Parenting 101

As you know I am a mom......Sometimes.

I try to be very patient with my kids, however patience is a virtue I am not real good at.


First let me say that I LOVE my Parker. He is soo sweet and fun and loving. But he is also just like me. He is stubborn and pig headed, and can be down right crabby!!


Last night I made a really good dinner, It was a beef soup with veggies and rice. Man was it good .Everyone snarfed it down. Except Parks.........Surprise. NOT! He doesn't eat anything except sugar, reprocessed meats, cheeses and sugar. We are not o.k. with this, so we are making a huge effort to be healthier at our house. No deserts until Sunday, and exercise of some sort every day. So we sat down at 6:00 last night for dinner. Parker tasted it and pushed it away and started his diversion tactics, which usually means getting dad talking about motorcycles, video games, or anything from the 80's. Then when our conversation is at the peak he stealthily sneaks up stairs. EVERY TIME!!!! Well last night I was watching him and I caught him just before he tried to make his exit. HA!!! I was not loosing this battle. I told him he had to eat it. Cue dramatics, crying and moaning. He told me "his body could not eat this stuff because I didn't eat good food when I was prego with him!!!" SERIOUSLY? I laughed and said "No way buddy, not true." I then informed him that he had to finish every bite or else he would loose all of his privileges. Like T.V., videos, computer, watching Kenna play videos ( he likes this),no motorcycle, no sledding, No sugar, no deserts, and I will no longer cook for him. He cried some more and sat there. I timed him. Gave him 20 minutes to finish it and that was it. He would plug his nose and gag and spit food out. How old is he?... 2?... No 9!! He didn't do it. So I told him to go up to bed no music, no tuck in, nothing. You would have thought I had stabbed him he was screaming at me... " you didn't say anything about music!!!" and I said "is it a privilege?" and he stared at me. I said," yes it is, so there for you don't get to listen to it." After a good 5 minute stare down . Brian tried to explain why we want him to eat better and how hard I had worked on the meal I made for him. Brian can always talk since into people mostly me. Any ways Parker said he wasn't going to eat it. I looked at him and said "Fine if you don't eat it no priveledges for 2 weeks, and you will eat the soup for breakfast. And if you don't eat it then you will eat for the next meal until it is gone!!! " More tears " Do you want me to starve to death?" I said "nope, so you better eat!". He ate it in 8 minutes. He finished his dinner at 9:04 P.M.


There are probably better ways to do this but I honestly have fought this battle with him for 7 years. He is just like me!!!!!!!! I LOVE THAT BOY!


P.S. I WON!



New Years Eve. Feast time for Parks he is in peak performance in this picture!!!! LOL! This is the one night a year they get to drink Pepsi!!! And Cheese Whiz from a can.. YUCK!!!!

Seattle or BUST!!!!

We woke up the next day and left for Melanie's sisters house. It took us about an hour or so. Her sister was very nice, alot like Mel, very witty. I liked her. We made arrangements to meet my brother Matthew and his wife Kristina in about an hour, so we headed out. After getting only a little lost we met up with them. Mel went with her sister and I left with Matthew and Kristina

Now I will tell you right now that there will be no pics of him or his wife. He just recently had a blog stalker and asked me, specifically, not to post any. SORRY!!! They are doing great and both look fantastic. For those of you wondering what my bro looks like...... picture me, only male, shaved head, goatee,and earrings. He is fantastic!!! Kristina is a pretty Italian girl with a great New York accent. She is very intelligent but doesn't make you feel like an idiot. She is GREAT!! I love them very much. It was fun to be with them and see them in their element. They are very city-fied. It was great.

The first night we got to their house and ordered pizza. It was called the Cherry Bomb....... YUMMMMMMMYYY ( here comes the food critic mode...) It had sausage, spinach, and sweet hot red peppers on it. WOW was it hot mmmm. very good. We sat up and talked until midnight, it was soooo fun. And I have to mention that Emi is smitten with him. Kenna is too it is funny. It must be that Ashment charm! She sat in his lap all evening and colored with him.

The next day we woke up and they made me a smoothie. It was good it had all kinds of crazy things in it. They like to eat whole foods alot so I was a bit nervous. Matthew said it would give me more energy than 2 Pepsi's..... He was right. I felt good all day and we walked ALL DAY!

First on the agenda was one of Americas most haunted tours... The Seattle Underground. It was awesome..I loved it and Emi was very good the whole time. And I have to say that it didn't feel very haunted. SORRY....

An old iron bath tub and an iron door used to hold gold thieves or something like that.

The remains of an old elevator. And some old stuff. tee hee!

This tour was real cool. you learn about the whole history of Seattle and the fire that destroyed the whole money district. The sidewalk we are walking on is the original side walk from the 1800's it is a pretty awesome thing to see in real life.

Seattle was one of the first plces to get a "Crapper" The original name of the toilet. Very funny story...

After the tour we walked over to an antique shop. I love this it is one of my favorite things to do....However not with a toddler. We left sooner than any of us wanted to.

We then went to lunch. My aunt Risa told me I had to get fish and chips at Ivar's so we did. It was good. I am not a seafood person but I will try new things so I can say it was good but I am not going to crave it. :) Sorry Risa.

Then we were off to Pikes market. I can now say that I have been there and that is about it. It was stinky, HOT,crowded, and did I say stinky? Yeah I don't think I need to ever go back there. I will, however, give them props for the beautiful fruit and veggies they had there.. AMAZING!!!!!!!

After that we were all tired especially Emi. So we went home. I wish we could have gone to the Space Needle but truly it is not that big of a deal.... I see it every week on Grey's anatomy right? And if I had asked I know they would have taken us. So we went home and had some yummy ravioli Kristina made and we just hung out. Emi's new hero is Matthew. He sat and watched a barbie movie with her for 2 hours and when he tried to leave she told him NO! and made him sit down.. HAAA!!! Yup, she is the boss!!

It was an awesome time. I loved every minute of it. I am soooo glad I got to see them.

The next morning we got up and Matthew drove us to Melanie's sisters house. We loaded up and hit the road about 9:30 a.m. We got home at 3:00 a.m. It was a long, long, drive. The kids were done before we started but we made it. We only had one little problem on the way home. In Boise the battery died in the car while we were getting gas... Note to self don't play DVDs while the engine is off for 15 minutes!!! It was funny!!!! We asked a cute Hippie couple to jump us and they did after she ripped part of her engine cover off!!! CRAZY lady. We were thankful and they were nice. It was a great road trip and I want to do it again sometime. But not any time soon!!!

Thanks for the fun Melanie!!!!! :)

Hanging with Melanies friends

After our fantastic day at the PCM we headed to Melanie's friend Jen's house. We stopped to wash the road gook off the car. Now usually this is not news worthy but since I have never been in a drive through car wash that you put your car in neutral and let it go I sort of freaked out!!! I thought Mel was going to hit the car in front of us!! I know I am a total DORK!!!

This truly was hilarious. I guess you had to be there!

SCARY..... I KNOW!!!!

Since Julie was still recovering from the flu Jen was more than happy to let us crash at her pad. Jen is soooo sweet. Really just a genuinely nice person. That night we got a sitter and us girls went to the Olive Garden for a little food and gossip. MMMMM! Lately I have not been real impressed with The Olive Garden, however this one was great!!! ( Yes I am an undercover food critic!! have you seen my butt?)We had a good time and it was fun getting to know the girls. Melanie has some great friends.

The next morning Julie was better so we headed to her house. She is fantastic! What a great person. She is a photographer and has CRAZY MADD SKILLZZZZ. I want her to come take some family pics of us when she comes to visit. She and Melanie are kindred spirits. It was fun to see the smile on Mels face when they would talk. I understand Mel a little bit more now and see why moving here was sooo hard for her. I am thankful that she did, and has managed to stick it out. This place is not for everyone. Anyways....I digress......

SHOPPING!!!!!! Yes all day it was fantastic no kids, no diapers, no crying just me and my favorite stores. We went to Pioneer Place. They have everything there. It was a shoppers mecca.

This is the creepy Silver Man he just stood there and juggled stuff... Sort of awkward to stare at, and yes I did the whole tourist thing and snapped a few pics. I had too it was too weird.

We then proceeded to another first for me. PF Chang's. No I don't live under a rock I just don't get out much! But man was this good stuff. The lettuce wraps are killer and the Mongolian Beef is sooooooooo yum! ( Food critic) We ate and ate. We also got some asparagus dish that was soooo hot! My mouth was numb after 3 bites, but it was good. Then we took home a Wall of Chocolate. HOLY COW! 7 layers of chocolaty goodness mmmmmm..... I can not even describe this.

We finally got back to Julies and decided we needed to play a little Rock Band World Tour!!! Now those of you who know me know that this is one of my favorite things to do I am a total show boater..... it was a blast. It took some getting used to on the wii because we have x-box but I got it...... Ahhh the simple pleasures.

Thank you to Julies daughter Summer who baby sat she is awesome. And can kill it on expert guitar!!!!! I'm not worthy.

I'm Back!!!

Thursday morning dawned beautiful and COLD BRRRRR!!!! Melanie and I decided to leave after the kids got on the bus, 7 ish. So due to uncontrollable events (grumpy Hunter) We left about 8:30 a.m. I have to say the driving went real smooth with a 2 and 3 year old. This was Emi's longest road trip....EVER.... She rocked it. We stocked the car with tons of food, books, and toys.

On the road in Thayne.

Yeah we know we are hot. When road trippn' no makeup is required.

So we drove all day. I would like to say it was a breeze but it wasn't.We went through a canyon called Tin Cup it is long and very twisty. Needless to say Emi BARFFED.... yup all over it was nasty. The funny part was that every time we drive that canyon she does it I was even prepared for it. When she started drooling I knew what was coming,I reached with the bag just as she reached her mouth with her hand and knocked the bag out of mine and BLLLLUUUUUTT all over . And Nolan says "EWW gross!!!" HA HA! We stopped in Soda Springs to do damage control and then proceeded on. Not making good time......

We got to Pocatello so the midgets could walk around and get the funk off so to speak. Wal-mart is always the stop of champions so that was the place. We purposely didn't put on a movie in the car because we didn't want them to get bored. So when we came out of Wal- Mart we decided it would be a good time to start a movie...... Not. Melanie's kids had taken all the cords out of the DVD players case and we had nothing. To say she was a little up set is an understatement. Man they are lucky she had 6 days to cool off!!! So back into Wal-mart she went and got another player. You have to have a player on a 13 hour journey. After that all was well. Mel drove while my butt was in the rear view mirror (taking care of kids. Sorry Mel, I know that can be disturbing.)

It was about 5 p.m. when Mel's friend, Julie, called to say she had the flu...... We were going to stay with her for 3 nights so we were totally bummed. Thank goodness for cell phones and modern technology. Mel spent the next few hours hunting down a room. At 12:30 a.m. we arrived in Troutdale Oregon at the Holiday Inn Express.

I grew up in the Antelope Valley. For those of you who don't know the AV I will elaborate.... The trees grow sideways. It is that windy there. Your windshield on your car has a sandblasted effect and your hair always looked bad.

Troutdale exceeded all of those expectations. I honestly thought that our car was going to be gone in the morning. The window in our room shook all night. CRAZY. I could not believe the wind. The funny thing is that if the building had been rotated like 10 feet in one direction we could have slept like babies. The stinkin' wind was blowing right into our window.ugh....

A midget party in room 20!! YIPEE!!!

Me after a great nights sleep.

So we got up the next day and we were off to our first event.

All of you girls know how wonderful it is to have a good hair cut and how rare it is to find someone who is one with you and your hair. Well Melanie has found that someone...She just happens to work in Camas Oregon. So we went to get the ultimate hair cut. It was fast and painless.

We then took off to the Portland Children's Museum. This was awesome. The kids had a blast. Emi was obsessed with the water room, we spent alot of time in there. This place has it all. I highly recommend it to any one going to Oregon. We also met Bob the Builder. He totally freaked Emi out!!

Creepy man with a big head!!!

Water world YEAHHHHHH!

Totally cool bridge!! Like mother like daughter.

This place has it all really!! It was a great reward for the kids to have after driving in the car soooo long. They played hard all day we were there for about 5 or 6 hours I think.

We were then rewarded with the perfect gift..............

AHHHHH!

SLOW.....

So I have been collecting alot of e-mail addresses, and ....well.... I will be trying to go private in like 3 years when I am done typing them all in!!! Who knew I had soo many friends? ;) I promise to get the private task finished soon.
Mean while, I will give you all something to look forward to......
I am going to Seattle with my friend Melanie next week. I am sooooo excited we can't wait. The best part is I get to spend time with my brother Matthew!! Yipee!!!!!! I will take alot of pics and make some good notes!! Maybe we can stop in Forks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that would be awesome. So please don't forget about us and keep looking us up. Love to you all. :)