Career Day

This week Jacob is student of the week and his teacher likes to make it family of the week so Brian went in yesterday and explained his job and showed some tools that he uses.
Mrs. Winger loved how he told the kids; "I read and use math everyday so make sure you pay extra close attention to your teacher!"
We ate lunch with the boys then went to Jacob's class. After the presentation Brian explained some things about Jacob and how one of his qualities is sharing.. we then passed out candy bars to the whole class.
That morning Jacob asked me if I could get the full size candy bars, not the small ones. About an hour later I was talking to Brian and he asked me to get the full size candy bars, not the miniature, like father like son!!! LOL ;)
It was a fun time for Jacob and Brian!!

Sweet Sounds!!

Can you hear that? It's the sound of my washer actually washing!! Oh, I'm a happy girl!!
This is what the guy found when he pulled the pump out of my machine.. lol he thought they were worms at first!! Ha Ha there are probably 30 hair ties!!!
I went to Home Depot and got some "fresh" tablets and I'm running the sanitary cycle to clean that puppy out... Did I mention I'm a happy girl?!?!?!

Jam

I know you were wondering why I had jars by my strawberries right? Yes, I made jam, and it is YUMMO!! You know you want some ;)

Carb Heaven

This is my most recent coupon run... hello carb heaven!! Haylee walked in and said "Holy junk food! Mom, we should just have one a day and then go run right?"
That's my girl!!!

Laundry

So I know I'm a little freaky but I actually enjoy doing laundry. I do at least two loads a day and I can't stand a full basket.
Wednesday night I was finishing up a load when my washer stopped and gave an error code. After looking up the owners manual online because I don't have one, I tried to find the model number which happens to be inside the door that was now locked and would not open.. we had to tip the washer forward and finally got the door to unlock. It was reporting a clogged/pinched drain so my wonderful hubby the handyman took the hose off, rinsed it out and we tried to start the wash again. The drum filled then stopped, same code then the control panel froze!
Long story short I had four days of clothes for six people so I headed to the laundry mat yesterday. Well, let me tell you.. one was closed because it was Sunday and the other had half of Washington County in it!! I did three tiny loads (for $1.50 each) and got out of there as fast as I could.
I called to have it looked and and my great news for today?? ;) They can't come until WEDNESDAY! ughh I feel like throwing a temper tantrum and kicking and crying on the floor! Well, not that bad but I hate not being able to wash stuff!!!
whaaaa whaaa whaaa

Best Kids Ever!!!

I absolutely love being a mom! When we got home last night the kids went right to work unloading the van without being asked! Not only did they unload it, they vacuumed it and got rags and pine sol and cleaned it inside and out!! They said since we were so nice to take them on vacation this was the least they could do..aaawwwww... and we know how you hate stuff being dirty so everyday we will do this for you.
WOW, I love these guys!!

Museum

On the way home we stopped by an Air Field. I have no idea the name of it but the kids loved it!!

Wild Animal Park

We stayed here for about 3 hours before we were all exhausted! After walking all day yesterday we were already tired but this place is a hike to get to anywhere!! The minute we got out of the car we hiked up to the entrance. Haylee asked me why I was smiling going uphill and I told her I was remembering walking with Jenny up Bramble Way except I had a double stroller!! Those were the days!!
We took the Journey to Africa Tour and then hiked to the elephants.. they have a baby that is not even two weeks old!! Totally cute!

Zoo

Yes more pictures of the zoo, sorry, but hey now you don't have to go!! I got some video of the monkeys and blogger is not letting me upload them so I'll figure something else out!

San Diego Zoo

So I'm not a huge fan of zoo's, I love animals, don't get me wrong but usually you see a bunch of cages with sleeping animals and I hate that they are so bored! We started off the day on the bus tour which ended up working out because the animals were all awake and either eating or playing. The kids liked being on top of the bus having control of the camera.

The favorite part of the day was the Sky Tram.. we rode it four times LOL!

Where are we??

Where in the United States are the Strattons??
San Diego!!! We decided to head to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park since work is slow and kids are on Spring Break. My kids do so well in the car, give them some food and a game or movie and we're set ;)
Thanks Dave for Garmin, she led us to the checkered flag!!
I had to get a shot of Brian driving because that very rarely happens lol! Putting all the miles that we can on the van before we get rid of it.

The hotel room had a mirrored portion of the wall so you can imagine the shows the kids put on! Joey was bouncing acting like a what?? Monkey of course! He is nuts, and Haylee couldn't help herself but sing and dance in front of it.

We loved the heated pool and JJ couldn't stop smiling enough to swim without swallowing water.. he is a little fish!
The kids took turns with the camera so needless to say we have a TON of pictures and I know I posted a lot but it could have been worse!

Slide

This is how my kids entertained themselves yesterday!!
Mommy! Watch me slide!! I promise my kids are not deprived ;)

3***3***3***3***3***3***3***3***3***3***

My baby JJ is 3!!! He had no clue what a birthday was about all day. Whenever someone would tell him Happy Birthday he would say it back!
I have no desire to decorate cakes so I put Jacob on the job and he did great!! I did not refrigerate the frosting so it started melting and I gave up! Jacob's theory?? Who cares, it still tastes good!!
JJ LOVES trains or prane as he would say so he got some Thomas the Tank stuff and it made his day!
I got him some Scooby Doo underwear..no he is STILL not potty trained, that's another story in itself... I told him Pirstie wants him to wear it, he frowned and said no mommy, no dooby doo. He wouldn't even touch them!! LOL!!You have to imagine his little voice and pitch he used, he almost sang it. I thought for sure if it came from Aunt Kristi he would go for it ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JJ!!!

I'm Loved

I love filling my house with things friends have given me...I feel so loved! I had a cute card on my counter from Jenny that made me smile every time I looked at it and it got "lost" one day when the boys were cleaning the kitchen, ooohhh that was a bad day!!
Carri gave me the tile and card for my birthday and she sent the CUTEST Easter invitation to go to her house with a little chick magnet, no not Brian lol!!
Haylee taped this note to the bottom of our bed and attached a back scratcher she got from the reading store at school.
The trees are blooming, the weather is getting warmer...
Have a GREAT day everyone!!!

Insomnia

So because it's Spring Break they think they can move from my floor to my bed??? No wonder my insomnia has gotten worse!!
I'll give JJ a break because it's his birthday!! He so darn cute!!

I don't want to hear smack about my purple sheets either! I get enough from Brian, but every third week I'm getting my color ;)

Reality Check

So we are at the park today and the kids are doing laps around the little track. Haylee comes and tells me "Mom, you need to follow me and do what I do so you can get skinny. It's called exercise and it's very important." You can imagine her little face can't ya? So yes, I followed her and of course it did feel good, kids are experts ;)

Toy Box

Here's Hunny Bunny's first project!!
When he wasn't at work or Home Depot ( because oh yea, I'll need this and this and this etc... ;) ) He was in the garage working away. He LOVES this kind of stuff and his next project?? Haylee's princess loft bed with drawer stairs..we've been searching the internet, can ya tell? He wants to build two and connect them with a catwalk but I told him bad things would happen! Can you imagine what Joey would do???
He's so proud of his work and so am I!!

Oreo's

We love them even though they make your mouth "waxy".
On Saturday Grandma was nice enough to give us an ice cream machine so on Sunday (no, I don't waste time! ) I made Oreo ice cream and it was super yummo!! The kids think that is our new Friday party night treat!
I've had requests but I think my next batch will be mint chocolate chip..
always thinking of my hunny bunny!! :) Thanks Grandma!!

Tired Tired Tired

Once JJ finally sat still for more than a minute he crashed!! He apparently was exhausted from his sleepo wifh pirstee ;) It hit him about 3 how tired he really was but he fought it until after dinner, he still has the residue on his face!!

Sleepover

JJ had his first sleepover!! Dave & Kristi came over last night and JJ has really been attached to them so when they were leaving he wanted to go with them.
I told him, no baby, stay with momma and he pushed out of my arms and ran to her! Should I be worried? ;)
He went and slept with them and Dave brought him back this morning on the way to work..he had a blast and thought it was funny Josie slept with them!
I felt like I was forgetting something all night, after all he's my baby!
Now you guys know everytime he sees you he'll be hitting you up!

Nosey Neighbor

We have been enjoying the great weather!! We were playing outside when JJ heard the neighbor start up the mower..he took off running so he could watch!

Fun Stuff

My garage has been overtaken! Brian kicked my car out of the garage until he gets it organized so he can start building "stuff "... he's like a kid at Christmas! We had woodworking tools awhile back but when our house got broken into everything was taken and we just haven't replaced it.
He told Haylee he was going to build her a princess bunk bed for her birthday, well that's great but her birthday isn't until July!! Does he not know her sense of time is still out of whack? I told him to start small, like maybe a chest for my blankets ;)
I'll post pics of his different projects!

Crazy Hair Day

On Friday we had crazy hair day at school and I was so excited!! I had planned to do rows of crazy ponies all over Haylee's hair but she asked me to stop after the first! Why? It's just a little too crazy mom! So I settled for what I got and she won for her class!!
Jacob and Joey did not participate which Joey was all over it until he saw the baby ponies I put in his hair that I was planning on coloring and he got nervous!! Party poopers is all I can say!
Notice she had me tone it down when she got home??

Moving

Before they went to the race on Sat Brian took Jacob and Joey to Grandma's to help move. It's within a 5 mile area so one of the times they rode, Brian let the boys ride in an enclosed trailer.. Dave jumped right in and came out laughing, why, well Joey was with him of course!! Joey's first statement;

"This is amazing!"

silence

"This police can't even see us, unless they have action figures!!" (xray vision)

silence

"This is better than a monkey!"

WHAT?!?! Where did that come from?

Dress Up Day

The kids have had Dr. Seuss week at school and Tuesday was dress up day..Haylee was of course a princess, Joey was Anakin, and Jacob was an Army guy.. anytime they get to dress up is a fun day!!

Haircuts

Aunt "Pirstie" as JJ calls her, was kind enough to come over on Monday and give family haircuts!! JJ's hair was starting to part on the side and look a little how should I say...girlie! I'll get follow up pics ASAP because she did a GREAT job!! Thanks Kristi!!

Sleeping Bug

I love my little sleeping bug! This has become his new bed.. what an angel when he's sleeping ;) Dennis the Menace when he's awake!!

Bow Crazy!!

Last Saturday I had the privilege of Auntie Carri and the kids coming to visit!! Her hubby went to Vegas and so did Brian so we had a girls weekend ;)
We decided we needed to make hair bows for our little lovelies..and make bows we did!! We ended up with 48!!!! (Call me if you need some, lol)
Carri always brings out the creativity in me, last Oct she and her sister Julie got me involved in canning and we made jam; strawberry and raspberry, jarred peaches from Julie's backyard, jalapenos, salsa etc. Julie even makes her own fruit roll ups! I'm sooo getting a dehydrator ;)
Now she gets me crafty making bows, thanks Carri!!
I'm so bummed we didn't get pictures together..we kept making the excuse when we get cute we'll do it ;) We were sleep deprived but had a blast!!