Collin, you are a true gift!
You are my strong-willed, athletic and wildly witty boy and I love the adventure you continue to take us on!
Here are some of my favorite Collinisms as of late:
We were in the car with Papa on the way to get some frozen custard. You were bouncing off the walls and had literally been hanging from trees just moments before. I kept telling you to calm down, calm down Collin!
Finally after about my fifth, "You need to calm down before we get custard, Collin.", you replied, "Ok, Ok, I'm calm. I'm Nelson Mandela."
The other day you had a script to read for a Catholic movie. You said, "No, I'm sorry- can't do it. It's Catholic and I'm a Mormon Iraqi."
You have always had a fascination with other cultures and you love to pretend you are from all sorts of places, especially the Middle East for whatever reason.
When people asked you where the name "Pax" came from, you told them, "It's from Pakistan."
All religions, races and ages are fair game for your comedic wit and though I have to remind you to be PC and not to make those jokes outside the home, I can't help but laugh. You are a true comedian in that way.
You and I always notice the same moments, the same people, the same happenings that crack us up. Daddy and sweet Kayla often look at us blankly, not understanding what we found so funny.
We had a Mommy/son soccer match today at the park and we could barely get through it because we were laughing so hard... at what I don't know. We are just dang funny!
Love you my funny man!
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Kayla
Kayla, my sweet, wise, brave and beautiful daughter- I am SO proud of you!
You made it to your regional spelling bee on Friday. You were out in the first round and you were so upset. :(
It was so disappointing for you because it was a word you knew but had always mispronounced in your own mind. You spent a couple of hours lamenting but then you pulled it together and bravely began preparing for your purple belt test. You passed that test with flying colors and your sensei commented on your kick (which you landed nicely on your opponent), "You ended his world for a minute!"
From there we had to go straight in to science fair preparation and girl scout cookie selling. Not to mention you were working hard on your school play. It was an incredibly stressful week for our whole family but you handled it in Kayla style... reading, reading and reading some more, making time for practice and work when necessary. :)
You are my amazing child and I love watching you grow!
You are you and Daddy and I can't take all the credit for that, but it delights me to see you benefit from and exude the gifts I feel we've given you.
Lesson #3 in child-rearing: Books books books and establishing a love of reading! When you were born I vowed to stop whatever I was doing whenever you crawled or toddled up to me with a book and read to you. I kept that promise to myself and to you and we would read several books a day! This hasn't changed for you and I'm so glad.
Love you and don't change!
You made it to your regional spelling bee on Friday. You were out in the first round and you were so upset. :(
It was so disappointing for you because it was a word you knew but had always mispronounced in your own mind. You spent a couple of hours lamenting but then you pulled it together and bravely began preparing for your purple belt test. You passed that test with flying colors and your sensei commented on your kick (which you landed nicely on your opponent), "You ended his world for a minute!"
From there we had to go straight in to science fair preparation and girl scout cookie selling. Not to mention you were working hard on your school play. It was an incredibly stressful week for our whole family but you handled it in Kayla style... reading, reading and reading some more, making time for practice and work when necessary. :)
You are my amazing child and I love watching you grow!
You are you and Daddy and I can't take all the credit for that, but it delights me to see you benefit from and exude the gifts I feel we've given you.
Lesson #3 in child-rearing: Books books books and establishing a love of reading! When you were born I vowed to stop whatever I was doing whenever you crawled or toddled up to me with a book and read to you. I kept that promise to myself and to you and we would read several books a day! This hasn't changed for you and I'm so glad.
Love you and don't change!
Sunday, February 16, 2014
A return to eBay and to FAT
This beautiful month of February has been a return to many parts of my life that I've missed.
Now that I have the consistent help of a nanny, I'm able to work out, have coffee with friends, volunteer in the kids' classrooms and EBAY!
When I was a young mommy of one baby I spent most of her naptimes on eBay buying her clothes. Kayla spent the first three years of her life in lots (literally) of eBay items. From casual to designer, this is how we rolled.
After I had Collin I had a lot less time, yet still managed a bit of eBay and garage sale shopping.
After Pax- well, let's just say that Amazon.com became my most trusted and closest friend.
But no more- I am BACK eBay- we are BACK together again! From lots of used books to clothes and event tickets, there is no better place to purchase.
Although I do like Craigslist, you aren't guaranteed to find the items you're looking for, while eBay has just about everything.
On top of eBay and getting back to a tighter budget, February is brimming with goal-setting.
This includes:
-Eating FAT. I took to a lot of munching and sweet-eating since Pax has started taking longer naps. I've found that by adding butter, avocado, nut butters and eggs to my meals it almost completely inhibits my desire to snack... especially on sweets.
Also, being the Mommy of two previously fat breastfed babies- my goal this month and next is to fatten Pax up. He is in the 10th % for weight and while this still falls within the spectrum of normal- I'd like to see him a bit chubbier. I think his tininess has more to do with all of his digestive issues and now that we've got that under control- it's time to eat. Poor guy is hungry ALL the time!
Tim and I have had interest in buying another house for about a year now. We are moving towards putting that plan in to action now... the hold up having been that we didn't know if it made more sense to buy in LA or Prescott. Now we're thinking of renting our current house out and buying here in Gilbert again. I like the idea of buying houses and turning them in to rentals after a few years.
So far, we've been successful with our CO rental house and we'd like to do it again!
Also, no more excuses- it's time for me to finish and submit my children's books. I have three unfinished books and one that's completed. They have sat in digital slumber for years, but all it takes is a query letter and some motivation to get started with publishing again.
I suppose if I don't have any luck I can use this local publishing company that I hear is really good. Ha ha.
My little girl is 12 as of yesterday! More to come on the tween adventure and how I feel really comfortable with this time in her life and the balance we have in parenting a tween.
I believe that there are a few keys to raising great kids and I hope to blog about my take on those soon.
In fact, another goal: blogging. I was once a faithful blogger and I'm enjoying returning to this calming pastime. I hope to begin another blog soon about surviving colic, written from a straightforward, no bs point of view!
All in good time, but just around the corner.
Now that I have the consistent help of a nanny, I'm able to work out, have coffee with friends, volunteer in the kids' classrooms and EBAY!
When I was a young mommy of one baby I spent most of her naptimes on eBay buying her clothes. Kayla spent the first three years of her life in lots (literally) of eBay items. From casual to designer, this is how we rolled.
After I had Collin I had a lot less time, yet still managed a bit of eBay and garage sale shopping.
After Pax- well, let's just say that Amazon.com became my most trusted and closest friend.
But no more- I am BACK eBay- we are BACK together again! From lots of used books to clothes and event tickets, there is no better place to purchase.
Although I do like Craigslist, you aren't guaranteed to find the items you're looking for, while eBay has just about everything.
On top of eBay and getting back to a tighter budget, February is brimming with goal-setting.
This includes:
-Eating FAT. I took to a lot of munching and sweet-eating since Pax has started taking longer naps. I've found that by adding butter, avocado, nut butters and eggs to my meals it almost completely inhibits my desire to snack... especially on sweets.
Also, being the Mommy of two previously fat breastfed babies- my goal this month and next is to fatten Pax up. He is in the 10th % for weight and while this still falls within the spectrum of normal- I'd like to see him a bit chubbier. I think his tininess has more to do with all of his digestive issues and now that we've got that under control- it's time to eat. Poor guy is hungry ALL the time!
Tim and I have had interest in buying another house for about a year now. We are moving towards putting that plan in to action now... the hold up having been that we didn't know if it made more sense to buy in LA or Prescott. Now we're thinking of renting our current house out and buying here in Gilbert again. I like the idea of buying houses and turning them in to rentals after a few years.
So far, we've been successful with our CO rental house and we'd like to do it again!
Also, no more excuses- it's time for me to finish and submit my children's books. I have three unfinished books and one that's completed. They have sat in digital slumber for years, but all it takes is a query letter and some motivation to get started with publishing again.
I suppose if I don't have any luck I can use this local publishing company that I hear is really good. Ha ha.
My little girl is 12 as of yesterday! More to come on the tween adventure and how I feel really comfortable with this time in her life and the balance we have in parenting a tween.
I believe that there are a few keys to raising great kids and I hope to blog about my take on those soon.
In fact, another goal: blogging. I was once a faithful blogger and I'm enjoying returning to this calming pastime. I hope to begin another blog soon about surviving colic, written from a straightforward, no bs point of view!
All in good time, but just around the corner.
Friday, February 7, 2014
What's new this month?
February is off to a marvelous start!
Pax is waking only once a night to eat but is otherwise in his crib from 6-6ish. Mom loves this!
He is the happiest baby I could ever hope for and has given me many new laugh lines which surprise me every time I look in the mirror- lol, yet I wouldn't trade in a million years.
Pax is adored by his brother and sister and kicks his little legs, squealing and laughing every time they arrive home from school. He adores them right back.
The first few months were SO VERY hard with this little guy but he is pure joy now (well- most of the time!) and the best decision we've ever made.
Tim and I have discovered that not only do we get to experience babyhood again (in all it's joys and hardships) but we get to revisit Kayla and Collin's infancies.
As we pull out books and recall songs we used to sing, the kids are often heard exclaiming, "I remember that! I know the words to that!"
Moments come flooding back to them that perhaps might have been lost had we not had this chance to revisit them.
One of my favorite moments was hearing Kayla read "Mooo Baa, La La La" to Pax and singing the "La la la" part just the way I did to her when she was a baby.
When I commented on that, she said, "It just came to me that way. I must have remembered it somewhere in my brain!"
This month Collin records his last Tome episode and Kayla records Peter Rabbit. Other than that, we will be home most of the time and that is going to be so nice.
Kayla is preparing for the regional spelling bee and will be testing for her purple belt in karate this month as well.
Some candids:
I love this picture, in all my disheveled glory. Our housekeeper took this candid and I love it because Pax and I are just hanging in his room having a picnic while I get some things done on the laptop. (Yes there are blankets over his window. We be vampires in this house)
This was taken today at the doc as Pax awaited his 6 month check-up... and shots :(
While we don't have the TV on for Pax yet in his young months, Peter Rabbit came on because our DVR was taping it and he tuned RIGHT in so I had to take a picture. He really focused on Lily... wonder why?
After practicing crawling and holding books and all the other important baby skills, Pax and I usually end up rolling around on the floor together. :)
I could take this picture every day, as Collin is kissing that baby about as often as I do!
How cold I not grab this shot!? Pax loves Grandmas face... and nose!
Pax is waking only once a night to eat but is otherwise in his crib from 6-6ish. Mom loves this!
He is the happiest baby I could ever hope for and has given me many new laugh lines which surprise me every time I look in the mirror- lol, yet I wouldn't trade in a million years.
Pax is adored by his brother and sister and kicks his little legs, squealing and laughing every time they arrive home from school. He adores them right back.
The first few months were SO VERY hard with this little guy but he is pure joy now (well- most of the time!) and the best decision we've ever made.
Tim and I have discovered that not only do we get to experience babyhood again (in all it's joys and hardships) but we get to revisit Kayla and Collin's infancies.
As we pull out books and recall songs we used to sing, the kids are often heard exclaiming, "I remember that! I know the words to that!"
Moments come flooding back to them that perhaps might have been lost had we not had this chance to revisit them.
One of my favorite moments was hearing Kayla read "Mooo Baa, La La La" to Pax and singing the "La la la" part just the way I did to her when she was a baby.
When I commented on that, she said, "It just came to me that way. I must have remembered it somewhere in my brain!"
This month Collin records his last Tome episode and Kayla records Peter Rabbit. Other than that, we will be home most of the time and that is going to be so nice.
Kayla is preparing for the regional spelling bee and will be testing for her purple belt in karate this month as well.
Some candids:
I love this picture, in all my disheveled glory. Our housekeeper took this candid and I love it because Pax and I are just hanging in his room having a picnic while I get some things done on the laptop. (Yes there are blankets over his window. We be vampires in this house)
This was taken today at the doc as Pax awaited his 6 month check-up... and shots :(
While we don't have the TV on for Pax yet in his young months, Peter Rabbit came on because our DVR was taping it and he tuned RIGHT in so I had to take a picture. He really focused on Lily... wonder why?
After practicing crawling and holding books and all the other important baby skills, Pax and I usually end up rolling around on the floor together. :)
I could take this picture every day, as Collin is kissing that baby about as often as I do!
How cold I not grab this shot!? Pax loves Grandmas face... and nose!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Spelling bee and more
I am so very proud of Kayla! This girl goes after it and gets it, whatever the subject or arena of life.
While keeping up on scripts for two shows, excelling in school and working towards a new belt in karate, this girl studied hard and WON her entire school spelling bee!
She is such an avid reader and wonderful speller that we knew she could do it but we certainly did not expect it!
I have such wonderful friends who came, stayed and cried for her at the end! What an amazing evening and I'm so glad that Chasing Papa was there to share in the moment.
The final two!
We went to Postinos for a nice celebration!
In other news, our little Pack-attack (nickname for Pax. Much preferred by Tim who doesn't approve of "Paxy-bear") is sitting up and getting ready to crawl!
He also has two teeth. Wow and this guy is just about to turn 6 months old!
While keeping up on scripts for two shows, excelling in school and working towards a new belt in karate, this girl studied hard and WON her entire school spelling bee!
She is such an avid reader and wonderful speller that we knew she could do it but we certainly did not expect it!
I have such wonderful friends who came, stayed and cried for her at the end! What an amazing evening and I'm so glad that Chasing Papa was there to share in the moment.
The final two!
We went to Postinos for a nice celebration!
In other news, our little Pack-attack (nickname for Pax. Much preferred by Tim who doesn't approve of "Paxy-bear") is sitting up and getting ready to crawl!
He also has two teeth. Wow and this guy is just about to turn 6 months old!
PR for Over the Garden Wall
Collin's show is wrapping up. He has two recordings left. I'm so glad that I got to see his last session with Elijah.
Watching those two talented guys is always such an amazing treat.
Unfortunately I missed the big PR day, however, when Cartoon Network provided hair and makeup and interviewed the boys for a PR package that will be showing in theaters before kids' movies this summer.
The crew filmed some behind the scenes, catching a song that Coll and Elijah sang together and then took several still shots as well. Tim was there and kept me posted with pictures and updates.
While Collin was pretty nervous, I think it all went pretty well. They have some fabulous actors playing parts on this show and I can't wait to share who when we're allowed to.
The producers of the show were so nice to bring in cupcakes for Collin's 9th birthday!
We are so proud of Collin and happy for him to work on such a creative fun show!
Watching those two talented guys is always such an amazing treat.
Unfortunately I missed the big PR day, however, when Cartoon Network provided hair and makeup and interviewed the boys for a PR package that will be showing in theaters before kids' movies this summer.
The crew filmed some behind the scenes, catching a song that Coll and Elijah sang together and then took several still shots as well. Tim was there and kept me posted with pictures and updates.
While Collin was pretty nervous, I think it all went pretty well. They have some fabulous actors playing parts on this show and I can't wait to share who when we're allowed to.
The producers of the show were so nice to bring in cupcakes for Collin's 9th birthday!
We are so proud of Collin and happy for him to work on such a creative fun show!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy New Years
Our New Year's Eve started off with a bang, errr... a bump actually.
While playing a game in the park next door, Kayla, her friend and Collin decided that throwing leaves at a person would put that person out of the game. It would effectively "kill" that person.
In grabbing a handful of leaves, Collin did not realize that he had a rock in his hand as well and chucked it at Kayla.
Kayla came in with a temple wound that bled- a LOT.
I would have my doubts about the whole situation, but Kayla and her sweet friend vouched for Collin 100%. That aside, we focused on getting Kayla's head cleaned up.
She and I kept our long awaited shopping date and headed out. We had a fantastic time but since her cut kept oozing blood we decided to cut our evening short and head home.
Once home, Tim thought it best to clean her wound with iodine.... which he then proceeded to pour in to her right eye (by total accident of course and to his horror)
He flushed the eye immediately and we threw her in to the shower and called poison control after reading online how serious the situation was.
Poison control told us to keep her eye under the shower water for TWENTY minutes and then to hold a wet towel on it for an hour. If after that hour her eye felt gritty or painful she would need to go to the hospital for a treatment.
Poor Tim felt horrible and Kayla was terrified, but in good old Dean-Wharton fashion the whole event quickly became amusing as we joked about Kayla laying in bed,, blind calling out to Tim, "Fatha... fatha..." and feeling his face with her hands.
Sick... but funny.
Kayla ended up being just fine and I gained a whole new respect for our usually irritating dog, Lucy. She cannot stand to see any of the kids hurt and always cuddles them with her poor ears down when they are crying. She would NOT leave Kayla's side.
Then we watched "Rockin New Year's Eve" on TV and our program cut out right as the ball was to drop in NYC. So we missed that celebration and called it a freakin' night.
Our evening turned in to a WONDERFUL New Year's Day, however.
Pax slept 8 hours, ate then back to sleep til 7:00. He took a nap, pooped (which is a rarity for him) and ate his first food (oatmeal cereal) and loved it. He then laid on the floor taking in book after book, especially loving "Rainbow Fish".
We made dozens of cookies, worked out and we're headed out for an afternoon hike.
Happy New Year!!!
While playing a game in the park next door, Kayla, her friend and Collin decided that throwing leaves at a person would put that person out of the game. It would effectively "kill" that person.
In grabbing a handful of leaves, Collin did not realize that he had a rock in his hand as well and chucked it at Kayla.
Kayla came in with a temple wound that bled- a LOT.
I would have my doubts about the whole situation, but Kayla and her sweet friend vouched for Collin 100%. That aside, we focused on getting Kayla's head cleaned up.
She and I kept our long awaited shopping date and headed out. We had a fantastic time but since her cut kept oozing blood we decided to cut our evening short and head home.
Once home, Tim thought it best to clean her wound with iodine.... which he then proceeded to pour in to her right eye (by total accident of course and to his horror)
He flushed the eye immediately and we threw her in to the shower and called poison control after reading online how serious the situation was.
Poison control told us to keep her eye under the shower water for TWENTY minutes and then to hold a wet towel on it for an hour. If after that hour her eye felt gritty or painful she would need to go to the hospital for a treatment.
Poor Tim felt horrible and Kayla was terrified, but in good old Dean-Wharton fashion the whole event quickly became amusing as we joked about Kayla laying in bed,, blind calling out to Tim, "Fatha... fatha..." and feeling his face with her hands.
Sick... but funny.
Kayla ended up being just fine and I gained a whole new respect for our usually irritating dog, Lucy. She cannot stand to see any of the kids hurt and always cuddles them with her poor ears down when they are crying. She would NOT leave Kayla's side.
Then we watched "Rockin New Year's Eve" on TV and our program cut out right as the ball was to drop in NYC. So we missed that celebration and called it a freakin' night.
Our evening turned in to a WONDERFUL New Year's Day, however.
Pax slept 8 hours, ate then back to sleep til 7:00. He took a nap, pooped (which is a rarity for him) and ate his first food (oatmeal cereal) and loved it. He then laid on the floor taking in book after book, especially loving "Rainbow Fish".
We made dozens of cookies, worked out and we're headed out for an afternoon hike.
Happy New Year!!!
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