Ok so I'm becoming a slacker at this. Don't worry I will be trying my hardest to keep this up. Now things are a lot calmer around our household it should be a piece of cake to blog more frequently!
So I'll back up a little ways seeming how I haven't written anything since the end of June. Our 4th of July went great. We didn't get to go to any parade's or huge party but we did have a small gathering at our house that entailed a barbecue and fire works. We had family, neighbors and friends come over and it was so much fun. The kids loved watching the fire works that James, his brother Steve, and our neighbor Ryan put off and they got to enjoy waving their sparklers. Unfortunately at the end of it I had to take Alyvia to the 24 hour quick care. A few days before hand she was sick with a really high fever and her diagnosis was a bladder infection. So all was dandy until three days into her antibiotic the poor thing was covered in a rash that affected her face, arms, chest and back. So the doctor took her off the antibiotic and told us to just give her benadryl and if it gets worse to come back in. I ended up taking her back in two days later and this new doctor prescribed her a steroid that cleared her right up. I really hope we do not have to go through that ever again. From start to finish it was only 8 days but in that eight days between James and I we took her to the doctors 4 times.
Our next great adventure was Chad, both kids and I decided very last minute that we would take a trip to New York to visit with my brother's family. James and mom stayed behind because of work but the 4 of us went and we had a lot of fun. The airport and planes were not fun at all. Alyvia did seeming well for her first time on an airplane since she was 4 months old. She sat on my lap while Brock sat with Papa. She did sleep majority of the time but when she wasn't asleep it was a lot of work to keep her in my seat occupied. And at the airport in between flights she just wanted to run like crazy, and once she got started Brock wanted to join in. Needless to say I do not believe I will be flying anytime soon. Brock and Alyvia had a blast though! Brock and Kenzie were so adorable together and to watch them play and use their imaginations was so amazing. They have both grown up so much. Titan and Alyvia were fun too, they both seem to pick on each other not sure if that is because of there age or because they are both the youngest but man or man did they go at sometimes! It was cute and Shelby and I did our best to contain them but you can only explain so much to a 17th month old and 21 month old to be nice. We were able to do some sight seeing and swim and I took a ton of pictures. It was perfect weather and at one point I even put light jackets on the kids and I at night because it was actually a little chilly. We were able to stay for 8 days but by the 5th day the kids and I were really homesick for James. It was so hard to be without him for so long, but the homecoming was worth it. We had a blast but I hope next time we decide on a trip it will be with James.
A little update on the kids... they are driving me nuts!! Seriously I think because of the heat and being couped up in the house most of the time because James takes the truck they have all this energy and its like they both are just bouncing off the walls. Don't get me wrong it is fun, but I feel old now because by nap time I am ready to just pass out.
Alyvia is the most energetic kid I know. She is non stop from the moment she wakes up till the moment she goes to sleep. If she is not talking she is running circles around me. Her latest thing is talking on the phone. It really doesn't matter who she is talking to she will talk their ear off. We usually call mom at the end of the night and as soon as Aly gets that phone she just starts pacing the rooms or swaying her hips and jabbers away. You really can't make out a thing she says except for hi and bye and possibly that persons name, because she talks so fast. Hmm I wonder who she inherited that trait from? Her vocabulary is expanding a lot. I think a lot of it has to do with being around Brock, Kenzie, and Titan. She loves saying "hi puppy" or "hi kitty cat". She learned how to say "aww man!" and "uh, uh" for no. We tried teaching her to say Shelby but it sounded like puppy so we were never sure who she was calling and uncle is "dunkle". Brock has been showing Aly how to clean up and she is getting really good at it. She absolutely hates having her teeth brushed she wants to do it on her own but her idea of brushing her teeth is sucking on the toothbrush. And the latest and greatest on our every so growing Aly is her tantrums. I never thought she would be the one who would throw a tantrum. I honestly thought Brock would be it because, well he's a boy but he never really had a tantrum. Now alyvia on the other hand is a master at tantrums. If she doesn't get her way, which is more often than not, she will throw her self to the ground and arch her back, scream at the top of her lungs and bang her head on the ground. If I'm holding her at the moment she will throw her back out and head down and I have to almost bear hug her just to keep her in my arms. Now if she isn't quite in a temper yet she is into throwing and hitting things. I just love this age. I mean she is in that stage were she can't express herself with words so everything frustrates her. But when she is over whatever made her mad she is always smiling and laughing and giggling. James and I recently exchanged her crib for a toddler bed and now we are getting to experience all over again the midnight wake ups from little feet we hear coming down the hall at 3 am just because she can get out of her bed. She loves her new bed but that doesn't mean she will stay in it all night. If she sleeps through the night she up at the crack of dawn and in my room waking me up all happy probably just because again she can. It's a little bittersweet because she is growing up and entering that toddler age but then that crib was my last string of that innocent baby. I am having to really let go of her being a baby and moving on to her toddler stages. I'm happy but sad.
Now for the latest and greatest on Brock. Well, he is a very outgoing, opinionated, demanding, loving, headstrong four year old. He can do everything by himself is what he tells me day in and day out. It doesn't matter if it involves tying his shoe, pouring a glass of milk or going to the mail box, he can do it all by himself! He has an explanation for everything he does when questioned about something. Patience really isn't in his vocabulary all of a sudden and rules just disappeared. I'm going to look back at all this in a few months and hopefully be able to say it was the heat. LOL On a serious note Brock is doing fantastic. He is a typical happy four year old that just enjoys life. Everyday he amazes us. He can't sit still for very long and wants to be doing something all the time. I bought him these brain quest cards for preschool aged kids and they have three questions on one side with the answers on the back. We have been going through a couple cards a day and it amazes me how smart he is. I mean things that I really didn't think he would know he would answer the questions right on. He is getting really good at the questions that will ask about identifying the one picture that is not like the other three. He knows so much about animals and can identify ones that I didn't think any four year old would know. He is such a smart little thing. I think he will be just like his mom when it comes to school. LOL ok James was a smart kid too I just got better grades! He is still helping around the house and usually likes to do chores. He is such a big help when it comes to Alyvia, because he wants to be busy playing something and Alyvia just likes to be entertained. He gives the true meaning to big brother. I also took him to the adventure dome at Circus Circus for a birthday party and James was able to hang out a little since he works there. Brock had so much fun and he rode so many rides and was never once scared. I was a little impressed because they can be intimidating but he has that adventurous side and he just wanted to go on as many has he could. Now, we still haven't decided if we will be putting him in a fall sport. James will be starting EMT classes end of August and they will be all day Fridays and Saturdays so really any sport Brock may play, James would miss every game. Something we really need to think about.
James and I are doing great. We just finalized our plans for a mini vacation and are going to San Diego on August 13th through the 16th. We can't wait because we are taking the kids to legoland, the aquarium, the beach and piers, and Old Town San Diego. We should have an absolute blast. We need to get out of Vegas for a little as a whole family and do something fun. It will also be James' last little break from everything until November when his class finishes up. Other than that James has been working his tale off at work, sometimes 12 hour shifts or 6 days a week. It's not the greatest for him but we try to help out with keeping the house clean and making dinner for him. He does this for us and the kids and I appreciate him so much and think the world of him. He is truly the best father and husband ever. I'm doing fine staying busy with the munchkins and playing the stay at home mom role. I love being here with the kids being able to just watch them grow.
Well hopefully everyone is doing great and we love and miss you all. I have uploaded a ton of pictures and movies so click the links below. I promise to be blogging at lot more frequently and if anyone actually read this whole thing, thanks I think sometimes I just start to ramble and can't quite stop in person or online.
Love,
The Morris Family
4th of July pictures
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m34/lexi_051/Our%20Family/Holidays%20-%20Special%20Events/4th%20of%20July%202009/
New York Trip
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m34/lexi_051/Our%20Family/Trips/New%20YorkTrip%20July%2009/
Newest Pictures
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m34/lexi_051/Our%20Family/
Newest Videos
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m34/lexi_051/Our%20Family/videos/
