Last week of February 2017 - Trip to Vegas!

Pretty hair, pretty dress, pretty smile

First baseball practice!  Maxwell is playing t-ball.

He's got these red parts on his skin.  Not sure what is going on with him.

Look how his whole arm is red...  The rash is getting better but now there's this going on.

We went to get his haircut and for the first time I let him do it alone and I stayed in the seats by the door.  He did great, of course.

So, months ago we had planned to go to Vegas (along with Brittany's family) to celebrate Marriann's 60th birthday with a party.  Well, then Dad and Marriann's relationship was struggling and they decided to separate and were going to get a divorce.   So, we were uninvited from the party.  We still had tickets to Vegas so decided to go anyway and just have a little Nelson reunion and spend time with Dad who was down.

I had the two kids and Peter got to sit by himself.

We made it to dad's and Emmalyn was super excited about Sheba.  Sheba is getting old so she wasn't as keen on being petted as she used to be but she was still very sweet.  Emmalyn just loves dogs.

Dad had the pool and hot tub all heated.  The kids were in heaven.

One of the perks of going was that we were able to go to Aaron (AJ's son)'s birthday party.  Heather had a cool glow in the dark theme and did a waffle/breakfast bar.

Playing in the backyard

Emmalyn wasn't afraid of AJ's big dog - Loki

4 boy cousins all on the piano at the same time

Maxwell, Tyler, Hayden, and Aaron

We went across the street to the temple grounds to take some Nelson family pictures.  AJ was the photographer.  We also did some just of our family.  Still not sure how they turned out because we've never seen them...

Luckily we grabbed a couple of the kids with our phone.  

Love my kids

All the Nelson cousins, from top: Tyler, Hunter, Arron, Maxwell, Hayden, Kaitlyn, Emmalyn, and Hayden

It's fun to see all the cousins interact

more swimming

Peter was only able to stay the weekend and then he had to go home to go to work on Monday.  I was going to work with some people on my team in Vegas so I was staying an extra couple nights without him (I think it's the first time that I've been with the kids while he's been away).

When he was going through security at the airport, the people in front of him in line stole his wallet/cell phone/etc while he was waiting to get through the metal detector.  It ended up being this big ordeal and luckily the couple was stopped by the TSA because of liquids in their bags or they wold have been gone.  Anyway, long story but Peter was able to use the "find my phone" feature on his apple watch and heard his phone pinging back from the ladies' purse.  She said it was a mistake and that she grabbed his stuff thinking it was her boyfriend's...  At this point TSA was involved.  They looked through the camera footage and determined it wasn't an accident and that they meant to steal his stuff.  Peter decided to press charges and so because of all the time that took, he missed his flight.  Luckily he was able to get on another flight much later that night that was a red eye but still got him home in time for work.  It was crazy.  So grateful that he was able to get his stuff back!!  (TIP for Travelers: put your valuables in your bags that are going through the scanner when possible.  Don't leave your phone and wallet, etc just lying open in the bins and for sure keep your eye on your stuff if you get separated from it.)

Grandpa and Emmalyn reading books before bed

Emmalyn slept in the pack n play (She's getting too big for it but it worked) and I slept with Maxwell.  Such a sweet boy.

Cuddling with his momma

This is the little area at the airport that they took Peter to when they were showing him the security footage.

The next day while I was working, the kids were with Dad and Brittany.  I talked my employee into going to Capprioti's.  They have a sandwich called "the bobbie" which is like thanksgiving dinner in sandwich form.  I love it.  They used to have a location in Dallas but it shut down.

The kids went over to Kimberly's house that day to play and were also going to sleep there that night so that Kimberly could watch them in the morning when I had to work.  

the two girl cousins - Emmalyn and Kaitlyn

AJ  and Aaron came over to hang out a little more 

Maxwell loves his cousins

Big kids both sleeping in beds at Aunt Kimi's.  I was nervous leaving them even though I knew they'd be okay.

It's hard to get them to go to bed at the same time in the same room because Emmalyn wants to talk and make noise and not go to sleep and Maxwell gets super frustrated with her.

Working on his muscles the next morning (while I worked)

Playing games

I met up with the kids after work and we headed to the airport

I felt like super mom - I handled it all on my own from returning the rental car and dealing with the shuttle to getting through security.  We had 1 big suitcase, 1 bag for the plane, and 2 huge car seats - whew!

Selfie on the shuttle bus for daddy

Maxwell helped out as a big brother by holding Emmalyn's hand across streets and as we walked because both my hands were full with dragging our luggage.

Big brother and little sister

On the plane!

We made it home!  I was so happy to see Peter at the airport.  I prefer not to be a single parent.

Third week of February 2017

Maxwell posing before school.  It was school class picture day so he dressed up a little bit.  It was a Wednesday

The night before he seemed sweaty at night and was complaining about headaches but in the morning he seemed to have energy so I sent him to school.

A couple hours later, I get a call from the school nurse saying that he has a fever of 101.  So I went to pick him up and take him to see his doctor.   (Luckily pictures had already happened so he didn't miss them.)

He weighed 42.4 lbs

I let him eat his snack because he was hungry (they have lunch at school at 10:30 am).  His snack was apple slices and seaweed (He loves it!).

At the doctor's, he had a fever of 101.6 and was diagnosed with an ear infection. 

He quickly went downhill.   On way home said he wanted to lay down, and then by the time we got home, he couldn't even change his clothes into something more comfortable.  So I helped him then brought his medicine.   

Sad sick face

He quickly fell asleep and took a 3 1/2 hour nap!!!

Not feeling good at all

That tooth was soooooo ready to come out.  We finally had enough of the drama around getting the tooth out and Peter pinned him down and just pulled it out.  

He survived! (And the next morning got $1 for his tooth.)  Two bottom teeth - gone!

Brushing her teeth while wearing my shoes

Look at that rash!

Poor max was just not having a good go of it.  I keep him home from school the next day since the rule states that they have to be fever free for 24 hours without medicine before they can go back.

At work, the Network of Women put on a bunco night with our Executive Leadership Team.  It was a huge success!

On Friday, I wasn't sure whether to keep him home or send him.  I decided to keep him home which was a good thing because he said he was tired and he proceeded to lay down all day except for lunch and dinner. 

I prepped all my stuff to drop off at the consignment sale that I like to sell/shop at.

I did the smaller site this time and it was still totally packed with items.

On Saturday, we had our friend Andrea's son Carter's third birthday party.  Maxwell seemed up to going.  He didn't jump long in the bouncy house which was a sign that he wasn't yet 100%.

Enjoying cake

Emmalyn was my grocery shopping helper.  She pushed the little cart, loaded things on the belt, and helped me pay.

Enjoying a snack outside while Maxwell was in Kindermusik.

Knocked out after a birthday party plus playing in the sun.  I gave her a wipe to clean her face but she was clearly too tired to get that done.

Sunday was the 5th day of Maxwell being sick and he still was acting tired!  Luckily there was no school on Monday so he had one more day to get better.

Maxwell wrote a story/drew pictures about making Smores next door.  He drew the process and included Mr. Chris too.  (I'll correct the spelling--) "A couple days ago, I asked to go toast marshmallows with Ms. Mary Ann.  With my cousins..."

Fun Sunday breakfast - thanks Dad!

I love this note Maxwell wrote to me and Peter

Emmalyn going potty on the big potty!

Trying to teach her how much toilet paper to use

Every time she goes potty in the potty, she gets a sticker.  (Trying to staying away from candy as the reward.)  Yay for potty training!

Emmalyn has been in panties on Saturday and Sunday at home. No accidents other than one early on Saturday when she was trying to get there and didn't go fast enough. Then Monday did great with Britt. No accidents at home - even pooping. I put pull-up on her outside the house though because I don't want to deal with extra changes of clothes and accidents outside the house and she poops in it of course.  She is not yet staying dry during nap. 

When tucking Max in he this week, he was talking about being awesome so I asked him what he was awesome at and he said "addition". Then he asked a question about negative numbers so I tried to explain them a little to him and he goes "you are really good at teaching me. You should be a teacher" Then later when cuddling, he said "you are good at being a mom". Melted my heart. 

Signed Emmalyn up to start at Castle Montessori in the fall today. Excited for her to go - she's ready for it! Her new thing at bedtime is once you lay her down, she gets one blanket, puppy, and turtle and bunches them together and lays on top of them. Then you put her peppa pig blanket on her and go to leave and she goes," mom. I have just one thing to tell you." Every time. Sometimes she tries to sneak more things in but always has something else to say. Often she will tell me how excited she is that in the morning she will get to have cereal and milk and play on her iPad.