Valentine's Day and President's week

Last Saturday night we headed to the Cheesecake Factory. We tried to get there extremely early, but didn't manage to arrive until 5:15pm. This lead to us waiting an hour for dinner. I was really proud of the kids. We did lots of jumping up and down the curb and spent a lot of time looking at all of the different cheesecakes they had on display. 

Everyone was really hungry, by the time we got serve at 6:40pm. Axel enjoyed spaghetti and Phoenix ordered corn dogs. Both of their meals were huge!

I enjoyed an awesome chicken and avocado salad and Keith had chicken and asparagus. It was our plan to get a picture of Keith and I together and the entire family together, but with the way the night worked out there was no time for that. So here is a picture of me.......

and here is a picture of Keith and Axel exhausted from the long day and 3 hour dinner adventure.

On Monday we headed to Sky High Sports. We were checking out the place to see if it was something that Axel wanted to do for his birthday party. Although both kids had a blast jumping, Axel decided he wants the same bounce house and party in the park.

Here is a cute video of both kids jumping. Axel also ventured into the foam pit as well. It took Axel almost all week to recover from his big weekend of exercise. He played baseball for 2 hours and soccer and other outdoor adventures with the other Axel for 6 hours on Sunday, after swimming for 45 minutes. Saturday he also played a couple of hours of baseball and then the hour of constant jumping really wore out his little muscles! Thank goodness he recovered in just enough time for batting practice last night and baseball practice today.

Axel and I enjoyed Tuesday and Wednesday together, just the two of us, while Phoenix was at day care. We did a nice bike ride/ walk, lots of arts and crafts and went to an arcade for a couple of hours because of the very windy rain storm that came in on Wednesday. The kids had their allergies retested on Thursday. Axel's peanut allergy is growing so I am not sure what the doctor is going to say. Phoenix had a little reaction to the negative control group and a little reaction to the entire nut panel and chicken so I am not sure what the doctor is going to say about her results either. We have a phone appointment coming up on Friday after he returns from vacation.

Keith has been really wanting to get a picture of my stomach all week so this morning we finally took some pictures. He wants to be able to show people who ask how I am doing so I am including the pictures below. We are all getting excited for the arrival of baby Szolusha. Just 3 more weeks to go!!! I sure hope he decides to come sooner than later because patience is not one of my strong points! Until then, enjoy!

Super Bowl Fun!

Here is a precious picture of Axel and Phoenix on our walk home last Thursday. They are usually such great friends and siblings to each other. It helps to think of moments like these when they are not getting along :)

We had a fun short visit with Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Bruce. They arrived last Friday afternoon in time to pick up Axel from chess club. Axel and Phoenix were very excited to see them and spend the evening with them.

On Saturday morning we headed to Jack Fischer Park and used their birthday gift for Phoenix. Here Grandpa is giving it a try.

I reminded Axel that we have used his friends rocket launcher on the top of the hill. Here is "air Axel" getting ready to launch the rocket.

Grandma also got some air jumping down to launch the rocket!

Of course it would not be a complete visit to the park without some swing time for Phoenix.

Axel had baseball practice during nap time but when he got home he was able to play with Grandma and Grandpa a bit more. Grandma and Grandpa treated all of us to yummy sushi for dinner. It was a great meal and nice to not have to cook.

The main reason Dad and Sonia were in town was for the 50th Super Bowl. They decided to finally check this off their bucket list. They were like little kids going to a candy store. It was so much fun to be apart of their exciting adventure. They were up and out the door by 8am on Sunday morning and didn't get back until after 9pm. They had an amazing time and we were glad that we happened to live close to the new Levi Stadium to help make this happen.

On Monday they spent their day in Sacramento with the rest of the Burgess's. We are all optimistic about Great Grandpa Don's diagnosis and prognosis. We are glad that Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Bruce were able to see him and are looking forward to seeing him after his surgery. He is in our thoughts and prayers. We love you Great Grandpa Don!

On Monday night Grandma and Grandpa were able to play a game with the kiddos and read books. 

I wasn't sure the kids were going to be able to spend more time with them, but they were very happy for any and all of the time they had with them. 

Although it was a quick visit, we have learned some time is better than no time!

In other news, the kids are finally getting use to sharing a room and sleeping through the night. We have implemented a new rule of no getting up before 6:40am on school days and 7am on the weekends. Because Phoenix gets up early she has been waking Axel and they have been waking the entire house nearly an hour before we are all use to waking up. Phoenix seems to be over her fear of Axel's room and is now taking up to 3 hour naps in the bunk bed.

Other good news is that Phoenix woke today for the first time since she has been in the bunk bed dry! I am hoping this means that the transition is over and that we will be done with diapers in about a week or so! I told her that I need her to hold it for 1 week straight before saying goodbye to diapers. She had done this in her room, but back slid since changing rooms. I am very optimistic that this is day 1 of 7!

Today Phoenix and I went to my 36 week appointment. My belly measured 3 weeks small so they decided to do another growth ultrasound. Baby #3 again measured big on the ultrasound. He measured 2 weeks a head of schedule for everything except his femur/ legs! They estimated he already weighs 6 lbs 6 oz. I am trying not to get too excited, but it would be wonderful if he came at least 1 week earlier than expected because I really don't want to deliver a baby that is 8 lbs or heavier with a big head! Only time will tell!

Next week there is no school all week.  I am looking forward to some quality time with the kids before baby #3 arrives. After that the only other big event before baby arrives is opening day for baseball. Daddy got a team and is coaching the Red Sox which are many of the same players who were on the Red Sox with Axel last year. It looks like it is going to be another fun filled season!

Phoenix and Axel share a room!

Two weeks have come and gone faster than a blink of an eye. Here is Axel with a creation he built during a play date at Ezra's house. He is wearing his robe because he went from swim lessons to the play date and didn't want to change. 

Last weekend was all about starting to prepare for Baby Szolusha #3. I was getting stressed that if I wait until after I stop working and after winter break that I might not have enough time to prepare. I wanted to transition the kids well before he comes in order to make sure that I limit the amount of change at one time. First we went through Axel's bedroom. I got rid of over a garbage bag full of recyclable art work as well as a bag full of clothes that no longer fit. I was able to condense his clothing to half the closet and half of his dresser. The biggest project was going through all of his Legos and reorganizing them. Luckily, we were able to complete this task in just over 4 hours. 

After we managed to get through his clothes, I then went through Pheeny's clothes. I was extremely excited that I was able to consolidate their belongings. They officially share a room, each getting half of the dresser, half of the closet and half of a bunk bed!  

I started this project only after testing their ability to sleep next to each other two nights in a row. Phoenix slept in the trundle bed on Friday and Saturday nights and took her naps in his room as well. Because they did so well, we decided to build their bunk bed on Sunday. They were so exited about the bunk beds that Phoenix did not nap on Sunday. We headed to Axel's classmate Gaspard's birthday party fully wound up and tired from the lack of sleep because of the bunk bed. Here is a picture of Axel and his classmates. 

 Phoenix had fun at the party as well. She played on the couch and did gymnastics. She got the idea from one of Axel's classmates who is very good and competitive at gymnastics. She was doing all types of tumbling when the party started.

 Phoenix was getting very tired from all of the tumbling and excitement. At this point she was tired of waiting for the birthday cake. Her entire motivation in going to the party was to have birthday cake. They waited until the last 10 minutes of the party to serve the cake.

 Axel enjoyed his yummy dairy-free cocoa cookie while Phoenix ate a piece of cake.

 Daddy and I also enjoyed the cake which had fresh strawberries and bananas!

 After a long day of excitement we went straight home and I put Phoenix to sleep by 6:15pm. She was beyond tired and sound asleep. I had Axel in bed by 7:15pm because he was also a bit sleep-deprived from the early waking each morning. Phoenix usually wakes 30 to 60 minutes before Axel and with sharing a room comes sharing bedtimes and morning awakenings.

I was exited to spend the evening with Keith with the kids tucked in to bed early. We were quite pleased with all that we had accomplished and we both went to bed a little tired ourselves. Well, at 1:40am I heard Axel get up to go to the bathroom. I can always here him because he closes the bedroom door behind him. Well, this not only woke me, but Phoenix as well. I heard Axel walk down the hall and never heard the door shut. My instinct told me to get up and check on them, but I talked myself out of it and fell back to sleep. At 3am Keith and I awoke to a knocking sound or rather the sound of Phoenix walking down the hall in her dress up shoes. Keith and I got out of bed to see both kids outside our bedroom door. Axel said, "We have been up the whole time. We aren't tired and have been playing in the pin ball room." I didn't ask anymore questions but quickly got both kids back to bed explaining that night time is for sleeping and day time is for playing. Axel responded with, "I thought it was morning time. I saw light coming in from the bathroom." I kindly explained it was the light of the moon and kissed them both goodnight. After getting back to bed Keith and I had a very good laugh and laughed the entire next day. Both kids were more than exhausted! Luckily, they are back on track and caught up on sleep and are doing better and better sleeping in their exciting bunk beds, a.k.a. secret hide outs!