How can 2 kids be so completely different?!?!

May 8, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Really…they both come from the same parents. I gave birth to both of them and it amazes me how different the two of them are.

For example: Lara’s always been clingy. She’s a Momma’s girl. But, I thought we had turned the corner and she was at least getting comfortable in the hourly care setting. She’s been going for months on a regular basis. Then, we go out of town, and now we’re back to square one. Today, they had to PRY her off of me. Her little fists wrapped around my shirt so tight that I had to have a teacher pull her as I made her release her fingers off of my shirt. The entire time, she’s screaming, and I’m fighting tears because it really does break my heart. What does Ethan do? He runs to his class, says hi to his teachers (which are different than the normal evening teachers), washes his hands, and goes to find a friend to play with.

He’s the mellow, easy-going child, and she’s my slow-to-warm up, and terrified of me leaving her. Tonight, even at bed time, she kept crying and screaming. So, I had to sit with her until she fell asleep. I don’t think it helped that she refused to nap today. She’s had some rough days since we’ve been home. All of this just proves that I really need to continue taking her to hourly care so she remembers that I’m not going to be gone forever. It’s just exhausting! But, even with all of this, she even refused to go to Bible class on Wednesday night, and she had to come to class with me while I taught the Cradle Roll. That was an adventure!

What do you do with an almost 2 1/2 yr old with separation anxiety!? I’m sure it’s all deployment related, especially since she was ABSOLUTELY FINE before we went out of town for those 4 weeks. But, during that time, I was with my kids 24/7. No break at all. So, she got used to me always being around again. But, during that time, I just about lost my mind. This mommy needs an occasional break from her precious angels!

When people ask if we want more kids, I look at Lara and just laugh. She’s my girl, but WOW! If I had another with separation anxiety like this, I wouldn’t have any hair left by the time they moved past the stage, and I’d be as big as a house! I’m a stress-eater, by the way, and when she does stuff like this, my stress level goes through the roof. I just feel bad that she’s having a hard time and I don’t know how to make it better, which then leads to me getting stressed out.

Have I mentioned how much I love deployments!?

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The Tahoe is Fixed

May 6, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Yes, that’s right. I got the Tahoe fixed. The a/c went out last summer, but, since we live in WA, you don’t really need it. But, when I got back from our trip, the car started to idle rough and even died on me a few times thanks to it not being able to maintain the RPMs when at a stop sign or coming to a stop. So, after 5 days in the shop, the idle is fixed and so is the a/c. It was not a pretty check to sign, but it’s done and I’ve driven it all day today and it drives like it’s supposed to!! So nice.

I’m also very thankful we found a great place to go that is trustworthy and really works to find the best deal. They also have a customer loyalty program where you get 5% of your services back to use towards other services. And, after today, I could have like 6 oil changes for free! HAHA So, if you need a good place to go up here in WA, I found one that I would highly recommend, and they came recommended to us by someone who has gone to them for years. I just wish we had found this place sooner instead of going to the stupid dealership all those times (they weren’t that friendly or helpful!).

So, this completes task #71 on my list. Yeah!!

I’ve also started back to Weight Watchers. So, I’m on day 1. I know I have it in me to do this and get those 30 lbs off, but I’m a stress eater, and deployments definitely do not help with my stress. So, I’m just focusing on only keeping healthy foods in the house and limiting going out to eat. I know this works, but I just have to stick with it and fight the stress and frustration that comes with deployments. So, I’m posting it on here so all of you that read this can keep me in check on this journey and make sure I actually do it! HAHA

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Funy Things Being Said Around Our House

May 4, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Ok, Ethan and Lara have been saying some funny sayings lately. Here are a few:

Ethan:
When being asked what someone’s name is, he replies often after thinking for a few seconds with a very serious look, ” I do not know their name, Mom”.

Lara, when trying to get your attention will holler, “Hey…..Mom!” So, I often respond, “Hey…Lara!”.

Ethan knows that he can’t wear his hats at the table, so he calmly will tell anyone, “My mommy says no hats at the table”. He will also tell you no hats if you happen to be wearing one.

Lara often tells you when you ask her if she would like to do something, “I do not think so.”

Ethan, when watching the Disney Channel, saw three guys on T.V. singing a song….he quickly said, “Mommy, that’s the Jonas Brothers!”

Ethan also told me the other day at hourly care when I told him to go potty and wash his hands before going to play, “Soap is not neccessasry, Mom” (I don’t know WHERE he picked that one up…not from me!)

Lara, when she wants something will tell you, “Mommy…I really NEEEEEED (insert item here)” It’s hilarous.

I will definitely say that they don’t cease to stop entertaining me on a regular basis with their new words.

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2009 JDRF Walk

Apr 27, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Yes, this year, the kiddos and I are walking for TEAM TY in downtown Tacoma. We hope to raise more money than we did last year for the cause.

Here are photos from last years walk:

Finding Tyler’s photo along the walk

Tyler with Ethan and Lara. He’s such a great kid!

(stay tuned for Lara’s special Team Ty shirt this year…I’m working on something fun.) Lara ABSOLUTELY ADORES Tyler, and if you knew him, you’d understand why. He’s an absolute joy to be around. He can put a smile on your face and he LOVES other kids. Besides this being a worthy cause that we’re walking for, why WOULDN’T we walk for a 10 yr old kiddo that can battle a disease and still wear a smile on his face and bring laughter and joy to everyone he meets.

If you’d like to see what Tyler goes through on a daily basis with testing, and his insulin pump, watch this video: Tyler’s Daily Life It’s the first video at the top labeled Team Ty.

If you’d like to donate, you can donate to my own site, or you can do a search for Ethan and Lara at the JDRF Walk Website. You can search under Team Ty They have donation pages as well.

Donate to Candice

Donate to Ethan

Donate to Lara

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Famous Blue Bonnet Photos

Apr 22, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Ok, so, last year, I did not get bluebonnet photos. Easter was in March, and the week after we left, the bluebonnets started to bloom. In case you don’t know, bluebonnets are beautiful flowers, and also the state flower of Texas. You can drive and just see fields of them. You just have to find a safe spot to pull over and take photos.

So, Bryan…you may not be too happy, but I took these on a frontage road. We had to run across the street and across the off ramp from the George Bush Turnpike.

But, I got my bluebonnet photos. They aren’t great since I was panicked that the kids would get too close to the road, but, they work.

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What I came home to…

Apr 22, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

We got home on Tuesday morning around 11:30 or so. It is so nice to be home. We loved our visit with lots of family and friends, but there’s nothing quite like your own home.

I will update more later, but I just had to share these beautiful photos. I am so proud of my flowers. I haven’t fertilized the yard and done a nice cut on it yet so there are still some bare patches, so just look at my flowers.

This is what I saw as Krista brought us home yesterday:

Spring is here! I was so afraid I would miss my tulips and daffodils while we were gone. But, they are just perfect!!! I love the colors of the tulips. Really brightens up the area outside. Now, I just need to get some other stuff planted and get it all nice. I am so excited! I just stood outside yesterday and enjoyed all the colors. My neighbors probably think I’m a total wierdo! HAHA

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Videos

Apr 15, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Ok, I really want these videos to work because they are so stinkin’ cute! I’ve included the links to them just in case.

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Links to Photos

Apr 14, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Here are some links to our photos from our trip so far. Updates will have to come later. It’s been eventful, but we’re loving our time with family and friends. Starting to miss home in WA quite a bit. 4 weeks is a long time to be gone!

April Trip

Easter Part I

Easter Part II

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Vacation Update

Apr 1, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Well, we are having a wonderful time back in the midwest. The kids were fantastic on the flight down (minus Lara pooping right as we’re taking off and it going everywhere…thank God for changes of clothes). I have figured out that all 3 of us do fit nicely into an airplane bathroom, Ethan refused to put a pull-up on for the flight, but thank goodness he had 0 accidents. They also cooperated and switched seats half way through the flight so they both got to sit by the window for a bit.

We enjoyed our first week down in Texas with seeing Melissa (best friend since middle school), Misty (good friend from middle school) and lots of family. Lara learned how to peddle the tricycle, and when Dakota and Dustin came over, they all peddled around the school twice. Then we road-tripped up to OKC. We had ice cream bought for us at McDonald’s by the 1SG from a JROTC group out of Wichita. We got to meet some of my good friends from college. 4 of us were able to get together of the original 5 (Brook, we missed you!) with all of the kids. So much fun! I hadn’t met their kids and they hadn’t met mine. I think the last time we all saw each other was probably 5 years ago?? Maybe longer.

We also got to see some of my other good friends that I haven’t seen in forever. Elise and Audrey are another two I haven’t seen in ages. Robert, his wife Cris, and Michelle all met us at the hotel to hang out for awhile. The kids really had fun. We didn’t get into bed until close to midnight on Monday night.

Then, Tuesday morning, we roadtripped up to Kansas. The kids were troopers through it all. I stopped once on the trip up to Kansas for lunch and a bathroom break. We got to Bonnie and Tommy’s around 3:30 and the kids walked in so excited, then looked around and said, “Where’s Uncle Blair?” They definitely remember him coming out to visit. Then, they started asking about Grandpa and Aunt Rachel. They don’t understand that just because we are in Kansas doesn’t mean that everyone lives at one house.

Here are some photos:

(blowing bubbles with Dustin and Dakota)

Ethan was so excited to find an acorn.

Carpet picnic at Lisa’s in OKC

The 4 kiddos…Eli and Emily had to leave early

Emily and Eli (sorry, can’t figure out how to flip it on here)

Amy, myself and Lisa with Ethan, Kaija, Karli, Blake and Lara.

Robert with the kids at the hotel

Audrey and Elise

I’ll post videos next of the kids riding their trikes.

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Last Post for Awhile

Mar 24, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Hello all!

It is 11:30 p.m. and I am FINALLY done with getting ready for this trip. All I have to do is get up, change sheets on the bed, get everyone dressed and out the door. I’ve been frantically trying to pack and make sure I don’t go over the weight limit, etc. So, the kids are getting to take all kinds of cute outfits, and me, well….you’ll see me wearing the same thing over and over. I’m only taking 3 pairs of shoes (GASP!), so I’m sure that means I will be buying a pair or two while I am down there.

We fly at 9 in the morning, so please pray for safe and calm travels (yes, I’m referring to the children and my sanity!)

Here are some photos from the past few days:

Ethan being a leprechaun (he accidentally got his pants soaked, and I didn’t feel like going to the car right then since we were at a friend’s house…hence the no pants)

Such a cutie!

They turned a basketball goal into a boat and were going fishing.

Things have been crazy, but I’m finally feeling better and we all still have runny noses. I’m hoping the weather in Texas will help dry us out. I can’t believe it’s been a year since we have gone to Texas!

I’m sure I will have tons of photos to post of family and friends that we get to visit along the way from Texas to Kansas. I can’t wait to see all of you guys!!!

I will try to update when I can, but no promises on photos, but there will be lots of photos when I get home. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we head out tomorrow. We will miss everyone in Washington, and I’m hoping my tulips and daffodils are blooming when we get home, and we get to come home to some warmer weather. Until then, we will enjoy the next 4 weeks with family and friends that we don’t get to see that often

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Our Family Adventures