brody and the couch

we got this couch on craigslist, and it was the bargain of the century!! we love it! but it was slightly worn on one of the arms, and brody has continued to scratch and pick at the worn patch until it made a little hole. He now enjoys trying to make the hole bigger and bigger!!! Does anyone know how to fix a leather hole, or stop a baby ripping it? all suggestions are welcome!

california here we come................

The Funnest Day EVER!!!

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to california. I have lived in america for nearly 5 years, and nope... never been to california, which is 6 hours away from where we live. On friday morning, we decided we would go! sooo when Mark got home from work, we left for disneyland!! (we like to be impulsive!) We got an amazing deal on a hotel, which was just 1 mile away from disneyland. Kyle and Brody enjoyed looking out the window because we were up so high. The next morning we set off nice and early (8.30am) for our adventure. It was raining and chilly, (a strange concept to our arizona accustomed skin) but we were all excited.

Disneyland was fun, we got to go on lots of rides together, kyle especially loved the buzz lightyear ride, because he got to shoot monsters with a lazer gun! Mark was playing to win that game, even though his competion was his 2 year old son!

Now, as most of you know, I am all about the food! But it is with deep regret that I report.... my raging tastebuds were left unsatisfied and disappointed. Marks wallet felt the same way!

Kyle and Brody had alot of fun, and it was definately worth it. The highlight for the boys was when we got to watch a live show with playhouse disney! Just to make you aware... this is kyle absolutle favourite tv show!! He watches it EVERY morning, and he LOVES bear in the blue house, and jojos circus and all the rest. Kyle watched in stunned amazement, with his 2 fingers in his mouth (which we have discovered he does when he is overwhelmed with delight) Bro-bro danced and clapped his hands!

Recently I broke my foot, and it is feeling alot better, but after a whole day of walking around in my pumas, I really wished I had ignored the doctor and wore my trusty flip flops (they just make sense!) and they certainly air things out, if you know what I mean? When we eventually found our car, the first thing I did was take off my shoes, and Mark said...."wooooo do you have athletes foot?" Just to be clear, I dont have athletes foot! I am CERTAINLY not an athlete by any means. What I do have, however is.. smelly foot! Mark was not looking forward to the 6 hour drive home, with my feet on board!! Kyle and Brody were knocked out before we pulled out of the parking lot. "before we reversed out of the car park," (for all my scottish readers)

I dont know if it was attributed to the long tiring day, or the fact that I had removed my shoes, but non-the-less, both boys slept soundly the whole way home!

night night Brody

and kyle (no pic) xx

new washing machine

I have 7 minutes to quickly update!!

As you all know we have been trying to potty train kyle, you can imagine out washing pile!!! there are piles of his clothes and towels and I even think there is a rug in there somewhere!! he has been wee'ing EVERYWHERE! I finally gave up and he is back in his trusty nappy!!! I am a rubbish mum (I know!) anyway last weekend our dryer died, it was a slow death that had been coming for a while, We had been anticipating it for a while which softened the blow somewhat! We were not expecting the sudden death of his twin brother "washing machine!" We are still in a state of shock! We didnt even have time to grieve for our beloved drier, I take comfort in the fact that they will have each other now!! heheheehhe anyway we got a new washer and dryer this morning and I am soo happy!! Its amazing how fast I have got over the loss of my twins!! hehehehhe

potty training

Butter would'nt melt in his mouth..............

Yes its that time!! I have finally decided to socialize my boy! Kyle is almost 3 now and still sucks a dummy (pacifier) carries around a sippy cup and has a bulging diaper (nappy). He attends a montessori pre-school, where he is required to empty his bladder frequently in the bathroom provided. All of kyles peers have mastered the art of controlling their bladders, and although he is older than many of them, Kyle clearly has not! It is very interesting to me, that this fact does not appear to embarrass him or even phase him in the slightest. He will have mature discussions, (and even arguments) all the while filling his ever sagging nappy. I close my eyes sometimes and imagine my little red head boy all grown up, with a full grown beard, waddling up to collect his law degree certificate, with hs supersize pamper on!
anyway so we are going for it!!! I told kyle that he could have a present if he stayed dry ALL DAY! he said he wanted a new superman t-shirt. So we had a deal, kyle was soo good, he stayed dry ALL morning, doing all his wee wees in his potty. Even when we went to visit Cheryl, we took our special potty with us, and he did great! Kyles cousin Lani (who has nearly perfect control of her bladder) decided that she wanted to try kyles potty too. which resulted in another argument of course. Kyle continued to do his business in his little potty for the rest of the afternoon. staying dry for a consecutive 9 hours! I believe he might get that superman t-shirt after-all....
Jill came round to check out Marks latest project, and we were chatting, when I noticed Kyles tell tail triangle, it was a darker shade than the rest of his trousers. urggg he was doing soo well! It was then that I saw it! A suspicious looking lump down one of his trouser legs, I silently hoped that it could perhaps be a toy or something that he put down his pants, but the waft that accompanied the lump, filled the room with a pungent stench, that singed the hairs in my nostrils. It was a smell that not even a mother could love! and all the while I was concerned about his bladder problems, I forgot to acknowledge his bowels. It is going to be a long hard training process!!! anyone want to borrow a 2 year old for a couple of weeks?

apparently I need to update this thing.........

Mark has been working DEAD hard on our house, he has put up panalling in our bedroom and painted the room pale blue, it looks soo pretty, and it actually gives the illusion that it is cool in my house (which is just an illusion) There is definately something wrong with our air conditioning, and I am not liking it. all of our pillows have huge wet patches where our sweaty little heads have been. My ac thingy says it is 74 degrees, but he is definately lieing!!

Anyway, Mark always has a lunch meeting with his work every thursday, They always get to go to good places like... fuddruckers, mattas, etc etc. I am always jealous of marks thursday luncheons, and to top it off, when he comes home, he is sooo full that he doesnt even want to look at what I dragged together for dinner. Sooo yesterday I decided that I too, was going to indulge in something special. I (of course) had my 2 little buddies with me. We decided to go to "oregenos" (highly recommended by mary) I am happy to report that I had a very enjoyable lunchtime experience. I was some-what surprised with my findings, since previous meals out with my offspring have resulted in........ screaming fits, food being thrown, messes, whyning, drinks being spilled, jumping on chairs, tables etc. which is usually why we pay mariana $20 so we can enjoy a meal without having to appologize to several people, including... The hostess, the server, the customers in the booth behind us, and infront and lets be honest.... any table within ear distance of us (which is most tables).
Yesterday I had my little monsters all by myself, and they were angels! I decided to put up some of my tips. When I follow these rules, I dont have to appologize quite as much!

1. order kids meal when you order your drink
2. order your meal
3. when you meal comes ask for a box, order dessert and ask for the bill
4. Throw as much food down your throat as fast as you can. put the rest in the box
5. Slow down and enjoy dessert (strangely enough, I have never EVER had to coach "2 more bites" ) with chocolate chip PAZOOKIES (again recommended by mary)
6. Pay bill & tip with cash
7. get the hell out of there! (thats not a bad word in scotland)

I had such a nice lunch (slightly more rushed than I would have liked) But nobody asked to be re-seated this time. we are getting better!!!

my lovely, beautiful, sweet sister pauline xxx

Has she shrunk or are these mighty large scrippies?

Look how lovely she is............

she is working hard in temple square, and I am so so proud of her!!

superdad

Mark is the best dad in the world! Brody and Kyle absolutely worship him!! They put up with me during the day, but they light up when daddy comes home!!!! Mark recently turned 30, thats a scary birthday, but Mark really didnt seem to mind, I know I am going to freak out when its my turn!!! gulp! anyway just wanted to pay tribute to my special husband, who is such a good person and amazing dad. I love you markie xx

sweet brody

Brody is the sweetest little baby on the planet! He loves to eat, and he loves to dance. He thinks he can talk, and he will have massive conversations with whoever will listen to him! Brody cant understand why nobody wants to play with him at 4 o' clock in the morning! I love you Bro-bro xx

the funny things kyle has been saying lately..

kyle has taken a keen interest in drawing, i usually find his artwork on furniture, walls or the floor. I recently bought kyle some paints, which he enjoyed for most of this afternoon. thankfully, he wasnt too bad, and kept the paint strictly for his picture (and his arms and tummy) anyway... this evening as i was trying to get kyle ready for bed, he started asking to paint again, and i said no kyle, its time for bed. and he started whyning even louder ( i really need to learn how to spell the word whyning because it is the only word that really explains his high pitched whails and demands!!) anyway, I told kyle..." no kyle, you can paint again when you wake up, and he looked at me and said.. " but I already awake!" hahahha how could i argue with that????





ok another funny little thing......... I HATE CRICKETS!!!!!!

We just moved house recently, and the new house is having a HUGE problem with crickets!!! they are disgusting little things that jump around everywhere making an obnoxious clicking sound and I HATE them!!!!!! I was showing my disgust whilst squashing it with marks shoe. I said to kyle.... "I hate these crickets!!" he looked at me with big eyes and said.... "you just like horses and cows?





need to start wrting this stuff down!!!

I want to try and keep track of the funny things kyle has starting saying these days.............

the other day we were at the mall, and kyle was getting really grumpy and tired, and he was whyning and moaning like crazy, so i told him if he was really good we could go to the playground for a bit, but i just needed to go to 1 more shop. kyle wasnt too happy about this and he started whyning again, so i told him to be good and we would go to the playground next. so we went into victorias secret, and kyle was trying overly hard to pretend he was in a pleasent mood, he picked up a bra and said..... "you like this boobs mummy? or you like the red boobs?" it was soo funny and cute hahahahahha I love that boy!!!

i am so so proud of kyle ........

Kyle recently started pre-school, He LOVES it! It is a montessori school so he gets to do a lot of things all by himself, He got to make his own lunch yesterday, and he thought that was the coolest thing ever! He seems to have passed through the "terrable 2" stage, and he is just the sweetest nicest little boy I have ever known! We love you to bits kyle xxxx

ok here goes...................

Well me and Mark are enjoying life in arizona where the heat melts the skin off your bones! We just moved house recently, we have been enjoying re-decorating and mark has done sooo many cool things to it! He is amazing! We have 2 adorable boys, kyle and brody.
Kyle is almost 3, he is very clever, funny, cute and soo sensative, he loves to make sure everyone is happy, he is always looking out for his baby brother and his mummy. but his best friend in the whole world is.. mawk! Kyle recently started pre-school and he is loving it!
Brody is our chubby little baby, he is 13 months, and has just started to crawl, he is not interested in trying to walk, he way prefers to be carried around and snuggled. He loves to play peek-a-boo he is sooo cute! I am so lucky to have such beautiful boys!
We also have a dog named chloe, who, (I am sure) hates us, I would hate my owners if i was made to stay outside in the blazing sun day in day out. (marks defense) "she has water"