You know you're nursing a toddler when.. (maybe TMI)

• they nurse and then run away to play leaving you to squirt milk all over
• when they get squirted in the face and think it’s hilarious.
• when you are sitting down and they come to help themselves.
• when they’re eating and then nurse with food in their mouth leaving crumbs on your boobs. (lol just happened).
• when they get mad that someone is touching your boobs or pretending to nurse (he attacks my husband if my husband pretends LOL).
• while nursing they put their hand in your shirt to play with the other nipple. 
• your nipples/boobs can stretch/twist in ways you've never seen before (haha) and your nipples can stretch about a good 2 inches. 
• when you can calm a tantrum, stop tears, and ease pain just by nursing.

To be continued.. 

Getting dressed

I'm not sure at what age children usually do this and I can't remember at what age Tay and Trent started doing this, but Titan is already helping me to get him dressed! He has been doing this for a few weeks so since he was 12 months old.

He puts his head through the shirt hole and sticks his arms through the arm holes. When I hold the pants down near his legs, he lifts his leg and puts his feet through. Then when it's time to put on his shoes, he sits down and lifts his foot up for me. I think it is so cute! :)

Now, if he would just lay still for the changing of his diapers! :P

Clothing sizes

Titan is 13 months old and is wearing clothes mostly in 18 months (some things vary depending on brand).

Trenton is 2 yrs old and is wearing mostly 4T.

Tayven is 5 yrs old and is wearing size 8.

My big boys. :)

Smart, Sweet, and Sad.

Titan has a new thing.

Every time my husband leaves for work or school, Titan grabs my husbands shoes, passes it to him, and says "here you go" (he says this whenever he passes something to us). Then, he follows daddy to the door thinking he's going to go with him and he says (go.. go). When my husband leaves and closes the door after saying I love you and buh-bye, Titan starts crying. :( Then he runs to the couch to open the blinds and watch his daddy drive away. How sad and sweet is that?

Meet My Dad

This is my dad. We're not as close as I'd like. My parents divorced went I was 3 years old. From letters I've read between my parents, I loved my dad and was close with him back then. As we got older, we would visit my dad every other weekend. When we were with him, it was never a weekend spent with our daddy. We rarely did anything fun, we never just sat and talked, we never did daddy daughter things. It was almost as if he was babysitting or having us because he was obligated. Anyway, I'll try not to get negative on this post. Basically, you don't really get close with someone by visiting them every other weekend and not doing things together.

I know my dad loves me, I just wish he was more affectionate and showed us that he cared. Even now, we rarely talk. We lived on the same island and I would only see him on holidays, mostly just Christmas. Sad, huh?

Anyway, my dad can be funny and he cracks us up. It's usually after he's had a few beers though.. otherwise he's really serious. I was scared to ever ask him for anything and never really opened up to him. I guess my relationship with my mom makes up for the father-daughter relationship that we lack. I love my dad though and he'll always be my dad. :)

**in the picture he is holding Tayven when he was 1 hehe.

Meet My Mom

This is my mom. My mom is my best friend (aside from my husband) and we’ve always been close. Growing up everyone would say I was her favorite. I really don’t think I was her favorite I just think we are close. After all, she breastfed me until I was 3! Lol ok that MIGHT have something to do with it but I don’t know. :P Growing up I could tell her anything. I never had to lie about where I was going with friends.  Never hide to sneak anything. I want a relationship like that with my kids. I want them to be able to not feel scared or embarrassed to tell me anything. She was my best friend but also a parent. I didn’t disrespect her or sneak behind her back. I knew she was my mom and always made sure to ask for permission before doing something because even though I knew she would say yes, I respected her. She has done so much for me and I have no idea what I would do without her. Even until this day she does a lot for me but mostly for my sons. She’s the best grandma hehe. Of course, she has made many bad choices and those were choices I tell myself I will never make and have my kids go through.  But at the end of the day, she’s human and we all make mistakes. If I were to lose her anytime soon, a part of me would die. I have no idea how I would hold up. Ok.. anyway, meet my mom!

Tayven is going to grow up and be a family man.

I’m hoping his attitude and personality doesn’t change too much as he gets older. 

Tonight, my husband and I were asking him how his Valentine’s party at school went. He said that he played pin the tail on the donkey and he won (not sure if he is story telling.. LOL). Anyway, he then said that he won $100 and he has to pick it up tomorrow (this def. is story telling!). So, Daddy asks him, “Tay what are you going to do with the money?” 

And Tayven says (seriously, mind you), “I’m going to buy you guys stuff and food (yep, he’s definitely my son!). I’m going to buy you guys food and electric.” 

Sounds silly but he is actually so mature for his age. He is thinking about taking care of his parents and (sadly) about paying bills. “/ His first answer was NOT something for himself, but for us. He makes me proud. VERY proud. =)

My birthday & Valentine's Day

Last night after my husband got off of work, he came home and was searching around for something. 
Then, he goes back outside and comes in singing happy birthday. He is holding 3 pieces of cake stacked on top of each other on a paper plate. lol Sounds silly, I know but Walmart and the other grocery store was closed so he went to the gas station and bought those individual cake pieces. He drove around looking for a store and looking for a candle. Anyway, it was so sweet because of the effort he put into it! He was bummed that he couldn’t find a candle, but I loved it. 

Then, this morning I went to Walmart when I woke up to buy some things because Tayven has his Valentine’s party at school today. I bought his class some lollipop valentines. I also bought the hubby a gift! We usually don’t buy each other things for Valentine’s Day (well we haven’t for the last few years), but after his efforts last night plus working and going to school he deserved something! Here's what I got him:

I got home and woke Tay up. He put stickers and wrote his name on each Valentine. Then he got ready for school and left.

Family & Food + My Birthday part II

After picking up our food from Applebee's I HAD to have Jamba Juice. I haven't been to Jamba Juice since before we left Hawaii. So, I got me a Peanut Butter Moo'd, which is the only thing I get from there lol.
Then we stopped at 711 to grab some shrimp chips and Hawaiian Sun juice.

When we got to 711, we grabbed the juice but couldn't find the shrimp chips. When we got to the register, I asked the guy cashier if they had run out of the shrimp chips and he said no "the Hawaii section was in the back." So, I walked behind the cashier area and OMG I was ecstatic! They had everything I've been craving since we moved here except for teri patties. They had mochi crunch, li hing mui candies, the Hawaii diamond crackers, laulau. kalua pig, manapua, portuguese sausage, and redondo's red hot dogs!!! That made my night! We landed up going back to the motel, working on some homework, watching TV, and then going to bed. 

This morning we checked out, went to 711 and grabbed some Hawaii grindz! 

Then we drove back home. 

Just because.. here are some pictures of the boys in the hotel room.

Family & Food + My Birthday part I

Our original plans were to go to Vegas, but due to a few different reasons, we decided not to travel that far. Instead, we drove up to Provo. One reason was to use our gift cards and the other was to spend some time out of our little town and sort of celebrate my birthday. Here are some pictures on our way up there:

we rented a motel room for the night, took our bags to the room, and looked up where Olive Garden was (where one of our gift cards were for).

Here's the motel room. 

 I've always wanted to eat at Olive Garden. In Hawaii, I would see commercials and I would drool! It was such a tease since Hawaii doesn't have an Olive Garden! 

This is my ziti! It was sooo yummy!!

After eating, we drove around and looked at what kind of stores and restaurants there were (for future trips) and then we hung out in the room and watched TV. 

For dinner we ordered Apple Bee's Carside to go (another of the gift cards were for here). I got the Philly Burger 

Continued in next post..

Random Fact #8

When I see someone I know giving a talk/speech/presentation or performing, I get nervous for them.

I have a pretty bad fear of public speaking, so yes I get nervous for them (even if they aren't nervous!)

Tayven & Titan's doctor appointment

Titan’s stats at 12 months 3 weeks old were: 25 lbs (77%) & 33 in. (99%)

He cried when the nurse just touched him! He screamed whenever they came in the room. He screamed when the doc was looking in his ears and mouth.. and of course, he screamed for the shots. He just did not want to be there! lol poor kid. 

Tayven’s stats at 5 yrs & 5 months old were: 73 lbs (100%) & 48.75 in. (99%)

He did REALLY well. He had to get 2 shots in his thighs.. and oh man he took it like a champ. It was sad for me because he’s my eldest and he is so mature for his age. It’s almost like he knows he’s the big brother and has to be a big boy :( When the needles went in he was like “ow ow,” and he looked like he wanted to cry but he was embarrassed to do so. How sad is that? I hugged him after the nurses were done and told him how proud of him I am. 

At Trenton’s last appt. his weight was too much for his height, so the doc told me that he would have a nutritionist call me. She called but I never called back. To me, he’s just a growing boy lol. Today, because of how much Tay weighs, he mentioned a nutritionist again and I said ok… because lately my husband has brought it up that Tay eats a lot. When I make his plate, it’s almost as much as mine and sometimes he even asks for second. Their pedi wasn’t too concerned about obesity and such because he said they are bound to be big (look at their dad) but he said it wouldn’t hurt to start giving healthier foods and I agree. 

Milestone wise they’re both great and Tay exceeds things for his age lol. Tay is a smarty pants! :)

"We'll see"

When my siblings and I were younger and would ask my mom if we could go somewhere or do something, she’d always say we’ll see. We came to realize that whenever she said we’ll see, it usually meant no.  Whenever I asked her something and she said “I don’t know we’ll see” or “maybe we’ll see,” it would drive me nuts. I never understood why she couldn’t just say no from the get go! 

Now that I’m a mom and have kids that can talk and ask for things, I now know why she said we’ll see instead of just no. When you say no, you get whining, complaining, and crying. When you say we’ll see, it keeps them from asking for a few minutes and if you’re lucky they might drop it and forget about it. lol 

“Mom, can we play outside today?”

“No, son. It’s too cold today and I think it might snow.”

“But moooomm.. we went outside yesterday! Haaaww!!”

It should have wen’t like this..

“Mom, can we play outside today?”

“Maybe, son. We’ll see.”

“Ok, mom. 

lol… so yeah .. now I know why my mom said “We’ll see” instead of no. :P

8 ways to win my heart

1. Be honest.
2. Have a sense of humor.
3. Be family oriented.
4. Accept my goofiness.
5. Buy me food ;)
6. Be honest.
7. Cook me food.
8. Love me for me.

50!

My mom turned 50 on January 30th. My aunties (her sisters) threw her a surprise party. A week before the party, my aunty had asked me and my siblings to write her a letter. Here is my letter:

To my mommy and best friend,

                First off, you are fifty! Fifty, Mom! I can’t believe it. Hehe It’s ok though because you definitely don’t look it! I was asked to write you a letter and I’m unable to think of what I want to say. There is a lot to say but since I talk to you regularly, I feel like I’ve said it all. I’ll just start off by saying that I appreciate all that you do for me and for the boys. I just want to make sure you know that everything you have done is appreciated and none of it goes unnoticed.

                You are my best friend, not just my mom. We’ve always had each other’s back (so to speak). I’ve cried on your shoulder and you’ve cried on mine. We argue, fight, have gotten mad each other (these are rare but they have happened), but we’ve also had so much more good times together. You raised me to be the best I can be. By your greatest achievements, personality traits, and efforts, you have taught me that I can be a great person and a great mother to my children. You’ve taught me to not care what others think and to treat others how I want to be treated (cliché I know.. but it’s true). By your mistakes and bad choices, you’ve taught me many things as well. No one is perfect and EVERYONE makes mistakes, so I don’t care about the things people have to say about you nor do I care what they may think (besides, no one but ME has been there to know anything anyway). You and I both know that you are a great person with great intentions who loves everyone and is always set out to please everyone (which you should stop and learn to say no :P ).

                I honestly have no idea what I would do without you. I still can’t believe I even moved here to Utah. I bet no one would have thought that, huh? I miss you like crazy every day. I miss our daily ventures to “run errands” where we would land up buying things we didn’t need. I miss the days when you would bring me food I was craving or food just because (you know I love food). I miss having my mom with me. I miss your 10 minute meals. I miss your hoarding.. HAHA. You’re so far away and it sucks. But you know what? I’ll see you again (hopefully SOON) and we’ll make the best of it. I’m also going to work on getting you to move up here.  ;)

                Are you crying yet? If not, stop holding it in and trying to be tough! Hehe. I’m crying while typing this, so it’s ok Mom. I guess I’ll end it here. I hope you have an amazing dinner and I’m grateful for Aunty them for making this dinner for you. You do deserve it! I truly wish we could all be there, but it’s ok. You’ll have a good time anyway! I wish you a Happy Birthday and MANY more years to come (I need you!)  I love you so much, Mom. Forever and Always.

Love your daughter,

Caprice <3

My aunties took those letters, printed it in a nice font, and framed them. They set it on a table along with her cake and a picture of her and her siblings. 

Here is my mom (who does not look 50!) with Rayne and her husband Harold. 

Here is my little big sister (she's younger but a lot taller than me) and my older brother with my mom. 

It's just missing my older sister and I. 

My mom said she had a great time. She was really surprised. She loved the letters. Everyone was crying when they were read. I wish we were able to be there, but I'm just glad she had a good time with the rest of our family. :)

I love my boys!