Karina

KJ is a tough girl. No doubt about it. She picks fights with her brother everyday. That is the bad side of it. The good thing though is that even under two years old I don't worry about her being bullied. Almost like I can just tell she will not put up with it. Jr though, I worry about him. He is a little more sensitive.

Anyway thinking of the nature vs nurture argument one must think of Karina. (Minus The 'anyway' that sounds like the being of a school paper- ack!) Karina loves to fix things. She is always playing with the toy screw driver. She also love dinosaurs and trucks and cars. At the same time she enjoys baby dolls, nail polish, accessories and girly stuff too. If she has a preference I'd almost say it is towards the boy stuff. I'm a nurture believer myself. Having small children makes me really believe it.

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Christmas season

We've been busy this month. Lots of fun stuff going on. In the first picture I found Rina in Grandma's living room with roll of wrapping paper. She had fun with that.

Picture two is Karina playing with her cousin at a tree decorating party we went to. They were sitting on an empty container that had held ornaments. They figured out if the both sat on the edge of it just so they could tip it over. Of course they then fell on the ground but that was the fun. The giggled madly over that for a while.

In the third and fourth picture we attempted Rice Krispie treat snow men. It was fun and tasty but didn't turn out just right. The M&Ms that were supposed to be the decorations didn't stick to the snowmen but the kids didn't care. Jr enjoyed making them but wouldn't taste them. Rina wanted to eat them but didn't care about the process. They compliment each other well.

The four of us (Sal, Jr, KJ and I) all went to pick out a Christmas tree. The kids loved it. All the trees hanging up reminded me of some back room of a butcher shop, only festive and fragrant! I had to stop Jr from karate chopping all the trees we walked by. It was pretty cute. KJ picked up on the karate chopping pretty quickly. Decorating it was fun too. Keeping Rina off of it is not.

And finally today we tried painting. Very frustrating to me. Karina is not really old enough to follow direction but both kids loved painting. I got washable paint so there's not too much damage.

Tomorrow we're making cookies and putting up the tree at Grandma April's and Grandpa Steve's house! I love when my kids get to have fun experiences!

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random update

These pictures were taken at Grandma Nancy's house last weekend. We were enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday break. Jr had never noticed the mirror in the hall.It's at a perfect height for him so we had a bit of fun playing in it making silly faces.

We also helped (hindered?) Grandma's cookie making process. I always think it will be fun for the kids to do things like that. But ts just me having dreams of giving them awesome childhood full of creativity and good experiences. Turns out that's just idealism. It ended up being somewhat disastrous. KJ eating all of the dough and poking it. Jr trying to cut the cookies but not doing a great job. In the end it probably would have been better for them to just eat the completed cookies and not be involved in the process.

Karina likes the floor registers at Grandma's. They are about a 12 x 12 square so they are very nice for standing on. KJ recently discovered them. She enjoys them very much. She has also been caught dropping snacks through the holes.

And the frog is still alive. For now.

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Pet frog

Jr's pet frog died a little over a week ago.( not the one in the pic, we still have it and it is alive) We were told to give it tropical fish flakes. It didn't eat and the poor thing starved. We replaced it and got a new type of food tor it. We were told we were given bad advice the first time, African Dwarf frogs are bottom feeders and need something that sinks. So we got shrimp pellets. Miceles had a pet frog named Spot for a few years as a kid and that is what Spot ate. Well Foggy Frog #2 was not eating those either. They sank to the bottom of the tank and the frog didn't touch them. They start to dissolve after a few hours and after a few days have what looks like mold all over them.

Fearing the death of our second frog I went to a pet store and got what they recommended, frog and tadpole food. Duh right? I came home that night and totally cleaned the tank. Changed the water, rinsed the rocks, did everything by the book. Then fed it some of the new food. Two days later and still it has not eaten anything. I'm going to have to clean moldy bits out again.


Tomorrow I am going to buy blood worms. I read online that they like those. We'll see. I feel bad for the frogs but am also getting fairly frustrated. Blood worms are our last shot. I'd take advice if there is any out there.

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Junior's party

Today was Jr's birthday party. Grandma Nancy made the cake and food, all wonderful! It was homemade pizza, how couldn't it be.
Lots of family came to help is celebrate. Jr did not cry or get too scared when it was time to sing him happy birthday. (first Time yet) He blew out his candles and ate cake. Then it was time to open presents! First came the gifts from grandma April and Grandpa Steve. He got two Kung Zhu Zhus and a Battle Arena! He loves it. After that, all the rest of the gifts were just okay. He even told is he didn't want one of his gifts. Oh well, I know he will like them in a few days. The Zhu Zhus are pretty cool, both kids like them and they are not terribly annoying. Hungry Hungry Hippos was also pretty well received once it was put together and being played by the grown up boys. (Daddy, Fidel and Uncle Salim)

All in all I think this has been Jr's best birthday yet. He is old enough to completely understand everything. We had a good birthday day. The party at school and movie afterwards was great! The birthday party today went well and Jr enjoyed it all. My house it a mess as evidence of the party, but it is not a big deal. It's worth it for Jr to feel so special and be so happy.

Oh, and Jr got a haircut today, he looks so handsome!

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Junior's birthday

Yesterday was Jr's fourth birthday. It's hard to believe that 4 years have gone by since he was born and was a teeny tiny baby. November 10, 2006 was a beautiful day similar to how it was yesterday. Two days later when we took him home it was snowing though!

Yesterday his class had a Pancakes and Pajamas Party. Not for his birthday, but it worked out perfectly since he loves pancakes and wearing pajamas! When we got home Jr got his first gift, a pet frog from Sal's mom! It has a nice tank and light and Jr likes it. When charged with naming it, Froggy Frog was all Jr could come up with.

KJ went with Grandma Dawn and Sal and I took our special birthday boy out. We got some food then took him to see Megamind. The movie was fun and Jr had a blast. Then he got to stay up late playing video games with daddy before I read him a story and he went to bed.

I think he had a good day! Party on Saturday! I will be spending my entire day off preparing for that ha!

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Pizza

Sunday afternoon we made pizza for lunch. Junior and Rina of course wanted to help. KJ floored the dough, counter, and everything else, including the floor. Jr helped roll the dough out, and spread the sauce. They both added cheese and toppings. Then we baked it in the oven. I also learned that asking a 4 year old to look through the oven window to determine if the pizza is done is not a good idea. I am not sure if he even looked, rather I believe he look

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Making Bread with Grandma!

Yesterday Grandma made her delicious rolls. Karina was very interested in the kneading, she pushed a stool right up to the counter to help. Grandma gave her a little ball it dough and she kneaded, and patted and rolled it for a while. Of course nothing can be made in her presence without her tasting it. So she did that. Then when all was done she helped wipe down the counter top. That was exhausting, so much so she had to rest her head while cleaning.

Silly girl!

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Halloween

The costumes Grandma made turned out great! They were super cute and original. I love home made costumes. No one else, ever will have these costumes, but aside from that they are just special. It's fun to plan and fun to make them. (unless You do as I do and procrastinate)

I love Halloween because typically boring people like me get to be creative and play make believe like a small kid again. It's the one time when I really can play with my children like dolls and put them in crazy clothes just for fun, and they love it! There are so many fun things to do in October! Apple picking, pumpkin patches, carving pumpkins, Halloween parties and trick or treating are just a few!

Thursday was freezing for trick or treat. (Is Columbus the only place to do trick or treat on the Thursday before Halloween?) The kids were both pretty cold. We started late and ended early, Karina was shivering and Jr whined about how cold he was. It was not that fun. They enjoyed passing out candy back at the house though so all was not lost!



Saturday we went to the zoo for Boo at the Zoo. The kids wore costumes and got candy. Some of the animals had pumpkins. It was fun and much warmer then Thursday. Jr still complained that he was chilly, I think he is a warm weather kind of person. Salim and Keleigh came over Saturday night after the kids were in bed and we dressed in costumes and played Monopoly. So now we have a bunch of candy to eventually eat and super hero costumes for make believe activities. I'm a little sad Halloween is over, but the holiday season is just beginning!

Eating

Lunch of home made leftovers. Yum! It amuses me they they are enjoying this so meal as much as they are. I tried making beef stroganoff the other day, it was not a hit. Today though, they ate it up and wanted more! Sweet!

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Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard. Fun fun! Karina had a great time with the apples. Jr had a hard time at first. He was a little tired but eventually warmed up and had a good time too.

We got a bunch of apples. I need some new recipes to try. Jr didn't want to eat any, but Karina sampled about 5 apples while there, thankfully they have an eat whatever you want policy.
Then we went to the pumpkins. The rule in the family is you can only get a pumpkin as big as you can carry. Needless to say, our pumpkins are very small. We got one for each kid, they were only a dollar each. The big ones were $3, we should have gotten one or two of those too.

We finished the outing with a stop by the farm's market, a hot dog and a caramel apple pop each.

Overall a very good day, we will be carving our petit pumpkins next weekend.

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Cookies

Yesterday we mixed up some cookies with Grandma. Karina enjoyed herself, she tasted at every stage in the mixing as well as whenever no one was looking.
Yummy oatmeal cookies!

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Sleeping Struggles

How could I be so horrible? After 30 minutes of rocking and nursing after reading and cuddling, I put the sleeping Rina in her crib. She woke up upon impact with the mattress gentle as it may have been. I patted and tried soothing her from outside of the crib bit of course it didn't work. Daddy tried: also unsuccessful. Jr woke up from all of the crying which had become screaming. Now do not feel bad for her. She is more than loved, I pretty much do the bidding of a 1 year old on a daily basis. Even now she is in my arms, back in the rocking chair, exactly where she wanted to be the entire time. Tonight I was just tired though. I thought maybe she would just fall back asleep. When she didn't I felt picking her up and beginning all over would be surrender of sorts, to a baby. But now I see how stupid that thought was because I eventually did get her out and could have saved another 30 minutes by picking her up in the first place. Oh well, tomorrow is another night. Goodnight, Karina my little love, see you around 3 am.

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Chilly walk

We took a walk around the neighborhood today. The weather changed overnight, so the shorts we wore yesterday were far from appropriate today. It was cold! So the kids put on their jackets and we took a walk. they both wanted to sit in the stroller, so I made them share. They thought it was fun for a while, but Rina tried to get out so we stopped. I thought she wanted to walk but as soon as she got out she began trying to drag Jr out of the stroller. Being the dramatic darling that she is, she got angry when I told her no and ran off crying. Jr got out on his own, Rina got back in, and we finished our walk. Man, I knew I should have bought a double stroller.

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Soccer

Jr is a "cool soccer kid" and he will be happy to tell you so. Second practice today went very well. he had a good time and got some nice 1 on 1 time with daddy.

The team is called the Doodlebops. It's kind of like an intro to soccer class. Pee wee soccer through the YMCA is all 3 and 4 year olds with parent participation, it was only $25 and its perfect for Jr. I at first was the participating parent. He was not enjoying it and was dragging and whining. After Sal and I switched I got to sit back and watch. I realized that mine was not the only child occasionally melting down in the middle of the field. He's behavior is typical and even kinda funny.

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This is the best I can do as far as a picture if them together goes.

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Junior

Jr is almost 4. He is smart, funny and all around silly. He loves to play. video games, sports, cars and make believe all make him happy. He is playing soccer this fall for the first time. He loves to be read to and "reads" to himself too. I think he is pretty cute. But don't tell him he is handsome, he will deny it and insist that he is instead super cool. He definitely is both to me.

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Karina Joy

KJ is 18 months old, so one and a half exactly. Her personality is really something. she is sugar a whole lotta spice and everything nice. She is a smart little girl with a big vocabulary. Currently fighting an alligator with big brother Junior, she is a rough and tumble toddler for sure.

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Off to preschool

Today is Junior's last day in the toddler room at daycare. He is moving to a preschool room in an entirely new building. He is shy and I worry that his first few weeks will be really rough.
I do not have a job nor am I going to class. I'd kind of rather not send him to school everyday for nothing. If I withdraw him for the summer he will loose his spot. We were on the waiting list 2 years for this school, I don't want to start that over.

The Rock

When I picked my dear, little Junior up from daycare today he had something to show me. He had a rock. It was in his pocket and vey special to him.
We went home and the rock sat beside his plate at dinner. then it played with Karina with him, then of course it got fought over. Karina wanted it for no other reason than because Junior had it. I didn't think she was old enough for that yet, but alas.
The rock came to bed also, but it got lost while preparing for sleep. About an hour into the bed time routine, long after he should have been sleeping, Junior was still concerned over his missing rock. He eventually fell asleep without it. After I did some homework I looked for it. it was in the pocket of his jeans, not really lost at all.

It is a plain little rock. small, brownish grey and rough. I'm not sure what he sees in it but he sees something special about it. I look forward to his joy in the morning when I give it to him and he realizes it is not lost anymore.

I've not caught up

Obviously right? Since my last post was way back in the begining of March I really have nothing to say for myself. I am having a relativly easy quarter so I guess I should get back to it. My computer does not work, but my dad has a new fancy one I can use.

More pictures to come

Soon I promise. I just have to catch up with the rest of my life first!

way late, all the rest!

7Months:


8 Months:


9 Months:

1/2 a year!

She spent a lot of time in just a diaper, it was hot!

5 months!

She had just recently began to sit up on her own and I am pretty sure she liked her independence in the sandbox.

Months 3 and 4

Yup, I missed yesterday. Here is miss KJ in all her 3 month old sweetness:
She began to pend a little more time "unplugged"


She still slept quite a bit:


At 4 months old it was hot and she enjoyed some good times by the pool: