Vacation

I know what everyone is thinking...Where are all of my pictures from the week? Well, I forgot my camera in our travel trailer which is in Redding...I am sorry and promise to post as soon as Travis gets back from his boys weekend fishing in a couple of weeks. I am excited to share all of our fishing stories with everyone.

I had a great week. We left early Friday morning and Travis pulled our trailer and I took my car and pulled the boat over to Shasta Lake. I was excited to get away from school and work and just spend time with Travis and my kids. We made it over to the lake in the afternoon after lunch in Redding and some quick stops for "fishing lures!" As soon as we reached Jones Valley we picked out our site and we loaded the kids into the boat. I was a little nervous to see how they would act on the boat but I soon found out. They were very excited and a few time Travis and I looked at eachother and tooks some really deep breaths. The next morning I went to Wal-Mart and bought a strap on highchair and Travis rigged Carly's seat into the boat. To make a long story short the kids were fabulous in the boat and Carly made it 6 hours on the lake one day.

I finished two books, laid in the sun, and ate way too much. As a side note I am currently addicted to CHEESE and costco was selling this gourmet cheese made by Yancy Fancy and like everything that costco does they discontinued it. I found the cheese online and I ordered a bunch. I have to wait two days for it to ship. Yes, she will ship well!!! Now I must hit the treadmill to be able to soak myself in cheese!!!HA.

Back to our vacation, We packed up Thursday morning dropped our trailer off to get a water leak fixed at the RV dealer and then we had lunch and made our way home. I have been doing laundry since we got home and didn't realize how much I would have. I will probably think of more to post once I have my stupid camera....

Potty Trained????

Okay, my sisters would all say that I need to post pictures each time I blog but, hey they aren't the only ones who I type to....Anyway, Carly is officially potty trained!!!!! Everyone always said that Girls were easier than boys but they have never met my daughter!!! Learning to go on the potty has been one of the only things that she hasn't been stubborn with. One day she just pottied and the rest is down the drain!ha She is wearing a pull-up at night but undies all day. Cole has been potty trained since 2 years old and he still wears a pull-up at night. I just wanted to share with everyone that when I didn't stress about Carly doing everything when "expected" she relaxed and taught herself. I am not kidding myself, this is one point for missy but I am still the boss for a couple more years!ha

Update

Hello, Everyone just an update on what the Carmesins' have been doing lately.... I had my first interview with the social science committee on Saturday. It went well, and was a lot easier than I expected. They asked each canidate 5 generic questions and then 1 specific question to the lesson plan that I had created. The questions weren't hard and I felt that they represented who I wanted to be as a teacher. On Sunday, we went to church, lunch, and then while the kids were napping Travis and I worked on getting our travel trailer all situated for next week. We are taking the kids to Shasta Lake to go bass fishing. I LOVE IT!! I love fish tacos (Yes, they are good, not fishy...) We go every year around this time and Cole is extremely excited to go. I have spring break so it will be nice to get away. Sunday afternoon we took Cole and Carly and our dog, Tippy, to the beach. It was a nice day for Mckinleyville and the kids had a blast. Since we are going to be gone next week I am having to work a lot to make sure the office is taken care and trying to get a firm grasp on my homework before the break. I need to dedicate what time I spend doing anything related to school on studying for my CSET tests that I take March 17th.... Anyway, I have midterms this week and then .....Graduation.

Oh yeah, Cole is starting preschool March 19th!!!! He is going to go to Dows Prairie Children's center. I have met the teacher several times and feel great about it. We went yesterday to pick up some paperwork and Cole was shy but warmed up really quick and then didn't want to leave. He is going to go two days a week in the mornings. I think it is going to be great for him to go somewhere that he isn't related to everyone and has a lot of interaction. He told me when we were leaving that "Mom, there isn't a lot of kids at my school." I said no there isn't, compared to the 25 2-3year olds in the church nursery! I think he warmed up quickly because there wasn't a load of kids. It was 8:30 and there was about 6. Wish us luck on our vacation and i'll post some cute pics when we get back

I have had a busy week. Cole and Carly have been really sick this past week. They both got flu shots this year but this flu was lethal. Vickie is out of town this week in Hawaii and thankfully my mom had school off because she watched the kids for me. I don't know how I would do it without the support of my family. I would manage but I would definately have to downsize my school load. Anyway, Travis has been working at the ranch in Salyer for the past couple of weeks and everything is looking great. My dad and Travis's dad ripped all the blackberries out and now Travis is rebuilding the rotten fence. School is going okay I have an interview for the credential program on Saturday. I had to submit a lesson plan on the Cold War in under five days and now we have an interview with two members of a committee and they will ask me questions specifically about my lesson plan. I am nervous but I have reread my lesson a couple times and at least I have the chance to expand my vision instead of the committee just reading it and that being it. I take two more tests on March 17th and I have to pass them. These tests are required to be accepted into the credential program and they are tough. I have one class at school that is very fun and that is the psychology of women. The class is funny and interesting and doesn't require extra out of class thought! I hope everyone has a great week and March is almost here......

Weekend Getaway

Hello Everyone, well it seems I don't like to blog unless there is something great going on or I've done something fun. This last weekend, my sisters, my mom, and my grandma went to Calistoga to a bed in breakfast/Spa. We drove down Friday afternoon, met my grandma at the hotel and had a late dinner. Saturday morning we got up and headed for our treatments. We all received massages, and mud/lavender hydrotherapy baths. We got into the hot tub, sauna, and laughed a lot. We drove from Calistoga to Napa which is about 30 minutes and did some shopping. We stayed at the Mount View hotel and Spa which is in downtown Calistoga. The website is www.mountviewhotel.com if anyone wants to see it. It was a great weekend and I loved shopping. Eddie Bauer is my new favorite store because they sell petite jeans that aren't too short and I don't have to have them hemmed. I also like their clothes because I will be able to wear them into the classroom, when I finish school!!!

School is going and I have to write 15 pages of my 25 page paper in two weeks so I'll probably be very stressed, but "this too shall pass." Carly is sick right now, and I have been up with her all night. Travis took the kids to Trees of Mystery on Sunday while I was gone and took some really cute pictures. He used his camera which isn't digital that is why I didn't post them. Well, life is going by and I am poking along. I hope everyone had a great valentines day.

I haven't blogged in awhile because school has started. This is my last last undergraduate semester and I am really excited. I have only 12 units this semester but it feels like 20 again. I have a senior seminar class in history where I have to write 25 pages. This may not seem that bad, but all historians know that 25 pages will range in the hundreds of footnote citations. Anyway, back to something more interesting...

Life has been pretty much the same lately. We had a superbowl get together yesterday and my mom wanted to do a football pool. We laughed really hard every time my mother-in-law would try to figure out who was going to win the pool. We ate prime rib, for the main course and last night when Travis and I went to bed we both felt like we had gained 10lbs.

Carly and I start Tadpole swim lessons tonight and she is going to love it. She is a water dog!!!!! Cole and I went last year and he hung on to my neck the entire time. I am looking forward to seeing one of the many differences between my children. I am not looking forward to a swim suit!

I know this has been a random blog, but sometimes those are necessary!!!

Thursday Nights

Yesterday, was a very long day....... Wednesday night my Babywise child was up all night!!!!!! How can that be.HA. We spent the night in Willow Creek at my parents' house because Travis was working up there, and Carly woke up crying every hour. She is going through a phase where she is scared of the dark and I think that contributed to her tantrums. Anyway, at about 6:00 on Thursday, I was feeling a mommy meltdown coming. How can that be since I was at school most of the day and I had just picked the kids up at 4:30? I told myself, "Danielle, it's close to 7:30" After baths and books those little rascals were off to bed. Times like yesterday are always good birthcontrol.HA. I finally sat down on the couch and realized my angry mood was from exhaustion and I thought back to my pre-babywise days or sleep days for that matter and remembered why they say "A tired mom is not a good mom" I know everyone is thinking I'm always tired, does that mean I am not a good mom? No, it means that we need rest, and it's vital to being able to withstand mommy meltdowns! Well, there is my random thoughts. The real reason for this post was that I can make it through Thursdays because Friday is next and because of GREY'S ANATOMY!!!!!

Last nights episode of Grey's was an emotional one. George's dad died and everyone felt the effects of it. It was a tear jerker. What is going on with Christina and Dr. Burke? Did anyone else feel that when she finally heard him tell Dr. Shepard he hadn't had anymore tremors, that he had won? Well, I love that show, and can't wait for Prison Break on Monday and Survivor soon...

Mommy Weekend

So this is what happens when Mom is away. I noticed my camera in a different spot when I got home this weekend and I checked the pics out, and this is what I found..... I can't complain because the kids were clean, the house was tidy, and I didn't receive any emergency phone calls while I was away.

My Mom and I left Friday night and stayed at Benbow Inn. It was both our first times there and it was a blast. Saturday morning we got up and headed to healdsburg. We shopped, went wine tasting, and relaxed. Sunday morning we each had spa treatments at our AWESOME hotel (hotel healdsburg) The beds were too die for! After our treatments we relaxed soaking up our hotel room and then we headed to Santa Rosa to finish our shopping. We got home around 7:00 and the kids had just had baths and were VERY excited to see Mommy. I am well rested and relaxed and I am ready for School tomorrow. I had a blast, and if anyone has been to any great spa's in California let me know. We have another girl's weekend in February!

I always have a hard time thinking of what to title my posts.. Anyway, today is Thursday and I stayed home with the kids today. I worked only two days this week and soaked up my children the rest of the time. I thinking working a couple days a week is great. It gives me time to run errands, have some adult time, and really enjoy my days home. I've stayed busy with naps, vet appointments, keeping the house clean, and making dinner. I vowed this week to enjoy being at home because school starts next week. I have a few more things to do to finish my credential application and that is what I need to get done before Feb. 1st.

Travis came home on Tuesday and said that he thought I should call some of my friends up and see if they wanted to get away for the weekend? He thought since this was the weekend before I went back to school that I should enjoy it and have some alone time. At first I was like, I don't want to go anywhere, and then after I talked to my mom I SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY. Needless to say... Mom and me are going to Benbow on Friday night because she has a gift certificate, and then Saturday we are off to Cloverdale to a bed and breakfast/Spa and maybe some wine tasting. Sunday we're going to do some shopping and come home in the afternoon. I AM EXCITED.... My husband is great, and I need to remember these moments when he wants to go...oh say...HUNTING!!! I'll report how our weekend was when I get back...

Okay, so I lied.... I said that since school was over I would be able to blog a lot more frequently and I have blogged a lot less. Our holidays were busy and I can't emphasize how much I have enjoyed being off of school. I have one more week of normalcy and I am going to soak it up. I had a great Christmas and so did the kids. Travis made me an adorable coffee mug with pictures of the whole family. He was very excited about it and I loved it. I also got a new computer, it is an apple and I am having difficulty putting pictures on my blog. Cole got a backhoe for Christmas and Carly got her own kitchen. They really enjoyed opening their presents and Cole said he was happy that it was Jesus's birthday.

After Christmas we went to Lone Pine for 4 days and rode 4-wheelers and Cole and Travis went Pig hunting. They had a great time and I had fun as well. The kids are growing up and getting easier. Note. I said easier not easy! ha.

I got to visit with Lindsey and Izzy on Friday and that was a special treat. I miss Linds a lot. In high school I remember laying on our beds and daydreaming about everything. Linds is doing just what she's always wanted to do, leading an exotic life. (I consider exotic, anything outside McKinleyville...ha.) Love ya Linds.

Cole Wesley Carmesin

A couple months back I did an exclusive blog on Carly and I thought it was time to have everyone get to know Cole. Cole was born May 21, 2004 after a very long delivery. Bare with me because I feel to know Cole you have to hear how he was born. Everyone knows how hard your first labor is. You don't know when you're going to go into labor, or what everything is going to be like....except everyone has told you it's painful. Okay, so May 20th I drove to Fortuna to clean my parents' house. I remember driving by Harper Motors on HWY 101 thinking I didn't feel that well. Okay, so later in the afternoon my mom comes home from school and asks "how are you feeling" I say okay, but nausea's. She immediately makes me sit down and pretty soon I don't feel good like every 5 minutes. So to make a long story short I was in labor and did't really know it. Well that was the last time I was going to feel semi-normal. I went to the hospital and pretty soon I was sure I was DYEING!!!!!!!! Well I was in labor for 26 hours pushed for 3 hours and had to have an emergency c-section. Some will say "I am sorry you had to have a c-section." but don't be sorry. It was great!!! After, being exhausted, and having to wait 30 minutes for the surgery team which was the hardest part of the whole labor. (Side note) The 30 minutes it took for the surgery team to prep was so painful because I had no drugs and couldn't push. I finally couldn't take it anymore and started screaming "GIVING ME SOME MEDICINE, AND WHERE IS THE DOCTOR." Needless to say, he came running down the hall with a needle in his hand. While he was running I could hear him saying "I'm coming" EPIDURALS ROCK! Once I was refueled I knew I was going to see my baby any minute.

After 10-15 minutes in Surgery Cole Wesley Carmesin was born, and I was the happiest mother on earth (the morphine helped) I was stitched up and off to recovery. Cole was born surrounded by his entire family, and "God willing" he won't know life without them. What does his birth have to do with who he is know? Well, Cole has this ability to look at you and make you melt. His eyes are his weopons and he looks at you and cocks his head to the side and grins. He thinks life is about excavators, shotguns, hunting channel, baking pies with his grandma's, and McDonalds. Everytime he gets in his carseat he says "I'm getting in my excavator" and he can spot the McDonalds arch from a mile away. He had to grow up fast because he sister came along 11 months after he was born, but he has been one of the true ultimate joys in my life. I love him more everyday. This is Cole Wesley Carmesin.................

Getting closer to be sane again......

Hello Everyone, I have been overwhelmed with finals at school and preparing for the Holiday season. Tonight, I have my last final at 5:00. It is only a 5 minute presentation and is pretty easy. Last week I couldn't focus on anything except papers, study groups, and sccchhoolll. I need these next few weeks to be as low key as possible. I will probably gain 10 pounds because all I want to do is make cookies with Cole and Carly in our pajamas, eat fried potatoes, make cinnamon rolls, and drink milkshakes from McDonalds. HA!

I was feeling overwhelmed with Christmas this year, because it took me longer to get my cards out, and I don't have all my shopping done. I plan on finishing this week and I will only have a couple more things to wrap. I can' t wait for Christmas Eve. I will tell everyone what our Christmas schedule is like...like any of you care, I know.HA!
Christmas Eve we will go to my parents' house and have prime rib and all the trimmings. We exchange gifts with my parent's and my sisters. Travis's parents, sister, and grandparents also come to Christmas Eve, and it is a lot of fun. I love having my in-laws come as well because it seems like a really intimate Christmas. Christmas Morning we have the kids open their presents and Travis and I exchange gifts. We then head to 10:00 brunch in Salyer with my family. We always have delicious food and get to visit until we head back to McKinleyville. Between 2:00 and 5:00 we exchange gifts with Travis's parents' and his sister. It is mellow, and then the Carmesin clan shows up around 5:00. I don't envision naps for the kids besides the car ride from Salyer to Mckinleyville, but it's Christmas and we are on Jesus's time not Danielle's time!!!! Anyone that knows me, knows that I am like a little kid on Christmas. I can't wait to get up and watch the kids open their presents and I know this is clique but I love giving. I love picking out that one gift that makes someone happy. I am glad I married someone who know matter what the holiday he always walks around saying "happy week before Christmas" We are a pair.

We're Back....

Hello my fellow bloggers! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We made it to Cutbank, Montana safely and made it home in one piece. We flew out Friday November 17th from Sacramento and Travis and John (My father-in-law) picked us up in Great Falls, MT. The kids were great on the flight, thanks to having their own seats and the sit-n-stroll car seats. I posted a picture of the kids in their strollers because they also doubled as car seats on the flight. They truly made the travel experience easier.

Once in Montana we visited with family, played cards, cooked, went to a bed and breakfast, and had a gift exchange. The kids received a lot of neat gifts and when we got home I went through their current toys and got rid of a lot. I got all of my Christmas decorations out of the attic and have put the majority of them up inside the house. We need to get a tree this week, and put our outside lights up and we will be finished. Having just come back from vacation, and trying to make sure I have everything done for school in the next two weeks is overwhelming. I only have 30 more days to finish my Christmas shopping.

Overall, we had a great Thanksgiving, and I am looking forward to a wonderful Christmas. Have a great week. Danielle

Best Friend, Husband, and Father

Yes, it's true I miss Travis. He will be picking us up at the airport in Montana on Friday afternoon. This past week has gone by quickly but I have missed him very much. I miss someone to chat with at night, or to have an adult conversation with. I miss sharing meals with him, and I never thought I would miss the before dinner wrestling matches he holds with the kids. I miss his noise! I still have plenty of noise between the two munchkins. Well, this weekend was terrrific. I didn't have school on Friday due to Veterans' Day. The kids and I took our time getting ready and we headed to the mall to get some Christmas shopping done. We are doing a gift exchange in Montana on Thanksgiving. We made it home for naps, and when the kids laid down, so DID I!!! We had lunch when we woke up and we invited ourselves to Janelle's for dinner. Saturday, the kids and I putted around and my dad took Cole to a football game for the afternoon. Cole slept through the first two halves!haha. Carly and I went to Ace hardware for a dog food container, and picked up a movie. Travis's grandparents invited to dinner so again, I didn't have to cook. If I play my cards right I occasionally have to cook... After the kids went to bed my friends' Jeff and Monica came over and we watched Shadowboxer. DO NOT WATCH IT, IT WAS VULGAR!!!! Today, the kids and I went to church, and I served in the Nursery. Cole is so funny he won't go in the nursery. He sits out in the main sanctuary and just listens and occasionally he'll draw. Carly always dashes for the nursery. My parents took the kids home for a nap and I went to the Library to do homework and research. Surprisingly, we had dinner at my parents. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, peaches, and homemade cinnamon rolls. We couldn't wait another two weeks. My next post is going to be my sweet potatoes which are as good as dessert. I know it seems that every post is what I did over the weekend, but oh well...... Have a terrific week!

Carly Ann Carmesin

MISS INDEPENDANT

This blog is all about Carly, and finding out who my little girl is. Everyday she reveals a different side to herself. For starters, Carly always wakes up when she wants to. She'll sleep through Cole in the middle of the night, or when he gets up at 7:00 she'll sleep till 8:00. She wants to eat breakfast first thing in the morning, and loves to use her yogurt as hair gel!!! Last month I would look at her and see a baby and last week she turned into a little girl. She talks non-stop and you can understand what she is saying. Cole answers her. I find that funny, because like I said last week she was a baby. She is ready to be potty trained, and I am not. Potty Training is like decorating. You can't do a good job decorating if you aren't in the mood, or you do a half-way job. That is the same with potty-training. When you begin potty-training you have to do it full blown otherwise you never see the fruits of your hard work. Every kid is always obsessed with putting on everyones shoes, but I swear "T" which for everyone who doesn't know that is Carly's nickname. Cole has called her "T" from day one and we all call her that... random...I know. Back to Carly and shoes....She IS INFATUATED!!! She tells me numerous times to look at her boots, or whatever she's sporting. If I could look into the future and see Carly in 6 years, I will be being told what to do by a 8 year old, reasoned with, braiding her long hair, rescueing her brother, and begging her dad to leave her at home. If the last 18 mos are a tiny piece of her life to come she is going to be extraordinary..................... This is Carly

Haven't they grown......

It seems I want to blog on the weekends. The weekdays are reserved for homework time on the computer, not enjoyment. Friday night, we went to dinner for Vickie's birthday and then the family came over to our house for dessert. I made cream cheese brownies topped with rocky road ice cream and a little milk(Courtesy of the Iorgs!!!) Friday night was deja vu though.... It began with Cole and Carly both having temperatures, coughs, and runny noses. I gave them their drowsy cough medicine before bed and it was relatively painless. The kids were tucked in around 8:00 (Late night for Carly) I wasn't far behind. I woke up at 10:30 to Cole crying......I went in there and he was burning up. I gave him some tylenol to take his fever down, and he was just sobbing... To make a long story short I slept(attempted) in the recliner Friday nights to help Cole's nose to drain. I wish I had a bigger Indian basket he could sleep in!!! Saturday, morning Travis left at 4am to leave for Montana. Him and his dad and his uncle are taking our 5th wheel hunting along the way to Montana. They will pick us up at the airport on Friday November 17th when we fly into Great Falls!!! I miss him already, but he was soooo excited. He works so hard all summer, and this is something he looks forward to. I have two papers I have to write before we leave, and without another child to take care of!! I'll have more time to get ready for our trip. Have a great week everyone.............

Happy Halloween????

Happy Halloween? I am not so sure about that, but anyway, Cole was a crocodile, and Carly was tinkerbell. I got home from school around 5:00 we put the kids costumes on them, and then we were off. We stopped at Travis's parents, McDonalds for dinner, Cole stated " Dad, we have to eat at Mcdonalds." We went to my sister Rachelle's to eat our dinner, last stop my Mom and Dads....... By the end of the night 7:00 I was worn out, and ready for bed. The kids had been with their dad all day, and frankly were not in the costume mood. I am going to keep the costumes out, and we will practice being a happy crocodile, and tinkerbell for next year. I think Carly is going to be rambo or bambam next year!!! It would just fit her tough little attitude!! They loved all the candy they got to eat............... I hope everyone else had a safe night.

Great Days

Well, the CrazyCarmesins have had a pretty mellow weekend. Last week I got up with Travis at 5:00am each morning to do homework and regroup for the day. By Friday I was worn. Saturday came and Travis told Cole to go back to bed at 7:00 and we had another hour of lounge time!!! I just changed the sheets the night before so I loved staying in bed. All you moms out there will understand that the best way to wake up in the morning is to clean sheets and a cup of coffee with your favorite creamer! haha. Back to the weekend events.... Saturday morning I made breakfast, and got the kids ready to spend a day with dad. Travis took both the kids to Salyer to check on our Cows, and shoot squirrels. Usually, only Cole goes but Carly has moovveedd uuupppp!!! It's good for her to go along, not only for Travis but for Carly as well. She needs to realize that even though she is a girl (which doesn't mean much since girls can do anything) I acknowledge that there are differences to girls and boys but the point is if Carly wants to hang out with her brother and dad she must learn how to survive. The kids and Travis were gone most of the day. I cleaned out the garage, worked on homework, ate ice cream while catching the last parts of a lifetime movie, and just enjoyed my peace and quiet. The best part of the day was that the kids and Travis went to a late lunch and weren't hungry for dinner. WE HAD LEFTOVERS!! I didn't have to make dinner. What a wonderful way to end a spectacular day. Sunday is here and it's daylight savings hour so we are off to catch the early service at church this morning. I hope everyone had a great weekend!!!

Last Weekend

Hello Everyone! Well, Travis got a buck this weekend. The best picture I took was of Cole with his head turned. We will have another winter with plenty of buck meat. I have been meaning to post that Carly got a new puppy. Cole is holding the puppy but Carly is in love with her. Our new puppy's name is "Tippy." She is really cute. It is amazing how well she listens and she even potties in her spot in the lawn. October is almost over, and I can't wait for December 13th (Semester is over). School is going okay and pretty soon we will be headed for Montana. I hope everyone is having a great fall. Till next time.....

Busy Weekend

Good Morning, Well we had a busy but great Weekend. Friday the kids and I went to rehearsal for their cousin Tonya's wedding. Wedding rehearsals for the parents of the kids (ring bearer and flower girl) are foreshadowing what chaos the actual wedding is going to be. Travis was helping his dad cut up the tri-tip for the wedding so he wasn't at the rehearsal, and the day of the wedding Travis was bbq the meat! Oh well, it's over and we survived. Cole and Carly did terrific walking down the aisle. Cole "layed" on the stage and ate a bag of M&M's during the wedding and when he finished them he walked back down the aisle and found Carly and I. They were good overall, BUT WEDDINGS ARE STRESSFUL. My kids aren't in another wedding until July 2007, and I am happy. Tonya looked beautiful, and I am glad her wedding was a success.

GUESS WHAT?.......

Janelle, is PREGNANT!!!!! I am so excited to be aunt! Janelle and Mikey are expecting their first baby sometime in June. I can't believe that my baby sister is going to be a mom. She is a terrific aunt, and I know that she will be an even better mom. Good luck Auntie Nell.....

Good Times

Good Morning, here are some current photos of Cole and Carly in the bath tub. Bathtub pictures are priceless and endless. No matter how many you take they always get cuter. One of my favorite times of the day is bath time. I love bath time because bed time isn't that far away, and the kids are happy. Both of my kids are happy in the bath, and it is rare that they take a bath separately. Bath time also gives me a chance to sit and talk to the kids without being distracted. I can't leave them in there alone, therefore, I enjoy sitting and chatting with my 1 and 2 year old.
Aside from that, to all those parents out there that have a baby who has already turned 1. Do you feel like after they turn 1 it doesn't seem like the correct age. For example, Carly is 1 but she isn't. I find myself wanting to say that she's 1 1/2. I am not sure why I guess I just feel like she is too spunky to be 1! Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week. Cole and Carly are in a wedding this weekend, and THAT WILL BE EXCITING!!! Till next blog......

A Day in the City

Yesterday, Sunday October 8, Travis and I flew down to San Francisco to watch the 49ers play the Raiders. Anyone who knows my husband, knows that he is a dye hard Raider fan. He would wear spiked shoulder pads if I'd let him. He was tame because I was with him at the game, and his team is not GOOD!! I feel bad for him because they never win, they play with no heart, and all they have is a bad reputation. Oh well, pick another team. We flew down to San Fran at 9:45am took a cab from SFO to Monster Park. The game didn't start till 1:00 and we had plenty of time to watch the teams warm up. The game was close until half-time, at which time the Raiders decided they would rather be anywhere but on the field and GAVE UP. I am not a football analyst, but it doesn't take a sportscaster to realize they don't have any "spunk!" We left Monster Park at the end of the 3rd quarter caught a cab back to the airport, and grabbed some dinner. Compared to other airports, LAX for that matter SFO has many food options. I guess it all depends on what terminal you're in. We made it home at 7:30 and had time to pick up the kids from my moms. It was a great day in San Francisco and I would like to go to a KINGS game next time!haha

This picture says it all !!!!

Fall is here, and I know that in McKinleyville the weather is never predictable, but one thing about the fall and winter seasons is that it will be cold. I can always tell when I need to break out my Toddlerwise book and get back into my routine.... You're probably thinking "how does Danielle know she needs to get back into her routine?" Well, I hate letting my kids play with their toys all day long. They need structure, and it isn't healthy to let them have free for all's in their room or the living room. Cole and Carly are bored after nap, and I can't stand the T.V. as background noise. It's hard for me to schedule their day when I am only home for a couple hours a day. I can do it, it just is more work. In case you were wondering this blog is RANDOM! Do any of you feel disoriented? Let me explain my current situation and maybe someone out there can relate. My car has poker chips spread all over' (Cole wouldn't leave Carly alone, so I gave him a travel game, which I am now paying for.) I have weight watchers cookbooks lying in the back seat' (I've been meaning to give back to my aunt.) I have a swimsuit I've been meaning to return to my sister, and random miscellaneous CRAP I just need to deal with. Some of you are probably thinking ok, deal with it, or I don't know what the big deal is. My car is the one place that makes me feel organized, and for some reason right now I'm about to have a breakdown over a few things out of order. Some other things that I just can't find the time to get to.... I have no gas to mow my lawn, and no time to go and get gas, I am out of milk, and Carly is going to be UPSET in the morning, and so on. I know you all think I am pathetic, but what is a blog for if you can't just get it out!!!!!

Great Mornings

Hello Everyone, I wanted to say Hi to everyone and update everyone on how the Crazy Carmesins are doing. Cole is getting too big. I know I will be saying that for the rest of his and my lives but it is true. He will entertain himself completely, and he speaks in complete sentences. He never ceases to amaze me. Carly is STUBBORN...........She made up her mind from day one to be a great sleeper, and she decided that she would make me pay in other ways. She refuses to come to her name. She will just plop down wherever she is at and make you come to her. We are working on that through time outs and occasional swats. The swats don't phase her! Uh.... Well, on a sweeter note, she is really into random hugs and patting the back of who ever she is hugging. She is saying all kinds of words, and is going to be taller, and tougher than her brother. Travis was gone last week working out of town in Brookings, and he is also gone this week. He has been working on the weekends as well. We are trying to save extra money for the winter time. I am trucking along through school. This Monday began better than previous Mondays but, I'll be happy when winter time rolls around because I won't have so much office work on top of school. I keep telling myself "if I get through this week" then the next week rolls around. I can't wait to go to work instead of school, and you can quote me on that. Till my next post. Danielle

Climbers

Cole was 18 mos when one day he miraculous walked out of his room, when I had laid him down in his crib. I put him back in the crib and watched him on my video monitor, shimmy down the front of the crib. My battle began..... I finally resorted to a toddler bed within the next couple months of his unsafe landings. The toddler bed transistion was hard because he wasn't mature enough to handle his new found freedom. I looked up what other parents were doing on babycenter, and everyone was talking about a "crib tent." It wasn't much use to me, since I had already dismantled the crib. I swore with my second child I would use one of those crib thingys vs. a toddler bed too early. Carly has taken longer to do things than Cole up until last week. She is only 16 mos and she began crawling out of her crib!!!! I know, whyyyyyyyyyy.... I had already purchased the infamous crib tent, so I said "I don't think so" The moral of this story is that the crib tent is incredible, and I won't have to put Carly into a toddler bed, until she can handle the freedom.

Travis and Cole went hunting this last weekend. I had CSET testing on Saturday, and have so much homework I can't possibly go away for the weekend. Cole was so exited to go. He had his binocular pouch on, and his "fake" pistol in his pants (The top, waist) and he wouldn't let his Grandma, or his dad out of his sight. He would inform everyone, that "I'm going huntin" He was adorable. Below are pictures of him with Susie the Bear, and His Grandpa John, Dad, and Great Papa John. AND IT STARTS............
Click on this link to see the pictures, it wouldn't let me post the images.
http://www.sendpix.com/albums/06091809/ldt4nhf3hv/

Maybe we have it backwards....

After bath time, I told Cole to go put his seat on the potty, and to go "poop." Every night when I lay him in bed he tells me that he has to poop. I just began the night with the potty. Anyway, while I was putting Carly in her PJ's I went in to make sure there wasn't a roll of toilet paper in the bathtub....or etc. Low and behold Cole skipped the potty seat appartatus, and straddled the toilet BACKWARDS! It was so cute I had to capture the moment. I am still laughing.... Good Night.

Labor Day

I hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend. I had a GREAT time! Friday night Travis and I loaded up the kids and headed to Redding. We stopped in Willow Creek and had dinner at my favorite spot, Cinnabar Sams. We didn't get to Redding till late, and the kids were pooped. Saturday morning Travis went Dove hunting, and the kids and I lounged around Dale's house by his pool. In the afternoon, we went shopping at the Outlets, and then off to dinner. Sunday, Travis and the kids made our rounds visiting family and friends, and in the afternoon we went to the waterslides! Travis, Me, Vickie, John, Heidi,Tote, Jillian,Cole, & Carly all went. The funniest(Well not really funny) happened just before we got there. A kid pooped in the kiddy section. They chlorined and cleaned the pool, but we had to wait an hour. That is the risk you take at a public pool. Monday we left Redding at 7:30am and headed for Medford. HWY299 was closed or shut down for a long wait due to a fire. I love Medford, and the drive is different. We shopped in Medford for a couple hours, and we were off headed for the fog. Overall, we all enjoyed 3 days of being together. I can't wait to hear what everyone else did, or what they didn't do!