Up Up and Away

Us Stangers' just arrived home after two weeks of visiting our favorite Easterners! From the 12th to the 27th of this March we played inside and out, ate home cooked meals, cuddled with friends, and showed off new found talents.

Playing Princes'

Girls

Practicing

Fighting over Daddy's phone

Coloring

Egg Hunting

Windy Walking

Sunday Pictures

To be honest it was seriously chilly outside and not exactly wind free, so vegging out while hanging out with the fam was the main occurrence.

On the flights to Maryland the kids were both amazing sleeping and quietly playing most of the time.
On the flights back from Maryland to Idaho, it was a different story.
Bella was airsick from the start, we ended up bagging the baby backpack halfway through due to its need for cleaning suffice to say, luckily needing only one outfit change for Miss Bella thank goodness. After the first airsick episode we were able to adjust and help Bella, knowing exactly what was wrong with her now. So we kept her cool and let her sleep, didn't push foods but did push liquids. End result she made it through the second longer flight without another episode.
Connor, did well for the most part. Being two now he had his own seat, which was bittersweet - the price tag being our least favorite part but let me tell you, him having his own space and his own carry on EXTREMELY beneficial. He sat in his own seat both ways the entire time. With the seat belt on. We gave him no options to take it off, and ours were on too. We did loosen it for him so it was more comfortable, and so he could sleep.
Mainly for future reference I wanted to record what I brought to entertain our children (Connor), and to record what worked and what didn't.
Brand new pirate activity 1000+ sticker book 
- Entertained him and helped him work on matching, but required my constant attention since he couldn't pull off the small or intricate stickers. Each page had a set of stickers with it. I made sure we had the pages we were working on clip boarded so we didn't get distracted. He enjoyed doing it with Mommy, asking questions and discovering new animals, bugs, foods, etc.
Color Wonder Book and ClipBoard 
- Entertaining, and he asked for it a few times. Wanting to color the same picture over and over :) We had to be careful with the markers and lids. This activity also required constant attention, considering we didn't want markers and lids to get lost, and it occupied him for longer if we were doing it with him. He loves asking and being asked "What is that?", so watching the hidden pictures appear as we colored was perfect for us exploratory nature. The clipboard it came with was nice. Considering we had a place to keep the markers, and it motivated him to put them away too.
Brand new games downloaded on Shea's phone 
- Of course with our technology driven world we were smart enough to know that having games to play on Daddy's phone would be Connor's favorite activity. Considering it is something he doesn't usually get to do. This activity required no supervision, since I had researched the activity's I put on the phone and put on  a kids mode application (so he couldn't leave the games or be directed to the internet in any way). We could put the phone in airplane mode during the flight so he could play on it, but during ascent and descent it had to be off. This is when other activity's came in handy :)
Snacks
- Popular Connor snacks: fruit snacks, twizzlers, chocolate raisins, and chips.
- Popular Bella snacks: fruit snacks, chocolate teddy grahams, goldfish, and wheat crackers.
- We asked to have their drinks filled before the flight started. We just walked to the back and had Connor's water bottle filled with water, and Bella's bottle filled with milk.
Small Toys/ Books/ Jackets
- Connor never asked for toys, and worrying they would get lost I never pulled them out.
- We brought a couple books with us but Connor didn't want to be read to. Bella played with them a little, but she wasn't gentle.
- Both kids got too hot on the plane. And I think leaving Bella's jacket on caused her to get too hot and accounted for her airsickness. So next time I think we will need to store jackets in a carry on before the plane. But Shea and I had jackets that got used as pillows and blankets at times, so that was nice to have out.

Since our flight was so early we got home in time to take much needed baths and enjoy some warm blanket snuggles.

It was nice to be back home. To pass by familiar streets, to smile at "it has been too long" faces, to share "way back then" stories, and to take a break from the Mom job in many ways; was exactly what I needed to replenish me before Shea starts up another grueling school semester.
Now we are recovering from jet lag and enjoying the results of living on a routine again :)

Back to Duck Tape

New discovery

Dangerous and Messy

Brother isn't much help. 

I thought we were going to skip the Duck Tape phase. 

Bella was just soo good at listening and never too interested in exploring drawers and things. 

Spoke too soon.

She is well into the exploratory phase now, a lot later than Connor, fortunately. 

Unfortunately she is such a quiet little girl her mischief is also silent. 

So Duck Tape is now in full swing. 

Love Mommy.

Dear Connor,

I recently signed you up for preschool. It was exciting to fill out the little form and realize that you are getting so big. While you are playing at school in the fall we will miss you, but I know you are a social little bumble bee and you will love it SO MUCH. 
Considering how well you have done in the toddler lab (2 x week for 1.5 hrs), I couldn't keep you from something that makes you so utterly thrilled. And I admit it gives Mommy a little break to nap with your sister.
You are growing so fast and I can't say your my baby anymore, and that makes me sad. But I try hard to hold on tight to all my moments snuggling you as you sleep and kissing your cheeks, because I know you wont let me forever. I love our story times and how much you enjoy listening to me read. And your "again again!" makes me feel so good. There are times where you are unhappy and frustrated with not getting your way, but I know it is hard to figure out life. I am helping as much as I can and I only wish I was better at helping you overcome the tantrum two stage. But I know we will get through this phase together and you will soon be enjoying a new phase of independence and understanding only too shortly. I can't say I don't yearn for a little less fit throwing, but I will miss my baby as you grow older.
You are such a strong spirited independent boy. You are a leader with your friends, and a lover of all things sports related. I can already see me driving you to football practice and basketball camps. Oh boy we are in for a busy and wild life. Daddy is so excited for more boys just like you. He is seriously in love with you. Some days I have to tear him away from you so that we can go out. And Daddy is a big push over when you put on that pouty lip and give him those big sad eyes. With all your hugs and kisses it is hard not to melt. Lately every time Daddy comes home you open your arms wide and run to the door waiting for your hugs and your sister runs right after following your every example.
I know nap time isn't your favorite, and I know we've been spoiling you by letting you sleep with us. But we love watching you sleep and being there for your every nightmare or spoiled dream. So we relish in the sweet quiet moments that still linger. Sleeping with Mommy and Daddy wont last forever, and I know only too soon you will be begging to join us. And as heartbreaking as it is to see you have to learn or relearn something new and difficult, it is part of your tremendous growth that is surprising us each and every day.
I am constantly learning as a parent, and I feel you are our guinea pig in this world, just as I was once. Daddy and I are trying hard to not make mistakes and do everything right. We love you so much and want you to dream big as you embark on life. Don't grow too quickly, I am not ready. So let's slow down and snuggle and laugh and be silly forever!

Love, 
Mommy

The Thumb.

Ever since Bella was a baby she will sporadically suck her thumb. Not daily, just every once and a while. Usually with months in between. So we have never worried about a serious thumb sucking habit.

Until last week when she decided to start trying this thumb sucking again. I don't know if it was the fact that she is no longer nursing or that we are slowly weaning her from bottle to cup. Or that she is getting more teeth. (We're up to 10 almost 12.) But either way last week she discovered it again, for the first time in months, and it has been stuck in that little mouth of her's ever since. And now we can barely get it out of her mouth EVER!

The only time she will stop sucking is to eat or get the bottle. Not for a cup. Not to play. Not to sleep. Depending on how much longer this lasts, were thinking of buying little gloves for her to wear so it isn't so appealing to suck. Daddy is so worried about her teeth. (Not to be mean but the way her baby teeth are coming in it is looking like braces are in her future, thumb or no thumb, poor girl.)

She is good about it though. And we yank it out constantly. But she just smiles or (depending on how many times we've yanked it out recently) she will give us a pouty face. Then she pops it right back in. 

It is hard to not admit that she is a freaking cute thumb sucker.

We all make mistakes.

We had our first big boy mess. 

I have always been very careful to make sure markers, or any and all writing utensils are always put away after they are used. My slip up began with the brilliant "Bedtime Checklist" I made. It has Connor's (and Bella's) night time routine on it; Pajamas, Brush Teeth, Potty, Story, and Prayers. Next to each word is a little picture. And Connor likes to color on the picture (instead of the check box), when he has completed something on his list. He loves it, and it has helped us, as parents, to remember his routine and complete it every night! 

My first mistake being that I left the red dry erase marker, in his room. HIGH on the top of a shelf the night before. UNDERESTIMATING my son, by thinking he could never reach it. 

My second mistake being that after a time out in his room that day, I LEFT him in his room; thinking that the SILENCE I was hearing meant he had fallen asleep. 

My third mistake being that I was DISTRACTED with the phone and NEVER checked on him. 

Thereby I shouldn't have been in complete and utter shock as I was when my two year old came out covered in marker. Apparently he had climbed the shelves to the top, I assume in attempts to reach a book, and discovered that a little further of a climb would claim him a red marker trophy. He led me into his new red room. EVERY wall had a huge spot of red scribbles, along with the chair, a book, futon, door, blinds, closet and floor! I have no pictures of the disaster in his room considering I was seriously not in the mood to document this said event, in my frenzied state. 

A very sad and scared and tired little boy napped, as Mommy cooled down and cleaned. Then I snuggled my sleeping boy and realized that "We all make mistakes." And mine were a lot bigger than his that day. He was very sorry and promised to "never use marker again". 

We had a long talk about drawing and where to draw when Daddy came home, and Daddy gave Connor a long bath in an attempt to clean up his red marker-ed body.

(Notice the colored toe nails, below!)           

I am trying hard at this Mom Job and it isn't always easy and I can't pretend I never just lose it. But I am happy to say that I am learning and that my little boy makes we want to try very hard to be the very best Mommy possible. 

I love being called "Mommy" all day long and I am learning new lessons all the time. The biggest lesson being PATIENCE; as my two year old grows, learns, rebels, and loves each and every new day.