Tuesday's toddlers

This morning we drove to Slidell for a play date with Mandy, Hannah, and Eli. It was myself, Aiden, Roman, Amy, Xan, and Laney in the car. We had six kids to watch between the three of us at the park so we were quite busy. I even lost Roman at one point while we were eating our picnic, but found him almost immediately. The park was super. I, make that "we", look forward to going back soon. I am exhausted from playing with Ro, swinging, sliding, and climbing. Cullen called me while we were there, wanting to be checked out of school because his tummy hurt. We left shortly after so I could go home and tend to him. All the kids passed out on the way back. Peace and quiet!
Now I am leaving with three kids to go to the gym.
(Cullen is miraculously better.)
After, it is dinner with some fabulous friends.
I got a call that my camera is now ready. Yippee!
I must say, today is a good day!!!
Maybe Amy will share some pics of the park with me later. :)

The rest of the day

After the doctor's visit, Aiden, Roman, and I went to play with Pinky (aka Amy), Xan and Laney. We went to our favorite local park, had a picnic and ran around. It was so windy by the water (and goof broke her shoe), we decided to all head back to the house. After playing for some time, it was nap time for the kids so we could make the gym later. One of us, not saying any names, slept through gym time. Chisel kicked my butt! Grocery shopping with three boys is always a load of fun so we had to add that in there after, too. Dinner is over and it is "cu-rax" time, as Aiden likes to call it. Relax!
Mr. Safety today

The scoop on the poop

Today was the day for Aiden to see the gastroenterologist. He explained a lot to us on why Aiden is having such a tough time potty training with BM's. He said that our pediatrician gave us good advice and we were to follow it directly and return in one month to get an update.
See, Aiden holds it in and doesn't want to use the toilet. He will stand up on his tip toes to poop. The doctor explained it this way:
When a little boy sits on the potty and uses it, all it takes is for one time of a hard stool to come out and that stays imprinted in their brain. Rather than feel pain (which no child wants to inflict on them self), they will hold it in. Then, it builds up inside and becomes a large mass, and the liquid stool passes around the large mass and makes them "smear" every few minutes. The objective is to give him a cup of Myralax a day, everyday, to destroy the large mass by slowly chipping away at it, have his bowels shrink back down, and get him regular again. I told him that I was giving the Myralax to him daily till the grandparents (both sides) said I shouldn't be doing that. He said that it is very safe. He also said that the past generations do not understand this most recent problem because back in the day, the didn't have these issues. He said it is becoming more and more common because we have cars now and do not walk places as much (less exercise) and diets have completely changed over the years. We are not eating as healthy as they used to. I must do the Myralax for one month straight, without any pressure of potty training. We will then do a return visit and talk about his diet and potty training. Aiden wouldn't take his pants down for the doctor so that will be the next visit also. He was not happy to be there!
I am glad he reassured us on what we need to do. I cannot wait till I no longer am potty training anyone. Motherhood is such a shitty job, sometimes.

The French kiss

Friday when Jude came home from Vegas, we were in the car leaving the airport and we couldn't help ourselves...we kissed. Cullen and Ro were in the backseat. Not to be gross, but it was an adult kiss that maybe should have waited but we hadn't seen each other in four days. Nothing too passionate, but adult. Well Cullen was apparently looking and said "Ewww, gross. You two stop that." We immediately stopped and told him to quit looking and he better not try that with anyone. When asked why, I told him that is how you get pregnant; and he doesn't want any babies yet, right? He accepted that answer and we were on our way.
So Saturday we were driving to Hammond and it was just the boys and I. Cullen, out of the clear blue, busts up with, "Mom, if kids kiss like that, can kids get pregnant?" OMG! I didn't know what to say besides tell him the truth at that point. How long had he been thinking about this and who was he going to share this new info with?! I told him it was a joke and the joke was on him. He laughed. End of conversation.

Roman's first sentence

We were hanging out in the play room and Roman was being silly, playing, trying to bite daddy and mommy. He was corrected a few times, "Don't bite!". Then, the sentence came, and his mommy was so proud...
"I don't bite."

We made church

Yes, it is always a mircale when we all wake up and get ready on time to attend the ten o'clock mass at church. I love when we do, though. As we were getting ready to walk out the door, I grabbed my freshly made cup of coffee and took a sip as we were headed out. Gross! Have you ever had coffee with sour milk? Not good! I guess the expiration date that said it had six days left was wrong.
After church, we had brunch at Copeland's. Now I shouldn't have to explain what three hungry kids, who just sat at church or nursery for an hour, acted like when we first got there. They were a bit, ummm, I'll use the word unhappy. But after they had food in their mouths, it was a nice family meal together. We left there and went to the Home Depot to buy flowers for our garden. Then, went home, took a nap, woke up some hours later, and played in the yard for the rest of the day. The house looks nice with some color in the front and the boys had fun playing. I would take a picture, but, you know, the camera is broke.
Another successful family Sunday!

Country boys

I woke up this morning and decided today would be a great day to go see Mimi and Paw Paw, along with Nanny, out in the country. The weather was gorgeous and the kids were ready to play outdoors. We had such a great day hanging out with the grandprents. Looking forward to doing this again soon.
Nanny, aka Granny

Cullen drawing pictures for Nanny

Paw Paw teaching Ro some game

Mimi breaking out the bubbles

Step 1-dip

Step 2-blow

Step 3-get someone else to do it

One of the twins...Angel or Favor...Mom?

Cullen

Cullen pouting, it's so hard being 9

Family lunch

Aiden giving it another try for Roman

Roman is entertained

Dirty Ro reaching for bubbles

Almost, almost has them, almost

Exactly how many hours are in 24 hours?

Today has been the longest day I have had in a very long time! Jude has been in Vegas the past few days and I am running on little sleep. I woke up this morning, chugged some coffee and took the two boys to our favorite monkey hangout. Xan the Man was there so Aiden was paling around with him. Roman has started showing interest in other children and played with a lot of friends his own age today in the toddler area. We had a great time! I got to hang out with some of my friends, too. You have to love the staff at that establishment as they help keep an eye on all the kiddos.
We left there to head to the zoo. Yes, after two hours of fun, we went to have more. We met Nanny Steph, Uncle Gene, and Braxton there. It was a beautiful day outside and the perfect day to be there. We even caught a front row parking spot in a jam packed parking lot. We met in the very very back of the zoo by the white gators and I got lost on my way to them. Aiden and I were both trying to read the map every five minutes. Each time we passed an animal, Aiden asked if we could stop and look. Each time I said "No, in a little while baby, we have to find Nanny Steph." My good sport accepted that answer many, many times. We both got a workout, me pushing all 35 pounds of Ro and Aiden trying to keep up in his uncomfortable croc shoes. But, it was all worth it when I got to see Brax for the first time. He is so cute! He looks just like my beautiful Steph with a tiny hint of Gene. Precious! We walked the zoo back to the front and stopped at the limited time Dinosaur exhibit. That was really neat. Wish I had my camera!!! At one point, Aiden asked to ride the rides at the zoo. I promised him later we would. Later came and I was exhausted. We compromised and I told him I would buy him a zoo toy instead. He was happy with that. As we were leaving, I bought him a toy. A twenty five dollar, break in one day, toy. Who played who in the end?! Roman picked out a seven dollar jeep and we were on our way. I hadn't seen Steph in over a year, so again, it was well worth it. We were loading up in the car, it was three o'clock and the phone rang. I forgot I told Julia (m-i-l) that she could take Aiden shoe shopping today for his belated birthday gift. Off to her house we went. I dropped Aiden off at Nanny and Paw Paw's and Roman and I stopped at our house for a second so I could grab a bite to eat in the car; because now we were headed to pick Cullen up from school and off to the airport to get Daddy.
Steph, Gene, and Brax

Steph and I

Us with our little boys

The ham

Cheesing with his Nan

Throwing the kids to the dinosaurs

We get to the airport, park, grab a snack (no real meals today) and wait for the plane to arrive. Roman takes his tator tots and stuffs them in the toy Jeep and has the best time driving those spuds around.

Cullen watching the planes land

Roman at Happy Hour (cup) saying "Mmmmmm"

An hour later, Daddy arrives. We were so happy to see him! Roman sang "Daddy" over and over again at the top of his lungs, making sure to create a show. You would have thought he had been gone weeks or months. It totally made Jude turn red and that is why we get out the car and greet him at the gates. It makes daddy happy, proud, and embarrassed, all at the same time.
We then get in the car, drive to the lake to pick up some good ol' crawfish, and have a yummy dinner.

To finish the New Orleans evening off, we just got back from Sal's where Ro had his own first official snoball, all because someone told me they are now open! Thanks, Cherie.

GOOD NIGHT!

Report card time

The results are in! The grades have improved this last semester. Yippee! Not back on the honor roll yet, but well on your way. Good job, Cullen! You make mommy proud.

Busy boys bouncing with balls

Today we had the pleasure of hanging out with our MF's (Mom Friends) at the local bounce arena. Aiden and Roman were everywhere. Over here, over there, well, you get the point. Aiden and Xan were building ball walls (yes, it's possible) along the netting in the bounce house. Roman was very interested in the basketball area and we went on a few slides together. He was so cute telling me "Come on, come, slide, come, come, go" ushering me along the obstacle course to the top of the slide. I have no camera (still) so the truly fabulous Blair saved the day and took some photos for me. It was a successful day in play land and we will do it all over again tomorrow at another one. The life of a mom! For dinner, we made a wonderful Greek salad and had left over ice cream cake from the night before. I needed my camera for another Roman/cake moment. He was licking the bowl and scrubbing the bottom of it with his little chubby fingers. Adorable! Aiden showered me with love and compliments today because we did things he wanted to do all day. So sweet. Such a womanizer! lol

Aiden Ba-jaden

The Romaninator

Frances saying "STOP!"

Frances taking matters into her own hands:)

Get used to it, buddy!

Mommy and Aiden

Weeeeee!

How YOU doin'? Come here often?

Every time I would get to the top with Ro,

I would pretend I was going with him,

then drop him. He loved it!

Can you tell?

I think he pooped his pants. hehe

Ready for more...

Daddy comes home tomorrow from Las Vegas!! Happy, happy, joy, joy!!

We love and miss you, Daddy.

Happy 4th Birthday, Aiden!

Today, my middle child turned four. This is a nice age, as he appreciates any gift he gets. We went to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant tonight with Nanny and Paw Paw, and we convinced Mrs. Amy, Xan the Man, and Delaney to come too. The music was so loud that we sure couldn't talk but the kids had a great time and that was all that mattered tonight. As Xan fell asleep at the table, the Castillo's didn't make it to cake time at our house. We had an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and it was good. If you ask Roman, he will tell you it was the best cake ever. He was so funny tonight eating it, licking it off his arm places I didn't know he could reach with his tongue, saying "Cake, mmmmm, cake". Now, we are all in the car/bed, me blogging, them relaxing. On another note, Aiden still will NOT poop on the potty and I am biting my nails as we get closer to Pre-K 4. He has an appointment with a gastrologist on Monday and I hope he can pull a miracle out his ass. Literally. I am definitely at a loss. On the positive side, he can now spell his name, say his alphabet perfect, and count to ten. He can even write some letters and almost his name.

Roman trying to blow the candles out and Aiden blocking him

Aiden, the birthday boy, blowing out HIS candles

Aiden, with Roman making sweet love to the cake

Leaving my job and I get Mother of the Year

As I was getting ready for work this morning, Roman cut his thumb with a pair of scissors from the kitchen drawer and I didn't know it. And the award for Mother of the Year goes to...me! He kept trying to put his fingers by my face and I didn't think anything of it because he wasn't crying or upset. Finally, I looked to see what he was trying to show me and he was bleeding terrible. Now, I repeat, he wasn't crying or anything. Blood was everywhere though once I took his pointy finger off of his thumb. He was putting pressure on it prior, I guess. Blood was on the ottoman, my bed, his shirt, dripping in the sink, all over me by this time; he bled bad. I put a band aid on him and he freaked out. Screamed, cried, tears strolling down the face. I kept kissing it and he kept saying "Mama, boo boo, Mama, boo boo." He kept putting it by my mouth so I would kiss it, repeatedly. He took the first band aid off and I had to put another on with extra tape (that he pulled and tugged at). This went on for ten plus minutes, tears and more tears. I kept comforting him but the band aid was too much for him to handle. I finally fixed him breakfast and it took the focus off his finger. Poor man! It is a pretty bad cut. That child HATES band aids!

As far as my jobby job, after much thought, I have decided I cannot work at the KVK much longer and wrote my dear friend/boss Rachael yesterday to let her know. I wrote her because we are both emotional people (and good friends) and that was the easiest. I love the store and her, but have many reasons for this decision. I would love to continue to help her out in days of much need, but not two or three days a week any longer.
A few of the main reasons are baby sitter issues, if my inlaws can't do it, it is hard to ask ANYONE to watch 2/3 kids, working on Jude's days off, trying to balance my responsibilities (play dates) as assistant organizer of my MF's group, etc, etc.
I hope I am making the right decision, I feel I am. I feel like if I could find something with more of a set schedule one or two days a week, it could work. Not sure if I will do that or not, though. I am going to enjoy the kids for a while and focus on organizing the house. Lots to do there!

Today is St. Patrick's Day and it is beautiful outside in the FQ. Lots of tourists out and about enjoying the day and I am full of jealousy. Looking for a Leprechaun to steal his pot o' gold!

Sleeping in the car

We brought the car home yesterday morning. The two little ones were so excited, jumping up and down on it, me singing "Jump, jump, jump..." and Roman singing "Bump, bump, bump." Folks, I am proud to say that Aiden slept in his new bed (with Roman) for his nap yesterday, after some coaxing from daddy. He slept in his bed last night (with Roman), with daddy falling asleep next to him. The boys stayed in it all night; I had to get Jude to relocate. The two woke up at 7 am, so mommy crawled in bed with Aiden and Ro and we slept till 9:30 am. They are napping now, in the new bed. We still have a toddler bed in their room also, but I think they would rather sleep together. When we say it is time to go get in bed, they both dive in the car. How excited am I? I am praying to God (yes, it is a true prayer) that this continues on. Thank you, Jesus! If my camera wasn't at the dang repair place, I would take a picture.

*This was a proud mama moment.

Reality

The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
~Lane Olinghouse

Cullen holding Aiden for the first time, four years ago.
Neither one had any idea what was in store for them....

Aiden's birthday week

Aiden makes four on the eighteenth and daddy will be out of town for work. So tonight, we went to Outback and had a family dinner with a few balloons and sang happy birthday to him. Tomorrow, we are going to get him his birthday present, a special four year old big boy bed that he "agreed" to sleep in. It's one of those hideous car beds. Someone suggested we do this to keep him from floating around the house at night; he will NOT sleep in his toddler bed he has now. I am sooooo looking forward to this. Wednesday we will have cupcakes at the park with our MF's (mom friends) and maybe the grandparents. I do not know where all the time went. Four! I will have to look up some photos of the past four years and post them soon.

Here is the tacky bed Aiden is proud to soon be the owner of:

Now we just need to name it.

Body paint

Today I was on the computer doing mom's group work and the boys were playing out in the back yard. They were really getting along and being a little quiet. Mom was happy! I kept peeking around the corner and they were playing in their fort. After some time had passed, I decided to get up and go outside to check on them. Whoa!
My mom brought some paints over this past weekend and apparently Aiden brought them all up into the fort. They colored themselves from head to toe, and the fort. It was ridiculous! I decided to let them continue their mischievous acts and I would go finish my work.
After a good hour of self entertaining, I put them in the tub together and cleansed them, thoroughly.

Help, big bro

This morning, Aiden woke up and I went and got Roman out the baby bed.
Still tired, I decided to crawl back in my bed and lay there for a few minutes with the door open. Roman was not having any laziness on his watch and followed me in the bedroom saying...
"I wann eat. I wann bah-bah. I wann eat."
I told him to go see what his brother was doing (that's how I get them to wander away, terrible, I know) and I then got up. As I am walking into the kitchen, I hear Aiden saying in the sweetest voice "I can't fix you a bah-bah, Shammy, I don't know how. It's too hard." How sweet is that?! If he could of, he would of.

Married people sleep together

Tonight, Aiden went to sleep the night out at his BFF's house, Xan the Man. Well, tonight was the first night he didn't make it all the way through. He called wanting to come home really late in the night. I went to pick him up and we were talking on our way home. I told him he couldn't sleep with us tonight (like he did last night) because mommy and daddy are married and married people like to sleep together, alone. As he was asking his many questions, he came up with the cutest one...
Aiden said "Does that mean me and Shammy are married? Cause we like to sleep together." I had to giggle!

FAMILY PORTRAITS

Andrea Savoie took our family portraits this past weekend and I am extremely happy with the outcome. The pictures are beautiful, if I must say so myself. Andrea did a wonderful job and had a lot of patience with the three monkeys. Her prices were very reasonable; I highly recommend her to others.

http://www.andreasavoiephotography.com/2009/03/dominach-family.html

Thanks, Andrea, for the beautiful photos. They will be cherished forever!

The park

Today we went to one of our favorite parks since the weather is so nice here in the south.
Here are a few pics of the monkeys (with my dang camera phone):