Week before Christmas

Madeline had her ballet Christmas performance on Wednesday. This was the same place that I danced at until I was 16 years old and my social life became more important for me! Anyway, she has decided that she doesn't want to do ballet anymore for now and wants to do gymnastics like Ava. She is so good at ballet so I know she'll do well in gymnastics too. I am a bit sad because I wanted her to at least have a full scale recital at the Arts center but I am not going to push her either.

After her performance we went to Chick fil a to celebrate Johnny going up 3 levels in reading! he has been struggling in class to read and we have been hard at work trying to get him doing better. Now he kicks ass in math and science but reading and writing are just not his cup of tea. But he is doing better and we will succeed at it!

After dinner, we went to Christmas Lane which is a house and front yard that are beautifully decorated for Christmas. The owner has bought old displays from malls when the malls upgrade to new decorations so this whole yard is over the top! He even has a train that the kids could ride and they look so forward to going. After, they always get hot chocolate too (even though it is in the 70s!)

The kids are all home these next 2 weeks from school so we will have a lot of time to fill! Of course this week will be crazy busy....tomorrow the kids will ride the firetruck with Santa then have a little party with him (neighborhood thing). Sunday, the girls and I along with my mom, Granny, and aunt are going to have tea at high noon. It will be Ava's first time! She is super excited! Then I think on Tuesday as long as nothing else comes up we might head over to Sea World for the day since John will be off. I'll be sure to add pictures as soon as time allows.

Ian and Ava both had their doctor check ups yesterday...Ian is almost 23 lbs and my little peanut is 29 lbs! I think he is going to pass her very quickly in weight! Ian had his first 2 shots at 6 months old so we did 2 more of the same shots yesterday, nothing new....and look at what happened to his leg today:

His whole thigh is hot and swollen and splotchy. I am thinking that because they did it in a different leg than last time that that is why there is a reaction? Not sure but we are keeping an eye on it. Otherwise he is acting normal and using his leg as usual. I did give him motrin to help with the swelling and good grief I hope it helps with his sleeping. He has been up a LOT lately and my poor body is feeling the sleep deprivation. 2 weeks ago I had strep and HAD to go on antibiotics. This week, tonsillitis. My diet is stellar and I work my butt of at the gym 5 days a week so I AM taking care of myself except for the sleep department where I have zero control....this too shall pass, this too shall pass and one day soon enough he will sleep.

Back from camping

We had a great time, the weather was perfect although a tad windy because we were on the water at a peak. Luckily, the furnace worked perfectly in the camper and we had lots of blankets and hot cocoa(and marsh mellows!) Madeline asked if we could go back again very soon and stay for 10 weeks instead...the girl loves being out in nature! There were 2 great parks to enjoy plus when we left our site, we went down to the beach and did some fishing from the pier. I had made a huge pot of chili that we ate down at the beach and just completely loved being outside.

Our campsite....right on the water

This was the view that we woke up to....it was beautiful.

They loved collecting shells and making forts/castles

"Can someone tell me why I am wearing a pink helmet?!!"

Ian especially loved the playground because he has a certain desire to eat leaves. There were plenty here for him to taste test...you can see he has one in his palm, of course.

Enjoying the breathtaking sunset

A fabulous tree for climbing....and taking pictures of all my boys

Me and my princesses

Squirrel thief...he took it right off our table with the kids all right there! He ate half of it then stowed away the rest up in the palm tree

Heading out

We are going on our maiden voyage in the morning after church...well maiden because we haven't used this RV before although we have used others and have done the tent camping too. But this is our first trip in this one, so maiden voyage!

Will add our pics when we get back!

Oh, and I have strep throat, and so does Johnny, and Madeline is still on antibiotics from last weekend! I never go to the Dr. and did yesterday, the first time in like 3 years. Luckily, because I never take AB they are working very quickly on me! I already feel a tremendous relief over yesterday and the day before.

So many pictures!

These all uploaded in the reverse order they happened but we are just gonna roll with that....I got no time to fix them!

We went to see Santa at the mall right after school Monday...no lines, no crowds, we were the only ones there and my little angels are cooperated very nicely! here are a few pictures I might use for our Christmas card this year:

Then Thanksgiving day at John's parents house. Great day for family and I did restrain myself from eating too many cookies! I actually ended up losing a pound this week even after losing almost 4 lbs last week! That puts me at 30.2 pounds gone forever!

Ian having some sweet potatoes (no added stuff, don't worry) These classified as his second try at solids. He enjoyed them but was not liking them all over his face. Just so you know, I do delay solids, we just started last week at 8 months even slightly earlier than I wanted, I wanted to wait until 10 but he was ready. I also don't buy jar foods, only make my own, and I am not into spoon feeding at all! I let the baby feed themselves whenever and how much they want (just like breastfeeding ;P)

My 31st Birthday was the day before thanksgiving! Happy day to me! we celebrated with shrimp dinner at my parents, yum!

My beautiful girls

Johnny getting ready for his Turkey dance at school

Ian and his PopPop at work

Hanging out in the backyard at sunset :)

Ian first official taste of something other than breastmilk! Of course, banana (I don't like to count those few pieces of dog food he has tried on a couple of occasions recently)

LOVED it!

Ava still can't keep her hands off of him!

Those eyes make my heart melt

Just look at him....he seeks trouble! J/K, I let him play in the pots and pans

who is at fault?

Diluted Formula Nearly Kills Baby

I really don't know whether to feel sorry for the woman or be pissed off at her because I think she knew, she knew. She knew and she got caught. Luckily, many in the Bay area have come forward to donate cans of formula for her. Thank God for that baby.

So, who is at fault here? Is it the hospitals who have tried to reduce their education on formula because they are trying to increase their education of breastfeeding? Is it the pediatrician who should have seen this baby at least 4 times since he was born and seen that the child only weighed 8 lbs at 5 months old? Is it the child's father/grandmother/daycare worker who should have seen how the baby was being fed? Or the mother who most likely knew how to read the directions on the formula or at least heard how to make it from WIC?

I will give props to my local paper for putting this right at the headlines:

FEEDING TIPS
•Breast-feeding is the preferred source of liquid nutrition for children in their first year. However, millions of babies use powdered or premixed formulas. Cow's milk is not recommended until age 1, as infant kidneys are unable to process it.

So, because she is claiming stupid, is she free to go on about her business and take her 2 kids home with her to live? This is almost murder/neglect!! I'm sorry but I don't get it!

Just another thing that sucks big balls about this economy....it is making mothers take shortcuts at the risk of killing their babies. So ladies/pregnant mamas/future pregnant mamas, BREASTFEED your babies! Give, give, give, give it all you got....it is so worth it....and it's FREE! God gave you those boobies for something and it is not as a sex symbol, it is to FEED YOUR BABIES!

Check it out

I am so behind on updating and I promise I will get to it later. BUT for right now you must check out my new button on my sidebar and click it....it is for 3 awesome causes and you must read about it to see how awesome of a prize you could win! Check it out and I'll be back later to add all our pictures over the last week :)

Bippidy Boppity Boutique

I love Disney more than just about anything besides my family. We go ALL THE TIME! Nice to live so close by and get great discounts! Anyways, I have breeded that love into my children and now they ask me at least once a week when we are going back. The best I can do in these tough economic times is take them to Downtown Disney where they still enjoy all the sites, stores, and restaurants. Disney is just so magical and it gets into your blood I think!

Last year madeline went to Bippidy Boppity Boutique where they dress you up with hair, make up, nails etc to be a princess. They give you quite the royal treatment too. Anyways Madeline went there to celebrate her friend's birthday and talked non stop about it since. Ava has been wanting to do it too but you have to be three. SO, what do you think she got for her birthday? A whole day as a princess!

The grand entrance to the most decked out princess store EVER!

"Before" photo

Madeline getting her hair brushed. The poor "Fairy Godmother" had to have cringed when she saw how long Madeline's hair was!

Ava almost ready. She sat perfectly still for the whole thing!

Since it was her birthday, Ava got a special call from the real Fairy Godmother who also sang her Happy Birthday over the phone....Ava was just in awe


My 2 princesses after....they were the hottest stuff on this coast! You could just see the pride in themselves as they walked through Disney, how everyone looked at them and made comments....I hope they remember this day because I always will

John made Ava's cake and she LOVED it! He did a great job, thanks!