Smashed by the 8 pounder

We had a nice easy going Saturday morning. Delicious pancakes with fruit faces just like IHOP (but of course better at home). All was well. Then Cruz decided to pump some iron behind our backs. 8 lbs. we found out is more than he can curl. He dropped the weight on his toe, started screaming and all we saw was the bloody mess--no idea where it all came from. Once we figured out it was his toe and tried to check it out--it looked as though maybe his toe nail was just going to fall off. Pop goes the Motrin. After a call to Aunt Marcy we soaked it in cold water as he cried for 30 minutes straight. We took his little feet out and I was ready to put a band-aid on and call it painful but good. That was when I saw the lovely little fat coming out of a 1/2 inch slice down his 3rd toe. Disgusting and sad. Another call to Aunt Marcy & Kaiser and we were off to the ER. All Cruz wanted was for someone to hold his toes (he is still asking for that request, I think it relieves the pulsing). In we went, x-rays first and then to a little room with a stretcher. Have I mentioned yet how thankful I am that Beau was home? Well--I am. The doc came in and said, "Wow, that's bad...you know when the Doctor says that, its bad," I guess that was our clue to how bad it really was. Nice, honest guy, but I was hoping they could just use the glue. The doctor then went on to tell us he just did this same procedure on a friend and how extremely painful it was--that she was screaming. There was no easy way around and that they would need to stick the numbing needle right in where it split. AHHHHH, makes me cringe just thinking about it and brought tears to our eyes to think our little munchkin would soon be going through this torture he was explaining. He told us they would need to put him in a burrito (aka straight jacket) so he wouldn't move. Luckily Beau asked if he could just hold him and that worked--I didn't even think that was an option...thankful for Beau--oh yes, once again. A few minutes later everything began. Pitches of cries not heard before emerged, but after the numbing set in things calmed down. It is amazing at crazy times like these how much you are reminded how immensely & deeply you love this little person. Cruz was a trooper. He (and we) made it through 4 stitches and some crazy glue sealant. Oh and did I mention his toe was fractured? The goal is to keep the stitches in 2 days--ideally 5. That shouldn't be too hard, eh? Well the rest of Saturday was pretty chill...but, Sunday Cruz ran straight off the stage at church--not on purpose, busted open something that made him bleed through his band-aid (we put on a new one & are hoping for the best) then for good measure decided to drink mouth wash when he was supposed to be in bed. Today I kept him pretty controlled. He wanted to ride scooters to pick up Oshyn--so he could do tricks, but I wasn't that naive.

About 1/2 hour ago Beau found him upstairs climbing the stair railing with drink coozies on his hands. Why? "Cuz I'm a strong monkey." We will pray to make it 5 days. He needs it.

Mr. Jim strikes again

He dances, he prances, he sings, he's over the top SILLY and the kids LOVE Mr. Jim. Cruz, just as Oshyn was, is happy to see the Children's Librarian at story time. I will pretend I don't have all of the songs & stories memorized and just smile when I get a good seat for the show every Wednesday.

Patience is a virtue

Potty training this little man has definitely taught and reinforced this lesson for me. He got the whole deal in about 3 days--did awesome--then got bored and lazy for a bit--I started going crazy (WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!?!) so I brought in the reinforcements (bribery by the marble jar-Cars) & ONLY positive praise--he was easy money again--then #2 laziness--more marble bribery--yada yada yada time flies when you're having fun--the "power struggler-I want to do things my way-head strong-2 but seems 10 year old kiddo" now has Potty Power. Cruz knows when he needs to go and does it with minimal reminders (if I said he never missed, that would be lying, but there is usually a decent reason behind it). The other day he went, emptied his mini port-a-potty, flushed it and came out. Beau said (with a silly grin), "Man! What do you do all day--these kids are so self-sufficient!" That was a good laugh.

I am thankful to have been 100% diaper free for over 2 months. Wahoo. And as challenging as this guy can be with his variety of attitude and spunk, I know that I will be even more thankful come December when a new squirter arrives and the diapers begin again.

For a while he had a "public-bathroom-phobia" so this was the $4 answer. Thanks Ikea.

Easy Peasy Goodness

aka Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

I have been wanting Cinnamon Rolls. Who really knows why...maybe because I can't just go out and buy them or because I remember everyone and their mom making them in Hawaii and the wonderful smell and soft yumminess on my taste buds. So I came across this recipe and after a few weeks of intimidation & Beau out of town on a Sunday, I bucked up and tried my hand at these beauties. Thanks to the expertise and moral support of Steph, they turned out easier and better than I thought. This won't be the last time I make these babies. Mmmmmm!

P.S. Lacey--CJ might change his GF mind after these...

Trash to Treasured Rockets

We took Ashley's advice and dug out the egg cartons, some paints and vvwwwola! Rockets. I couldn't believe how excited Oshyn was to paint (he used to last about 2 minutes when I got it all out). He kept commenting about how fun it was to paint, worked hard on making the perfect rocket and even drew a plan up for us before hand. Cruz lasted 2 minutes painting, but has played with it for hours since.

Tot Tossing

When this is happening Sophie and Cruz can't wait for their turn to fly. They love it, wear huge grins on their faces and squeal with delight. What trust they have in their Daddies.

Cherished Saturday Mornings

After only a few weeks of Kindergarten I have realized that our lives are forever changed. We now once again belong to the "Weekends-are-priceless" club. Having to wake up Monday thru Friday, quickly get ready and off to school by 7:55a is all of the hazing necessary to belong. Its been over 7 years since I've been a part of this organization, but I am rapidly remembering all that this association entails. Oshyn was thrilled to get to stay in his pjs for a bit and watch Saturday morning cartoons. Cruz came down and joined him while I ran off to the store to get some final goods for banana bread/muffins. They were highly content as Beau slept and continued to be until I got home. All of this brought me back to my own Saturday mornings growing up...

I would wake up I'm sure pretty early and watch Saturday morning cartoons (isn't that a given for all kids?). Later my Mom would make pancakes for Chad & french toast for me or sometimes my Dad would go get some fresh glazed donuts from the store and we'd eat them with a glass of cold milk. Either way, a weekend treat. My Dad would read the newspaper and I would read the comic page on the patio outside. Most places this would only work for a few months, but in Arizona we enjoyed the fresh morning air year around (maybe with the misters on in the summer). Simple, yet I fondly remember these mornings and I guess not having them everyday is what makes them so cherished.

So I guess it won't be so bad making our own favored Saturday morning rituals. Besides, who said we had a choice about the Monday-Friday anyways?

As for the Banana Bread/Muffins, they were delicious and easy.

Here's the recipe (from Tricky Nikki):

5 tbsp butter

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 lg egg

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 c chopped walnuts

1 1/2 super ripe mashed bananas

1 3/4 c flour (works with rice flour too)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 c heavy cream

Beat butter, add sugars--beat well, add eggs & vanilla and beat again, add bananas--beat again. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and alternate adding d.i. with cream--ending with flour. Pour batter into greased and floured bread pan (or put in muffin tins) and bake at 350 for 1 hour (or about 20 minutes for muffins). Enjoy!

Simply Thursday

Here's to a $5 paddle boat ride on Lodi Lake where Cruz quickly realized, "It"s not scary it's really FUN!" (along with some duck chasing, dock holding, and paddling in circles),

"Stop peddling Mom, I can do this" hidden strength from the O-man (after I peddled 25 out of 30 minutes),

Rolling down the grassy hill & itchin' to take a bath,

Two "prince-says-is" aka Mermaids--(thanks Sophie, Uncle Beau is so happy Cruz got to borrow them and they loved the paddle boat ride),

and two left slippers (oh where oh where can the right slippers be?)

Thankful for a phone with a camera

I would hate to forget these moments.

Only Sophie...

would find this as fun and entertaining as the guy tipping her out for 1/2 hour straight. Thanks for being you Sophie. (What you can't see is her cracking up...but I PROMISE she was).