"You're a Piece of Poo"

You're a piece of poo.

This is a common thing to hear around our house, mostly from Mya and Tyson.  Mostly when somebody does something to them that they don't like.

No, we don't support this kind of language and we have asked repeatedly that it not be said, but for the most part we are losing.  And for the most part I don't really care.

I know it's not nice to call names, especially bathroom names, but the kids are learning to express their feelings and I guess it feels better to them to say, "you're a piece of poo" than, "I don't like what you're doing." 

Since we have been asking that they not say, "bathroom words" anymore they have switched to saying, "you're a piece of pizza."  When I tell them not to call names Ty will say, "I'm not saying a bathroom word, I'm saying a dinner word."  This turns into me telling them it's not nice to call names, no matter what type of words you use, and them not listening to me and me wondering how bad it really is to call a person a piece of pizza.  (And for the record I think I've decided that I don't really mind being called a piece of pizza - most everybody loves pizza)

So, all of that was to say that I'm pretty used to hearing, "you're a piece of poo" or "you're a piece of pizza" from somebody when they are angry or upset with somebody else.  And that leads to yesterday's preschool pick up...

Yesterday when I picked Ty up from school his teacher told me that he had hurt his "A's" feelings  because he said to her, "I don't like you" AFTER she pushed him.  Ty's teacher was really bothered that he said this to "A" and all I could think was, "at least he didn't call her a piece of poo."  So, I asked if he called her a piece of poo...or a piece of pizza and the teacher said "no." And...I'm not going to lie....I was proud!!!  Ty's teacher was not nearly as proud as I was.  I kept thinking, at least he didn't use a bathroom word (or a dinner word) to tell somebody how he was feeling about them. 

After a little thought I told Ty's teacher that we would talk with him and ask him to say "I don't like what you are doing" or "I don't like when you do that" when somebody upsets him.  But, now I am wondering if I really care that he told a little girl, who pushed him, that he doesn't like her.  I don't like her much myself.

***I really wanted to put a picture of a "piece of poo" at the top of this post, but I controlled myself.  Ya'll should be very proud of me!

New York Is Where I'd Rather Stay

Last week I took my first trip to the East Coast.

It was a long overdue trip to Connecticut to visit my friend Brigitte.  She has lived there for seven years and this is the first time I have gone to visit :-(.  (Not that I didn't want to go in the past, but pregnancy, new babies, school and a fear of flying have all kept me in California.)  Brigitte and I hadn't seen each other in over three years - yikes! - and she has a son who is almost two years old that I had never met.  Once I decided that i was goign to go I quickly booked a flight (before I chickened out) and started planning a four day get-a-way. 

Last Thursday I visited the East Coast, got to spend a lot of time visiting and hanging out with Brigitte, met her son, re-met her daughter (who, of course, did not remember me from the last time I saw here when she was barely two years old), spent time at her beautiful house in Connecticut, hung out with her husband Ben, saw two snow storms, visited New York, learned how to dress for super cold weather, watched Brigitte's son and daughter go sledding in their front yard, saw the Statue of Liberty, drank a lot of Starbucks, watched the Lion King on Broadway, went to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, saw Grand Central Station, ate lunch at a Korean restaurant (a real experience), took my first real train ride and had a wonderful four day vacation.

Brigitte and I decided that we need to make these get-a-ways a regular thing (and by that I mean at least once every two years).  Maybe next time we can meet somewhere neither of us has been before...I'm thinking, like, Australia....hahahahahhahah!!!!!!  Brigitte and I had a great time and I think we both agreed that the time away from the kids and the time spend together hanging out and talking is exactly what both of us needed.

And I have to say a HUGE "thank you" to Tony and Ben for taking care of our kids so we could have some "girl time" away.  We couldn't have done it without the two of you!!!!!! 

Brigitte and I at the top of the Empire State Building.  This is the only picture I have of the two of us together from our trip.   (cell phone picture)

Grand Central Station (cell phone picture)

My winter attire - I don't think I've ever worn so many layers in my life.  I don't even own a scarf, gloves or a hat and I NEVER wear my jacket when I'm at home.

I wish I could remember where I took this picture :-).

Our amazing Korean lunch - Too bad we have no idea what we ate.

The Statue of Liberty at sunset.

Time Square (I think)

Central Park during a snow storm.

Change is Good

Do you love my new blog design? 

Me too!!!  It's perfect and it's me!!!

I have wanted a new design for a long time, but I guess now last weekend was the PERFECT time.

If you want to have your blog designed, or redesigned, you should check out The Frilly Coconut. 

Jessica does AMAZING work, she is a peach to work with, she will help you develop a design that is you (even if you don't help her at all, don't know what you want and don't give her anything to work with) and, above all, she is AMAZING...did I already say that?.

So, check out Jessica at The Frilly Coconut - you won't be disappointed.

**Jessica didn't pay me anything to write these words about her - she is way too classy and professional for that!

Winter Break

My winter break (i.e my vacation from school) has consisted of:

• going to Napa with Tony
• going to a 49er game
• reading a book
• taking the kids to Six Flags
• catching up on TV
• relaxing
• taking a group of kids from church to the snow
• enjoying Christmas
• cleaning house
• a lot of jogging
• working
• taking a photography  class
• attending a lot of parties
• and getting a new blog design

What I have left to do during my last week off school:

• Visit my friend in Connecticut
• get a much needed haircut
• See New York for the first time!!!!

I'd say this has been a fun, productive and exciting winter vacation.

Long Time No Post

I don't want to let another month pass without a post, so I'm going to do a quick post right now  :-).

Tony got me a photography lesson for Christmas and it was a perfect gift.  I now know how to actually use my awesome, new camera.  A week or so ago we took the kids out and I practiced my new learned photography skills.  This is what I got....and it only took me a little over 300 pictures to get one of each kid that I'm happy with.  I'm pretty happy with the pictures of all three kids, but they need more editing skills than I possess.  I'm hoping my sister's friends can fix them up for me.

Serious - Mya

Happy - Tyson

Deep in Thought - TJ

Serious - Tyson

Running - TJ

Dare Devil - Mya

I think they were looking at a bug!

I love this picture, but it needs a lot of post-shoot editing :).

This is, by far, my FAVORITE picture - and I don't care that it isn't in focus.

Happy 3rd Birthday Tyson

Happy Birthday Tyson!

Three years ago, late in the evening, you were born and our family was complete.  You were a calm, quiet baby, but you have changed so much since then.  We love your loud, outgoing personality and we wouldn't have you any other way.  Even though you are loud and outgoing you are also snugly and loving.  You like to rock with mommy you when you are tired and you give hugs and slobbery kisses all the time.  I get a huge hug and a kiss every day when I drop you off at school.

You love life and you are almost always happy.  You talk ALL the time, sing loudly, have an amazing vocabulary, defend yourself when necessary and already know how to spell your name.  You laugh a lot and cry when you are hungry, frustrated or tired.  You don't get scared often and you are willing to try new things.  You love roller coasters until you get on them, and then you hate them until the ride is over.  You go down tall slides and jump off beds, chairs, play structures etc.  Last week daddy took you to the Emergency Room because you hurt your foot jumping off our recliner.  We thought you'd stop jumping - you haven't.  I think that was the first of many trips to the Emergency Room you'll be taking.

In September you started preschool and you are, by far, the loudest kid in your class.  You love to sing songs at "circle time" and you are great at doing the hand motions.  You don't sit still when you are supposed to and you often disrupt the class.  You love your teachers and they love you, even though you offer them a bit of a challenge :-).    You ride bikes during outside time and climb up the slide, even though you know you aren't supposed to.  When you are misbehaving you get a mischievous smile on your face that makes it difficult to discipline you.

You have grown a lot over the past year.  You weight 32 pounds, wear a size 3T clothes and size 10 shoes.  You have a head full of curly, brown hair and your eyelashes are long.  A small dimple appears on the right side of your face, just below your lip when you laugh or smile.  You are completely potty trained, even through the night, and for the first time in over six years we are a diaper-free house.  You potty trained yourself in less than a week, but it was on your time schedule, and not ours. 

You recognize all of your letters, can count to 20 and know your colors and shapes.  You will do art at school if you are asked to, but it is not your favorite.  You like to look at books and you love it when mommy and daddy read to you.  You are a creature of habit and do not appreciate change.  You sleep with the same three blankets, stacked the same way each and every night.  Your stuffed animals have to be on your bed, in the exact same place and facing the exact same way or you get upset.   

Your favorite toys are your Thomas trains and you love to line up all of your trains in a super long line and push them around your room.  You love all things Thomas - toys, videos, books, games, puzzles, clothes, pajamas and even silverware.  Your favorite food is "panqueques" (pancakes), but you eat almost anything.  You love Mexican food and we had enchiladas at your birthday party.  You don't drink milk at home, but you love to drink it at school. You're willing to try new foods that daddy cooks, but you'd be happy to eat the same food every day. 

You like playing in the nursery at church, but you are not so fond of Sunday School.  We hope that if you keep going you'll start to like it.  In your defense you've only been going to Sunday School for two weeks, so hopefully it will start getting better soon.  You love praying at the dinner table and before you go to bed.  Sometimes you say silly prayers, sometimes you say serious ones, sometimes you sing when you pray and sometimes you shout.

You are an amazing three year old, little boy and mommy and daddy love you SO much.  We can't wait to watch you grow up and see who you become.

Love,

Mommy

Halloween

Happy Halloween

Love,

Super Girl 

James the Train

 and Gingka

***I have picture of all three kids together, but it won't upload.....maybe later.