Bring on the rain!

So we totally solved the dilemma of "what to do during a rainy week?" This is our permenant solution when there will be multiple rainy days. Seriously so glad we got this bounce house, especially as much as Rory loves to jump!
Rory is going through another of his quirks, in which he wants to be a baby.... can't wait to see this one end!

haha, these 2 have so much fun together.

Visual schedule update

So we have been doing this visual schedule with Rory for nearly 2 weeks now, and so far it is going fairly well. We put each picture up first thing in the morning, and talk about all the things we will do. Since we have pretty much always kept to the same schedule at home, it was not to hard for him. We have had the odd breakdown, for instance last Monday, I put up a picture of a teacher...
well, since it did not specify who, I guess he just thought it would be up to him. So when miss T came for speech therapy he started shrieking at her. He finally calmed down and said "bye bye" and sort of shut down. So not too productive. By Thursday I was ready and as soon as miss C got to our house I snapped a picture of her so that I have a face to help Rory understand who is coming to work with him. Since then it has been going easier. And of course our reward is the same at the end of every day. watch some wonder pets and have a small scoop of ice cream. A great way to end the day if you ask me.

New headbands

I have a girlfriend who makes these adorable headbands and she sent me some for Rebecca. I think they are just to cute and wanted to share. I know my mom will love it!

10 things Dakota and I have in common...

Since Dakota is turning 5, I thought I would make up a list of how much we have in common. Here goes...

~We both adore a well made grilled cheese sandwich.

~Both have a bizarre sense of humor. We think 'butt' or 'belly button' jokes are hilarious!

~ We both love music. From black eyed peas to green day to rolling stones.

~ We are both very sensitive by nature.

~ Both are loving and enjoy a good cuddle.

~We love to learn about animals, and are amazed with every kind of animal.

~We love to draw, paint and do crafty things.

~ We are both extremely impatient people.

~We love to talk and make new friends.

~We both love candy...LOVE IT!

Christmas in July?

Rory was, for some reason, convinced it's christmas time. In the middle of the day he was taking all his clothes off and putting on his christmas pj's. So I said fine. Then we came downstairs, and he helped me make a brownie cake. he is a great 'mixer'. Of course he eats a bit with every stir, but so what? Then once it cooled he ran around while watching me decorate it. Which let me say is VERY difficult when keeping tabs on 3 little ones. Later on we all watched spider-man and just goofed around. So fun!
Rory mixing up brownies

mmm, so good!

Our brownie cake after we decorated it.

Rebecca and her dolly, which she seems to cling to more and more.

A massive butterfly I caught enjoying our butterfly bushes. Belle was going NUTS!

Dakota and Daddy playing around.

Fuad and I , taken by Koda.

Rory giggling away at one of my many funny faces!

Too sweet not to post

This is Rebecca's new expression whenever I say her name. I thought it was so cute,and wanted to capture it. Afterward I put her in her bouncer and Rory came to say "hi bebe ka-ka" he can't say becca yet.

Rory brought Rebecca a hat I bought her for winter. He put it on an goes "oh, so cute!"

Isn't she SO stinkin' cute in her enormous hat?!?

The Bouncer

Because our poor, deprived children don't have enough to play with Fuad thought he would get them a small bounce and play. Just kidding. We got it rather then rent one since we now have 3 kids, and there will be lots of birthday parties and special occasions where it will come in handy. So it came today as I was trying to gather everyone up to head to the gym. Once they saw the box, I knew the gym was not in my immediate future. So once Fuad got home he set it up and they bounced there sweet little hearts out!
Rebecca just giggling at me.

Dakota and Rory liked the bubble wrap almost as much as the bouncer!

Rory thought he could start jumping once it started inflating! Whoops!

Front view.

Side view.

Oh yeah, Rory is FINALLY drinking from a big boy cup!! YAY!

My first dentist visit

So for those of you who know Rory pretty well, know that he doesn't liked to be handled by strangers, or even be too close to them for that matter. Rory had his first dentist visit and did PHENOMENAL! I could not have ever expected it to go so well. We sing a little song when he is brushing and he hummed it while they brushed his teeth with fluoride. It was awesome!

small sensory sillyness

More and more these days I have noticed that Rory has his own internal routine, that must not be broken. However we are trying to help him adjust it more to everyone elses. In recent days I have noticed that he has issues with commercials. Now I believe that it is because they tend to be louder then the actual program. Anyhow, this is generally what he does. turns his back to it and either covers his ears, or bites his nails. On this occasion, he chose nail biting. So to prevent this I have gone through the trouble of either putting on a dvd (no commercials) or turning the volume way down when commercials are coming up. I don't want him to think that they just don't exsist. So I am trying to help him cope and overcome it.

Rory, once the program came back on!

The new visual schedule Rory helped me make. Today is our first full day with it. Wish me luck!

Some days are just more interesting......

Haven't we all had one of those days where as soon as the day begins, there are little things hinting that it's going to be a more "interesting" day then some others? That was us today, what follows is how ours began. you may not think it's all that bad, let me assure you, this picture doesn't do justice! Alot of his backside looked this way too. Just another fun day at the Carrera's.
Rory thought he would make himself a monster I think. He kept growling at me . As I said, alot of his backside looked this way as well!

Now that Becca is 4 months we got her a sort of Jumper/ walker. she seems pleased with it so far.

These 2 are surprisingly sweet together! She is all smiles with him.

Too Bad Fuad can't get a QC job for a beer co. He would be GREAT!!! I love him so much.

Know how to clean off Dry erase marker? Throw em' in the pool!

Empty space

So I had a small empty wall space in Rebecca's room, and I tried a few different things, but nothing seemed to fit right. Well, I came up with a cute idea a few days back after I took a picture of Rebecca doing tummy time. I think it turned out super cute. =)

Happy Independence Day

We had a great fourth of July once again this year. The southwoods and the dixons joined us this year and we had lots of fun. The kids all got to play for a good 3 hours before we started the fireworks, and I was worried they would not hold up. Boy was I wrong! I don't know that there is anything funner then to watch all the kids expressions as they watch the fireworks! I don't know that I would trade it for the world. Rebecca slept right through all the noise, didn't even phase her. And Kyle, the youngest of the Southwood kiddos just sat contently watching. Amazing. We are so glad to have made such good friends, and all of our friends that could not make it, were definitely in our thoughts as well. Hope everyone had a great Independence Day!
Dakota and Rebecca, relaxing.

Happy 4th of July! I love the USA.

The look of amazement of my boys faces!

Rory, Dakota and Kayla, waiting for the next set of fireworks to start.

Fuad, trying to get them started.... it was a little windy.

Dakota playing with sparklers. The kids all loved the sparklers as much as the big fireworks!