I'm All Caught Up!!! YEAH!!!

Catching Up

We'll I had typed several post drafts that I typed and saved about a month ago to catch up on here but, when I went to download the photos we discovered our camera was missing. We think it is gone for good but, are hoping that it will turn up when we pack. So, I'll post the messages and, if the camera re-appears, the photos will be added. Here are our yearly holiday photos. It took quite an effort from the photographer to try to get all 3 kids smiling and sitting still at the same time. And. Reagan just wasn't into it at all today. But, we did get a few good ones!

Holiday 2009 Photos

Halloween 2009

Things have been pretty fast paced around here between the new home building process and all our other everyday things, so making three costumes this year was out of the question.
We took the kids for a trip to Wal-art and walked the Halloween isle. Keira saw a costume for a garden gnome and thought he was was Santa (the costume did look like Santa with the beard and red/black plaid outfit). Then, she saw the girl gnome costume next to it and was shrieking with excitement. There was no talking her out of being Mrs. Santa. So, one costume= done.
Devin wanted to be a train, not a train conductor or engineer- just a train. The only costume in stores was for Thomas the Train and there was nothing to it but, a poncho that had a picture of Thomas on it. Not exciting at all. So,I gathered some household items- a diaper box, a shoebox, a Big Gulp cup from 7-11 and some paper plate. And, Mike helped me assemble and paint it. He LOVED it!!!
Reagan was a toughie at first because every costume that we liked wasn't available in her size. So one day Keira had her play clothes out and she dragged out the skunk costume that I made for her two years ago. We tried it on Reagan and it fit perfectly. So, at least all those ours of manual labor to make the costume got two uses in return. The kids had a blast on Halloween. The pony company that hosted Keira's birthday invited us to their Halloween party with pony rides, a petting zoo, and a haystack maze. After playing there,we headed home to trick-or-treat through are neighborhood , where every neighbor loved their costumes so much that they emptied their treat bowls into the kids' buckets. Candy overload in this house!!

The Next Phelps.....

Twice a week during the month of October, Keira and Devin took swim classes at the Australian Swim School. And, all we can say is WOW!!!!! Devin started the month with having to go in with arm water wings and would scream bloody murder if you took them off. Eight 1/2 hours classes later and he is swimming, not just from me to the edge but, jumping in, swimming around with kicks/arms, turning around and swimming back. All of his teachers say that they have never seen a kid with so much natural talent. They said they usually can get kids his age to do the rescue type swim (if they fell in they could kick a short distance to get back to the edge) but,they are amazed that he can kick, float on his back fairly good, and does pop-up breathing where he comes up for air. We're not taking classes in November because we'll be too busy moving and travelling for the holidays. But, I think that when he has some time for a little more practice, I just might be alright with him swimming and me sitting by the edge of the pool watching. We'll see.
Keira has also progressed rapidly. Each level of classes has a test that they must pass before they can advance to the next level where they learn additional techniques and styles. When you pass the test, you get to ring a big cowbell and everyone in the building knows
what it means and everyone stops and claps. You should have seen her when she rang the bell, not knowing what people did, and she saw everyone cheer for her. From that day on, every time they went to class all the teachers heard from Keira and Devin was, "Do I get to ring the bell today?"

The Great Pumpkin

The pumpkin patch opened up today for the season. And, it is our yearly tradition to head right out and find the best one before the patch is picked clear. I think the kids looked at every pumpkin, trying to decide which one they were going to get. The whole idea of a huge garden is foreign to them. We went into the apple orchard which was pretty well picked. Keira and Devin were determined to pick apples, even if it was just one. Keira had just finished Apple Science Week at school. So, the whole time she is telling me how seeds grow up into trees. In the end, we wall got a big pumpkin and the kids each picked a teeny tiny apple. But, obviously, size doesn't matter because they thought that picking their apple was the greatest thing on Earth!

Hola, Puerto Vallarta

We took our yearly Mexico trip to Puerto Vallarta. Mike's parents met us there to spend a relaxing fun week at our timeshare. For seven days, we ate, drank, and lounged at the pool. WONDERFUL! The resort has big long water slides, a lazy river, a kids activity pool, 2 wave pools, and lots of swimming pools (even a little one on our room's balcony). So, we spent a lot of time in the water.Since there isn't to many touristy things to see in or near Puerto Vallarta, it is the place to go when you just want to get away and relax. The food was delicious, so we never went hungry. The weather was humid but, nice and tropical. Keira and Devin did their traditional Mexico activity of pottery painting. Devin got to paint a racecar piggy bank with Grandma. And, Keira painted a doggy piggy bank all by herself. They worked really hard and it kept them entertained for a long time. They turned out great. Keira named her dog Calico and Devin's is just "racecar". I think the kids' favorite part of the trip was just being able to run across the room and knock on Grandma/pas room's door to shower, nap, or play with them.

Reagan's First Haircut (Photos on Missing Camera)

To get us all ready for our Puerto Vallarta trip, I took the kids down for haircuts and decided that Reagan's needed some trimming up. As you can see, she didn't like the idea one bit. Mike was at work, so it was just me. I was trying to talk to Devin and Keira while they got their cuts and, at the same time, hold Reagan for hers while getting a picture. She wouldn't let me put her down for one second to get a picture. So, I did my best. Keira and Devin have always loved getting their haircut, so I was surprised to see her reaction. The haircut is really cute though. So, I guess it is no pain, no gain!

Just Playing Around

Keira and Devin are really into game playing, now. They love Duck, Duck Goose, Hide-n-Seek, and teap parties. Keira play Duck, Duck at school-so she understands the game pretty well. Devin, however, is still learning that each person can't be both the duck and the goose. And, when it is time to run, you have to run around the circle-not around the entire house. So funny! I took this pic while laughing hysterically. We were getting changed for bedtime when the kids decided they wanted to play Hide and Seek. I sat at the table (about 8 feet from the table they're under). I told them to go find a great hiding spot while I closed my eyes and counted. While counting, I heard a lot of commotion and scurrying. So, I thought that they were really getting into the game and finding a great spot. I opened my eyes to this picture. They had run about 8 ft away and slid under the 1.5 ft wide table with their entire body sticking out. In their defense, they did lay there perfectly quiet so that I wouldn't find them! Of course I had to do the obligatory searching of the house, looking high and low for them to make them happy.
Unfortunately, the original photos were on the missing camera but, they did it again recently and I took some pics

The Enchanted Forest

Mike's parents spoiled us by taking us to a beautiful hotel on the grounds of the Oregon Botanical Gardens. Amazing room and unbelievable scenery.

Mike has a photographic memory of his childhood- Not me. He can remember specifics about special events, regular days, and even what he ate at a restaurant 20 years ago. Not me! But, one childhood memory that I have is my parents taking my family to the Enchanted Forest in Salem, OR. I was excited and nostalgic to take the kids there during our OR trip. It was kind of like going back to visit your 1st grade classroom when you're grown up.....it just looks so small and unfamiliar. Turns out, I didn't recognize a single thing there and it was like my first time there ever. Oh well. I still remember that we had great fun there as kids and now I can add that my kids had great fun there too, almost 3 decades later. We went with Grandma.pa O'Leary, Aunt Becky, and Cousins Nat & Everett. The kids loved going on all the rides.
Grandma/pa had taken Mike, the kids, and I to the Chinese Gardens earlier in the day. BEAUTIFUL! So, the kids were worn out by the time we finished our day. Thursday and Friday were spent at Grandma/pa's house on the beach. We tried our skills at sand castle making but, It was evident that we were city people. On Saturday, we all met up with Mark/Becky and family and a park in Portland for some splash time in the fountains and a picnic. All of the kids loved the splashpad and it was hard to get them out of there to head to the airport to come home.
We had a great trip and loved spending time with all our family making wonderful memories.

On the Road Again

So, I was pleasantly surprised to sign on here today and see that I'm only a little over 2 months behind on posts...I'm digging myself out!

The last week of July, I took the kids up to Reno for my dad's cancer surgery. Mike had to work, so it was me with the kids. I swear that my dad is a cat with 9 lives. First, he beats late-stage prostate cancer and then 7 years later he beats ureter cancer. We stayed up there for almost a week to help out and to be there for him. Then my sister, Heather, and I drove from Reno to Portland to meet up with Mike for our beach vacation to visit his family. Heather needed to get up there for a a job interview (which she got and is now living and working in Portland) and she wanted some help driving. The only way that I'd agree to drive to Portland, with 3 kids, was if we could stop in Grants Pass to visit all the O'Leary family. Reagan got to meet her 99 year old Great Grandma, her Great Aunt, and Mike's cousin + son(2nd cousin? I forget.). The kids had a blast playing with everyone and is was wonderful to see all the family. We stopped for the night there and then headed to Portland the next day to meet Grandma/pa O'Leary, Aunt Becky and cousins Everett & Natalie, and Mike at the zoo.

We're Moving On Up!!

So, back in February we decided to start looking for a house with more space. With 3 kids and only a 3 room house with only one living area, we are busting at the seams. Yes, we are still planning to move out of Vegas and still have our land up in Reno. But, since the market dove and Mike gets a lot of extra perks at work over the next couple of years, it just made more sense to delay our plans a little. We figured that Mike could take advantage of all the perks at work and let the market have some time to come around before we pack up and start over in a new town where Mike would have to find a new job and he only wants to work part-time when we move out of Vegas. Also, wit ha bigger house, Mike could work from home here. And, hopefully, by the time we move out of Vegas, Medco will let you live anywhere and work from home. So we he wouldn't have to find a new job - another bonus of staying here a little longer. So, we started house hunting. We didn't find any great deals. All the cheap buys were houses that were fully stripped. no exaggeration- one house was missing every doorknob, every heating vent cover, every bathtub, and every sink and there was no kitchen. Where the kitchen use to be, was a bunch of holes in the tiles where you could see where the cabinets and island use to be and every tile on the wall was gone=nothing. So, we started looking at resales a few weeks ago, now that the price decline in the Vegas market is starting to flatten. We found the same thing-homes that needed a lot of work. For the same money with lots of incentives since the builders are have to compete, we found a brand new home that we love! It is 3,900 sq feet with 6 bedrooms, 4 baths,a loft and an office. The best part is that the property is right next to a HUGE park. So, all we see from our back windows is green, trees, the city, and the mountains and the view can never be blocked because of the park. now, we're busy picking out all the things we want in it. Things like granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances are already included, so it has a lot of upgrades already. Construction starts on 7/20 and it takes about 4 months. so, we should be in by early December, IF all goes as planned. And, I will, once again, live in Las Vegas (no more Henderson address).

Rub-a-dub-dub, Three O'Learys in a Tub

Not much to say here, just thought the kids were playing so well together and looked so cute in the bathtub that I had to get some pics.

, Reagan "Playing House", Literally

Reagan loves to play with the dollhouse, smacking the furniture on the floors and playing with the dolls. Today she got "more into it". She kept climbing into the second shelf and lying down. She almost fell asleep in there. She laughs so hard. Devin, of course, saw that mommy was amused by this so, he started doing it too.

Lilah's Farewell at Barnum & Bailey Circus

Keira and Devin's best friend, Lilah, moved with her family to Australia. Keira and Devin understand that she'll be far, far away and you'll need an airplane to see her. Keira, I think, understands. But, Devin keeps asking to go have lunch with Lilah, whenever we are near her house.
The day before Lilah left, we took the kids and Lilah to the Barnum and Bailey Circus and then out for ice cream. The kids loved the circus. Every time that an elephant came out, they would squeal. There were elephants, zebras, horses, tigers, dogs-and, at least, 8 of each. They loved the animal parts but, really didn't understand the trapeze part because the talent/skill necessary to do things like walk on a rope were a little over their heads (no pun intended). They loved it!! It was very hard to say goodbye to Lilah and her family because they have become our closest friends. We'll definitely be making a trip to Australia at some point.

The Road Trip of '09

Having felt like we mastered travelling with the three after surviving Disney, we decided to bring it up a notch. We took the kids on a 9 day trip to Seqouia & Yosemite parks, Sacramento, and Reno. We "camped" one night in Yosemite. This is my idea of camping. The framed tent has cots, electricity, a campfire, tables, a food locker, and a dresser. All we had to bring was our sleeping bags and smores ingredients. We were right up against the river. Having camped very little in my life (Girl Scouts), I didn't really plan too well. I brought all the ingredients for smores from Vegas and knew they had a pit/campfire. When it was smore making time, I realized I had no matches, charcoil or wood, and no sticks to make them with. Luckily for us, our neighbors had kids and Keira nad Devin quickly made friends with them. They invited us over to use their pit, skewers, chairs,and the works. SCORE!! The kids really enjoyed the campoin part and being right next to the water where all the ducks, birds , and squireels were. After Yosemite, we went to Sacramento to visit with Aunt Nette and her family. My sis was nice enough (or crazy enough?) to volunteer and then demand that we live the kids with her for a night and go off by ourselves for a night and day in Napa. No one needs to ask us twice!! We enjoyed30 wonderful hours of all wine and no whining Bliss!1! After satying with her, we wnet to Reno to visit Grandma/pa Parkyn and Aunts Pam/Heather for a couple of days. Grandma and Cousin Brooke came with us to the old gold mining twn of Virgina City where Devin got to ride a real steam engine train. I think we had to remind him to breathe! Keira and Brooke enjoyed dressing up in old time dresses and having a photo taken. So cute!!!

Playing House

We decided that Reagan didn't need any toys for her birthday but, I found this playhouse for a great price on Craigslist and I figured everyone could play with it. It turns out that this is the favorite toy for all of them, at least for now. I put it right outside our back doors. So, now they can play in it while I am cooking or folding laundry and I can see them the whole time. They never liked to play in the backyard until we got this. Keira is really into playing house where she is the mommy and Devin is either or husband or baby (depends on the day or her mood, I guess). They take things from their play kitchen and dollhouse and bring them into the playhouse. We've played for hours in it. I "pull up" to the window and place my order for them to cook for me.They have their cars out there,too, so it is a whole reality toy for them. Keira also tries to get Reagan to be her mom and as the baby she wants her mom to change her clothes for her but, as you can see and probably guess...Reagan doesn't quite get it yet! I'm just happy that I finally bought a toy that they like!

Reagan is One Year Old!

My little baby is a year old! AAHH!!! It is going by too fast!!! She is now 20.6lbs and 29.25 inches. For over a month now, she has been cruising the furniture but, was never brave enough to let go. Last week, she took her first steps and then she has only tried to walk one more time since then. She has quite the personality now-always smiling and laughing. It is interesting to see the 3 kids different personalities. Keira is the socialite, Devin is the shy charmer, and Reagan is the easy going one. They are each so different. For her birthday,m we had Aunt Cynder, the very soon to be Uncle Tom, the cousins, Grandma/pa O'Leary and their 2 friends over for dinner and cake. Mike thought the piece of cake was way too big for her but, then she amazed us all by eating every last crumb. At first, she just took the smallest taste of frosting, then a little cake crumb, and then she was diving in and getting in while the getting was good since we rarely have sweets in our house and this was her first dose of the drug! She had a great birthday and first year and has come so far! My babies are growing up! STOP!!!