Lemon Drops and Gum Drops

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops oh what a rain that would be... Standing outside with my mouth open wide... ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!

Back in the day, my now 17 yr old nephew and I would watch Barney together.
We would dance around and sing.
-Boy he had me wrapped-

Looking for the catch of the day.

Here it is!
Brookie was so happy to have it on her frubrella as she would say it.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to touch it again.

Tanner was so thrilled to play in the rain!

The magic rain can bring....

Kaden's Asthma seems to be wearing the pants lately, so he wasn't allowed to play in the rain.

So the second best was to mimic his "Nanner".
Kade's not wearing eye shadow, he had a black eye :(.

Kaden looks up to big bro so much. Tanner eats it up!

Sentiments

Sentiments: A thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason.

That is exactly how I am with anything and everything that has to do with my Daddy.

So here's THEE chair.

It's not so cute, but what's inside is what matters.


This special chair was a hand me down from my parents to Sean and I when we got married. The last time my Father visited us before his passing, he sat in it beaming with happiness.

I have only happy, loving, sweet thoughts about my Daddy in the chair.

After many years in my parents house and 7 in our last 5 homes, it was time to go our seperate ways. It doesn't match anything that we own. So before DI picked it up I had to fill it with the love that keeps me going... the love that my father peeks in to see probably every day.

Miss you Daddy!

xoxo

Ariel's Grotto with my Sita

Can you tell somebody's a little happy?
I surprised my sweet Sita by going to Ariel's Grotto restaurant in California Adventure for our Mommy/Daughter date.
Ariel even had a modest dress on.

Just hanging under the sea.

Why haven't I ever thought about buying sea shell pasta and putting gold fishes on top.
Of course that is what Ariel eats under the sea.

We couldn't forget the edible Ariel chocolate decoration.

All of Ariel's buddies came to chat with Brookie during dinner.

Needless to say, the two of us were blissfully happy to spend the evening together!

A Fish Tale

Tanner earned a fishing date with Dad for doing all his chores for a week without being asked.
I love that Tanner is becoming more independent in that area! We go on monthly dates with our kids and absolutely love our time spent together!

Fishing is a sport that requires patience (which is not found in a 5 year old). He was amazingly patient and didn't want to give up. So while waiting for the fish, Tanner found a stick (which he loves and collects regularly) and with Dad's help made a fishing pole complete with jig and all. Too bad it could only be cast out a few feet into a few inches of water.

Tan's so creative!

3 1/2 hours of fishing and no luck. That wasn't going to keep them from eating fish that day. Their next fishing adventure will be at the trout ponds.

My Simple Joys

I was telling Brookie the story about when Mary and Joseph couldn't find Jesus for three days when he was at pre-teen age like Jacob's (my nephew) age. Brookie's first response was, "Jacob was with Jesus? I want to be in the temple with Jesus." She really thought her cousin got to hang out with Jesus in person. I explained the story again so she'd understand and then she said, "Mom and then the spirit world with the bad people came and went boom on Jesus's nose and broke his eye balls. They were bad people right mom?" Her little mind goes a mile and minute. After a few minutes I realized that in The Testaments movie that she watches faithfully, there is destruction and people get hurt while Jesus is being crucified. So I straightened that part of the story out. It wasn't Jesus's nose and eye's getting hurt, but his whole body.
That same evening while Tanner was in bed I asked him the same question, Do you know how Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn't find Jesus? First Tanner said, "Mom that would break your heart if you couldn't find me. Remember when I was lost in that Disney store when you were getting me Mickey PJ's. I didn't listen and stay next to you. I will NEVER EVER do that again!" I was astonished he remembered this incident. It happened Christmas 2006. Tan has the best memory. I'm glad that experience stuck in his mind so he won't wander off.

Kaden loves the trampoline. Everyday he bangs on the back door and says, "jump-a-jump-a".
The past few months I've been repeating jump-jump while we are on the trampoline. He picked up on it quickly and we love it! He even says it with a deep serious voice. When it was recently raining we didn't go outside for several days. He'd request to jump and big brother would redirect him to go jump on Brooklyn bed. Her bed is a little safer seeing how there is a guard rail.

Brookie is quite the cuddler and tickler. Back when I was pregnant with Kaden I knew with my upcoming c-section I wouldn't be able to hold and rock Brooklyn on my lap at bedtime. So I thought I'd transition to something new so she wouldn't feel jipped of Mommy time. So I'd sit on a chair next to her crib, lean over and lightly tickle her back while I'd sing songs. She took to the new idea and loves it. Nearly two years later, she begs to be tickled on her back, arms, tummy, face and even legs. I had no idea what I started. Recently she offered to give me all her candy stash if I'd tickle longer and sleep in her bed.

Daddy left one morning for work. As he closed the door, Brookie opened it back up and said, "You are the best Daddy in the whole world!" When she closed the door, I told her that I wanted to be the best Daddy in the whole world! She said, "Mommy, you can't be my Daddy when you wear earrings all day long. I was just jealous of Daddy. At least she knows earrings are for girls. Well most the time anyways.

Tanner got to tag along with Daddy to last month's court of honor for Scouts. Dad was joking around with another 5 year old about giving him her tooth fairy money. A couple minutes later Tanner whispered to Dad, "I will give you all the money I have but just don't tell Mom and Brookie." He's always go generous!

Mr. Kadster is talking a lot more. His favorite words are: ball, dog, Sissy, Nanner, outsi (Outside), peash (peach), apple, nana, otter, (water), jump-a-jump-a, no-no-no, Dadda, Mamma, Pa-pa, dow (down), and car. He still loves signing. He watches an alphabet signing time DVD and mimics the signer on the show. He puts his little arm up and moves his fingers around really fast during the ABC song and thinks he's signing all the letters. He gets an A for effort. His favorite signs right now are yes, no, peach, apple, milk, dog, night-night, Grandpa, eat, water, want, airplane and more.

Tanner and I were reading the book "If The Savior Stood Beside Me". One of the great pics on Christ has his sitting against a tree in the wilderness admiring the beautiful creations for the world. Jesus is bare foot in the picture. Tanner commented, "Mom Jesus really needs to wear shoes or he'll get bit by a snake!"

Brookie is going through a phase (I hope it's a phase) where she gets so emotionally upset that she is out of control. Often she forgets why she started crying in the first place. So my newest tactic is that I stay calm, get in her face and encourage her to take deep breaths to calm down. She usually says, "I can't!!!" Recently during a fit I left her to cool down, She cried louder in desperation and said, " But, I can't breath without you?".

Kaden loves to give us hugs and kisses. He especially gives us love when we've been away. When we pick up Tanner from school, or when we return from a date he runs up and makes us feel so special. Often I'll take him in Brooklyn and Tanner's room while they are still sleeping in the morning. He jumps out of my arm to snuggle with them. He's such a sugar! He's such a joy to have in our family! xoxo Some of this favorite pass time's are to push Tan and Sis on the riding cars on the tile in the house and can't forget how he loves to climb on the kitchen chairs and tables repeatedly each day.

Buenas Noches

Good Times before bedtime are priceless in the McMullin Home.

Kaden can't wait to share the bunk with Tanner.

Daddy is spread a bit thin but, soaking up every moment.
xoxox

Kadster's Mop on Top

Kaden nearly 17 months and I finally agreed with Dad that it was time to trim his mop on top.

His curls are adorable as long as he doesn't sleep on them and they are food free.
And when is that?

Though it wasn't much, here's the evidence.

Kaden officially looks like a little boy now.

Tanner saw me get a little melancholy looking at the new mop on top. He asked why I was sad. I said he looks like he's five like you. Tan said," Do you want him to look ten?" I got a little teary eyed and then he said with a huge smile, "Mom, he really looks like he's only one." Thanks Tan!

I couldn't have accomplished the hair cut without Tanner's help. He carefully distributed a mini m&m to Kaden every two minutes.

Stop growing up my little sunshine....

My Tanner Time

I took Tanner on a date for some Mommy Time.
He loves every second of his individual time with me; as do I.
I'm humbled by his unconditional love. He's such a sweetheart and always makes sure
he expresses his love and appreciation for me.

We went back to our little mountain in Norco that we hiked in July.

I love spending QT with my almost six year old.
He is so patient and forgiving of my imperfections.

We climbed all the way to the top this time and loved checking out the sky line together.

Gotta love the self timer to document these Tanner Time moments.