Camden's Birthday (3.45 years and 21 months)

We always knew we wanted to go to Camden's first birthday party.  We love first birthday parties.  I think they are the best and so much fun.  However Brian's work schedule did not work too great with the timing of his party.   I considered driving down early myself however with Austin's soccer on Mondays that did not seem reasonable.  So we left Wednesday around 3:30pm.  We drove for a while but Austin would need a potty break and we stopped for about an hour for dinner.  It seemed like it was taking forever to get half way there.  Finally around 10pm we made it to our cheap hotel.  Brian found this great deal of hotel and best of all it was clean!  We carried Austin and Sydney up to the room and luckily they stayed asleep.

The next morning we drove the rest of the way in.  We arrived at Melissa's however she was not too happy when Austin rang the doorbell and Camden was sleeping.  We did not stay there so Camden could sleep.  We went over to Nana's house.  That evening we all went out to dinner.  The kids were pretty good and it was nice that Austin was with Nana and Grandpa most of them time.

On Friday, it was cool in the morning so we couldn't go the pool until afternoon.  We went to the playground instead in the morning.  Austin got to drive the golf cart so he was so happy.  Then after nap we went to the pool and beach.  Austin and Sydney love the beach.  They like the sand and playing in it.  We were there for a few hours.  After dinner, Grandpa had to go put Camden to bed (Melissa and Jonathan went out to dinner) so the rest of us went for ice cream.  Sydney really enjoyed her ice cream!

On Saturday morning we went to a large playground park.  Austin loved it.  Sydney tried to do everything Austin did.  Sydney and Camden would play on the little slides too.  It was cute.  Then we went back to the beach after nap.  Again they had fun.  That evening we went on a long golf cart ride.  It was cool.  Austin and Nana had jokes that Grandpa left the refrigerator door open.  It was cute.

On Sunday was Camden's big party.  We all went to the big playground park in the morning  The weather was only in the 60's so the pool party was out. However the party was still at the pool. There was no way the kiddos were swimming in that cold of temperatures.  Brian and I decided since the birthday party was during their normal nap time and the drive is so long that we were leaving right after the party and driving home.

Melissa did an excellent job with his party.  The decorations and food was great.  Brian took some great pictures.  Camden seemed to like his party.  He was not sure what to do with his cake though. Finally he took a few bites but he wasn't impressed.  Towards the end of the party Austin and Sydney were getting cranky.  They wanted to be with Brian but he was busy with pictures and they didn't understand that.  And with the party at the pool I was a nervous wreck they would end up in the pool and we wouldn't notice because we would think someone else had them. So right after the party we got in the car and started driving home.  Sydney was asleep within 5 minutes of driving.  Austin fell asleep within a half hour.

We decided that we just wanted to get home so we drove all the way that night.  We got in around 2am.  We stopped for dinner but made the kids eat in the van.  Brian needed to go to work on Monday so we wanted to get home as early as possible.  Plus we knew the kids would be up at 6 am.  When we got home, Austin was awake.  He laid on the couch with me and finally feel back asleep.  We got a few hours of sleep before the day began again.  The kids had fun down there. They really enjoyed the beach and the golf cart.

Spring Fun (3.3 years and 20.5 months)

We signed Austin up for tot soccer at our local rec center.  It is a 4 week session that they learn basic skills about soccer.  We weren't sure what to expect because Austin has some issues with activities that he participates by himself.  Soccer has worked out well.  We are able to be involved but there has been many opportunities that he goes off and does what he is suppose to do.  He seems to like it.

They played a game called what time is it Mr Fox.  The kids ask what time is it and whatever number the coach says they kick the ball that number of times.  Then the coach will answer that it's lunchtime.  The coach tries to get the soccer ball and the kids try and soccer a goal.  Austin loved that.

Sydney goes to soccer too.  She does not play but runs around and does her own thing.  It is nice they allow her to do that.  I wish it was longer than 4 weeks.

Austin is finally peeing at school.  He has been potty trained since January for peeing and just within the past few weeks he is going at school.  We are so excited.  But Austin will not allow us to celebrate.  He goes by himself and it's so awesome not to have a ton of laundry to do every night after school.  He still usually doesn't use the potty to poop.  Hopefully that will be coming soon.  Potty training has been a nightmare!

Austin got his new bunk bed.  The space in his room is better used for bunk beds.  Austin can only sleep on the bottom bunk right now.  We like his bunk beds too because the bottom one is a full so it's more comfortable to lay on than lying next to him on the floor.

Brian and I decided to paint our living room and kitchen.  We have lived in our house now for 10 years.  I really can't believe it's been 10 years!  And we haven't painted since we moved in so it was time for a change.  I really wanted to do a darker tan but Brian said no.  It is a light tan color.  Or as Austin calls it, yellow.  We are putting pictures up that I am super excited about.  In the dining room it will be in a heart shaped and the living room is going to have words with pictures.  Painting was difficult with the kiddos.  My parents helped out which was nice. Then we stayed up till 1am on night to mostly finish.  I still have one small wall to complete.  I hope to do that this weekend.

The other day I took the kids to the zoo.  We have zoo passes but usually only go a few times a year.  Austin and Sydney loved the zoo this time.  I am so glad I went. I plan on going more often now.  They saw the elephants, giraffes, monkeys.  We also went to the rain forest.  Austin wanted to ride the train and since it wasn't crowded I said yes.  He really liked it.  He was sad when it was over.

Every week we have been going to story time at the library.  At first Austin wasn't too sure about it but now he seems to enjoy going.  He doesn't always participate.  He likes to sit in my lap.  Sydney likes to do it and enjoys putting things on the felt board.  After story time they get to pick out their own books to bring home for the week.  Austin loves doing that.  Then each week they put bring them back and put them in the slot to return it.  That is probably their favorite part.  The library is  on a 6 week break from story time though.  We are sad about that.  It starts back up in June so we are looking forward to that.

Sydney likes to be rocked to sleep in the rocking chair.  She likes it when I sing rock a bye Elmo while rocking her and Elmo.  Sydney loves Elmo.  Then she will want rock a bye Sydney.  It is very cute.  Sydney is getting opinionated these days.  She is starting to have tantrums too.  I really don't like this stage.  I hope she goes though it fast.  She is talking a lot but still hard to understand her at times.  Hopefully once her vocabulary increases the tantrums will decrease.

Easter (3.2 years and 20 months)

Austin has been waiting for Easter for a long time.  He loves watching videos on YouTube of people opening Easter eggs.  On Saturday morning we took him and Sydney to our local outdoor Easter egg hunt.  It was a little cool but over all the weather was nice.  Austin was with the 3-4 age group kids and Sydney was with the 2 and under.  Brian took Austin and I took Sydney.  Because the weather was nice it was more crowded.  The egg hunt was over in a minute.  Luckily they both got a few eggs so they were happy.  After it was over, we played in the field throwing the eggs and picking them back up again.  They had fun.

On Easter morning, the kids got to find their Easter baskets.  They were under the kitchen table.  They needed help finding it but they finally did.  Austin got gears that he loved.  Sydney got an Elmo doll that she absolutely loves.  Then we had an egg hunt outside in the front yard.  It was so cute watching them run for the eggs.  Sydney realized that there was candy inside the eggs.  She decided to eat the candy while Austin was more interested in getting more eggs.

The Easter bunny hid a few more toys for them outside by the swingset.   A soccer ball was inside the slide, a gas pump was on the swingset, and a scooter was hanging from a tree.  It was something to see.  Austin had fun lowering the scooter down.  They really had a great time.  These toys are their favorites right now.

After nap we went down to my parents for dinner.  They got to find Easter baskets at their house.  Then they had an egg hunt outside too.  Again they had a lot of fun.  The weather was beautiful.  We could not of asked for a better Easter.  We walked to the park before dinner.  It was fun.

Austin has a new trick on how to put on his own coat.  He lays it down on the floor and stands behind the hood.  He puts his arms in and flips it over his head.  Then it's on.  It is pretty cool.  He has shown Sydney how to do it.  She loves to do it and refuses any help getting on her coat.

The other day Austin decided he needed to go to the bathroom alone.  He would keep telling me "don't bother me".  I respected his need for privacy.  Austin is a very private person.  I thought he was pooping in the potty.  I then realized he was teaching himself to stand and go pee.  This came out of nowhere.  He did really good with it.  Now he loves to go pee completely by himself.  We have bought him a child's urinal too to help.  He is really good a peeing in the potty all the time.  He even stays dry at nap.  He still wears a diaper at night but other than that he wears his underpants that he loves.  Most of his underpants are basic colors and he likes that.  His favorite pair is the green pair.

Sydney has moved up to the toddler room.  Since she likes to use the potty like Austin we wanted her moved up.  We are just encouraging her to use the potty right now.  Hopefully by this summer he can take a weekend and potty train her too.  I will be very excited to be out of diapers!