't really tell, but there's a rope connecting all the dogs & the walk in this perfectly straight line. The guy doesn't have a leash on them; he controls them with hand signals.... Irving's own dog whisperer.
Kai's first soccer game... how cute!?
We saw the most action from Kai during the warm-ups/practice.
Here she is hanging out on the sidelines.... during the game. All she kept saying the entire game was, "I wanna sit down" so she did.
Kade is fascinated with babies (real & fake). So nurturing!
And loving!

That's it for now. We have some hilarious videos that I'll post soon.

OMG! (Oh my GOSH!)

My friend Mindy told me a long time how much money she used to save by couponing. I finally asked her to teach me & have had my own adventures now... it's so much fun!! Yesterday I went to try it out not really knowing what to expect. I found some really good deals, had great coupons & fantastic advice. I couldn't resist, I came home, found more deals, clipped more coupons & went back out today. Here's what I got in my two days of couponing:

6 sticks of Dove deodorant
4 bottles of Windex
2 cases of Staples paper
2 reams of Hammermill paper
2 bottles of Old Spice body wash
2 bottles of Gillette body wash
2 bottles of J&J baby lotion
2 pkgs of GE Reveal light bulbs
2 travel size Colgate toothpastes
1 bottle of Olay body wash
1 pkg of Ivory soap bars
1 bottle Dawn dish soap
1 Gillette razor kit
1 bottle of Shout
1 pkg of Venus razor blades
1 pkg of Cascade Action Packs
1 box of Tampax tampons

All for.... drum roll.... $26.17!
I saved a whopping $102.25
Is that unbelievable or what!?
Here's where Mindy gets all her info:

(click on the pic)
She posts deals everyday & on Saturdays posts the deals by store &
tells you what coupons to use. AMAZING!!
Happy Couponing

Visitors from San Antonio

We didn't want to be alone last weekend while Brock was in Colorado Springs so my mom, sister & nieces came to keep us company. I've been invited a few times by the girls in our new ward to a sprinkler park in Euless. It's only10 mins from our house & it's totally FREE! The kids had a great ime!!

Kade has really turned into a rough & rowdy boy. He's more into cars & trucks than ever, he throws things (well... everything) & he LOVES to make a MESS!When we decided it was time to go, Aunt Tori took him for a rinse.The kids hadn't had enough of the water, so after Kai & Kade woke up from their naps they all took another dip.... And again my kids are in diapers, but at least they're swim diapers."Alli-Booboo" (as Kai would say) is the funniest little thing. She's finally walking & its hilarious; she's a mini-person.

While my family was in town we also (spontaneously) went to the Taste of Addison. It was a festival of sorts. There were about 50 restaurant booths, carnival rides & an arts & crafts show. It was fun, but very hot so we were very happy when on the way to the exit we found a sprinkler/fountain area that a bunch of kids were playing in. Needless to say, all the kids rode home in nothing more than a diaper (Aubree in big girl panties) because their clothes were soaking wet. I wish I had had my camera... what was I thinking?

I'm a liar! I said I would post pics of our "home improvements", but I can't post what I don't have. I will take pics REALLY soon & post them as soon as I can.

Our San Antonio Trip

Our first stop... the zoo. Kai, Kade & I went to the San Antonio Zoo with my sister & her girls, Aubree & Alli. We had a lot of fun, but when we (Tori & I) were ready to go, we couldn't get out of there fast enough! We kept asking if we were headed to the exit.

This bird came walking right up to Kade... he got closer & closer & closer... & finally pecked at Kade's toes. A woman near us looked at me like I was crazy & tried to startle the bird.... Is it wrong that I was more worried about catching it on camera than Kade's toes? On the Stratton side there are nieces & nephews to spare, but the Kai & Kade just love their cousins to pieces. Kade especially loves the babies! He's such a sweet & super loving boy. Bre & Tyler's youngest, Trevi (only 5 months younger than Kade) is just as sweet & loving... Let the hug-fest begin!Kade's already stealing kisses... how could anyone resist those cheeks. Ben & Lisa's youngest, Carly is a CHUNK of SUGAR!!Kade was loving the baby bouncy seat! He would bring us the pink blanket to wrap around him & grunt at us until we put him in the seat. He'd just sit there until he needed to be re-wrapped. Our next stop, the Seiffert Ranch (or Farm). Again, my sister & I packed up all the kids & headed for our Grandparent's house near Canyon Lake. They have TONS of goats, 4 llamas, chickens, dogs & cats. Kade loves animals (not nearly as much as Kai), but if they are bigger than him & they get to close, he turns into a "pansy boy".City SlickersKade & his Great-Grandpa... How cute!?

Cute, but annoying!! ha

Brock & I went for a walk to the duck pond with his Grandmother & the kids. You'll notice the specks of bread floating in the pond & no ducks in sight... we chose the duckless duck pond.Back at the Strattons', Uncle Trey stopped by right before Kade's naptime... He should have known that sitting in the rocker brought on great responsibility. When Kade got tired enough, he MADE Trey rock him.The next night, we had BBQ at Tori & Kyle's. The kids splashed around in the kiddie pool before dinner was ready. We put Uncle Trey in charge.Brock's dad took a couple of days off from work while we were in town, so we made another stop at the zoo. I had promised Kai she could go to the petting zoo (really just goats, but whatever) when Granddaddy took her & that's all she talked about. She & her Granddaddy fed & brushed the goats.Kade was banished from the petting zoo, because he kept crossing the "GOATS ONLY" line. He wasn't too happy.Our last night in San Antonio, Bre & Tyler's girls stayed the night. They ate popcorn while they watched a movie. This was at 9:25pm....This was at 11:41pm. HA!

Brock & I had a very relaxing trip in San Antonio & enjoyed spending time with our families. Since we've been home we've been doing a lot of work to our place (I will have pics for my next post), Brock has started his 4th Trimester (just 5 more after this) at Parker University (no longer Parker College of Chiropractic) & he just got home today from a seminar in Colorado Springs... LUCKY! A few things have changed....
Kade is sleeping in his "Big Boy Bed" now. He gives everyone kisses, says "nigh, nigh" & then blows kisses at us on the way to his room. Both of my kids transitioned so easily from the crib to toddler bed... lucky me! Kai had been having night terrors for a while & Brock & I went against what we always said we wouldn't do... let our kids sleep in our bed. For several months Kai shared our bed with us... I say that because she takes up the whole bed & leaves Brock & I hanging off the edge. But I'd like to announce that thanks to a "butterfly reward" system I put in place, Kai is now in her very own "Big Girl Room" in her very own "Big Girl Bed". She has done so well! There are still occasional nights that she wakes up & comes to bed with us, but its nice to fall asleep childless.