OREOs equal LOVE

I came home from a photo shoot last night to this. My two babies, snuggled on the couch, sharing Oreos, watching The Upside Down Show. If that isn't love, I don't know what is!

One Healthy and One Sicky

*ignore the picture quality, they were taken with my blackberry!

So I will start with the healthy doctor's appointment this week - Miss Lola. She had her 2 Year Well Check on Wednesday and checked out, well...very well! She weighed in at 26.9 lbs (75 percentile) and was 35 inches long (76 percentile)! Nurse Practitioner Teri said that she couldn't believe Lola was already 2 and was proud of her progression! Our goal for this summer is to have the binky gone and to be potty trained 100%!

No for my sicky baby - Mr. Kyan. I started off this week with a phone call from the nurse at his school saying that she thought he might have pink eye, but since we didn't really see any goop or grossness in the morning before school, maybe it was just irritated, so she sent him back to class. I then got a email that afternoon from Kyan's preschool teacher (I adore her) and she said that she didn't think Kyan's eye was irritated, like they first thought. She asked us to keep an eye on it and if it got worse, he wouldn't be able to go to school tomorrow, but if there was no goop - then go right ahead and send him. So we put in drops every couple of hours Monday night in hopes that they eye would be better by morning.

Tuesday rolls around and Kyan woke up with a few an eye booger, not goop, but since I had sub plans ready to go, I figured they would be watching him close at school, better just stay home. By mid-morning I was kicking myself, I thought I had wasted a day. His eyes were as clear as our AZ skies usually are (what is up with all of this rain lately?) and he was acting just fine. Oh well, guess I would just enjoy time with my kiddos and a day off. I wish. Right after lunch, it seems like he took a turn for the worst, his cough went from that of your average everyday cold kinda cough, to really, really dry. It hurt me to listen to him. So I called the pediatrician's office and they got me in at 4:30 that afternoon, where she diagnosed him with croup. Croup? Don't know too many 5 year old's that get that, but ok. So he started taking his medicine that night.

Wednesday he still was in no shape to go to school, so I stayed home again. His cough seemed ok, in fact, I was hoping that he was going to be able to return to school the next day. He played games, watched movies, just kinda kicked it around the house. The only problem that I had with him was naptime, where I tried to get him to lay down for a nap. He fought it hard, harder than I have seem him fight one in a long time. Must have been the medicine. That is the only thing that I can chalk it up to, that and not feeling well. Anywho - we didn't nap, but we did make it to Lola's doctor's appointment on time and in a good mood (see her post above!). We went home that night and debated whether to send Kyan to school or not the next day. For the most part, we thought that he was ready to go. So we decided we would see how his night was (which he has slept through the sick nights very well so far, so we didn't see why this one would be different) and make the decision in the morning. The only trouble with that was, Chad leaves way earlier than I do with the kids, so how were we going to do this?

Wednesday night/Thursday morning was THE WORST NIGHT EVER! Kyan coughed and was up for probably 3/4 of the night. At 12:30am, Chad turned on his TV to try and distract him, he wasn't sleeping anyway, so no use in trying to make him sleep. I gave him a popsicle, Chad took him outside, NOTHING WAS WORKING!!! He just coughed, and coughed, and coughed...
We looked up croup online to see if there was anything else we could do. There was nothing, just help him through the coughing and wait it out. That was when I wished it was me and not him, nothing is worse than seeing your own child struggle.

Needless to say, Chad ended up staying home with him yesterday, where Kyan continued to cough. I called the pediatrician once again, after 3 days on a steroid, a cough like that should NOT be happening. So back to the pediatrician's office we went. Because of Kyan's cold for over 2 weeks, they determined that he no longer had a cold, but rather a sinus infection. Sinus infections are treated with Augmentin, so that is what they wanted him to now take. But, the doctor was concerned with the chronic cough, so he listened rather long to his lungs. I could tell by his face that something was wrong. Sure enough, Kyan had a crackle in his left lung towards the bottom. Pneumonia, or at least the start of it. Because they treat sinus infections and pneumonia with the same medicine, he said he was going to call it a sinus infection and wasn't going to order an x-ray, as there was no point in putting Kyan through radiation if they didn't have to, he was already going to get the same medicine that he would be getting if in fact he had it. So, we left the doctor's office feeling a little better, with stronger medicine to fight off whatever is in his little body and is making him so sick!

Kyan was able to get a little bit of sleep last night, thanks to the pharmacist and a recommendation of his! He takes his medicines like a champ and is not coughing as much today as he has been the past couple of days, but his poor little body is so sore. Hopefully, after this weekend, he will be good as new and back at school playing with his friends!

Long Overdue Pictures from the Zoo!

We went to the zoo a few weeks ago, I am not really sure why the pictures never got posted? I guess they were waiting for me to play with them and work some new magic! You can read more on that magic below, but for now, a little bit about our trip to the zoo as a family!

We started out in the new part of the World Wildlife Zoo - the Aquarium, so beautiful, but BIG mistake! Lola freaked out (big surprise I know - HA!), this will be one of her many freakouts of the day! She was so scared and I can't really tell what it really was, other than I had to calm her down in all three buildings that we went in! She wanted to see the penguins being fed, but it was in one of the aquariums, so it took a lot of mommy coaxing to get her in there!

After we were finished, we boarded the train and took a family ride! Both of the kids were so in love with every second they spent on that puppy! In fact, freak out #2 from Lola followed as soon as we got off of it and headed to the next thing. A HUGE, DRAMATIC fit was thrown and once she was finished, we moved on! Yes, I let my kid freak out in public! It is not something that I encourage by any means, but I do not give into what she wants, I let her get it all out and then we move on.

And move on we did, to the petting zoo! Here, both kids made fast friends with the goats - especially Lola! She was amazed by them and I was pretty surprised at how brave she was around them! I am sure that they animals were pretty surprised by her too! Kyan was more timid, but got in there every once in a while to pet one of them!

From there, we did more walking and saw many more animals! Lola loved the birdies, where Kyan loved the indoor exhibits I think! Maybe that was because he knew it was just him and daddy in there from the time we left the aquarium? Lola wasn't about to step foot in another one! Instead, she called Grandma Julie and told her about her visit to the zoo!

An attempt was made to feed the giraffes, Kyan managed to stretch his arms to feed them a couple of times. Lola on the other hand, decided to have yet another meltdown right on top of the giraffe feeding platform! Time to head home...soon.

Last thing on the agenda, the thing Kyan had been dying for from the moment we stepped foot into the zoo - THE SKYRIDE! Usually this is something that him and his daddy do, but after talking in the car, I somehow talked myself into being brave enough to handle it today?!? What was I thinking? I am not really sure, but went for it! I would definitely say that I have a slight fear of heights, mostly straight up and down or falling off the side of the mountain type of heights, but there is a fear! Kyan, not so much! He loves this skyride! He even braved the one at Sea World this past summer! Well, the entire time we were up in the air, Kyan comforted me and made sure that I was doing ok! I think I was gripping the handle so hard and holding on so tight that he must have noticed, despite my efforts to try and show him that I wasn't afraid! I guess I didn't fool him! It was really cool to see the zoo from up above, but I am pretty sure that will be one of my last skyrides that I take, I think daddy can stick to that duty forever! Once our feet hit the ground it was time to go!

We had a great day as a family at the zoo! We look forward to the next trip back!


A little side note~
For those that have asked and for those that are curious to know...
I have had fun playing in with a website called Picnik, where I created these collages to display more pictures together, instead of viewing them one after another after another after another (ok, you get my point!). Yes, it is free! I use them all the time to add words to my photos (like you see in our header for example). However, to get these great collage layouts that are super easy to use, you do have to pay a small fee per month or year (whichever you decide) to upgrade! I have never ever paid the fee until today and I am so happy that I did! I plan on showing you pictures like this from now on!!! I am thinking of getting rid of my background, still debating, to display the collages on a larger scale. I know many that do this to their blogs, but it is work, so for now, if you would like to see them bigger, you just need to click-or double click-on the collage that you want to see in better detail!

Lots of you have also been asking how I did my sidebar frames and the fancy frame from a post or two ago - Megan, of Shabby Blogs, offers tons of free stuff on her website and gives tutorials that are super easy to use! I love all of her backgrounds (that is why I am hesitant to get rid of mine just yet) and freebies that she offers to make our blogs look beautiful! If you haven't checked out her site, you should! I love it when she has new goodies to offer!

Uncle Joe Joe

Over Christmas, cousin Ava brought her "daddy doll" with her to visit Arizona. Daddy, my brother~Joel, is currently stationed in Bahrain. Erin, Joel's wife, explained that any kids that have daddies that have to serve overseas and have to be away from their children for an extended length of time receive "daddy dolls" when they leave. Kyan fell in love with Ava's doll, one, because it was a boy doll~he has been dying for one, two, because it had to do with the army, and three (the most important) it was his Uncle Joe Joe!

Auntie Erin did some digging when she returned home to North Carolina and low and behold, she got her hands on another doll for Kyan! She sent it to him on his birthday back in January! Kyan loves his Uncle Joe Joe doll! He sleeps with him every night and Uncle Joe Joe travels with us too!

We can't wait to have the real Uncle Joe Joe back with us in a few weeks! Kyan still remembers what you said Auntie Erin about your next visit, in fact he repeated it the other day while we were driving! He said, "Remember what Auntie Erin told me about the next time that they visit? She said the next time they come back, she is going to bring Uncle Joe Joe with her!" I know Kyan can't wait for you guys to get back here! We hope to be able to spend some time with you on your visit back to Arizona!

WE LOVE YOU UNCLE JOE JOE!

Silly in the Stroller!

I am fortunate that my children play so well together! Kyan is so sweet to his very sassy little sister! Here the two of them were being silly and taking turns pushing each other in Lola's baby doll stroller! They were dying laughing and kept taking turns pushing and getting pushed!

Giveaways to Register For!!!

I learned of a new blog called A Blonde Walks Into A Blog, thanks to another blogger babe I follow, and they do some great giveaways! Here are a few that I think you should know about (that I have already taken the time to go hunt down and link up for you, btw!) You just need to click and leave a comment! I will cross my fingers that you or I are the winner of some of their giveaways soon!

Giveaway #1, ends 3/1
Giveaway #2, ends 2/23
Giveaway #3, hurry, this one ends today!

Lola's Birthday Party!!!

We celebrated Lola's birthday on Saturday with some of our family and closest friends! One of Lola's favorite things to eat is pizza, so we served that before we dove in for some yummy birthday cake and ice cream!

The candles initially scared her - but as soon as her brother helped her blow them out, she was fine! Kyan even made her giggle a little before she ate her cake! Silly brother!

Yummy!!! Lola had a special cake that was all her own!

She had so much fun hanging with all the little ones and got so many nice presents! Almost everyone got her clothes, they were exactly what I would have picked out myself! In fact, a few of the items were things that I had in my Target shopping cart earlier that day when we were picking out her party dress! Good thing we waited until her party!

I think her favorite toy of the night was from Uncle Adam, a new doll! She loved that it had shoes!

After food, presents, cake and ice cream, it was time to play!

JayLo were pushing around the babies in the playpen!

When they got tired of that, they played hide and seek in the curtains! It was so funny! They were giggling up a storm!

Snuggling up and watching the Zhu Zhu pets with Aiden!

Thank you to everyone that had a part in making Lola's birthday so special! She loves you!

Lola Turns Two!

Everything about Lola makes me smile - her laughter is contagious and her smile can light up just about any room! She is full of drama and wants to be the center of everyone's attention and will do just about anything to get it! She is so girlie and loves necklaces, shoes, and her nails and toes painted! We are so blessed to have this little firecracker as part of our family!
Happy Birthday Lolita!

Lola woke up on Friday morning and Kyan and I sang "Happy Birthday" to her, then grandmas called and sang some more! When we went downstairs to get our things ready to go for the day at Rennie's (Kyan went too, he didn't have school, plus he wanted to be Rennie's special helper and spend time with his sister on her birthday) where Lola discovered Auntie Erin, Uncle Jo Jo, and cousins Ava and Brayden's present waiting for her to open! So open it she did! She loved everything! Thank you all the way to North Carolina! On our way to Rennie's, we called daddy and he wished her happy birthday too! Kyan and Lola had a great day with Rennie!

Later that night, Lola vegged on the couch and watched the Upside Down show with her popcorn and Zhu Zhu pet! She insisted that I get a picture of her with it!

Lola reminds me of a monkey when she does this - it is gross, but so funny...she picks the lint/dirt out from in between her toes. She goes from toe to toe until she gets it all! Cracks me up!

Happy 2nd birthday to my little princess!

31 Ways I Love My 31 Year Old!

Let me count the ways!

I LOVE

1. your silly faces that you make when I make you take pictures with me! Usually it takes 3 to 4 shots before I can get you to crack a normal smile! I might complain and get annoyed at you and question why while I am trying to get a picture, but the silly faces are classic and so you!

2. that you do the laundry 95% of the time!
3. when you give me back tickles.
4. how patient you are with our kids, you would think that you are the teacher in the house, not me!
5. your little muffin ass, I know, embarrassing, but it's true!
6. your style. I mean, come on, who else can pull off the backwards belt look?
7. your honesty.
8. how you can make any character on any game, using any gaming system really look like you! I try so hard, but it never works in my favor! Your rocker that you have in Rock Band really does look like you I swear, it is crazy!
9. how you will eat almost anything and are always willing to try something new. I feel bad sometimes that I am so picky and such a creature of habit, you will probably never get to experience all that you should concerning food because of me.
10. that you have been letting me pick the movies every once in awhile.
11. that you take real family pictures once a year and don't complain that we all have to look the same, not the same, but you know what I mean! You even took some mushy ones with me this year!

12. how much our kids look up to you and follow in your footsteps, literally and figuratively.
13. your tattoos! I can't wait for the next one that you are going to get, for your mamma.
14. your patience, especially with me.
15. how romantic you can be.
16. that you always send flowers on my birthday and valentine's day.
17. that you gave me my fairytale wedding in Hawaii.
18. your droid, although I am secretly jealous, my Blackberry bows in shame.
19. that you talked me into buying a Mac for the house computer, no more PC's ever. You know your stuff when it comes to technology.
20. that you think before you speak, I need lessons, because I do the opposite.
21. that you pick Ah-So when it is your turn to pick where to eat, just because you know that I love to eat there!
22. that you said we could buy our new house without even seeing it, you really do trust what I say.
23. when you rub my head, especially on those migraine days.
24. that you don't get mad at me when I fall asleep while watching movies, 9 out of 10 times this happens.
25. that you deal with the throw up! You make a much better mom than I do with that.
26. that you finally caved and bought me my UGGS, little did I know I just needed to pick out a pair that was in style this season, not 5 years ago!
27. that you got me a Kindle for Christmas, even though we said no presents!
28. that you support my creative outlets!
29. that you listen to talk radio and have so many of your own opinions, and challenge me to fight back with mine.
30. that you commute 35-45 minutes every day to provide for our family.
31. that you love me like you do.

Happy 31st Birthday Boo! I love you!

Auntie Heidi's Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I know I said that I would email this to quite a few of you - but then I got to thinking (as I was searching for the yellow legal paper that I put the recipe on for the umpteenth time) that I better just do a post about these, because I am going to lose this recipe at some point in my life, and even though I have made them a million times (I think I would forget how to do it if I didn't have that paper staring me in the face).
*My grandma used to have all her recipes on slips of paper kept in a box, never in a book anywhere, so when I look at where all of my recipes are (on little slips of paper in the pantry next to the cookbooks, I think of her).

So Auntie Heidi, I am giving away your secret, that you informed me wasn't so secret (even though there is something about how you make your cookies and now how I make them). She said, "it is the recipe from the back of the Toll House Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips bag". At least that what she tried telling me. When I tried, they turned out nothing like her cookies did. So, on a trip visiting Nebraska (that is where I used to call home) I begged Auntie Heidi to make them in front of me so that I could watch and take notes (on my yellow legal pad paper!). I wrote down everything, guess I am a visual learner, because I needed to see what it looked like at each step, so that I could duplicate it!

Without further delay, I will now share it with you! Good Luck - if you make 'em you will have to let me know how they turn out!

Auntie Heidi's Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 Crisco Stick
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (make sure it is packed)
1 tsp double strength vanilla
1/2 tsp hot water
Mix above ingredients until it is creamy like a smoothie

Add 2 Large Eggs
Mix again, will look pretty gross, also doesn't need to be mixed very well, just make sure it gets swirled around in there!

Add 1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
Mix

Add 1 more cup of flour
Mix

Now add in the semi sweet chocolate chips
Mix

I use a spoon and roll into small balls, 12 to a cookie sheet!

Cook for 10 minutes in 350 degree oven. When the timer goes off and you open the oven, the cookies will NOT look done, I promise they are and I think that this is where some of the magic in the recipe comes in (that and the crisco sticks instead of butter and the double strength vanilla)! Take them out and load your next dozen in!

Enjoy!

Thank you Auntie Heidi - without you I would never have known the secret to the best cookies ever made! They were always best out of your tupperware from the top cabinet like 5 days old! I still remember climbing up onto your counters trying to get my little fingers on them! Making them with you when we were at your house was the most fun! Eating the chocolate chips after was so special too! I let Kyan do that now! Love you!

Dear John

I got to go see this movie on opening day! Something that doesn't happen in the Roseland house too often! Chad picked up the kids after school and I had a few hours of mommy time!

Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors, his books always end up as great movies (something that I don't feel like happens too well very often), but this was good. I cried, of course, and thought a lot about my brother (mom, I need his address so that I can write to him, something I never do. Please email it to me). There was a very tender moment between a John and his dad and I thought about my brother and my dad, that is when the tears started flowing the worst.

I can't wait for The Last Song to come to the theater! They showed previews and I can't wait!

If IKEA was your mom...what would your name be?

Instead of Chad, Jenni, Kyan, and Lola Roseland we would be Sfad, Sveni, Slala, & Kianvik Rasvelannd! Ha! That was fun! I saw this on someone's blog and thought it was pretty funny and went to type in my name instantly - then did the whole family! I couldn't help it! I know you are dying to know your IKEA name too! So, here is the link, have at it!

And the Award Goes to...

ME!

So, this is my first blogger award, and I feel honored! I was given this award by my blogger friend, Amy, who, if were being honest, only gave me the award because she new I would play along! Not that she thinks I am honest or anything!!! Just kidding Amy, I know you know I did my 25 Random Things about Me post just for you! So, in order to accept the award, I have to in turn tell 10 honest things about myself, which I think I covered in my 25 Randoms about Myself, but just in case that wasn't enough - here are 10 more!

1. I was married on the beautiful island of Oahu, with my feet in the ocean, serenaded by a Ukulele.

2. My kids do not get a bath every single night. I definitely won't get the cleanest mother award, but, if we, or should I say, if I am being honest, they don't.

3. I know a lot of people who "know" people, if you know what I mean.

4. I suck at getting cards/invitations in the mail, even though this is one thing that I should be good at and have control over.

5. I would wear my UGGS to bed if I could.

6. Ah-So is my favorite restaurant and I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I could afford to. It is also my comfort food when I am having a bad day, which I am, but it is also a place that Chad and I go to celebrate too! I will use any excuse I can to eat there, as you can see!

7. I love unsweetened ice tea and have discovered that Chic-fil-A sells it by the gallon, so no more stops at McDonald's every morning to get my fix before school, I just have a jug that is kept nice and cool in the fridge and I can get it when I need it! Since I am not a coffee or soda drinker - I NEED IT every morning!

8. I am very emotional and hard on myself.

9. I usually hear what you are saying, but don't always pay that good of attention (not sure if that comes from teaching 8th graders and only wanting to hear half of what they are saying?) so if I ask you to tell me again, I swear I heard you, the second time I will listen!

10. I am planning my first blog giveaway soon...stay tuned! This all stemmed from my past month's winnings and getting FREE stuff in the mail that was actually worth something! My mailbox has become a place that I love lately! I want others to share that feeling!

So blogger babes - now I have to pass this award along to 7 other Honest Scraps: My awards go to (drum roll please...)

1. Celeste
2. Laken
3. Susie
4. Camille
5. Candis
6. Hannah (maybe I can get a post out of you?)
7. YOU - if you are reading this and you are not one of the named above, please play along!!!