Torturing my kids

It feels fantastic to come home after months of travel and do ALL the things I have been meaning to do. MAJORLY clean, organize, plan, make appointments, run errands, etc. I'm back to running a smooth ship.

Part of getting back to our normal routine was updating and setting out the chore chart again. Family Home Evening last night consisted of discussing with the girls what it means to have a family and be part of a family. Again, they were both on board with what their duties should be and their weekly reward.
Today though has brought out some funny counter comments...


(Marisa is like Tim when she speaks. Very matter of fact. Natalie is like me when she speaks. Expressive in every sense of the word.)

Me: "Marisa, I have here the pile for you to sweep up."

Marisa: Matter of factly, "I hate all of this hard work."

Me: "Natalie, there are still more toys to clean up."

Natalie: Expressively, "UGH, I'M TIRED OF CLEANING UP!"

Love these turkeys.

potty trained?

Jet-lag was the pits this time around. I threw up in our taxi home after not even an hour of sleep on the plane and then again a few days later after getting very little sleep several days in a row. Adjusting would be so much easier without kids.
This past week we have been traveling around England with my in-laws who flew back to the UK with me. (I will post later on our adventures.) But for now we have had some milestones in our house worth celebrating!

First, my little baby girl turned 3-years-old on August 4! We kept it low key this birthday by celebrating with just a song, presents, and cupcakes. Natalie seemed perfectly content with that.

We sang first thing in the morning which made Natalie a little shy, and then opened up presents afterwards.

Since summer started we have witnessed our little princess grow up right before our eyes. Every day I wake up to an older Natalie. From my baby to a big kid in a blink of an eye.

She was also potty trained in a blink of an eye. Quite literally.
I've only tried a couple of times when she was 2- 2 1/2 to get her interested in going. I bought her a seat for the toilet and talked it up a bit to her. But she was not interested what so ever. So earlier this summer I kept telling her that once she turned 3 she has to go on the toilet. After all, Marisa was 3 when she became toilet trained. She always nodded to and said ok when I reminded her every so often that at 3 she uses the toilet. Even when I quizzed her I would ask, "What happens when you turn 3?" "Go poop and pee on the toilet", was always the response.
So while in CA, right before our Colorado trip I decided to let her pick her own underwear at Target in order to hopefully convince her to go to the toilet. We were only just a few weeks from her 3rd birthday so I figured, why not? She was excited to pick them out but not as excited to actually put it to practise at Grandma's house. She actually did alright but had a couple of accidents. After one day and leaving for CO in the next 2 days I decided to just wait it out. Too much travelling activities in the days ahead anyways.
Well...the very next morning after our 2 weeks in CO Natalie comes to my bedroom to wake me up and says, "I want my underwear." I wasn't really prepared to stand alert and start training that day, but I figured since she asked for it, I better do it.
And from that moment on, she was potty trained.

Yep. That's it folks! Just like that. Only 2 accidents since that day. And we have travelled across the pond back to England, travelled throughout England by car with the in-laws for a week, been jet-lagged, and just plain been busy since then. I'm ok with that!

So as my MIL as my witness, Natalie was potty trained in one day.

Here is a cute picture of Natalie on the toilet at Grandma's house and right after I took the first picture, the second picture happened. haha

As tradition, I write a little bio about my kids on their birthdays so I can always remember the little things about them at this stage in life. So here it goes...

Natalie,

You bring so much joy into our lives. You have the most contagious laugh and you are all high-pitched squeals and giggles. I've heard comments from people that they have never heard little girls giggle as much as you and your sister.

Natalie you are adventurous and willing to try anything. You are all about fun and party and you don't like to skip a beat or miss out on any excitement. But at the same time you are so sweet and aware and sensitive of people's feelings, especially when they are sad. You still are such a cuddle bug and love to be babied.

You have quite a love for fashion. You are very particular about what you are wearing and how your hair is. You probably change your outfits at least 3 times a day. You say things like, "Mom, am I fashion?" or "You are so fashion!"
 One time you asked me to put your hair in a pony tail and after looking into the mirror you were quite displeased. "Higher!" you kept saying to me. I told myself before having kids that I wouldn't cave in and let my kids wear what ever they want out of fear they would look silly; you have trumped that. Good thing you do alright picking things out and you don't look completely silly!

You also are very quick to notice others' "fashion". You always notice if I get new jewellery or a new outfit and you are very quick to dish out compliments. Instead of stuffed animals you like to sleep with jewellery sometimes.
This past Sunday you and Daddy went to church early and you made me promise that I would wear these specific shoes you like. When I showed up to nursery without them on you immediately, disapprovingly turned around and said, "Mom. You are not wearing your flower shoes." I was caught red-handed.

I have also caught you staring into the mirror numerous times. Even on the train to Belgium when the windows became black while going through the tunnel. I don't blame you. You are pretty darn beautiful.

You are much like your mother. Dynamite comes in small packages. You are an exaggerator and highly expressive like your mother. You say things like, "Ginormous" and "I'm SO starving!" No middle ground for you. I have been told by good friends that your facial expressions are like mine. Daddy and I laugh at all your different expressions to help express what you are saying. I get ya girl.

I'm glad the "baby" in you hasn't fully disappeared yet. You still say things like,

-"Hurry up, snow coats!" = "Hurry up, slow pokes!"
- "gumby bears = gummy bears
- "I'm going to stink your bum." = "I'm going to spank your bum."
-"Libba dit" = "Little bit"

Life is good with you around you know.
We love you, Natalie!

It's a...

BOY!

WE ARE HAVING A BOY!

I just knew it. Even the girls knew it. Happy to hear it confirmed. Walking away from the hospital I noticed Tim's slight smile as he held the girls' hands. His next reaction was, "What am I going to do with a boy?" haha

Olympic fever

USA! USA! USA!
Do you have Olympic fever??

I sure do!
Especially since it is in MY city. And most of it happening in my part of town! Right outside my window! Literally!

The Olympics certainly has intensified my readiness to go back to London. Especially to be reunited with my hubby. Thank goodness for FaceTime. The girls for sure have been counting down the days to London as well.

To be honest, at first I didn't really care for the Olympics. I wasn't going to any of the events and the planning and preparing for the games was causing disruptions all through out London. I just couldn't imagine what it was going to do to London during the games! Tim and I were trying to find a way to be gone during those weeks but it never came through. Now I'm glad we will be around for it all.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Oddly enough, watching the famous London sights on TV from the U.S. has extracted out feelings I only heard I would have upon moving back to the states. I'm sure going to miss London...

Steamboat Springs

3 out of 4 of Tim's sisters have semi recently all moved to Colorado. Because of that, last year my in-laws stayed a week with the whole family at Steamboat Springs for the first time in addition to the week of the beach house. We were really sad again to miss this trip too last summer. Luckily, they decided to do it again this year which is another reason why I stayed behind with the girls.

From LA to Denver we go!

Another plane ride for us, and a few hours in the car to our destination. (I wonder how many flights my kids have already been on in their short little lifetime. I'd be curious on the insane amount!) Our villas in Steamboat had a small rocky waterfall which occupied all the grandkids first thing and every night after that. Kids can throw rocks for hours. Chess was another game that entertained the grandkids in the hotel game room. Who knew? Marisa learned from her cousin Weston how to play while in the car and now she is hooked.

I know I exaggerate and joke a lot about me hating nature, but it was really beautiful scenery around us. Green mountains, vast plains, and full rainbows graced my eyes everyday. I like nature from a far.

Although animals are a different story. Natalie didn't fancy the horses either as she said to me, "Those horses are really stinky."

One of the days we went into town to walk around the small, yet cute, little streets of Steamboat. Very American, Wild West town.

Marisa could not contain herself when we walked into F.M. Light & Sons, the famous store in Steamboat Springs. At least 30 signs from Denver to Steamboat suggest drivers to come visit. So we gotta right!? Marisa did not hesitate to try on pink boots, a pink horse, a pink gun, and a pink hat. I couldn't stop her! We just kept laughing and I took this picture of her all properly decked out.

Made in the U.S.A.

Alpine sliding was definitely on the agenda for us. The girls have never been on one and I couldn't wait to see and hear their reactions. Of course, Marisa was a little nervous and scared and Natalie was all smiles. But once we got going, Marisa, who was with me, was squealing with delight the entire time! We went fast the whole way. Natalie went full speed with Grandma next to us. It was so fun the girls wanted to go again. So we did!

Another day we spent most of the day at Steamboat Lake State Park. Sun, water, sand/dirt, toys...what us Harts do best! What's nice about having so many cousins is that there is more than one cousin your age. Here is the almost, or just barely, 3 year old group.

And even though you have cousins your age, they all play well together. The girls love their oldest cousin Haylie and Haylie is so awesome with them. Such a sweet young lady. I want my girls to grow up to be like her. Marisa sure cried when it came time to say good-bye to her. We sure miss living next to her and her family back in OC.

This picture cracks me up. Almost a minute after taking this picture she yells out, "MOM! CAN I HAVE A BAG OF CHEETOS?" hahaha She wanted to eat cheetos while she lazily relaxed, floating on the raft. "SURE THING, SWEETHEART!"

Hiking is not in my blood, but it is on my husband's side. I gladly stayed behind with my MIL and 7 of the youngest grandkids while the rest of the group hiked one morning. We met up with them a few hours later at the top via gondola ride. My kinda hiking.

I thought this picture was funny. It sums up our growing family and family vacations together.

Grandpa with how many grandkids in a hot tub?? There is your ambiance, Grandpa!

During our 2nd week in Denver we spent it hopping from one sister-in-law's house to another. Thanks Kari, Carin, and Janna for letting us crash at your homes and showing us around CO. The girls and I loved it!

{Wayne, Elaine, Matt, Kari, Haylie, Cade, Weston, Tanner, Ryder, Trent, Carin, Abby, Brynn, Leah, Shea, Lilly, Luke, Janna, Stone, Rusty, Van, Sawyer, Tanya, Marisa, and Natalie. (Missing: Tim, Mike, and Sara) And there are two more babies on the way!}

16 1/2 weeks

I'm in trouble. This is the biggest I have ever been at this stage in any of my pregnancies!

a first

I guess there is a first for everything.
Earlier yesterday as I was sitting on the porch watching the girls jump on the trampoline I was thinking to myself that I really hope we don't have any injuries that require hospitalization while we are in the U.S. We obviously have travel insurance, but I just didn't want to complicate my life with insurance issues overseas and with my hubby back in London already, etc. etc.

Not even an hour later as I was giving the girls a bath, it happens. Marisa slips in the tub and hits her chin causing yes, the very thing I was trying to avoid, an open gash which needed stitches.

I felt like the worst. mother. in the world. I know, I know, it wasn't my fault. It wasn't even her fault. Accidents happen. But I just kept thinking to myself, "Her face! Her beautiful little face is going to be scarred!"

Poor little thing was such a trooper during a 2 hour wait in urgent care, plus the pain of a needle, getting 4 stitches, waiting for her medication at the pharmacy and finally going to bed close to midnight. Not how I envisioned our Monday night.

Marisa was scared and cried a lot during the numbing because of the big needle, but she honestly was so brave and I'm so proud of her. Luckily the scar will be right under her chin and most likely not going to be noticeable. I'm sorry baby girl. I love you.