Orlando

Here are some pictures from our Orlando visit. Lucky Kaiya & Kaleb got to go to Disney World while we were in our seminar. Ruthie has a season pass and both kids are young enough to get in for free. So they went for part of the day on Saturday.

Chris & Ruthie

Waiting for the parade to start

Can't get much closer than this! Good job Aunt Ruthie!

3-D ride. Kaiya loved this new ride. She got to see Simba & Nala and lots of other characters.

Just some cuteness

Heading off to seminar Kaiya & Cameron. This is the little boy Ruthie nanny's for. She lives with the family and has a great big room above the garage. Kaiya and Cameron snuck upstairs after dinner and snuggled up in the papasan chair to watch A Bug's Life. They don't look as cozy here, but when I first came up they were all cuddled under the blanket together - eyes glued to the set. It was cute.

Conversations with Kaiya

Last week, the night before we left or Orlando I had a few things left on my to-do list. I had the evening planned out and was thrown for a loop when Tony remembered that he had an indoor soccer game. So I was really irritated and hating indoor soccer at the moment. I loaded the kids in the car to go run the errands I still needed to. I don't really remember grumbling about it in front of Kaiya, but she definitely picked up on something because this was a conversation we had in the car on the way home from Trader Joes.

Kaiya: Mama? I make you happy?

Me: Yes, Kaiya. You do make me happy.

Kaiya: Okay. (Slight Pause.) Mama? Daddy make you gumpy?

Me: (Stifling giggles...) Yes, Kaiya. Sometimes Daddy makes me grumpy.

Kaiya: Okay.

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More perceptive than I give her credit for sometimes.

We spent the past two days recovering from our trip to Florida. It was wonderful -- the seminar was just what we needed to gear up for opening the office soon. The kids did great in the car and had lots of fun with Aunt Ruthie and Chris. They got to go to Disney World on Saturday since Ruthie has a season pass and they are still young enough to get in free. It gave Tony and I a nice break to enjoy the seminar and not have to worry about them. Kaleb did great -- and I am hopeful he is outgrowing his separation anxiety.

Had to post this video because it cracks me up. Kaleb is really into kissing lately and for the past week I have been saying over and over that I really want to get it on video. I thought I could catch him in the mood earlier today and so we grabbed the camera and tried to get it. This is what happened.



Guess he wasn't in the mood for kissing afterall...

And the winner is...

Aunt Gayla! On the trip down we made 6 potty stops. :) You will love this CD.

Thanks for playing everybody!

Back Talk

Here is Kaiya's latest back talk:

This happens nearly every time I ask her a question she does not want to answer:

Me: Kaiya, why have you been getting into Mama & Daddy's bed in the middle of the night?
Kaiya: Doesn't matter.

Me: Kaiya, when did you go potty in your pull-up - just now or while we were at church?
Kaiya: Doesn't matter.

Would "I plead the 5th" be less disrespectful?

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The other night in Target:

We were getting ready to leave the store but Kaiya started throwing a fit about getting her jacket on. I gave her a warning, she continued the tantrum so we proceeded to the bathroom for discipline. After exiting the bathroom she disobeyed me again by climbing on the carts near the exit. I grabbed her hand and told her that when I said to come now it meant now, etc. She screams at me to "let go of her hand, ow that hurts me" and falls the floor. While on the floor having her second tantrum she pauses, looks up at me and says, "I've had enough!"

I'm thinking -- Yeah, me too! Anyway... we made our exit and after getting her into the car I had a good little laugh to myself. I suppose I should be encouraged. She is listening to some things that I say. :)

Florida or Bust and a Contest!

We're heading to Orlando today for a Maximized Living seminar. We're thankful to have free accommodations as Chris (Ruthie's boyfriend) is giving us his apartment for the weekend. And we have a little bit of free babysitting too, thanks to Ruthie. So we are heading out today and getting home Sunday. We have our fingers crossed for a smooth drive. It should be interesting with Kaiya now potty trained. In fact.... let's make this fun. Any wagers on how many times we will be making potty stops for Kaiya? It is an 8 hour drive. Leave me a comment with your guess. The person closest will win a brand new copy of Chris Allen Band's new worship CD, You Are.

If more than one person picks the same number, I'll use www.random.org to pick the winner. I'll accept comments through Friday night. Winner will be announced Saturday or Sunday! Good Luck -- you are gonna love this CD!

Wordless Wednesday - Spaghetti Squash

Pictures

A couple weekends ago we had visits from our friends Austin & Kristina, and my sister, Ruthie. One evening we went to the park to take pictures. Ruthie is mastering photography and I asked her to take Kaleb's 9 month pictures. We ended up with a lot of cute shots. Here are just some of my favorites.

For more of Ruthie's work click here.

Tony's getting Kaiya ready for bed. She is in pajamas, gone potty, had a drink, brushed her teeth, read her story and he is telling her that she needs to get in bed. She picks up her play cell phone and says to Tony:

Daddy, be quiet. I talkin' on da phone. Shhh! Daddy, be quiet. I talkin' to Bekah.

I swear I have no idea where she learned that.

Kaiya's Verbal Independence

It has only just begun, I'm afraid. Our little one is really testing her verbal boundaries, particularly with me. Just a few examples:

Today she had an accident and as we marched upstairs to get in the bathtub I was telling her about how it is just ridiculous that she doesn't tell me when she has to go potty. (By the way -- we are mostly potty trained, I just haven't blogged about that) So it really was ridiculous that she didn't tell me she had to go. Anyway... After I told her it was ridiculous, she says with the attitude of a 12 year old, "I know." To which I replied: If you know, then why did you do it?

She had nothing for me. Point for Mama.

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The most public display of defiance we've experienced so far.

Where: DMV, of course.
So loud it hurt my ears. She screamed the most hateful, horrid, "NO!" at the highest volume she has. Fortunately we were just waiting for Tony to take his test so I could immediately drag her out of the office. I really wanted just to throw myself on the floor along with her, kick and scream a bit too, so I think this incident was point for Kaiya.

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Apparently she has heard us say, "Do not tell me no," a few times. Because now she has substituted "Uh-uh" instead. Kaiya, stop eating Kaleb's O's. Uh-uh! Kaiya, please don't comb your brother's hair with that knife (play kitchen- don't worry). Uh-uh! Kaiya, stop right now. "UH-UH!" Point for Kaiya.

Okay... so I'm currently losing this battle. But I guarantee I will win the war. :)

Hide and Seek

Kaiya has just begun playing this game with us. Here's how it goes if she is hiding:

Kaiya is hiding in her favorite place, the closet.

Tony yells, "Ready or not here I come!"

Kaiya yells: "O-tay!"

Tony prowls around the room pretending he has no idea where she is. He looks under the bed and says, "Is Kaiya under the bed?"

From the closet we hear, "No!"

"Is Kaiya in her toy box?"

"No!"

"Is Kaiya in the closet?"

"YES!!" And she comes running out before he has a chance to open the door.

She's a pretty intense gamer.

Kaiya Tales

Kaiya is really cracking us up with the things she says and does lately. I wanted to post all these so I don't forget them. That's the great thing about the blog. It not only serves to keep family and friends updated, but it becomes a journal for me to preserve these memories with.

So... here are the latest Kaiya tales:

Kaiya has set TV viewing times -- when she first wakes up in the morning and then again when I am making dinner. She knows these are the times she can watch a DVD, but she still checks to see if the rules have changed at least 26 times a day. Usually she asks straight out if she can watch a DVD. Only lately... the little smarty pants has been asking,

10 a.m.
Kaiya -- Mom, you make my dinner now?
Me -- Kaiya, no. It's only 10 a.m. Dinner is like 7 hours away.
Kaiya -- Please, make dinner now!!!

Dinner = DVD

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Note to all: The only nickname Kaiya will be called is: Monkey. Today I called her "baby-cakes" to which she replied, "No call me baby-cakes. Call Kaiya monkey. Two hours later I accidentally said, "Get in your seat chicky-baby." "Call Kaiya monkey!!" Today leaving the house, "See you later, gator." "No call me alligator -- call Monkey!"

Also -- do NOT refer to her hindquarters as anything but bottom. Conversation overheard in the bathroom today:

Tony: Let me wipe your booty.
Kaiya: No call booty. It called my bottom.

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When using an umbrella on a rainy day, only refer to yourself as Mary Poppins. Along with random breaking into song singing Hakuna Matata, we will also hear, "Snap! Da dob is a dame!" Translated: Snap! The job's a game! usually followed by "piece of cake!" Excerpt from Just a Spoonful of Sugar by Mary Poppins.

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Anything that makes her excited usually gets a: "Yee-Haw!"

Me: Kaiya, come here! We need to go to Trader Joe's.
Kaiya: Trader Joe's? Yee-Haw!

I got an F

Obtaining a NC driver's license was not nearly as easy as I had anticipated... I got online this morning determined to figure out what I needed to do to get a driver's license. We gathered all necessary documents, loaded the kids up, and headed to the DMV. After waiting an hour for my number to be called I went to the desk and started the process. When all my information was entered and I had done the eye test and identified various traffic signs, I was informed that I would be taking a test. WHAT?? A TEST??

Okay... I must have overlooked that online or I might have studied. You have nothing to worry about, says the DMV employee. You can pass with a 20 out of 25. You'll do just fine.

So I go over to the computer and begin my test. I knew it wasn't good when I had 3 correct and 3 wrong by the seventh question. I failed miserably. Only made it halfway through the test before missing 6 questions. Some people might be ashamed or embarassed. Not me! I started laughing. Laughing because I was picturing the sweet 99 year old woman who proudly walked out with her driver's license. By the way -- she was overheard telling the lady taking her picture that all she had left to do was to find herself a husband who can drive at night. Hilarious right?

Back to the test. There is no way that this test could be passed unless you have first read-through the North Carolina Test Booklet. There were questions asking for the percentage of fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers. And did you know that if you break down you should pull over and put your hood up? Apparently this is the NC signal for: Help me please! Nevermind the flashers.

Anyway... With my tail tucked between my legs, I walked into the lobby and confessed to my sweet husband who had been corraling the kids for the past hour and 15 minutes that we would have to come back tomorrow. He hasn't gotten his license yet either, so he couldn't laugh at me. And you better believe that I memorized a few of the questions I got wrong so that if he did laugh I could fire questions at him to see how he would have faired. :)

We've shared a few good laughs about this the rest of the day. We have an understanding that I took one for the team with this test. I have saved him from having to admit that he failed his test -- because we've learned from my experience. Read the freakin' manual!!!

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Update: Just passed only missing one this time. And for the record... why couldn't I have gotten questions like this the first time:

Why should you drive with caution on a rural road?
A: The scenery is beautiful
B: Cows have the right away
C: There might be slow moving farm equipment on the road.

C'mon. I saw that question today and couldn't believe it. Regardless... I now have an NC license!

Frugal Tip of the Week

I consider myself a fairly frugal person. So it came as quite a shock to me that I have been clueless about these money saving tips for the grocery store.

1) You know the specials that stores run for Buy One Get One Free? Did anyone else out there just assume that the only way you got the savings was to get two? Pay for one at full price and get the other one for $0.00. Yeah... me too. And I'm always like... what the heck am I going to do with two gallons of milk? Or why-oh-why did I buy two cartons of ice cream? Anyway... I was enlightened today to learn that at many stores you don't have to get two!! If you only get one, you will actually get it 50% off the regular price. The tip came from a lady who shops at Kroger -- so all you folks in Indiana can do this! And I tested it out tonight at Harris Teeter. I got laundry detergent for $4.25!

2) The insanely smart woman on tv also suggested buying multiple copies of the Sunday paper to get more coupons. Not sure why this never occurred to me before. If I bought just one extra paper it would make a difference.

I watched this woman start with a $127 grocery total and knock it down to $37. Tony had to help me lift my jaw off the floor. Anyway... just thought I would pass that along in case any of you out there are still wondering what to do with that extra 5 lb bag of All-Purpose Flour you got. Don't worry... the holidays are coming... But next time - we'll all know better.

A couple videos of the kids... just trying to keep the grandparents happy w/ all these video posts. :)


This gives you a pretty good glimpse at what mealtimes are like at our house. Try to ignore the Fantasy Football talk going on in the background. *Sigh*


Kaleb has had a pretty eventful month of learning things. I don't remember with Kaiya it happening so close together. Kaleb kisses, dances, and claps. I know... the talent runs deep in our family. :)

Forgiveness

For the past 6 1/2 years, everytime the topic of forgiveness comes up -- whether it is in conversation, in church, on TV -- I'm reminded of an event in my life that I haven't fully dealt with. Since leaving Winona Lake and everything Grace College, I've been removed enough from those reminders that I could just push the garbage in my heart deep enough that I would almost forget about the feelings and possibly even convince myself that I had dealt with them. Until I would go back to Indiana at Christmas, drive past the college and throw up a little bit in my mouth. Or feel like torching the Grace Magazine that comes in the mail. Or hear others talking about how awesome and Christ-centered the school is and want to shout la-la-la-la-la at the top of my lungs. Or be sitting in church (like 2 weeks ago) and have the topic of forgiveness come up and immediately have the event come to mind. And this time, I listened. Knowing in my heart that there is a reason the event comes to mind. It's because it's unfinished business in my heart. I never would have guessed that 6+ years out I would be wrestling with forgiveness.

I mulled on this for a few days. Talked to my family, a friend and Tony about it. I was able to direct my hurt more specifically and rather than it encompassing everything Grace, I saw that truly there were 3 individuals that I needed to forgive. I was at that place where I knew that I needed to forgive, but as silly as it sounds I just didn't know how to move from point A to point B. So Sunday night I started praying that God would show me how and really begin that work in my heart. That I wouldn't forget about it until it was done and that he would help move me.

I was watching an interview that I recorded Monday about forgiveness and I was reminded that me forgiving is more about me and God than anything else. My forgiveness is not based on these individuals changing or even asking for my forgiveness, but rather it is about me releasing the bitterness in my heart and making the choice to forgive. I think I was making it more complicated than it was. I just needed to have the genuine desire to be rid of the grip the anger and bitterness had in my heart and then take the time to sit and consciously make the choice to release myself from it. Like -- this is the moment that I choose to forgive ___. I identified so well with the parable of the man who is forgiven many debts and turns around and refuses to forgive the small debt of another man. And felt humble at what my Savior had done for me. I paused the video and thanked the Lord for answering my prayer for help. I love seeing Him work and knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that it was Him.

Tuesday morning I did business with God. And it feels so good. I blog about it because it was a milestone for me. One that "only" took 6 1/2 years. And I blog about it to challenge you.

Who do you need to forgive?

Dear Man in the Business Attire,

I have been thinking about you all night. :) Thank you for taking note of me jogging in the POURING rain out of the grocery store while carrying both kids, two bags of groceries and my purse. I couldn't believe my eyes when you stopped me, covered us with your tiny umbrella and escorted us to the car. Not only did you get us to the car, but you held your umbrella over me while I buckled both children in. You are my hero. Luckily Tony has nothing to worry about as you were old enough to have been my father. But seriously... that was really sweet. Now you can tell generations to come about how you saved a poor, unprepared mother at Harris Teeter.

Thank you, from the bottom of my wet, soggy jeans.

Rachel

P.S. Sorry about stepping on your foot. That was awkward.

Kisses

Kaleb has mastered the fine art of kissing. Well... maybe not mastered, but he sure loves to do it. The cute thing is that he will do it on his own. Whenever he feels like it. I'll be holding him and he'll just lean in and kiss my cheek. The other day he was attacking Kaiya and I with kisses when we were playing on the floor. He kept climbing up into my lap to kiss me. Very adorable. Now he and Kaiya like to give Tony kisses at the same time. This is the kind of preciousness that we don't want to forget!

Chris Allen -- Are you missing anything?

Un-Apple Picking

Today we made an attempt at apple picking. Only.... the only apples left on the trees were the ones we could not reach. :) Hmmm... why the gal who gave us our bucket didn't tell us that, we have no idea.

Note the lovely red apples at the top of the tree.

Attempting to pull a branch down just far enough to pick an apple.

Problem solving at its best.

Enjoying a bite out of the only apple we picked today.

Hay is weird. He really wasn't sure what to think. Check out the hen behind him. This is when we realize there is probably chicken feces in the hay. We promptly removed Kaleb before he decided to eat the hay. 'Cause you know he was thinking about it...

This is the "Pumpkin Patch." Someone needs to define pumpkin patch for this orchard. :)

Look at Kaleb... can you see the wheels turning? He's thinking to himself, "Is this edible?"

"Why... yes... I think it must be!""Or maybe it is for teething..."
"Eh... nope. Negative. This thing is not for eating or biting."

Baby Love

Time for some baby love. :) Here is a video of each one.

Kaleb has mastered eating on his own... of course, you all already knew that after the chocolate cake incidence. But here's a video of him the first time he had success getting green beans from finger to mouth. We couldn't get him to stop!



And here's Kaiya. She is currently obsessed with all things Lion King. This is one of the first times that she began getting into it. She's stepped up her game considerably since this video was taken. She breaks into Hakuna Matata without any warning - driving in the car, middle of the grocery store, in the bath tub. I'll have to shoot a Hakuna Matata video soon. But for now...

FREE!!

Check this out! Handbag Planet is giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours! All you have to do is click the name above, give them your name and e-mail address, then you get to pick the purse you want if you win! They have some adorable bags! And pretty clever marketing too!

They launch on the 15th so you have a little under two weeks to enter and spread the word.