Christmas '09

It was a quiet Christmas at our house this year, just our little family. Both boys were excited. Tyler even asked to go to bed at like 6:30 on Christmas Eve. They both woke up early, but let us sleep until 7:30 or so before we headed downstairs. Here are a couple of pictures of Christmas morning.

Tyler posing w/ a new wii game

Austin w/ a DVD

They wouldn't stand still on the stairs, so this was the best I got.

Mike gets three whole weeks off of work, so he's getting bored. He made us a nice place to plant a garden this spring. He's gotten all of my projects that I wanted done, so we'll see what he comes up with next week. Tyler finally learned to ride a bike w/ two wheels. I realized it was about time when my friend's 3 year old could do it. When Mike took him to learn, Tyler basically hopped right on his bike and took off. I guess there is something to be said to waititng until they are 6, right? Austin has been in 7th heaven having Daddy home. It will be a rough transition when Mike has to go back to work. As for me I am sick of being pregnant. That's all I'll say about that. Please pray I go a little early. We are all ready for this baby, except mentally. It's hard to wrap our minds around actually having a little girl in the house, but I can't wait!

We love this family!

If you have a second check out our friend's new blog. They are hoping to adopt their 3rd child, and I can't think of a better home for a child. We think the world of the Hirts, and so does everyone who knows them! We are thinking about you Jon and Maggie, and you will be in our prayers.

Go here, and pass it on

http://www.ourdivinestory.blogspot.com/

Things that make you go hmmmm

Have you ever gotten your oil changed, and they drain your oil, but don't put any new oil back in? It happened to me today. Do they have monkeys working at the oil changing place by the Costco on Carmel Mtn Rd.? DON'T go there!!!!! We shall see if my little engine has survived the fiasco...

Life

Not a lot of new hapenings to report. Tyler is doing well at school. He enjoys it and is really starting to read well. However, we think he is a King, as he LOVES math. He still talks about Pokemon non-stop. Yeah, I think I was over hearing about Pokemon like 6 months ago, but what do you do? He's become a pretty easy going kid for the most part, and just kind of rolls with the punches. He will agree to sell you his baby sister for $800, because imagine all the pokemon he could buy with that... (that was his comment about me having a girl). Austie is still our baby (for now). He started pre-school, and is partially potty-trained. His pre-school thinks he is totally potty trained, so let's keep the partial part on the down low. He still thinks he is too heavy to walk, and prefers to hang out in his stroller or be carried. He loves rocket ship stories. He loves to eat candy, but hates anything else. He is still a little peanut. I think he is smaller than Tyler was at this age. He actually tells us he is looking forward to having a baby in the house, but we shall see when the reality hits. Anyone know of a good double stroller? Mike is doing well, and has a list of projects that I want done before January. I am begging him to get me that minivan I swore I would never have. There will be lots of eating my words when we get one. So, that is what is happening at our house, I know you were riveted to your seat hearing all the exciting news...

Austin and Tyler in our new hot tub

Austin Eating Poo-poo ice cream

Austin and Tyler Eating Ice Cream- Special Mix

Kids wrestling on trampoline- Austin being a wimp...kinda funny

Just One day....

and like 50 stains on his shirt, face etc. This picture doesn't really do the stains justice. I'm just wondering why I even bother to buy this child clothes.

Wrong?

Is it wrong that I crave (and purchase) Chili's queso dips and chips multiple times per week? This is my pregnancy craving. Nothing like putting the kids in bed, putting my bed in an upright recline position (remember the old person bed I have) and digging into my queso, mmmmmm. I don't think I will ever touch this stuff again when I'm done.

Big Boy Bed

Austin had not yet figured out how to get out of his crib, but we still decided he was ready for a big boy bed. I figured since he is almost three it was kind of sad for him to be in a crib still. He took over a queen mattress we already had. Tyler is a little jealous that Austin gets a "big" bed. Austin looks so tiny sleeping in it. The first couple of days we did have some nightime visits, but he's doing great now with his "big boy room".

Swimming with the sharks

A Leopard shark (not my picture, but exactly what it looked like)

I'm a big fat wuss, but we've been hearing about this place in La Jolla where tons of leopard sharks come to hang out in the warmer months. We've been wanting to go snorkeling there for while. Well, today was the big day, we got a babysitter and headed out (at 8 AM, crazy). My friend lent me a wetsuit, and I got into the water looking like a giant, pregnant black seal. Soon after we got in, we started to see MANY sharks. I was under the impression that the sharks were going to be like 3 feet long. Um, no people, lots of them were like 5 or 6 feet long. The kicker was that we were only in water like 4 feet deep. I was terrified to put my feet down, and terrified they would want to take a nip at the pregnant seal in the water. These are completely docile, bottom feeding sharks that never attack people, but I was worried that there may be a man eater hanging out along with them. it was truly freaky. The poor people at the beach had to hear my screams of terror. While we were heading in to shore, I wouldn't touch my feet to the bottom until my belly hit the sand. It was amazing, but I was way more scared than I thought I would be. It was a great expreience so come visit us, and Mike will take you in the water while I watch from the sand...

Beach Days

I am sort of getting caught up on life. I have made dinner lately, sort of cleaned the house and amazingly even took a couple of pictures. We actually did do quite a bit this summer, but getting there took so much out of me that pictures never seemd to get taken. On our last official beach day of the summer, I took a couple of pictures. I figured I should document how much time we spent there this summer, and how much they loved it. We would get to the beach every Tuesday at around 11:00, and stay until about 5:30. It was like a miracle. they played pretty much the whole time while I got to relax with friends. It was awesome. Tyler picked up boogie boarding, and Austin picked up sand and threw it at his friends. The Summer of 2009 was all about the beach...

Austin is doing what he does best, filling a bucket with sand. Then getting mad because it is stuck in there.

Tyler actually let me take a picture, but it was a little overexposed so I asked him to sit again.



This is what I got the 2nd time.

Here's Austin by "HIS" chair. Don't sit on it, or else!

P.S. The pink blog was only a temporary celebration. It actually looked pretty tacky...

First day of first grade

This year I was really ready for Tyler to go back to school. I'm tired, and it will be a nice break from the fighting that seems to be going on between my two children. Tyler wasn't so sure if he was ready. When we walked in his teacher asked if he was excited and he said, "kind of". Austin sure wanted to stay though. He sat right down at Tyler's table and told us he was staying. I hear that Tyler's teacher is fantastic, so I know he will have a great year. Here we come first grade!

It's a.......

FREAKING GIRL!!!!!!!!! That ultrasound tech better not be wrong, or I am suing for emotional distress. Seriously, could not be any happier!

We can't afford it, and don't want it!

Obama/Pelosi Universal crapcare that is. Please, oh please let's stop the madness! Call your reps, e-mail your reps, fax your reps. Stand in front of their offices with banners (I will come with you!) Write letters to the editor, and anything else you think of! This is total and complete craziness. Please sign this petition, http://joinpatientsfirst.com/, encourage everyone you know to sign it. Please, let your voice be heard. A majority of us DO NOT want this!

Here is the link to contact your senator (e-mail both of them! Then call both of them) http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

Here is the link to find your congressman:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

I had to find who it was, then go to his website to e-mail him. Very easy I promise. I called as well.

Austin Eating Ice Cream

The King Rest Home is open for business!

Mike has been sleeping poorly lately and decided we need a new mattress. I'm not so sure about this because I sleep just great on our current one. We went to the store to check them out today, and Mike is sold on a tempurpedic one. I like it ONLY if I can get an adjustable mattress. This has been a long time dream of mine to sit in bed and be able to adjust the matress while I watch Lifetime movies (while drinking Dr. Pepper of course). I call this heaven on Earth. Mike asked if I was 90. So, my ? is: are these things for hospital rooms and rest homes only, or would we just have the coolest bed on the block?

P.S. The kids LOVED it. Tyler cried when he couldn't have one for his room.

4th of July craziness

Yes, blogging has fallen by the wayside lately. We've been having fun: a trip to UT, many trips to the pool and beach, but I am lazy.

Mike's family came into town for the the 4th. We had a great time. Austin got to meet sparklers for the first time; it was scary. He chased the dogs with the sparklers and tried to set the grass on fire. (No we didn't get dogs, they belong to family members) Here are the only pictures I've managed to take lately.

Check out Tyler's hair. Mike buzzed it while I was taking a nap.

I think we have a pyro on our hands.

Another video- Tyler's 5th Birthday Wish

Old videos of the kids

I'm kinda obsessed

Please sign the petition for a reunion! http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/exclusives/petition/

Video Recaps Full Episodes Webisodes

I heart Zach Morris!

I stole the following clip from my friend Harmony's blog. One of the funniest things I've seen in a while. I'm so up for a reunion...

P.S. Jenni- this is for you!

Saved By The Bell Reunion Update 3 (6/8/09)

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

I am banning myself from internet politics and Sean Hannity

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have." -Thomas Jefferson

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." - Ronald Reagan

These are my final statements regarding the mess we are in.

I've decided that I can't read internet forums regarding politics. I get so worked up I want to throw my computer across the room. Seriously people, if I see one more (mostly left leaning) facebook update I will have to cancel my Internet connection. I'm getting crazy upset! California is so messed up, the U.S. is so messed up...... and there is nothing I can do about it. So I am stopping even browsing political discussions.

And finally to my dear Sean Hannity, you are right in everything you say! However, watching your show gets me all riled up there is NOTHING I can do about it.

P.S. Governator- Go back to Hollywood!

The ten TRILLION dollar bridge

A new bridge was built spanning a lake by our house. I can't remember the exact cost, but it was a lot (okay, probably not ten trillion...). Everytime we drive by Mike starts calculating how many people will need to cross the bridge and how much each cross is. It drives him crazy. Well, we decided to take a little hike and actually use the bridge. Now, we only need to cross it 999 more times for it to be worth the tax dollars we are paying for it!

The boys liked watching the ducks dive under water looking for fish.

I vowed never to put my boys in muscle shirts, but it was so cute I couldn't help it. Call me W.T.

Running down the dusty trail

Out of order, but here's Austin on the way there. Happy as a clam with a ring pop.

Bridge- ten trillion dollars. Austin enjoying the ducks- priceless

All day at the beach = tired boys

They had a great time today! Despite Mike not wanting to go (thinking it would be too cold), we

stayed at the beach all day. The water was a little chilly, but the day was perfect. Now they are clean and fed, and we are hoping they sleep like logs tonight...

Austin's first "official" haircut

Austin gets a lot of homeade haircuts because he is a wuss. I thought it was time for him to start looking non-homeless, so I took him to a kid's haircutting place. He got to watch a movie, and there were toys everywhere. Any kid's dream right? Not so much...

He was not happy being put in that chair

He did allow them to turn on Toy Story (his favorite), but he was nervous and kept saying "ow"

Fianlly, a little calmer

All over, but still there is a tear

I get a sucker now!

We are kissing T-ball goodbye!

Dear T-Ball,

As much fun as you were this season, you sure took up a lot of our time. We will miss you, but are happy not to be a slave to you! Tyler may still wear his peanut protector around the house; just in case any stray t-balls are flying around. Austin will miss getting suckers at the snack bar and looking at dogs.

~The Kings

Austin running to the park

Austin is probably laughing at a dog

Luckily, there was a park at the fields

Our cute catcher

Concentrating before batting

Happy Easter

I know you are all jealous of the awesome bunny ears!

Nature Walk

Even though we live in San Diego there is quite a bit of open space around us. We found out that there is a dam with a pond behind it about a quarter of a mile from our house. We went on a little "nature walk" to find it. It was so pretty and reminded me of exploring all of the open space while growing up in AZ.

Autin with his sword

Tyler and Austin looking out for each other and squinting for the camera

Tyler against the dam wall that someone has turned into a lovely art gallery.

I promise we do not live in the hood

We asked Austin if he liked nature and he replied, "No, home". I think we have a future scout on our hands.

So you think you can dance?

Tyler has been so excited for his dance performance. His class (along with 3 other classes) have been practicing for this kindergarten dance a number of months. It has been a total secret. We could not coerce Tyler into showing us any of his dance moves. I did get out of him that his partner was Joe. I guess boys are usually partnered with girls, but because of the excess of boys, Tyler and Joe got to be partners. Tyler told me that he must have been pretty good because only he (and Joe) got to be partners with a boy. It was a fun and cute evening. Mike even danced a little. Too bad I didn't get a picture of that because it was a miracle.

Tyler playing the maracas

Doing a Hawaiian number

Dressed up in his finest

Friday Favorite

My talented friend Tammy is amazing. Seriously, she comes up with the cutest ideas. Here is her latest

You can send her a picture of your child, and she will put the silhouette on a t-shirt. I think it is adorable! Here is the link: www.tammymitchell.typepad.com

Austin's stache

Austin gave himself a sweet little Hitler stache in permanent marker. We are so proud.

This is what Austin does at t-ball...

He puts on a show as a bucket head

and tells me about all the dogs he sees.

He's really into it if you can't tell. He also is starting swim lessons tommorow. Can't wait to see how that goes. He's not really a child up for new adventures. We shall see. The good news is that he is going to nursery now, sans crying. It's all about baby steps with this one.

Take me out to the ball game

I gather that 4S Ranch takes their baseball pretty seriously. Saturday was opening day, and it was pretty much an all day affair. Counting a long (okay and boring) opening ceremony, pictures and Tyler's first game, we were doing t-ball stuff all day. Tyler enjoyed his day, and his new baseball outfit. He even played pretty well for his first time. We were proud. I have to admit the best part of the day for Tyler was wearing his new (ahem) "peanut" protector. He was so excited about this part of the uniform, I'm not sure why...? He wore that "peanut" protector until bed-time, when his mom made him take it off.

His team is the Cardinals

Testing the strength oh his "peanut" protector, sorry if you are easily offended. I think we have a new Michael Jackson on our hands

What an arm

Winding up