Three Years Ago.....

...Three Years Ago this past weekend, we had our Kyla enter the world a month and a week too early.  She was a big surprise with her timing, but we couldn't have been more blessed! MANY pictures and stories to come, including her updated stats (we had her 3 year check up today).  She is growing like she should, following her curve, and changing every day.
We had a fun birthday party with mostly just her daycare friends, and a few close neighbors, that was a hit with all that came.  She is still telling everyone she meets about her swim party. We also got to see family members and cried when they left.
Mama is insanely busy at work- 2 more weeks of kids, and then one week of meetings, paperwork galore, and packing up for yet another building move....so forgive my lack of pictures and blogging yet again....yes, I seem to go in streaks. I have the STORIES up in my head, but the time, well, it just is NOT on my side these days!

More soon!

Papa & Nana Visit - April

A few scattered pictures, of here and there with my parents a few weeks ago!

Papa & K1 in the early AM: so happy to have her Papa visiting and eating our Mickey Mouse pancakes with us! 

Sissy was not awake enough to be happy!

Kyla at church, coloring in the aisles as we listened.

Their favorite time: after church means snacks! Kyla and her loves

I was having an emotional week at work, so my Mom bought me some of my favorite flowers: tulips! How perfect! I put in the two roses from my friend, Roz! :)

Team Shaklee Athletes - Check it Out!

Are you a marathon runner? Do you bicycle? Spin class? Lift weights? Or better yet, running a "Tough Mudder" or "Mud Run" anytime soon?

Then you need to check out these Sports Nutrition products! They are amazing!  They taste amazing, can be used by your entire family (yes, dogs, too! and we call it our "kool aid"), and over 100 Olympic (yes, OLYMPIC!) athletes are powered by this stuff!

Check it out! Click here:

Team Shaklee Athletes
and then go to my WEB SITE to shop the products:

Make sure you check it out as MEMBER PRICING- as for the rest of this month, you'll get the free membershp; hence, MEMBER pricing from here on out after your purchase...........

Those Naughty Leprechauns!

Last weekend, a storm came through and knocked over all our chairs outside. Kyla was aghast: she stood in the doorway, and shook her head, saying "those naughty Leprechauns, that's just terrible".

I grabbed the camera and tried to get her to repeat herself, but only managed to get part of her original "story" on camera.  This girl is a HOOT!

  Drama Girl: 2.0

Kyla's first Hair Cut!

Lunch at Target, what could be better? Oh, I'll tell you: Kyla won't take off that leotard that I got at a consignment sale for $2! Best  $2 ever spent! 

Nana had JUST bought the girls new sunglasses at Fleet Farm, and although it was raining outside, movie star K2 wouldn't take hers off inside!

Since K1 was getting a hair trim, we thought maybe K2 could have HER first hair cut! It was doing that long, wispy, comb-over thing!

Suprisingly (or not, if you know her), K2 had no qualms about getting into the chair, popping a sucker into her mouth, and letting the stylist work on her head.

Look at ALL THE CURLS! OH MY HEART!

Small smiles at Mama's gushing!

Movie star is all ready for her close up!

And here is big sissy, after getting her hair cleaned up. We've decided to keep it short and stacked- because she likes it better short, and her hair is SO thick in the back, that the under layers are kinky with curl.  It's not an ideal hair texture for growing out long, so why fight it? Plus, as you can see, she is pretty darn adorable with this style! DRAMA girl! :)

Keifer takes a time out

We have a unique girl in our K1, in that she has a VERY hard time regulating her behavior: (read: EMOTIONS) and it's hard to get her to take a break to calm down.

However, since school began last Fall (preschool),she's been starting to take breaks in our play room/office area. I think she thinks she's a little bit of hot stuff in there.
It was quite comical to me (laughing inside) to have her come stomping out with the note pad, to ask me how to spell " no coming in".  She spelled it out (in picture 1), and then laid on the love seat, and took her break. It was actually quite nice for all of us.

She later added "except for MOM" to the note, but by that time, I had so many things going on since it was bed time, and didn't get to take a break with her. However, I think we need to do more of these around here!

TGIF- Odds and Ends

An eclectic collection of pictures from here and there.

Below, sissies in K2's bed; can you tell it was Daddy's turn to put K2 down? :)

 Papa's biggest fan: Tboy.  Treble is insane about Papa!

 K2 playing with the collection of cars that Nana Di put out last month in Duluth.

 Daddy's favorite helpers (er, shadows?)  Doing work in the garage......

  Kyla forgot her pants! She thinks tights should be considered pants! LOL

 This girl loves her ICarly shirt she rec'ed for her birthday!

 Date with daddy!  LUNCH! 

 Kyla dragged all these chairs into the house for a birthday party for her baby....

 ...we even got to sing to Cindy (Cinderella baby)!  Complete with (notice) tablecloth (blanket) and a miniature candle from the dollhouse!

Looking for a few extra dollars?

Joining Shaklee can launch YOU on a pathway to better health and a healthier income, with greater flexibility to achieve the balance that we, as women are often looking to create in their lives. We have the solutions, and there's no better time to offer them! NOW! In Honor of being a Mom, OR a Woman:  Ask me how you can start!

Click HERE to watch this Video

Wordless Wednesday (sort of!): Soon-to-be Preschoolers!

**this was Kyla last week during Keifer's preschool class "Spring Sing" show.  I love that 1)  this is the leotard I got for $2 at a consignment sale and she WILL NOT let me wash it -she wears it for days on end, calling it her "pink dress" and 2) that the little blondie girl next to her is a former neighbor- who is 6 months younger than her - her older brother and K1 are great friends who we've known since they were babies; we 've (both families) since left the "old neighborhood" but are still in touch and school together, and I'm so happy K2 gets to get to know little J. as well!  :)  
and 3) I love that K2 LOVES to go to her sissy's school and wants to stay there and be a big girl in school, too!**

Stats: the 5 year check - up

Keifer had her 5 year check-up with Dr. J. last week and all is looking well with her growth. She is currently coming in at the 93rd percentile for both height and weight:

Weight:  51.8 lbs

Height:  45.5 inches tall

I was quite happy to know she is a "big" girl for her age, but not completely off the charts!  I'm so used to the 100th %ile, that coming down a bit is great news! She is currently in a size 7/8 in shirts and dresses, and bottoms for her are anywhere from a size 6-7.  Her shoe size is around a 12.5 or 13 Wide. 


My babe did very well with her hearing tests, and because we just had her eyes checked (with the FULL work-up) in January (with no issues, whatsoever), she is coming in as  "healthy child".  Of course, no check -up at 5 years would be complete without the Kindergarten shots. Ahh yes. The shots. My poor girl, she was so pumped up and completely READY for the shots: however,  once the needles came out, all 3 of them, she lost her marbles.  

I had to drag her out of the corner, from under the sink and behind the garbage can, and then hold her on my lap, while she revved herself up into a complete tizzy. 

 "Please, Nurse Judy, please STOP, DON'T DO IT, Nurse Judy," she screamed.

Yeah, Mama Bear here had tears of my own.

She managed to handle the 3 shots, got her band aids on, and recuperated enough to pick out a sticker for both herself and her younger sister, who luckily wasn't with us. Whew. Glad that was over.

In other news, we were referred to a Pediatric Developmental Specialist for her anxiety. Yep, the anxiety and sleeping with mom-thing is getting kind of difficult, as usual.  However, after researching the place we were referred to, and then talking at length with a phenomenal co-worker of mine, I made my own executive decision to instead make an appointment with a NeuroPsychologist.   When I looked at the Pediatric place, it talked about more about the child's "behaviors".  I honestly KNOW that K1's "behaviors" are due to an underlying anxiety about things, that are out of her control. Things at our house at night are not due to BEHAVIOR, they are unwinding at night due to some chemical imbalance in her system or something. 

Check out the following info on that:

What is Clinical Neuropsychology?

Clinical neuropsychology is focused on understanding the link between the brain and behavior. For example, how changes in the health of the brain may affect the ability to pay attention, remember, or solve problems. This understanding between how someone thinks and acts and how the brain works is used to diagnosis and treat brain disorders.

What is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist?

Pediatric neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists. They have training in both clinical psychology and neuropsychology. They have special training in how the brain develops. They use this training to evaluate and help manage children with brain disorders. Such disorders may involve brain injury, medical disease, or developmental problems. Pediatric neuropsychologists help parents, teachers, and physicians to:

␣ Understand how problems with the brain may relate to problems seen at school, home, or with peers ␣ Understand how a child learns best ␣ Understand why a child may have behavior problems ␣ Help a child deal with thinking or behavior problems

␣ Identify neurological or psychiatric problems ␣ Help match expectations to a child’s specific strengths and weaknesses ␣ Work with other doctors and teachers to develop the best treatment and school plan for a child

How do I know if my child needs a Neuropsychological Evaluation?

A neuropsychological evaluation may help if your child has: ␣ A neurological disorder such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizures),

neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, or a brain tumor. ␣ A brain injury from a trauma to the head, stroke, lack of oxygen, or an infection. ␣ Other medical problems such as prematurity, diabetes, chronic heart or breathing problems, certain

genetic disorders, or treatment for childhood cancer ␣ Been exposed to lead, street drugs, or inhalants (carbon monoxide) ␣ Been exposed to alcohol, smoking, or certain drugs prior to birth. ␣ A developmental or school problem such as a learning disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,

or autism spectrum disorder/pervasive developmental disorder ␣ Had an evaluation by a psychologist or the school, but the treatment following that evaluation has not

helped. Your physician may recommend a neuropsychological assessment to:

␣ Help make or confirm a diagnosis ␣ Get a record of your child’s functioning before treatment with medicine or surgery. ␣ Record a change in your child after a medical treatment (testing can be repeated to see if the treatment

changed your child’s functioning) ␣ Record your child’s development treatments and expectations can be adjusted to your child’s needs.What does a Neuropsychological Evaluation Involve?

A neuropsychological evaluation involves examining thinking, behavior, and social-emotional functioning. The evaluation uses standardized tests and procedures. Examiners work directly with your child. They also talk to you and teachers and other doctors. Tests may be performed using paper and pencil or on the computer. Your child will be asked many questions and to solve different types of problems.. Neuropsychological evaluations typically include tests that measure the following:

␣ Intelligence (IQ) ␣ Problem solving ␣ Planning and organization ␣ Attention and memory ␣ Processing speed ␣ Language ␣ Academic skills ␣ Visual perception ␣ Control over hand movements ␣ Depression and anxiety ␣ Aggression and impulsive behavior ␣ Social skills

The neuropsychologist will also review your child’s medical and school records to help understand how the test results relate to daily life.

How does a neuropsychological evaluation differ from a school evaluation?

Pediatric neuropsychologists and school psychologists often use some of the same tests. However, school evaluations focus on deciding IF a child has a problem with academic skills such as reading, spelling, or math. Pediatric neuropsychologists focus on understanding WHY a child is having problems in school or at home. This is done by examining academic skills but also examining all of the thinking skills needed to perform well in and outside of school – skills like memory, attention, and problem-solving Understanding a child’s specific thinking strengths and weaknesses helps to better focus school plans and medical treatment and understand potential areas of future difficulty. Because neuropsychologists have training in clinical psychology, they are also able to diagnosis emotional problems like depression and anxiety.

I have highlighted IN RED - the issues that are relevant to my Keifer girl. As you know, if you've read my blog long enough, Keifer received a year of Sensory Integration Therapy. That has helped in many areas of her growth, but not in the area of anxiety like it could have. That is why we will be continuing to research for more HELP for her. She is a beautiful, loving, and amazing young girl, but I want to help her before she gets into the school system full-time, and may potentially have things arise that are out of her control.


So that is our 5 year old in a nutshell. Oh, how I love this amazing girl!

Wordless Wednesday: Yes, she still lives with her parents

...and I'm sure glad she does! Just had to add, I adore this shirt! She is just as cute as her sissy was back in the day!

Are you noticing a trend in the "open mouth pose?" 

This was the morning of Keifer's 2nd birthday.
Kyla is wearing K1's clothes that K1 wore when she was 2. K2 is almost 3. Notice the age/size difference in my girls? :)

Cinco! Happy Birthday, for the 5th time...........

We had Keifer's 5th birthday party the Sunday following her actual birthday.....and it was a Princess/Pirate extravaganza! It was crazy!  The birthday girl got to invite friends from Daycare, friends from Preschool and some friends from both our old and new neighborhoods.  

I had a friend make the invite, and we invited the kids to come dressed as a Princess or a Prince or Pirate ;apparently Pirates are much more popular than Princes these days!

As the kids entered the party, I had Princess crowns and Pirate hats (construction paper) ready for them to decorate, and that was a hit! They colored and stuck stickers all over them. I even got one: Queen!  Then, it was time for the dancing!

We hired our fabulous former Baby Ballroom teacher, Miss Meghan, to lead the royal dancing. She was amazing!  The kids were so thrilled and they all listened to her instructions and were waltzing and tangoing across the floor in no time, partnered with a child next to them! I had a smile on my face the whole time!
There is obviously a slew of pictures, so enjoy some of them, while I mentally prepare for Kyla to turn 3 in May! *sobbing* Where is the time GOING, people?

The birthday girl with her pal Mazzy!

Kyla worked VERY hard on her crown!

 K1 picked out her OWN cake!

                                      

 The dance circle

 Tiana was losing her dress!

 Learning how to spin

 Princess K with one of her bestest buds!

 This is what we got when we asked for a smile!

 Papa Dale even got into the PIRATE spirit!

 No party is complete without a parachute, right?

WHEW!!!!!

Visual PROOF as to why I'm so excited:

This is why I'm excited about the products I'm selling! If this doesn't convince you to switch brands, then what will?

Watch and then buy! LOL.  I also use this for my toilet cleaner!  Safe! Non-toxic! Color booster! I also use this plus the liquid detergent to make a paste-- after 3 days of the paste sitting on SPAGHETTI STAINS on K1's yellow shirt, they washed right out! I challenged people to find the stains: nobody could!

All Natural Beauties, Indeed

My loves, my girls, posing for their beloved Papa Dale last Saturday AM on our back deck. It was a gorgeous weekend last week, and they had their spring clothes on and were loving life.  The dress Keifer is sporting was a birthday gift from her great auntie- my Auntie Barb....and it looked so dang cute on her, we bought the same one for Kyla later that day! Guess what my girls will be wearing for their yearly pictures in May? Hmmm............

 I giggled at this picture, as it's typically KYLA that's the poser of the two with that particular right shoulder! Guess little sis is wearing off on her big sissy? 

Many many many x 100 pictures to come soon of the birthday party extravaganzas that occurred ALL of last week. It has taken us all week just to upload the cameras, and after the past 2 weeks in general, I was knocked out by a migraine today.......so many more fun stories to tell! Until then, blog land............

Green Day- Green Goes with Everything- A Must See for Parents!

Take 5 minutes and watch this eye-opening video from one mom to another (or dad).  THIS is why I changed the products in my home, as I am watched both my girls struggle with breathing.
If you want to chat after, leave me a comment....I have such excellent products that you, TOO, can make baby steps in your own home to lead a more healthy life!

How are YOU preparing for Earth Day? How about starting at your home?

For the Shaklee Family, every day is Earth Day. But this is a great time of year to tell our environmental story, and to teach how easy – and thrifty – it can be to make a difference for yourself, for your family, and for the planet. One healthier home at a time.

Consider this: one family deciding to convert to our non-toxic biodegradable household cleaners keeps the equivalent of 5,000 bottles of conventional “ready-to-use” glass cleaner out of landfills. What would it mean if 50,000 families did the same? A great big thanks from the planet, and from people all over the world who share this wonderful home we call Earth.

In honor of Earth Day, for the month of April, Shaklee will be offering everyone a world of savings, some great ways to make an impact for the planet, and a nice way to make a healthy living too.

Join FREE with ANY purchase!

Through April 30, 2012 purchase any Shaklee product, and we’ll waive the $19.95 Shaklee membership fee!

This is the best “Join Shaklee” promotion ever offered! As a Shaklee Member, you will get …

• 15% discount (off retail prices) on product purchases
• Special promotions, offers and discounts
• Unconditional money-back guarantee
• Access to MyShaklee.com, Shaklee’s center for health and wellness news and information from Shaklee’s Health Sciences Team, and product experts

If you are looking for a reason to throw away all those toxic cleaners and start over, let me suggest you order a Get Clean Healthy Home Pack - CLICK

Then go to the shopping cart and click to JOIN Shaklee. The $19.95 membership will be waived. This is not an annual fee. You’ll save 15% off this order and all future orders. No minimums required!

GET CLEAN® HEALTHY HOME PACK

The Get Clean Healthy Home Pack contains all the products you need to start making your home cleaner for your family and the planet. With cleaning choices that are SAFE, POWERFUL, GREEN, and SMART, Get Clean is the safe alternative to traditional household cleaning products.

This pack ontains:

• Basic H²™ Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate, 16 oz. (1)
• Basic H²™ Organic Super Cleaning Wipes, 35 Wipes (1)
• Scour Off™ Heavy-Duty Paste, 9 oz. (1)
• Dish Wash Concentrate, 16 oz. (1)
• Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible, 32 oz. (Liquid) (1)
• Soft Fabric Concentrate, 32 oz. (1)
• Soft Fabric Dryer Sheets, 80 sheets (1)
• Spray Bottles (3)
  • Windows and Mirrors (1)
  • All-Purpose (1)
  • Degreasing (1)
• Laundry Measuring Scoop
• Super Microfiber Window Cloth
• Dropper for measuring Basic H²™ (1)

Share Get Clean with your friends and family. Positive planetary change will add up fast, thanks to you.

Order your Get Clean Healthy Home Pack NOW and get a FREE Shaklee membership!

(Do it now! You know if you leave this page today you might not come back!)

Giggling boy

Ok, this is hilarious. I beg of you: just TRY to not giggle along with Anderson Cooper as he tries to regain his composure, after losing it to the giggles. Hee hee. It appears as though he thought the phrase "a tap from a pussy willow branch" was silly. The funny giggles start around 1:25 or so. Enjoy!

Practicing for the stage

This video clip is from the dog days of winter, when Friday nights are spent playing with new neighborhood friends, their parents, and musical instruments. This is K1 and one of her best friends, playing our guitars (surprisingly well, with their strumming!)....and it's a hoot to watch, as Kyla gets in on the action. Don't be fooled when that tricky K2 runs off screen: she comes back, ready for her show, and notice the little "bent leg" action she gets in. And notice how K1 and friend move backward slightly, to give the show girl her space. Enjoy: smile, it's Friday!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing