The King Crew

The Day Before Delivery

2010-08-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

If you can remember all the way back to February 23... that was my day before delivery! And since I had to be at the hospital by 5:30am, we took pictures of my HUGENESS the day before. So here are the shots that you have all just been waiting for - to see how LARGE I GOT! (Warning: It is best that you don't view this on a wide screen... for obvious reasons!)

Cameron & Carolyn were so excited for the arrival of "the three brothers"!
My mom came up to be present at the delivery and to help with Carolyn & Cameron!

This picture is for my Aunt Judy... who joked with me my whole pregnancy about being able to fit through doors! Just barely, thank goodness I don't walk sideways! :)

This pic brings it home!

2010-01-23T18:55:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I thought I better get the swings dusted off and into the house to wash them... and when I set them up - it made it all very real! (2 of the swings are from Cam & Car and the 3rd one is from a kind friend around here who has 20 month triplets --- these are the only 3 matching items I have of anything... should make for some good pictures!) Anyways, I am thinking of just moving the couches out of the family room seeing as pretty much we'll be baby central again! (The changing table has once again assumed its position on the first floor in the kitchen!)

Brett was at work so I sent a picture (Brett took this photo... that is why Cir is home and in it!) of "5 kids", and he agreed, it makes it all a bit more real!

So I am 29 weeks along and have gained 29 pounds - 7 of which were in the last 2 weeks! All 3 babies are in the 2 lb range and one is tipping into the 3 lb range. Full term for trips is 32 weeks... so funny story:

All 4 (7) of us were at the grocery store yesterday and a friend of ours saw us and asked how I was feeling and how soon I'm due. I said "in about 3 weeks" and Brett's face looks a little surprised and he says, "Naw, are you sure?" And I say, "yep, count the weeks!" We all had a good laugh! In Brett's defense though, my doctors want me to get to 34 weeks and so far there is every indication that I'll make it to that! Again, I am just feeling so blessed that I'm not on bedrest! Life is Good!

Our Little Preschool

2010-01-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

Me and some friends of mine started a preschool co-op with our five kids. We meet 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and take turns teaching. All 3 of the other moms are really great teachers and it is fun to see how far all the kids have progressed since September.

This picture was taken and "enhanced" by one of the other moms who happens to be terribly creative and artistic. I love it! Car & Cam are on the red and blue chairs.

Ever buy something that you later can't find at home?

2010-01-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

About 2 months ago I bought some sausage (keilbasa type) and had it in the fridge... and twice went to get it to make some jumbalaya and couldn't find it. I chalked it up to the "pregnancy brain" and just thought that maybe I thought I bought it but really hadn't.

Well, I was laying in our front room on the loveseat the other day (my favorite place... it perfectly rests my ginormous belly) and thought "this cushion is sticking out kinda" and so I reached back and felt something strange. And when I pulled it out, I finally realized I wasn't losing my mind! It was the sausage, perfectly stashed under & between the cushions... and guess who the culprit was... Annie!

She still knows how to open the fridge door and apparently was up to her old tricks in stashing things. (The loveseat is her favorite place for bones!) The kids thought it was pretty funny too!

Fishing in the Fall

2010-01-08T10:31:00.001-08:00

Some good friends of ours here in Paso gave Carolyn & Cameron fishing poles (the real deal - no pun intended) for their 3rd birthdays! They would cast in the backyard and "fish"off the balcony catching dum-dum suckers once in a while. And they would cross lines A LOT and tangle their lines A LOT! So after a year of practice we were able to take them fishing. (Brett was conveniently at work :)) This is Larry helping Carolyn take her first fish off. Look at her hands!

Cameron and Carolyn caught about 6 or 7 fish each and they started catching them as soon as they got their worms in the water! It was a great day! This is Cameron's last fish, his 2nd bass and biggest fish of the day! (I got to help reel it in with him!)

On the first bass Cameron caught, Larry had told him he needed to kiss it. That almost made Cameron not want to go fishing! So Larry kissed it! (And you wonder why Brett was at work!) Cameron was pretty glad he wasn't doing the kissing!

This is Carolyn's first fish! A bluegill! She started off fishing with Kathy, Larry's wife, (who has an amazing cast for someone who says they don't like to fish!) but when Cameron caught a fish with Larry right away, Carolyn decided that Kathy wasn't good enough so she planted herself in Larry's lap and never moved!

This was Cameron's first fish! Larry had to do all the "taking off of the fish" and releasing them... but I did put the nightcrawlers on the hook! (But I would only use the ones that Larry had already ripped in half!)

-October 30, 2009

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

2010-01-05T21:22:00.001-08:00

For those of you who don't know yet, the triplets I am carrying are all 3 boys! And at one of my last doctor visits they were all 3 head to head (that's what the picture above is!). When the doctor saw this he said, "Look, a meeting of the minds". "Yes", I said and laughed... and thought in my mind - it looks more like 3 conspiring little boys already!

I had another doctors appointment today (one every week) and here are my stats:

I am in my 26th week... (and still not on bedrest.... amazing! and feeling very blessed!)
I have gained 22 lbs. (need to gain some more...)
I am officially the size of a full term singleton pregnancy - with 8 more weeks to go! (Can you say "stretch marks!")

Like I said above, I am feeling really blessed! Brett is really helpful with Carolyn & Cameron as well as all the other household duties. He is quick to step in when I say "I need to lay down", and I feel like I am able to rest when needed! Life is good!

Special Bond

2009-12-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

I should have taken a picture but I didn't want to wake them. Last night when I went in to check on Carolyn and Cameron they weren't in their beds. They were laying on the floor between the beds with their own covers curled up right next to each other. I hope they always stay this close!

So you want to Raise a Boy

2009-12-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

I got a new book for Christmas called, "So you want to Raise a Boy" by W. Cleon Skousen. I started off from the very beginning and read for a while (I like to read cover to cover and not skip around) but this is the kind of book you skip around! I went straight to the "4 year old" to gain some insight into my little boy who is becoming already a little man! (More of that in a moment). The passage I liked best explaining the 4 year old is "for the moment he has more speed than direction". So true, so true... and this has given much cause for prayerful parenting!

Now for my little man. He has always been protective of me, his mother, but I have seen it increase during my pregnancy. Here are some of the things that make him my little man!

1. He gets the door and holds it open for Carolyn and I at church. (Brett drives seperately at a different time.)

2. When there is frost on my windshield and I am up on my new van trying to reach it around a huge belly, he says, "Mom, you shouldn't have to do this, Dad should. Go get him and have him do it".

3. When Brett is away at work, Cameron tells me that "he is stonger than me right now because I have the babies and he will take care of me and Carolyn while Daddy is gone." And then he procedes to do a lot of things for us!

Visit with Santa at Hearst Castle

2009-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Each year the employees are able to bring 3 guests (not sure what we'll do next year!) up to the Castle to see Santa Claus. This is our 3rd year and it is something that the kids really look forward to doing! The Castle is all decorated for Christmas and this year it was really foggy up on the hill - kind of a neat but eerie feeling.

Bab(ies) Bump

2009-10-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Some of you have been curious to see the size I've become. This picture was taken on Oct 11 at 14 weeks. By the next Sunday I had 3 people tell me I looked like I've doubled in size! (Like I said, I feel like the size of a bus!) I haven't really doubled in size but I do think that I am bigger by the end of each night - gravity I suppose!

I've got just 2 more pounds to gain to reach my "pre-pregnancy" weight. That darn morning sickness really took my appetite away and well, let's just say thank goodness for reserves! So I am on quite the doctors orders... eat ANYTHING - gain some fat and NO EXERCISE! Ok, so I have to admit that at my last OB appointment I tried my darndest to talk my doctor into a little lippo suction while she's in there during my C-section. Needless to say I was rejected and even laughed at! But I am telling you that some of the food I've had is not going to look so good on me after I deliver!

At this point we know that one of the babies is positively a boy. Baby B. I am feeling a lot of fluttering and movement and it is just days from feeling them externally - Cameron & Carolyn can hardly wait! One of my specialists (I have 3 doctors) thinks they are all 3 boys! Yikes! My other specialist (in the same office) only would confirm Baby B (who seems to always be telling us he's a boy!) I think Baby A is a boy and I am hoping Baby C is a girl (I know, I know, this is all quite confusing - you should see what the ultrasounds look like!)

Not only am I hoping for a girl for me but especially for Carolyn who is not too keen on the idea of having all brothers... her response to my "what if all 3 are boys?" "Well Mom, you can just have some more babies!" (Not going to happen... hence my desire for a girl!)

4 Years Old

2009-10-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Carolyn and Cameron turned 4 on September 26. We celebrated with Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Molly (who made these awesome cakes, with Pat), Aunt Raena, Hadley, Vincent, Lauren, & Gentry. They each picked a cake they wanted Aunt Molly to make - these were quite a hit!

They had their annual doctors appointment today and here are their stats:
Carolyn weighs 35.5 lbs.
height 41.25 inches

Cameron wighs 35.6 lbs.
height 41.75 inches

They got a polio shot today and were very brave. And have since told me how much they don't like shots! (I agree!)

On the Contrary!

2009-10-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok... so contrary to all the emails I've been getting from friends and family... I have not been horseback riding this entire time! (Thanks for the good laughs... you know who you are!)

I stopped riding horses the end of June to start doing something even bigger and better! (Bigger is the "operative" word here)! I've been growing not one, not two, but three little babies in me and well, I used to think Star the horse was as big as a bus... but I might pass her by before too long!

Yep, pregnant with triplets due April 9th (my 40 weeks --- just going to try to make it to March 15th - my 36 week point!). I am about 13.5 weeks along and I am finally seeing some relief from some pretty major morning sickness (first experience with it, hasn't been so fun!)

I promise I will try to be better at this blogging stuff! I have our summer camping trip and the kids 4th birthday to put on here... and I'll keep you all posted on this next batch of kids (because apparently that is how Heavenly Father blesses our family -- in multiples!) and I know there is a lot of excitement on what possibly the sexes could be!

Horseback Riding

2009-06-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

Back in March my friend Tationa invited our family out to their farm and see all the new spring babies! We also got one of her three horses out so the kids could ride. Well, I got a turn too! And then I said something like, "I could get used to this!" and Tationa said, "I could use the help working the horses"... and so my riding began!

I get to ride once a week (I could do more but I can't spare the time - I wish though!) and this is "Star". She is 6 years old and is as wide as a bus! She is very gentle and extremely patient with me as I learn... sometimes she pretends she doesn't know what I mean.... but I've been riding for 2 months now and she actually comes to greet me! I am enjoying building a raport with her and learning how to ride a horse!

Chili Cookoff

2009-05-25T23:01:00.001-07:00

Our ward had our annual chili cookoff and I made my White Chili recipe from my Aunt Janet. We all got dressed in our western gear (we all had black cowboy boots on... Car's are not quite cowboy boots - but we made do - she's outgrown her pink ones!) I took 3rd place overall - and won a recipe book!

They had a parrot show and it was really entertaining! The kids loved it and were very interested in the birds!

Carolyn loves to wear her cowgirl hat!

No excuses!

2009-05-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I am not trying to make excuses for not blogging for almost 2 months(!) - but I can't always get on the computer anymore!

One of our favorite things - Baking!

2009-05-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite activities is baking/cooking. Cam & Car are really helpful in the kitchen... as you can see, Cameron is helping himself! We made little butterscotch birds nests with eggs - jelly beans.

I love this shot of Cam's hand around my face. He sits on my lap and holds my face in his hands a lot! He is very sweet and "hands-on". On a daily basis Cameron asks me, "Mom, what can you do for me?" and "Mom, what can you get for me" and "Can I have a surprise?"

Carolyn was able to get more jelly beans on the cookies than in her belly! At Christmas time I bought all 3 of us matching aprons and we wear them on all our cooking endeavors!

Playdate at the Park

2009-04-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine got a group together at the park the other day and she brought her camera too! I love this shot of Cameron in the swing... and then I noticed me and Carolyn - she looks so cute between my legs! Thanks Sarah for the neat shot!

Forts

2009-03-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

We've been building forts around here lately (using the card table) and we've gotten more elaborate with the "tubes" (which serve as the entrance to our 'igloo'). As you can see, Annie enjoys it just as much as the kids!

A Little Treat

2009-03-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday night was a Primary Inservice meeting from 7-8pm. Afterwards we had a chocolate fountain for refreshments... I stayed until 9pm! (Gonna have to join a gym for sure now!) Ok, so really I was talking with friends more than eating.

When I got home, Cameron was still up (took a 2 hour nap during the afternoon) and he was so happy to have strawberries!!! (He asks a lot to go to the Farmer's Market to get strawberries - they are his favorite!) Brett and Cam finished the little plate of goodies that I brought home and now Cam asks me once in a while if I have to go to a primary meeting again! "Remember, you brought me a surprise from your meeting? Can you go to a primary meeting again so I can have a surprise?"

Hide and Seek

2009-03-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hide and Seek is one of Car & Cam's favorite games to play. They finally really get it and hide out of sight now - (most of the time)! I came home the other day to find them playing with their babysitter "Callie". I can't believe where they are hiding... Callie is like 6 feet tall! Ah, to be young again!

We have two Kali/Callie's in our lives... Aunt Kali (3000 miles away in PA) and Callie, the kid's absolute favorite sitter! (We also have a few Kelly's in our lives and it is funny to see that they make the distinction between the names!)

Horse Cutting

2009-03-12T13:22:00.001-07:00

All week long here at the Paso Robles Event Center (the Mid-State Fairgrounds) is a Horse Cutting competition. So I took the kids down for a couple of hours to watch it. I don't know anything about horse cutting and though it is quiet, slow and methodical -- it is very fun to watch them work.

The rider wearing red is starting the "cutting" process by going right down the middle and eventually getting just one bull out and alone from the heard. Then the rider keeps the bull seperated by cutting back and forth, heading off the bull. He does it a couple of times in his 2.5 minutes.

The horses are just amazing to watch - they are so quick and obedient. The horse and rider work seamlessly. There are 4 other assisting riders that keep the herd together, etc.

It is still cold here in Paso, about 35 degrees... you could see the horses breath and ours too! It warmed up a little but all 3 of our noses started to run sitting in the arena!

Here they had just changed out all the cattle and a cowboy had just rode over to talk to Cameron! Cam is watching him trot away in the picture. (Of course I missed a great photo op!)

Except for the unbearably hot summers - I love living here in Paso Robles! We have so many neat things in the area and I love the ruralness! Brett is anxious to return to Orange County someday.... but I'm in no hurry!!!

Some of the words we hear!

2009-03-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

I love to watch in amazement at how smart little kids are and how they put words and thoughts together. Both my kids have some of the same words they use:

two-ones = another one "Please can I have two-ones?"
the left = what is left in the bottom of a cup of juice, bowl of cereal, etc "Mommy, can you get me the left?"
yester-later = a version of yesterday "Do you remember we went to Disneyland yester-later" (And of course, yesterday means - yesterday, last week, last year, etc)

Things Carolyn says:
Gush = Hush "Annie, gush!" (Annie is our dog and when she barks, we say 'Annie, hush')
Pliglit = Piglit (from Winnie the Pooh)
Blelax = Relax "Annie, blelax" (What we tell Annie when she see's another dog and starts to get excited---relax now applies to me too when Carolyn wants me to hold still to do my hair, look in my ears like a doctor, etc)
Kerrilyn = Carolyn How she says her name (Cameron says "Carolyn")

Things Cameron says:
Mommy, what can you do for me? = Mommy, what can you do for me? (heard about 40 times a day on average! :)
Mommy, can I have a surprise? = Mommy, can I have a surprise? (surprise is a sweet... any sweet!)
sport = fort (we build forts out of blankets and tables and he asks me to correct his word sport "Mommy what's a sport?" so I can answer "a fort"
Sfeety = sweety "Don't cry sfeety, I'll protect you" (what he calls Carolyn on rare occassions that I just love to hear!) -I've only heard him say it about 12 times, and I love it!

Well, there are tons more and I wish I was keeping a better journal of all of this! It goes by so fast and I am just really in the middle of it enjoying it all!

Rainy Day Activities

2009-02-24T22:48:00.000-08:00

We've been getting a lot of much needed rain and so we have had a lot of "rainy day activities" but I think this has been the best so far! A good friend of ours (thanks Warren - and Aubrey & Clayton!) gave us this bounce house a couple of months ago. We've had it in the garage and the kids know exactly what it is. Well, as I was setting out to get my hair done (a yearly event) I tell Brett, "Hey, here is our camping tarp, why don't you set the little bounce house up in the garage - I am sure there is plenty of room". (I was obviously thinking it was the smaller type!) And I came home to this! (Granted, my garage could be cleaner... but I am getting ready for a garage sale!)

Needless to say they had so much fun! Brett took these pictures and when I got home, it was only Cameron left bouncing... Carolyn was fast asleep in my rocking chair! Good exercise!

We are expecting rain on Thursday! :)

Tour of California Bicycle Race

2009-02-20T20:08:00.001-08:00

Yesterday the Tour of California Amgen Bicycle Race came through Paso and it was an awesome sight to see and we were so happy to have gotten to be a part of it! The kids were home with a babysitter and we had a two hour break! (They would have gotten bored with waiting for the bikers to come - and I've since shown them these pictures and they call it a parade.)

The whole Spring Street (our main street) was lined and packed down at the finish line. It was amazing to see these guys coming. They had ridden 120 miles and passed us in their last sprint at 42 miles an hour! They were here and gone so fast you could feel the whhooosssshhhhh as they went by! Exhilerating!

Like I said, they went by so fast!!! And they were so close you could almost reach out and touch them!

We didn't get to see Lance Armstrong (well, technically I did - I just don't know which rider he was!) but we know he was there!

Ga-brellas

2009-02-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

It has been raining here a lot (we are very happy about that!) and the kids have enjoyed a couple of jaunts in the rain with their "gabrellas"! And sometimes Carolyn calls it a "bralella". It is fun to hear the cute words they say!

At Thanksgiving time in our Parent & Me class, they made "turkey hands" by painting their palm and printing it on a piece of paper - making it look like a turkey. Cameron had no problem having his palm painted and really liked it. Carolyn, (who for a long time didn't like getting her hand stamped) on the other hand, I knew wouldn't like it... so I called them "turkey hands" and tried to make it fun. So then a few days later while driving, Carolyn saw the white hand in the cross walk and started yelling... "look, there's a turkey hand!" They still point them out!

Valentines Party

2009-02-19T21:11:00.000-08:00

We had a Valentine Party with Cam & Car's friends. We had 16 little kids here... sounds like a lot but it sure didn't feel like it! We decorated cookies, made water globes, laminated placemats, & made valentines for some ladies at our church.

The Real Deal

2009-02-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

I am the primary children's music chorister at Church on Sunday and I just taught the kids the song "Feliz Cumpleanos". For those of you unfamiliar with the song, it has 6 different nationalities in it saying "Happy Birthday". I had several people dress up as the different countries and Carolyn was our Norweigen. Her dress is authentic from Austria. Aunt Molly bought it years ago when my niece Karinne was Car's age and Molly took a trip to Europe.

Cameron was our Korean because I had the little "china doll" outfits I used for Halloween a few years ago. It barely fit, but it worked and most importantly he felt just as involved as Carolyn was. (There is a lot of healthy competition at our house!) I don't have a picture of that - but it was cute!

"Good News From Wisconsin"

2009-02-09T20:49:00.000-08:00

Brett forwarded this in an email to me today and I laughed so hard! This is a shout out to all my family and friends from and in the midwest! Stay warm!

Got some good news from Wisconsin today!

Winter is almost over; we can see the deer wandering around now.

So I caught the 'Twilight' Bug

2009-02-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

For over a year my friends have been telling me to read the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer, so I finally borrowed one and read it. I couldn't put it down and now I have just read the first 3 books (of 4) in the last 5 days! And they are between 500 and 600 pages each! (Brett can't believe I've been reading this much!)

So now I'm dying (Ha, no pun intended!) to get my hands on the last one! I plan to have it in my hands by the end of today!!!

(Oh, and I can't wait to see the movie for the first time when it comes out on DVD on March 21st! I'm thinking of pre-ordering... does that make me crazy?)

Laptops

2009-01-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

Carolyn & Cameron got their own laptops so they can "go to work". Aunt Molly gave them to them for Christmas and they loved playing with them at the hotel . I love these photos!

Christopher Columbus' Nina

2009-01-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

(I thought I would try a little photo collage - I think if you click on it, it will get bigger. I don't know what I am doing so let me know if you like it.)

In November 2008 Brett took us to Morro Bay to see a replica of Christopher Columbus' Nina. It was built in the same manner (has no nails and uses the tar pitch and stuff) as the original. They said it was the smallest of the 3 ships (can you name the other two?) and it was Columbus' favorite. I personally found it very small and cannot imagine crossing the ocean on it! What true pioneers these historical people were!

The rock in the background is Morro Rock. Cameron & Carolyn loved climbing around on the ship. They were very curious about the people down below. (Some of the crew was down below and once in a while you could see or hear them.)

As we were leaving we saw a bunch of crabs and starfish in the ocean right by the "no fishing" sign. We like to see the crabs in the water because we have a joke in the family. When someone starts crabbing - we ask them if they want to go to the ocean and join all the other crabs!

*Also, notice in the pictures who seems to be "climbing up" on everything? For the first time he put a little chair by my island and climbed up yesterday. Carolyn would never have done it on her own, but of course seeing her brother... just that Cam has the upper body strength and Car doesn't. It is probably good exercise and all... but I am still not allowing it! I did look into gymnastics classes though!

Nutcracker Ballet

2009-01-17T20:53:00.001-08:00

One night in December at 6pm just as we were sitting down to dinner... there was a knock at the door. Our neighbor had 4 tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet and his whole family was sick so he hoped we could use them. Did I mention it was for that night at 7:30! I was a little reluctant to take them and asked if he for sure couldn't come up with someone else - but all the while calculating that if we eat now, finish at 6:20, start to get dressed divided by two, we'd have to leave by 6:55... ya la la ya la... we might be able to make it! And I am up for a challenge whenever it involves exposing my kids to good stuff! (By the way the "get dressed divided by two" means that I technically only have to dress one kid because Brett is there to do the other - it just makes me feel like I have less work, that's all!)

So off we went (with a little prodding for Brett) and the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! They were so excited and it kept their attention the whole time. At intermission, Brett took Carolyn out for refreshments but Cameron didn't want to miss it so he wouldn't go. When they came back and found out she had a cookie... he was in a quandry as he would like a cookie, but didn't want to miss it! He did go out but only had 2 bites and insisted on coming back in!

The play went until 10:20pm. Carolyn finally gave out at 10:10pm - after sitting for most of it on the edge of her seat in anticipation! Cameron was able to stay up for the whole thing and actually started crying as the dancers came out at the end to take their bows (how he knew it was the end I don't know!). He said over and over, "I don't want to leave", "I don't want it over". When it was all over, he even got to meet the lead girl... but he was too sad... so we headed out to the car. Poor Cameron cried the whole way home that he didn't want it to be over and he did NOT want to leave.

I am glad they had such a great time! And they still talk about it often!

"Winter Heat Wave"

2009-01-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

So I like to say that we get 3 seasons here in Paso Robles. We get the beautiful spring where the hills look like Ireland (well, what I would think Ireland looks like since I don't have first hand experience - hint for Brett). We get the summer where we are in the high 90's and mid 100's (still not used to it, much rather prefer the beach weather - Brett doesn't need a hint here... the summers kill my beach boy!) And in the fall, the leaves change colors and actually fall off the trees (unlike southern california). And our winter is usually 50's-60's in the day and 20's-30's in the nights. We wrap our pipes and actually had them freeze two winters ago! (My Grandma laughed and said I should know better how to keep them from freezing... to which I replied "but this is California, it shouldn't freeze"! Ha ha! She gave me some good advice and we haven't had a frozen pipe since!

So, ok, on to my story. I was on the phone with my cousin on Friday. She lives in Illinois (this has to do with the story!) We were talking and talking and I hear her dog "Tanner" (now some of you know who it was!) barking and barking, so my cousin says can you hold on a minute. Then I hear her laughing and she comes back on the phone and says Tanner has to go out but the door is frozen shut! Then she tells me about how the kids haven't had school the last two days because it has been too cold. (She said one morning is what -16)!

Boy, my blood has really thinned because I don't think I could handle that kind of temperature. I think my fillings would freeze and give me frost-bite on my tonge! So poor Tanner, the kids even tried the door! Last I knew Amy was putting a space heater on the door to try and warm it loose!

Oh, and all this while I am sitting in my house during a "winter heat wave" with the windows open to actually warm the house to 71 degrees! Sometimes I really miss the midwest and want to move back... but I don't know if I could do it (and especially not my beach boy!)

New Years Resolutions

2009-01-14T21:40:00.000-08:00

So I'm not big on making new year resolution lists... but maybe I ought to be! I will try harder to write on this blog as I know how much I love to read all of yours!

I have some good pictures of some fun things we've done... I'll add that to my list - be better at downloading pictures!

My heater just kicked on!

2008-12-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this post is more for my family in the midwest to laugh at, but my heater just kicked on at 9:45am Dec 3rd!

I set it during a "cold spell" in late October for 65 dgrees. The way my heater works is it has to be 63 dgrees for it to kick on and bring it to 65. For a few days I've awoken to 64 degrees in the morning... thinking we are getting close. Oh, and when kids start climbing into bed with you because "they're cold" is a good indicator too!

So I guess winter has officially set-in here at Paso... though it was 72 in the house just Sunday!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T17:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all! We stayed home this year and I cooked for our little family. We had turkey (just did a turkey breast), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, scalloped potatoes, corn, rolls, apple crisp and pumpkin pie!

Cameron tried a little of everything and liked most of it! Carolyn, our usual "good eater" is turning into an "I don't like that" before I try it kind of 3 year old! :) They just have very different motivations. Cameron is souly motivated by dessert! Carolyn likes a sweet here and there, but not enough to try cranberry sauce! But when either of them find something they like... they'll usually have 3 helpings of it - especially Car!

While I cooked dinner this morning (we ate at 1pm) Brett took the kids to a friend/church member's house out in the country where there was a friendly game of mud football going on. I heard it was very muddy! The kids even got some sugar cookies from our friends who live next farm over (Brett and the kids were out looking at the cows and needed to go "potty" - the kids, not Brett!).

Then later in the day, we took a drive in the country. It has been raining the last couple of days so it was pretty to see the fresh country. Now back home for left-overs and pajamas... and then bed! Cameron is excited that Thanksgiving is over because "next is Christmas". They are the right age to "get it" this year. I am just as excited!

Brotherly Love

2008-11-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

So I came downstairs after working and find Brett and Cameron in the living room, so I say to Cameron, "where's Carolyn"? He says "she sleeping" and runs me into the family room to this pile of blankets and pillows. He then procedes to tenderly pull the covers up on her - even further over her face and tells me "shhhh".

So I ask Brett if he's seen Carolyn sleeping and he says, "yes, I covered her"... to which I replied, "with all this"? We both smiled at what a sweet boy we have. Cameron spared no expense by covering/placing the arm chair covers, wooden pumpkins & pears, and her drink cup all around her!

School Pictures

2008-11-18T22:14:00.000-08:00

Carolyn and Cameron attend a "Mommy and Me" class through a local unified school district. They go once a week for 2 1/2 hours with Mommy or Daddy and it is technically a parent education course. They love to go and paint, do crafts, etc. These are their school photos, taken exactly a week after they turned 3 years old.

Carolyn usually smiles with her teeth, but was so shy on this day. I like the closed mouth shot, she is as sweet as she looks in the picture. And Cameron was sooooo shy too... he never gave up one of his "light up the room" smiles, but it is cute to see the shyness in the photo!

Happy Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

This is another one of my favorite holidays... Veteran's Day. Where we can thank and honor all our service men and women. So I thought it fitting to put a picture of Brett's Dad, Reiford, of when he was in the Navy. The kids are getting a kick out of seeing "Daddy's Daddy" - because they've never had the priveledge of knowing him.

Today I took the kids to our local cemetery for a Veteran's Day Ceremony. It was beautifully decorated with flags and uniformed men and women. It started off with a fly-by by our local Estrella Warbird Museum - some WWI & II airplanes - and then a very nice ceremony. We only made through 45 minutes of it... better luck next year!

Mickey & Minnie for Halloween

2008-11-11T16:55:00.000-08:00

Carolyn & Cameron were Minnie & Mickey for Halloween this year. We had a "twins club" party, a carnival at our "Mommy & Me" class, and then we went our church's Halloween party. (Not all in the same day!) We had a great time getting dressed 3 times!

Aunt Kali made the costumes! She had them finished and mailed by mid-October... enough time for me to finish the hemming (nothing compared to all the work she did!) But we did laugh, she made Mickey's pant's waist as small as possible... and I still had to take it in about 3 inches! (Wish I had Cameron's waist!) Thanks Kali for making a great holiday!

27 cents

2008-11-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

I made 27 cents today doing laundry! The most I ever made was $52.00 and it happened near the beginning of our marriage. Needless to say I never scored that big again, but I did get $27 and $16 at other times! I've gotten smaller change here and there... and any of my own doesn't count!

Thanks Brett, I'll try not to spend it all in one place... what does a postcard stamp even cost these days?!

Last Watermelon of the Year

2008-11-05T20:11:00.001-08:00

We got our last watermelon for the season from the town's farmers market. We sure ate a lot of melon this summer!

Sleeping

2008-11-05T19:45:00.000-08:00

So once the babes have gone to sleep, we never know quite how or where we might find them. Some people have asked me if I separate them sleeping... I did for their naps (notice I used the past tense), but always had them in the same room at night (at 6 months... and Carolyn kicking Cam in the head was when we moved them from the same crib to separate cribs). But even when they napped in separate rooms they "chirped" to each other. (Chirp in my book is defined as "a high pitched sound produced for the purpose of 'echo' locating and communication". Carolyn still does it!

Occasionally we might find them in each other's bed, but on this night they were together. One time when Car was having a difficult time going to sleep... and much crying, the crying abruptly stopped and I was curious... after I thought it was safe to investigate, I found Cameron in her bed with her, both asleep, and he had his arm around her. They are best friends and I love them so much!

But this picture pretty much sums up "the womb"! I knew Cameron was a boy inside me because he poked me with his elbows all the time... just like someone else I know (Brett!) This is exactly how Brett sleeps... the hands behind the head and the elbows out. Oh, the elbows.

Tonight when I put the kids to bed, I was getting them "roasty toasty" in their covers and I moved Carolyn's legs, turning her away from facing Cameron's bed. She immediately flipped back and said, "Mom, I need to lay this way so I can see Cameron". Did I mention how much I love being their mom!

Pioneer Day Parade

2008-11-05T19:26:00.001-08:00

Saturday, October 11th was Pioneer Day in Paso Robles. It is an exciting event here in our town and they have a parade (2 hours!) and a free bean feed at the end. It originated 77 years ago and the bean feed is a tradition. We enjoyed it so much last year that we invited my parents up this year.

We got some good seats and were right up to the street. We brought our blankets (it was chilly!) and our flags. This is my little cowgirl and cowboy!

Cameron absolutely loved the parade and waved at everyone and everything for the whole 2 hours. He was so excited to wear his cowboy boots and hat!

I told Grandma to come dressed in her cowgirl outfit... but she said she "forgot it at home".

Grandpa, however, did bring his western attire and fit right in... though he "forgot his hat at home"... and he really did!

Cameron and Carolyn were just so excited to have Grandma & Grandpa visit. They loved having them there and knowing that they were staying in the guest room. We are glad they came up to visit us too.

At the Lake

2008-10-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we went to the lake (Lake Nacimiento) with the Richards family and rode sea doos. Cameron and Carolyn each went out with Daddy for a little ride. Neither liked it at first, but got over it quickly. Carolyn went out twice and had a great time with Daddy while Mommy was on the other one!

They spent most of the day throwing rocks into the lake... and you can see there were tons to throw! We have a rule that you can only throw rocks in Rivers, Lakes, and Oceans... so they had a lot of rock throwing couped up in them! :) It was a beautiful day and we spent it with great friends... it can't get any better than that!

Annie's Bone

2008-10-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

So the other day when Brett went to work with Cir, I gave Annie a brand new rawhide bone. She carried it around all day and hid it places like the kid's toy box, under a pillow, in the corner. The kids would sometimes find it and throw it to her. She never chewed it, just carried it around.

Well, then Cir came home... and soon there was none. Actually he was finishing the last part of it late one evening and Annie looked so sad, so Brett gave her a brand new one. She immediately took it upstairs. She was gone a few minutes and then came back down without the bone.

I found it a little while later when I went to tuck the kids in one last time before going to bed. She placed it right next to Cameron in his bed! I guess she thought it was safe there... safe from Cir! The next morning I told Car & Cam about it and they thought Annie was so silly!

Cooking

2008-10-16T20:29:00.001-07:00

I love to cook or bake something fun on Sunday afternoon with the kids. Carolyn likes to come, make a mess, eat something, and leave. Cameron loves to hang out the whole time and help! When they see me put my apron on... the run to get theirs! It is a fun tradition and they often help during the week preparing dinner.

This was us making butterscotch birds nests. We put the "potty training" jelly beans on the chow mein noodles and they turned out very cute. I remember these from when I was young and had been wanting to make them... I finally had all the ingredients (a whole 3!)... we eat a lot of nuts around here!

Last Sunday we made monkey bread -- oh, so fun! Rolling the dough in sugar, Cameron was so good and clean. Carolyn, well, I already said she likes to make messes... needless to say she didn't get to help a lot! (Actually, she was on to playing with something else.)

Aviation Day in Paso

2008-10-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago our town had it's annual Aviation Day at the airport. The kids really enjoyed it and there were lots of planes to see. Cameron wanted a ride in one in the worst way! Maybe next year! There were little remote control airplanes that could do incredible stunts.. one of the planes cost $20,000! Now that's a hobby!

The CHP was there with their helicopter and the kids enjoyed it all!

Cam & Car turn "3"!

2008-10-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it - they're 3! Time sure flies! We had a birthday party for the kids on Saturday, September 27 (the day after their birthday)... and we had a bounce house. They've been asking to have a bounce house for about 8 months now!

We had so many friends over and had an orange cake and blue cupcakes! It was a very warm day and there were a lot of little red/flushed faces running around! Grandma and Aunt Molly came up to visit. Grandpa was in Chicago giving a speach about the history of a cemetery that O'Hare airport and the City of Chicago are trying to take/move.

Kite Flying

2008-09-17T15:14:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we went to the beach and I bought the kids both a kite to fly, but there wasn't any wind. When we got home it was breezy enough to get it up a couple of times. Cameron really wanted to fly the kite and he did a couple of times. Carolyn helped get it when it fell and we all managed to get tangled in it a few times! I am sure will get some more kite flying in as it will start to get windier in the evenings as we go into the Fall!

Primary Olympics

2008-09-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

Today the kids participated in the Primary Olympics and they had a great time! It was nice that the Nursery kids were invited and Cam & Car fit right in with all the older kids who do a good job looking out for the younger kids! The first event was a steed race... Cameron was hilarious... he would stop every bit and knock the horse into each pole as he passed it... not quite sure what he was doing, but he was very serious about the race. Carolyn got the job done!

I thought this was a great shot of the kids playing the ball/volleyball. It was so hot today (over 100) so we were lathered in sunscreen and hats. Cameron wears his so low, it's a wonder he can see anything.

Carolyn is a little under the weather (she has my cold... sorry, Car) and she was content to hang out with me most the time. Cameron on the other hand... he is all about the sports. He ran the 50 yard dash about 6 times... and that was after a few times with his "steed"! He was having so much fun and trying his hardest to run, it was so fun to watch him! Boy do I love these little kids!!!

Here are all the Gold Winners! They were happy to be eating Otter Pops!

Story of the Tabernacle

2008-09-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

So this summer while we were in Utah we went to Temple Square. I was hoping to get a peek into the Tabernacle so I tried one of the many doors. Carolyn tried too but it was locked. So she proceded to knock on the next, say like 7 doors... and one opened! We were able to come into the "crying room" and see through the glass the empty Tabernacle. The Sister Missionaries told us that in 20 minutes there would be an organ recitle.

We decided that 20 minutes was soon enough so we took some seats and looked around in amazement. We also wondered if two - two year olds could sit for a half hour recitle. Just as it began, our nephew called to say that he and his family were at Temple Square... so after the first incredible song they allow people to leave. Much to Cam & Car's dismay we started leaving. They take you out through the crying room and Cam just kept calling "the music, the music". So I told Brett to go on ahead of me and I'll stay there with him.

So we sat in the crying room for the next song and it wasn't nearly as good... you couldn't "feel" the music and it wasn't nearly as loud. Cam kept saying, "I can't see the lady, I can't see the lady." So I tried the door back to the Tabernacle. It was locked. So we sat barely hearing the music but Cameron wouldn't leave. Then after the 2nd song the door opened and when a few people came out, I asked the kind Missionary if we could come back in. With a smile, she agreed. (She has no idea how much she made Cameron's day!)

We took our seat and Cameron proceeded to listen to the rest of the recitle, enjoying every minute of it. The best song was at the end when it was so loud it reverberated in our chest, seat & floor. Cameron LOVED it! After the recitle, he insisted on meeting "the lady". So down we went and he shook her hand and said thank you.

Cameron has such a love for music and I am happy for him! Both he and Carolyn say their favorite instrument is drums (no bias there...) but some days it is piano. I was sad find out Carolyn was so sad she missed the recitle!

Kittens, kittens, kittens

2008-09-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

Does it look like these kids are having fun!? How about the kittens! One of the women I visit for church knew I was bringing the kids over so she had them all ready to go in the house for us to "play with"! She also kept telling me to take 1 or 2 home (they have 12 kittens on their farm!) but as I told her, it couldn't be just one - it'd have to be 2... and I don't know if they'd last all the "lovin' " they would get. (Besides the fact that our 2 big dogs might want to eat them!)

So we just played tons and scared the kittens for a while then left. The next time we went over to her house, the kids kept asking for kittens... they are now outside and can get away... but my friend had another plan and we picked apricots! We have so much fun up here in the country!!!

Swimming at the Castle

2008-09-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

Brett took us swimming in the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle. The water was suprisingly warm, though it helped to jump in... get out... get back in and feel the warmth! It is deep except for the little area that I hung around in with the kids, it is past my waist.

We had a great time and every once in a while the kids will ask to go again! Maybe next year!

The beach

2008-08-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

This summer we all went to Newport Beach and spent time with our friends at their beach house. We had a great time and the kids still talk about it.

This is one of my favorite pictures. It was later in the day and the kids were finished swimming and pretty content to watch Daddy boogy-board. That is Brett on the right coming in!

My little "petunnias"!

2008-08-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

These are my 2 "little petunnias" and we have so much together. They are very kind (usually) to each other and like to play together. Brett took this picture on our first night at the fair (more pics to follow!) and it was just before we left... we were all a little tired!

Cattle Drive

2008-07-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

So last week I took the kids to watch our local "Cattle Drive" that kicked off the Mid-State Fair! They loved it! First I took them by the staging area where everyone was getting ready and the steer were "caged"... in the GMC truck lot, no less! I watched a young steer look at itself in the tailgate of one of the trucks, then got spooked and "bumbed" it with his horn. Only in Paso!

We met up with some of our friends and watched the drive... we were in no real danger as there were more horses than steer... and they were pretty well kept together! Carolyn loved the stage coach that carried the princesses!

I guess this is my way of making up to my kids that we don't live on a farm/ranch... though Cir could pass as a small horse at times!

Daddy's Kids

2008-07-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great trip to Utah in June and here are two of my favorite photos. This is Cameron and me at the This is the Place Monument park which depicts the arrival of the Pioneers at the Salt Lake valley on July 24th, 1847. It was a gorgeous day and the monument is set up in foothills coming out of the canyon the pioneers traveled upon entering the valley.

Carolyn is definitely Daddy's girl. Here we are at my brother Marty's condo complex. The common areas are beautiful with several streams running throughout the property. The kids had a great time feeding the ducks.

Some of our summer fun!

2008-07-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Boy, tons of stuff has been happening and we've been having a great summer and have been going, going, going!

Here's some of the things we've been up to!

A King Family party, with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins!

A quick visit to Grandma, who is going through chemo... YOU ROCK MOM!

One of my new favorite pictures, Carolyn with her Aunt Kali & with Grandma in the background. During our quick visit to Grandma's, we got to see Aunt Kali & Devor who were there from PA helping out Grandma.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today has been a great day! This is one of my favorite holidays! This morning the kids and I went to a flag raising ceremony at our stake center, followed by a pancake breakfast. Cameron came running into my room this morning with his American flag and announced it was time to go "hear the trumpet" at the flag ceremony! It was time indeed... we had to hurry!

Well, there wasn't a trumpet, but there was a snare drum! And the man in charge of the closing song asked Cameron to come up and wave his flag (that he brought with him!) and help lead the music. Carolyn joined them up there on the knoll just under the flag pole. --- And, of course, in all my haste, I left my camera (which is usually in my purse) at home!!! :(

Then we left the stake center and were heading home, I called Brett (who was working because I made him take an OT shift) and told him what a great time we were having and he suggested going to the Templeton 4th of July Parade! (Small town Templeton of maybe 3,000 population - felt like what I grew up with!) So, we went there too and got a great seat in the shade and had an awesome time! The best for the kids was probably towards the end of the parade, a man in a red corvette threw them a bag of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans!!!! They were in heaven.... you see, we are potty training and if "you go pee pee potty you get a jelly bean"! They got a whole handful without even having to go potty!!!

And, we have swings in our big Oak tree out front. We got them put in last night and enjoyed a great evening last night and a whole afternoon today. Our neighbors came over and sat under the tree too while the kids were swinging and we ate watermelon I had cut-up and chilled. Could this day be any better?! (Well, I am really wishing Brett had been around for this all -- feeling pretty guilty!)

Happy Independence Day! Thanks to all those whose served, are serving, and plan to serve for our great country and for my freedom!!!

26 years ago today

2008-07-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

26 years ago today I was baptized! I always remember the date and have good memories of it!

Mr. Mom

2008-07-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Brett was Mr. Mom for a few days while I went to help take care of my mom who is battling breast cancer. It was good to see her and help her. It was good to get home to my own family too. I received a new calling while I was away, Primary Chorister, so I was able to get some "goodies" at all the stores that So Cal has to offer! I will miss Nursery and being with Cameron & Carolyn... but they are ready to have me gone - well, they might not know it yet, but they are!

Thanks Brett for pulling a 4-dayer and keeping the house intact! I'm a lucky gal!

Zoos

2008-06-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

One of our families' favorite thing to do at home is sit in "Mommy's rocking chair" and watch all the pictures come up randomly on our computer screen. It seems that we do it a few times during the day and usually just before bed. The kids even know that when the pictures are over, if you wiggle the mouse 20 more minutes of pictures will come up. Hence the need for "when the pictures are over it is time to go to bed".

Anyways, this picture popped up for the first time that I had seen it and I had forgotten about it! We don't have many pictures of all 4 of us... and of those... usually at least one person is not looking (and it is not the parents!) This was taken at a zoo in Oregon at a wildlife park. Cameron & Carolyn love animals and love seeing wildlife... we do too- we live with wildlife!

An Easter Hug

2008-06-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

Cameron & Carolyn had a great time hunting for Easter eggs this past April. We are trying to teach them to continue bonding as brother and sister so they will be friends and supportive of each other throughout thier lives and into adulthood. They are off to a good start.

Bows and Arrows

2008-06-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

On our Utah trip last week... our nephew Jake let us try out his bow and arrow that he made himself. Brett went first....he hit the ground in front of the target (the burlap sack) and buried the arrow in the grass.

Betsy went second...

And of course...

she nailed it.

So now Brett had to go again to show he could hit the target just like Betsy.

Oops! I guess Jacob will have to fix that new hole in that white vinyl fence. Sorry Jake.

Recipe for Steph

2008-06-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite meals and I usually make it in bulk and freeze a few dinners. My niece Stephanie (I know, crazy, my niece is only 5 years younger than me! :)) asked for this recipe because she is expecting her first baby (yea!) and wants to be prepared with a few meals.

I even made this last year in a dutch oven when we were camping in the Sequoia's! I had the meat pre-cooked and lined the dutch oven with tinfoil (I am all about EASY clean-up!) and cooked rice on the side. Yum, yum. Enjoy!

Tortilla Layer Bake

Ingredients:
1 lb. 93% lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 can black beans - undrained
1 can Mexicorn - undrained
1 package taco seasoning
5 flour tortillas (soft taco size)
1 can red enchilada sauce
1 cup shredded cheese (I use colby-jack every time)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 F Brown the beef over medium heat, draining any excess fat. When the beef is brown, reduce the heat to low and add the seasoning packet. Mix the meat and seasoning well. Add the black beans and the Mexicorn. Mix well. Pour some enchilada sauce into the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish. Place one flour tortilla on top of the enchilada sauce. Layer with some of the beef combination, a bit of cheese, and then drizzle additional enchilada sauce on top of the meat. Place another tortilla in the pan. Continue layering each tortilla with meat, cheese, and enchilada sauce until the last tortilla is placed on top. On the last tortilla, do not add any meat. Simply drizzle with enchilada sauce and cover with the remaining shredded cheese. Place casserole into the oven and bake 12-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 7-10 minutes and then serve. Serve over rice.

Smoothies

2008-06-19T16:23:00.002-07:00

So when it is 104 degrees out and you don't feel like cooking dinner... what do you eat?! My friend had a great idea and we did it too - smoothies!!! (Last night it was 94 degrees still at 7:30pm - welcome to summers in Paso Robles!) I put some frozen berries, banana, yogurt, milk, and the last three chunks of pineapple from the 20 oz. can my kids had for a snack - they drank all the juice too - in a blender and it was awesome! With a piece of sour dough toast with butter... we were in business!

The little cups with lids from the restaurants came in handy! I'll have to invest in more straws as this is going to be a long hot summer! :)

Finally did it!

2008-06-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

So I've been saying I was going to start a blog for some time now -- and I finally did it! Thanks to Sarah & Kristin who keep encouraging me and thanks to "Finding Nemo" that I actually have hands free to do it! (Well, except for the time of the barracudas & the "spaghetti" - which is that thing in the way deep that has a cute glowy thing from it's head! - At those points in the movie, Carolyn needs me to hold her hand! - I don't mind!)

My kids and I LOVE to look at everyones blogs and listen to music and see pictures! I hope to reciprocate!