September 2011

I know...I know... where have I been. I think about updating my blog all the time. But by the time I think I have some time another month or two or five have gone by. Since the girls are entertaining themselves at the moment. I thought I would download all the pictures off my camera. Good thing I did. The camera was full. April was the last time I downloaded pics and updated my blog.

Go to SnapFish.com to see my updated pictures.

The girls are growing like a weed. Last we spoke, we had just gotten back from Disneyland. Well, Easter came and went. We went to Mom and Dad's for dinner. The three little girls got to play and hunt Easter eggs. They had a good time. I think that was the rest of April.

In May it was Mothers day. We spent mothers day at Aunt Carol's with Grandma. It was the first time in a long time and maybe ever in my life that we got to spend Mothers day with Grandpa JonJon. Grandpa and Grandma moved here from Mesa, AZ to be closer to family after 25+ years of being the only ones in our family out of the area. It is very nice to have them close to home. They just live in Cameron Park....so just one exit up the hill from us. We try and get together with them for dinner at least once every other week. I think they love seeing the girls growing. Maddie officially became potty trained. That was a big event. Lily started army crawling everywhere.

In June we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Can you believe that it has been that long? We went to the beach house for the weekend. It was nice and quiet. We also welcomed a new niece to the family. Jeni delivered her fourth girl Katherine Marlene McCoy born June 5th only three days from her sister's first birthday. She looks like my mom. Lily started crawling on her knees in June. Boy can she book it across the room.

In July it was a traditional fourth of July BBQ at The Ebert's for Jeff's birthday and 4th of July. Maddie learned to swim on her own that weekend. We spent the entire four days swimming in many different friends pools. It is great to have friends with great amenities. Then we spend the rest of the month camping at my Aunt's private campground at Union Valley. It was great to be able to take my kids there and know that not much of anything has changed since I was there when I was a kid. It brought back so many great memories. I love going camping there. We did have one scary moment when a bear came into our camp one night. In all the years that I have tent camped there I have never seen or known a bear to come into our camp. He was literally 20feet from Jeff and Doug and about 30 feet from our tent. It took off the moment that it saw Jeff and Doug. Or I should say the moment it saw the backsides of Jeff and Doug as they took off running.

August was spent at Mom's swimming and hanging. Another camping trip. We had another weekend at the beach house at the end of July first of August. Not too much as going on in August. Mom had her 56th birthday. We were suppose to go camping for labor day with my sister Carrie, but Lily decided that she wanted to get all four of her front teeth at one time. She had a fever and was really crabby the entire week and weekend. Maddie did the same thing....Got all her teeth at one time. It was hell on Joe and I. I felt bad for her because nothing but popsicles did any good. I couldn't keep her on popsicles for the entire week so she had to suffer. Lily started pulling her self up and walking along the couch.

Last weekend we met some major milestones with Lily. She started walking by herself, she started drinking out of a sippy cup and she sat forward in a car seat. She is almost 11 months old and they don't recommend the forward facing seat yet, but in the Jeep the rear facing seat just doesn't fit well. Maddie has graduated from sleeping in our bed to sleeping in her own bed. Although her bed is still in our room, she at least sleeping in her own bed and I think sleeping better because of it. At least I know I am sleeping better.

We have another disneyland trip coming up in a few weeks, a birthday party for Lily's first birthday and Halloween so I will have to make some time in the next month to update you on how those events went. Keep you posted.

March & April 2011

Life is flying by. Almost two months has gone by again. Lily is getting bigger by the moment. She wants to get her knees under her body. I think she might crawl sooner than Maddie did. She wants to eat whatever we are eating although she can't yet. She really wants it. She will eye ball your food and reach for it when you are eating. She is so smiley all the time. She is rolling and scooting herself around the room. You leave her in one spot and find she has made her way all the way across the room. I can't believe that she will be 6 months in a few days. How time goes by so fast.

Maddie is going through a growth spurt. She is just like her cousin Ali. Long legs, but her butt and waste is too small to hold up the pants that fit her legs. So it is hard to find pants that fit her. I have to get her the ones with the tabs in the sides so I can synch them up as tight as possible. Skinny jeans on these two girls are baggy.

Jeni, Mom and I have been having a play date once a month with the girls. It is really fun getting together. The girls love hanging out with each other.

Maddie went skating for the first time at a birthday party at the King Skating ring at Sunrise. She liked it. Except the skates are cranked down so tight and they don't adjust that they don't roll so it wasn't as fun as she would have liked. She kept wanting to go faster.

For Joe's birthday we took the girls to Disneyland. It was just the four of us. It was very nice. It was the first time the girls had been. We drove down on Sunday and drove back on Thursday. They both did really good on the long drive to LA. I was surprised we didn't have to stop more often than we did. Lily stayed up an hour later than normal because of her schedule being off due to the car ride, but it wasn't bad. Joe got sick on the ride down and of coarse seemed to be better on the ride home. We stayed at the Marriott just two blocks away from DL. So the first day we drove and parked in the parking garage. As we were getting off the tram from the parking garage, Joe dropped on of our three day park hopper passes. But seeing as DL is so on top of it. They were able get our reservations and get us a new pass. Thank god. Since Joe didn't feel well, we didn't spend a lot of time at DL the first day. We ate lunch and went on a few rides. Maddie loved the "It's a small world" ride. She calls it "the place where the kids live." She calls the song "Cheers" too. Why I don't know, but it is really cute. The first time she went on it Joe took her. Lily was asleep in the stroller. Maddie started rocking back and forth to the music. She loved it. We rode "It's a small world" about 10 times the entire trip. She also went on Whinnie the Pooh. It replaced "The Bear Ride" over by Splash Mt. She rode on most of the original rides such as Mr. Toad's and Peter Pan, Dumbo and the one where you take the boat ride through the whales mouth. I can't remember the name of that ride. She didn't ask for anything the entire time we were there until the 9:30 just before the fireworks show. She asked for a sword that lights up. She liked the fireworks and seeing Tinker Bell over the castle. Her other favorite ride was the Buzz Light Year ride. She liked that one because she could take the gun and shoot the targets. She actually hit some of the targets. She saw a lot of the characters which she loved. They all seemed to take to her too. Lily got to go on most of the rides that Maddie went on. There were some that she didn't go on because she was asleep. But if she was awake we put her in the bjorn or carried her on the ride with us. We went on the Pirates of the Caribbean towards the end of trip. We thought it would too scary for her, but she wasn't scared much. We walked from the hotel on the second and third days. It was mush better than driving. On the last day we went to Goofy's kitchen for dinner where she saw a lot of the characters. We came back to DL and watched the fireworks, so by the time we left it was nearly 10pm. Since Maddie walked nearly the entire three days at DL, we expected she would finally crash out. We put her in the stroller for our walk back to the hotel. She said she wanted to stay and play at DL and she didn't want to go home but before she could finish her sentence, she was out. That was even before we hit the gates out of the park. Because of all the noise at the park and our way back to the hotel we didn't notice, but when we got into the hotel we noticed...Maddie was snoring so loud. It was funny. If you look up on You Tube "kateweiland1" you will see all the videos I have posted and the video of Maddie snoring. I also took a video of her on "It's a small world" and at Goofy's Kitchen. We had such a good time. That place is amazing. I have also upload all the pics since my last post to Snapfish.com.

Thru February 2011

It's been another over another month. It seems like I have been back to work for a long time. But really it's just been over a month. I can't believe that Lily is already four months old. She is getting so big so fast. She is really calm and laid back baby. I thought Maddie was an easy baby. Lily is easier. Maybe as many have said, I am calmer and knew what to expect so it was easier to deal with anything that came up. She is rolling over, grabbing her feet and trying to sit up on her own. She tries to talk a lot. Lily is eating solid foods. Well as much as pureed bananas is solid foods. She lights up when she sees her sister. They love each other. I hope that stays that way for a long time.

Now Maddie is in her terrible twos. It has been challenging, but we are working through it. We just hope this stage passes quickly. I think part of the problem is that she is so smart she knows how to work the system. And boy is she good.

Back to Work

I'm back to work. It is as if I never left. It is good to be back. When you have kids or other priorities other than your job you don't stress about work as much as I would have in the past. Some of the things I would stress about just don't seem as important.

Lily is getting big. She is very alert and loves to follow her sister around the room. She weights half as much as Maddie. It is kind of funny that they are that close in weight and so far in age.

We took Maddie skiing for the first time. I thought she might not like it, but she loved it. She kept wanting to go faster. When she came down the hill you could hear her say "weeeeee." She rode the magic carpet without any problems. It was funny to see daddy pick her up from her harness. She looked like a little kitten being held by it's neck. But being so little it was cute. Daddy took her on the big lift once. It was kind of scary since her legs were so small she sat on the edge of the seat. It scared daddy. He held her tight by her harness until they go to the top.

I reunited with my girlfriends from grade school again. We were short 4 girls this year, but it was fun to catch up. It has been 20 years since we started our group of girls.

The Holiday Season and End of 2010

We had a great Halloween. Maddie was Tinker Bell. She was so cute. I thought she might get scared going up to the houses, but she didn’t. She walked up and knocked on the doors and said trick or treat all by herself. She wanted to do it all by herself the entire time. It was very cute. I walked around with lily in my arms. Only 5 days old. Her and I were very tired the next day.

In November we went to Yo Gabba Gabba concert. Maddie was star struck. She got her picture with all the characters. Again I thought she might be scared of the large characters, but she wasn’t. She walked up to each one of them and shook their hand and said nice to meet you.

We quickly left the concert and caught a plane to Arizona. We flew out to meet Rob and Josh in Arizona to watch them do the Phoenix Ironman. We were there from Thursday evening to Monday evening. The event was on Sunday. It was cold for Arizona. It rained and we didn’t see the sun. It felt like we were back at home with a typical winter. We walked around from point to point to catch a look at Rob and Josh as they passed by. It is tough being the support team. LOL. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run might be a little harder. It’s up for debate.

Traveling with two kids was not as hard as a thought it might be. It was actually really smooth. With Lily being so small, it was really easy to just put her in the wrap on my chest and walk around with her. She slept or ate most of the time. Maddie was the harder one. She wants to do everything herself and when you don’t have time to walk at her pace and you have to put her in the stroller or carry her, it makes for a very crabby girl. She had Owen and Lily (Josh and Kelly’s kids) to play with. She loved Lily. All the kids did really well being up at 6am and not going home until 11ish that night. At least I got Maddie to take two naps while we were out. It is hard with a double stroller for the older one to take a nap in the stroller. The front seat doesn’t lay down flat, so I held her along as my arms would let me. We had a great time.

We had family portraits taken. We got a really good picture this time.

Maddie helped me decorate the Christmas tree. Then we spent the next few weeks until I took the tree down redecorating the bottom three feet of the tree. She liked to take them off and move them around. After she discovered that there were presents under the tree she started to take them out and give them to people or start to open them. For the most part she left them alone. It really all started after her birthday. She wanted more presents so she went to the tree for them. Funny, how smart she is. I forget that she just turned two. She talks so well and so smart. She acts like she is 7 or 8 not 2. She talks and behaves better than some of the 7 and 8 year olds I know.

We had a birthday party at our house for Maddie’s second birthday. It was a fun time. We did a Yo Gabba Gabba theme. Joe ordered decorations and one of the decorations was a life-size Muno. It was in the hallway at the top of the stairs, so when you walked out of the kitchen he stared you in the face. It made Joe jump a few times thinking that there was a one eyed thing in the hallway. It was funny. Now it is in Maddie’s room. It doesn’t bother me, but I think some people are still startled by it when they come in her room. It makes me laugh. She loves it.

One week after her birthday party was Christmas. We hosted Christmas at our house this year. It was fun. It was all the family. Even Jeni and Shawn came. Although they didn’t stay more than an hour, it was good to have everyone under one roof. It is rare that that happens. We had a good time. There was so many gifts for the kids that presents were all under the tree in the dining room and down the hall. Thank god Joe, Dad and the girls opened all of our gifts before everyone showed up otherwise, I think the gifts would have spilled even further down the hall. All the girls (since that is all we have is girls in our family) made out. They got so much stuff. Well, Lily didn’t directly get much, but being so small and not needing any clothes it is hard to buy for her. She got some things, but Sissy got so much stuff. Which will all be Lily’s soon enough. So really Lily got a lot too.

Lily had her two month check up. She is 12lbs and 23 inches long. She is getting so big so fast. She weighs half as much as Maddie. My little skinny girl. Lily is already trying to roll over. She didn't it a few times the other day. She talks to us all the time and falls her sister around the room. I can't believe how fast she is growing. You don't realize the speed of their growth when you have your first. You are so excited for them to get to the next stage of the progress you don't realize how special every moment is with them. With Lily I see how fast she has changed in the last 11 weeks and I want to slow down time so that I can enjoy every moment with her longer. Next thing I know she is going to be a year then 20 and off to college. I swear it happens that fast.

New Years was rung in with a sick house. Joe, Maddie and Lily were all sick with the Croup. It really sucks when a 2 month old can’t breathe.

Then we got some really crazy news. Jeni is pregnant again. Yes, that is what I said. Jeni is pregnant again. She is 18 weeks along, is having another girl and is due 6/6/11. If you are counting that is four girls and yes, Casey Amber’s birthday is 6/8/10. That means Jeni is having Irish twins. Exactly 12 months apart if she times it just right, a newborn and one year old. It is actually perfect because now Casey won’t feel like the only child when Ali and Bri move out and go to college in the next 5-6 years. But boy was that a surprise.

Well those work friends I will be back on the 17th. See you in a week or so.

Go to Snapfish.com to see all the pictures of the family.

New Arrival

Lillian Jasmine Weiland arrived Tuesday, October 26th at 12:36pm at Sutter Memorial Hospital. She was 6lbs 9.8oz 18.1 inches long. She has reddish/blonde hair and looks just like her sister when she was born. She is perfect.

Maddie took to her really well. I thought she might have a hard time seeing us in the hosptial, but she didn't have any problem with it. She even sang twinkle twinkler to Lily. It is was very cute. She kissed her head about 50 times.

We got home on Thursday afternoon. Since then Maddie has been a great big sister. She wants to hold her, kiss her, and carry her. Of coarse she can't do anything but kiss her without our help, but she asks. It is very cute.

22 Month Update

Okay, okay, I am getting to this 9 months late. Wow how time has flown by. The older Maddie gets the less time I get to do anything.

So a lot has happened since my last update. I will start all the way back to where I last left off in January of this year. So Februray came and we found out I was pregnant again. Yep. We are due on October 30th, but have a scheduled c-section on October 26th at noon at Sutter Memorial Hospital. It is another girl. Her name is Lillian Jasmine Weiland aka Lily.

In March Joe did his first century ride in L.A. He was in for a treat. He didn't know what to expect. He did great. He made it 71 miles before, he couldn't go any further. Considering the wind, the number of bikers and the coarse, I was very proud of him. Since then he has done many 65 mile rides locally, such as the Chico and Lincoln rides. Next year we are going to go back and he is going to finish the ride in LA. There was a large group that rode together. All much more experienced riders. We had a good time.

In march we also went to a wedding in Forrest Hill for a co-worker. Maddie was the center of attention. She loved getting on the dance floor and shaking her butt.

Then it was easter time. Lots of kids and eggs at Aunt Tami and Uncle Kenny's house. She had fun finding eggs.

We spent a lot of the summer at Grandma's house swiming, and bouncing on her trapoline. I spent my time in the pool where it was cool and it took the weight of my belly off my back and legs.

In April Briana and Ali through Jeni a baby shower. Yes, Jeni was pregnant too. Remember back in October of last year when she thought she was sick with the flu, but found out it was morning sickness. The girls had fun planning the party and hosting the event.

In May we went to our recently accuired beach house in Bodega Bay. Well, it is not really ours, but a good friends house. So we like to think it is ours too. It is the best place in the world. No cell service, internet, tv or phone. Just the company of friends and family and the sound of the beach. The house is right on hwy 1 across from the School House beach. It couldn't be more perfect.

In June we spent more time swimming, and at the park swinging. June was also father's day. Maddie got daddy a Sponge Bob father's day card that had stickers in it. We also signed Maddie up for The Little Gym instead of Gymboree. There are actually kids that come to this place. Before Maddie was the only kid for many of the classes. It was not fun. She loves this class. In June Casey Amber was born. Adding a forth girl to Grandma's list of grand-daughters.

July it was Ebert's birthday and 4th of July. We went to the Eberts as we do every year to celebrate. Every year there are more and more kids. Maddie spent time in the pool and went under water several times while she was jumping in the pool. Daddy didn't like it much. She slept through the fireworks show. We celebrated several other birthdays too. Cousin Abbey turned a year.

In August we went camping at Union Valley at our "family's" private campground. I had not been their in 10 plus years. I realized how much I missed going there. Of coarse the night before we were leaving Maddie had her first bloody accident. She split her eye open on the table in my sewing room. Thank god Daddy was at the store or I think he would have rushed her to the emergency room. It was not too bad, but a lot of crying and blood at first. She has a little scar above her eyebrow that will fade with time. So she wore a Dora the Explorer bandaid all weekend to keep it clean while we were camping.

Grandma turned 55 this year and we celebrated with a BBQ and cake at Grandma's. Maddie loves her Grandma. All the girls were there including Krissy and Abbey. It was good to have us all together and to actually get a picture of it.

At the end of August we moved to El Dorado Hills. Boy what a difference a house makes. Although we don't have a large yard, it is so much better for us and it saves me time on my commute every day. We only live 4 doors down from Maddie's nanny Davita. We love living here.

In September we celebrated Mike and Krissy's birthdays. Joe made Mike a special cake for his birthday. He was very proud of his handy work. Yes, his cake is exactly what you think it is......

This month (October) has just been preparing for Lily's arrival at the end of the month. I promise I will not take so long to update our family blog in the future.

On another note, if anyone knows anyone that would be interested in taking Tyson and/or Frank. We are looking for a new home for them. At least Tyson. He is having a hardtime being in a smaller yard. He is use to having the five acres to play and run. It is the hardest decision we have to make, but it will be better for Tyson if we can find a family to love him that has a bigger yard. Frank needs a family that has other dogs. He is so use to having another dog around I don't know what he would do if Tyson was gone. Tyson is 9 years old this year and Frank will be 6 in January. If you know anyone please call or email me.