Nathan Carves a Pumpkin

So today Nathan helped daddy carve his Halloween Pumpkin.

Happy Carving, So I asked Nathan what the name of his pumpkin was going to be? Nathan says, "Jacques." I said, "Didn't anyone  tell you I thought his name was Jack-o-Lantern."

Katelyn & Nathan's Jack-o-lanter

Mothers and Sons

You know for the last four years I have been trying to discover the relationships between mothers and their sons.  I have seen great ones and not so good ones.

I try my best to teach Nathan, right from wrong, good from bad, nice from  mean.  This is an ongoing lesson.  Sometimes I feel defeated, challenged, and beat.  Other times I think break through.  For the most part, I think I say it enough that one day when I am not with him, Nathan will make the right decision and become a Fine Young man, which is what every mother wishes for their boy.

Today we ventured to tackle some baseball practice and hone in some actual skill development.  We practice running bases, which he did, practice our catching.  I can tell his attention span was very limited,  and instead of his mom I was trying to be a coach along with his dad.  If you have ever met Brian or I, you should know we are the most impatient people and together we are worse.  Poor Nathan, but none the less he did good.

Lil K on the other hand will be wayyyy ready.

Nathan was very testy all day.  Even after an hour practice, we figured he would tire out and take a nap. NOPE!!!

I was so tired from running bases, I crashed, Lil K crashed but not Nathan.  The chaos was on.  So Nathan refused to take his nap.

Since Nathan didn't want to play by the rules, he did not get to carve his Halloween pumpkin. He seem to understand that he didn't get what he wanted, but it still didn't stop him.

Now fast forward to the evening, after coming home from some errands, I sat down in the office to work on the computer.  Nathan thinks it's funny to stick his fire truck ladder inside the printer. REALLY???

Nathan, how many times has mommy told you not to touch things, that aren't your.  Apparently, I can turn blue in the face and he will still try to get to things that he is not suppose to.  A little upset at his behavior I sent him to his room for the night.

Brian tucks him in, and asks me to go inside his room and say good night.  I did.

About five minutes later, Nathan comes out of his room, and walks into mine.  He asks me to kiss him good night and if I could sing him a song.  I was so upset at his bratty behavior through out the day.  I responded, "when you listen to my words I'll sing you a song, not tonight maybe tomorrow."  Nathan was so upset he walked away crying.

After a few minutes, I returned to Nathan's room.  We had a little talk, in which I tried to explained to him, that he needs to use nicer words towards mommy and he shouldn't talk back.  As I am talking to him, he interrupts me and says, "wait mommy wait one minute."  He had to stop me from talking because he had to put some toys away.  AHHHH.  Here I am trying to have a heart to heart with my four year old son.  Obviously not that important to him.

Nathan did get his song and he felt much better.  Relationships are always hard, but loving relationships between mothers and sons are complex. There is a fine line between nurturing and disciplining.

Nathan plays little League

OMG,  Nathan's first T ball game was today.  How did it go you ask.  It was apparent it was Nathan's first time playing T BALL.

First inning, Nathan is up to bat, he gets a HIT,  Yehhhh.  You would think good thing right?  Nathan drops the bat and runs, runs, to THIRD Base. Opps.

I guess no one including yours truly ever talked to him about the bases.

Second time up to bat, Nathan hits the ball, again... And instead of running to first base, he chases the ball into the field,,ay ay ay.

We aren't even discussing the outfield yet.  Apparently, Nathan is bored and decides to place his glove over his face.  No one told Nathan that when you cover your eyes, you can't see the ball coming at you either.  I can hear myself,  "NATHAN" get ready.
The game was only one hour long  but it was the longest, most tense hour of my life.  I know I know he is only four but give me a break.

It would have been hilarious if it wasn't my son in the field.  Not to mention as he is in the dug out, he starts talking to a girl.  All I can think is if you don't have game in the field, you don't have game at all.

Or maybe he does, he sure looked handsome in his uniform.

Cranky

So Nathan decides to ask daddy and me, "what is cranky",  I try to say, "well it's when you are tired and angry".  Brian adds, "you know what mommy usually is in the morning." So Nathan decides, "I am cranky too." It's fascinating to see and hear how much this little guys imitate and decide how they are going to be based on what they see.  Umm,,,that explains A LOT.

So after swim class, Nathan asks if we can go to taco restaurant place for dinner,  I actually was craving that place too.  Eating out with kids under five can always be a challenge.  I say bring snacks and order a double Cadillac margarita.  Well apparently Lil K was not in the mood, she went off the entire time.  But like always Nathan is the one who gets in trouble.  Daddy could not enjoy anything.  Anyone can relate?

Somehow, by the time I came back inside the car, Nathan was crying saying, "Nathan is not fair, he said something very hurtful."  I asked Nathan what daddy said?  Daddy said, "He wasn't bringing me back to the restaurant." Nathan must really like going to Miguel's

So  on the ride back home,  I mean the whole ride home, I had three children in the car
Daddy: Stop it
Nathan : no you stop it
Katelyn: daaaa daaaaa!!!

ten rounds of that ,, Nathan ends up telling daddy, "I 'm gonna whip your ass out of this car"....WHOA....
Talk about being Cranky.....


Ah the joy of parenting, like I said double up and keep them coming....

Good Bye Lake Powell

Well today Nathan completes his Lake Powell excursion.  He got to see a lot of breathtaking scenarios.  Even though he is probably too young to understand he has just witnessed one of the seven wonders of the world.

He was more interested in climbing rocks.  So here we go.  Nathan was persistent every time we beached the boat that he wanted to climb up the rocks. I am not a hiker, however I do like pushing the limits and I think subconsciously the kids are learning to become dare devils. Nathan asked me, "Mommy what is hiking?" I said,  "it's when you walk up rocks." Nathan says, "OK lets go hiking then mommy, wanna go?".  I couldn't resist. So we walked and we climbed, so here it is:  Can You See Us?

For a four year old Nathan did very well.  We would have gone further if I knew how to read the rock trails a little better.  Nathan was on a mission to catch up with a group of hikers that was hiding a Geo Find.  Needless to say they were experienced hikers and later told me that trail they took  was going to be rated difficult.  However Nathan and Katelyn were given kudos.

After talking with them, we come to find out that "The Storm" we were a part of, was thee worse storm they have seen Lake Powell have in the last twenty seven years they have been going there.

So we ended with that..Until Nathan's next venture.

Nathan goes Rafting

Today we got to enjoy  a lot of the lake's fun stuff, Nathan got to go riding on a raft, went to Glen Canyon Dam, and even got to jump of the rocks.

Just the girls

Nathan jumping off the rocks and dad going after him

Even though the day turned out to be  a very nice one, here come those black clouds again, we can hear thunder from the other side of the canyon.  Nathan said it would be ok, " we could just go to the houseboat next to us in case of an emergency."  Even went as far far as to tell dad to hurry up, because the storm was coming.

You think we would learn our lesson, but this time we packed up.  But instead of running away from the black cloud, we went looking for it.  Really, didn't we learn our lesson.

Nathan was already requesting to go inside his cabin, fortunate for us we were close and docked our boat before it came down.

Even though we were a day late, Mommy still got a birthday dinner...

The End

Nathan at Rainbow bridge

It was a long ride to get to Rainbow Bridge.  But we finally made it.  Nathan didn't get to jump off a rock just yet but he got a whole other experience.

The Storm

So we set out yesterday on a venture, we made plans to make it to Rainbow Bridge then possibly camp out in order for us to continue to Escalante Arms.

Well we made it to Rangling Rope Marina, the whether was changing.  We were told Rainbow Bridge was six miles up.

We made it to the cut off and cruized around all the rocks.  We made it To Rainbow Bridge.  Nathan and I hiked up 1/4 to the very end.  It was an amazing site.  On the way down Nathan and I raced down the bridge back to dad.  Brian had mention we better hurry up the whether did not look in our favor.

As Nathan and I ran back down, I ironically thought we might make the Rainbow Bridge gods upset for running. We got back in our boat and we can see lightning and roaring thunder from the far.

Not five minutes after we started our journey back did it begin to pour down.  When I speak of the storm I was not referring to the chaos the kids create.

The wind began to blow, visibility was zero, the rain drops were so big they would hurt your face when they hit you. We couldn't proceed safely.  Brian made the decision to have the kids and I go inside the porta potty cabin.

I got inside with the kids, in order to prevent the kids from becoming frighten I sang songs to them and told stories, as I secretly prayed we get through this storm and that our boat doesn't capsize.

I was worried about Brian, I can hear the rain pouring and the thunder roaring even more.  I made the mistake to look at my phone only to find out we were going the opposite way.  There is no way we were going to make it to Bullfrog Marina, noooo way.

Brian saw a houseboat.  The storm was so bad that we asked if we can take refuge inside.  It took at least four to five men to tie down our boat, the wind was blowing so hard.  Our new friends from Sacramento took the kids and by the time I made it on board Nathan and Katelyn were having hot chocolate and Oreo cookies.  They even went as far as inviting us to to stay for dinner and stay the night until the storm passed.  Brian got his houseboat,,wasn't how I planned it

There are some very good people in this world, and we were fortunate enough to find them.  This experience has humbled me.  I want to thank my hero Brian for being so courageous and getting us to safety.  You are truly a wonderful husband and an amazing father. I love you guys.

To our new friends from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, THANK YOU....YOU ARE THE BEST

Nathan and Katelyn's Safety Cabin

I am adventurous but I never thought I would live to see 36......I made it

Good Morning From Lake Powell

So Our Morning actually began at 0500hrs this morning.  For some reason the little mates thought they could get up and run around.  They both take a stay in a hotel as a free for all.

Somehow, they got settled and we managed to stay in bed until 0730.  And here it is:

You see a little yogurt and Scobby Doo go a long way. Now the problem is we can't get Nathan out of the room.  I asked Nathan to get ready because we are getting ready to leave.  He tells me not yet.  I know what he is going to say.  I tell him, "let me guess Nathan, you have something to say."  He says, "yes," " Are you going to say that you aren't ready yet.  Don't you want to jump of the rocks," He says, "not yet," "Then when," he shows me his hand and shows me a "FIVE", yes he means at Five this afternoon.

I don't think so, Nathan Get ready or this boat will sail without you.  Catch you later.....got to go

Nathan goes to Lake Powell

So we finally made it to our destination.We launched and began our journey in the water, let me tell you the view can leave you breathless.  We were told we were going to love it, and just the bits that we managed to get to were incredible.

Nathan's first words, "Are we going to jump off a rock?"  I don't know Nathan are you? "YES".

So it begins, Nathan directs his dad to pull up next to the rocks in Padre Bay (How fitting).
Well let me describe them, they are more like 100 feet boulders.  We pulled up and Nathan asked me if I was going to climb up with him.  I asked, "How do you plan to climb up?" The boulders walls were completely flat.

Nathan's solution, was to throw a rope,,,,Oh my child.  He actually counted 16 feet of rope.

How are you going to get the rope to the top of the rock, he says, "I have an idea, I'll go first then I'll throw you the rope and you can climb up, come on mommy your young."

How precious you are......

Nathan Goes to St. George

So the question was asked, "Why are we at a Mormon Temple?"

Because it's historical and Beautiful

Katelyn arrives at her kingdom

Nathan goes to Vegas

When I asked Nathan what he wanted to do in Vegas, his response, "I want to go to the hotel room and sleep"

The waiter at Dick's last resort met his match.  I told Nathan this is the one place he can say what ever he wants, and HE DID

Nathan goes on a road trip

Well here we are, ROAD TRIP...Needless to say Nathan has been a good sport thus far, half way to Vegas, his wing girl  finally shut it down like a Kitty Kat. Wasn't sure how much, "Mama, Mama, Mama" I was going to take.

A quick stop at the Coach store sure makes a girl feel better.

Nathan is glued to his television, and holding on to his markers and important notes. We packed pretty much everything but the kitchen sink.  So stay tune as Nathan goes to Vegas Next.....Can't wait.

Did Someone call Fire

Nathan and Katelyn to the rescue

The youngest Fire squad in the city

The sensitive Side of Nathan

How Nathan will handle a Bad guy

Nathan be nice to girls

I try to teach my son to protect girls and be nice to girls.  I guess he is listening:

Here comes the following,

Nathan is visiting his cousin Jocelyn, they are playing doing there own thing.

About ten minutes later, Nathan comes over and tells me, "Mommy, Jocelyn took my money,"  I walked over and tried to figure out what Nathan was talking about.  I remembered Nathan had two quarters in his pocket.

I walk inside Jocelyn room, Nathan is showing me two pennies.  I knew there was something up, Because I teach Nathan to put all pennies in Daddy's coin bank. Bills, quarters and dimes go in Nathan's piggy bank.

I asked Jocelyn, "Jocelyn did you give Nathan the two pennies, She says yes,  puzzled I asked did you take his two quarters, she says Yes and here it comes;

ME: Why
Jocelyn: Because I need money
ME: where are the quarters
Jocelyn: In my box
ME: Jocelyn, you need to give Nathan his money back and he will give you yours
Jocelyn: But I need money

They both conceded , Nathan got his quarters back.

Later that night, I talked to Nathan on how he got his money taken away.  I was trying to explain to him the concept of if he is not on his  A game people are going to take his lunch money away.

Nathan replies, "mommy someone is going to take your stuff too, it just happens"

My thought, well I can't write what my thoughts are if someone tried to TAKE  MY STUFF AWAY, but Nathan stood firm on the fact that there will be people that will take what you have.  I didn't win that one.

Fast forward two days later,  we are back at his cousin house, I can hear Nathan and Jocelyn going at  it AGAIN, I step out, "What now", Jocelyn says, "Nathan threw sand in my face."  I didn't see whether it happened or not, so I'll take Jocelyn's word.  I talked and firmly told Nathan I don't want to see him throw sand at Jocelyn.

As the afternoon goes by, Nathan and I are in the bathroom, he looks at his face and is surprise to see sand on his face.  I asked him, " how did you get sand on your face" Nathan replies, "Jocelyn threw it in my face."
I said, "Ok Nathan I'll talk to her" He quickly replies, "No mommy it's ok if she wants to throw sand in face."

Ok Mommy has taken the term "BE NICE TO GIRLS TOO FAR" Game on.....

The Cycle

So lately every evening we have been dealing with chaos.  Everyone seems edgy and tired.  Probably too much sun and Chocolate beers.  I am almost ready to say good bye to summer,

Not to mention that during our labor day bar-b-q, Nathan was swimming around the pool, saying, "I want a beer".  Very familiar saying in our household, just not for a four year old.



This morning where the cycle begins, Nathan was told before hand to listen and have a good morning.  So as I am trying to get ready, Nathan feels the need to touch everything on my vanity that he is not suppose to.  I am trying my very best to be calm and patient,  we just started the day five minutes ago.  So I say out loud, "God Please help me"  (I don't want to whip his butt this morning).  Nathan responds, "You see God is not helping you,"


Lets just say Nathan returned back to his room and that is where the cycle ended. So god did help me and him.

The New Fish, Chapter II

As some of your know, about three weeks a go we got a new aquarium as a replacement for our beloved Noah.  We were told to place three new fishes at a time.  Well it was time to add more new fish to our infamous aquarium.  After a short trip to our neighborhood Petco, we came home with three more new fish.

You would think, WOW our fish look really cool, We asked Nathan what he was going to name them, of course Noah, so were up to three or four fish named Noah.

Only one exception, of course only the man in the family would pick up on the following:

"Dianne that fish is aggressive".  It turns out the fish was not aggressive, he was ready to mate. Yup, you guessed it.  Our Black molly is a male fish and the two new mollys were female.  Of course Brian looks it up on the internet and finds out that one fish can lay up to 60 eggs.  Now Brian is in a panic.  It's like 11pm at night.  He decides he wants to flush the two new females down the toilet.

Wait one minute, why do we need to get rid of the females, the boy fish can't keep it to himself.  Brian says, well the male has been here longer.  Well I wasn't going to flush two perfectly healthy fish down the toilet,  I thought maybe Uncle Shawn can get the new fish.  Brian looks at me and says, "Shawn doesn't want any fish", well Jocelyn's birthday is coming,, what a great gift.  Well we all agreed  "NO".

We decided to separate the female fish from the male fish.  The question came up, What are we going to tell Nathan.  Too young for the birds and the bees conversation.

Well this morning, Baby daddy and Nathan went back  to Petco with the two female \fish.  Brian told Nathan we needed to return the girl fishies because we only needed boy fishies in the tank.  Nathan was quick to remind me that there is still a girl fish, ZOE in the aquarium.  If he only new that ZOE is actually a boy fish.

As the new fish get to know each other, the black molly is chasing the new fish,  typical man doesn't realize that even though it looks like the old mollys this one is a boy and does not play like that.

Nathan is more concern with going swimming himself than what the boy fish is doing,  Even though it might rain he suggested we take an umbrella inside the pool.

Guess Who Reached the terrible two's

Never one to stay behind, Here is Nathan's Wing Girl

Who is the Child and Who is the parent

So I am left speechless,

Nathan and Katelyn are playing together in the choo choo room, I could hear Nathan say "Dad, look at what Katelyn did". He walks into the office and says, " mommy come see what Katelyn just did.  I fix it, she breaks it, I fix it, she breaks it, I can't keep fixing it."

I start laughing, to myself of course.  I can see that Katelyn is intrigued with the smaller legos that Nathan has.  He build a space shuttle and a Fire truck.

Nathan says to Katelyn, "You see, um um um....."

LOL who says um um um.

Than he looks at me and asked, Are you still mad?  I asked Nathan," who says I was mad". He replies, "Well you did your face, you had an angry face and went into your room stopping your feet" HAHAHAHAHA.

Who is the child and who is the parent?  

I admit I must have had a tantrum.