Disney Trip

During this summer we did a spontaneous trip overnight to Disneyland. It was so much fun and so nice to get to stay at the Disney Hotel too. We loved every bit of it!

Watermelon and Grilled Cheese

Preston was cracking me up as he was eating his watermelon and grilled cheese one day. He kept insesntly taking a bite of one and then the other while saying "mmmm." Love that little messy face.

what we've been up to

I have been terrible about blogging lately but all for a good reason. We moved a few weeks ago from Fontana to a small apartment in Rancho Cucamonga. I have been so busy with selling all of our extra stuff, being a mom and wife and getting ready for our move that I really haven't had much time for posting the fun things we have been doing. We are finally settled into our new place and we are enjoying life again:). I will try to catch up on some posts soon. Now I need to go make some finger paint bugs with my little one's....

16 Months Old

Well my little man turned another month old again! It just seems like they keep rolling by.

Preston has grown up so much in these past few months. He is talking and walking and has even started screaming (loud) when he wants something. Which to me is a surprise because he is such a mellow kid. He is in to everything and my kitchen is definitely his favorite place to explore. The cupboards, utensils and pots, oh my! Going in and out of cupboards is a daily activity for him and he loves it!

He can say a lot of words now. He can say daddy, dada, doggie and dog, mommy and mama, bwee (Brooke), baapoo (diaper), ball, gung (car) tunk (truck), mine, me (this is his favorite when he wants something, he just says meee, meee), wawa (water), tank Tee (thank you), baabaa (bottle), bubble, pop, baby (this is still my favorite because of the way he says it), and then he will try to say something if you ask him too. He knows a lot more I just can't think of them right now.

He loves animals, especially Doggies and will sit and watch them and bark back to them for as long as we let him (The puppy sore has become a more frequent stop for us.) He loves to make animal sounds and can do a horse, dog, pig, fish, duck, and cow. He also loves to sing and dance and my baby sure does have some awesome moves!

He also learned how to hit and push from his lovely big sister so we have been working on that but he is still just the happiest and sweetest baby ever. He will also kiss and snuggle me as much as I want. What more could a mama ask for? I would still have 10 more if they were just like him. I love you baby, now stop growing up so fast!

First Day of Pre School

Brooke is officially a school girl this year. She goes every Monday and Wednesday for a few hours and she LOVES it. She has a great teacher Mrs. Sara who she loves. She has been going for a month now and really loves learning and being with other kids. Here are some pics from her first day on August 10th.

She got to pick out and earn her very own Rapunzel lunch box. It is so funny because every little girl in the class has a Princess lunch box.

She was just fine leaving Mom and Dad behind. She is such a social girl and loves to be around other people.

Getting into her classroom for the first time and finding her desk.

Brooke and Mrs. Sara. It was so sad, as soon as I picked her up from her first day of school she was so excited to tell me everything that she tripped as she was running to me and ate it pretty hard on the gravel. This pic was taken shortly after that (hence the hand on the knee.) Then she was so sad afterward she wouldn't tell me about her first day.

I can tell that Brooke will always love school because she has such a thirst for learning. We have also made cookies and milk with Mommy a tradition for when we come home and she is loving that too. I love my little Pre-Schooler!

Jason's Birthday Roast

Jason just celebrated his 28th Birthday on August 7th. All the people at his work decided to through him a surprise Party where they roasted him. I will have to post some of the things people said later but for now here is the funny video his marketer Ben and his wife Christa put together.

Jason was a great sport during the roasting and it was a lot of fun.

I sure love ya babe. Thanks for all you do for us!

Wisconsin Part 2

The next day we went to see the city. It took us a total of 2 hours and we did it by foot. So cute and so different from what I am use to. I loved the thunder that we heard as we walked and to see the clouds change so much. Something you don't get to see very often in Southern California. Preston was sick with a fever starting with this day and ending with the last. Poor guy! He got to stay with his Aunt Mary and sleep while we explored.

The last day we were there we went on a pontoon boat and looked at the beautiful surroundings. The world is so GORGEOUS!

Brooke stool my camera during the boat ride and these are the pictures she took. This is her cousin Lauren and man alive did they ever make good friends. Brooke is still asking about Lauren and I am hoping we can get these girls together again soon.

Uncle Todd also treated us to Dairy Queen. He drove his boat right up to it and got some. Preston was still not feeling good but he perked up a little for the ice cream.

We got a few shots of the family all together. I loved everyone I met and I hope we get to see them again sooner rather than later.

Here is Grandma and Grandpa with 7 of the 8 children. What a cute family.

If you eat Sweet Baby Rae BBQ sauce this is the man who made the recipe. He lived across the street from Mary and cooked for us. YUM!!

On the way home. Another long day (we got delayed an hour and a half and didn't get in until 1 am) but it was nice to get to know Grandpa Jim a little bit better. It was such a nice trip and made me really long for family to live close by. Could you all just please come live in California???

Tomahawk Wisconsin Part 1

We went to see/meet Jason's Dads side of the family this summer in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Jason had been their once before when he was 13 but the kids and I had never met them. Jason's Grandma told us to come for the fourth of July because they have a parade and a lot of the family comes for it. So we set our plans and even took Jason's Dad with us who lives in CA. The trip was sooo long. We left at 4 a.m took an airplane and then drove another 4 hours to get to Wisconsin and we arrived at 9 PM! The kids were champs though and did great. I really do have amazing children!! (Just thought I would throw that in there.)

The town that Grandma and Grandpa Postl live in is tiny. They have a population of 3000. The parade was so cute and it was so fun to see how a small town celebrates holidays all together. They had a ton of fire trucks and they all went at the beginning of the parade. It took a good 15 minutes for them all to go by! So funny and so loud.

Brookie got to hang out with Auntie Barbara (Jim's sister) during the parade and loved all the candy that was thrown at her from the parade people walking by.

Preston and Brooke were both pretty amused with all the horses. My favorite part of the parade I didn't take a picture of (?) It was a bunch of red neck guys who got bar stools and attached a motor and wheels and rode them. SO FUNNY! You know your a redneck when...

Great Grandpa Postl had a Cotton Candy machine that went over pretty well with the kids. Okay it went over pretty darn well with me too because that is my favorite candy! I ate a lot!

After the parade the kids (and adults) were pretty pooped. Uncle Dean was nice enough to rock Preston to sleep while I ate. Man I need more family to be near!

After the naps we all got to get to know each other better. Brooke got her nails painted and hammed it up for all the on lookers. She LOVES to be the center of attention and all the family was happy to oblige her. Preston showed off his Schmeegle for everyone and it became a popular request for him the rest of the trip.

The top shot is a 4 generation shot with Great grandma and Grandpa Postl, Grandpa Jim, Jason and I and the kids. I loved getting to know The Postl's! Jason fit right in and it made it all clear why he is the way he is. I am going to miss everyone now that I got to know them.

The kids loved their Great Grandparents. I thought they were pretty awesome too! Wish we lived closer.

14 months old

My little guy turned 14 months today. He is getting so big and is really such a sweet boy. He has started to scream whenever he wants anything because of his lack of speech. He can say daddy, mommy, baby ( Our favorite for him to say), bye, hi, doggie, wawa (water), baba (bottle), bwee (brooke), uh-oh, yeah, and he imitates most sounds we make even though he doesn't quite know what he is saying. Today he took his very first steps. Here a video to document:) Please excuse my annoying "mommy voice."

Baby LOVE

Whenever these two get together there is a lot of kissing. They must really like each other! Preston likes to use his tongue and Elise likes to suck his nose. It's pretty funny to watch!

13 Months

Preston turned 13 months old today. All I can say is that this little guy is fun! His personality is shining forth so much lately and he has such a cute one. He gets a funny embarrassed face that we all love when you focus all your attention on him. He can tell you what a doggie says and what a lion says. He loves to play and loves his sister. He calls her "Bwee" and he calls for her whenever he wakes up from a nap. He has 8 teeth now and he loves to eat anything off the floor. (he doesn't like eating in his high chair.) He does everything but walk, but is slowly getting more comfortable with the idea of trying it on his own. He has mastered going up the stairs but he thinks I am playing a game when I try to show him how to turn around and slide down. He just tries to run away from me faster when I try to teach him that. He loves the pool and splashing. He really loves doll's right now and he sleeps with one of Brooke's every night and he kisses and plays with it all day. It really is sweet to see. He is also becoming more vocal and will do a high pitched raspy scream if you do something he does not like. He has found the roll of toilet paper and it has become a new favorite activity for him ( and me, always love rolling those things back up!) He really is the perfect little boy and I want 5 more just like him!

Dance Recital 2011

Brooke had her first official dance recital this past Friday. She was so cute and she had a great time. I couldn't believe how grown up my little girl was and had a bit of a Mommy breakdown after I got her all dolled up for the event.

She did a great job. I hope to have the video posted soon. (Still trying to figure that one out!?)

She is going to be too beautiful for her own good when she gets older. Just look at those features. This is when my Mommy meltdown came in full force. (Is this still the same baby girl I had just a few years ago? How did she grow up so fast?)

Her class before the recital.

They danced to Little White Duck. She was supposed to have 2 dance #"s but only one ended up happening. Kinda bummed about that one.

We gave her lots of love afterwards. She was not in a picture mood.

We ended with a special dinner at Red Robin. We are so lucky to have such a fun girl in our lives!

Best friends!

These two couldn't get any cuter together! We are so grateful for good friends!

Popsicle Pool Days

We have been having fun with pool #2 (the first one got a big hole in it from our crazy Fontana winds. ) Popsicles have become an everyday occurrence and Preston finally got his very own the other day. To say he liked it is a huge understatement. It was so cute to see him sitting in his chair just hanging out eating his Popsicle. Brooke likes to dip hers in the pool (disgusting!)

Oh how I love summer time!! Oh how I love these kids!!

Preston's B-Day Pics

It has taken forever for me to get these up. We had a nice little party for Preston with just family. We enjoyed one another's company and had fun talking about how much Preston has grown. It was a great day, and I am so grateful everyday for this little boy in our lives!

The cake was a big hit. He tried to put his face in it but only ever dipped his nose in. The highlight was when he pushed it off his high chair. :) Brooke had no problem finishing what Preston couldn't.

Love all of our family! Thank for making the day special!!

Presents... He loved taking tissue paper out of the bag. He still doesn't quite get wrapping paper. He loved everything and has been playing hard!

what can I do??

As I sit here writing this Brooke is screaming in her high chair. She hasn't eaten anything I have made for days. She has always been terrible with food but she started to get better and now in the last week and a half it seems she is worse than ever. All she ever wants to eat is milk, cheese, gold fish, any treats, Nutri-grain bars, fruit and a few vegetables. If I only gave her these things she would never have a problem eating food. The problem is, is that she is 3 and I think she should eat whatever we are eating and if she doesn't want it then she can eat nothing. Brooke happens to be just about the most stubborn headed girl I know though, and not eating to her is a very viable option. She will wait until I break down and give her one of "her" items. I try not to, but when she's around friends who are eating something or you have a party it seems like it is so much easier to just give her the other items to avoid the huge fit she will through if I try to get her to eat what we are having. I am a very consistent with her and food so I thought we would have broken this cycle but it just seems impossible. I am at my wits end. She doesn't eat, it makes me want to hurt her. She asks for something and I make it and then she says no she doesn't want it before even trying it. If I force her to eat it, her mind is already made up and she will gag and through it up. I just want to cry and have someone fix her. 99% of the time that I am upset with Brooke it is about food. Help me! I need any suggestions we have tried just about everything I can think of; positive reinforcement, sitting until she eats it all, not giving her any food until she eats what we gave her the first time.etc....I really can't handle this any more. AHHHHH.