I found a fun blog fest through American Mum. I randomly selected a photo by closing my eyes and pointing my mouse in a folder where I have saved a bunch of favorite photos. The photo I've selected is...
Taken of Jayden on 7-27-07 when she was 4 months old.
This morning Jayden was laying in bed with us. We were trying to get her to sleep in. We were talking about how we would break her of her binkie. Normally she doesn't answer yes or no appropriately. Travis asked her "do you want your binkie?" She said, "yes" with a nod of her head. He asked, "do you need your binkie?" and received the same response. He asked, "can I have your binkie?" She replied with a very strong, "Nooooo!" and turned away from him.
Tonight at bedtime Jayden was being a little cranky and not wanting to go down without a fight. As I was helping Trevor brush his teeth she was in her room crying. Trevor, on his way to his room, ran into her room against my protesting. He walked up to her in her crib and stroked her cheeks. He said, "you ok Jayden, go to sweep now. No cry please. Shhhh you ok. Go to sweep. Sweet dreams Jayden." Then he pulled her blankets up and gave her a "tuck tuck." As we were leaving she started crying again. He ran back and reassured her and gave her another binkie that was sitting on the nightstand.
Day 15- Sunday 1.11.09 - A very lazy day. About the only thing accomplished was giving the kiddos a bath. They really like bath time. Well except for washing their hair. They always make a huge mess out of the bathroom by splashing water everywhere.
Day 16 - Monday 1.12.09 - I love facebook. It's been really nice keeping in touch with friends and family from far away. It's nice to have a sneak peak into everyone's lives. I try to update what I'm doing and thinking via status updates. Here's what my updates have been for the few months
Jan 16 Dawn is freezing, -27 actual temp at the moment! 7:49am
Jan 11 Dawn hopes this week is better than the last 3 at work. 9:17pm
Jan 8 Dawn is ready for a day off work. 10:25pm
Jan 7 Dawn has extremely chapped hands from making eyeglasses. 7:25pm
Jan 4 Dawn is feeling really lazy today. 2:52pm
Jan 2 Dawn is tired from a BUSY week at work, ridiculously busy, and feeling beat up by cranky customers. 10:23pm
Dec 31 Dawn thinks super glue is not so super. Note to self... refrain from using super glue near laptop. Or even using it at all.
Dawn is trying to stay awake to ring in '09, Happy new year everyone! 9:50pm
Dawn needs ice skates to get to work today.
Dec 24 Dawn is no longer having Christmas eve dinner at her house due to insane amounts of snow. Christmas eve has been postponed until Tues the 30th. :(. 9:32am
Dec 23 Dawn had a really late night finishing Christmas gifts for her employees. 1:49am -
Dec 21 Dawn spent the evening decorate a gingerbread house with Trevor. 9:28pm - Comment
Dawn feels like she lives in the arctic. 12:02pm
Dec 20 Dawn is wrapping a bazillion presents it seems. 10:26pm
12/16/08 Dawn is thinking of changing her job title to conflict resolution specialist (or elementary teacher) due to a REALLY crappy day at work. 8:53pm
Dawn is waiting for a locksmith because the lock to her store is a piece of crap. 7:36pm
Dawn is thinking it's going to be a slow day at work since it's snowing. 9:10am
12/12/08 Dawn is stuck in the slowest bank drive-thru ever. 2:29pm
12/11/08 Dawn has been sick for 4 days and not missed a day of work while some her employees thinks it's ok to call in all the time. 10:42pm
12/9/08 Dawn is taking the kids to see "octaclaus" tomorrow because Trevor wants "en-imy" for "kiss-mas." 9:46pm
12/7/08 Dawn thanks Liz for getting her hooked on myfarm :P. 7:32pm
Dawn had her plans for a nice family portrait thwarted by cranky kids. 5:58pm
12/6/08 Dawn is listening to Trevor singing, "i wike eating snowman, snowman yummy ummy, snow snow snow" while eating coolwhip. 8:50pm
Dawn can't find a pair of black 3t boys pants in all of Waterloo :o(. 8:38p
12/5/08 Dawn is playing in photoshop, making a holiday letter. Maybe I'll even get them sent out this year. 10:58pm
12/4/08 Dawn & Travis had a date night courtesy of the kids daycare. Ahhhh free childcare even if it was just 2 hours. 10:29pm
12/3/08 Dawn is having a online chat with Dell technical support. Though it sucks having to hit every key twice, it's better than talking to someone who can't speak English. 4:34pm
Dawn thingks something is wrong with her laptop. The keys are "sticky" aking typing difficult. 11:24am
Dawn wonders if she should get a black or white stove, thinking black looks better but it may be a magnet for kiddo fingerprints. 12:25am
Dawn is buying a new stove tomorrow. 12:24am
12/2/08 Dawn just realized there is a facebook app on her blackberry. 9:58am
12/1/08 Dawn is wondering if she is a horrible mom because she briefly thought about taping her son's mouth shut like her dad did once when she was a kid. 9:06pm (ok, before you call dhs... the thought crossed my mind but I wouldn't do it.)
Dawn is having a glass of wine (or 6) now that her naughty kids are in bed! 9:04pm
11/30/08 Dawn is making her list and checkin it twice. 5:07pm
Dawn is packing away baby stuff for yardsale in spring, ~sniff~ my baby isn't a baby anymore. 3:23pm
11/28/08 Dawn is wondering if you can get food poisoning from eating REALLY expired fruit snacks. 11:05pm
11/27/08 Dawn is finally waking from her turkey coma. 6:33pm
11/26/08 Dawn is wondering what she was thinking shopping at wal-mart the day before thanksgiving... nuts! 7:06pm
Dawn is getting ready to shop for T-day cooking marathon, macaroni salad, Chocolate Espresso Torte with raspberry sauce, blueberry jello salad. 3:26pm
Day 17 - Tuesday 1.13.08 - I must have my coffee daily. Starbucks is most preferred but to expensive for everyday. I white chocolate mochas in the winter and carmel mocha frapachino in the summer. I usually get Starbucks on the days that I have to close. If Dr H beats me to the coffee pot I'm out of luck. I can't drink his coffee because he uses 3 times the normal amount, resulting in a really thick coffee "syrup" It's a nice excuse to treat myself a few times a week.
Day 18- Wednesday 1-14-09 - This year could become the snowiest winter in history for us. Last year this time we had 17.9" This year to date we've had 34.9" Last year was the 4th snowiest winter in history with a total of 53.9" We've got 33" more to go to make history. It's a record I would prefer not to see. I'm really sick of shoveling snow. Here's the stat's courtesy of KWWL
Day 19 - Thursday 1.15.09 - Jayden is very much playing the 2 year old these days. This picture she is demonstration her defiance in saying "Noooooo!" with her whole body. We here that and "Minnnnneee!" about a hundred times a day.
Day 20 - Friday 1.16.09 - Baby it's cold outside! More records for the record book. I took this picture before work. When I looked at the weather channel at home it was -27 not even factoring in the wind chill. I got my nails done and of course couldn't put my gloves on and smudge my polish. In less than 5 minutes from there to work my fingers were numb and hands were really red. The heater couldn't even keep the car warm. I heard on the radio you can get frostbite in less than 8 minutes and if you throw a glass of water in the air it freezes instantly.
Day 21 - Saturday 1.17.09 - Books are a big deal in our house. Trevor wasn't thrilled about having his picture taken. I couldn't even get a smile after bribing him with chocolate. Jayden's shirt says, "I can't talk yet but I have a cow girl attitude" it's very fitting. Subzero temps and the kiddos won't keep their socks on!
The other day at the doctor's office a voice came over the intercom perfectly clear. Trevor looked up at the ceiling and said, "Mama, sky's talking!"
Jayden was throwing a major fit and Travis was trying to get her sitting still for a time out. She was screaming like crazy and Trevor warned, "She gonna bite you." In this told you so kind of tone. He should know, a few weeks ago she bit him hard on the cheek and left a big mark.
A few weeks ago I was walking out of the house with the kids in the morning to go to daycare. Trevor excited said, "Mama Mama wook, bunny!" I looked all around and there was no bunny to be found. Trevor said, "In da tree, in da tree!" I look up and saw the "bunny" a squirrel happily chewing on a nut. I said, "Silly boy that's a squirrel." Trevor asked, "What he doing?" I said he was eating his breakfast. Trevor asked, "He eating fruit woops?" I just laughed and agreed with him and hurried him towards the garage. As we were walking away he was hollering over his shoulder, "Bye quirrel, Hab a good day quirrel, see you soon quirrel!" Jayden was just shrieking with glee through this whole exchange.
Trevor's new "thing" is after asking him to do something numerous times and getting really irritated with him he says with disgust, "Okay okay okay" but still doesn't do what it is we are asking him to do.
When he is done eating he almost always asks, "be 'cused?" And he almost always says please and thank you without being prompted. Jayden usually says "peas" when she wants something and says "see sue" with an added head nod when you give her something. I have such polite babies!
Today we went to a smallish water park that had a nice area for the little ones with fountains, dumping buckets, waterslides, and a lazy river. We thought it would be a fun afternoon. Trevor wasn't too keen on the whole thing and Jayden was leary but seemed to enjoy herself until she did a face plant.
It all went downhill when we went to try the lazy river and they wouldn't let us use this floaty seat thing that we put over the tubes that is perfect for Jayden so she could still have her lower half somewhat in the water and is way safer than holding her while in the tubes. Lifeguard said, "no, you have to use the little yellow ones with the bottoms and walk beside them if they are under five." Ok, annoyed but we complied. We took 1 1/2 loops around and Trevor had enough and was crying so we used an exit by one of the slides. The lifeguard said, "Next time you need to use the other exit." Ummm sorry, if he wasn't ~freaking~ out we would have used that exit. And duh, why would there be an exit if you aren't supposed to use it?
I had purchased a disposable waterproof camera thinking I would get some cute pictures of my kids splashing and having fun. After the lazy river I pulled out my camera and just had it around my wrist walking with Trevor. A lifeguard walking by said, "You aren't allowed to take pictures" What???? I responded, "I'm not allowed to take close-up pictures of MY OWN CHILDREN???" She said, "If you want to take pictures you'll have to talk to the manager." I was really pissed by this time and Trav was furious.
We planned to leave but I went to talk to the manager first. When I asked about the pictures she said that I could wear this stupid lanyarn with a sign saying I was allowed to take pictures and said I could only take pictures of my own children and make sure not to get anyone else in the picture. Well gee, I hadn't intended on taking pictures of anyone's kids. I would be ticked if someone was taking pictures of my children but it it was an issue I would report it. But I think that is a STUPID rule. I felt like I was being treated like a gradeschooler the whole time we were there. How about getting on the gradeschool kids running through the kiddy pool nearly toppling over toddlers. That would be a better use of the lifeguards time.
So we left but first out of spite I snapped a picture of the kids, what were they going to do? Kick us out? Too bad, I really wanted some cute pictures. The kids have really cute swimsuits with matching floppy brim hats I got at target. I'll have to try and find a wading pool on clearance somewhere so I can finish off that roll of film. I haven't had to "finish off a roll of film" in eons!
Ok rant over after swimming we had lunch at IHOP. Jayden was cranky but not horrible. I took her out two times and she settled right down. Trevor did perfect! He ate a good amount of food which is unusual for him eating out. He loved the strawberry topping I had ordered on the side. He kept hugging me and saying "I U" After I told him he needed to eat some food before got anymore strawberries he ate some food and had seemed to forget about the berries. Out of nowhere he put his arm around me and said, "Awwwww mommy!" in the sweetest voice like he does when I come from work. Then he looked up at me and said, "more berries?" Little turkey!
Trevor loves to help sweep the floor, rinse dishes and wants to do everything on his own lately. (May 15) 
"That sun?" No silly boy that's the moon! (May 15)
My all time favorite Trevor picture to date, taken when we were having a picnic. He usually doesn't pose for pictures and throws a fit if I try to take one. (May 18)
Taking a walk (May 20)
Playdate at Liz's house. Trevor lubs Ev-wyn (May 22)
Jayden finally walks more than a few steps! She's really on the move now! (June 18) 
Just goofing around. They are buddies most of the time. Often hugging and kissing on each other. The hugging and kissing often turns into rough housing. Trevor tries and often succeeds in tackling Jayden to the floor. (July 6)
I had the day off today and thought I would take the kids to get their pictures done since we hadn't since Jayden was 1 month old. I had to go into work for a bit in the morning to do a quick partial inventory so the kids ate their breakfast at my store while I worked entertained them. I'll have to remember how much of a hassle it was trying to coral them and get them to eat rather than trying to rip the store apart. More cheerios got crunched into the newly cleaned carpets than into their tummies.
I should have given up and just gone home but since the mall didn't open for another hour and we were going to do pictures at Penneys we went to Target to waste some time and money. I can't leave Target without getting Starbucks. The kiddos didn't want their juice and cheerios. They wanted my carmel mocha Frap. And man did they want it. I got a purdy new comforter set in an effort to make my room a little nicer. (It looks great with my new lamp and sheet set. Hmmm now I just need to paint the walls, get a new dresser and put up some pictures.)
I got some shoes and clothes for the kids on clearance and we headed for the checkout. Why is that kids always do this huge freakout at the checkout. It happens to me every time. I changed Trevor's clothes in the car because I found the cutest outfit for him that matched somewhat with what Jayden was wearing. Freaking out the whole time.
Again I should have given up. But those pictures were going to be taken!
At Penneys there were a ton of people and I hadn't thought ahead to make an appointment so it would be an hour before we could get in. So we wandered the mall. I got Trevor yet another pair of shoes that looked better with the outfit than the ones he had on. We ran into CVS and got some cereal bars for bribery a healthy snack. I spent some more money that I didn't have on a cute necklace. (But it was on sale!!!)
We went back and waited. And waited. And waited. Trevor entertained himself by dumping the box of crayons they had on the floor not once but 3 times. There was ALOT of them. Once he tried to step on them and grind them into the carpet but I reminded him he had done enough damage to carpets at my store! He tried to color on the chairs and on the wall when I was tending to Jayden who was confined to the stroller but starting to get antsy. Luckily I noticed before he did any damage.
Finally it was our turn. The last time we went to Penneys they had the table that kids sat up on and the camera on a tripod. I guess they don't do that anymore. Trevor was free to run on and off the backdrop freely. He didn't really want anything to do with having his picture taken, which is why it's been over a year since we've had them done. We tried getting him to play catch. She managed to get only 2 pictures of him, though they aren't great, at least they were pictures. Most of the time he was running from the girl and pointing at her saying, "No Pi-tur!" with and angry tone and matching scowl.
While we tried to get Jayden to sit still for her pictures Trevor rummaged through their drawers and props. He brought me all kinds of photo albums, magnets, key chains, etc. Jayden though a little easier to photograph was unsure about this crazy girl making strange noises and wouldn't sit still either. The first few shots were of her clinging to my leg with a scared half smile. Luckily she warmed up a bit and we were able to get a few great pictures of her.
I really wanted to get a few pictures of the two of them together. I tried to get Trevor interested in the bench that Jayden had been sitting on and they started fighting over it and smacking each other a bit. So I found another bench and fished out a cereal bar. I didn't even think to take it out of the wrapper. This luckily all happened while they were on the backdrop so she was able to quick snap a picture before Trevor realized it and ran away leaving a trail of crumbs on their backdrop.
I really wish I had thought to take it out of the wrapper before handing it to him because the only picture of the two of them looks like a Honey nut cheerio advertisement. They both snarfed it down like a couple of hungry wolves. Duh, they didn't eat hardly anything for breakfast and it was quickly approaching lunchtime.
Trevor was losing his cool pretty quickly so I handed them another cereal bar and thankfully that kept them both busy while I picked out and paid for the pictures. On the way to the car Trevor threw a huge fit and threw himself to the floor in the middle of the store and I tried the walking away thing and he would run to get around me and throw himself down right in front of the stroller. He did this 3 times so I had to pick him up and carry him out while still trying to push Jayden in the stroller. This continued with kicking and screaming all the way to the car.
Once in the car he thrashed and screamed all the way home. I tried turning on the radio and he only screamed louder and kicked my seat. When we got home the tantrum continued and he was trying to fight with Jayden. So he got put in timeout while I made lunch. He was red and covered in sweat by this time.
Finally lunch was ready and though there was crying and whining through it, it was at least better. Finally it was nap time. And all was finally quiet for two blissful hours!
Just recently Trevor has finally succeeded in his attempts at blowing bubbles. Though he blows more raspberries than bubbles as you can see in the video. Don't mind the fact the Jayden is chewing on a stick. It's one of her favorite things to do while we are outside. Before the video, here's a few pictures of our recent "adventure".
Mmmm yummy bubbles 
Why chew on the lid when you can eat the contents, thanks bro!
"Yea did it!" He was so excited when he actually made bubbles.
After bubbles it was time for ice cream. Jayden has this silly little habit of sticking her fingers in her mouth after every single lick of ice cream. It's pretty funny, watch the video and you'll know what I mean! Whoever invented kiddy cones is my hero! (Bloggers being a pain, I'll have to add the video later!)
We went to my youngest brothers graduation. I can't believe my baby brother is all grown up! I was very worried about taking the kids. But we really didn't have much choice. We could have left them here and had someone watch them but I really wanted them to go with to visit my Grandma and Grandpa who haven't had much chance to see them. There was no one we could leave them with during commencement so along they went.
Trevor did surprisingly good. I was really worried about him throwing a huge fit since he doesn't really do so great around crowds. Jayden was the one who got bored and started to throw a fit at the most inopportune times. She goes from smiling to full blown screaming instantly so it was impossible to remove her several times without making a scene.
Trevor made everyone around us laugh. There were several graduates who had the name or middle name Dawn. Everytime they called out the name Dawn Trevor would look up and say pretty loudly, "huh, whad you say?" Hmmm wonder what my response usually is when Travis calls to me from another room! He sang songs with the choir. He clapped and cheered. And a few times while cheering he threw in a "Yea did it!" Which was very appropriate I suppose.
After graduation we went to my brothers party. Jayden enjoyed sitting with her great-Grandma for pretty much the entire time. She ate everything that anyone handed her or left sitting within her reach. I had to cut her off from being fed. I was afraid her poor tummy was going to explode. She ate sooooo much junk food. Next time we go to something like that I should take a sign that says "Don't feed the children."
Travis and I both took turns playing "chase the Trevor" until we were both worn out and decided to call it quits. We went to the nursing home briefly to visit with Grandpa. He really enjoyed holding the kids and Travis took a ton of great pictures of us all. Grandpa doesn't say much these days but there definitely was a sparkle in his eyes.
Both kids conked out on the ride home.
The weather is finally starting to cooperate and things are finally green after a winter that seemed to never end. It was a gorgeous spring day so we went to the lake to have a picnic and play on the playground.
On the way there we passed a truck pulling a travel trailer and Trevor pointed at it saying "choo choo." Later at the lake a guy riding a bike was pulling a little trailer for his kids, Trevor got really excited about and pointed at it and said "choo choo." So apparently everything with a trailer is a choo choo!
The kids really enjoyed the afternoon and didn't want to leave. We pretty much had to carry Trevor to the car kicking and screaming!
The girl helping Jayden is a random girl who apparently adored Jayden.
Trevor was not happy about going home!
