NPS= Masters degree and mini vacations

We just got back from another mini vacation. We are exploring California and taking advantage of the free time Brandon has while getting his Master's at NPS. This past weekend we drove down to the Santa Barbara area and met our good friends Keith and Chrissy Schwennesen and their adorable 3 kids. We have not all been together for awhile now so this trip was well overdue. We met at a cabin in the woods by some Lake (I cannot remember the name of it!!) The cabin was what we all needed! We saved money by staying here because we were able to cook our own food instead of going out for every meal. It was great! It was also very relaxing. Even with 5 kids around us, we all talked about how easy going the whole weekend was. We did not have cell phone service where we were and there was no cable. We just had ourselves, kids who played GREAT together, good wine, and games.

On Saturday we decided to venture out and headed to Slovang, a Danish town near Santa Ynez. We walked around and did a little shopping and ate some danish food. The yummiest was the aebleskiver, which is a puffed pancake ball drizzled with rasberry jelly and powdered sugar. The restaurant wasn't the greatest but the food was good. It was a really cool town to walk around and I highly recommend anyone exploring that area. On Sunday before we left, we explored Santa Barbra a little bit and enjoyed a face full of wind and sand (it was extremly windy that day), we ate lunch on the pier and then said our goodbyes. We had such a great time and I cannot wait for the next get together!!

Back across we go....

In December of this year Brandon graduates from Naval Post Graduate school which mean it will be time for something new. Yesterday we found out he will be working in the Pentagon. That means we will have to trek across the United States once more. AND I know this will not be the last time, SIGH, but we will enjoy our time there. I am excited to go live near all the museums and cultural things that Washington DC has to offer. I know that there will be a ton of things to offer for all of us.

However, this was Brandon's third choice to do a tour in Arlington, VA. His top choice was Sydney, Australia and second choice was off the Island of Sicily in Italy. We really wanted to go out of this country! The thought of living in Sydney was really exciting. Brandon's detailer, (the guy in charge of his next orders), even told Brandon verbally that he was number one for Sydney. That made us really excited. We didn't talk about it much because we worried that if we did, it wouldn't happen. Well, that didn't matter. We didn't get it obviously. Apparently, both of Brandon's top two choices needed him sooner than he could get there because of school... bummer... something out of our control. Brandon needs to graduate!

SO, here we are ready for our next adventure, which is still months away!! I am ready to start looking into schools and the good areas to live. It kinda freaks me out, by the time we leave, Kayle will be in second grade, AAAAAHHHHHH. I am excited for the shopping and good food. It will be nice to even be closer to some friends I made while we lived in Virginia Beach. It will be good for Brandon to work in the Pentagon with the top military guys too I suppose. Although, he said his job will be not desirable I have to be thankful to be with him!

Lake Tahoe trip with a 15 month old and 3 1/2 year old

Sounds fun right???? It was at some points but not at others. It was an adventure that Brandon and I will never forget for several reasons. Let me start with our drive up there. We left Thursday afternoon and the drive was great until we hit the mountains and it started snowing, and it is dark. For anyone who knows me I don't handle weather conditions well, even when I am in the passenger seat. Our windshield wipers were acting weird and semi trucks were passing us and kicking up dirt and ice. I was FREAKING out. I was trying so hard to stay calm and let Brandon focus on the drive and I started shaking and could not stop. I get really freaked out, it is silly, but that is what I do. Thankfully we made it to our hotel with no problems.

Friday morning we woke up ready to go hit the snow, we headed to Squaw Valley for the day, excited to see this place for several reasons. One, it is big and fancy and second, the Olympics were held there about 50 or 60 years ago so it has to be cool!. We got there about 9 am and sat in the car for about 30 minutes trying to figure out how we are going to carry everything we needed for the day. Here is what we needed: a baby, a toddler, 2 bags full of random things, my skis, boot, and poles and Brandon's skis boots and poles. Brandon decided to come back for our ski stuff at some point and we set of to figure out where we would sit for the day (because not having anyone to watch the kids we would be skiing separately). I was walking with Kayle while he had Makenna who is getting pretty heavy these days. Brandon took off while Kayle and I were chugging behind. I look up at one point and Brandon is no where to be found! UUGGGHHH I start getting really upset because this place is big, how could he loose us. Kayle and I search for him everywhere and I honestly have no clue where he went. So, we sit down on a bench and just wait. Finally Brandon came out and found us.

Anyways, after we finally get settled, Brandon went back to the car to get out skis and stuff, he put them in our sled and drug them behind him. He said they kept falling out of the sled (HAHA) and had a hard time. I had to laugh at something. We were exhausted and frustrated at the day. Now it was lunch time. Kayle spilt her drink everywhere, fun! Next onto Kayle's ski lessons. She loved it, THANK GOODNESS! Brandon actually got to ski a little bit during her lessons while I watched Makenna nap. Then we left. In a nutshell; Squaw Valley is not the best place if you have little kids, it is way to spread out and hard to manage.

Saturday, Alpine Meadows. We knew what to expect. We put Makenna in the stroller and stuffed as much as we could in that thing and managed to walk with everything in one trip. I went skiing for an hour while Brandon watch the girls. Alpine Meadows has an indoor play area for kids that was exactly what we needed, Makenna and Kayle both loved it and played ALL day long while Brandon and I took turns skiing. Kayle even got to go out a couple times with Brandon and LOVED it, she wanted to go fast down the hill with him.

We left Sunday after a quick trip to the sledding hill. We had fun but I highly suggest going when were kids can be in a all day ski program or day care!

Potty Training

It has been one year since I started potty training Kayle. I feel like it has been forever! When we first started the process I knew we would be moving soon and I wanted to try to get it accomplished before we left. That gave me about 5 months to do it, plenty of time I thought. I had no idea how time consuming and involved potty training was and still is!

We started just introducing her to the potty chair and watching videos or reading books about the potty business. She showed little interest but we just kept it up. Eventually she would sit on the potty, which she got a little 'treat' for. I wanted to reward anything!! I cannot remember the first time she actually did any kind of business in the potty chair but I was really excited! After that, she began refusing to go near her potty chair. SO, my genius and creative sister (who was visiting at that time) suggested decorating it and bringing in the potty fairy! We put gems and glitter glue all over that thing! Then, that night we put a note on her chair from the fairy potty saying she would bring Kayle something special if she peed or pooped in the toilet! Somehow, that worked and she peed in the toilet. The potty fairy came for 3 nights and it seemed to get her going.

While we still had many accidents, Kayle was starting to show improvement. It came time to move and Kayle traveled in Pull-ups, occasionally peeing in a public restroom. Once we settled in we got into a routine and she had 2 months to get it down because once she was in preschool she had to be potty trained, (that is what I told her). Well, preschool started and she got it down. It is funny but it is almost as if she was just waiting for preschool to start. I don't know.

We maybe have an accident once a month, maybe! Night training is another story but I am happy to say that a year later, we have success!

Goal jeans

Everybody or maybe every woman has a pair of jeans or pants that are her goal size. Mine are my jeans from Banana Republic, they fit great and are really comfortable. I like the size on the label so they have been my goal since Makenna was born. I lost all the baby weight months ago but my hips weren't back to normal when I tried last month. Today I tired them on and they fit! I jumped up and down full of excitement. It is really something when you reach your goal, whatever kind of a goal it is. It makes you feel good. Everyone who has had kids says give it a full year to get your body back to normal. The hips and pelvic region take time to get back to your pre pregnancy body. Well, 15 months later I am happy to say I made it into my goal jeans. It is a good day :)

Tuesday night work outs

The new season of Biggest Loser started last Tuesday night and I made the suggestion that for at least one hour during that show Brandon and I should work out together. Do something. I don't care what. So, last week we worked on our abs, I was sore for 3 or 4 days after that! I think we might work on our abs again tonight since I really need to firm up the mommy tummy. Brandon is the only person who can motivate me enough to do the abs stuff. I cannot stand it!! I would rather do lunges all day long than sit and do 10 minutes of abs work, so this is not fun. However, I do enjoy doing this with Brandon. It also helps while we watch other people working out.

I think it is good to do something like that as a couple rather than sitting on the couch. Both Brandon and I get Women's Health/ Men's Health magazines so we can come up with some good abs stuff from there. I don't think I realized how much you can do with that area of your body. Maybe someday I will learn to enjoy it... Maybe!

Time for something new

It is a new year which calls for a new me! I am done breast feeding, my body is getting back to normal finally, and I can finally do whatever I want and not worry about harming my baby. It is a great feeling knowing we are done having kids and it makes me want to focus more on my self now. SO.... with the new year that is what I am going to do!

I have decided I want to grow my hair out, maybe just to around my shoulders. That is long for me! Then maybe add in some highlights, who know where I will go but my hair style needs a change. I also want to start cooking better things for my family. I love to cook but I need to start healthier recipes. I say this as I have chocolate chip cookies in the oven. Sweet treat are still important though, occasionally!

I am excited for the new year!