Kylee and Tia

This summer has been super fun. I love summer!! After returning from my vacation to Arizona, I took my mom's advice and decided to not enter Kylee in swim lessons again until probably the fall. That way I can schedule it during the day and hopefully have a teacher who Kylee will listen to, and that will tell Kylee that she is a big girl and can do these things. As a result of this decision and noticing how much of a difference swimming everyday in AZ made, I decided we would try to go swimming everyday, or pretty close. This has been wonderful! Not only have we had fun, but both my girls are growing in their water abilities.

Tonight we went to the rec center to swim. It is the first time in a long time that we have been there. WOWZERS that place is crowded! I was really worried that both my girls wouldn't have much fun because their were so many people, but I was wrong. Kylee had a blast. She started out kind of normal, which is following Tia around and doing the slides. Then she got going. She started floating her legs behind her. Then doing her swimming which is floating her legs and then lifting one arm out of the water at a time. Then she did her diving. Which is when she splashes into the water and drives to dive. Then she was just playing around and I was keep tabs on Tia and she says "Look, Mom." I look over and she holds her breath, floats her legs, and sticks her WHOLE head in the water. I was shocked, happily shocked, but still shocked. Then she showed me how she could kiss the bottom, and how she could lift up her arms and stick her face in still. This is AMAZING people!! This girl has not done this of her own free will and choice ever. I am so proud of the big steps she is making. Here is a little video what she was doing. Sorry for all the noise and that it isn't very clear.

Tia has been loving summer as well, but her update is of a different note. I took Tia to the doctors last Wednesday for her 18 month check-up. Everything was great, except the doctor (and me) were concerned that she doesn't talk yet. By doesn't talk, that is what I mean. She doesn't really jabber, she is super quiet, and doesn't say any real words except for every random once in awhile when you think you hear one, but its rare. The doctor said that wasn't normal, so we needed to get her speech and hearing tested. Well today we had the speech test. I was wondering what they would do for a speech test for someone who is 18M and doesn't talk. However, it was very interesting. They tested for object recognition, listened for her to make any noises, sounds, anything, had her point to things, or copy us, and things like that. Tia and Kylee quite enjoyed the test. We walked out and Kylee said "She didn't even do anything to Tia." Anyway, she does have a delay in speech and in recognition. She doesn't seem to associate words with the object. For example, when asked to had mommy the spoon, she would just pick up anything and had it to me. So, we have been recommended to meet with a speech pathologist and get some help. You can tell that Tia wants to communicate, but for some reason just can't do it. We have a few things to work on, but the early intervention people probably wont call us for about a week, so it will be a bit before we start with them.

In any case, I think both my children are taking very positive steps in conquering their unique challenges. I love that my girls are so different and special. Each one possesses unique qualities and gifts and luckily for me they actually compliment each other very well. I am so proud of these two. They are so awesome.

Arizona Land of My Home

I love going home. It is so nice to get away from the city, change up our day-to-day routine, and spend some good quality time with family. The girls and I left for our vacation to Bryce (Pima) Arizona on the 13th. We left for the airport at 7:30 in the morning. That is a little early for us to get everyone up, dressed, hair done, and fed. So, I gave them a banana before we left and then pack some bagels and snacks for later. Gaupo drove us and it was so nice to have great weather while traveling. I wasn't all wacked out by the time we got to the airport. Summer travel is so much better than winter! We got to the airport and got checked in. Gaupo got a gate pass so that he could come through security with me and then we went and stood in the security line. It was pretty long but luckily moved pretty quickly. When we get up to the security people who check your ID's and stuff we found out that the agent had typed Hason on Gaupo's gate pass and they were not okay with that. They told him he had to go get another one, so we decided to make a hasty non-romantic good-bye and I head through security to the train by myself. It actually went really smooth. Everyone can walk so we all walked through the scanner thing, the stroller went through the stuff scanner, so we just got our stuff, crammed the kids in the stroller and went to the train. We got on no problem and the girls liked watching it go. We arrived at our gate, and got the gate check ticket for the stroller and hung out. We had our bagels and the girls had a blast running around and playing by the moving sidewalk. We got on the airplane and the girls did really good until the end when Kylee was way done. Finally I told her we are on the ground look. She looked and said "GROUND! We are on the GROUND!" She was so happy to be done. 

Tia and Kylee playing by the moving sidewalk.

Papa and Klaire met us at the airport. Actually we had to wait a little for them, but I wasn't going anywhere by myself with 2 kids, 2 backpacks, 2 car-seats, a stroller, and suitcase. They got there after not too long and we went and had lunch at Burger King. Then we went to my house. Oma was there when we arrived she was way excited to see the girls and she was pretty excited to see me too. I kind of don't remember what we did exactly. I know we had dinner, played downstairs, took baths, and then I watched a movie with my mom. I thought it was a pretty good first day.

Kylee playing with "that thing we pull to Oma's house."

Kylee and Tia playing with the car-seats while waiting for Papa and Aunt Klaire.

Sunday was a little wild. We had church at nine which wasn't really a big deal. It was just that my kids were up at the crack of like 5:45, so the normal time I  get to have getting ready by myself was like nonexistent. At church the girls did SUPER good. Kylee sat with Oma once she was done playing the organ and Tia was pretty content playing her Cherrio game and wearing beads. After Sacrament meeting I took the girls to Nursery and left them. It was a little rough, but they both were happy as clams when I came to pick them up. Its been a while since I have gone to Relief Society and Sunday School and needless to say I am a little out of practice for sitting still for 3 hours. It honestly was kind of hard. Luckily the RS teacher had some action in her lesson. After church, I drove us home. We had lunch. My cousin Michayle was staying for the weekend at my house too, so she and her girls had lunch with us. Then it was nap time. After naps the kids played and everyone pitched in to help feed the army of 17 that was coming to dinner that night. It was fun we had good food, fun, and although my kids got tired at 7, so I had to put them to bed and miss part of the party I was glad to see everyone. 

Monday started bright and early. It has to in AZ if your going to beat the heat for your run. Klaire and I went running together. Kylee also woke up and so I talked her into laying on the couch and watching a show while we went running. My dad was around, but he had chores and to get ready for work. However, she loves watching TV and I came back, so she was fine. We had scriptures and prayers and breakfast. We sent Michayle and her girls off for their fun in the mountains. We had kind of gotten settled from that and the Boyd Bryce's decided to come up for a swim, so we went swimming. The girls had a really good time. Although, Kylee was really nervous and wouldn't do anything. Which is why I made her go to swimming lessons later that day. Yes, I literally forced her to go and came back in the house and started crying because she was having such a rough time of going. However, she did great, and I think it is paying off. That night we had dinner and FHE. Then we just kind of chilled.

Tuesday also started off with a run and Kylee watching another show. Then we spent the morning entertaining ourselves until Oma got back from quilting. We played downstairs, upstairs, on the main floor, and in the garage. When Oma got home we went swimming. Kylee did a little better, but still was content to sit on the step although she was the one that insisted we go swimming. Tia LOVES the water. She "jumps" into me, lets me dunk her, goes down the slide into the pool, tries to walk off the steps, and just loves being out there. After swimming it was lunch and naps. Then Kylee had swim lessons again and it was a lot less traumatic that time. Then I hurried and got the girls bathed, gave instructions to my cousin Kamry, and dashed out the door with my parents to go to the temple. Have I mentioned how awesome it is to have family so close. I mean my dad picked up my babysitter just to help out, and I was able to have my cousins watch my kids. It is SO great. Anyway, we went to the 5:30 session at the temple and it was so wonderful. It was full of peace and there was no rush, no long stressful drive, not a million other things to be done, just the temple. It was great. After the temple we went home had dinner. Klaire and I played card games when she got home and then it was time for bed.

Wednesday we went on a run, but this time Kylee was still sleeping. Although, she did wake up before we got back and opened the door and called out. So, Papa came and took care of her for a few minutes until she understood and Oma was back. That morning the girls made noodle horses with Oma and we played and played. During nap time when Klaire got home, we went swimming. The girls woke up really early from their naps (Poor Oma I thought they were going to sleep longer), so Oma brought them out to the pool to swim with us. It was fun, but I was TOASTED. When we got in from the pool we got cleaned up and went to Kianoa's for dinner. I had never been there, but it was really good. When we got home we sent the kids to bed and played games.

Not sure the exact day of these pictures, but here is Kylee trying to convince Tia to lay on her blanket for a picture.

Riding the wiggle car. One of the many fun toys at Oma's.

Kylee and Aunt Klaire wearing matching shirts. Kylee insisted on this picture.

Thursday Klaire and I did a workout video because my dad wasn't around because he had to go to Bisbee for work. Kylee watched us and did some of it with us. Then after breakfast we went to the park. The girls played hard. Kylee climbed up and down the slides. Tia climbed up things, went down slides, rode the teeter totter substitute, and ran around. When we got home we still had time, so I don't remember what we did, but did something until lunch. I think it was swimming again. Then naps and stuff. That night for dinner we had biscuits and gravy. So good. Then after I got the girls bathed Klaire and I headed out to play Ultimate with her friends. I was a little worried I would seem like a old lady out there, but her friends honestly don't care, so it was so fun. We played Frisbee for a while and then mission. Klaire I don't think was quite ready, but I felt kind of bad leaving my mom home alone, so we went back. I really enjoyed meeting Klaire's friends and playing Frisbee. I love that game and miss playing it. 

Friday we did another workout video. Then I got showered really quick and had breakfast and then went to the temple to do Initiatory. Bless my mom's heart she watched my kids again and they loved it. When I got back, we played some more. I finally caved into  my craving and told my mom I really wanted some R&R bread-sticks, so we went and got some for lunch. We came home and ate them, and put the girls down. When Klaire got home, we played card games until I started having ill feelings from losing, so we decided to do something else. Then when the girls got up we went swimming all together. That was fun. We finally talked Kylee into going in the boat. Tia had done it the day before, but we hadn't convinced Kylee. However, once she got in she really did enjoy it. While we were swimming Papa came home. So, we got out and cleaned up. Then we had dinner. After dinner, Papa agreed to take us down to visit Papa Ross and to do it one four-wheelers. We could only get one to start so the four of us all got on one and went down. It was fun. I don't know why by I LOVE driving four-wheelers with my dad. I love going through the desert with him. It is one of my favorite things to do. I was really sad that we only got to do a little short one due to him having to travel, but I still loved it and so did my girls. That night we played games together, and got ready for me to leave.

Saturday we got up had breakfast and got out the door to the airport. This time I had to pack lunch because it was right during our flight time, but it did give us something to do on the plane. Also my mom was able to get a gate pass to come with me, so that was fun to have her around for a few extra minutes. When we finally got to Denver; it was wonderful. It was so good to be with our Daddy again. We chatted the whole drive home. We got home Gaupo had dinner in the crock-pot all we had to do was throw some steaks on the grill. Then we went to the park. Came home and did baths. Sent the kids to bed and enjoyed being together. It really seemed like a long day, but it was wonderful to be together again.

We had a super great trip. Also, sorry for the severe lack of pictures.

Annoying--this is a rant.

For me this is a rant, but honestly if I was reading or hearing this about someone else I would probably laugh. Not to be mean, but because I know it happens and it is funny when they are not your kids and you are not the one losing your mind.

Usually my post are full of how much I love my kids, how awesome they are, and the wonderful adventures we have together. However, this time is a little different, just to throw a reality check into my family history. My kids are great, but lets face it even great people have bad times.

I swear the last week the whining, screaming, tantrums, and not listening to me have exponentially increased. I mean they wake up in the morning and are happy and play great. Then I go into to get them and have to dash Tia's hopes of running around like a crazy by changing her diaper. Then the moment I tell Kylee no to something she starts pouting. It just starts off our day so wonderful. Finally, we head out the door for a run and it goes pretty well. I mean sometimes they start touching each other and then someone gets annoyed, but for the most part it goes well. But as soon as we get home, I get them out and they want to ride bike. Sometimes I will let them, but sometimes not and then we throw a fit about that. Then we go in for breakfast and I am immediately pestered by can you read me a book, I want gummies, Can I have music, etc. I really want to say "Can't you see I just ran over three miles. Can I have just like one minute to cool down?" Then usually as I am making breakfast Tia starts climbing and getting into everything. I am amazed at that child's ability to find the things that she is not suppose to play with. I am also amazed at how fast she can go from one task to another. She can climb up onto the table for my phone, climb up the stool for crayons, keys, office stuff, and into the bathroom for a Kleenex or a wad of toilet paper in I swear about a minute. She moves so fast. It's like she plans what she is going to do once she gets in trouble for what she is doing right then. Once we finally get breakfast, most times it goes OK.

After breakfast, Kylee always wants me to take a shower while I watch a show. However, this week I have been trying to get our house back to clean, so we have chores we need to do. Honestly you would think I ignore these guys all the time because they just whine about it. Then we get started with cleaning the bathrooms and they do pretty good helping me out and staying out of trouble. Then one of the two girls will touch the door. So they start playing with it which usually involves it being slammed shut and one or the other crying because they can't get it open. Once they are done with that then Tia wants to touch everything I have cleaner on, because I am not quite ready for her to clean the toilet. I finally get to that point and of course the independent soul wants to do it herself. So she screams every time I try to help her make sure its all scrubbed, or tell her to wait for the tank to fill before she flushes it again. Then in the 30 seconds I let her do it alone she tries to stick her hand in the bowl and fling quite a bit of water out and on the floor. Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother to teach my kids to clean. Kylee during this time is trying to help Tia which is not helpful, because she is just doing all the fun parts like trying to flush the toilet too. We finally get done with that and Kylee does her job of the mirrors. She of course also wants no help or direction. When we are done with that I have to finish and there is more doing stuff your not suppose to, but we survive and it gets done. Plus the girls are pleased as punch when they get their treat for 'helping.'

If whining was it that might be okay, but Kylee has also taken up begging again. So. she will ask for something and I will say something like " Just a minute." Then she will immediately ask again, and again, and again. Then when I get after her she throws a fit. AGHHHH!!

Tia has taken up screaming when she doesn't like something. This is so annoying though it is useful for when Kylee is being to rough, but also annoying. It happens every time she is told no, has to do something she doesn't want too, when Kylee annoys her, or just for fun. Yes, her and Kylee have taken up screaming at each other. They just look at each other and one screams and then the other and they take turns until I make them stop. I usually let them scream all they want outside because if they do it inside it is just too loud.

Finally, I have recently felt like I talk to walls. My kids seriously don't seem to want to do a thing I say. I will say "Pick up the books," and they just sit there. Or if I tell them to get shoes on or something else they just keep going about their normal business as if I hadn't even spoken to them. This gets really bad when Tia doesn't listen to stop going down the driveway so she goes into the road, or when she runs away from me at the pool time after time and doesn't come back. OH MAN, it is so annoying.

Okay, sorry for the rant, but that was what was on my mind tonight because it was really bad tonight. I do have great kids and luckily days and weeks like this don't happen all the time, but man it is sure rough when they do.

What We Are Up To

Our life is not full of crazy one of a kind events right now, but we are living and enjoying it. Since we have not been sick this week and the weather has turned summer we have spent a lot of time outside. I have gone running or biking with the girls almost every weekday. It is so nice to be outside. It is getting a little warm, but man it is just so nice to breathe outside air, have a little peace, and do it together. We have also been to the park every day at least once. The girls are loving playing at the "kids park." That is the school playground right by our house. I wont let them play on it when school is in, so now is our chance and they LOVE it.

Now that it is June Gaupo's work has started their bike competition. The different groups in the city log their bike miles and they keep track for the whole month. Then at the end the group with the most points wins. Gaupo really takes this to heart and really tries hard to bike everyday. So, this morning we biked together. We went on a beautiful and kind of long ride. Gaupo pulled the kids, so I am not sure he enjoyed it as much as me, but it was still nice. I love that Gaupo's work gets him to try and be healthier.

Also with summer in swing, we are still doing swim lessons. All of Kylee's level was full except the classes that were everyday, so that is what we took. It has been both good and bad. It is good, because I don't feel like she regresses between classes, but it is really often and sometimes I think she would just like to play. However, Kylee is doing well. She can now walk around in the pool without holding on to anybody or anything. She will do back floats and front floats with help. She can blow bubbles and put her eyes in the water. She still doesn't stay under for very long, but this is still a big step. Overall, I like swimming lessons. It provides a great opportunity for Kylee to learn to do things that she doesn't necessarily want to do, but I don't have to be the one telling her to do it. I think it is good for her to have to listen to someone else.

With the great weather, we have been enjoying just playing outside. Kylee will ride her tricycle around and around. Tia will ride hers for a bit and then move on to something else. Tia loves to play with the umbrella stroller, bike helmets, the basketball, and Kylee's bike. She also enjoys dumping out the sidewalk chalk, and running the loop that Kylee bikes. When we aren't in the front yard doing the above things we play "house" in the backyard. This involves me and Kylee taking turn ringing each others doorbells and delivering stuff. Sometimes we go inside each others houses to eat or make something. We also tell stories around the "fire." Watering the garden, building rock piles, and throwing balls are also activities we enjoy.

When we aren't doing the things above we are eating, sleeping, reading books, doing puzzles, and playing in the basement. Sometimes we will watch an episode, but that pretty much only happens when I am taking a shower. We also visit the Library on occasion.

I love being a mom. Sometimes I wish I could a have a break for just a little bit, but man I love it. I love that we get to make memories everyday together. That we get to see the world without having to hurry all the time. I love that we get to play and grow together. Family really is about time and making the best of the time you have together.