Update

I'm really not much of a blogger, I've come to realize.  I love the concept and everything, I'm just no good at it.  But I get on everyday to check up on everyone else.  I'm just on Facebook all day at the Water Store so I usually just update on my life there.  Well, here's what's been happening.

We went to Reno to check out the eclipse a couple weeks ago.  We stayed with Daniel's brother, Joe, and his pregnant wife, Shae.  The first day was mostly spent walking around Scheel's, a sporting goods store.  It was pretty impressive.  There is a huge fish tank at either entrance, a ferris wheel in the center, a food court, virtual sports games, an indoor play yard for the kids, and lots more.  All in all it was pretty impressive.  After that we headed to a couple parks and ate at a yummy restaurant.  The next day we went the the university planetarium to pick up our solar viewing specs.  While we were there we watched a video on the mysteries of the universe but everyone (except Daniel) took a nap.  It was hot and humid so I'm surprised anyone slept as long as we did.  Daniel told us after that the video lasted about an hour.  We then went and got some yummy pizza at The Blind Onion.  The pizza is good but I LOVED the crust.  They give you honey at each table to dip or cover your crust in.  It's like a sweet dessert right after salty food.  Genius!  After that Shae and I went through the closet in the baby's room and finished sorting ALL the baby clothes she got.  I brought her 2 large trash bags full of Kailyn's old clothes and saw she had plenty of baby clothes already.  That kid will never have to wear the same outfit twice.  Danny and Joe took the kids to the park so we could finish up.  It was a lot of work but fun to do with my sissy in law.  On Sunday we went out to a park in a high end neighborhood bordering California and watched the Eclipse.  Kailyn had more fun on the play set than looking at the Eclipse but everyone got a kick out of it.  After that we toured the neighborhood and went to this really cool rock/mountain and named it Wray Rock.  Great view from up there.  Then next day, Monday, we got Indian food with Joe (Shae had to work) and were on our way home.  The 7 hour drive is considerably easier during the day.

In other news, Daniel had to have his dog put down about a week ago.  Daniel's dad takes care of her at his house because we don't have the room for her (or the time)So he came home late from work Saturday night and found Foxy having a seizure.  He brought her out and tried to help her out.  He went online to see what to do.  I'm not sure how long she seized at home (including the time BEFORE Bill came home from work) but he finally took her to the vet and an, at about 3 am gave us a call and the doctor told us that Foxy wasn't responding to any medication and was continuing with the seizure.  We discussed options and Danny chose to have her put down.  She had been seizing, at this point, for 6 hours and quite possibly a lot longer than that.  Her brain was swelling and we knew she'd never really recover.  So, after about 4 years, we had to say goodbye.  We didn't see her that night but I think it was better for Danny to not see her like that. 

So, I loved that dog, too...but I have always had the mentality that they eventually die and when it comes down to it your family, even if you've integrated the pet as a part of yours, the pet always comes second.  Maybe I'm just a terrible pet owner.  I've always found pet animals a huge inconvenience.  Loving and fun, yes, but too much work when I have 2 kids of my own and I work everyday.  I've never understood people's deep attachment to animals.  Animals survive on animal instinct, even domesticated animals.  If they lose the ability to care for themselves then why make them suffer?  My opinion, which is right for me, is don't let an animal suffer just because want to hold on because you love it.  And I can't stand when people compare animals to a person.  "Well you wouldn't euthanize a person if they were blind and had arthritis."  No, because I can communicate with a person.  And eve if that person can't communicate anymore they likely contributed more to society than any dog did. 

Well, my opinion is just that...mine.  I don't expect anyone to agree with me and I didn't intend to start a debate.  It's just that Foxy's death made me realize it really was what was best.  She stopped suffering and we didn't have to spend money on medications we can't afford.  If you can't afford medical bills for a pet then don't have one.  HAHA.  Ok, I'm really done now.  RIP, Foxy.  You were sweet and loving...lazy, but that just made you all the more sweet.

For Memorial Day we opened the store until 2 pm.  I am surprised to say we had 7 customers.  I was sure I'd have 3 max so I guess it was good we stayed open as long as we did.  Then we headed over to Daniel's parents' house to eat and swim with his dad (his mom was in Korea).  Jet loves the water and Kailyn learned to hold her breath.  She still hates going under but progress is progress.   We went to the park with Kit (no Foxy for the first time) and the kids and had fun just hanging out.  Later that night there were fireworks that we watched from the back balcony and that was our day.  More than anything it was just relaxing.  And when your a parent relaxing is the best.

Up by "Wray Rock"

Checking out the view

On the Ferris Wheel

About to get on the Big Wheel

 Another view

Happy kid at Scheel's

Kailyn loved watching the fish

This kid loves water...think it has something to do with the water store?

 TINY picture of the eclipse through the glasses

Jet's always a stinker

Beautiful boy at the park

Hanging out all by himself

Love my little man!

Memorial Day!

He was sooo tired after "swimming" (aka splashing mom and dad)

You'll be missed, Foxy girl!

Well, this ended up longer than expected.  I'll try to keep up on this so they are smaller posts, but I've been saying that for how long now?

Pictures Galore!

Ok, I decided in light of my new "get it done now" attitude I would just post the pictures today.  They are oldest to most recent.

Wray Family - Thanksgiving 2011

Nap time at the store

Kailyn at the store, entertaining herself

Circumcision Sadness

"Good show. Good Show"

Still entertaining herself at the store

Christmas 2011

Finger lickin' good

Watching the Giants win the 2011 Super Bowl...YAY!

Slow to rise

Cute pie

Watching TV on a Sunday afternoon

Waiting for the rest of us to get ready for church

At Papa John's, waiting for Daddy to close

She can't get enough of the bouncy seats

Found her in her room on the top bunk

Sigfried and Roy's Secret Garden

She hates statues...it took a lot of sweet talk to get her on this

In our upgraded hotel room at Circus Circus (they screwed up our first room)

SpongeBob 3D

Kailyn's turn with daddy

Right after the show

Accused of napping during business hours: Suspect #1

Suspect #2

Suspect #3

Super Baby

Typical nap time positions

Too Cute!

Jet napping on his sister

Skinnier and still going

Tongue obsession

First pair of shades

Caught digging into her Easter basket

Eater Sunday

Always arching his back

Super Kailyn

Hanging in the crib (sorry it's the wrong way)

Again with the bouncy seat

I guess it's about time

Keri - I’m still losing weight and I haven’t worked out or dieted for over a month. I’ve started fitting into pants and skirts that haven’t fit for about 2 years. Daniel has kept his weight off, too, although we could both afford to lose more weight. I keep telling myself “we’ll start Monday” but I’m still in the thick of spring cleaning my home so I really need to devote the short hours after work to getting through it. I’ve only gotten through the master bath, closet, and just started on the room but I have gotten rid of 2 huge bags of clothes. It’s just time to clear myself of clutter. So, since working out involves keeping the kids entertained or waiting until they are asleep, I have to choose cleaning or working out. Right now I just want a clean house so that I can send Kailyn to her room to play in a clean space while Daddy and I work out. Hopefully I can just stay on task and get it DONE!

I’ve also been going through some sort of self improvement transformation. For those of you who really know me you know I am, and always have been, a bad homemaker. Sure, I know how to clean and am really good at making a place look spotless last minute, but I’ve always been bad at upkeep. Well, lately there has been a perfect combination of events in my life (losing weight, balancing 2 kids, renewing my personal relationship with Heavenly Father, almost being t-boned in the car, having heart-to-hearts with Daniel) and I’ve decided that it’s time to grow up. For some people it might come more naturally but I have to make a conscious effort to create good habits. I’ve always been the type of person to tell myself “I’ll do it later” but I’ve decided to make my life easier and turn myself into the type of person who says “Get it done now so I don’t have
to do it later”. It’s still a work in progress but the progress is there and I feel like I’m going to be all the better for it. I’m just feeling really good about my life and am looking forward to getting my stuff together.

Every day life for me includes working at the water store where I take care of the 2 kids. Fortunately, even though business has been good, I don’t feel bombarded with customers so taking care of the kids there is usually pretty easy going.

Daniel – Daniel is getting all A’s and is, as far as I know, the top of his class in all is classes. Don’t quote me on this, but he’s taking 16-19 credits and 6 classes…I can’t really remember. I just know he’s working really hard and his grades are showing it. This summer he will be taking online classes at CSN and should be transferring to UNLV for fall semester. The plan is then to graduate with his Associate’s Degree…from CSN? I can’t really remember how it’s working. Something about doing it that way should save him from having to take the same 3 classes for his next degree. As far as work goes for Danny, he is currently tutoring at a Korean school part time on Friday and Saturday nights. When summer kicks in he’ll be teaching there full time. He recently applied to work for airport security (TSA) again. He’s going through the hiring process but that doesn’t guarantee him a job. We probably won’t find out for a few months either way. Since it’s a federal job the background checks and all that take time. It would be nice if he got the job but I remember how hard it was on him. I hope things will all work out for the best. Danny is such a patient, sweet husband. We’ve been spending most of our free time together. All games, movies, books, and friends take a back seat to our time together.

He puts up with my nonsense over and over again. Even if he tells me adamantly that something
needs to be done and I slack off he just makes jokes about it and lets it roll off his back. I’m a lucky girl.

Kailyn – She is a little ball of energy. She’s extremely social with adults and kids of all ages. She calls practically everyone her age “my friend” and throws a fit if I won’t let her talk to them or go give them a hug. She just recently started to throw tantrums in public where she might cry out loud or throw herself on the floor with the intent of drawing attention to herself. In public I take it in stride and find ways to coax her from being a grump. When we are at home or the store we try to abide by the No Nonsense Rule. But she’s excellent at breaking rules like most 2 year olds.

Potty training is not going as smoothly as I hoped it would. I’ve tried all sorts of incentives: candy, stickers, big girl panties, special lunches…nothing. She’ll do ok for a while but usually she ends up out of eyesight to do #2 without being disturbed. If I catch her before then she’ll go on the potty but if the dirty deed is already done she denies pooping. Then when I ask to check her diaper she says, “It’s too late”. I had issues potty training for a long time so I’m guessing it’s all in the genes. Hopefully she’ll take to it soon. But even though she struggles in potty training she seems to be excelling in everything else. Alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, and recognizes her first and middle name. She’s learning so fast. I’m hoping that once we get this potty training out of the way then I can enroll her in an early preschool program part time to give her an opportunity to interact with kids her age and learn with some more structure.

She’s seems to end up in our bed every morning and neither of us remember how she gets there. Ugh!

Jet – Jet is polar opposite from Kailyn. She was so much more independent and didn’t seem to move around as much. Jet always needs attention. He needs to constantly be played with or held and loved. He is loud and whiney and such a momma’s boy. It stresses out mommy because I’m constantly holding him and unable to get things done and it stresses daddy out because he can’t really help take care of him when I need him to. Fortunately, Jet is reaching a point where he is comfortable with Daddy and Kailyn and allows himself to be entertained and even comforted. I just hope he grows out of this neediness soon.

Other than that he’s awesome. He’s got a big head and cute Asian eyes when he smiles. He really is fun. He loves to laugh and it is one of the cutest laughs. He’s rolling all over the place (including off the bed…twice) and his favorite thing to do is arch his back whenever I am holding him, changing his diaper, dressing him…basically whenever he thinks about it. Overall, though, we all love to play with him, which makes up for the crying and squirminess.

Wow, this ended up a lot longer than planned. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

What the heck!!

Ok, blogger seriously hates me...or else my computer does not compute. I've updated to the new blogger and it doesn't let me upload pictures or publish my posts. I always end up having to go back to the old blogger and I hate how your pictures get out of order when you upload them and you have to micro manage everything. Does anyone else have issues with theirs? It's driving me nuts! I'm taking a break. I'll post pictures later.

It happened again...

Holy Cow!  I'm so bad at this.  I literally sit at a computer all day every day and I still don't find the time to update my blog.  I guess I'm just no good at it.  Well, here's a short list of interesting things that have been going on in our lives:

Kailyn is starting to recognize her ABC's (upper and lower case)

Jet rolls over all the time and prefers sleeping with an majorly arched back

Daniel quit his job at Papa John's due to bad pay, unnecessary drama, and exhausting hours.  Hallelujah!

Daniel is back school and doing amazing!

For Valentine's Day/Upcoming 3 year anniversary we went to Circus Circus as a family for a couple days.  We did the Adventure Dome, Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden, Tournament of Kings, and got amazing food at 2 in the morning :)

Jet can make raspberries and kick on command

Kailyn, with the help of a 3 touch lamp, is back in her bed through the night...usually :)

The whole family just got over colds and flus

Daniel and I will be celebrating 3 years of marriage on the 21st

And the most exciting thing going on in MY life is that Daniel and I are doing P90X together as well as dieting.  Both of us have lost weight and plan on losing more.  Yay!

Well, I better make sure I get some of these pictures up like I keep telling myself.  I'll update with some pictures tomorrow FOR SURE!  If I don't you may all feel free to criticize my blog openly! :)

Coming soon!

Well, I've been slacking off on the blog keeping...again!  I just need to find my groove with these 2 kids and get all the pictures from the holidays.  I promise to post very VERY soon with tons of pictures.

Our family is doing GREAT and Jet's baby blessing is coming up this Sunday.  This will be a first since we didn't do Kailyn's.  Good luck, Babe!