Videos – Page 23 – JTOK Chatter

My little swimmers!

Posted on August 21, 2014 @ 4:30 pm by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

This isn’t the best video of how great Katie swims but it’s something (I have one week left to get a good video). She has no fear and just kick-kick-kicks her little legs so cute and motors around the pool.

Her favorite thing to do, however, is to climb up the ladder (not the steps—the ladder on the other side of the pool), walk two steps to the pool edge, then get back in the pool by sitting on her butt, rolling onto her stomach, then sliding into the pool. I hope to get a video of that, too. 🙂

Owen has apparently taught himself how to swim by watching other kids and maybe taking a few small tips from me (though he never seems to care, he must be listening). He obviously does better when he’s not holding a gun in one of his hands but it’s still miles ahead of where he was just a few weeks ago.

I can’t wait to get them both lessons next summer.

Both kids also like playing with other kids. Two little girls were there and at break time (when the kids have to get out of the big pool) they were all in the kiddie pool. The girls started to leave and Katie piped up: “Guys! Guys?” Their mom told them the little girl wanted them to stay, so they did. 🙂 Later when they did leave, Katie said “Bye! See you soon!” 🙂 Later, Owen was over playing ball with the girls and Katie had to be right in the middle of it. 🙂

Family fun at Pirates Cove

Posted on August 18, 2014 @ 2:28 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Before we moved, I bought a Groupon for Pirates Cove Waterpark and today was the day! It’s not huge like Great Wolf Lodge, but it’s plenty to keep the kids busy. We started in the wading pool (which is where Katie was supposed to stay since she isn’t potty trained).

She did pretty good at waiting her turn in line when it was just a few kids, but when it got to be more than four or five, she either wanted to push to the front of the line or wait and let everyone pass her.

While I was with Katie, Tom was with Owen over in the bigger pool.

We asked him why he was swimming like this and he said because someone had tied his hands behind his back with a rope! Tom said he even went DOWN the waterslide like that. I love his imagination. 🙂

Unfortunately, I could only keep Katie happy and occupied for so long before she REALLY wanted to go in the big pool with daddy and Owen. As in she was starting to throw a fit. So we left the gated wading pool…but the wheel only worked for about two minutes.

Finally! She was with daddy in the big pool and she was HAPPY. And fearless. She went under twice, coughed and spit a bit, and then kept on chugging.

She loved loved LOVED the waterslide. She would have gone down it the rest of the day if we let her.

She really liked the pirate, too!

And then we had a major tantrum because it was time to go back to the wading pool and she DID. NOT. WANT. TO. GO. I’ll spare you the few tantrum pics I took (and deleted). We got a funnel cake for a snack and that didn’t really even appease her much. Then she saw the sand area…so that’s where we headed.

We had planned to stay longer, but about 2:30 we were leaving. Tom came up and said that Owen was being a major grouch so he lost his pool privileges. It felt like we had been there for a long time…but it was ONLY TWO HOURS. Egads. But the kids had fun. I can definitely see us getting a summer pass next year!

Daddy’s home!

Posted on August 17, 2014 @ 6:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Waiting and watching.

Owen, upon seeing Katie playing with the steering wheel: Katie, that is NOT a toy.

Getting ready to run the ravine

Posted on August 15, 2014 @ 6:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

This isn’t the best video but it makes me laugh. Owen wanted to run again, but he had to “exercise” (stretch) first. He obviously got the idea from somewhere I have no idea about. 🙂

And his cheering section—she’d clap wildly while saying “Run Owen!”

Sibling Roughhousing

Posted on August 14, 2014 @ 6:25 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Outside time

Posted on August 14, 2014 @ 5:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Learning to do puzzles.

Posted on August 13, 2014 @ 10:15 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

With a small side of “I can’t do it” tantrum.

I made Owen upset.

Posted on August 10, 2014 @ 6:30 pm by Jen — 2 Comments ↓

Charlie didn’t want to move.

Posted on August 10, 2014 @ 10:50 am by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

She’s been sleeping on Katie’s changing pad lately and did not want to move when we needed to use it.

Taking the police car out for a scary spin

Posted on August 9, 2014 @ 11:20 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

The hilly lots/roads really REALLY suck.

We started in the backyard but it’s SO steep that it really taxed the car battery—and it’s SO narrow that it really taxed Owen’s driving skills. And consequently my patience. 😐

So we headed to the front.

But if they’re not actively moving forward they’re rolling backward and even on the low speed they can get going pretty fast downhill. I don’t trust him not to go off the sidewalk (even accidentally) and hit a car or mailbox so I let him go downhill on the side of the street but it was still nerve wracking and I walked in front of the car the whole way.

Heading up on the sidewalk.

Heading down in the street.

It looks less intense than it really is:

Heading up the somewhat flat sidewalk along the main drag.

I’m not sure if we’ll be keeping the car or getting rid of it. I had high hopes of being able to use it here but it’s just SO SO STEEP. So of course I’m feeling super guilty about it again. 🙁

Rolling fun at Ikea

Posted on August 8, 2014 @ 6:40 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Then we set these brackets in the cart and she set them all upright. 🙂

Last day swimming with friends

Posted on August 7, 2014 @ 3:28 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We’ve been going to the pool every afternoon with our guests. Today was the first day I remembered my camera. Owen and Katie have both gotten MUCH more comfortable in the pool…

Katie had borrowed another girl’s toys but the girl eventually wanted them back. This is what happened.

Ruth and TJ taught Owen how to blow in one end of the noodle to spit water out the other end.

Katie likes to float on a noodle now, too.

And try to climb up on it.

I wanted Owen to show me a big jump like he’s been doing but I just got this little one.

Katie has started saying “Oh yeah! Oh yeah!” (from Despicable Me) and she was doing it in the pool.

Someone’s first tooth came out!

Posted on August 6, 2014 @ 7:30 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

We’ve been waiting and waiting and wanting to pull it out because it was SO loose but he wouldn’t let us get near it. It was so loose we were afraid he was going to swallow it. But this morning eating a donut I saw him stop chewing, stop and think for a second, then reach in his mouth.

TA DA!

And not a great picture but you can see the hole better. 🙂

Checking it out in the mirror.

Morning tantrum compilation

Posted on August 5, 2014 @ 10:07 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Not too bad, granted, but she’s like this on and off ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

Another day, another tantrum.

Posted on August 4, 2014 @ 9:45 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

All around the Charlie ottoman

Posted on August 3, 2014 @ 6:45 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

She was doing this for a good minute or so before I started recording. 🙂

A new bubble machine!

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 3:50 pm by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

Gramma Jean got this for the kids to use when we were in Michigan but we never had time for it…so it came home with us. We finally got it out today (the kids were driving me crazy so we had to get out of the house)! And of course they loved it!

She loves climbing up in the chairs.

Kids in the doghouse.

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 11:25 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Or crate, actually.

I was washing Maggie’s bed and blankets so her crate was completely empty…until this happened.

After she had Owen lock her in, he was shoving Legos in for her to play with. 🙂

Welcome to the Terrible Twos

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 8:30 am by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

Katie is repaying Owen’s no-terrible-twos in spades. He basically skipped the terrible twos…so of course we’re getting it twofold with Katie. Holy crap.

I can’t even remember what this was about (I think I just wanted her to come upstairs to get dressed). But these little tantrums happen multiple times daily. (This isn’t the best showcase video, however, because it doesn’t show her stomping her feet or throwing/kicking things or screaming.)

This is what I found in the hall this morning.

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 7:52 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Owen was trying to entice Katie back into his room. 🙂

Turns out, Owen wanted Katie to follow the Legos back into his room. 🙂

Family pool time!

Posted on July 29, 2014 @ 5:00 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Another day, another afternoon at the pool…but today, Owen got to wear his new goggles (like all the other kids have!)…

…and Katie got to test her new “puddle jumpers” (a life jacket that keeps her perfectly afloat). THEY WERE BOTH IN HEAVEN.

She wasn’t thrilled about this hooded towel, but it is dang cute (and a hand-me-down from a friend!).

Our little running fiend

Posted on July 29, 2014 @ 3:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Since it was such a nice day out, I wanted Owen to get outside and get some fresh air. Of course he was being a grouch and just wanted to watch TV. Long story short, he eventually came around then this happened.

He ended up doing it about four times. He took a break for some ice water to “get more energies.” 🙂

Then Tom brought Katie out after her nap and she was content to sit here.

Katie’s new bedding!

Posted on July 27, 2014 @ 7:30 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We were shopping at Target and I went down the kids bedding aisle to see if there was anything good…and she immediately noticed the Sesame Street set (“MAMA!! ELMO! COOKIE MONSTER!”) so we got it for her. (I also offered Doc McStuffins or Frozen but she was most excited about SEMMEE STEET). 🙂

Introducing our community pool!

Posted on July 23, 2014 @ 5:05 pm by Jen — 4 Comments ↓

We finally went to check out the pool today—and wow is it ever nice! It’s about a 10-minute walk (twice as long as at the last house), but it’s definitely worth it compared to the last pool. They have nice attached bathrooms and showers (which you have to walk through to get to the pool area), two lifeguards at the main pool, a kiddie pool, tons of lounge chairs and tables (some even with umbrellas) and a basket of pool noodles! Most of the pool is 3’6″ deep with the very center section being deeper (not labeled but I’m guessing about 5′).

We started in the kiddie pool where Owen tested out his new goggles and snorkel (he did really well!) and Katie splashed around (she was a bit peeved that it was too deep to walk around on her hands like she likes to do). After about a half hour, we moved to the big pool where Owen slowly but surely (but actually quite quickly for him) got comfortable in the deeper water—he clung to the edge for awhile but then was out and about away from the edge playing. There were some older kids (guessing 12-14ish) there that had brought water guns and Owen was having a blast just watching them…so imagine how excited he was when the kids started spraying him! The moms were in the pool, too, and warned their kids not to get him but I piped up and said “Oh no, he’s loving it!” Then they let him use a gun and he was in heaven! Katie loved being in the deeper water, too, because she likes being carried. She also liked “jumping” off the steps—which really means leaning forward and falling into my arms. 🙂 Owen was doing so well on his own that I actually left him in the pool by himself for about 10 minutes while I went back to the kiddie pool with Katie (I could still see him, of course).

I am sure we’ll be back quite a bit in the next month before it closes September 1.

Back to the city park

Posted on July 17, 2014 @ 4:26 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We couldn’t stay as long as we’d planned last night after Dairy Queen, so we took the kids back today. Of course, Katie was THRILLED to be swinging: “Look Owee! I’m swinging!”

Owen was playing Frozen with two older girls until they left…then he looked bummed and I asked what was wrong. “I need the two girls to be my archers!” Here, he’s “just resting.” 🙂

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It took some convincing, but we got him up there.

Then of course Katie wanted up as well.

Katie’s pool and pizza birthday party.

Posted on July 15, 2014 @ 7:16 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Unfortunately, Gramma Jean was sick so she didn’t make it to the party—and we didn’t get a group picture—but Grandpa David, Grauntie Marge, Grandma Marsha, Uncle Rob, Grannie Lin, and Papa were all there! Even our dear friend Paul stopped by!

He bonked his nose diving in the shallow water.

Katie was having a blast splashing EVERYONE. We kept trying to redirect her to splash Owen but she kept coming back to us.

Tom turned the water on and she stuck her foot right in!

She has no fear—she jumped right into Tom’s arms!

She loved daddy pushing her around the pool!

Owen was not comfortable in the big pool and stuck to the steps and the side of the pool. He would NOT go out any farther, even though we showed him it wasn’t any deeper AND Grannie promised to hold him tight. Eventually, after maybe 30 minutes, he FINALLY let go…and of course had fun racing with daddy and Katie!

And then it was time for the party! Grannie Lin and Papa bought all the plates/decorations, the cake and cupcakes, and the pizza—and brought Burger King crowns for both kids!

Grandpa David would put a cheeze ball on Tom’s beer and Katie would eat it off. We did this a handful of times.

Papa and Grannie had bought this scooter for Owen for his birthday but then they weren’t able to come visit…so they brought it now, but he’s just a bit over the recommended weight limit so it went to Katie instead. You can see she liked being pushed on it. 🙂

But then we let Owen try it, just to see if he’d like it and would maybe want a bigger scooter for himself. He did like it, and Katie took to running in front of him saying “WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT!” to clear his path. 🙂

Then it was back to the house where it wasn’t long before the kids were ready to crash. A good day!

A Wet Day in Kalkaska

Posted on July 14, 2014 @ 7:28 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We took the kids to the Kalkaska Kaliseum for open swim. Owen was there last year (and I wasn’t) so this year we ALL went. 🙂 Grandma Marsha came to watch and Uncle Rob came with us in the afternoon (as did Papa and Grannie, who happened to be in Kalkaska meeting people for dinner).

Katie had no fear of the water and kept wanting to go into the 3′ deep section (which is, of course, over her head). She’d hang on to the edge or bounce up and down to keep her head above water. Or Tom would hold her and she’d do this. 🙂

Owen likes to float (he’s about two inches above the bottom here).

Back to Grandma Marsha’s for lunch…and a nap before the next open swim time.

Grannie and Papa were arriving and the kids were excited to see them!

Slip & Slide & Corn & Fish

Posted on July 11, 2014 @ 5:16 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We bought the kids a $6 Slip & Slide and finally got it out today. The water from the hose here is COLD so it took a bit for Owen to actually get into it and get wet. And Gramma was peeling corn for dinner and Katie wanted some so she was wandering around eating raw corn on the cob and LOVING it. 🙂

Daddy cooked Owen’s fish and Owen even tried a bite! He was SO proud of his fish!!

Fish hatchery and fishing!

Posted on July 11, 2014 @ 3:44 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We wanted to introduce Katie to the fish hatchery—and I wanted to see Owen enjoy it (since I didn’t go last year when Tom and Marsha took him)…so our big group came in and asked if we could all get in on the free family admission coupon my mom had…and the guy joked that we were a circus and I said YOU HAVE NO IDEA. 🙂 He let us all in for free, so we bought five bags of food and planned to take Owen fishing…

Katie was fascinated and REALLY wanted to go in the water—so someone had to keep a hand on her most of the time. Owen had fun, too, but couldn’t wait to go fishing!

Owen loved fishing—but who wouldn’t, when it only takes a matter of seconds to catch one! We let him catch five (you pay by the inch) and he had fun with each one!

Katie thought she wanted to see the fish…until she saw them and then that was it.

Owen thought he wanted to hold one…until Tom held one out. 🙂

The family—and Owen with his catch!

Owen’s first fireworks!

Posted on July 10, 2014 @ 8:26 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We have been wanting to try some low-key fireworks with Owen for awhile now and just haven’t gotten around to it. I’ve had sparklers for a year now—planning on using them on July 4th or after a party or something—but again, we just never got around to it. Until now.

We went to the local fireworks outlet and asked for the kiddie section and they were having a B1G1 free sale so we ended up with a bunch of little stuff.

And Owen LOVED it. LOVED IT. And everyone loved watching him! We only used half of the stuff tonight so we have one more night’s worth coming up. (And when I say a night’s worth, I mean about 10-15 minutes max, which includes sparkler time.) We made sure Katie was in bed so we could concentrate fully on Owen and not have to worry about Katie… She’ll be out for the second night.

The lady said the ones we got would go “telephone pole height” at most. She was right. 🙂

And I found my pooping dog! I had seen it on Facebook and loved it—and thought the kids would, too. I was thrilled they had it at the store! (And yes, Owen LOVED it.)