Love Life

So the verdict for little Carson is Mono! Isn't that "the kissing disease"???? Hmmmm, i've got some questions for him! We are into week 2 of house arrest, so you'd think all my projects are done,my house was spotless and everything is uber organized. Nope, just three sickies laying around putting off all the need to be done tasks for just one more day....With the exception of some organizing before the bug came to visit me!

As I was looking through some pics on my computer tonight I came across these that were never posted. For now, I'm living vicariously through our old pictures, but in another day or two we will be back in business and out painting the town all sorts of colors!
Why do we live in California where the real estate is still insanely high despite the recession? Because these were taken in January. Enough Said!

And these were pictures when we went to eat at Ruby's on the pier with my family. So I guess that means having so much family close by that we get to see them all we want and wear out our welcome on a weekly basis is also why we live here!

I'm just a little bit obsessed with these two right now! I think you love them a little extra when they are sick!

Yuck

I have a whole slew of tardy posts waiting to be published, yes, i've been quite the slacker, but instead I think i'll focus on the here and now of our week because it has been a dang long one....especially today! Somehow venting about it makes it just a little better. Call it a girl thing:)

Apparently the two months of winter that my kids are sick every year wasn't quite complete. Not only was it not complete those viruses and germs as well as all they're relatives & friends have come back with a vengeance. I try to wash our hands frequently, and I am totally eligible for a wipe nazi/hand sanitizer award, especially the ones for the grocery store carts, but somewhere on my kids back is a neon sign flashing "get me sick." They must in the process of building insanely strong immune systems for their adulthood :)

I usually avoid going to the doctors until I feel it's really necessary. After Carson's cough persisted over 5 days, accompanied by a fever a couple days, REALLY goopy, swollen and red eyes, and tonsils bigger than an 80 yr. old man I decided it was time to take him in. I do realize that it would be bordering child abuse not to take a little guy in with such symptoms, but let me assure you that these symptoms have not all been there the whole time, but slowly building for the grand finale.

(Not one of Carson's finer moments in life, but really this pics sums up just how he feels)

Then there's sweet little Brynlee who woke up with her fair share of goopy eyes and cold and cough to top it off. So why not take them both in for a double wammy.

Well after spending 3 1/2 hrs. at the doctors, pharmacies and labs, the results are in: double ear infection with one "bulging" ear for Brynlee and pink eye for both. Oh joy! That's not the best part though. They have yet to determine why Carson's tonsils are so swollen and pussy (excuse the verbage, not the best word, but really only the way to describe it.) So we waited in the darn lab to test for mono with a bunch of older folks for an HOUR while my two super sick kids whimpered and cuddled on my lap because all they wanted to do was sleep. Then I had to hold my 4 yr. old while his blood was drawn. Let's just say, there were more than a few tears shed and it wasn't by him. He was super tough.

I've officially reached my breaking point. Matt's busy tax season is crazy enough by itself, we see him rarely, but after being stuck at home for three days, then dealing with lab techs who were so not friendly, did me in. So now my tough little 4 yr. old is in bed for the night with tonsils just as swollen as when he woke up. Breaks my heart!!!

On a bright note I have saved quite a bit of money this week not making my weekly target runs, and I even feel a little better after my vent session. So thanks for listening...or not, I still feel better!

A Day Of Love

My cousin Ashley got married last week and it was a heavenly day! She looked seriously gorgeous, the ceremony, luncheon, and Reception were beautiful, but most importantly it was a full day with no kids!!! (Listen carefully and you can hear the angels singing, which they so often do when such an occasion arises.) Oh I how I love those little goobers, but I just might love them a little more after a full day without them. It was just what the doctor ordered. Especially in the heart of tax season for Matt, the break was great for both of us.

All endowed members of my family were home for the first time in awhile, so we woke up at 4:45 to get to L.A temple in time to do a session before the ceremony. My mom was busy chatting, but she was there to:)

Ashley and her new hubby are going to be such a cute little family. Apparently i'm about 10 years older than I thought I was since my cute younger cousins are actually of marrying age. Dang!

I always love love love to see my cousins on the Anderson side. We don't get together enough and SO need to!

Serious thanks to Grandma Karen & Grandpa Floyd who made our kidless day possible and kept them happy from sun up to sun down. We just don't know what we would do without her! Love you Both!

A Rainy Ride

The other day I sat down to lunch with Carson and said, "Hey Cars, have you had a pretty good day so far?"
"Yes. Ummmm, actually I mean no, because it wasn't a day with Dad. A good day is a day with Dad."
Are you kidding me??? That is among the most cute things he has ever said. And why wouldn't a day with dad be good? He's seems to have at least 20 times the energy I do and has new make believe game ideas popping out of his ears. Carson lives for their occasional friday "work days" but even more so, their saturday "adventures." The most recent, a rainy bike ride to my parents was really quite the site.

It started out just cold and gloomy, so we bundled up our happy man! He was ready to go with some books to read and snacks packed for him and dad. Except somehow no snacks were left for dad when they reached their destination :)
It wasn't long before the rains came tumbling down. Brynlee and I got in the car and it we caught up to them at town center hiding under the clock for cover.
Eventually they carried on, and kept pushing even when it started hailing!!!! Crazy Boys!

Meanwhile Brynlee and I enjoyed our heated car ride and acted like the paparazzi chasing them down. Brynlee was giddy everytime she spotted them. Which is good since she was seriously bummed she couldn't go!

Tornado Warning

A couple weeks ago I wrote in Brynlee's birthday post "Brynlee is not your stereotypical two year old," I stand corrected. No tantrums -yet (B-I-G knock on wood.) But that girl is a walking tornado. This isn't really anything new, maybe my mind was fuzzy when I wrote that, or maybe I was just thinking that the no tantrums part didn't make her a two year old. I think that it's the fact that she is just SO dang cute that I get momentary amnesia of her tornado habits when I think of her. Fortunately- or not- she reminds me daily of her semi-destructive behavior. A couple days ago just might have been her record.

***#1. The day started with her standing on the kitchen chair backwards and trying to rock it. This is frequent occurence and no matter how many warnings of "Brynlee you are going to knock out all your teeth if you fall," she still does it. Well she finally fell. Luckily she just cut her lip and hopefully learned a lesson.

***#2. While I was putting on my make-up I looked down to see Brynlee chewing on a razor with the protective plastic taken off. How she didn't severly cut her lip...I don't know.

***#3. We went over to my parents for 2 minutes and within 20 seconds Brynlee finds the sharpest knife known to mankind and is cruisin around the house with it.

***#4. As I'm getting dinner ready Brynlee reaches a napkin up on the counter, pulls it off and the serving dish that was on top if it comes crashing down, shattering in a gazillion pieces around her. Broken dish count: Brynlee=4 Carson=0.

Keep in mind this only includes her dangerous tornado moments, couch coloring and toy destruction is for the rookies. Miraculously the day ended with just one little cut on her lip.

Brynlee's motto is, "If it's climbable, I will climb. If there is a pool, I will jump in. If there's make-up, skin care, or hair care, I will apply. If there's pens I will color. If there's a button, I will push it over and over again. If it can break, I will do it!"

We sure love our built in work out machine!

A Mickey Celebration

Carson ended up being able to celebrate his birthday in a more exciting fashion on Monday! The whole month he has been asking for a boat cake, so a boat cake it was going to be....almost. Grandma Karen took him to party city to pick out plates and decorations, but they couldn't find any boat themed things. Not to worry, i'm sure he didn't search too long before he saw Mickey and Friends and was immediately convinced that those were the paper goods he needed. So our boat cake quickly turned into Mickey, and we had a fun and chaotic disney celebration.

Do you notice all the cake and ice cream left on the table? Well if not, there was A LOT!!! But Carson and Brynlee lick their plates clean. Always. My kids are seriously ADDICTED to sugar. It's in the genes. I swear! Now I know that all kids love sugar, but my kids take it to a new level. There have been many many times where they are eating dessert amongst other kids, and without fail they are the last two eating making sure to get every last morsel off their plates. I think they really do lick them. It's not that they're slow eaters eithers, other kids just don't finish. If the neighbors open a candy wrapper they will hear it or smell it within seconds. Matt blames me for that gene. And truth be told, i'm probably guilty.
But anyways, happy birthday again Carson...and our farewell to our busy birthday month.

Happy Four

Our Birthday week continues with Carson turning the big 4 today!!!! We LOVE Carson to pieces. Poor little guy spent the morning with the flu, so we had to for-go the special birthday breakfast for a nice dose of Sprite! We also had to postpone the birthday festivities until Monday, so we're just going to pretend that's his actual birthday. We did however decide he was well enough for a little dinner at IHOP. Pancakes are easy on the tummy right? We did our part in keeping his food intake mild....but when our server brought him out an ice cream sunday the size of his head, all rules were out the window. Oh well, you only have one real birthday a year!
We have had the best 4 years, with our talented, thoughtful, inquistive, spunky, and cuddly little man. There's been more questions asked than I can count, lots of the best giggles (he has his dads contagious laugh and I LOVE it), endless energy and so many fun big brother moments! We can't wait for what's to come because it just keeps getting better. The 4's are gonna be a good year!