Life's tough at 4 when you can't call all the shots

Some of you know about momma Heidi's boot camp that I had to start about a month ago with Bradley. I think somewhere into summer I just hadn't been as consistant with discipline. I think it was a slow process of just letting the little things unconciously slide which can turn into bigger things. Well it didn't take long to snap him back and it will be a daily work in progress for the rest of my life I'm sure, but I do have to say things are so much better and it doesn't take long for him to know who's in control. Well, yesterday he was a good boy up until he wanted to call the shots....He'll even tell me "mommy, see I'm being good today aren't I?" When I was sitting out on the deck after lunch talking to Craig and Bradley had went inside and came back out a little while later and said "come here mommy, I have a surprise for you" I went in and he had washed all the dishes for me just perfectly. It was his own little spontaneous idea. It was the sweetest thing. Craig and I just looked at each other and gave each other that Ooohhh look. You know the look.....the look of a mommy and daddys heart melting in a puddle. Anyway, the real part of my story is this. Later his buddies Ben & Abbey came over and I was cooking dinner and trying to get ready for small groups. Long story short, B & A go home and come back with their swim suits on as I'm ready to call for dinner. I was like "what's going on?" Bradley had sent them home to get their suits on to go swimming" I was like "oh no, it's dinner time and we gotta hurry" So I send the kids home. Then Bradley said "we can't eat yet because Ben is coming back to eat dinner with us" I was like "said who". Appartently he told Ben to come back to eat with us. So I went into this big long talk how Bradley doesn't just make all these sort of decisions and he needs to ask me first. He sat on the couch pouting and said he wasn't going to eat then and mumbled "little boys don't do" and I was like "little boys don't do what?" and he said "little boys don't always feel like doing what their mommys say" He wasn't being nasty just in a sad matter of fact way. I'm thinking to myself "oh brother, your little life is so tough isn't it" This whole scene was really quite comical but I still had to stand up and be the mean mommy and let him know who was in charge.

Hot Gramma

Ok mom, you asked for it...here's to the most beautiful gramma in the whole wide world. As Bradley would say "hot momma"

To all of my friends, you can ask me about this later. Hee Hee Hee!!!! Yes, I was pregnant with Alayna, that's why I look like a big "moose momma"

Busch Gardens

We had our first trip to Busch Gardens this summer and had a great time! We were so back and forth about whether we should go because it was one of the hottest days of the year once again, but we thought what the heck. We had free one day passes that expired in a week so we decided to go for it being that we would be out of town all next weekend and this would be our last chance to use them so we had nothing to lose. We got up there around 5pm and stayed until closing. Although it was quite humid we didn't have to bare the heat of the sun so that made it barible. We went up with our friends Matt and Melissa who are expecting their first baby and I thought if she can be 7 months pregnant and do it than so can I. They were so gracious to hang with us as we had our two little ones in tow. They got to experience first hand how life can go on after kids (perhaps with just a few interuptions along the way:) We have always been up for the challenge to keep up the pace no matter how many we have along the way and have fun making all the sweet, fun, and crazy memories!

Here's my sweet little dinosaur getting ready to hatch!!

Dinosaur Land is the best and we hung out there for quite awhile. Here's my 3 favorite people in the whole wide world:)
My other little dinosaur who had just hatched. What a cute little guy he is!!
I've never been in the Dark Castle, but I opted out this time and Craig, Matt and Melissa braved it alone. Bradley was too scared to go.
Alayna had a blast with Mr. Matt. During her fussy times when she didn't want mom or dad or we just couldn't console her, Matt was quick to take her and make her smile and laugh everytime. Thanks for your help Matt....you are going to be an awesome daddy very soon!!! She sure thought she was "big stuff" riding on his shoulders.
I was kidding Bradley and asked him if he wanted a picture with the cute little boy and he said "sure" Like why wouldn't I.

Bradley's first ride of the day and he was so excited!
Alayna loved hanging out splashing in the water at Dinosaur Land
Yes, I rode the dinosaur with Bradley. I'm not much of a ride person so this suited me just fine.

Matt and Craig braved the new Griffon ride and The Apollos Chariot and I was perfectly content hanging with Melissa on the ground. Roller Coasters scare the life out of me and I said to Melissa after the guys were gone for awhile "oh shoot, I forgot to pray for them" They came back in one piece anyway. Whew!!!

There's a Mouse in My House

Whoa! Two posts back to back almost. Aren't you all impressed? This isn't about the kids. It's about me and defending my house from a pesty little varment.

The other day Craig came home for lunch and normally we are here waiting for him if he calls or sometimes he'll surprise us. Well that was the case this time and we weren't home so he gave us a call to see where we were and he told me that when he got home he seen something run across the stove and scurry into backside of the stove and disappear. I paniced because at first I thought he was saying he seen someone in the house. Anyway...he said either it was a really big bug or a mouse. I tell him that "of course he was hallucinating" because there was certainly no mouse in my house. Well that night I came head on with the little you know what. We were all in the office and then Alayna and I went into the kitchen and sure enough he was by the sink and out came the screams and I just couldn't stop screaming. So then Alayna starts crying so hard. He was running around the counter crazy and went behind the coffee pot and right down thru the stove burner and disappeared. I guess I sent him into a tizzy. I scared Craig until it dawned on him that I had seen the mouse and he said "I told ya." Ok, so off to get traps. We have loaded them up with peanut butter ect.... and put one behind the stove and the counter. Each time we check the trap it is licked clean and no mouse. It is now time to take drastic action!!!! I say "how dare that thing outsmart us!!" Time to poison him!!!! I said to Craig "what would prevent him from getting upstairs to our bedroom?" and he so kindly said "nothing...just like it wouldn't take anything for him to climb up in your bed when you are sleeping at night, mice can get anywhere they want"...Isn't he hateful? HA! Now I certainly know that I am much bigger than the little rodent, but just the fact that he has invaded my home and running around anywhere he pleases is enough to send me dancing around the house. AND... I have a cat and the fat lazy girl ain't doing a thing about it!!!!!!!!!!! I'll keep you updated on when and how we get him. So far this morning...no mouse!! Sue, for you it's snakes and for me it's mice. I sure hope she's not having babies behind my stove?!?!?!?!?!?

My Little Scavenger Hunter

Well I've had a little pressure from some unnamed people (Uh Humm...Erica & Sue) to post a new blog since it's been brought to my attention that I haven't in a few weeks. HA!

We've sort of had the same little adventures so instead of blogging about the same things pool, beach etc...I've been sort of saving up for something a little more exciting:) We have had quite a few at home playdates and mommy break swaps weaved in the past few weeks as well. Moneiva and I took the kids to the pool on Tuesday and as we were leaving we ran into Jayne and Grayson and wished we could have stayed longer to play, but it was time for an over due nap for Miss Alayna.

Bradley went to a little Luau at the YMCA today. A little extra they did for the kids that was fun. So I did my workout and ran into Carol and Marsha. They were there to workout as well so it was fun to run into them. Their kids were there for the party too and that made Bradley's day to see some friendly faces to play with.

Well this is the real story I set out to write...the top part was just a little extra. I guess I should keep you updated on all the little day to day stories which one of them is about my little Alayna....She is still venturing out little by little and still is a long way off from how much Bradley used to get into at her age. She'll mess with a few things here and there..cupboards ect...but nothing that drives me crazy yet. However, she puts absolutely everything in her mouth. Yesterday was a highlight day for her with all kinds of treasures she did find. At one point she had 3 googly eyes from Bradley's craft box along with a little pebble she found from somewhere in her mouth at the same time. Some of the other things I pulled out of her mouth the same day were lightbright pieces, a tuft of cat hair (that was a little gross and interesting but, must have tasted good to her tho) and a little thing of staples. Now mind you I feel like I do keep things picked up but I guess she manages to find things in weird little places. I told Craig we don't need a dog because she clean sweeps the floor in about 2 seconds. We won't go there tho. Many times I've pulled out of her mouth food from dinner the night before and it isn't always pleasant. So needless to say these babies manage to survive thru these adventures of putting EVERYTHING in their mouths.

You made a little boys day!!!!

A great big THANK YOU to all of you who were so kind to Bradley either thru your cheers (Natalie:) or encouragement and praise about his swimming. Later today he said to me out of the blue "mommy, did you hear everyone telling me how good I did swimming?" I said "yes, buddy I did...how did that make you feel?" and he said "SO HAPPY!" I can't express it to you in a blog the expressions on his face or the way he said it but it was priceless and you could tell it made his day!!!! It did a mothers heart good too. You guys are the best!!!!

News Flash.....

The same spirit that can sometimes challenge me in Bradley is the same spirit that I love in him when it is used in the right way. It is the one of not giving up until the goal is accomplished. As I had posted in an earlier blog, Bradley has really come so far with his swimming. Today he reached a goal which was swimming the whole length of the pool without any life perserver. The reward of being able to accomplish that is you can go down the twisty slide at the "Y". He's never really made a big deal about doing it or not, but each time we go I mention to him... "remember when you swim the whole length of the pool you can go down the slide. He would say " I know mommy, but I'm not ready" I never pushed him. He really couldn't swim that far by himself and seemed like an eternity before he could do it but each time we would go and practice he would go further and further. I think he thought that he had so far to go but once he realized today how close the goal was, he was determined. He kept telling me it didn't matter if he did it or not but I could see it in his face that he was so deep in thought about the feat and I could see the determination in his face. He ended making it with me swimming by his side and only stopping once. A GREAT BIG CHEER FOR BRADLEY!!!!! By then he was so exhausted and said he didn't want to do it for the lifeguard yet so we took a rest. After we rested he said "mommy I think I'm ready to swim the whole length of the pool for the lifeguard" because he had to do it without me and for the lifeguard and do it without stopping .....so we went to get the life guard and off he went with me cheering the whole way and my heart doing flip flops. When he finished his little chest puffed up and the look on his face was one of pure satisfaction. He was so proud of himself and Bradley, mommy is so proud of you too. Up and down the slide he went for the next hour. He couldn't wait to call his daddy but didn't want to stop going on the slide long enough to call so being I was just as excited I called daddy for him and then he made a phone call later that day to tell him. Daddy was so proud too!!

Yummy plants and silly brains

Ok here's to my family... who I know are anxiously waiting for updates on the kids. I feel bad when they check my blog and find nothing new. I really could post everyday with all the crazy things that happen but due to time I don't always get to it. I'll start with Alayna....As you all know she started crawling awhile back and I really didn't have to be on my toes as much as I thought because she would only stay in one room. She would cry for me to come and get her and I guess she didn't realize she could come find me... well guess what ....now she's learned to come find me. About a week ago she slowly started venturing out of the living room into the other rooms. I was getting ready to leave the house one day last week and Bradley was ahead of me and I knew Alayna was somewhere in the vacinity and Bradley goes "uh mommy, you may want to come here" just the way he said it I knew it wasn't going to be good. Well there was that sweet little thing covered from head to toe in dirt...in the mouth and all. She had so quickly gotten into the palm by the front door. Ugh....it had to happen right as I'm leaving right?!?! Couldn't resist to laugh because what are ya gonna do anyway?

Ok, so now her new thing is when I'm feeding her jar food (which I rarely do now since she's into so many new yummy things) is blowing and spitting her food back at me. Once again, this was something baby Bradley used to do which was something else that was almost my birth control making him my only child. Well she just thinks is so funny and she doesn't take into account that I've got a white shirt on or the fact that I myself don't have a bib on ect... So I've gotten smarter now and I quick give her a bite and cover her mouth and the food then goes in my hand and not all over me. YIKES!! I think she just loves the spitting sound she makes with her tongue.

On to my little rebel....Not too long ago Craig had to give Bradley a spanking. Well....after Craig did it Bradley crosses his arms as he's trying not to cry and so fiercly growls "THAT DIDN'T HURT AND I'M NOT GONNA CRY BECAUSE I'M 4 NOW!!" We were like "WHOA, what a big tough guy you are. Of course we got a chuckle out of that just because of the nature of how he said it.

His passion in life is being silly well this past week he went to a different VBS M-W and the first day I asked how he did and the teacher told me he was sent out in the hall for fooling around with his buddy and not listening when she told him to stop. How embarassing right!?!? The next day I guess he did better but was still silly. The last day was the little program at the end and I was sitting back a few rows watching him being the only kid under the pew and wiggling and bouncing all over the place thinking "my word, I think he's ready for Riddlin"...asking myself if he had ADD. When their class went up to sing, at first he wouldn't sing and was trying to get a rise out of the teacher. I think he ended up singing the last few lines of the last song. I guess he just gets extremely bored really quick. I guess I'd be more worried if I never seen him being able to focus on any task, which he can if it's something he's interested in. So for now we'll just deal as we go. We had a talk with him about it each day and did the discipline thing and when I would ask him "why Bradley didn't you listen?" He would say "mommy I'm so sorry, but I want to listen and try to listen but it's just so hard to listen all the time" he went on to say the last day "my brains just keep telling me to be silly" now where'd the kid come up with that? Oh and get this.... he's had problems with ear wax build up lately and he told me "mommy there's just so much wax in my ears, it's blocking my hearing. Gotta give him credit for coming up with such quick witted excuses.

I was trying to get him to have some quiet time in his room today and as I was leaving he goes "mommy, I love you, but when is daddy coming home?" I think he thought if daddy was home he wouldn't have to have rest time!!

Oh, how I love both of my babies to the moon and back and how they keep me laughing and constantly challenging me to be much wiser than them.

Pool Fun At Carols

Carol and Bradley....sorry Carol don't strangle me for putting this picture of you on, but I only got 3 pics from the day so I had to use it. You look gorgeous!!!!!

Jordon hanging out with Alayna...it's not "hi Heidi how are you doing anymore...it's where's the baby?"....what's up with that guys:(

Bradley jumping off the diving board with Tyler cheering him on. He's not quite brave enough to go off the diving board without the vest yet, just off the side.
Yesterday was one of those spontaneous (yes I have to say it) pool days like so many have blogged about. We were packed up and headed out the door so I could get my much needed work out in and then after I was going to hit the pool to get some quality time in with just Bradley. Well my phone rang as we were leaving and it was my friend Carol who is not old enough to be my mom but enough to be a big sister. We have been friends with them and their family for gosh...at least 13 years so they are like family to us. I love to be able to say that because it's difficult sometimes to not live close to any of our family. We are thankful to have them in our life. She is always begging to take my kids because she loves them so and her kids are older and are totally into Bradley and absolutely love babies and of course Alayna is just that and they both adore Tyler and Jordon. Probably because they get constant attention. Anyway, she invited us over to swim in their pool and the kids had a blast. Her pool has a diving board so that makes it a little more "cooler" than the YMCA. The kids were up and down jumping off the diving board all day long. Bradley was so exhausted he fell asleep in the car at 5:30pm and didn't wake up until this morning at 7am. Did I take any pictures?...yes....but only got 3 because...did my camera battery die once again....YES!!! I think it's time for a replacement. Anyway, I have to brag on my little guy, he is emerging into quite the little swimmer. He went from about a month ago being able to kick his legs up in the shallow end and keep himself up to swim a few paddles to now jumping off in the deep end with no life jacket and being able to swim to the side. The new big thing as of today is cannon balling (WHOA! sounds like such a big boy thing) into the water with no jacket off the deep end and swimming out to me. Of course I keep backing up to challenge him and out come the screams of "help me or I'll drown!" Yes, we had another day of water fun today too!! Thanks Carol for such a fun day swimming...it's all Bradley's been talking about.