Connor - Karate

I've forgotten to mention that Connor started a Karate class. This session just ended last week and I'm happy to say he moved from a white belt to a yellow belt. =) Very nice. He had originally said (the second to last class) that he didn't want to do it anymore but he has now (since getting his new belt) said he wants to do karate more. Hopefully his willingness continues. . .

Connor's Dentist Appt

I was a little apprehensive about Connor's Dentist Appt. You know, his track record hasn't been so good. We started out playing it up and making sure he knew I was taking him. The morning of the appt when we were getting ready to brush teeth, he looked at me with sad eyes and said, "Mommy I don't want to go to the dentist." Feeling a breakdown coming on, I quickly assured him it would be ok. Crisis averted - for now.

Dropped the twins off at preschool and then took Connor to eat donuts for breakfast (yeah I know, but I've promised him if he gets a rainbow everyday of the week, I'll take him for donuts on Friday. So far it's working!). Ate our donuts at the donut shop which was an even more special treat and then headed to the dentist. He was fine all the way until we had to sit in the chair. He still did ok. Didn't like the chair going back. The hygenist then says we need to take xrays. He's never taken xrays. Well, he took xrays but he was completely sedated so I doubt he remembers. Then waterworks started. After getting him in the xray chair and getting the xrays done, we asked him - was that so bad? His answer, No. Yeah! Went back to the chair and laid down. The hygenist brushed his teeth but he wanted nothing to do with Mr. Thirsty. Maybe next time. ;) Then the dentist came in and checked his teeth and declared him cavity free. =) Yeah!!! So all in all - 200% better than any other time he has gone to the dentist!! Hopefully it only gets better from here.

Connor - Basketball

I've been such a horrible blogger I know. Connor started basketball a few weeks ago. This is his last week. He wanted to play so bad. He was super excited to start. However, that enthusiam has waned. :( He actually had informed us a couple months ago he did not want to play t-ball again. But he wanted to play basketball and then he wanted us to sign him up for karate. So we signed him up for basketball. Yesterday he informed us he didn't want to play any sports anymore. Huh. He even asked if we signed him up for karate. When I said no, he said good. Oh well. He does a lot of goofing off and not really paying attention anyway. How did my son become the class clown??

A Chat with the Principal

I went to the monthly PPTO meeting (the PTA of Connor's School) this week. I get 2 hours of  service credit for going so why not! Right? So aftwards, the principal approached me last and was like "Are you Connor's mom"? I was like uh yeah. She started going on and on about how much of a delight he is and how cute he is. Apparantly, he is the bathroom monitor so he makes sure that no one is talking in there (not sure how long it lasts) and he is just very grown up about his position making sure no one talks etc. The vice principal was there too and said he even caught me the other day talking. =) So my son is now well known! LOL! The principal told me she told the teachers and was like if this kindergartener can do this kind of a job I think all of our students should be able to. LOL!

Connor's first trip to the race track

It's Been Two Days . . .

that I have had to get the kids ready in the morning and off to daycare. Surprisingly not too bad - yet. I'm sure you are also dying to know how Surbjit's first day at work went. =) Besides the fact that he said he has no idea what he is doing, it seems ok. LOL. I guess the heavy equipment maintenance is COMPLETELY different from working on cars. Of course I guess this should be surmised since they are big, large and you actually need a special license to drive them. So check that on his to do list. Go to DMV and get permit. Who would have though at the ripe old age of 33 you would be saying you need to get a driving permit. Hee-hee. But I guess the people seem nice. It's not a rigid clock in and clock out atmosphere. He gets the 9/80 (jealous here as I've lost mine in order to get the kids to daycare not TOO early but we may work on trying to get back on it) and apparently I guess the overtime is frequent. He was already asked by his supervisor to work overtime on Saturday. WOO HOO! Well - maybe not for Surbjit - but it is extra money LOL!

As far as me getting the kids ready, it's a clock watching experience that's for sure. I have to make sure I'm out of the house no later than 6:30am. This morning I was actually 5 mins early because Connor woke up early and the girls were up so we got up, ate breakfast, I cleaned up the kitchen whiled they played for about 15 mins and then I started getting them ready to head out. Yesterday, Connor did NOT want to wake up. I told him it was time to get up and he asked, "Can I sleep for a little bit?" I was like, um sorry honey but we got to get going. He is ok for getting ready in the morning. I'm laying his clothes out the night before and he gets excited about wearing them that night so that's working out with no power struggles over clothes (yet). But he is a three year old and my morning is constantly his want and "requests". "Can we play" "Take the freeway" "Can I bring this to daycare" "Can I keep my PJs on". Etc. I think you get the idea. But he is very good and is getting a 'tad' better at listening.

He was up this morning before Surbjit left for work (he leaves a little after 5am) and I was in the bathroom finishing getting ready. Surbjit told him good bye and Connor said "I won't give Mommy a hard time today". I started laughing. And he didn't.

So I drop the girls off first at 6:30am, then I drive over to Connor's daycare and am there by 6:45am. Then I high tail it back to our city to catch the train. The train comes at 7:12am (well today it was early at got there at 7:09am). I have more than enough time to get back thankfully. And there is parking available. It is all the way at the FAR end of the lot but there are about 15 spaces left. Whew! I was afraid that late in the morning I'd have a problem finding parking. Thankfully so far it hasn't been.

It'll be an adjustment but so far it's not too bad. It's just weird because I'm so use to starting my work day earlier that I feel behind when I get to work now. Even though most people at my work don't get in until between 8am and 9am. I'm getting there at 8 which is an hour later than I'm use to. Before I know it, I'll be used to this new schedule and won't even think twice about it.

Guess What I Did this morning???

I downloaded pictures from my camera! WOO HOO!!! So without further ado -- here are the pictures from our New Years camping trip:

Stoddard Valley - December 31st - Jan 3rd

Taylor & Emily enjoying brothers Christmas present! (I have to say Emily LOVES this thing. More than Connor. Connor loves to RIDE in it not so much drive it. Emily actually saw how you have to push down on the pedal on the floor and kept trying! But her little legs are just too small. =( )

Bigi pushing Taylor in her pink buggy (Bigi was able to join us again out in the desert).

Emily playing the big truck.

Emily on a quad. Do you think I have something to worry about here?!?!

Emily pushing the car.

Curtis and Surbjit hanging out before going for a ride.

Surbjit & Connor talking on the walkie talkies. Connor LOVED the walkie talkies. He doesn't quite have the hang of pushing the button and talking yet but he'll get there!


Braeden, Emily & Connor playing with the toys.

Emily & Taylor eating their lunch.

Bigi reading to Emily

Sisters having fun playing in brothers carseat while we get packed and ready to go home.

Up way too early

So I woke up at 4am this morning to get up and do my exercise video (yes I'm trying. Not succeeding every day but I'm trying.). As I walk out of my bedroom I look in to Connor's room and lo and behold guess who is up (WIDE awake I might add) sitting up in bed? Well of course it's Connor! So I let him come out in the living room with me and watch me exercise. He tries to do it with me too sometimes. It was so cute to watch him try to do the speed bag. LOL. He was saying, I can't do it fast enough. I told him it was ok. He just needed to practice. =)

When I was done I told him it was time to go lay back down so Mommy could get ready. He wanted to lay down in my bed so I said fine and let him sleep on my side of the bed since Surbjit was still sleeping. Of course, he never fell asleep and woke up when Daddy did. Wide awake. I don't know why. He wasn't having a bad dream, nothing. Just wide awake. So I said good bye to him. He looks at me at says" Mommy you are really pretty." Melted my heart. I told him he made my day. =)

And the girls. UGH! What is with them?!?! If I leave their side for like one second they are FREAKING OUT! I mean, I'm not home, they are fine. I walk in the door and they see me and it's like they can't be with me soon enough or long enough. UGH! I can't get anything done. I'm trying to cook dinner and they are freaking out crying and screaming because I'm not near them, reading to them, playing with them, holding them. This stage better not last much longer. =(

Setting A Good Example

You know they always say that you should watch what you do because your kids will want to be just like you. I have found that to be entirely the truth! I've been running again for the last week as my next 5K is this coming Sunday. (I am so NOT ready for it as I've only been running again for a week but at least this course will be all flat unlike the first one I did). Anyway, I got back from running last night and Connor was still up watching Cars. He came up to me as I was walking in the door and asked to listen to my music. So I stuck the iPod headphones in his ears (and turned the volume WAY down). Then I found "Life is a Highway" from the CARS soundtrack and turned it on for him. He got this look of amazement on his face and said "Tractor Trailer Song!"

I went into the living room and sat down to stretch while we finished watching the end of the movie. Connor asked if he could stretch with me. He's still listening to my iPod. I say sure. Then he stands back up and is like "I want to run". And he asked me to put the iPod on his arm like I do (I have an armband for it to go on my arm while I run). So I did. Then he said,"I need a watch too." So I put my heart rate monitor that I use on his wrist too. He then proceeded to run up and down the hallway!! How cute was that?? I so wish I had grabbed the camera but I got a phone call right as he was starting to run. I'm sure he'll want to do it again so hopefully I'll get a picture.

But this just goes to show that you CAN and DO set examples (whether good or bad) for your children.

We Be Like Same!

That is what Connor says whenever he realizes that something is alike. "We be like same". So we were watching Handy Manny last night (his new love - but it is so much better than Caillou!!!). On this particular episode, there was a new character named Mr. Singh (for those that don't know, that's our last name) - so Connor says, "That's ME!" I'm like "What Connor?" Connor say," that's me! We be like same!" Wow, so he really does know his name!

This morning we were getting ready to leave and go to daycare and Connor is in his bedroom asking to take "that' to school. I keep asking him what's that? I can't see what "that" is. He is getting really bad at pointing lately and not using words. I'm thinking it's because that is what Emily and Taylor are doing. But anyway, I'm getting the girls in their car seats and I keep asking him what's "that". And I hear him say "N - N -O - R. That's my name." So I ask him, " you mean your piggy bank?" Because that's the only thing I can think of that has his name on it. And he says no. So I go in there and he is pointing at this box that he got for Christmas from Grandma D. It's got a chalk board on one side and a magnetic board on the other and you can put pen/pencils/crayons etc inside it. Very cute. I tell Connor that it's too big to take to school. But I am impressed he knows when he sees his name. My little boy is growing up.

Potty Training

So in my ever infinite wisdom, I chose last weekend to start potty training Connor. Why do I do this the weekend before Christmas?? Because I have nothing else to do with my time?? Partly because: a) it needed to get done and b) my loving husband demanded it get done. Well not so much demanded but requested rather strongly that he needs to be potty trained. So i guess now the question is how did Connor do?? Saturday started bright and early. We went through SEVEN pairs of underwear and SEVEN pairs of pants/shorts. He pooped TWICE in his underwear and went pee pee 5 - 6 times in them. Sunday we started AGAIN. Not ONE accident all day. He did NOT poop in the potty but I put him in a pull up for nap Sunday (where I did not on Saturday as I didn't want to confuse him the first day) with his underwear over the pull up and that's when he pooped so at least he didn't ruin a pair of underwear. But he never pee'd in his underwear all day. I kept setting the timer on the kitchen stove for 20 mins and every time it went off, "Connor let's go pee pee!". We'll see how he does today at daycare. Yikes! I sent four pairs of underwear and pants with him. :sigh: At least come this week he is home Wednesday - Monday - so maybe we can finalize it and get him to pee pee in the potty all the time now. That would be the BEST Christmas gift I could have ever got!

Potty Training Progress????

Last night as Surbjit and I sat down to eat, we were letting the kids run around and play (yes we feed the kids first while making dinner and then eat). Connor proceeds to tell us, he pooped! YEAH!!! Now if only he would tell us BEFORE he pooped. Baby steps.

Taylor

Taylor is getting closer to crawling!!! Yesterday both Surbjit and I noticed that she can now go from laying on her tummy to sitting up on her own. We both (Surbjit in the morning, me in the evening) left her in a room. When we left, she was on her tummy. When we walked back in, she was sitting up. We were both like Woh! And she is also getting up on all fours now where before she couldn't. She's even rocking back and forth so I bet she starts moving soon!! YEAH!!!

In other news, Bigi told us a cute story that happened last weekend. She took Connor with her to go to the doctors. When they were waiting for her to get called back, Connor looked at her and said, "Bigi, you are beautiful." Now how sweet is that!!

Sea World

OK, I know a narrative of our camping trip is long awaited. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day! But I finally was able to upload Sea World pics last night. I was having issues uploaded so all I got uploaded was Sea World so you'll have to be satisfied with that until I can get Legoland and the campground up. =)

So we went to SeaWorld on Wednesday. It was pretty nice day. Not too hot but the sun was shining!! We got there right when they opened at 9am. Shoot! It was a ghost town! It was almost like we were the only ones in the park. We headed towards the right side of the park and figured we'd look at a few things and then go back for the 11am Shamu show. So we stopped at the Arctic Experience. We of course could not ride their little "airplane ride" since the kids were too small but we were able to walk directly to the exhibit.











After walking in there and seeing the polar bears and walrus', we walked over to my favorite place - the penguins! Connor liked them too as we had a hard time getting him away from there!



After finally getting Connor away from the penguins, it was time to feed the girls. It was a little bit of a challenge but we learned from our Legoland trip on Monday! We gave Connor a snack and let him eat as I fed one girl and Surbjit fed the other. I'm sure we were a site to see. Although it still was not packed at this time. After getting everyone fed (and diapers changed), we decided to head over to the Shamu show. Boy was it a good thing we did!!!! It seemed that everyone in the park was going to the show. We chose a seat fairly high (we did NOT want to get wet!) and waited for the show to start. I was shocked that Connor waited patiently for it. After Legoland's show we had to wait five minutes for (and he was NOT patient then), I didn't think he'd wait patiently this time either. But we could see Shamu and the whales in the outside tank plus there was water so I guess it was all good!



After Shamu we went to eat lunch. It wasn't too bad. Surbjit wrangled the kids and started feeding Taylor & Emily their solids while I went to get us three lunch. $40 later (I so don't want to know how much it'll be when the girls get older :sigh:) I had our lunch and we ate it.

After lunch we basically just walked around Sea World.



We got to see Dolphins:



Flamingo's:



And we got to see the Tide Pool's and check out the cool starfish:



Then we headed over to Sea World's new toddler area called Bay of Play:



It was pretty cool! They have three rides, plus a HUGE network of nets, ropes, and tons of stuff to climb up (which Connor wouldn't go up the net so no go). Plus a little toddler area to run around in for the under 37" crowd. And they had a beach area with sand to play in:



Then Connor and I made it onto the rides. It was a little sketchy on if we'd make it on or not. Connor is not the most patient of kids (but what 2 1/2 year old is?). But we did! The first ride we went on was the "teacups". They aren't tea cups but that's what everyone remembers this ride as. I personally don't like to make it spin. I get dizzy so I figured we'd be good to go. Unfortunately, because of the momentum of the ride it will automatically spin anyway. So I kept trying my hardest to make it spin only a little but that wheel is hard to make stop!! I tried to use two hands but Connor wanted my arm around him so I had to do it one handed. I thought he wasn't having fun but I kept asking him on the ride if he was having fun and he said yes. Although he kept burrowing deeper and deeper into the side of me. =) When the ride was over, he asked to ride it again so I guess he had fun!







After the "teacups", we rode the flying fishes. It was pretty cool as we got to jump ahead of like 10 people in line because there was ONE car ("fish") left and they were all parties of 3 or more. Connor wanted it up the whole time so we flew the entire ride. We would be going around and all of a sudden I'd hear him say "WEEEEE". He did this like three times. =D It was so cute!!!





After this ride, the girls were getting cranky so it was another round of bottles and diaper changes. By the time, Connor was getting a little cranky too so we decided to cut our losses and head back to the campground. On the way out, we asked Connor, "are you tired?" Of course he said "no" but as soon as we left the parking lot:



He was out like a light!!!

All the kids did awesome. Do I recommend taking three kids under three? Probably not. LOL! But it was fun and Connor is starting to like the rides more so that's fun. I get to relive my youth! How can that not be fun for me! =)

Stay tuned for Legoland!!!!!

Mona's Birthday party

Ok, can you tell I have some time on my hands tonight?? Plus I needed to get the pictures off the camera so I have a full 2MB's for our camping trip this coming week. ;-)

So anyway, I swear it was like the hottest day of the year for Mona's birthday party. It was a very nice shaded park though so it wasn't too bad. Connor was way excited to sing Happy Birthday to his cousin. He just LOVES birthday parties (which means I really have to do something special for him this year). They did a Hawaiian Luau theme (i am so jealous because all I have is November birthdays. Oh well). And had some games for the kids to play and a little playground for toddlers right there too. So Connor definitely was not bored!!

The Birthday Girl!

Taylor & Emily having fun at the birthday party.

Daddy & Emily (he always takes such good pictures with the kids!)

Taylor partied so hard she fell asleep. ;-)~p

Connor was having fun with the "hot coconut" (they played the Hot Potato game with a coconut)

Uncle Harjinder "No Connor you can't touch the cake" (Connor wanted to touch the cake so BAD. That and play with all the toys!)

4th of July

We had a good 4th. Ended up going over to Romy and Jeff's so the kids could play together (Connor, Katrina, and Dylon). And Gina and Curtis ended up over there too so Braeden joined in. Connor just LOVES playing with Braeden so I'm glad they were able to make it. We got there around dinner time and had yummy kabobs and rice. The kids got to play in the pool and the swing set. Then after it got dark (a little after 8pm) we set off some fireworks. They sure don't last long. Taylor and Emily did really good. Emily ended up falling asleep in the stroller while we were watching the fireworks and Taylor fell asleep in my arms. Here are some pictures:

Mommy & Taylor

Bruno's (Romy's brother's) girlfriend & Emily

Breaden & Connor

Bruno "Now Emily let me tell you about . . ."

Watching the fireworks (You can see Gina and Lyndsey at the front of the fence on the left and Jeff standing up).

Watching the fireworks

Front: Dylon & Connor

Back: Friend of Romy's, Taylor, Emily, Me, Romy, Katrina

This & That

Wow, time sure does fly. I have so much to say that I don't know where to start so I don't. I know I know, I should just do it when I feel the need or remember something. I'll try.

Connor's last day of swim class was fun, sort of. We got to do basically whatever we wanted to do. They had small floats and stuff around for the kids to play with. And if they wanted to go off the diving board or down the slide they could. Well of course Connor wanted to go off the slide. I told him probably three times, you will go under water is that OK? And he was fine with it. Until it happenen. =) The instructor took them down the slide. Basically when they exit the slide, she pushes them towards the air so they get little time in the water but they still end up in the water. He was hysterical when he got out but he was crying. But he said he had fun. I asked if he wanted to do it again and he said no. It was pretty chilly though and we ended up leaving about 5 minutes early. He got a certificate for completing the class which was nice. And it wasn't too hard to tell him that we weren't going swimming anymore. He really understood that it was over and he was fine with it.

Then on Friday the 27th of June we went to Raging Waters with Melanie. He didn't want to go on any of the slides or through any of the sprinklers because it would get his face wet. He was very into not getting his face wet. Hmm, sounds like his mother. I can remember needing a towel next to the pool so I could wipe my face off immediately after dunking my head. It took me YEARS to get over that! But we did end up taking him on Thunder Rapids. The minimum height requirment was 36" and I believe he is 37". He was taller than the line set up for the ride. ;-) Although the guy when we got on was like "He looks a little short but I'm going to let is pass just hold onto him." I was like," he is tall enough I measured!". Of course he is yelling I don't want to go and all the people in line are probably thinking I'm a bad mother. But when we got off, he said he had a good time but when asked if he wanted to go on it again, he said no. But we did go on it again later that night. It was either that or go home. We also hit up the Amazon Adventure (basically the lazy river) which Connor LOVED floating in so we actually ended up doing 2 1/2 times around. All in all a good day. But I do have to say it's a pain going with a non-potty trained child. Changing his diaper, taking off the wet clothes and trying to put a new swim diaper on wet skin, no fun. And I would definitely not go on a weekend. Going during the week was fine as it wasn't too crowded but now I know to go straight to where I want to sit and grab chairs! We did get chairs just not loungers. If I went with a group of people, it would definitely be worth paying and splitting the fee for the private cabana.

Well, time to get going home from work. I got side-tracked here with actually working, LOL! So it's taken me a little bit of time to write this but I want to get this posted. I need to get the pictures off the camera today so hopefully I can share some pictures tonight of the 4th and I'll write a little bit about what we did.

Swimming is coming to an end

So today is Connor's last day of swim class. We have been preparing him all week. Every day he asks "we going swimming today?" Actually it's more like a statement so I don't want him to freak out when I say not today for the next month. I'm thinking of signing him up again but obviously I can't do it again right away for the next session (as I don't think my boss would like me to keep leaving work early) and then the following two week session we'll be on vacation for a week so maybe I'll sign him up for the following class. Tonight we get to do anything we want to do in the pool for the half hour. Connor will love that as all yesterday all I kept telling him was not yet, we have to do this first. We have to do this thing with the class. He said he wants to go down the slide and he instructor said we'd be able to but I still don't think he understands that he will be going under water at the end. He sure didn't like it when I had him go under yesterday and I barely had him go under. Just up to his nose. Oh well.

On Monday, Shawn came over and watched the girls so Surbjit could come and watch Connor swim since he hadn't been able to. Of course we forgot the camera but he was able to take a couple pics with his cell phone.

You can see the slide on the right of the pool that Connor wants to go down. I know it's hard to tell but Connor and I are in the middle facing the camera. I'm wearing a white shirt and we are to the left (as you are looking at the picture) of the instructor (in the red bathing suit).

Me & Connor

Sitting Up!

So I guess I can finally give them credit for sitting up. Well, mostly Emily. She'll sit for a good 10 mins before falling over. On her face mind you and when you pick her up she's smiling like a fool! LOL! Taylor will sit but you better be ready to make sure she doesn't fall (and watch that left arm, argh!) So they are doing good. You wouldn't know anything was a miss the other day with Taylor's arm.

We had a busy weekend. Mona's 1st birthday party was Saturday (my niece). It was a HOT one. Thankfully the park they had it at was nicely shaded. Made it halfway bearable. Then we went to our friend's daughter's graduation party. Thankfully they at least have a wall a/c unit in their house so it was cook in there but I was thankful to get back to my nice central a/c house. =) One of the BEST things we ever did to the house!

This is Connor's last week of swim lessons. He's had a blast and I think is going to have a rough time when I keep telling him after this week that swim lessons are over. Maybe I'll take him to the night swimming on Tuesday's or Thursday's when we get a chance. It's just so hard being so late. Hmm. Friday was a rough class day with Connor. The instructor informed us that we were going off the diving board! I was like great. This is going to go over well. So we walk over to the diving board and Connor was immediately wanting to climb up it (he loves to climb) and saw the girl in front of him jump and tried to back down! I grabbed him and carried him out to the edge and dropped him in to the instructor. I could hear him crying as I was trying to get off the board. Another mom in the class asked if I could take her son out to the edge. I was like sure but I had to grab Connor first. So I got him out of the pool and handed him (crying) to her to hold and I took her son to the edge. He walked almost all the way to the end and was like he didn't want to go any further. So I just prodded him forward telling him I wasn't going to let him fall. We counted to three and I "pushed" him off into the arms of the instructor. I got down off the board and grabbed Connor (who was fine now!) so she could go get her son.

After all this all I'm hearing from Connor now is I want to go down the slide. They have a slide right next to the diving board. I don't quite think he understands that he is going to go in the water at the end. But it wasn't our turn to go down the slide. The instructor did say next week but Connor wanted to go now. So the entire rest of the class, he wanted to do what he wanted to do and didn't want to do what the class was doing. I sure hope he isn't like that today. UGH.

Connor's First Swim Class

I took Connor today to his first swim class! He did great. He clung onto me like there was no tomorrow but that's ok. He did hold onto the kick board and kicked for a good 5-10 mins. So that was a break through. He actually let go of me. =) He had a lot of fun. Our class is every day this week and Mon- Thurs next week. I'm not sure if I'll continue after that. I'll definitely take the following two weeks off. With us going to swim class, Surbjit has to put the girls to bed by himself and I'm having to leave work early. I don't think that's a great idea to do the entire summer! LOL! But I'm glad I'm getting him in the water now and getting use to it. Probably by the end of the class, I won't be able to get him out!!!